Liberal Arts Forum

http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=COLUMNISTS25

Another intersting perspective on Islam by the former vice chairman of the National Intelligence Council at the CIA. This piece is very different from much of what I read and hear in the media. You be the judge. (You can grab a copy of the article from your local library).

A World without Islam – by Graham Fuller, former vicechairman of the National Intelligence Council at the CIA. FOREIGN POLICY Jan-Feb 2008 http://www.foreignpolicy.com/users/login.phpstory_id=4094&URL=http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=4094

“…In the West’s focus on terrorism in the name of Islam, memories are short. Jewish guerrillas used terrorism against the British in Palestine. Sri Lankan Hindu Tamil “Tigers” invented the art of the suicide vest and for more than a decade led the world in the use of suicide bombings–including the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Greek terrorists carried out assassination operations against U.S. officials in Athens. Organized Sikh terrorism killed Indira Gandhi, spread havoc in India, established an overseas base in Canada, and brought down an Air India flight over the Atlantic. Macedonian terrorists were widely feared all across the Balkans on the eve of World War I.

Dozens of major assassinations in thelate 19th and early 20th centuries were carried out by European and American”anarchists,” sowing collective fear. The Irish Republican Army employed brutally effective terrorism against the British for decades, as did communist guerrillas and terrorists in Vietnam against Americans, communistMalayans against British soldiers in the 1950s, Mau-Mau terrorists against British officers in Kenya–the list goes on. It doesn’t take a Muslim tocommit terrorism.

Even the recent history of terrorist activity doesn’t look much different. According to Europol, 498 terrorist attacks took place in the European Union in 2006. Of these, 424 were perpetrated by separatist groups, 55 byleft-wing extremists, and 18 by various other terrorists. Only 1 was carriedout by Islamists.

To be sure, there were a number of foiled attempts in ahighly surveilled Muslim community. But these figures reveal the broadideological range of potential terrorists in the world…

…Remember too, that virtually every one of the principle horrors of the 20thcentury came almost exclusively from strictly secular regimes: Leopold II ofBelgium in the Congo, Hitler, Mussolini, Lenin and Stalin, Mao, and Pol Pot. It was Europeans who visited their “world wars” twice upon the rest of the world” two devastating global conflicts with no remote parallels in Islamichistory.

Some today might wish for a “world without Islam” in which these problems presumably had never come to be. But, in truth, the conflicts, rivalries, and crises of such a world might not look so vastly different than the ones we know today.”

Picture: Ex-musician Napoleon (Mutah Beale), center, talks to young Muslim men about the dangers of the gangsta life.

Below is a great essay from a great mind, Mr. Tariq Ramadan. It is a good introduction for both Muslims and Non-Muslims about the Quran. We need more of these writings from Muslim leaders and intellectuals to educate the masses in the Western society about Islam. There are few Islamic scholars who choose to communicate through mainstream media. Many simply like to remain anonymous. Some only speak to the Muslim audience. They are at a loss when asked to present Islam to non-muslims. They live with a ghetto mentality issuing FATWAS on Hollywood and Bollywood but never offering an alternative or guidance to the problem.

I must say living in isolation is very comfortable especially, when there is no one to question. There is no one to argue. There is no one to reject and ridicule. There is no one to challenge the dwindling faith and a hidden inferiority complex.

But the Prophet peace be on him did not live in isolation from his community. This is something for religious Muslims to think about…

Reading the Koran
By TARIQ RAMADAN
Published: January 6, 2008
NY Times

For Muslims the Koran stands as the Text of reference, the source and the essence of the message transmitted to humanity by the creator. It is the last of a lengthy series of revelations addressed to humans down through history. It is the Word of God — but it is not God. The Koran makes known, reveals and guides: it is a light that responds to the quest for meaning. The Koran is remembrance of all previous messages, those of Noah and Abraham, of Moses and Jesus. Like them, it reminds and instructs our consciousness: life has meaning, facts are signs.

It is the Book of all Muslims the world over. But paradoxically, it is not the first book someone seeking to know Islam should read. (A life of the Prophet or any book presenting Islam would be a better introduction.) For it is both extremely simple and deeply complex. The nature of the spiritual, human, historical and social teachings to be drawn from it can be understood at different levels. The Text is one, but its readings are multiple. (continue…)

Unity & Brotherhood (((audio)))
based on Quran & Sunnah

Masjid Saffat, Oxford St.
Khutba Trenton, New Jersey

We have to unite the Ummah on the way of our beloved Prophet Muhammad. He united the Muhajirin and the Ansar by building a community that was united under the Quran and the sunnah of Our Prophet. They were one brotherhood under God. It was a unity of hearts with diversity of opinions, races, colors, genders, languages, etc.

Let us remember that unity is an injunction in the Quran and not a prescribed position. We need to sacrifice our opinions for the sake of unity. We need to prefer others over ourselves and petty opinions and arguments. Unity is only achieved with sacrifice. We must recognize the diversity of this ummah and strive to achieve harmony and not discord.

Peace,
Faraz Khan

Warning: please do not read the following if you have a weak heart.

Bismillah,
Reviving our Islamic spirit.
…and Your Area Mosque
By Faraz Khan

Most mosques in New Jersey are built within last 20 years. There are a handful of mosques that are functional and cater to the needs of the Muslim community. To clarify, these mosques offer classes on Islamic education, assist in burial rites and rituals, lead daily prayers, have full-time Imam to offer advice, and have programs for women and youth, etc. So when I say “functional”, I mean a mosque is not only helping men but families who come every day.
It is not a surprise that in twenty years those uncles who were involved with these mosque projects have grown old and fragile. Many people probably recall the old rumble in their local mosque, unless the tag team continues! It was growing pains. There were many different view points, ideologies, creeds, fiqhs, coming to form a community center. A mosque that was going to serve not only the Muslims but the American community. So the uncles worked really hard. They rallied the community. They got the design. They got the township approvals. They got the Imam from the Land of Imams. They got the chandeliers and the carpets from Iran. They even got the Senators and Congressmen all along.

It was not easy to put a mosque together.

There were microphone love stories. The dome infatuations. The Kursi (chair) trouble. Sometimes people were on kursi and other times the kursi was on them. The Phatwas that made people laugh and sigh. The moon-walking and the moon-fighting. And there were parties … yes, many parties to keep one busy. No, not the type where you sing and dance. Istaghfirullah! And certainly not the type of parties where you eat, drink and enjoy yourself. There were many parties on mosque election day. All promising us many promises.

While the community was going through a massive change, the uncles also transformed. They adapted a new identity. From Big Daddy they became Grand Daddy! They became grandpa. But they did not stop. They did not stop for the sake of God.
However, in last 20 years others stopped. They stopped from coming to the mosque. They stopped from actively engaging themselves in the mosque affairs. They spent their time on better and bigger things. They said who wants to argue with the religious police who knows everything.

The reality is that uncles are getting really old and the young ones are far removed. Muslim community has grown tremendously in last 20 years. However, the mosque boards, committees, helping hands, do not reflect this ratio and proportion inside any mosques. Why in last 20 years others have not joined hands? Why are khutbas being given in broken English? Why the women and youth are not involved? Why do we find “haram and haram” when the deen is more than halal and haram? Why do we focus on the structure and cast people away? Why do we say “youth is our future” only on mosque election day?

Why are they missing?

Wanted:

Fresh faces and young blood to revive our Islamic spirit.

With all the love and respect to our seniors, May Allah reward them.