How does one resolve these two parallel realities – that while there are fewer people going to mosques than before, houses of worship can and often do help congregants integrate more into American society? Is a mosque revolution the answer? Read more
Aside from the obvious refrain many have gotten used to me sharing -- that there is not a single Muslim elected to any office at the county, state or federal level in Montgomery County -- there are other reasons that the Muslim Democratic Club’s political success should matter to every Democrat in our county and beyond. For one, we prove that grassroots coalition building can have a lasting impact on our county. Read more
Over the years, many Black American Muslims have been at the forefront of articulating Islamic thought for the growing American Muslim community. But, this seems to have changed as a dominant narrative has taken over. Read more
It’s time to move beyond the holding hands and singing kumbaya. It’s time to make alliances with folks we don’t typically ally with. It’s time to have difficult conversations about difficult subjects. It’s time to recognize who has stood up for us and stand up for them as well, even if we don’t align theologically -- we align as humans. Read more
Insisting on silent suffering as a requisite for salvation, on supplication as a substitute for struggle and demanding deference to dogma or to Muhammadan descendants, whose silence is indicative of both disengagement and distance from the black and Muslim experience, as conditions of Divine deliverance from oppression is to misrepresent the meaning of mercy. Read more
Recent political developments in the U.S. have prompted many to reexamine the situation that Black people face. The routine extrajudicial killing of Black women and men by police has become increasingly visible. Expressions of white supremacist nativism have become more prominent in the wake of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign [victory and now presidency]. And, Black people’s socioeconomic prospects remain bleak. One response has been to advocate for Black American migration, invoking our collective memory of once common calls for repatriation and mass exodus. Read more
In response to the executive orders, the Council on American-Islamic Relations announced today that it will hold a press conference in Washington, D.C.Monday to announce the filing of a federal lawsuit on behalf of 20 or more individuals challenging the"Muslim ban" executive order. Read more
The Women’s March was a call to action. It was a reminder to keep focused on being agents of positive change. As women we have to continue to amplify our impact and work on being even more effective in fighting for social justice for all. During these testing political times, we need to unite and conquer. Read more
Embed from Getty Images By Islamic Network Group (ING) Staff Does it make sense that an organization named Islamic Networks Group (ING), whose mission is “to counter prejudice and discrimination against American Muslims by teaching about their traditions and contributions,” have a sizable number of staff members (five out of twelve ) who aren’t Muslim? We — the non-Muslim staff members at ING — think it does, especially in the current climate around Muslims and Islam. While it is not common,... Read more
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On Malcolm X, Blackness and Muslim-ness Through the Lens of Ta-Nehisi Coates
How, are we to understand Malcolm X's legacy at a time when a prominent face of American Islam has spoken out against the movement for Black Lives even as calls for solidarity between Muslims and communities of color in the age of Trump are invoking his name anew? Viewing Malcolm X through the Ta-Nehisi Coates' book, "Between the World and Me" is a good place to start. Read more