Tune-in Today to hear Imam Johari

Tune in today to Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center’s Outreach Director,

Imam Johari Abdul-Malik on………………..

Thursday, November 12th 2009

He will be a guests on the programs below discussing the issues faces America today in the aftermath of the Ft. Hood Shootings.

Radio:

NPR-Tell Me More-Michelle Martin

DC Metro Area

Station:  WAMU 88.5FM

Time: 2pm

TV:

The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer

Program/Time and Station

Station: WETA TV

Time: 7pm

Dar Al-Hijrah Press Conference Nov 9th 2009

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=16556734&ch=4226713&src=news

Imam Johari on Larry King Live!

I had a good interview with LARRY KING LIVE regarding the Ft. Hood Shootings, Maj. Nidal Hassan and the statement of Anwar Al-Awlaki praising the shooting.  Although the previews to the interviews were inflammatory, the questions sensational, and the interviewers balanced and Larry King a thoughtful host.

Thanks Larry.  Next time I’m on I’ll wear suspenders

An American Imam’s Reflections On The Tragic Shooting at Fort Hood

I join with millions of people of faith in this great nation and around the world in extending condolences to the families of the victims of the recent tragic shootings at the US military base in Fort Hood, Texas.  I offer prayers for the wounded for a full recovery both physically and spiritually.  Any sane or faithful individual of any faith would condemn this tragic act of violence against unsuspecting men and women in uniform*.

While accepting the fact that Major Nidal Malik Hassan practiced the Islamic faith I am offering no justification for this ungodly, heinous and cowardly act of violence.  While we grieve as a nation, let us not forget that the estimated 20,0000 Muslims men and women who are honorably serving their country in the US military**.  The military courts will ultimately determine the fate of Major Hassan.  If the events of November 5th 2009 are as they seem, Major Hassan will no doubt be found guilty in a military not federal court.

We must take a moment realize that this is the second shooting in the last twelve months at Fort Hood and that no matter the verdict or the punishment the lives that have been taken will never be replaced, the damage done to the wounded, physically and emotionally, may never be fully repaired, and that in the aftermath of this incident of fratricide will result in the loss of trust and an increase in the sense of fear and vulnerability among our nations armed forces into the future.

In many countries if this crime had been committed by ONE member of a tribe, ethnic or religious group against another it would result in escalating social tension, rioting or even genocide, but not in the United States of America.  As Americans, we must continue to hold fast to our many faiths and values, continuing to strive toward healing as a nation and as a beacon hope to an increasingly polarized and violent world.

THE FBI RAID AND SHOOTING DEATH OF IMAM LUQMAN ABDULLAH

It is with deep concern that we announce the shooting death of Imam Luqman A. Abdullah, of Masjid Al-Haqq (Detroit, MI)..  Mr. Abdullah was a representative of the Detroit Muslim community to the “National Ummah” and the general assembly (Shura) of the Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA).

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced today that their agents shot and killed Imam Luqman during a raid related to a criminal complaint alleging that members of the mosque were engaged in criminal and “not terrorist” activity.  This tragic shouting raises deep concerns regarding the use of lethal force by law enforcement agents.  Since the investigation was “solely criminal” based upon “smuggling and fraud”, we urge law enforcement and the media not to take undo advantage of this tragedy in order demonize American Muslims.

The National Community  or “Ummah” was established by Imam Jamil Al-Amin (formerly known as H. Rap Brown).  It is an association of mosques in several cities in the US that coordinate religious and social services primarily in the Black community and to refer to the “Ummah” as a “nation-wide radical fundamentalist Sunni group consisting primarily of African-Americans” is a offensive mis-characterization.

To those who have worked with Luqman Abdullah these allegations of illegal activity, resisting arrest and “offensive jihad against the American government” are shocking and inconsistent.  In his ministry he consistently advocated for the downtrodden and has always spoken about the importance of connecting with the needs of the poor.  We encourage the community to participate actively in the investigation and the trial.

What’s Up for Eid in DC

As-Salaamu alaikum,

A few years ago there was an article in the Muslim Link newspaper (Washington, DC Metro Area) entitled “The Loneliest Day of the Year”.  It was the story of this Muslim convert that prompted me to be sensitive every year about making sure that people who don’t have Muslim families or those who are away from them during the holidays can gather on this day of festivity with those who will express to them love and mercy.

I am updating the list of events as I get additional information.

Celebrate Eid

If you know where the happenings are for Eid celebrations drop me an email.

The Mosques Need To Get Ready For Swine Flu

NPR reported on Tuesday, Sept 16th 2009 Swine Flu and houses of worship.

Something’s Going On! The Muslims Are Coming

Shahadah Time!

The change that you can believe in!  Something is happening in America and in the world.  The Muslims are coming, again.  The election of Barack Husein Obama is an affect of something bigger, if that isn’t big enough.  President Obama made a great Ramadan message.  It was so strong in its support of Muslims. It expressed the Obama administrations depth of understanding regarding Islam.  Obama had to be clear in his speech that he is a Christian, even after saying that critics are still left wondering.

During the month of Ramadan I have been traveling to masajid (pl. masjid/mosque) around the country.  Since the beginning of month this year people seem to be racing to take shahadah, testimony of faith in Islam.  They are coming in every color, every age and every social status.  In the first ten days Allah informed the Prophet Muhammad, pbuh, ”You will not guide to Islam who you love, it is Allah who guides whomever Allah chooses.”

My good friend, Tariq Nelson, reminded me that in the 80’s and 90’s many new shahadahs were told to drop out of school to study only the Qur’an and Arabic language.  Others were told to abandon their families as “Kafir”s.  Many who accepted Islam in prison established their own understanding of Islam on the “inside”.  Rahim Jenkins, The Dean of Re-Entry, explains that their understanding created a social-spiritual safety net during their incarceration yet for too many was not adequate for the realities of everyday life on the “outside”.  Today as many of these men and women come home they are proclaiming the virtues of Islam from that context and the message is resonating in the heart of many in the ‘hood. We have had teenagers come to us to accept Islam. Take my advice.  Go home with them, met their family.  Explain to their parents what is going on and get them involved.   If they take shahadah ask the parents to sign a document for activities with the masjid: parent consent form.  You may be surprised what the reaction will be.

The wealthy and successful from that era have failed to bring the understanding of Islam into their middle-class social circle.  Although, there are exceptions to the rule, many have chosen the Sufi-circle where they can maintain their “white privilege” by day while expressing their Muslim identity by night.  Today we need those Muslims and their relatives to come out of the closet with their faith and show that Muslims look just like everybody else in America.

What’s going on!  It is clearly not because of something Muslims are doing.  Many Muslims are trying to live their faith but are not going door-to-door, or engaging in massive conversion rallies to witness about their faith.  For the most part Muslims are just reaching out and sharing the faith in action.  That’s not what’s doing it.

Many Muslims have expressed fear that the community is not prepared for the influx of new of believers.  In the last major wave of conversions/reversions (90’s-Malcolm X: The Movie) many new members of the faith experienced rejection from their families and their communities.  The masajid and their new Muslim community failed to give them the full embrace of Muslim Ummahood (Brotherhood and Sisterhood in Islam), as described by Ismail Faruqi, may Allah have mercy upon him.

We have a second chance to make real the promise of Islam in our community.  It is too late to get ready the rain has begun to fall, the sun is rising on a new day for Islam and Muslims in America.  Our support of these brothers and sisters is more critical than ever.  Should we succeed in educating them to reach for the highest levels of service and personal development, they will become a beacon of hope to Muslims around the world.  Should we fail they will become a disgrace to the way of life that has given world civilization a model of excellence and inclusion unrivaled in history.

It is our choice and the time is now to invest in the NEW SHAHADAHs, their parents, their children and their communities.

NY Times Got It Right: Faiths United on Immigration Fairness

Ramadan Mubarak, I am heading over to the Muslims United for Change: Ending Malaria in Africa – Check-in on-line and make a difference.

But check-out the Dar Al-Hijrah/VOICE article in the NY Times. Some of the media is seeing the LIGHT! on discrimination. The attack from the radical right: Islamic=Anti-Terrorist rhetoric slapped with the open hand, Anti-immigrant aka Latino with the back hand. Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE) is just a manifestation of The CHANGE: new spirit of cooperation that is not only changing America but governments around the world. Thanks Sam Freedman: YOU got it right! Faith has power!

Death has a way of reminding you…..about loving and living

I am boarding my bus to New York to join my mother and then fly to Shreveport, Louisiana to attend the funeral of her brother James Waller’s funeral.  As I look out the window I see a woman who looks like my uncle Joes’ wife, Jessie, who passed away some years ago.  Death make you see this in places and people that perhaps at another time I might have missed.

Death is an usual experience for me, not fear not grief.   I am moved by death but not externally – it’s a deep internal thing.  It’s the living in me that I grieve for.   As an imam, I visit the dying and the dead with equal ease as I visit the living.  I wash the bodies of those who have passed with compassion, like bathing a child who has fallen into a deep sleep with dirt and chocolate on their faces.

Yet below the surface the memories and dreams, the mistakes that will not be undone, the great things that they achieved but never really noticed and that I live only to die any day to this sleep that others might bath me for last time.

I have received so much from this life yet this life offers so little compared to eternity.  The sweetness here is a morsel, the love in this life so fallow.

I only wish for what I think everybody wishes for, what song writers pen in their collective lonely hours after facing the struggles of this life….to be truly loved in this life before I die….

“….not an earthy love but a love from above….a love that flows from from a very pure and perfect stream (Al-Kauthar).  I’m talking about a love supreme”  (Doug Carn).  The love of self -The of God and love reflected back from others….

I am on my way to the funeral of my uncle.  He LIVED life.  He achieved things in this life that others only dreamed of…coming from Growing Valley, Louisiana.  He raised his children, he had wives and women, music and song, HE was always the life of every gathering.  He taught me and the other younger men his secrets to MANHOOD.

He told us never marry a women if she lets you stay at her house overnight and leave in the morning while other people go to work.  If she will let you do it, then others have done too.   You want a women with pride and decency.

He called us all “Sarg” and he had a big belly laugh and his mouth would be wide open.  We knew that sometimes he did things that weren’t right in our minds.  But he always spoke in brutally uncompromising terms. – First class, drive the best, look the best, don’t settle for less.  I don’t think he ever didn’t get his way.  He was in all meanings of the word a BIG BLACK MAN, in size, in speech, in respect, in life and in death.  He drank.  But I never saw him drunk.  He always had authority even to a fault.

He was a leader in my eyes.  I hope he really was happy and felt loved in this life.  He always made me feel happy and loved.  I loved him for being my uncle.  Death has a way of reminding you…..about loving and living