Due to the recent tragic events in Fort Hood, Texas a hate-filled statement was made by a former imam of Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center, Anwar Al-Awlaki.  As I understand the teaching of the scriptures our mission and method as Americans of faith is to enrich our society with faith, service, wisdom and beautiful preaching of God’s love and mercy to all of mankind.

I openly denounce the statement of Mr. Al-Awlaki as posted on his website and those who may follow him.  During Mr. Al-Awlaki’s employment his public speech was consistent with the values of tolerance and cooperation.

Mr. Al-Awlaki, after his return to Yemen and his imprisonment, now claims that the American Muslims who have condemned the violent acts of Major Hassan have “Committed treason against the Muslm Umaah (community) and have fallen into hypocrisy”.  With this reversal Mr Al-Awlaki has clearly set himself apart from the Muslim community in the United States.  Al-Awlaki served a brief term of employment at Dar Al-Hijrah from January 2001 until his depart of April 2002.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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

On July 8^th 2009 Howard University Hospital hosted its first African-Islamic naming ceremony for Quadruplets born on July 1^st 2009.  The three boys and one girl were born healthy and in the tradition in Islam after seven days they were welcomed to the community and given their names.  The community gathered in their finest African dress for the celebration.  Imam Al-hajji Yusuf Jumah of the Nigerian Muslim Council officiated the naming ceremony along with the Muslim Chaplain of Howard University Hospital, Imam Johari Abdul-Malik.

The naming ceremony or “aqiqah” in Arabic is a tradition in Africa and in Islam.  Al-Hajji Yusuf welcomed the community and then turned to Imam Johari, the first Muslim Chaplain of Howard U, to give the international gathering of Nigerian Americans, friends and hospital staff an introduction to the tradition and meaning of the ceremony.  The Imam shared that the Prophet (pbuh) said that the rights of the child of are three, that the parents must choose a good parent for their child a good parent, give them a good education and select for them a good name.  Al-hajji Yusuf spoke in Yoruba language reiterating key points and offered blessing in the traditional way.

The unmistakable African cadence of the call and response of Al-Hajji’s supplication can be found in many African-American churches today.  Rev. Lanier, head of pastor services at the Hospital coordinated with the family and staff for a festive occasion held in the Founder’s Room and museum on the ground floor of the hospital.

“This is the first official African-Islamic naming ceremony in the history of the hospital”, said Dr. Alice Gullatee.  She felt it was significant in that, “this ceremony reconnects the historic African-American institution with traditions only now being regained from our African past”. as part of the ceremony the congregation as well as the CEO of the Howard University give charity – sadaqa on behalf of the children.

Imam Johari shared that a name precedes a person as they travel through.  Al-Hajji Yusuf gave an overview of the meaning of each of the names followed by singing prayers in Arabic and Yoruba.  The parents (Saleh Adeleke Olorun-Tori and Bilqis Folashade Adeleke [Queen of Sheba, The Muslim wife of the prophet Ibrahim], have chosen noble names from their Islamic and Yoruba traditions.  Mubarak Abdullah – Blessed Servant of Allah, Amir Abdul-Azeem – leader and servant of The Magnificent, Khalifah Abdul-Azeez – Successor Servant of The Victorious and sister Amira-Saliha Adejoke – A female leader or princess, helper among women, now noble members of the Olorun-Tori family.  Howard University Hospital-Sankofa – The tradition returns and welcomes our children and our tradition lives.  The event concluded with African refreshments.  For more information about the birth of the quadruplets visit the website of HUH.

As-Salaamu alaikum,

This June and July I seem to be doing more weddings than usually.  To the newly weds and maybe to those of us who have been on the journey for sometime I have some advice.  Get a pressure release valve (PRV).

In every relationship things build up.  Issues are unresolved or at least by one of the parties not sufficiently resolved that the feelings fester.  When the two parties talk that can’t seem to agree about what happened, what was the plan, what did we decide or just what should we do now.  You have your opinion and they have theirs.  Who’s right? What’s right? What does our faith tell us to do? What do our values tell us to do?

Two people when disagreeing will have at least two opinions.  The power game gets played and no one is happy and we can’t move forward together.  The Qur’an invites us to find a person that we both have faith in to be fair.

My advice.  Get a pressure release vale.  Not sex, not a vacation or a visit to the spa.  When cooler heads are prevailing and this should be done ideally before you get married, identify someone  (PRV) that you each can call without permission or approval to get their perspective.  This person is you pressure release valve.

You should both agree who they are on the front end.  Choose wisely because they will be needed in the crisis.  These are people for whom their are no secrets, no honor or disgrace, only love, respect and mercy between you.  Keep them near to your family. Maybe they are your imam, pastor or rabbi, respected uncle or auntie in the community and maybe not your parents.

Respecting their authority:  having asked them to serve you in this role their advice should be taken seriously, believing that they have your families collective best interest at heart, whether you agree or disagree.   Sometimes you my feel that their opinion on a matter is bias toward one or the other.  You may not get YOUR way in the short run, in the long run each member of the group will be happier knowing that their is accountability.

If your pressure release vale fails to work.  Then mutually agree to replace them with someone who you feel will serve your relationship not just your side.

Thanks Khalil for being our PRV for over 20 years.