The Manrilla Blog | Life. Art. Religion. Culture.

The International Muslim Brotherhood Annual Lecture Series presents: “Islam in America: Past, Present & Future”, featuring keynote speakers Dr. Sherman Abdul-Hakim Jackson, author of Islam and the Blackamerican as well as Dr. Amir Al-Islam & Imam Luqman Ahmad. Topics include: The Origin of Islam in America [Early Islamic movements and contemporary Islam] and The Future of the Islamic Movement in America.

Where: University of Pennsylvania Law School
3400 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19104
(Entrance on Sansom St., between 34th and 36th Sts.)
When: Saturday, August 6th, 2005
Time: 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm (sharp) doors open at 2:00pm
Cost: $25.00/person

No children under 10 years please

For tickets, more information or vending opportunities contact:
Email: events@imbrotherhood.org
Web: www.imbrotherhood.org/
Tel: 215-879-2340

Islam is a religion based on the group. It really emphasizes the group or jama’ah, using the Arabic term. This is done to promote community. There are not many things that are encouraged to be done alone (extra prayers or acts of charity as to down play grand standing and what not are two examples). The salah, or ritual prayer, is encouraged to be done in a group. The reward is said to be 27-times higher than praying alone. Humans are social creatures. We want and desire to be together. So when it comes to praying in the mosque, why do so many of us want to make trouble? Read more this entry »

What to do about the Salafi problem? They are most certainly an issue. They have caused and are causing considerable damage to the Blackamerican Muslim community. Now, I am not saying that they are kufar. Let’s get that straight. I am saying that their methodologies are not appropriate for the cultural climate in which they are trying to operate. As a matter of fact, they don’t seem to take culture into consideration at all. But as long as American Muslim imams and shuyukh can be “refuted” or seen to have no authority and or knowledge, they pose a difficulty for us. And many of us who have been “turned” by the Salaf, were done so not knowing any other alternative. So we’re gonna have to fight back against this tide. Begin to push and push and push until we can get a foot hold and some have some breathing space of which we can then begin to dismantle their concepts or at the very least, have a dialog. Wa Allahu ya’lamu ahsan (and Allah knows best).