Comments on: Bricolage – Blackamerican Islam and Synthesizing the Future http://www.manrilla.net/blog/2008/01/21/bricolage-blackamerican-islam-and-synthesizing-the-future/ Removing the incidental and the accidental from the quintessential conversation of Islam in America Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:33:53 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: professional http://www.manrilla.net/blog/2008/01/21/bricolage-blackamerican-islam-and-synthesizing-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-204394 professional Mon, 04 Aug 2008 01:03:21 +0000 http://www.manrilla.net/blog/2008/01/21/bricolage-blackamerican-islam-and-synthesizing-the-future/#comment-204394 Hello. I think you are eactly thinking like Sukrat. I really loved the post. Hello. I think you are eactly thinking like Sukrat. I really loved the post.

]]> By: Aziza Margari Hill http://www.manrilla.net/blog/2008/01/21/bricolage-blackamerican-islam-and-synthesizing-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-139529 Aziza Margari Hill Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:59:55 +0000 http://www.manrilla.net/blog/2008/01/21/bricolage-blackamerican-islam-and-synthesizing-the-future/#comment-139529 Working sister, who is promoting these stereotypes against hijabed sisters? What blogs are outright attacking people who practice their faith? What you are getting from these blogs is very different from what I'm reading. None of the mentioned bloggers made negative claims that women who wear hijab are self hating. Also, why do you leave out the "o" from God? That seems more like a throw back from Judaism and it is not reflective of Islamic traditions. Working sister, who is promoting these stereotypes against hijabed sisters? What blogs are outright attacking people who practice their faith? What you are getting from these blogs is very different from what I’m reading.
None of the mentioned bloggers made negative claims that women who wear hijab are self hating.
Also, why do you leave out the “o” from God? That seems more like a throw back from Judaism and it is not reflective of Islamic traditions.

]]> By: A Working Sister http://www.manrilla.net/blog/2008/01/21/bricolage-blackamerican-islam-and-synthesizing-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-135576 A Working Sister Sat, 26 Jan 2008 13:12:01 +0000 http://www.manrilla.net/blog/2008/01/21/bricolage-blackamerican-islam-and-synthesizing-the-future/#comment-135576 "It is well overdue for Black American Muslims to synthesize a set of common realities even though there will of course be variations and thematic differences." Charles Salaamu alaikum Brothers & Sisters I have been reading Br. Abdur-Rahman blog, Tariq Nelson's blog, Manila [sic], and others for some time now. I have some concerns and questions I'd like to put out there. Br. Charles the statement I've highlighted concerns me, so please feel free to correct me, if I've misunderstood. 1- In particular I'm concerned with this part of your statement: " there will of course be variations and thematic differences." Charles. See, this is where things get shaky for me. I did NOT convert to Islam to get married, join a national or politic movement, nor did I convert to Islam becuase I saw it as just one of many paths to get to G-d. In my opinion, there is no point to being a Muslim, if this is going to be the case. I see a change is on the way alhamdulillah. But can some body please tell me, will the creed of Islam, prayer, and hijab be thrown out in favor of black nationalism? That's kind of what I'm getting from these blogs? If some one is strict about guarding their prayer, or dedicated to the unity of G-d, or wears hijab, are we all going to be perceived as being self hating or having low self-esteem? I've heard talk like this before, and the first thing to go is the salah. I'm concerned about that. I'd also like to clarify a statement I just made about not seeing Islam as just one of many paths to G-d. I have not found any other din that accepts the Unity of G-d with out associates sharing divinity, lordship, omnipotence and accepts the Rasool sws as the last Prophet, there fore, I don't see Islam as just another way out of many. Hope that made sense. Another comment I wanted to make is the steroptyping of sisters who wear hijab as being salafi's who are living off welfare, and have let dozens of men run through them like water, and are uneducated. I think that's an unfair assumption, and I personally know many black sisters who are quite the opposite. Thank you. “It is well overdue for Black American Muslims to synthesize a set of common realities even though there will of course be variations and thematic differences.” Charles

Salaamu alaikum Brothers & Sisters

I have been reading Br. Abdur-Rahman blog, Tariq Nelson’s blog, Manila [sic], and others for some time now. I have some concerns and questions I’d like to put out there.

Br. Charles the statement I’ve highlighted concerns me, so please feel free to correct me, if I’ve misunderstood.

1- In particular I’m concerned with this part of your statement: ” there will of course be variations and thematic differences.” Charles.

See, this is where things get shaky for me. I did NOT convert to Islam to get married, join a national or politic movement, nor did I convert to Islam becuase I saw it as just one of many paths to get to G-d. In my opinion, there is no point to being a Muslim, if this is going to be the case.

I see a change is on the way alhamdulillah. But can some body please tell me, will the creed of Islam, prayer, and hijab be thrown out in favor of black nationalism? That’s kind of what I’m getting from these blogs?

If some one is strict about guarding their prayer, or dedicated to the unity of G-d, or wears hijab, are we all going to be perceived as being self hating or having low self-esteem?

I’ve heard talk like this before, and the first thing to go is the salah. I’m concerned about that.

I’d also like to clarify a statement I just made about not seeing Islam as just one of many paths to G-d.
I have not found any other din that accepts the Unity of G-d with out associates sharing divinity, lordship, omnipotence and accepts the Rasool sws as the last Prophet, there fore, I don’t see Islam as just another way out of many. Hope that made sense.

Another comment I wanted to make is the steroptyping of sisters who wear hijab as being salafi’s who are living off welfare, and have let dozens of men run through them like water, and are uneducated. I think that’s an unfair assumption, and I personally know many black sisters who are quite the opposite.

Thank you.

]]> By: Charles http://www.manrilla.net/blog/2008/01/21/bricolage-blackamerican-islam-and-synthesizing-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-135465 Charles Sat, 26 Jan 2008 02:03:37 +0000 http://www.manrilla.net/blog/2008/01/21/bricolage-blackamerican-islam-and-synthesizing-the-future/#comment-135465 And in the words of MY historical memory, "Go head brotha"! It is well overdue for Blackamerican Muslims to synthesize a set of common realities even though there will of course be variations and thematic differences. Currently, the problem lies in the fact that we aren't working toward that and all too often it is out of fear and ignorance. There are so many of us who failed to recognize the many maladies we are faced with and only scratch the surface of Islam in seeking solutions. A lot of this has to do with interpretation. Some of it has to do with negating what other establishments have done. As I visit many blogs similar to your's I come across both Muslims from the traditional Muslim world and those who have ignorantly subscribed to their world-views blasting the authors for casting off false universals. "Chasing the American Dream" for Blackamericans may very well be a right that we haven't realized yet. I am personally sick of an Islam that suggests Blackamerican Muslims (or others) can't live well. We simply need to adjust our lenses which is easier said than done. And in the words of MY historical memory, “Go head brotha”! It is well overdue for Blackamerican Muslims to synthesize a set of common realities even though there will of course be variations and thematic differences. Currently, the problem lies in the fact that we aren’t working toward that and all too often it is out of fear and ignorance. There are so many of us who failed to recognize the many maladies we are faced with and only scratch the surface of Islam in seeking solutions. A lot of this has to do with interpretation. Some of it has to do with negating what other establishments have done. As I visit many blogs similar to your’s I come across both Muslims from the traditional Muslim world and those who have ignorantly subscribed to their world-views blasting the authors for casting off false universals. “Chasing the American Dream” for Blackamericans may very well be a right that we haven’t realized yet. I am personally sick of an Islam that suggests Blackamerican Muslims (or others) can’t live well. We simply need to adjust our lenses which is easier said than done.

]]> By: Marc http://www.manrilla.net/blog/2008/01/21/bricolage-blackamerican-islam-and-synthesizing-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-135455 Marc Sat, 26 Jan 2008 01:01:32 +0000 http://www.manrilla.net/blog/2008/01/21/bricolage-blackamerican-islam-and-synthesizing-the-future/#comment-135455 Sister Heather, thank you for the input and reading the post. It is my hope as well that a desperately needed Blackamerican leadership will emerge. One that is centered in the Black Experience here in American, with all of its variations and themes. Hamza - salaams. I also appreciated you comments. I have a few of my own. <blockquote>Unfortunatly alot of Immigrat Muslims are to [sic] concerned with chasing the “american dream” (obtaining a fancy job title, living in the suburbs, etc) and failed to work on problems that effect the community (Muslim & Kataabiyyah).</blockquote> Hamza - for many of the immigrant Muslims you've mentioned, all the things contained within that "dream" were issues for immigrant Muslims. From their background and point of view, education and economic prosperity were a number one priority [and I can't fault them for that]. As for the "problems that effect the community", this is where I've said before, we must split from this unity-masquerading-as-uniformity paradigm. To put it plainly, immigrant Muslims got their own agenda, and we got ours. And I don't see any issues with that. In fact, I believe this is a more realistic, existential approach to address our communities. We may be one Ummah, but we all have lived vastly different experiences and those experiences cannot be sacrificed or jettisoned for the sake of some imagined, globalized "Ummah". Ironically, many black folks in America have been trying to achieve that very same "dream" - only now, we as Blackamerican Muslims, often fall prey to our own recidivistic protest spirit, attempt to veil and cloak our own insecurities in religious garb [though non-Muslims blacks also make similar claims but instead call it "white"]. There is certainly nothing wrong [religious, secular or otherwise] with having a fancy job, title, or living in the suburbs [would city/urban living make this more palatable?]. In fact, many of us wouldn't object in a heart beat if that fancy job/title could buy us a ticket to Hajj, give real, life changing donations to sadaqah/charity. Many of our issues lie at this crossroads, and not at the altar of let's-blame-the-immigrants. The fact that we're in this position speaks to a preexisting psychological condition, but on a social level, for black folks. <blockquote>We already are seeing decreases in people turning towards Islam and increases in apostasy from Islam.Mainly due to Immigrat Muslims bad behavior and forcing their culture/tradition upon muslim converts.</blockquote> Take heart, Hamza. We should not get caught up in a numbers game when it comes to conversion rates and statistics. And as far as apostasy goes, this is something that has become a public spectacle, filled with hyperbole and fascination. A sort of "performance". What we must do is prepare [and at this stage, it's more like triage] a system of authority and validation so that we as Blackamericans can "get over the hump" as I described to one friend about shrugging off the "back of the camel" syndrome, and get back to being ourselves and addressing our past, our present, and our future. In sha' Allah, we can work to be a part of that process. Sister Heather, thank you for the input and reading the post. It is my hope as well that a desperately needed Blackamerican leadership will emerge. One that is centered in the Black Experience here in American, with all of its variations and themes.

Hamza – salaams. I also appreciated you comments. I have a few of my own.

Unfortunatly alot of Immigrat Muslims are to [sic] concerned with chasing the “american dream” (obtaining a fancy job title, living in the suburbs, etc) and failed to work on problems that effect the community (Muslim & Kataabiyyah).

Hamza – for many of the immigrant Muslims you’ve mentioned, all the things contained within that “dream” were issues for immigrant Muslims. From their background and point of view, education and economic prosperity were a number one priority [and I can't fault them for that]. As for the “problems that effect the community”, this is where I’ve said before, we must split from this unity-masquerading-as-uniformity paradigm. To put it plainly, immigrant Muslims got their own agenda, and we got ours. And I don’t see any issues with that. In fact, I believe this is a more realistic, existential approach to address our communities. We may be one Ummah, but we all have lived vastly different experiences and those experiences cannot be sacrificed or jettisoned for the sake of some imagined, globalized “Ummah”. Ironically, many black folks in America have been trying to achieve that very same “dream” – only now, we as Blackamerican Muslims, often fall prey to our own recidivistic protest spirit, attempt to veil and cloak our own insecurities in religious garb [though non-Muslims blacks also make similar claims but instead call it "white"]. There is certainly nothing wrong [religious, secular or otherwise] with having a fancy job, title, or living in the suburbs [would city/urban living make this more palatable?]. In fact, many of us wouldn’t object in a heart beat if that fancy job/title could buy us a ticket to Hajj, give real, life changing donations to sadaqah/charity. Many of our issues lie at this crossroads, and not at the altar of let’s-blame-the-immigrants. The fact that we’re in this position speaks to a preexisting psychological condition, but on a social level, for black folks.

We already are seeing decreases in people turning towards Islam and increases in apostasy from Islam.Mainly due to Immigrat Muslims bad behavior and forcing their culture/tradition upon muslim converts.

Take heart, Hamza. We should not get caught up in a numbers game when it comes to conversion rates and statistics. And as far as apostasy goes, this is something that has become a public spectacle, filled with hyperbole and fascination. A sort of “performance”. What we must do is prepare [and at this stage, it's more like triage] a system of authority and validation so that we as Blackamericans can “get over the hump” as I described to one friend about shrugging off the “back of the camel” syndrome, and get back to being ourselves and addressing our past, our present, and our future. In sha’ Allah, we can work to be a part of that process.

]]> By: Hamza21 http://www.manrilla.net/blog/2008/01/21/bricolage-blackamerican-islam-and-synthesizing-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-134210 Hamza21 Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:44:55 +0000 http://www.manrilla.net/blog/2008/01/21/bricolage-blackamerican-islam-and-synthesizing-the-future/#comment-134210 I agree with what Sister Heather stated. Unfortunatly alot of Immigrat Muslims are to concerned with chasing the "american dream" (obtaining a fancy job title,living in the suburbs,etc) and failed to work on problems that effect the community (Muslim & Kataabiyyah). We already are seeing decreases in people turning towards Islam and increases in apostasy from Islam.Mainly due to Immigrat Muslims bad behavior and forcing their culture/tradition upon muslim converts. We as indigeous Muslim have unique perspective to what and how Islam should be directed towards in the US.Only when we take leadership roles in Masajid and Islamic organizations will Islam be upon thr right path.If we don't then there is very good possiblity Sunni Islam will go the way of buddhism in this country. A religion most have heard something about but very few people practice. Salaam Hamza I agree with what Sister Heather stated. Unfortunatly alot of Immigrat Muslims are to concerned with chasing the “american dream” (obtaining a fancy job title,living in the suburbs,etc) and failed to work on problems that effect the community (Muslim & Kataabiyyah). We already are seeing decreases in people turning towards Islam and increases in apostasy from Islam.Mainly due to Immigrat Muslims bad behavior and forcing their culture/tradition upon muslim converts. We as indigeous Muslim have unique perspective to what and how Islam should be directed towards in the US.Only when we take leadership roles in Masajid and Islamic organizations will Islam be upon thr right path.If we don’t then there is very good possiblity Sunni Islam will go the way of buddhism in this country. A religion most have heard something about but very few people practice.

Salaam
Hamza

]]> By: Synthesizing the Future « A Singular Voice http://www.manrilla.net/blog/2008/01/21/bricolage-blackamerican-islam-and-synthesizing-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-133790 Synthesizing the Future « A Singular Voice Tue, 22 Jan 2008 03:16:37 +0000 http://www.manrilla.net/blog/2008/01/21/bricolage-blackamerican-islam-and-synthesizing-the-future/#comment-133790 [...] the Future January 22, 2008 Posted by Abdur-Rahman M in Culture. trackback Br Marc Manley has an excellent post about Islam in America. I highly recommend it. It is prettylong (but worth it) and I have excerpted it below: As it stands, I see much of the Islam I have witnessed coming out of the Blackamerican population has been on of eclecticism. That the process to becoming Muslim required replicating a previous or “other” version of Islam such that when it was donned by Blackamericans it still resembled its old form or context. By this I mean things such as wardrobe, diet, and societal norms. Suits and pants became thobes and turbans. Falafel and hummus became more authentic than steak and fried chicken. And holding down a 9-5 and supporting one’s family was bucked in favor of checking out against the kafir-led regime that oppressed the Palestinians. But instead, if we were to fashion an Islam that spoke to our time, our condition and our history, this bricolage would speak far greater to us than any masquerading could. [...] [...] the Future January 22, 2008 Posted by Abdur-Rahman M in Culture. trackback Br Marc Manley has an excellent post about Islam in America. I highly recommend it. It is prettylong (but worth it) and I have excerpted it below: As it stands, I see much of the Islam I have witnessed coming out of the Blackamerican population has been on of eclecticism. That the process to becoming Muslim required replicating a previous or “other” version of Islam such that when it was donned by Blackamericans it still resembled its old form or context. By this I mean things such as wardrobe, diet, and societal norms. Suits and pants became thobes and turbans. Falafel and hummus became more authentic than steak and fried chicken. And holding down a 9-5 and supporting one’s family was bucked in favor of checking out against the kafir-led regime that oppressed the Palestinians. But instead, if we were to fashion an Islam that spoke to our time, our condition and our history, this bricolage would speak far greater to us than any masquerading could. [...]

]]> By: Sr. Heather http://www.manrilla.net/blog/2008/01/21/bricolage-blackamerican-islam-and-synthesizing-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-133760 Sr. Heather Tue, 22 Jan 2008 02:00:04 +0000 http://www.manrilla.net/blog/2008/01/21/bricolage-blackamerican-islam-and-synthesizing-the-future/#comment-133760 Salaams: Thank you for sharing as always. It is time for my African-American brothers and sisters to take their places of Leadership in our Ummah. Indigenous Muslims are the last hope for inspiration in this Ummah. If we continue to think it is elsewhere, I can bear witness it is not. It is not in the lands of Arabia where people are confused about their deen and trading it for Fendi, Chanel and Gucci. Where many people continue to be illiterate in a language that has been used to Lord over indigenous believers. And it is not in the other cultures of brothers and sisters abroad who do not understand or have concern for this immediate community. The time is overdue, the time is now. You must stand up and take your places. Stop letting others define you and determine your fate and image. Do not be unassured of your self. The leadership we need is within you and we need it now. Wa salaam, Sr. Heather Salaams:

Thank you for sharing as always.

It is time for my African-American brothers and sisters to take their places of Leadership in our Ummah. Indigenous Muslims are the last hope for inspiration in this Ummah. If we continue to think it is elsewhere, I can bear witness it is not.

It is not in the lands of Arabia where people are confused about their deen and trading it for Fendi, Chanel and Gucci. Where many people continue to be illiterate in a language that has been used to Lord over indigenous believers. And it is not in the other cultures of brothers and sisters abroad who do not understand or have concern for this immediate community.

The time is overdue, the time is now. You must stand up and take your places. Stop letting others define you and determine your fate and image. Do not be unassured of your self. The leadership we need is within you and we need it now.

Wa salaam,

Sr. Heather

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