Comments on: African American Muslims and Their Social Purgatory http://www.manrilla.net/blog/2009/11/26/african-american-muslims-and-their-social-purgatory/ Exploring Islam in America through the social sciences Mon, 01 Mar 2010 03:40:49 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: RosaRosa http://www.manrilla.net/blog/2009/11/26/african-american-muslims-and-their-social-purgatory/comment-page-1/#comment-245615 RosaRosa Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:25:47 +0000 http://www.manrilla.net/blog/?p=1637#comment-245615 Do our muhajir brothers and sisters who have lived in the US still consider themselves "immigrants"? Or do they just recognize that they have a close connection to family and a land on the other side of the world that they also call home. Those brothers and sisters whose familial origins that are not the US have a culture that for the most part is intact and valid. Not perfect, but intact and based on Islam. The image of the African American throughout the world is one of a criminal, thug, immodest, immoral person either poor or a celebrity athelete or overly sexual musician/hip hop artist. The statistics speak for themselves in terms of single parent homes, multiple children from unmarried homes and the lack of education and social status of the majority of most African Americans. As I have told my children and their friends, no one is stopping any of us from going to libraries, living simply and morally and avoiding the drug/social/sexual lifestyle that beckons. There is no racist conspiracy causing men and women to make bad choices when their own parents struggled to teach them the right way to live. There are many, many reasons why African Americans are further behind in society than their own people were 50 years ago. At least 50 years ago, men did not dresss in a manner designed to showcase their underwear and women were not collectively referred to in vulgar terms by their own people. My point is that most "muhajirs" view African Americans as low class people and do not want to be associated with them. If African Americans in general were the medical class, the engineering class or even the military class of people, I am certain that such a condition would not exist. This is not Islamic, but if you live or work in the urban/inner city, most people, including this African American Muslim have good reason to feel that way. Quran and The Sunnah instructs us not to imitate the non-believers and to distinguish ourselves from them. Anyone can put on a hijab, jilbab, niqab or thobe. However, many among us have not clothed their personality, character and behaviors in Islamic practices and sadly are just considered a "Negro with a Muslim name." Yes, racism and colorism is part and parcel of the Muslim world. Totally unIslamic, but no society is free of its ugliness. In sum, most non-African American Muslims have their own culture and like many of our own people, do not want to embrace the popular, current African American culture that presently exists. Do our muhajir brothers and sisters who have lived in the US still consider themselves “immigrants”? Or do they just recognize that they have a close connection to family and a land on the other side of the world that they also call home. Those brothers and sisters whose familial origins that are not the US have a culture that for the most part is intact and valid. Not perfect, but intact and based on Islam. The image of the African American throughout the world is one of a criminal, thug, immodest, immoral person either poor or a celebrity athelete or overly sexual musician/hip hop artist. The statistics speak for themselves in terms of single parent homes, multiple children from unmarried homes and the lack of education and social status of the majority of most African Americans. As I have told my children and their friends, no one is stopping any of us from going to libraries, living simply and morally and avoiding the drug/social/sexual lifestyle that beckons. There is no racist conspiracy causing men and women to make bad choices when their own parents struggled to teach them the right way to live. There are many, many reasons why African Americans are further behind in society than their own people were 50 years ago. At least 50 years ago, men did not dresss in a manner designed to showcase their underwear and women were not collectively referred to in vulgar terms by their own people. My point is that most “muhajirs” view African Americans as low class people and do not want to be associated with them. If African Americans in general were the medical class, the engineering class or even the military class of people, I am certain that such a condition would not exist. This is not Islamic, but if you live or work in the urban/inner city, most people, including this African American Muslim have good reason to feel that way. Quran and The Sunnah instructs us not to imitate the non-believers and to distinguish ourselves from them. Anyone can put on a hijab, jilbab, niqab or thobe. However, many among us have not clothed their personality, character and behaviors in Islamic practices and sadly are just considered a “Negro with a Muslim name.”
Yes, racism and colorism is part and parcel of the Muslim world. Totally unIslamic, but no society is free of its ugliness. In sum, most non-African American Muslims have their own culture and like many of our own people, do not want to embrace the popular, current African American culture that presently exists.

]]> By: RosaRosa http://www.manrilla.net/blog/2009/11/26/african-american-muslims-and-their-social-purgatory/comment-page-1/#comment-245613 RosaRosa Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:59:41 +0000 http://www.manrilla.net/blog/?p=1637#comment-245613 All respect to Brother Kyle for this article. However, Elijah Muhammad was not honorable and many of us really need to recognize that anyone who associates partners will Allah, or commits adultery is not one to be followed, but less addressed as honorable. I am not suggesting that he be excluded from history, but rather the correct information be presented along with all the other fitna we have had to climb through to the Sunnah. Why bring him up in response to an excellent article about Islam in America. This is exactly what Brother Kyle was addressing. Let's be of the best in humanity, leaving alone that which may be from our past that was negative in the past. All respect to Brother Kyle for this article. However, Elijah Muhammad was not honorable and many of us really need to recognize that anyone who associates partners will Allah, or commits adultery is not one to be followed, but less addressed as honorable. I am not suggesting that he be excluded from history, but rather the correct information be presented along with all the other fitna we have had to climb through to the Sunnah. Why bring him up in response to an excellent article about Islam in America. This is exactly what Brother Kyle was addressing. Let’s be of the best in humanity, leaving alone that which may be from our past that was negative in the past.

]]> By: Abdul Hakim http://www.manrilla.net/blog/2009/11/26/african-american-muslims-and-their-social-purgatory/comment-page-1/#comment-244718 Abdul Hakim Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:28:25 +0000 http://www.manrilla.net/blog/?p=1637#comment-244718 " The thinker will eventually think outside of the myth" Imam WDM and "My spirit is to dig through 300 pounds of snow with a spoon or die trying " Imam WDM(rm) An Imam told me that he(Imam WDM) said he got that spirit from the Honorable Elijah Muhammad ” The thinker will eventually think outside of the myth” Imam WDM and

“My spirit is to dig through 300 pounds of snow with a spoon or die trying ” Imam WDM(rm)

An Imam told me that he(Imam WDM) said he got that spirit from the Honorable Elijah Muhammad

]]> By: Marc http://www.manrilla.net/blog/2009/11/26/african-american-muslims-and-their-social-purgatory/comment-page-1/#comment-244452 Marc Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:49:59 +0000 http://www.manrilla.net/blog/?p=1637#comment-244452 @ Titus. Thanks for checking it out. yes, Woodson makes some interesting observations. @ Titus. Thanks for checking it out. yes, Woodson makes some interesting observations.

]]> By: Marc http://www.manrilla.net/blog/2009/11/26/african-american-muslims-and-their-social-purgatory/comment-page-1/#comment-244451 Marc Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:49:20 +0000 http://www.manrilla.net/blog/?p=1637#comment-244451 @ J - Eid Mubarak. We wish you all were here. Go easy on the yams. They make you sleepy! @ J – Eid Mubarak. We wish you all were here. Go easy on the yams. They make you sleepy!

]]> By: J http://www.manrilla.net/blog/2009/11/26/african-american-muslims-and-their-social-purgatory/comment-page-1/#comment-244438 J Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:04:20 +0000 http://www.manrilla.net/blog/?p=1637#comment-244438 Even though I've been occupied with more-than-earthly candied yams with marshmallows at this time, I do have to say this was a good article! Even though I’ve been occupied with more-than-earthly candied yams with marshmallows at this time, I do have to say this was a good article!

]]> By: Titus Heagins http://www.manrilla.net/blog/2009/11/26/african-american-muslims-and-their-social-purgatory/comment-page-1/#comment-244431 Titus Heagins Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:01:49 +0000 http://www.manrilla.net/blog/?p=1637#comment-244431 I especially liked the Carter G Woodson comments and their relevance to Muslim issues today... Titus I especially liked the Carter G Woodson comments and their relevance to Muslim issues today…
Titus

]]> By: Marc http://www.manrilla.net/blog/2009/11/26/african-american-muslims-and-their-social-purgatory/comment-page-1/#comment-244405 Marc Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:12:09 +0000 http://www.manrilla.net/blog/?p=1637#comment-244405 Tas - wa 'alaykum as-Salaam. Thank you for the encouragement. I found brother Kyle's observations in the Youtube video quite astute when he comments on the phenomena of immigration. <em>Islamica</em> magazine had interview Imam Mohammed asking who would be leading Islam in America 50 years from now: African-American Muslims or immigrant Muslims. Kyle noted that it was both enlightening and troubling that the interviewer didn't see an issue with immigrant Muslims still considering themselves to be immigrants 50 years from now! I know that some people have objected to the cerebral nature of this blog, but I think this is another example of where thinking can be conducive to some of our issues. Tas – wa ‘alaykum as-Salaam. Thank you for the encouragement. I found brother Kyle’s observations in the Youtube video quite astute when he comments on the phenomena of immigration. Islamica magazine had interview Imam Mohammed asking who would be leading Islam in America 50 years from now: African-American Muslims or immigrant Muslims. Kyle noted that it was both enlightening and troubling that the interviewer didn’t see an issue with immigrant Muslims still considering themselves to be immigrants 50 years from now! I know that some people have objected to the cerebral nature of this blog, but I think this is another example of where thinking can be conducive to some of our issues.

]]> By: tas http://www.manrilla.net/blog/2009/11/26/african-american-muslims-and-their-social-purgatory/comment-page-1/#comment-244402 tas Fri, 27 Nov 2009 02:22:04 +0000 http://www.manrilla.net/blog/?p=1637#comment-244402 Supahna Allah. Jazak Allah khairun for the effort. MashaAllah very well written and an excellent conversation to be had. I hope that these words don't fall on deaf ears inshaAllah. Supahna Allah. Jazak Allah khairun for the effort. MashaAllah very well written and an excellent conversation to be had.
I hope that these words don’t fall on deaf ears inshaAllah.

]]>