Islamic Symbolism in Hip-Hop

Who remembers the Last Poets? Notice the writing on the wing of the first angel. (Click it for a larger view).

Ayan Hirsi Ali and Black Orientalism

Insha'Allah,

I will expand on this idea a little further but for now, here is a post from my blog about the whole Hirsi Ali (or Hirsi Magan) controversy.

Be careful of the company you keep

the irony of being hassan al-turabi

From Alt.Muslim: By Shahed Amanullah, May 3, 2006

One man's extremist is another man's progressive. And sometimes they can be both at the same time. Take Sudan's Hassan al-Turabi, for example. Long derided in the West as an "Islamist extremist" that, as speaker of Sudan's National Assembly, provided Osama bin Laden with a save haven in Sudan for five years (calling him a "hero" in the process), Turabi is probably best known for his involvement in imposing sharia law on Sudan, a move which exacerbated the 20-year north-south conflict that claimed thousands of lives and was only recently resolved. Turabi also convened a "congress" in the early 1990's of militant Islamic groups from around the world, hoping to foster cooperation in training and smooth over divisions among the ranks. Wielding both a Western and Islamic educational background, Turabi used his scholarly influence and membership in the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Islamic Charter Front to orchestrate the 1985 execution of scholar Mahmoud Mohamed Taha for his unorthodox (read: liberal) Islamic beliefs. But, that was then and this is now, and as Turabi aproaches his mid-70's, he finds himself, at least partially, on the opposite side of the fence. Having fallen out of favor with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, Turabi was jailed and exiled into the opposition, where he now calls for dialogue with the West, sides with the people of Darfur against the Sudanese government, and stresses that jihad should only be waged "in self-defense and not in aggression against others." And now, embracing ideological points that cost fellow scholar Taha his life, Turabi has now gone on record supporting a host of liberal legal reforms regarding women, including allowing Muslim women to marry Christian and Jewish men (citing the experiences of female Muslim Americans), making hijab optional, allowing the testimony of women to equal that of a man, and (just when you thought this debate was over) allowing "pious scholarly women" to lead mixed-gender prayers. "When there is a pious woman," explained Turabi, "she should lead the prayers and whoever is distracted by her beauty should be deemed sick." As expected, this failure of the traditional gender litmus test has resulted in former supporters of his scholarly aptitude in the religious establishment calling for his head. "Turabi should declare repentance," said a statement by the government-supported Muslim Scholars Committee, "or face the sharia hadd for heresy." Turabi has since stood by his statements in the face of criticism, earning respect from some quarters and condemnation from others. "What Turabi is doing is obvious intellectual confusion," complained Abdul Sabour Shahin, an Islamic studies professor at Cairo University. "We have to look at the context of this matter particularly from the framework of ijtihad when it comes to the general issues of women in Islam," responded Turabi to his critics. "The modern and contemporary Islamic discourse on women lags far behind the authentic Islamic rules and principles."

say salaams to tavis

Welcome new blog member: Tavis Adibudeen at Lantern Torch: Creative Illumination

black slaves, arab masters

This was blatantly stolen from Tavis at Lantern Torch: I would say that Black Slaves, Arab Masters is a fairly representative African-American Muslim opinion on the subject of slavery and Islam. It is followed up with Attitude of Ahl al-bayt towards slaves

muslim activist confronts the needs of the city

Chicago Tribune: Muslim confronts needs of city is a story on the recent and past activities of Rami Nashashibi and IMAN (Inner-City Muslim Action Network).

Dr. Abdul Hakim Jackson in NYC! May 20-21st!

ALIM: The American Learning Institute for Muslims, in conjunction with the Office of the Muslim Chaplain at New York University and the Islamic Center at NYU, is pleased to present

The Seerah - The Meccan Period
A Two Day Intensive with Dr. Sherman Jackson
Saturday, May 20th - Sunday, May 21st
9 A.M. - 5 P.M.

New York University, Thompson Center
238 Thompson Street
New York, NY 10012

Say (Oh Muhammad): "If ye do love Allah, Follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
Qur'an, 3:31

The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, is the last Messenger of God who came to teach us the Truth and how to live according to that Truth in all areas of our lives. By studying the Prophet's (pbuh) life and experiences during the dynamic Meccan period, Muslims can take away invaluable lessons which will help them in their everyday lives.

This intensive Seerah course is an indispensable part of any Muslim's life. It will challenge you to ponder the relationship between the universal and the particular. It will encourage you to learn from the best example in history. It will bring you to new heights in your imaan, but only if you let it.

Come join your fellow Muslims for an enlightening event that will bring knowledge into your mind, laughter to your heart, tears to your eyes, and the spiritual fulfillment that we all need. As Muslims it is our duty to continue learning. We hope that you will take this unique and wonderful opportunity to learn about the seerah during the Meccan period.

Ye have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the Praise of Allah.
Qur'an, 33:21

Register at - http://www.icnyu.org/seerah/

Please direct any questions or concerns to - http://www.icnyu.org/seerah/contact.html

On behalf of the entire planning committee, we sincerely ask for your duas, prayers and blessings as we seek to make this endeavor a success.

Essay On The Apologists

This does have some tie-ins to things that Dr. Jackson has spoken about. This is an essay I did for my religious studies class - I've parred it down in language and length for posting on the Web. Here's the link. Salaams.

Marqas

hail polygamy

The heavens forbid,
But that our loves and comforts
Should increase,
Even as our days do grow.
- Shakespeare, Othello

From the Jamaica Observer: Hail Polygamy by Tony Robinson

This article isn't from a Muslim perspective, but it does offer a pragmatic (leaning towards irrevernt) look at a subject with some connection to Islam.

For the record, I'm not gung ho about polygamy. It is obviously not for everyone and there are special challenges faced by polygamous marriages in contemporary times. Everyone involved has to work harder to be respectful of the other people's feelings and not everyone has the patience, discipline, or tolerance inside them to make it all work. A close Egyptian friend of mine had her father "marry on" her mother and it wasn't a good scene.

At the same time, in some contexts I think it can make a lot of sense. And in modern times, when Western societies are redefining in basic ways what the institution of marriage even means, it is kind of funny to me that there aren't more people advocatating for what is arguably a very "traditional" and time-tested structure.

it's just weird, okay?!

return of the janjaweed

Alt.Muslim: Return Of The Janjaweed, This Time In Chad The troubles in Darfur are spilling across the border into neighboring Chad.

5 truths about darfur

Washington Post: 5 truths about darfur

the urban background of enslaved muslims in the americas

The Urban Background of Enslaved Muslims in the Americas by Paul E. Lovejoy

Abstract:
Enslaved Muslims constituted a relatively small proportion of the enslaved population in the Americas, and that population was largely male. This article explores an unappreciated dimension of the background of these enslaved Muslims, the fact that most came from towns and had traveled widely, between towns; that is enslaved Muslims tended to come from urban settings, no matter where they ended up in the Americas. This urban background has implications in terms of the experiences and expectations of the enslaved. The urban context was associated with commerce, craft specialization, literacy, and political and social consciousness of slavery and its meaning within west Africa. The study examines available biographical information on enslaved Muslims from the Western Sudan, usually referred to as Mandingo or some variant in the Americas, and those from the Central Sudan, including Hausa, Yoruba, Nupe and people from Borno. The urban setting of Muslim areas of West Africa is then compared with other towns and cities in the Atlantic world during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in terms of size of towns and multicultural backgrounds of urban populations, further demonstrating that the urban background of many enslaved Africans and the extent to which the enslaved population was moved between towns has not been appreciated.

The Salafi Conversation

Don't take this as beating a dead horse but I've had some really good responses about this movement that I believe should concern us. Check out the blog to get the low-down and read some of the responses. Hopefully some of you may even leave a few comments of your own. Salaams.

M...

Finally, she postin' somethin'

Here are some thoughts on African-American Muslims on my blog.

The Souls of Modern Day Black Folk

SBW Syndrome and African-American Marriages

fourth annual conference on islamic african civilization

Saturday April 8th, 2006
12:45 pm - 10 pm
The Fourth Annual Conference on Islamic African Civilization
Public Health Auditorium, Rm. 23
(located on Fifth Ave. bet. Bouquet St. and Oakland Ave.)
University of Pittsburgh

Lectures Include (in order of schedule):
The U.S. Constitution: Reading Between the Lines
An Analysis of African Muslim Resistance to European Colonialism
The Historical Relationship between Muslim Spain and Islamic Africa
Keynote speaker: Jihad Abdul-Mumit, former Political Prisoner, Black Panther Party Member, and Black Liberation Army Member, speaking on "Self Determination"

ali farka toure (Inna lillahi wa inna ilahi raji'un)

Ali Farka Touré passed on March 7, 2006

Wikipedia: Ali Farika Toure
Artist Direct: Ali Farika Toure Bio
Mali-Music.com: Ali Farika Toure in short (which speaks more of his religious beliefs)

african american muslims: what's their future

Here is an interesting series of thoughts found on another blog. Among other things, it compares the spending habits and family life of African-American Muslims to African-Americans generally.

African American Muslims. What’s their future?
African American Muslims. What’s their future? Part 2

easing tensions over race, religion in detroit

Heads-up from Marqas
News & Notes with Ed Gordon, March 17, 2006 · Tensions have existed for decades in Detroit, where the nation's largest community of Arab Americans lives near a predominantly black inner-city. But the two communities have successfully managed to reach out to one another. Jerome Vaughn of Detroit Public Radio reports.
NPR: Easing Tensions over Race, Religion in Detroit

islam and revitalizing urban communities

From Crescent Life: "Unveiling" Islam: New Roles and Resources Toward The Revitalization of Urban Communities by Jaleel Abdul-Adil is a brief article which speaks some on the relationship between Islamic activism, community organizing, and community organizing, with an emphasis on the Chicago-based, Inner City Muslim Action Network.