community

Today, for the first time since my early childhood, I went to a Mosque. Masjid.

I guess that's not completely accurate. I was raised in the Nation of Islam, and often attended the Sunday lectures at Muhammad's Mosque #25 quite regularly with my family. But I never went into a Mosque subscribing to mainstream Islam.

And this visit was particularly momentous. I would be going to the Fazl Mosque, London's first. The Imam was very nice and fed our class well. The Imam answered the many questions well.

Afterward, I expressed my personal thanks greeting with an Asalaam Alaikum. In which he asked, "So you are Muslim." I was wearing my hijab, so I was a bit taken aback. But, then again, I suppose missing the two calls of prayer during the course of our class trip could cause doubt. So, I told him that I had taken Shahada a few weeks ago, and was raised in the Nation.

I never understood why others are so concerned about how others worship.  As long as the group is keeping to themselves, then what does it matter?  In the space my group rents, the people that we worship beside meditate upon a book and the dead person who wrote it.  Sounds wholly fascinating to me, but it's not for me.  I sometimes can draw parallels to my own faith, but I don't become violent or reactionary when I think about them in the other room.  On the contrary, I smile because I think about how cool it is that two completely different, yet somewhat similar group

The month of Ramadan, the Hajj season, and the days of the Eids are some of the most blessed moments of our calendar, let us try to fill them with peace, compassion, and good will towards all humanity; and let us start within our community. Have a blessed Eid, and please sign this pledge:

We pledge to engage with respect and good will towards those who hold views different from ours on the calendar of our festivals. Wa Allahu Aalam, only the Almighty has perfect knowledge.

Here's the full statement from the MPV:

Founding conference attracts diverse gathering resolved to create physical spaces for progressive Muslims

Bronxville, NY/Los Angeles, CA: The progressive Muslim movement in the United States took a significant step forward as a diverse collection of activists, organizers, and academics gathered at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York, May 15-17, for the first conference of Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV, website: www.mpvusa.org). Coming together in fellowship, they joined in communal devotion, shared the various personal, intellectual, and spiritual journeys that brought them there, discussed how to formulate their positions on political, social, and cultural issues and how to interact with other progressives and other Muslims. They also elected an Executive Board to lead them for the next two years.

One of the usually unspoken strains of thought in the "Islamist" noise nowadays is that nationhood, as manifested by today's nation-states, is just plain unIslamic. And that was one of the critiques levelled against the movement towards the creation of the first Nation-State of the modern era specifically carved out to provide a safe haven for a Muslim-majority community--or any religious community, really. But then, at the time, Maududism and Qutbism were also incipient movements. Maududism most locally.

And it is in this context that I'd like to introduce an interesting web-based project that might best be described as an exercise in "public history"--or, more relevant to the audience of this site, a conversation in Muslim Nationhood.

If you do not believe in destiny, then boy / girl do I have a story for you. So, I've been trying to get out of a conference presentation for some time now. First, I said that I don't have enough time to whittle my paper down to the required length. Then, I got a sinus infection (when one's nose got constantly broken, this is a result; kids, don't let your noses get broken. A public service announcement by Omar). Then I started doubting myself and convincing myself that no one cared about my work and that my day would be better spent tending my date palms.

In the March/April 2007 issue of Islamic Horizons, there’s an in interesting series of articles on the topic of accreditation of Islamic schools. Among them is an article by Necva Ozgur, talking about the need for a Muslim accreditation agency.

“Although accreditation can be considered a measure of success and excellence, excellence can only be achieved if every component of the school is included. However, no accreditation entity is geared specifically towards Islamic schools. This, they must seek accreditation from a local accrediting agency, which may be a good option of starters but lacks the Islamic component. Another option would be to seek accreditation from a Muslim accrediting agency that could initiate dual accreditation with a local independent school accrediting agency. This option has the benefit of providing two accreditations and recognition. A third option might be offered when a Muslim accrediting agency can provide accreditation and recognition to the Islamic school on its own.”

Recently, friends of mine were considering an Islamic school for their child, and my first question was, “Is the school accredited?” Fortunately, it is, and I heaved a sigh of relief on hearing this, but there’s still something that nags me constantly.

As Ilan sorts out the next version of Drupal, I am putting together two new sections for the site: 1. Muslim Comedy and Humor, and 2. Your Typical Muslim. "Your Typical Muslim" will highlight Muslims that everyone should know. Ludicrously cool Muslims. In other words, your typical Muslim.

Meet Mahdi Tourage! Scholar of Islamic Studies at Colgate University. He Rides with the Mala'ika al-Janna, is a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, and is the devoted father of Layla, Thalis, and Janos, husband of Sonja, and granddaddy to little Layla's cat Pishee.

Muslim Wrestling Fans! Please join the new yahoo discussion group: Muslim Gimmick Wrestling! We'll talk about wrestling, Islam, anything else we want, but just us Muslim Wrestling fans.

Just click on the name to join the yahoo group