Press-ing forward
I don't know whats going on w/the US Press, but in the past week - there have been two very good articles in the New York Times about Muslims in America - one highlighting the debate over care for the elderly, and the second about two prominent Muslim leaders - Imam Zaid and Sh. Hamza.
The Muslim community in the United States is at a turning point - I think that individuals are beginning to understand that we have a responsibility to the entire country, as well as to our own communities, and that we can all grow only by supporting one another. It's the same concept of fostering the growth of our individual Muslim communities - come together in Islam, and we will grow and prosper, inshaAllah. But our little communities cannot be self sufficient at this point - we all depend on "outside" society for alot, and cannot isolate ourselves. Even if we were selfsufficient - I think that isolation is the worst route to go down as it projects an image of being selfish at the very least. We have alot to offer American society - Islamic values such as the importance of family and community and general adhab are beneficial to all, the principle that we should start everything we do in the name of Allah makes us more likely to be more efficient workers. Islam fosters discipline - although rarely does that translate in everyday life.
Anyhoo, back to the NY Times article today - it's on the front page of the Sunday newspaper. The NY Times (Sunday edition) print edition has a circulation of about 1.6 million. Who knows how many read it online. The journalist who wrote it - is a writer for the religion section of the NY Times. How many times will a piece on religion, one that is not negative or anything to do with Iraq or Afghanistan, appear on the front page? OF course, it is entirely likely that today is a slow newsday ... but they could have published ANYTHING - including the horrors of the latest bombing in the middle east, inside the mind of Zarqawi ... but no, the editors of the NY Times chose to put an article about the leaders of the Muslim community on the front page of its Sunday paper. Wow. Just that - even if you don't read the article speaks volumes about the impact of the Muslim community in this country, and the future that we can build, inshaAllah.
That being said - there's alot of work to be done w/in the community as well - a subject that I've spent hours talking about with Aly and Lina. Building a community of young professionals is the next step - there's a huge gap between the college kids and the established families, and it is a gap that needs to be filled quickly. We're brainstorming, and have come up with a few good ideas - but need more. I know that few read this blog, and we talk about these things all the time - but if we haven't - I'd love to hear your perspective on Islam, young Muslims and how we can fill the gaps!
I am reminded of the PBS special on the Legacy of the Prophet where one of the people featured quoted the Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) - "Do you love your creator? Serve your fellow man first." In my mind - the Muslim community can do no better than to serve ... in any and every capacity - professionally and socially. At the very least - we need to represent.
The Muslim community in the United States is at a turning point - I think that individuals are beginning to understand that we have a responsibility to the entire country, as well as to our own communities, and that we can all grow only by supporting one another. It's the same concept of fostering the growth of our individual Muslim communities - come together in Islam, and we will grow and prosper, inshaAllah. But our little communities cannot be self sufficient at this point - we all depend on "outside" society for alot, and cannot isolate ourselves. Even if we were selfsufficient - I think that isolation is the worst route to go down as it projects an image of being selfish at the very least. We have alot to offer American society - Islamic values such as the importance of family and community and general adhab are beneficial to all, the principle that we should start everything we do in the name of Allah makes us more likely to be more efficient workers. Islam fosters discipline - although rarely does that translate in everyday life.
Anyhoo, back to the NY Times article today - it's on the front page of the Sunday newspaper. The NY Times (Sunday edition) print edition has a circulation of about 1.6 million. Who knows how many read it online. The journalist who wrote it - is a writer for the religion section of the NY Times. How many times will a piece on religion, one that is not negative or anything to do with Iraq or Afghanistan, appear on the front page? OF course, it is entirely likely that today is a slow newsday ... but they could have published ANYTHING - including the horrors of the latest bombing in the middle east, inside the mind of Zarqawi ... but no, the editors of the NY Times chose to put an article about the leaders of the Muslim community on the front page of its Sunday paper. Wow. Just that - even if you don't read the article speaks volumes about the impact of the Muslim community in this country, and the future that we can build, inshaAllah.
That being said - there's alot of work to be done w/in the community as well - a subject that I've spent hours talking about with Aly and Lina. Building a community of young professionals is the next step - there's a huge gap between the college kids and the established families, and it is a gap that needs to be filled quickly. We're brainstorming, and have come up with a few good ideas - but need more. I know that few read this blog, and we talk about these things all the time - but if we haven't - I'd love to hear your perspective on Islam, young Muslims and how we can fill the gaps!
I am reminded of the PBS special on the Legacy of the Prophet where one of the people featured quoted the Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) - "Do you love your creator? Serve your fellow man first." In my mind - the Muslim community can do no better than to serve ... in any and every capacity - professionally and socially. At the very least - we need to represent.
posted by zai5h at Sunday, June 18, 2006
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