Posted on 01/23/2005 3:12:28 AM PST by Calpernia
Mexico may be well on its way to a monotheistic revolution. This new trend is emerging from recent developments, and reflects a similar change evident in other South American nations - people are embracing Islam by the thousands, jettisoning the Catholicism imposed upon their ancestors in Spain.
The prayer congregation has tripled since Mexico City's Centro Cultural Islamico de Mexico (CCIM) first opened its doors 6 years ago. The numbers could be even higher. However, most Mexicans still have almost no knowledge of Islam. CCIM is spreading the Oneness of Allah at all levels of society and translating Islamic publications into Spanish. It also has several native-born active Da'wah graduates from Saudi Arabian universities who speak fluent Arabic. The Center's Islamic public radio program had to be suspended because of financial constraints.
In the last 3 years, CCIM built two new mosques in two cities close to the capital. Its ultimate goal is to establish full-time mosques in every major Mexican city.
Early History
Mexico has a rich history. The people of pre-Columbian Mexico, the Mayans, led a life similar to Native American Indians and were pantheists who relied upon high priests to mediate with their nature gods. Locked in wars and short of food, they gradually were wiped out and replaced by the Aztecs. These people believed in a polytheistic religion based on the world's constant creation and destruction. Their religion taught them that disasters could be averted only through warfarre and human sacrifice. By the sixteenth century, the Aztecs ruled a large part of Mexico.
In the early 1500's, Spanish conquistadors from Cuba and Spain came to pillage Mexico's natural resources - namely gold - and find glory. Cortez, the most infamous conquistador, posed as an Aztec god to mystify and trick people into joining forces with him. He conquered the Aztecs in less than 3 years, and set up "New Spain."
In 1535, the first royal court was established to grant Spanish colonists control over native labor and produce. The Roman Catholic Church allied to the Spanish monarchy, worked for creating a land free of religious dissent and to convert the people. During the 300 years of Spanish rule in Mexico, the colonists controlled all wealth and political power, and the natives had no other choice but to bey orders or to face death.
By the seventeenth century, New Spain had nearly collapsed, and Mexican Indians were dying by the millions from the imported diseases and the hard labor imposed by their oppressors. Out of nearly 11 million people in the 1520's, only less than 1 million remained by the 1550's. The cattle and sheep herds brought by the Spaniards ruined farmlands and depleted water resources, making it almost impossible for the natives to grow food. After enduring plunder and subjugation for centuries, Mexicans revolted and regained control over Mexico in the early 1900's.
Mexico Today
Today, Mexico has over 90 million people, most of whom follow the Catholicism imposed by the conquering Spaniards. However, the foodgates of religious thought have opened, and people are examing other religions - especially Islam.
There is very little knowledge about the origins of Islam in Mexico. Some sources say Syrian immigrants brought it; others say it came with Turkish immigrants.
Today, most Mexican Islamic organizations focus on grassroots Da'wah. These small organizations are most effective at the community level, going from village to village and speaking directly to the people. As a result of such hard work, Mexicans are eager to learn about Islam, and many are declaring their Shahadah - profession of faith in Islam.
Thanks for posting this. I've been telling everyone here for months about the growing muslim influence in Latin America/ Mexico. There are many hispanic muslim groups in the USA, and growing as well.
Take a look at this site if you think there is not a growing Islam influence in Mexio:http://www.islamicfinder.org/cityPrayer.php?country=Mexico
It shows the cities where the mosques are, etc.
Boletin Islamic, Chihuahua
Casa del Islam, Guadalajara
Centro Cultural Islámico de Mexico, Sonora, Hermosillo
Centro Cultural Islámico de Monterrey, A.C., Monterrey
More...
Muslim Owned Businesses
Bismilla - jewerly, Puebla
Farmacia As Salam, Coatepec
Fatma Products, Puebla
Restaurant Jerusalem, Xalapa
More...
Islamic Organizations and Services
Al-Markaz As Salafi, Distrito Federal
Informacion del Islam, Guadalajara
MEXICO PRAYER TIMES
Main Cities:
Acapulco Chihuahua Ciudad Juarez Guadalajara Leon Mexicali Mexico Monterrey Puebla Tijuana
Mexico's Undeclared War on America
Toronto Free Press ^ | 01/22/2005 | Alan Caruba
Posted on 01/22/2005 9:09:14 AM PST by Marine Inspector
Here's one I posted some time back.
http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/Park/6443/LatinAmerica/hispanic_growing.html
Number of Hispanic Muslim converts growing
By TARA DOOLEY
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle Religion Writer
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/front/1537375
Huevos rancheros for breakfast; fasulye for dinner.
It was not an unusual menu that graced the table one
recent Thursday at Patricia El-Kassir's west Houston
home.
For El-Kassir, a Mexican-American convert to Islam,
starting the day with the Mexican egg breakfast and
ending it with a Lebanese meat-and-bean dinner meant
nothing more than the merging of cultures easily found
in Islam.
"One of the things that brought me to Islam, that I
think is so beautiful, is that Muslims come from all
nations," said El-Kassir, whose husband is a native of
Lebanon.
"You can be Mexican and be a Muslim and be happy," she
added. "You don't have to be torn between two things."
Though Muslims may live in all nations, when El-Kassir
first accepted Islam 16 years ago as a 15-year-old
student at Bellaire High School, she was one of few
Hispanic Muslims at Houston-area mosques, she said.
She didn't meet another Hispanic Muslim until she was
an adult living in Lebanon.
Now when El-Kassir looks around at local gatherings of
Muslims, she sees others with roots in Latin America.
She even has friends with whom she can discuss the ins
and outs of halal meat in tamales.
"In the last couple of years, I know more and more
Muslims who are Hispanic," she said.
Some Hispanic Muslims in Houston say the general
public often assumes they are of Middle Eastern or
Pakistani origin because of their religion. But where
they once were an unrecognized "other" in demographic
studies of American Muslim communities, the number of
Hispanic converts to Islam is growing -- if
incrementally, some say.
"This phenomenon is quite old," said Sheikh Zoubir
Bouchikhi, Imam of the Islamic Society of Greater
Houston's Southeast mosque. Bouchikhi also teaches at
Masjid El Farouq, a west Houston mosque where
El-Kassir attends prayers and Quran classes.
"It's not only in Houston but also all over the United
States," he said. "In the last five years we have an
increase in the number of people embracing Islam:
Latinos."
A study of mosques in the United States, published in
2001, indicated that about 6 percent of American
converts to Islam are Hispanic, said Ihsan Bagby, an
author of the report and associate professor of
Islamic studies at the University of Kentucky. About
27 percent of American converts are white, 64 percent
are African-American and 3 percent are a mixture of
other backgrounds, according to "The Mosque in
America: A National Portrait."
Statistics are hard to come by, Bagby said, but
Hispanics are becoming a significant minority of
American converts to Islam. --snip
Here is a reference page you may want to add. Thanks for your information.
http://www.muhajabah.com/latinos.htm
Articles about Latino Converts to Islam
Hispanic Muslims Articles, by various (a collection of articles)
Islam Luring More Latinos, by Chris L. Jenkins
Latinos Turning to Islam Are Increasing, by Daniel Wakin
New Islamic Movement Seeks Latino Converts, by Margaret Ramirez
Ole to Allah: New York's Latino Muslims, by Hisham Aidi
Small Wave of Latinos Feel the Draw of Islam, by James W. Blair
US Latinas seek answers in Islam, by Christine Armario
Personal Stories of Latino Converts
My Journey to Islam, by sister Ericka, a Mexican-American
My Journey to Islam, by sister Asma A'lia (Elizabeth Valencia), a Mexican-American
My Journey to Islam, by brother Abdul-Walee Gomez from El Salvador
My Story of How I Became a Muslim, by brother Ali, a Mexican-American
Resources for Latino Muslims
El Sagrado Coran - Translation of the Quran by Spanish-speaking Muslims
Hermanas Musulmanas Unidas - Spanish-language site about Islam for Latinas
Latin American Muslim Unity - Mega-site for Latino Muslims
Latino American Da'wah Organization - Promoting Islam among Latinos
Review of Three Spanish Translations of the Quran - Learn more about the available Spanish translations
Online Discussion Groups for Latino Muslims
Note: The founder's blurb is included with each group
Asociacion de Latinos Musulmanes e-group - Welcome to The Latinos Muslim Assocation. Feel free to post events and questions related to Islam throughout the World. Visit the the News and Links section for useful resources
Hermanas Musulmanes Unidas e-group - Bismiallah Hiraman Niraheem Assalam aliakaum wa rahamtulahi wa barkatuh, Bienvenida a Hermanas Musulamnes Unidas. Aqui podras encontrar la ayuda y consejos de sus hermanas Musulmanes cuando mas lo necesite. Y tambien sera un foro para preguntas o dudas que puedas tener sobre El-Islam. Este grupo solamente es para mujeres. Assalam ALaikaum Wa rahamtulahi wa barakatuh, Welcome to Hispanic Muslim Women United. Here you will be able to find the help and advice you need from your Muslim sisters. This is also a forum where you will be able to ask any questions you might have about Islam. This forum is for women only. Jazaka ALlah Khair
Hispanic Muslim e-group - Discussing issues of Hispanic Muslims
Latino American Da'wah Organization e-group - Latino American Dawah Organization (LADO) was founded in September 1997 by a handful of Latino converts to Islam. LADO is a grassroots, nonprofit organization geared toward promoting Islam among Latinos and provides support to Latino Muslims. LADO distributes and makes available information about Islam in Spanish, Portuguese, and English. LADO is headquartered in New York City. Currently, we have members in ten states
Latino Muslems e-group - hola! welcome to the latino muslems club, its a place to hang out meet new people chat about islam, and feel connected to youre latin muslem brothers and sisters enjoy! and please feel free to tell youre freinds-founder fahtma chavez
Latino Muslim e-group - Discussing issues of Latino Muslims
Latino Muslims NYC e-group - Hi thank you for visiting this club. The purpose is for Latino Muslims or Latinos with interests in Islam to meet those w/ similar interests. There are only about 15,000 Latino Muslims in the U.S. today. But the number is growing steadily and my goal is for us to unite and give each other support
Latino Muslims e-group - Although there is no nationality in Islam in the way we know it; many Spanish Speaking muslims want to keep informed about the latino world and its need for Allah
PIEDAD e-group - This is a Bism Rabbik Foundation and PIEDAD colloboration. A hispanic Radio station for dawah purposes. All invited to join us and participate. Open to all who want to assist for the sole purpose of spreading AL islam. Miami Base. Hispanic outreach to teach and assist the muslims in their journey to Islam
It simply will not work. No Mexican is going to give up green chile and pork or chorizo.
"All I did was ping someone"
Ah, yes, but was it a hysterical ping???? Some people here do not want these things discussed.
My standard answer for all things islam......
The five oldest and most trusted Islamic sources don't portray Muhammad as a great and godly man. They confirm that he was a thief, liar, assassin, mass murderer, terrorist, warmonger, and an unrestrained sexual pervert engaged in pedophilia, incest, and rape. He authorized deception, assassinations, torture, slavery, and genocide. He was a pirate, not a prophet. According to the Hadith and the Qur'an, Muhammad and his henchmen plundered their way to power and prosperity.
No ....not Saddam......Muhammad !
bump!
bump!
Thanks- copied & saved.
Pick up a few articles here and there off the web and declare a disaster, while Mexico remains one of the most Christian nations in the world.
JMO, following the mainstream media school of journalism is not a way to go through life.
BLAH, BLAH, Blah......
BOO!
BOO!
Uh JAS, this is not first grade but FR.
"¡Puro Latino! ¡Puro Islam! ¡A su LADO!"
Members don't create opportunities for LADO. Members create opportunities for Allah.
Latino American Dawah Organization(LADO) is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1997 by a handful of converts to Islam. Our mission is to promote Islam among the Latino community within the United States. We also educate Latinos and others about the legacy of Islam in Spain and Latin America and provide free information about Islam to all interested parties. Alhamdulillah (All praise is due to God), many Latinos are embracing Islam. Some feel that they are reclaiming their Islamic heritage.
http://www.latinodawah.org/
Dane, you will NOT stiffle this debate.
A New Minority Makes Itself Known: Hispanic Muslims
... In recent years, Latino Muslim groups have formed in most large ... group in Washington, estimates that 25,000 Hispanics in the United States are Muslims. ...
www.parkridgecenter.org/Page1907.html - 13k -
Islam and Muslims in Hispanic Culture
... Islamic Movement Seeks Latino Converts The ILM Foundation is making Islam accessible to Hispanics in the United States. Growing Number of Latino Muslims A look ...
www.lasculturas.com/lib/libIslam.htm - 7k - Cached - Similar pages
Islamic Horizons
... The Latino community needs to be informed about Islam ... initiative in reaching out to the Hispanic community ... is therefore imperative that all Muslim Americans join ...
www.isna.net/Horizons/article.asp?section=1& issueid=19&leftbar=1&catid=11 - 12k - Cached - Similar pages
Pakistan Link — Community
... in 1997 to aid Islamic conversion in Hispanic communities, and the Islamic Association of North America (ISNA) estimate the number of Latino Muslims in the ...
www.pakistanlink.com/Community/2003/Jan/17/16.html - 4k - Cached - Similar pages
thetruereligion.org - Converts-New Muslims
... "People say, you're not really Latino if you're Muslim but being a Muslim means you ... Rican New Yorker, who co-founded Alianza Islamica, a Hispanic mosque in ...
thetruereligion.org/modules/ xfsection/article.php?articleid=170 - 32k - Cached - Similar pages
Los Angeles Latino Muslim Association (LALMA)
... said Nur, vice president of the Latino-Muslim Movement in ... Islamic ties to Hispanic culture date back to ... Moorish rule, Christians, Jews and Muslims coexisted in ...
www2.islamicity.com/LatinoMuslims/ articles/movement.html - 15k - Cached - Similar pages
Olé to Allah: Hisham Aidi profiles New York's thriving Latino ...
... groups. In the Barrio, Latino Muslims have been at the forefront of battles against gang activity, drug dealing and prostitution. The ...
www.islamfortoday.com/ole.htm - 15k - Cached - Similar pages
Carnegie Reporter, Vol. 1, No. 4 | Muslims in America: Identity ...
... Latino Muslims are also a growing community: the Washington, DC-based American Muslim Council estimates that there are 25,000 Muslims of Hispanic heritage in ...
www.carnegie.org/reporter/04/muslims/index2.html - 13k - Cached - Similar pages
The 2004 ISNA Latino Muslims Conference
... The 2004 ISNA Latino Muslims Conference. ... Today, ISNA is poised to take a fresh look and foster ways of recognizing Latino Muslim Americans. ...
www.latinodawah.org/conference/ - 10k - Cached - Similar pages
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