Posted on 01/23/2005 1:23:04 PM PST by Land_of_Lincoln_John
CAIRO , January 23 (IslamOnline.net) – A perusal through the annals of American history brings back bittersweet memories for African American Muslims, who pride themselves on being the indigenous people of this country and lament the loss of the Islamic heritage throughout ages.
“Not only were there African Muslims who were here in America as explorers before Christopher Columbus, but a third of the African slaves who were brought here during the slave trade were Muslims,” Imam Al-Hajj Talib Abdur-Rashid told The Seattle Times Saturday, January 22.
“We, the indigenous Muslims of America, particularly the African Americans, are still waking up from a 400-year coma.”
Abdur-Rashid acrimoniously recalled how his Muslim ancestors were brought to America as slaves and forced to convert to Christianity.
“We suffered psychic and blunt-force trauma to the head, and forgot everything, including who we are and what we are. We were told, 'Your name is not Ahmed, your name is Charlie. You don't worship Allah. You worship Jesus,'” he told the paper.
“But this could not erase the genetic code. So lo (sic) and behold, 400 years later ... our historical memory as Muslims is being rebooted,” added Abdur-Rashid, who was born a Baptist.
Stereotypes
Many African American Muslims further decry the prevailing stereotypes that their community was mainly made up of criminals, as some of them embrace Islam in prison.
“I have never been in prison except in my work as a chaplain,” said Abdur-Rashid.
“And I have people in leadership in my mosque who are college professors, and I also have people who are ex-offenders.”
African American Muslims also feel offended by affiliating the whole community with the Nation of Islam, especially that estimates showed that only a few thousands of some two million African American Muslims follow the group’s tenets.
Leading Muslim scholars have ruled that “the teachings of the Nation of Islam were extremely far from mainstream Islam in many matters especially those of doctrine”.
The Seattle Times said that the community is keen on playing an active role in developing American society.
It cited one of their famous mosques, the Islamic Brotherhood in New York, as a case in point with boy scout meetings, breast-cancer fund-raising and programs to combat AIDS and homelessness.
“Many here see Islam not just as a path to salvation but also as a social-action program and an authentic expression of black American identity,” the paper commented.
Marginalized
Many African American Muslims also complain about being marginalized not only by American society but, alas, by Muslim immigrants from Arab and southeast Asian countries.
“We are the single largest Muslim community in America . Yet the media often relegates us to the margins,” said Amir Al-Islam, a professor of Islamic Studies at Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York.
He further regretted that other Muslim communities in the States treat African American Muslims as less authentic despite the fact that they have been practicing Islam for decades in the country.
“Muslim organizations from the immigrant community often view us as new Muslims who are seen as not proficient in the Islamic canons and, therefore, lacking in authenticity,” Al-Islam told the paper.
Abdur-Rashid added that the marginalization of his community was very much evident in the presidential election.
A number of major US Muslim groups gave a “qualified endorsement” to Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry, calling on Muslims to vote for him.
“There was no consultation whatsoever with those of us who have any history in this land. And then, to project their collective decision as representative of all Muslims in America was an insult,” Abdur-Rashid said.
“As Ralph Ellison would say, we are the invisible Muslims in this country,” Al-Islam concluded.
...and please pardon my typos
When I referred to "our" history, my reference was to AMERICAN history, not "white history", you see?
I have a serious problem with labeling the history of this nation in terms of "white" or "black" . All ethnic groups have had a part to play in the history of this country, to the good and to the ill. Heroes and villians are well represented by every ethnic group. Public schools may have skewed American history in years past, but I have a child in public school and I can assure you that is no longer the case. American history is now taught to include the experiences of those who were not, as you put it, White, Anglo, Christian.
In fact, public schools have gone out of their way to mute the backgrounds of our founding fathers, in their attempts to not offend the sensibilities of those who are non-white, non-christian. While I laud teaching American history to include the history of all ethnic groups who played a part in making it, I object to the altering of history to make it "fair". Much in our history was not "fair" and we need to teach the ugly along with the good.
But to sacrifice truth on the alter of politically correctness does a disservice to all students of history.
There is much to be lauded in researching American History and discovering obscurities that may have been left out of a basic public school education. But let us be careful not to allow our own biases and pre-conceived notions taint the process.
If we have been "bamboozled" by our American history, do, please tell us how. And cite links and sources, please.
politically correctness
should read political correctness
I searched the net for references to the reading material that you have directed me to that contain maps, and came up with little. Perhaps I will search for the books themselves, old school library and research style, as time allows. However, if you do some up with any links on line, please produce them for us.
As far as I am concerned, the jury is still out on the matter. I have not seen the information you cite. Nor have I seen independent analysis of these maps, and writings you refer to. Nor have I seen any thing to authenticate them or their sources. Simply because someones written them down in a book does not make it either true or accurate.
Ever read Erich von Daniken's "Chariots of the Gods?"
More of this later.
... Also, what remains to be seen is will people give ME a chance when I point out things that they are unfamiliar to them, without immediately jumping to ridicule, disbelief, and disdain?
You have been given a chance here to explain yourself. It's a fast moving forum but when someone does not come back until over a day later to cite sources they were asked for, and then returns to cite references to obscure books that can out be researched on the net, a healthy skepticism kicks in.
You complain of an "educational system that distorts history of people other than those of White, Christian, Anglo origins." I find you comment very race biased. There are white people too who say white American history is distorted. Ever had a debate with a supporter of the Confederacy who says US history has been whitewashed and that the history is always written by the victors? They too cite many theories and writings in their favor. What is your obsession with race and why do you keep stereotyping white people and black people like you did in the example of our history? I have researched a few or your quotes and interviews and it appears this is not the first time you have done this.
You then complain "Anyone who will take the time to do some serious research ,will see that we have ALL been bamboozled when it somes to American history, often times." Are you referring to our educational system again? because if you are, I want to bring it to your attention that this statement grievously contradicts your previous statement indicating we have an educational system that distorts history of people other than those of White, Christian, Anglo origins and the two would be mutually exclusive.
I would have thought someone who was so concerned that we have all been "bamboozled" in the past would appreciate some people may be cynical or have a healthy skepticism. But you don't. Why?
Even if your sources are correct, for arguments sake, what does this change?
You appear to desperately need this to further your agenda to convert African Americans to Islam, so once again, I ask you to respond to what I wrote earlier:
But, while he is out trying to convert other African Americans to Islam, does he care that (let's accept this for arguments sake) "a third of the African slaves who were brought here during the slave trade were Muslims” according to what he told The Seattle Times.
This would still mean the vast majority were NOT Muslims. So what do the do when they are out "spreading the word" of Islam and getting new converts in jail or elsewhere? Do they do research into genealogy and trace a persons family history and check that their ancestors where actually Muslims first? Any by how much? If someones great great great grandfather was as Muslim, but the rest of the ancestors were not, should they still "convert back" to Islam?
Even more interesting is how do you deal with a convert when you find out that he or she has no Muslims in this family history? Do you say "Hey, sorry Jamal, you've been "bamboozled" and though I'm your imam, I'm just another "un-informed American as to the true history of your people.". Or "Jamal, sorry, we have to kick you out of the mosque now and the guy you really need to see is Father O'Leary two blocks down over at St Michael's Church?" or "Kareem, sorry dude, you need to go see the witch doctor because we found out your ancestors were really into it."
Or are his claims of pre-Columbian Islamic connections and Muslim slaves simply a tool that can be used to "bamboozle" as many African Americans as he can to convert to Islam?
For starters, he [Imam Talib Abdur Rashid] opposed the post-9/11 war against the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, even participating in and organizing a 9/22/01 anti-war demonstration in Times Square.
He has organized his congregation for anti-war protests regarding "Operation Iraqi Freedom." He has coordinate his protests with the National Action Network, led by Rev. Al Sharpton.
Imam Talib Abdur Rashid has also claimed that the Qur'anic term "Jihad" has no relation to violence or holy war; he joined radical left-wing groups attacking an alleged "anti-Muslim backlash" post 9/11; he participated in a conference praising the 1960's radical Malcolm X; he also expressed support for another 1960's radical, H. Rap Brown, a domestic terrorist and recently jailed cop killer, now known as Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin;.
But this could not erase the genetic code. So lo (sic) and behold, 400 years later ... our historical memory as Muslims is being rebooted,” added Neo Abdur-Rashid, who was born a Baptist and is now an Allahtrix. ---
Rebooted ?
LOL
Linux or windows?
No, you're WAYYYYY off.
He has a, "genetic", code for being a Muslim.
They're born that way ya know.
I put forward these articles for you to comment on so I may understand your position:
Mariyah the Sex Slave of the holy Prophet
Safiyah, the Jewish Wife of Muhammad
That nonsense about the "Qur'anic term jihad" is not true and a purposeful distorion of a statement that I made which is readily available on the 'Net. Whoever did that was trying to misrepresent what I say, by decontexualizing my words and framing them in their own context (hey, is that what you're doing with reagrds to the Time Square anti-war demo? And yes, I did work with Rev. Sharpton around the killing of an innocent, unarmed African Muslim named Amadou Diallo. As for the rest, my politics and such are no secret as a "google" search will reveal.I make no apologies for where I'm coming from. I find it so interesting though, that of all the things about me that can be pulled down on the 'Net, you chose to pull what you have with no mention of my long track record of all kinds of humanitarian work, peace-making, inter-faith relations, etc. etc. That sort of thing is what makes ME have notions of "suspect intentions".
good night to you sir
Hm-m-m, such informal address of me by someone who doesn't even use their real name to post is suspect. Sorry you haven't thus far found my references on line, but I have, as I said before, spent years doing research in libraries, and you will have to spend a least a little time doing the same, or wait until I finish writing my book and buy it. You might try going to college or special collection libraries for starters. But the titles I suggested, or at least 2 of 3 of them are readily available, or can be ordered on line I'm sure. Why not start there? I wholeheartedly agree that just because something is in a book that doesn't make it true. That is why RESEARCH is important. As for the jury still being out for you until you can do that, that's a perfectly intelligent position.
peace out
Man, you really have me working here. Yes, I'm sure that you are curious about that considering the crap (excuse my language) that you have read about the most maligned of the Prophets (peace be upon them all). When I can get the time maybe I'll construct a web-site and answer the trash such as that on those links you've cited. It'll take a lot of work to answer as I'm sure you realize. In the meantime, don't believe EVERYTHING you read, and always ask yourself, WHO wrote this? and what was their MOTIVE in writing it?
peace out
"...Of all of our studies, history is best qualified to reward all research" -Malcolm X
re: the jihad statement:
go to "www.beliefnet.com/story/4/story_475_1.html" , or do a "google" search under "imam talib abdur-rashid, jihad", and then click "Beliefnet.com", and while you're at it, click the one that reads, "the concept of jihad in islam" from religioustolerance.org
really this time,peace out
(it's 1:30 in the a.m. here)
Good evening all, I'm back again as I was thinking about those links (post 82), and this is what I want to say: First, on the book suggested by Mr. Nerks (post 74), it is a reality that there have been several books written over the years by so-called Orientalists, Christian Missionaries and others, whose purpose has been to spread dis-information about Islam, Muslims, and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Their mind-set is the same as the people who've written the above links. Consider this though, if you will - It is not difficult to search the 'Net and come up with links that say filthy, lying, blasphemous, and slanderous things about Jesus, the Son of Mary. Muslims believe as do Christians, that JESUS IS THE VERY MANIFEST WORD OF GOD. We also believe that that is a distinction that the Prophet Muhammad does not share. Now if there are evil, Satanically inspired people who would slander Jesus (THE MANIFEST WORD OF GOD), then why wouldn't there be such people who would do the same to Muhammad, who according to Muslim belief was only a (divinely inspired)mortal being not the manifest LOGOS (as was Adam)? How do we tell the truth you might ask? Well instead of me going back and forth answering or rebutting things on a web-site, I hereby reccomend the following books for those who really seek the truth (yes , it's still about research):
1- THE LIFE OF MUHAMMAD by MUHAMMAD HAYKAL (not by Edward Sells)
2- THE SEALED NECTAR (biography of the Noble Prophet) by SAIF-UR-RAHMAN MUBAKPURI
3- MUHAMMAD MESSENGER OF ALLAH by QADI IYAD
Now for those who prefer books written by non-Muslims (for fear of a lack of objectivity - although this logic should also be applied to books written by people who are avowed detractors, opponents, and enemies of Islam, as well), I've been told that the book MUHAMMAD:BIOGRAPHY OF THE PROPHET by Karen Armstrong, is a book "every Christian should read", and I assume that might be good for non-Christians also. All of thse books can be easily found or at least ordered through chain book stors like Barnes and Noble
peace out, good night to all
Bookmark 74 & 82.
Nope no Muhammed or Allah !
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