Enlightening the Clothes Minded
by Selena Robert
How does she do it? In the face of triple teams, with defenders all but linking their arms like paper dolls, Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir is able to exploit the limited daylight she gets and average 42 points a game.
How does she do it? Passing Rebecca Lobo’s 17-year-old Massachusetts high school mark of 2,710 career points is about as easy as bumping Julie Andrews off the hilltop, and yet Bilqis graciously eclipsed the legend in January on her way to becoming the first player in state history — male or female — to score 3,000 points.
How does she do it? For the last four seasons –beginning one year after her 43-point varsity debut as, yes, an eighth-grader — the 5-foot-3 1/2 Bilqis has played for New Leadership Charter School in Springfield in full Muslim dress, arms and legs covered beneath her uniform, wearing a head scarf, or Hijab.
Bilqis doesn’t mind remarks rooted in curiosity; it’s the questions out of ignorance that she meets with a confident rejection. “When some people come at me with, ‘Oh, is that a tablecloth on your head?’ — it’s like, really, don’t,” Bilqis (pronounced Bill-KEACE) said last Thursday, the day she ended her high school career with 51 of the Wildcats’ 57 points in a regional Division III quarterfinals playoff loss. “If you’re going to have that kind of question, don’t ask me. But some people are truly honest in asking a question, like, ‘Oh, I don’t want to be rude, but why do you wear that?’ That’s the kind of question I’d rather answer.”
So let’s get the obvious out of the way: No, the perpetual motion point guard doesn’t melt under her extra apparel. She ditched cotton a couple of years ago after discovering the blissful wicking power of Under Armour. “Saved my life,” she says with a laugh. Since her freshman season Bilqis, the youngest of eight children in a bustling Muslim household in Springfield — birthplace of basketball, site of her first Nerf hoop dunk at age three — has not revealed a bare leg or biceps on the court. “In eighth grade, I wasn’t covered,” she says. “I looked like everybody else.” The wardrobe transformation was by rule more than choice: Upon reaching puberty, an Islamic woman cover herself in public, requiring Bilqis to endure the last thing next to acne an adolescent wants. The dreaded square peg.
“It really wasn’t a decision. I had to,” she says. “I had to get used to it, no matter how hard it was for me. I know the first few weeks in school kind of tested me.”
It was still post-9/11. It was still preenlightenment. Some nights on the floor in visiting gyms, she would hear the catcalls derived from the fear of the unknown, shouted in stupidity: “Terrorist!” But slowly, the more heads she turned with her step-back threes and her sleights of hand, the more minds Bilqis opened. This wasn’t grudging tolerance but joyous acceptance of an exceptional player and student. Not only does she possess a cashmere-soft touch and flinty defensive skills, but she’s also on the honor roll, with an interest in premed and the stomach for the Discovery Health Channel. (“I’m good with the scalpel scenes,” she says.) Bilqis has been embraced for all she is. With 1:23 to go before halftime on Feb. 17, the Wildcats’ game was stopped for 10 minutes as the home crowd cheered her 3,000th point.
But such acceptance is hardly universal. It didn’t go unnoticed to Bilqis last month when Shahar Peer, a Jewish tennis player from Israel, was denied a visa at the last minute for a WTA tournament in Dubai. In an instant that city, which is so Westernized it can seem like a gilded Disney of the desert, took a major step backward by entwining religion and sports.
“I really feel it shouldn’t be that way,” Bilqis says. “It shouldn’t matter what god they believe in … or what they do religiously during the day … or what they have on their head. The question is, Can you play?”
Yes, she can. Bilqis is expected to become the first Islamic player in NCAA Division I history to take the basketball court in full dress when she starts her college career next fall on scholarship at Memphis. That’s a long three from Springfield, far from the siblings and schoolmates who support her. “[My family] tells me, ‘If you have to cry, cry and let it out,’ ” she says. “They say, ‘Call home, talk it out.’ ” Bilqis has already found a little bit of home in Memphis, locating a mosque five minutes from campus. Still, she is about to enter the big time, in arenas packed with thousands instead of gyms with four-row risers. She’ll be unmistakable.
That’s Bilqis, in the Hijab. It’s the blur you see on her head fake to the basket. How does she do it? That’s how.
POSTED BY THELEGACYMAKER AT 1:35 PM
Single Muslim Father: Interview
Ammar Hanif, a twenty six year old Muslim man residing in Baltimore, MD speaks out about life as a single father.
YRAC: As Salaamu Alaikum! It’s good to have you here with us.
Ammar: Wa Alaikumu Salaam, it’s good to be here!
YRAC: Great, so starting off…tell us where you are from, and where you were raised.
Ammar: I was born in ATL shawty! (laughter) I was born in Atlanta and raised…in the south.
YRAC: Ok, what part of the south exactly?
Ammar: Multiple parts. I moved a lot…..
YRAC: And you now reside in….Baltimore..Maryland, correct?
Ammar: Yes I do.
YRAC: Awesome. So tell me, how old is your child?
Ammar: Four years old.
YRAC: Great age, the age of independence! (laughter) I’ll be honest, I am hesitant about referring to you as a “single father”. In this day in time, many people use the phrases “single mom”, or “single dad”. Some like the phrase, some do not. Do you consider yourself a single dad?
Ammar: Well I think so. I am single and i am a father. I suppose some may look at the term and take it to mean that they are taking care of the child all by themselves but i do not automatically assume this when i hear the term single parent. To me it means literally what it says, you are single and you are a parent. And that i am…..
YRAC: Thats a very interesting perspective. You are the main parent in your daughters life though, are you not?
Ammar: Yes, I am.
YRAC: What is the most difficult thing about being the main parental figure in your childs life?
Ammar: Not getting regular breaks! (laughter)
YRAC: I see, about how often do you get breaks?
Ammar: Well, anyone who has kids can tell u that they require 24hr attention. Giving another being 24hr attention can be hella stressful on even the most patient person. When both parents are actively involved in sharing that attention, then it doesnt all rest on one person. I get breaks not too often…..
YRAC: Yes,being a mother myself, I definitely can understand that. You have a little girl, correct?
Ammar: Yes
YRAC: I know shes only four years old, but do you worry about boys? The possibility of her one day having crushes, wanting to go out, etc etc. How are you going to handle being the father to a Muslim girl in a non Muslim country with non Muslim morals?
Ammar: With a shot gun, and lots of telling her that boys are yucky! It’s working so far! (laughter)
YRAC: Oooh MY! Ok, so seriously! (laughter) Are you going to enforce her wearing khimar/hijab? Do you consider yourself a “firm” father?
Ammar: I will give my daughter Qur’an, hadith, and role models of people with good character, both male and female. I will explain to her: “this is who you emulate…”, and insha’Allah pray she follows what I give her. If it helps gets my daughter to paradise, i will be the most firm father ever.
YRAC: Alhumdulillah. That is great advice. It seems that you are doing an excellent job! Are you currently looking for a spouse?
Ammar: Thanks and yes I am.
YRAC: Well we here at YRAC have plenty of single Muslimahs as members (hint hint) haha!
Ammar: (laughs) So I hear, I plan on joining shortly…not just for the Muslimahs of course….. (laughs)
YRAC: Ok, so you say you are in search of your mate. What are some qualities that you are looking for in a woman and do you find yourself leaning towards women who already have a child/children because you have a child…so you feel it will be easier to relate?
Ammar: Not really, I just look for very maternal and patient qualities in regards to Assata.
YRAC: Assata? That is your daughters name?
Ammar: Yes
YRAC: Beautiful name, and I can understand why your spouse having maternal characteristics would be important. Do you have a favorite “Assata thing”? You know…your favorite something she does that just makes u laugh or warms ur heart?
Ammar: Hmm…. has to be her hugs n kisses……..she always wants hugs n kisses.
YRAC: Awww! Precious! Ok, last question….If you had to give one piece of advice to single fathers out there, what would it be?
Ammar: Be patient and try to get a stress relieving hobby!
YRAC: Ditto! Shukran Mr. Hanif, its been a pleasure.
Ammar: Yeppers. Afwan.
YRAC: As Salaamu Alaikum!
Ammar: Wa Alaikumu Salaam!
Copyright ⓒ 2009
Safareye Interview
SafarEye: The Emcee & Producer with a Clear Vision
YRAC: SafarEye! As Salaamu Alaikum brother, how are you?
SafarEye: Wa alaikum as salaam.. I’m good and you?
YRAC: Alhumdulillah, im great. Excited about exchanging with you! Tell us about your name…how did it come to be?
SafarEye: It came about from me traveling around the U.S. doing African drum and dance shows with various companies. I’ve been doing that for years, since I was three. I had the name Safari at first but my best friend Khalfani in Atlanta called me SafarEye and I was like hmmm….I like it (laughter). So…. I stuck with the name!
YRAC: I see! Now…what does it mean exactly?
SafarEye: Nothing to special about it’s meaning. It just means traveler.
YRAC: Ok ok, I think that’s very special. We are travelers here on this earth. The concept is simple, yet still special. Speaking of traveling..tell us of your travels, your journey. Where were you born, raised, and where do you currently reside?
SafarEye: I was actually born in a small country town called Baindridge Georgia and raised in Brooklyn New York. Now I live here in Atlanta GA, but I love New York.. It feels like home to me.
YRAC: I’m originally from NYC myself so of course I feel you! Gotta love New York! How much has your environment/surroundings shaped the things you write about?
SafarEye: …I get all my good inspiration from being around my Muslim brother’s and sister’s anywhere I go. Also being Muslim helps me keep a good focus in my songs as well. Everything I write is from Allah (swt) and his prophet (pb).
YRAC: Alhumdulillah. I immediately noticed that about the content of your music. Very admirable. How long have you been writing and what first inspired you to pick up the pen?
SafarEye: Well at first I was introduced to African drum and dance at the age of three. Music has always been in my heart from the start. Then I started listening to busta ryhmes, talib kweli, mos def, common, all the conscious people who really knew how to spit real lyrics not like you hear in todays world. I started rapping when I was like 16. I used to sneak in my abu’s studio. It was restricted from us kids, and one day he caught me by listening to a track I produced. He was so amazed because he didn’t yet know how to even make music on it. He knew I did it because I saved it with my name on it.
YRAC: So how did he react?
SafarEye: He was like Hak.. (short for Hakim…my name) this is really nice…..but you know you have to get a spanking right? (Laughter) My face went from a big giant smile to a huge frown! But, ever since then, I just had a passion for hip-hop. At first I wasn’t speaking about Islam in my music though….
YRAC: Wow, if that isn’t a classic “How i came into Hip Hop” story! (laughter) So you mentioned you were not always speaking about Islam in your music. What were you speaking about?
SafarEye: I was rapping more about how I felt about a young sister in my class… (laughter) Nobody ever heard it because I was mad shy back then. I was also free styling and mind you…I was still in training so I didn’t even know how to freestyle!
YRAC: (laughter) Ooooh Safar was rappin’ about good ol “love” huh?! I must ask…have you ever been in love?
SafarEye: …….No, I don’t believe I’ve been introduced to true love yet but insha’Allah I will soon find it..her. But…I have been married before. Masha’Allah it did not last very long though.
YRAC: How long?
SafarEye: (laughter) …Hmmm for a very long three months which felt like three long years! ….It wasn’t a good look.
YRAC: I feel you. Do you create songs that specifically deal with things you have been through? For example, have you ever vented about your marriage that didn’t work, through music.
SafarEye: YES it’s funny that you asked…but not for the album though…that would be too crazy. I’ve only made one song about it. It was a really good release for me.
YRAC: Alhumdulillah. I have always thought our Art should be our healing. Earlier in our conversation you made a reference to “conscious music”. What do you think of the overall state of Hip Hop today and do you think that labeling some music as “conscious” and other types as “garbage” creates division within the Hip Hop Community?
SafarEye: I think if we can talk garbage on the radio, degrading women and all that then we can definitely speak the truth in our lyrics. Radio in todays dunyah doesn’t think consciousness is very marketable but I do believe it’s time for a change. We only have a few talking about Islam on a small level. I knew it will be a touch road ahead to even get that far, but I have confidence that people out there are open and waiting for someone to represent us as Muslim’s to speak on it. There are many that have misconceptions of what Islam is even about. So, yes, I do believe that there is a difference in what is garbage and what is not. I’m not trying to say I’m the best because I truly believe I’m not, but we as people period need to represent. I used to be in a group a long time ago called “The Sahabah’s”. We were like 30 deep in the group and we had a song called “Mecca to Medina….
YRAC: Wait….I think i’ve heard that, tell me more!
SafarEye: Yeah, it was one of the hottest songs that i’ve ever heard, even to me. People use to hear it and cry. It was very touching because Islam rap was very new. The group didn’t stay together for very long. I started it but we really didn’t have a dedicated relationship with each other. So it went from being 30 to 20 to 10 to 2. My last show was in Orlando, Florida. It was an Islam Hip-Hop Summit put together by Sister Jamilah Jihad.
YRAC: I see. Well, at least you guys created a song that touched many a soul. That is something to be proud of. Lets talk about your album…”Voyage to jennah”…are you happy with its outcome?
SafarEyez: Oh yes i am… the name alone really speaks on how I am learning, as well as a student of Islam. I love it. The name came to me very easy because of my name SafarEye. SafarEye travels…it’s his voyage to Jennah, you see? It’s the first album I’ve done as well.. I can’t wait for it’s release!
YRAC: Neither can I! I’ve heard some tracks so far from your “youracreator” page. Wonderful! What inspired the song “sunrise?
SafarEye: My good friend Khalfani came up with the idea for that song. We were initially going to make a mix CD of Islam artist and that being one of the song but we loved it so much that we are going to form a group of three members called The Alliance. It’s actually still undecided. I love that song too..
YRAC: Aaah, i see. I’m going to be looking out for The Alliance, yall should make that happen! How hard is it balancing your passion for and pursuit of music with working (striving to work) a “regular” job or having a career? Do you often feel conflicted?
SafarEye: No.. I never felt conflicted from it.. I actually made the job work for me so that I can buy the equipment and record myself on my own time when I came home from work. There where times when I did feel conflicted from it because I didn’t have the recording equipment to get the job done, but I’m a very patient person and very hard working.
YRAC: Alhumdulillah. Two very important qualities, that’s a blessing. So briefly, once you release your album, whats next for you?
SafarEye: Insha’Allah I hope that it does well enough for me to travel and perform it. I want it to be a career change very bad because of my love for it. I will be continuing to make more and store for my next album insha’Allah. I will have to remake one song tho…
YRAC: What song is that?
SafarEye: “The Comforter”
YRAC: Why a remake?
SafarEye: Well, the singer backed out because of the controversy of music in Islam. She also said she hates her voice. So I will just have to find another singer, Insha’Allah.
YRAC: Aaah I see. Perhaps you should reference the many hadith I posted for our YRAC family in the “Discussion” section on the permissibility of Music in Islam. As an emcee and producer, are you confronted by a lot of people who feel Music is haram?
SafarEye: Wow.. yes I am actually.that’s that’s why i am also creating a voice and drum version along with a booklet for the people who can’t tolerate instruments.Thats in the making as we speak! (laughter)
YRAC: Hmm…extremely interesting….and very…..considerate of you.
SafarEye: Yeah, it’s been tough though. There are debates of music being haram but no sound truth. So I just talk about Islam in my music . I don’t want to lead my listeners on the wrong path by bringing them more haram then halal.
YRAC: Alhumdulillah. Yeah, I can dig that. Soooo….do you have any “groupies” yet? (laughter)
(laughter)
SafarEye: WOOOOO! Yes I do.. but I stay at a safe distance. I think it’s funny at times, walking in the mosque and keeping my eyes to the ground because of it but I love it…..(laughter) It’s all a part of the package…
YRAC: I see! ………Are you single?
SafarEye: Yes I am.. very single and ready! (laughter) Not rushing though, but I do feel I am ready. I’m not getting any younger….
YRAC: Nice, nice. Umm…sisters, pay attention! So, brother Safar….what qualities do you look for in a woman? …Does she have to love HipHop? (laughter)
SafarEye: : hmmm.. I look for personality, Truth and honesty in self, she doesn’t have to love hip-hop. She can love country music (laughter) I love all kinds…BUT it would be a HUGE plus in my book if she did. I would like her to be God fearing, supportive towards me as I would be towards her. After all that, we can build a strong relationship that would last until we’re both in jennah. InshaAllah kheer.
YRAC: Insha’Allah! That’s beautiful, and sounds very well balanced. Last question…What mark do you want to leave on this earth when you return to Allah (swt)? What, if anything, would you want to be known for?
SafarEye: I would only want to be remembered by being a reminder of Islam. It’s our duty as brother’s and sister’s to remind one another about this beautiful religion. Keep each other on point with salat, and not associate ourselves around the wrong crowds.
YRAC: Ameen. I couldn’t have said it better myself! Its been a pleasure to interview you brother Safar.
SafarEye: ….and a great pleasure to be interviewed by you sister Imani.
Copyright ? 2009
On Man-Hating Women
On man-hating women
Everyone knows at least one woman that just seems to hate men. She immediately finds problems with every man she meets and will needlessly chime in to tell you about the flaws in your man. These kinds of people are usually a pain to be around, but, more often than not, their behavior and pessimistic attitudes are the result of their own pain. We wonder why these women are so mean and evil towards men. It’s because they’ve been used so much that they have nothing left to give. Some women take so much debilitating treatment from men that they give up on men altogether and start to date other women. It’s human nature to try to protect and defend yourself against any threatening presence; and if the men in your life have brought nothing but threat and harm, you will instinctually begin to defend yourself against all men. So these forever-negative women aren’t as evil as they seem. They’re hurt, and they’re attempting to heal the only way they know how.
The problem with their way of healing is that it doesn’t allow true healing. Just as addicts’ drugs don’t solve whatever issues that drove them to use in the first place, her overbearing negativity is not the cure-all she thinks it is. What it does do is reinforce her current ideas about men. All men aren’t bad, but if you’ve already closed your mind and heart to the idea of a good man, bad men will dominate your experiences.
This begins to answer the question “Why do good girls like bad boys?” Though I think the full answer is complex and far-reaching, a big part of it is the fact that bad boys reinforce their current ideas and allow them to say “I told you so. Men ain’t no good.” When she meets a nice, respectful men that wants to be gentile with her and give her his best, she turns him down. She thinks he’s fake, weird, a punk, a wimp, or gay. She refuses to accept him, because his whole being contrasts her dominant story of what a man is and should act like. So because he doesn’t match her mold, she writes him off as a false representation of a man. When she meets men that use her and treat her horribly, she quickly attaches to these familiar characters; and when the relationship unravels, she can always have the last word.
It can definitely be rough being in a relationship with a bad man, but it does have its advantages. Many women that repeatedly end up in bad relationships find solace in knowing that they’re more together than their men. When your man is into all types of trouble, it makes you look better in comparison. More importantly, it takes the focus off of you and your flaws and puts it on him. Who has time to self reflect when they’re completely wrapped up in someone else’s crazy life? Part of the challenge of being in a relationship with a good man is that it forces you to look at yourself. No longer can you blame everything on him and his ways. Introspection becomes necessary. Introspection, as important as it is, is one of the most terrifying things you’ll ever do, because there’s no one else to blame for the problems you see.
There’s a fear that comes along with accepting a good man into your life. Will he outshine me? Will he look down on me because of my flaws? When we get in an argument, am I going to be able to blame it all on him? No, you won’t. Because a good man, just like a good woman, can admit when he’s wrong and hold you accountable when you’re wrong. There’s a certain healthy uneasiness in being in a relationship with a good man, because you’re no longer in a one-up position. You are humbled as you are forced to come down from your throne and face someone worthwhile.
Nadirah Angail
Copyright© 2009
YRAC MOVEMENT
Imagine ISNA, ICNA, MANA, and etc. collaborating together for the sake of Allah. Great things can happen. So, let it be YRAC to take the challenge and collaborate together with major sites for the sake of Allah and to unite our Ummah.
Yrac is the garden. with the Muslim Ummah you can achieve all dreams. YOU can be apart of the nation that will provide all needs.
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December 23rd | Thul-Hijjah 25th
Today is a new Day. A Day to Reclaim our own! That’s what my father told me this morning when I told him about the site!
This is a great opportunity for Muslims to communicate and understand new arts and theory.
There Will be bumpy roads ahead but, please trust that, inshallah, we will uncover vast privileges by Allahs’(swt) mercy.
I will begin by telling you that we have made it possible for you to receive our News Releases directly to your email! Currently we are working on a link and help manual to show you how. But meanwhile please refer to the contact Page and send us an email that you would like to subscribe to our newsletter.
The new Featuers that we have added are.
* We added the YRAC.us domain for quick access
* Header for Pages are now fuller
* Worked towards the detail of the Music Page
* More Page Contents
* Features Blog
* TCST Acoount for main Administration
* Map Image On front Page
* FAQ subtab so it directs to features
* HomePage now showing plus 20 latest actions
* The Groups are now showing in the middle of the YRAC website
* The most popular Videos are now showing on the right side of YRAC
* The YRAC MUSIC Group was made, all YRAC music artist can now add their self to the group to be fount when added to the top music tab, again located at the top of the YouRACreator website, and fans can find you much easier. You can post new updated on your music career and music releases in the groups forum
* the photo display is now showing on left panel – but can be viewed in exspanded size and photos can be commented on under the Multimedia tab at the top of the YRAC website
* Gamma Models of calendar, News, Forums Are Created and Placed
* Poetry Page Links to Group
* The Chat ROOM/Video’s/ And Badges are now on the side of every page of yrac!
* New Background
* new Tab Backgrounds
* new Contact Page with Email Submission Form with Database REcords, LIVE!
* 10 new Icons Created for Pages.
Also remember, you can become a news editor within a short time.
Comments (1)
December 20, 2008
Saturday First Post
Filed under: First Release — Tags: First Post — admin @ 1:24 pm
The First News Post Beta!
Please Contribute as an editor: For Filling We Will put in the About text
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YRAC.us -> You R A Creator -> You Are A Creator -> You
YRAC was brought about first by the might and will of Allah(swt), with his guidance and inspiration. A few youth would gather yearly to talk about thier interests and struggles. These same youth were adamant students of Imam Warith Deen Mohommed, and sought to spread peace, art, technology, and intellectual concepts out towards the wider muslim society and World. During those late workshops, with hours of laughtere and stories, a spark of love was igniting. That love become a firee that lights the future for all of the individuals in our sommunity. We must love our sommunity as it loves us, and that’s why YRAC was brought forth. Many of these youth grew to become Leaders at Schools like Howard University, Florida A&M, Tuskegee, Harvard, MIT, and the University of Michigan to name a few. Leaders in sports like Basketball, Swimming, and football, some of which have gone proffesional. But Most impressively close to the majority of these youths have gone forth to start thier own successful companies and land executive positions at companies such as AT&T, Microsoft, Dominion, EHabitats, Taqwa Clothing. As these youth have grown, married, and began thier own families, they started to make an extra effort to reach out and spend regular time providing these resources you see here for each other and future generations.
As the youth were so valued and admired, so will be the future generations. That is why we, young proffessional muslims, are preparing for OUR future. With all of these wonderful resources it was no doubt how educated individuals like themselves would look for a networking hub that would connect thier thoughts, resources, creative expression, and most importantly provide a network and scholar tract for the new young muslims. It’s important to stay communicated with your family and comunity, if you lose track of them you will ultimately lose track of yourself.
Young Proffessionals are taking thier islamic, and non islamic companies by the horns and steering them towards the benefit of our community. What is best for our community is also best for the larger community and service starts at home. There are many other persons and communities which have any numbers of problems with us. To that we say welcome! We are eager to hear your critiscms so that we may all grow together in the eyes of the Almighty.
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IMAM WARITH DEEN MOHAMMED
IMAM WARITH DEEN MOHAMMED
(1933-2008)
“If we become independent thinkers, we can make a contribution”
In his last known interview, Imam Warith Deen Mohammed speaks about American Islam, Black American culture, and why Barack Obama should be the next US President.
INTRODUCTION
As Imam Warith Deen Mohammed was laid to rest on September 11, 2008, many people are learning more about what he was able to achieve during his lifetime of leadership. Too many outside the Muslim community still conflate his leadership among mainstream African-American Muslims with the smaller (yet more visible) Nation of Islam led by Louis Farrakhan. And many Muslims are still unaware of the efforts he made to bridge the gap between disparate Muslim communities, as well as between Muslims and those of other faiths. As Muslim American leaders who worked closely with Imam Mohammed flew to Villa Park, IL for the burial, and mourners reflected on his vision for a united and engaged Muslim community, many are also wondering what legacy “Brother Imam” will leave for Muslim Americans to follow. In this, his last known interview, he speaks to Islamica Magazine about Black American culture, his struggles with the Nation of Islam, and his vision for the future of Islam in America. Here is an abridged version of the interview conducted by Michael Vicente Perez and Fatima Bahloul.
INTERVIEW
ISLAMICA You’ve been teaching Islam in the United States for over 40 years. What challenges have you faced and what have you learned from these challenges?
W.D. MOHAMMAD The main challenge we faced was from ourselves. We are newly converted to Islam. And the way we came to Islam was different from other communities. It was intentionally an indirect movement. Teaching Islam at the time of my father, Elijah Muhammad, was a strategy of protest – to protest the condition of black people in America. And I was hoping that, in time, things would get better and that the conditions of black people would be better for blacks in the US.
ISLAMICA You were quoted by the Chicago Tribune as saying: “I have tried over the last 10 to 12 years to encourage [American Muslims] to get more religious education, but I have made no progress … American Society of Muslim (ASM) leaders don’t support me, but the followers do.” Can you elaborate on this?
WDM Yes. Yes. Well let me first speak of the problem inside our association: the mosques, the schools. The problem is that they were not educated in the teaching of Islam: Qur’an, Arabic, its meanings. They were not given that. So when we go to prisons to accept our imams as chaplains, they tell us that they need to be educated more in the religion.
The imams amongst us don’t want that understanding. They stand in the way. They are really working against what I am trying to do. So all organizations that work for reform suffer that. The Prophet, who sought reform, look how he suffered – back biting and all that. So if he suffered that, how can we expect not to?
ISLAMICA What, in your view, distinguishes the experience of Black American Muslims from that of other Muslims in the United States? Has this produced an indigenous Islam amongst Black Americans?
WDM Mainly it’s the history: how we became Muslims, the strange routes that we took, the feeling we have in our hearts and minds, our outlook on everything. I am not saying it is negative. It is positive. It encouraged us to become independent thinkers. And if we can become independent thinkers, then we can make a contribution to Islam in America.
ISLAMICA Black Americans have a rich cultural tradition including jazz, poetry and other artistic expressions. Is there a relationship between these cultural expressions and Islam?
WDM Yes. Yes. I think our entertainment culture has really influenced America’s entertainment culture more than anything else. And we can use this positively to raise the moral life rather than putting it down. I think that nothing has raised the moral life more than that in black American culture. I can name many males and females that have lifted the life in American culture. But nothing compares to the rappers and the musicians.
ISLAMICA What is your relationship with African Muslims and scholars? Has this relationship influenced your role in America amongst the Muslim community? Is your outlook Afro-centric?
WDM There is no direct connection. We don’t have any direct connection with them. They are doing their work given their circumstance in the world and we are doing ours. We are separate. We are trying to advance our lives.
But we really appreciate each other. For example, [Howard University professor] Sulayman Nyang. We have contact with him at least 3 or 4 times a year, at least. We meet with him and he shares his views with us and we share our views with him. But as a work effort, we are not connected to him.
ISLAMICA Does the rise of Barack Obama suggest that the US has progressed in terms of race?
WDM He put an end to the black baby crying and whining all the time (Laughs). And we welcome him. We thank God for him. Alhamdulilah. Even if he doesn’t become the president – but I strongly believe that he will become the President – his success has already sent signals to our spirits, our sentiments. That will make for a new spirit in black America.
ISLAMICA Less attention has been given to Keith Ellison, yet he’s both Black and Muslim. Does his election suggest anything about the future of Muslims in American politics?
WDM I met with him in his mother’s house in Maryland. I am impressed with him. Like all elected officials, when they become elected, they have to recognize reality and the issues they have to deal with. They have to serve the country and they can’t jeopardize that interest by being too inclined to address Muslim problems.
I think that a lot of financial backers that supported him are disappointed because they expected him to do more. But he can’t do more. I don’t think that his meaning for us is anywhere near Obama’s meaning for us, even though Obama is not on record for being a Muslim. He’s on record for being a Christian: he goes to church on Sundays, etc. But just his image as a person helps all of us whether or not we’re Muslim or not.
ISLAMICA You were the first Muslim to deliver the invocation opening the US Senate; you met the pope in 1996 and in 1999 addressed a gathering of 100,000 at the Vatican. You’ve met with presidents, the Dalai Lama, and Jewish, Christian and Muslim religious and political leaders worldwide. Is interfaith a cornerstone of your mission? What’s unique about your approach?
WDM There are efforts here and there. We know there are African Americans working hard in the community to revive things. But on the whole we are sleeping. So we believe, unlike other people, other ethnic groups in America, we need to be brought to our true human values. And to do that we need to be taught humanity – appreciation for human values – and we need to join humanity. That is more important than racial identity – identification with humanity. Some individuals, educators, have tried to get our people to wake up to that.
I recall a book in which the author wrote, “It seems that somewhere behind me I got separated from my social contract.” And that is just what he was talking about, the original life with all people. If you don’t have that you can’t succeed with your family, you can’t succeed with other people. And the Nation of Islam was trying to do that for us – give us a strong sense of identity.
I don’t know if you are going to appreciate this language, but African Americans, when we were brought to this land, and were made slaves, the slaves were intensely deprived of going back to their culture or their religions. So we’re raised with an intense void inside. So I believe that is why black people lag behind when it comes to community life.
We have giants when it comes to Barack Obama or Colin Powell, and many others. Even females. We have giants, but those are individuals. And they are oppressed. They are depressed. Why? Because they know that the community life of black people is very slow to come around, if it’s coming around at all.
ISLAMICA What lessons can the new generation of immigrant Muslims learn from the experience of Black Muslims in the US?
WDM Well, I think they are learning it. And I think they are doing very well. We have to work our way up by working in the system and by being elected into positions of consequence. And I think that is happening – immigrant Muslims are working in politics. But not only politics, but working in the community and serving the needs of the community. And I think that they are doing an excellent job by working in America and defending their civil rights. So there is a growing, real deeply-rooted Muslim life right now in America.
ISLAMICA Do you think racism has a role in the relationship between immigrant communities of Muslims and Black Americans?
WDM Yes. But I think it started a long time ago. I’m not comfortable with you writing everything I say (Laughs). We find that immigrant Muslims show more racism than the white man sometimes because the majority of them (whites) have left it out of shame. They are really ashamed of it, what they did to black people.
I find that in the Bible, people find a way, if they want something [racist], they find a way of putting it into Scripture. They got something they can use in the Bible. But the Bible as a whole is against it as we know.
The shaytan has done his work all over the world. And we are all victims. All of us. So we should work together to work against Satan.
ISLAMICA Some say that the future of Islam in the US will be led by the African American community. Others predict that the new generations of immigrants will be leading. In 50 years, where do you see Islam in the US?
WDM Islam is a religion that directs us to community, to develop community – under God of course. And to be productive. The same message is in Jesus’ teachings. The Muslims that come here, some of them are very intelligent, and they know their religion. They are already doing things. So in 50 years from now, there’s a big hope.
© 2008 Islamica Magazine. All rights reserved.
Michael Vicente Perez is Senior Editor and Fatima Bahloul is Managing Editor of Islamica Magazine. While the magazine is editorially based in Amman, Jordan, both live in Michigan and are pursuing post-graduate degrees and research in the fields of anthropology and media studies.
