To Be an ‘American Muslim’

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

Some would say the term above is an oxymoron, but Islam is a religion for all of the worlds and all time. Therefore it must be possible for Islam to ‘fit’ in the lands of America and the West. But who decides what it means to ‘fit?’

For the indigenous ‘modern’ American, the Nation of Islam provided a starting point of sorts. We still see its cultural undertones in many traditional African American masaajid today. This background has allowed some of these communities to be places where one can feel American, Muslim in a traditional sense, and comfortable all at the same time.

We also find pockets of this comfort in places like Moncks Corner, SC, where Sheikh Harun al-Faqir of Senegal has merged classical Islam with modern America, and made it have meaning for people of all classes and backgrounds. Neither the poor nor the rich are forgotten. One feels a taste of West Africa, and its deep spiritual tradition, and yet it is molded to be fitting for this time and place. [Yes, this is a shameless advertisement for my Sheikh and his community :) ]

And now, in some places, we can see an extreme ‘Americanism’ develop, one which shuns traditional Islamic clothing, names and the like. Women still wear hijab (sometimes with an abaya, sometimes with jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt), but there is rarely a kufi or turban to be found. There is almost a pressure NOT to change one’s name upon conversion to Islam, and even have disdain for those who do.

It is this third reality I contemplated in the middle of the night. It is something I did not see practiced in great numbers until recent years. I suppose it could be a response to the September 11^th attacks. Being Muslim in America took on a very different practical meaning after those events, and it is easier to ‘blend’ into a hostile environment than to ‘stick out.’ (Of course, there is much debate about how hostile the environment really is, and I have found a great number of fellow Americans to be very understanding and supportive of me as a Muslim.) But to blend too much is to lose something greater. When you conform to the expectations of the majority, you almost always give up something very important, you lose richness and depth. These are qualities the majority almost never has. I have known this from a very young age, and it applies to religion, politics, environment, intellectual pursuit, and so on.

Allah says in the Qur’an, in Suratul ‘Asr:

In the Name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful

1. By (the Token of) Time (through the ages),

2. Verily Man is in loss,

3. Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy.

In ayat 3 we see the specifications outlined for those who are the EXCEPTION, which directly implies that ayat 2 refers to the majority, for exceptions are inherently outside of the norm. If we are to be successful in this life, we must be exceptional, most especially in our faith, deeds and practice of advising others, as outlined in this surah.

But can we not do all of this in our blue jeans? How does having an Islamic name change our ability to do good works? Or does it? Some would argue that it is possible to fulfill the command of Allah adequately while being very culturally American, and that the expectation of adaptation of other cultural norms is demeaning.

There is truth in this to a point. One may prefer fried chicken to falafel, and that preference has no impact on one’s faith or practice of Islam. But the Islamic cultural tradition is filled with much beauty and blessing. It is an honor to carry a name with a history, with a meaning found in the Qur’an. It touches my heart to see my name, Munira, appear in various forms in the Qur’an, but I will never find Elizabeth there, not once. I am immensely happy to call the names of my sons, Mohammed and YaSeen, for they were the names of our beloved Prophet (saws), and what a loss it would be if they were never known by those names. Noura, Iman and Maryam will all find their names within the Qur’an as well, and I pray one day they will appreciate that treasure.

It is a sad day when we cannot find any man who will emulate his Prophet (saws) with a turban, or even a kufi. The formal religious garb found in majority Muslim countries around the world may not be what was worn in the 7^th century, but it is a reflection of that, adorned and beautified as the times have allowed. We have formal attire as Americans, but a 3-piece suit is no match for a gold edged mantle in appearance, or in the spiritual presence the mantle brings to the place it is worn. It may be that not everyone sees what I see, or feels what I feel, but I cannot help but be saddened by the pressure to be and act as ‘American’ as possible, to the point of disregarding the weight of the Grand Tradition in Islam, at least in an external sense.

La illaha illala Muhammadar Rasulullah – there is no god but Allah (the One God) and Muhammad is his Messenger. This is the foundation of our belief, and this phrase binds us together as Muslims. Within that ocean that is Islam, we must each find our way. It is a religion for anyone, in any time, in any place, where they can find a spiritual home. How that home will look may be slightly (or even very) different than others, but the cornerstones, the phrase above, are all the same. Allah chose us to be born in this time, and has given us the challenge of blending tradition with modernity. He has advised us in the Qur’an to forge a path which will make us an exception, so that we might be the most exceptional human beings possible. May He help us and guide us on that Straight Path all the days of our lives.

Allahuma Salli 'ala Sayyidina Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wa sallim

Qur'an and Sunnah

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

The phrase in the title, “Qur’an and Sunnah,” is one held over the heads of the Muslims of this day like a sledgehammer. We are told that if we do not abide by the ‘Wahabbi’ interpretation of Qur’an and Sunnah, then we are deviants, destined for innovation and then hellfire. These people have diminished our deen to a small box of rules we must follow, good deeds landing on one side, bad deeds on the other, a point-system hopefully leading to Paradise.

I testify today that this mindset is a disease in our community, eating away at our spiritual souls. Qur’an and Sunnah are not meant to be an instrument of fear and oppression, but instead should be akin to a lovely piece of cake sitting in front of the believer, so sweet and delicious that they cannot resist.

I will provide one example for clarification:

I attended a conference where the Imam taught about the life of the Prophet (saws). It was a beautiful event, alhumdulillah, and it was a pleasure to hear again about his character and life. A woman asked a question. She had attended Hajj, and one of the seven women in her room insisted that they not use the air conditioning, as there was no air conditioning in the time of the Prophet (saws). She wanted to know the Imam’s opinion on this matter, and he quite correctly explained that the logical extension of this type of thinking goes nowhere. To follow through with this we would not be able to take a bus to Mina, or even sleep in the hotel at all.

That is not nearly the end of what we can learn from this incident. What he did not mention, although it was made clear from his earlier discourse on the character of the Prophet (saws), was that the Prophet (saws) was the type of person who spent his life concerned for the welfare of all creation. He diverted an entire army so they would not disturb newborn puppies. His family went hungry for days so that others might be fed. We find evidence of this and much, much more in the hadith. Read them every day.

And so, the true answer is that to follow the Sunnah would be to have the utmost concern for the comfort and well-being of all others in the room. This woman missed the point of following the Sunnah when she put her own desires ahead of the needs of others. She should have been looking after the other occupants of the room before herself, knowing that doing such a thing might even make some sick since they were not accustomed to the desert heat.

I will tell you where I gained this understanding of our Prophet (saws) and how it applies to our life today. I learned it at the feet of my Sheikh, Sheikh Harun Faye al-Faqir. It has been through living with, learning from, and observing this man who walks the earth as a reflection of our Prophet (saws) that I have come to understand these things. I have seen his concern for others at all times. I have seen him give every Dollar or Senegalese CFA in his wallet, go without rest and privacy and more, all in the name of helping humanity in the name of ALLAH alone. And I know, that if there can be such a man 1400 years after the Prophet’s (saws) life, how great our he (saws) was and is. And I know from this with certainty that our usage of air conditioning, or not, is a trivial matter when it comes to practicing the Sunnah in the year 2011.

This is Tasawwuf. This is what can be learned as a Sufi. We have been criticized, slandered, and misunderstood for our adherence to this path, but I stand today and all days as a Muslim, as Sufi, and I tell you that I have found no way better in life than this.

May Allah guide us to Him. May we know His Prophet (saws) better every day. May Islam be a light in our hearts that radiates so beautifully that the world cannot deny the greatness of Islam and the Muslims. Amin

Allahuma Salli ‘Ala Sayyidina Muhammad wa ‘ala aalihi wa sahbihi wa sallim

From my high school yearbook...

Dear Elizabeth,

You are now on another level of life - a long journey towards a greater and more wonderul AWARENESS of yourself and the Creator. You are joining the faith of Abraham - The Upright One - the one who was Grateful to God and Regardful of others and secondly, he always "told the truth with excellence" meaning that his spirit was toward perfecting his ability to teach others what he knew about living a life of good virtue, principle and dignity.

You are seeking to know, but first you must strengthen your faith and with that will come knowledge ('gardens under which rivers flow'). Never lose sight of your purpose, your goal, your destiny to know Allah (God) and He will continue to reveal Himself to you.

{As-Salaamu Alaikum} Peace Be Unto You Always, Mr. A.


I took my shahada several months later. This was and has been the truth. Alhumdulillah. I thank Allah for this crossroad...6th (or was it 7th?) period Psychology...1988...

Dear World,

In the name of the One God, the Compassionate and Merciful

I extend my warmest wishes of peace and blessings upon you all.

And I would like to say a few things 'for the record.'

We attended a dinner tonight hosted by one of our local Islamic Centers. They invited people of all faiths to come share a meal with us during the month of Ramadan. It was well advertised, and well attended. Alhumdulillah - all thanks are to God.

There were many questions, but the one that got me tonight, the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back, was the often repeated query: "Why don't so called 'moderate Muslims' do more about 'extremist Muslims,' and speak out more loudly against them."

So here you go:

I condemn the killing of innocent people. I ESPECIALLY condemn the killing of innocent people by Muslims because THEY SHOULD KNOW BETTER. Read the Qur'an.

I condemn ANY interpretation of my religion which leads to unkindness, lack of compassion and mercy, and disrespect for any of the residents of this world, alive, dead, human, animal, plant, and so on...you get the idea. Read the Qur'an.

This is indeed a religion of peace and love, but if people do not want peace and love, no matter what religion they are, they will not have it. And they will do anything to justify their anger, and to place the blame for it on the next convenient target. We got a little bit of that tonight, and we can have it every day on Fox News. Read the Qur'an.

Our Prophet (may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him) was a man whose light radiated through the universe. If you were near him, you felt loved by him. You felt that light, that compassion, that mercy. You still feel it today in the city of Medina where he is buried.

That does not mean that the Muslim community of the time never had to make difficult choices. That does not mean that there was never war, for sometimes a war must be fought for the sake of justice and to fight oppression. But that is only a small fraction of the story and of the history. Read the Qur'an.

The Muslims today who get the most media attention do not reflect that love. I stand against them, and for our Prophet (may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him). Their way is NOT his way, for it is filled with hate and devoid of light and love. Read the Qur'an.

And to you, o' questioner:

What more do you want me to do? What more do you want US to do? How many books do we need to write that you do not read? How many websites do we need to create that you do not visit? How many events do we need to host, interviews do we need to give, full or half-page ads do we need to purchase in our local papers?

We are mothers, fathers, volunteers, doctors, lawyers, service people, PTA members, council men and women, relgious leaders...and on and on and on. We have lives and families just like you do. Many of us were born and raised in this wonderful country, and we cherish its goodness and ideals. This is our home as much as it is yours.

The very small percentage of Muslims who can be labeled as 'extremist' are NOT our friends, and in fact probably would rather see us dead before you just for the crime of being willing to dialogue with you at all.

And that is the truth.

Look in the mirror o' people of this world. Look at your life and your society, and reflect on them in light of the situation of others, especially those who are disadvantaged, forgotten, and forsaken.

Do not let bigotry and fear prevent you from examining your own heart. For if you do, it will make you a better person, and will help you create bridges of love and peace with all people.

And pray for the forgiveness of your Lord, for you, and for us all. We will need it, no matter who we are.

With peace,

Sheikha Munira von Briesen

To Allah We Belong, and to Him is Our Return

As salaamu'alaykum everyone,

This is a speech I gave over the weekend, and although it is long, I wanted to share it with you.

Ma'salaam,

Sheikha Munira

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the Name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful

As salaamu’alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatahu

First I would like to thank you all for being here today, and I would especially like to thank our Sheikh and the Fuqara of Moncks Corner for making this conference possible. We all know that it is much easier to sit home and attend to our lives in this dunya without adding extra activities, and organizing an event such as this requires great sacrifice. Alhumdulillah that there are still people in this world who will make that sacrifice, and alhumdulillah for our Sheikh who inspires them to do so.

I am here today to remind you of what is coming for each of us after our short time on this earth. It is probably not the topic you want to start your day with, but this is what I felt most compelled to speak about.

When I was much younger, I never thought that I would live a very long life. Now that I am almost 40 years old, I have realized that my instincts were really telling me that no matter how long my life might be, it would be very short. Even 100 years of life in this world will be the blink of an eye as compared to the Reality that lies beyond. And so it is very important for us to reflect on what we are faced with here, and how Allah would like us to deal with that…and then to focus on what we WILL be facing.

Let me begin with a few ayaat from the Qur’an, one of which contains the expression we so often use when we hear of someone passing from this world and which is the title of my speech:

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

And surely We shall try you with something of fear and hunger and loss of worldly wealth and lives and the fruits [of labor]. And give good news to the steadfast –

Who, when they are visited with misfortune, say, “Truly we belong to Allah and truly to Him we return.” –

Upon them rest the Blessings of their Sustainer and Mercy –
and it is they who are guided

[2:155:157]

These are our instructions. It is a guarantee from Allah that we will be tested, and we have been told that those who are steadfast through that testing, and who accept that all is from Allah, and all returns to Him, that they will be the blessed, and they will have His Mercy. We MUST do our best. We MUST try with all our might to do good works for the Sake of Allah, to worship Him and remember Him as often as possible, with the most pious among us doing that at every moment of every day. And we MUST be grateful, for as He has tested us, He has also blessed us with countless Mercies.

Part of being able to do all of this is to have an awareness of what comes next when we leave this earth. This awareness allows us to focus on the things that are TRULY important, and not become as distracted by the dunya as we might otherwise. I am not saying that this is an easy task, and I fight this battle every day, some days with more success than others. But it is a fight we must never give up, and the following hadith will help you (and me) to understand why:

Said al-Bara’ ibn ‘Azib, ‘I once went forth with the Emissary of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) to attend the funeral of one of the Helpers. The Emissary of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) sat down by the grave and bowed his head, saying three times, “O Lord Allah! I seek refuge with Thee from the punishment of the grave.” Then he said, “When the believer travels into the Afterlife, Allah dispatches unto him angels whose faces are like the sun, who bear his shrouds and his perfume with them. Then they sit down around him for as far as his eye can see, so that when his spirit issues forth every angel which is between heaven and earth, and every angel which dwells in heaven, prays for him. Then the gates of heaven are opened before him, not one of which would not have his soul enter through it. When his spirit has ascended it is said, ‘O Lord! Your servant So-and-so!’ But He says, ‘Return him, and reveal to him the honour which I have made ready for him, for thus did I promise him: From it did We create you; to it shall We return you…’[20:55] And he hears the footfall of their sandals as they turn and depart.

Then it is said, ‘O man! Who is your Lord? What is your religion? Who is your prophet?’ and he shall answer accordingly: ‘My Lord is Allah, my religion is Islam, and my prophet is Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.’ Then the two [Angels] chide him vigorously in the last trial to which the dead man is submitted, but when he has uttered these words a voice calls out, saying,‘You have answered correctly!’ And this is the meaning of His word, ‘Allah stays those who believe with the word of steadfastness…’[14:27] At this, there approaches one who is beautiful of countenance, sweet-smelling and decked in finery, who declares, ‘Rejoice at the mercy which is come to you from your Lord, and at the gardens in which there is bliss everlasting.’[9:21] ‘May Allah give you good tidings!’ he replies ‘Who are you?’ I am your righteous deeds,’ he says. ‘By Allah, I have known that you were quick to obey Allah and slow to disobey Him; therefore may Allah reward you well.’ Then a voice calls out for furnishings from Heaven to be set out for him and for one of its gates to be opened before him. And when this is done, he cries, ‘O Lord Allah! Hurry on the Hour, that I may return to my kinsmen and to my property!’”

‘And [the Prophet continued, and] said, “As for the unbeliever, when he travels into the Afterlife and is severed from this world, there descend to him Angels strong and severe[66:6] bearing garments of fire [22:19] and mail-coats of tar,[14:50] who beset him on every side until, when his soul emerges, he is cursed by every angel between heaven and earth, and every angel that dwells in heaven. The gates of heaven are locked shut, for there is not a single one of them that would not loathe his entry by it. And when his spirit ascends it is cast back, as it is declared, ‘O Lord! Your bondsman So-and-so, whom neither heaven nor earth will accept!’ And He says, Return him and show him the horror I have prepared for him, even as I promised: From it did We create you; to it shall We return you…’ [20:55] And he hears the footfall of their sandals as they turn and depart.

Then it is said, ‘O man! Who is your Lord? What is your religion? And who is your prophet?’ but he says ‘I know not.’ ‘You know not!’ it is said, and he is approached by one of vile countenance, corrupt-smelling and meanly attired, who says ‘Receive the tidings of Allah’s wrath, and of a painful and abiding torment!’’Allah gives you evil tidings!’ he says,’Who are you?’ ‘I am your foul deeds,’ he makes reply. ‘By Allah, you were hasty to disobey Him and tardy in giving Him your obedience; therefore may Allah reward you with ill.’ ‘And you,’ he replies, ‘may Allah reward you with ill also!’ then he is seized by one who is deaf, dumb and blind, who bears a rod of iron which, were men and jinn all to combine to carry it they could not, and which would smite into dust any mountain struck with it. With it he strikes him a blow which turns him to dust, after which his spirit is restored, and he strikes him another blow between the eyes which is heard by every dweller upon the earth, saving only men and jinn. Then a voice calls for two slabs of Hell to be set down for him by way of furnishing, and for one of the gates of Hell to be opened before him, and this is done.”[Hakim, I. 37-38; Ajurri, 367-370; Tayalisi, 102-103; Bayhaqi, Ithbat,
38-39]

The punishment is something that we do not like to think about. It is a punishment we might not even wish upon our worst enemies. But as much as we should consider the Mercy of Allah, we must also consider His wrath, for it is real, and only HE will judge the outcome for each of us. Only Allah knows who is in the first category, and who is in the second category. We must remember this with humility.

I would like to share with you something which I have witnessed, so that it might give you hope, and also give you some fear. I have seen the eyes of the person who has lived her life in this world NOT in preparation for the next, not in the worship of Allah, and while she was a good person, her good acts were not necessarily done for the Sake of Allah, at least not to my knowledge, but only Allah knows. In any case, as I sat with her as she lay dying, she said that she was not afraid, but her eyes said something else. They reflected only sheer terror, and I believe they reflected the terror her soul felt as it realized that time had almost run out, and there would be no more opportunity for preparations or forgiveness. It was not a comforting sight. Around her were all the things she had surrounded herself with, both good and bad, and it seemed that her death was a reflection of her life, as it often is.

I have seen the eyes of the person who has lived her life in this world IN the Remembrance of Allah, preparing for the next life, sending forward her good deeds done for the Sake of Allah, sending forward the blessings of her worship, and having the blessing of Muslim children who will pray for her insha’Allah. As I sat with her as she lay dying, she also said that she was not afraid, and her eyes looked like water, as if her soul were melting from this world into the next. Her soul appeared ready to make that journey in peace and tranquility. Around her were all the things she had surrounded herself with, both good and bad, and her death also seemed to be a reflection of her life, as it so often is.

I tell you this as a warning, for both you and for me, that the time is very, VERY short. What is coming is TRUE, and we will each face it whether we want to or not. May Allah help us to be of those who will have His Mercy, who will be forgiven, for we will ALL fall short of our potential to do good in this life.

Our Prophet himself (saws) has said:

“Tread the middle way and be upright but know that none of you will be saved by what he does.” They said, “Not even you, Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Not even me unless Allah covers me with Mercy and Bounty from him.” Related by Abu Hurayra [Muslim]

It is that Mercy that is our hope. It is the hope for all of us, for even if I can escape the punishment of Allah, I will not have done my best if I have not helped others achieve the same. That is our responsibility to ourselves, and to the people of this world.

I will leave you on that note of Mercy by reciting some ayaat from Suratul Rahman, where Allah has reminded us of all that he has given us. Remembrance of this give us gratitude, helps us to be better Muslims, and in that is our hope. That is the hope of humanity.

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

The Universally Merciful

Taught the Qur’an

He created the human being –

He taught him clear speech.

The sun and the moon [move] according to [a] precise
reckoning.

And the stars and the trees prostrate themselves.

And He has raised up the sky and set the balance –

That you might not transgress the balance.

And [so] weigh with justice and do not skimp in the balance.

And the earth – He set down for all creatures –

In it [are] fruits and palm trees with sheathed clusters [of
dates]

And grain in the blade and fragrant herbs.

Which then of the favors of your Lord will you deny?

He created the people out of resonant clay – earthenware –

And He created Jinn from smokeless fire.

Which then of the favors of your Lord will you deny?

He let loose the two bodies of water that they might meet –

[and placed] between them a barrier [beyond] which they do
not pass.

Which then of the favors of your Lord will you deny?

From out of them comes both the pear and the coral.

Which then of the favors of your Lord will you deny?

And His are the lofty ships that sail like mountains upon
the sea.

Which then of the favors of your Lord will you deny?

All that is upon it shall pass away –

And yet shall abide the Face of your Lord, full of Majesty
and Glory.

Suratul Rahman [1:27]

What would you say?

As salaamu'alaykum everyone.

Ok...I know that it has been two years since I have posted...but I shall begin again insha'Allah.

Here is the message of the day:

Our Prophet (saws), is known to us as a 'Mercy to all the Worlds,' and yet we see Muslims taking actions which are so far from that concept that it is shocking.

For those who are Muslim - you MUST know that if you are not a mercy to those around you, then you are NOT following his Sunnah. You may have a turban, and you may have your hijab or pants 'just so,' but you have missed the point. You have not followed one ofthe greatest Sunnahs of all, and that is to spread mercy in the world.

For those who are not Muslim - please know that if you see Muslims who are not behaving in a merciful manner, then they are not following the teaching of their Prophet (saws). They have become slaves of this world, and slaves of their own selves, but not slaves of their Creator and followers of their Prophet (saws) in the truest and deepest sense. If they were, then you would know them to be merciful and loving human beings. Seek out those Muslims who have those beautiful qualities, for they do still exist, and you will know better what Islam really is.

Masalaam,

Sheikha Munira

Testification....

We will testify. We will answer for how we lived our lives on this earth, and what we said and believed about God, all in the next life. What will we say? Will we be ashamed? Have we taken this life as a game, numbing ourselves to the seriousness of the situation? Have we made popular culture and belief the driving forces of our lives, or have we searched our soul to its depths for the Truth?

These are the questions I ask myself, as I vacillate between fear and hope. I do not know how anyone cannot have that fear, given how far we fall short of our potential given by our Creator. His Mercy is great, alhumdulillah for that, for in it lies my only hope.