What would Muhammad Do?: Muslim Brotherhood/Sisterhood

In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful

All praise is due to Allah, the source of all guidance.

Islamic Center of Windermere: Finally, we have found a few locations. There is a huge rental space available, but it will cost $27,000 per month. There is a land available, which will cost around $1.5 million. Please share your thoughts on how to proceed? If anyone wants to see the property, please contact me.

"Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided." (Quran 16:25)

On April 4, I wrote a blog about two groups of Muslims that met 100 feet from each other, but were 100 miles apart. One was lead by an American convert Imam, and the other by an Indian born Imam. I saw the opportunity for the community to connect these groups, because they needed each other. Finally, these groups met and coordinated a few events recently with success. Immigrant Muslims hosting, the host country Muslims, and both groups are engaged in sincere and serious dialogue.

As a member of both groups, I see the further opportunities, and possibilities to raise the stakes even higher, and create more real bond that will benefit the community. Following are some of my suggestions in that regard.

- Immigrant Muslims should enroll in the yahoo group that is setup for new Muslims, so they are engaged with them in real time.

- New Muslims should attend the events hosted in the Jammah Masjid, and subscribe to Masjid mailing list.

- Instead of reading the speeches from the paper during bi-monthly picnics, create an interactive sessions where open discussions takes place.

- Immigrant Muslims should reach out to the new Muslims at the individual level, and have at least one same gender contact consistently.

- Islam is practical religion, so some practical solutions need to be setup like jobs program, or health clinic etc.

A final advice is to not put too much emphasis on who is a new Muslim and who is an immigrant Muslim, because we all are Muslims, and there shouldn't be groups of any kind. When Muhammad ibn Abdullah (PBUH) created bonds between Muslims in Medina, he did not do that to maintain the distinction, but to remove the distinction. For example, he chose Ali as his brother, and not anyone from Medina, because it is not an alliance between new Muslims and immigrant Muslims, but a brotherhood among all Muslims. Think about that. Don't look for a new Muslim to teach Arabic, but teach each other, if you don't know.

We need to assimilate and make the new Muslims our paternal brothers and sisters, and invite them to our weddings, dinner party, call them when they have a baby, argue with them, love them. People who attend Jammah Masjid should attend the events hosted by Imam Sykes. Pot luck, faith club, food drive etc. People who attend Imam Sykes class should attend hadith class at 8 Am on Sunday.

Be practical, as Islam is a practical religion. We should not take a photo with a poor naked baby and return to our air-conditioned limo to head to our home. Take the baby home or find him some clothes and check up on him at a regular basis. May be find a job for the father. I hope what I say here makes sense. Don't donate a fish, but teach someone to fish, so they can feed themselves.

This is what Muhammad (PBUH)  would do. He would never use the terms new Muslims and Immigrant Muslim, except when necessary. So, lets do our next event in the parking lot of Jammah Masjid, and make it practical. Allah has shown mercy upon us and guided us to this point, so let us take the next step.

JazakAllah Khairin

A well wisher.
AbuArman Jumani