Challenges for the Muslim Americans: An Outline

and an Appeal to Help III&E and Yourself

 

By Dr. M. Amir Ali

 

The Muslim Community in the West and the world of Islam faces three main challenges, each with several subtopics.

 

Challenge #1. Developing a progressive and cohesive truly Muslim community in the West:

a)      The development of truly Islamic centers and masajid (centers of peaceful movement like the Prophet’s Makkan period activities, using modern techniques);

b)      Reestablishing Islam of the Qur’an and the Sunnah rather than Islam of the Muslim cultures of the East;

c)      Integration of all Muslims into a single community rather than ethnic, national or sectarian communities (Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi, Palestinian, Syrian, Egyptian, Maghrabi, Bosnian, Albanian, African American, Hanbali, Hanafi, Salafi, Shi’ah, Sunni, Shafe’i, Maliki and … so on);

d)      Establishment of high quality educational institutions from KG to Ph.D.;

e)      Acquiring the media: radio, television, newspapers, magazines, quality internet web sites,

f)        Financial institutions at all levels, such as, interest-free banking, insurance, etc.;

g)      Political institutions from the local to federal level;

h)      Entertainment media;

i)        Introducing professionals in every field of American life, such as law, journalism, teaching, economics and all other natural and social sciences;

j)        Ownership of corporations, particularly media ownership;

k)      Whatever else necessary.

 

Challenge #2. Making Islam respectable, that is, winning the hearts of the people of the West.

a)      Educate people, plan to reach every home by a target date irrespective of media cooperation or lack of it;

b)      Counteracting the Islamophobia campaign in every field;

c)      Integration of new Muslims, helping to make them respectable among their peers:

·        Education in secular occupations and professions;

·        Islamic education so that they may become leaders and scholars;

·        Economic upliftment until they reach middle class co-equals in every respect;

·        Social integration with immigrant and established community co-equals;

·        Make them coequal participants in the challenges mentioned under #1 above.

 

Challenge #3. Resource development. Building the machine and providing fuel and lubrication.

a)      Manpower, recruitment of volunteers and their training;

b)      Technical, developing abilities to handle public relations, Internet technology, printing, TV and radio broadcasting;

c)      Financial, money is the fuel and lubricating oil of the machinery.

 

Who and How to help.

1. Islamic organizations.

a) Islamic centers and masajid should contribute with manpower, technical and financial means. It is not enough that Islamic centers and masajid are places of a few rituals and social functions but they have to become centers of peaceful change for the betterment of Muslims and all the people of the West. Running Islamic centers for a few rituals, social functions, and running of mediocre full-time schools is a recipe for receding to a vanishing Muslim community. If we do not act, let us open our eyes to becoming forefathers of Christians; atheists and anti-Islam people the way it happened in Spain and some other places.

b) Set up an Outreach committee of sincere, hardworking and knowledgeable Muslims for Outreach (Da’wah).

                         i.    This committee should be dedicated to developing relations with the Non-Muslims around the Islamic center in concentric outreach rings, i.e. beginning with the people in the immediate neighborhood, reaching out gradually to the entire city, state and coordination with similar Islamic organizations throughout the country of residence.

                       ii.    Dedicate at least 10% of the budget of the organization for the Outreach Committee, send 10% of this fund (1% of the budget) to the Institute of Islamic Information & Education (III&E) for research, publications, Da’wah training and outreach through the mass media.

                      iii.    Order III&E publications in bulk quantities for local distribution. Fill out the form and send it by Fax: http://iiie.net/pub.html

2. Individual Muslims.

a)      Straighten out our lives and mold our lifestyle according to the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah (Qur’an 4:80, 24:54-56) through direct attachment to the textual sources of Islam and not following cultural or hearsay Islam. Cultural or hearsay Islam is for the uneducated and unlettered people but those who have gone to college have proven intellect should study the Qur’an and authentic Hadith collections. Each individual is accountable to Allah on the Day of Judgment according to his abilities (Qur’an 2:286).

b)      Sign up for $10.00 or more per month to be withdrawn from your account electronically (This is for those who live in the U.S.A.) The form is at: http://iiie.net/ada.html (Qur’an 2:261-281).

c)      For those who live outside of the U.S.A., send an International check in any amount you can afford to help Outreach (Da’wah).

d)      Become a member of III&E by filling out the form and sending a check for $60.00 for annual membership.

e)      Send your donation check regularly to the III&E, P.O. Box 410129, Chicago, Illinois, 60641-0129 U.S.A.

f)        Donate your stock to the same address. Depending upon the urgency, we may cash it or keep the investment in the name of the III&E.

g)      Include the III&E in your will. This is a continuous work beyond our lives.

h)      Dedicate your time and talent (Qur’an 7:6, 3:110, 4:41, 2:143, 41:33) for outreach. This is our individual duty (Fard ‘Ain) and the security and welfare of our future generations depends on it. Visit III&E webpage http://iiie.net/1/content/view/83/44/. This is the only way to stop war on Islam: changing western public opinion from antipathy for Islam and Muslims to empathy towards them.

i)        You may send your forms by Fax to (773) 777-7199. Our phone number is (773) 777-7443.

Achievements of the III&E, 1985-2005, twenty years of service.

1. Development of simple and concise literature. Over 60 titles of tracts, flyers, brochures and booklets published in English and Spanish. Over 7 million copies have been distributed in North America. Current annual average distribution is over 400,000 copies. We would like to increase this to 10 million per year.

2.      It is estimated that the readership of the III&E brochures is 25 million people in the United States. Approximately 80% of the readers have shed their prejudice, hate, and fear of Islam and Muslims. Over 40,000 people have been influenced to enter Islam by this literature.

3.      Recruitment of approximately 1000 workers who coordinate with the III&E for distribution of literature.

4.      Free sets of 20 to 30 books distributed to hundreds of libraries. Annually, we send out approximately 30-40 sets.

5.      Active correspondence with seekers of the truth. Thousands of letters responded to with the majority accepting Islam. Annually, we correspond with over 4000 persons (Muslims and non-Muslims).

6.      Conferences and seminars held at least once a year on relevant themes of Da’wah since 1987.

7.      Nationally and internationally prominent personalities have been hosted in Chicago to speak.

8.      Islamic Reading Room opened in 1988. Many Muslims and non-Muslims benefit from books, magazines, newsletters and videotapes, available in English, Arabic, and Urdu.

9.      Lectures delivered to numerous Muslim and non-Muslim groups at the III&E Reading Room, churches, schools and Islamic centers all over the U.S. Our average is approximately 50 lectures per year.

10.  Classes for teaching recitation of the Qur'an and Arabic language, elementary teachings of Islam, and advanced learning of 'Aqeedah, Tafseer of the Qur'an, and Hadith.

11.  “Welcome to Islam” TV program aired on UHF Channel 62 in the Chicago area for three months in 1993.

12.  Videotape rental service (local for Chicago only).

13.  In-house printing press with pre-press facilities was established in 1995, saving 50% on printing costs.

14.  In-house audio and video recording and duplicating systems (small non-commercial) have been established.

15.  Da'wah Training Program was introduced in 1997. More than thirty training sessions were conducted in seven cities across the United States, from California, Oregon to Virginia and New Jersey. More are planned. See for details http://iiie.net/1/content/category/9/82/58/.

16.  200 e-mails on average are received daily, 10-20% of which require responses.

Benefits of the work.

American public opinion is already changing in favor of the Muslims but this change is in proportion to the work. If more resources are dedicated, greater and faster change is expected.

You are urged to help us financially, with your time and talent, whatever you can give for the sake of Allah, His deen and for your own progeny.