Texas & Islam

Howdy

Can Texans really become Muslims?

LOL. It definitely sounds funny, but this is actually a very interesting video clip, so do watch.

One of the more intriguing points a white male revert (who has a Moroccan wife -- who thought that he was initially too strict with her -- and a daughter that wears the hijab in the middle of nowhere in Texas) mentioned are the looks he gets from both non-Muslims and Muslims (most likely thinking to themselves, Who is this white guy with a Muslim girl?). The part that is a great deal of interest to me here -- and bothers me quite a bit -- is the fact that fellow Muslims have to stare at this guy. I've seen this before and to be honest have done so myself, but not in a way like, Who is this guy?, but rather, Oh, mashaAllah, the deen has no boundries!

Perhaps the revert or any other minority individual in the masjid feel as though any look is somehow demeaning, regardless of one's intention? I guess the reason why I do is more so out of wanting to reach out to this person so they never feel left out. This is an unfortunate reality we must come to terms with: segregation within the Muslim community especially here in the ethnically diverse USA.

I'm sure you have your own story, which I'd like to hear, about how you've seen this segregation in action. Allow me to share a couple of mine with you:

1) I pray jummah at the Islamic Cultural Center in Northbrook, IL where the community is largely Bosnian/Albanian. The masjid, which also is home to Averroes Academy, is small, but very beautiful mashaAllah. Anyway, a couple years back a friend and I were talking after prayer inside the hallway (this was back in the good ol days of my 3 hour jummah breaks!) and I noticed a black brother in the corner of my eye. This guy was eyeing every single brother that walked by him, but most obviously in a manner where he was hoping that someone would come up to him and say salaam. But everyone just continued on their way, most likely going back to work, and perhaps didn't notice him. It was easy for me to spot him out because there are typically only a couple, if any, black brothers you see at ICC. So, after a minute of watching this, I couldn't stand it any more and went up and said salaam. The response I got I cannot forget. It's hard to when you meet someone so genuine and so, no other way to put it, beautiful. SubhanAllah, this brother was so, so elated that someone finally came up to him to greet him. He -- Khaleed -- told me that he was so happy that I did and told me that how he's heard of brothers that have mashaAllah converted to Islam but have left because they're essentially not met with open arms in the community. So I became fast friends with this brother. I found out that he came from California and embraced Islam, mashaAllah, while in jail. But when he did, it turned his life around. His wife was still a non-Muslim, but he would tell me things like, "Yeah, brother, my wife is still not Muslim, but I'm working on her. She sometimes asks why I can't do certain things like I used to and I tell her that because here in the Quran, Allah tells me not to and if Allah tells me not to, then I can't."

Honestly, when I think of the beauty, conviction, and simplicity by which he
said that, it honestly makes me cry. Cry because I feel embarassed that I don't
have this brother's hikmah...

...and logic in obeying Quranic imperatives and simply rationalize things by saying, "...because Allah said so." I mean, I buy into that logic and fact, but it's more so feeling embarassed that I don't manifest this in my actions. And cry also because of Khaleed's love and fervor for wanting to be a good Muslim and reform himself. Without wasting time, he asked me to be his partner in reading books on Islam and sharing them with one another...

Unfortunately for myself, this story ends on a personally sad note as I've lost contact with this brother. I can only blame myself but be grateful to the Rabil Alameen for blessing me, even for a moment in my life, with such an enduring and significant relationship and bond with brother Khaleed. Ya Allah, Bestow Thy Mercy, Forgiveness, and Best of Blessings onto Brother Khaleed. Draw him to the path of guidance and draw him closer to You and Thy Messenger (sw) each passing moment. Allah huma salay Allah Muhammad. Ameen.

Anyway, you can inherently see my 'connection' to this issue. InshaAllah, my hope is that we're able to benefit from this story and apply the path of love in our short, passing lives.

2) This story comes from a friend of mine. In a desi-dominated masjid in the city, a black brother was enjoying some food inside the masjid. Soon, he was scolded by desi brothers for eating in the masjid. Yes, you should not make a mess in the masjid (which I'm not sure if he did), but the messed up part was that these brothers were apparently eating food (biryani, to be specific) themselves! It gets worse. Later on, purposely in Urdu, the desis were talking about the brother right in front of him! In fact, the group of desi uncles were joking and laughing at the brother. Then, according to my friend, the black brother got up and told them, "Look, I'm not stupid. I know you guys are talking about me and making fun of me." With that, he got up and left the masjid with no one from the desi group preventing him or apologizing to him.

To me, that's pathetic and most certainly a sad state of affairs within the Muslim community. How can we be so closed-minded and unappreciative of our fellow brother? Where does the sunnah tell us to exploit or spit on another mumin?! Here in America, a land that has opportunity and certain freedoms you cannot enjoy as easily elsewhere, we must ensure that regardless of one's ethnic background, the American Muslim must be open and loving to one another. I speak specifically of the American Muslim not to say that other parts of the mumin world are not affected by this disease, but because it's the best context I can speak personally about.

The positive effects of being accommodating to a minority Muslim in a masjid are, inshaAllah, innumberable. You have my first story as proof, and beyond that we pray that for showing mercy (in a sense) to someone that Allah will return your kindness by showing Mercy to you. Hey, we're not capable of turning someone's heart to love, but we can definitely try our best and hope for the baraqa in being a part of it...


Duas please!