Bridging the Divide

Between Immigrant and African American Muslims by Utilizing the Concept of Tawheed as the Catalyst!

By Imam Dr. Salahuddin Mustafa Muhammad

Bridging the Divide The Islamic community boast of being one

united community. Its cornerstone belief is Tawheed (Oneness of G-d). Its fundamental principle is the Unity of G-d, and this speaks to the unity of humanity. Yet when one looks at the Islamic community over its fifteen century history, racism, prejudice, bias, and discrimination has continued to prevail.

Bridging the Divide The Islamic community has suffered

fragmentation as a result of this artificial divide. Therefore, the one united community has been more of an ideal rather than a reality. To really understand the concept of Tawheed is the true answer----the bridge ---as it were---to overcoming this artificial divide, the divide that separates the immigrant Muslim from the African American Muslim.

Bridging the Divide O Humanity! We Created you from a single

pair of a male and a female, and made you into Nations and Tribes that you may know each other. Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is he/she who is the most righteous of you (G-d fearing/dutiful), And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted with all things.

Surah Hujurat (49) Aya 13 One humanity-family from a single source,

respect, love, care for, share with, neighbors—together!

Bridging the Divide All Human beings are blood-related by way of their common

ancestry, to one and the same parent, for Adam is the father of every man and woman. It is in this regard that the Messenger of Islam, Muhammad (G-d’s blessing and peace be upon him), declared to humanity before the mixed multitude of pilgrims in his celebrated farewell address at the Hajj-pilgrimage in Makkah: O People! Your Lord is One. Your father is One. All of you are of Adam, and Adam is of dust! No matter how widely the ethnicity, skin-color, nature language, home geography, social standing of people may differ, they are categorically equal as creatures of G-d and children of Adam. It is for this reason that the Qur’an calls up the goodness in all people with the moving admonition!

Dr. Ahmad Zaki Hammad (The Gracious Qur’an, A modern-phrased interpretation in English.

Bridging the Divide No child is born a racist, biased, or prejudiced.

Someone and/ or some environment had to feed that idea to the child’s mind! Many years ago the late Imam Warith Deen Mohammed stated: “Words make people; a word is anything that brings a message to the mind.” My premise therefore, is if you can effectively change how you think, you can effectively change how you behave.

William James said it this way, “The greatest discovery in our generation is that human beings, by changing the inner attitude of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.”

Bridging the Divide Islamic teachings remind Muslims that

piety, not property, makes a Muslim dearer in G-d’s sight. Unfortunately, class differences quietly continue to drive a wedge between Muslims in America.

Islam in America—Embracing and Transcending Differences. Muslim Americans seek to strike a balance between homogeneity and diversity, aspiring to function as one body rather than as disjointed parts. By Samana Siddiqui (Islamic Horizons—Jan/Feb 2011

Bridging the Divide TAWHEED-- Over fourteen hundred years ago,

Prophet Muhammad in the Arabian peninsula promulgated the doctrine of the Oneness of G-d called Tawheed. This doctrine has been a rallying force for Muslims ever since. There is not one Muslim, regardless of whether he or she is Sunni, Shiite, or Sufi, whether in America or any so-called Muslim country, that would deny the reality of Tawheed. This unique concept of oneness is significantly the single most important concept needed to build solidarity between African American Muslims and Immigrant Muslims in our Islamic community. Pg 22

Bridging the Divide Because our community is fairly integrated, in

every Masjid you’ll find an African American, an Arab, or South Asian or sub-Saharan African. And you see them at the Masjid, you might even shake their hand but you don’t do anything with them. What’s really sad is that we don’t even know their names. People just need to have the commitment and the courage to reach out to people of different backgrounds, different ethnicities, different social classes and get to know them as your brother or sister in Islam.

Imam Dr. Ihsan Bagby

Bridging the Divide The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is reported to

have said in his farewell speech, “Those who are present take this to those who are absent, for perhaps they may understand it better than you.” These words in my humble opinion, stress a very important point, which implies that the Muslims in the future may understand or make more sense out of what the Prophet (PBUH) said than those who were in his presence. It speaks to Muslims being able to embrace his message of Tawheed (unity), unhindered by cultural, ethnic, national or racial considerations.

Bridging the Divide “The honor or superiority of any person cannot be

established on the basis of color, race, nationality, gender or family. It must be judged on the basis of his or her piety, conduct and excellence of character, which must be good and virtuous in word and deed. The more a person is good and virtuous in word and action, the greater is his/her excellence. “Surely the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is the pious, the most righteous.” 49:13 Article by Sheikh Sadullah Khan in the Message International February/March 2009 edition/Safa/Rabiul Awwad 1430AH.

Bridging the Divide Tawheed—is the Arabic word for Oneness or Unity of G-d.

According to sheikh Abu Ameenah Bilal Phillips, “Tawheed literally means unification (making something one or asserting oneness). It comes from the Arabic verb wahhada, which means to unite, unify or consolidate.” From his book The Fundamentals of Tawheed. When we relate this term to G-d it means that G-d is One alone without partners. For Muslims this is pure monotheism. When one understands Tawheed it is understood that G-d is one and creation is one. We are a part of His creation and therefore, we are one. This concept is supposed to SHAPE a person’s thoughts and cause him/her to recognize that the authentic identity for the Muslim is MUSLIM IDENTITY! This identity is more important than any other consideration.When Muslims embrace this concept the effect is oneness of brotherhood. When a person’s eyes are focused upon the oneness of G-d it guides the individual to the oneness of the community.

Bridging the Divide Cognitive Restructuring --

Bridging the DivideRacism

RACISM 1. a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race

2. racial prejudice or discrimination

Bridging the DividePrejudice

Latin Praejudicum previous judgment, damage, fr prae-+ Judicium judgment—more at JUDICIAL

1. Injury or damage, resulting from some judgment or action of another in disregard of one’s rights; esp.: detriment to one’s legal rights or claims

2a (1): preconceived judgment or opinion

2: an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge. b an instance of such judgment or opinion. C: an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristics

Prejudicial 1. tending to injure or impair detrimental

2. leading to premature judgment or unwarranted opinion.

Bridging the DivideBias

3a: Bent, tendency b: an inclination of temperament or outlook, esp.: a personal and sometimes unreasoned judgment: Prejudice c: an instance of such prejudice.

Bridging the DivideDiscrimination

B: prejudice or prejudicial outlook, action, or treatment (Racial)

Here the prejudiced person makes detrimental distinctions of an active sort. S(he) undertakes to exclude all members of the group in question from certain types of employment, from residential housing, political rights, educational or recreational opportunities, churches (mosques), hospitals, or from some other social privileges. Segregation is an institutionalized form of discrimination, enforced legally or by common custom.

Bridging the DivideTabula Rasa

Latin: Smoothed or erased tablet

1: The Mind in its hypothetical primary blank or empty state before receiving outside impressions

2: Something existing in its original pristine state

Bridging the DvideFitara--Fitra

Creation, nature, (natural) disposition, constitution, temperament, innate character, Instinct

So set thou thy face steadily and truly to the faith: (Establish) Allah’s handiwork according to the pattern on which He has made Human kind: No change (Let there be) In the work (wrought) By Allah: that is the Standard Religion: But most among human kind understand not.

Qur’an 30:30

Bridging theDivideBorn in a State of

Fitra The Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) was reported to

have said something similar to this, “Every child is born in a state of Fitra, and it is their parents (environment) that changes them.”

The child’s natural disposition is to submit to G-d. Muslim=Submitter

Created Different on purpose

O Human kind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into Nations and Tribes, that you may know each other (not that you may despise each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well-acquainted (with all things). Qur’an 49:13