Communal Conversion; The Transition of a Nation Presented by Imam Kashif Abdul-Karim Muhammad...

Communal Conversion;The Transition of a Nation

Presented byImam Kashif Abdul-KarimMuhammad Islamic Center of Greater Hartford, CT.May 11, 20132nd Annual Uswah Conference .

Stagesَك�ُب�َّن� اَل�َت�ْر� َط�ُب�ٍق� َع�َّن َط�ُب�ًق

La tar ka bunna tabaqan AAan tabaqin

84:19 (Y. Ali) Ye shall surely travel from stage to stage.




•Movement




•Movement •Transition




•Movement •Transition •Growth




•Movement •Transition •Growth •Development




•Movement •Transition •Growth •Development•Change




•Movement •Transition •Growth •Development•Change •Convert from one thing to another




•Movement •Transition •Growth •Development•Change •Convert from one thing to another•Conversion




•Movement •Transition •Growth •Development•Change •Convert from one thing to another•Conversion•Communal Conversion

ConversionVS

Communal Conversion

ConversionVS

Communal ConversionConversion speaks to the individual exchange process of moving from one faith to another.

ConversionVS


•Christian to Muslim

ConversionVS


•Christian to Muslim•Jew to Muslim

ConversionVS


•Christian to Muslim•Jew to Muslim•Atheist to Muslim

ConversionVS


•Christian to Muslim•Jew to Muslim•Atheist to Muslim

The Individual conversion process began during the days of The Prophet. It was a rapid growth process among the people of Mecca and Medina.

The communal conversion process was a much longer and slower process.


Communal conversion is the process of an entire Nation moving from one faith to another.



•Saudi Arabia moving from tribal religion, polytheism, and paganism to Islam



•Saudi Arabia moving from tribal religion, polytheism, and paganism to Islam•African nations moving from tribal religion, Animism and other faiths to Islam



•Saudi Arabia moving from tribal religion, polytheism, and paganism to Islam•African nations moving from tribal religion, Animism and other faiths to Islam•Indian Nations moving from Hinduism to Islam



•Saudi Arabia moving from tribal religion, polytheism, and paganism to Islam•African nations moving from tribal religion, Animism and other faiths to Islam•Indian Nations moving from Hinduism to Islam•Nations of the orient moving from Buddhism to Islam



•Saudi Arabia moving from tribal religion, polytheism, and paganism to Islam•African nations moving from tribal religion, Animism and other faiths to Islam•Indian Nations moving from Hinduism to Islam•Nations of the orient moving from Buddhism to Islam•Christian Nations moving from Christianity to Islam. Europe



•Saudi Arabia moving from tribal religion, polytheism, and paganism to Islam•African nations moving from tribal religion, Animism and other faiths to Islam•Indian Nations moving from Hinduism to Islam•Nations of the orient moving from Buddhism to Islam•Christian Nations moving from Christianity to Islam. Europe

Important to study communal conversion because it shows us the process of establishing Islamic community

life in a new land

Communal conversion is not always guaranteed. There are risks factors involved with whole nations converting to a new way of life. This was even true during time of the prophet.


Ie: Muhammad died suddenly in 632, it appeared that his religion mightaltogether disappear. Many of the Bedouin tribes that had converted to Islamrenounced the new faith in the months after Muhammad's death, and hisremaining followers quarreled over who should succeed him. Though thesequarrels were never fully resolved, the community managed to find new leaderswho directed a series of campaigns to bring those who had abandoned Islam back to the fold.



Note: We should learn from this.



Note: We should learn from this. •After Imam Mohammed’s death many people left the community

and some even stopped practicing the deen.




and some even stopped practicing the deen. •True as well after death of Elijah Muhammad.




and some even stopped practicing the deen. •True as well after death of Elijah Muhammad.•Quarreled over succession, and leadership




and some even stopped practicing the deen. •True as well after death of Elijah Muhammad.•Quarreled over succession, and leadership •If Muslims close to the prophet, abandoned the prophet Muhammad’s Mission what do you think some will do with Imam WD Mohammed’s Mission.




and some even stopped practicing the deen. •True as well after death of Elijah Muhammad.•Quarreled over succession, and leadership •If Muslims close to the prophet, abandoned the prophet Muhammad’s Mission what do you think some will do with Imam WD Mohammed’s Mission.•People say the community of Imam Mohammed will crumple after his death

At the end of the Umayyad period, (661-750) less than 10% of the people in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Tunisia and Spain were Muslim. Only on the Arabian peninsula was the proportion of Muslims among the population higher than this. The Umayyad Caliphate covered 5.79 million square miles (15,000,000 km2), making it the largest empire the world had yet seen, and the fifth largest ever to exist. [5]

The rate of conversion after the death of the Prophet and the Khalifahs were slow

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umayyad_Caliphate


The rate of conversion after the death of the Prophet and the Khalifahs was slow

Why was the process so slow?



The rate of conversion after the death of the Prophet and the Khalifahs was slow

Why was the process so slow? Do we have the right to ask?


��ِه�ْم �ِل َق"ْب ِم�ن )ِذ�ين" اَّل "ُة+ َع"اَق�ْب "اَن" َك �َف" "ْي َك وا "نُظ+ُر+ َف"ْي �ْر�ِض" �اَأْل َف�ي وا ْيُر+ �"ِس ي �"ْم و"َّل

" َأوَه"ا َع"َم"ُر+ ِم�َم)ا "ُر" �َث َك

" َأ وَه"ا و"َع"َم"ُر+ ْر�ِض"" �اَأْل وا "اْر+ "َث و"َأ Bَق+َّو)ًة ��ِه+ْم ِم�ن َّد) "َش" َأ +َّوا "اُن َك

+َّوا "اُن َك "ِك�ن و"َّل ��َم"ِه+ْم "ُظ�ِل �ْي َّل )ُه+ اَّلِل "اَن" َك َف"َم"ا �"اِت Kن "ْي �ْب �اَّل ِب +ِه+ْم ِل ُس+ ْر+ ��ِه+ْم و"َج"اءْت�َم+َّوَن" "ُظ�ِل ي �ِه+ْم "ُنُف+ِس" َأ

30:9 (Y. Ali) Do they not travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those before them? They were superior to them in strength: they tilled the soil and populated it in greater numbers than these have done: there came to them their apostles with Clear (Signs). (Which they rejected, to their own destruction): It was not Allah who wronged them, but they wronged their own souls.

http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://www.islamiCity.com/quransearch/?ref=30:9&lang=ArabicText

Why was conversion so slow?The objective of the conquests was more than anything of a practical nature, as fertile land and water were scarce in the Arabian peninsula. Real Islamization therefore only came about in the subsequent centuries.[4]

Note: Many Muslim who migrate from their countries , primarily do so for better

resources. In our day expansion slow because those who came here from Muslim countries

are concerned with wealth, resources and opportunities before Islamization.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spread_of_Islam


The objective of the conquests was more than anything of a practical nature, as fertile land and water were scarce in the Arabian peninsula. Real Islamization therefore only came about in the subsequent centuries.[4]




Why was conversion so slow?

At the outset, they were hostile to conversions because new Muslims diluted the economic and status advantages of the Arabs."[5]

Note: Poor relationship with new people and converts. New converts became Muslim to

access new status




At the outset, they were hostile to conversions because new Muslims diluted the economic and status advantages of the Arabs."[5]

Note: Poor relationship with new people and converts. New converts became Muslim to

access new statusPeople living in regions south of the Sahara in Africa through contact with Muslim traders active in the area and Sufi Missionaries. In Africa it spread along three routes, across the Sahara via trading towns such as Timbuktu, up the Nile Valley through The Sudan up to Uganda and across the Red Sea and down East Africa through settlements such as Mombasa and Zanzibar. These initial conversions were of a flexible nature and only later were the societies forcibly purged of their traditional influences.[3]

Note: Most interested in Business with Africans and allowed their understanding of Islam to be flexible. IWDM said they just want us to buy their products not involve us the religion

Why was conversion so slow?The objective of the conquests was more than anything of a practical nature, as fertile land and water were scarce in the Arabian peninsula. Real Islamization therefore only came about in the subsequent centuries.[4]









��ِه�ْم �ِل َق"ْب ِم�ن )ِذ�ين" اَّل "ُة+ َع"اَق�ْب "اَن" َك �َف" "ْي َك وا "نُظ+ُر+ َف"ْي �ْر�ِض" �اَأْل َف�ي وا ْيُر+ �"ِس ي �"ْم و"َّل

" َأوَه"ا َع"َم"ُر+ ِم�َم)ا "ُر" �َث َك

" َأ وَه"ا و"َع"َم"ُر+ ْر�ِض"" �اَأْل وا "اْر+ "َث و"َأ Bَق+َّو)ًة ��ِه+ْم ِم�ن َّد) "َش" َأ +َّوا "اُن َك

+َّوا "اُن َك "ِك�ن و"َّل ��َم"ِه+ْم "ُظ�ِل �ْي َّل )ُه+ اَّلِل "اَن" َك َف"َم"ا �"اِت Kن "ْي �ْب �اَّل ِب +ِه+ْم ِل ُس+ ْر+ ��ِه+ْم و"َج"اءْت�َم+َّوَن" "ُظ�ِل ي �ِه+ْم "ُنُف+ِس" َأ

30:9 (Y. Ali) Do they not travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those before them? They were superior to them in strength: they tilled the soil and populated it in greater numbers than these have done: there came to them their apostles with Clear (Signs). (Which they rejected, to their own destruction): It was not Allah who wronged them, but they wronged their own souls.

Note: We have seen success in our history. Islamic Empires, feats of expansion, and educational aggrandizement.

But we have also seen.

Poor relationships with the world community, lack of charity, lack of propagation as a priority, Oppression of women, illiteracy, blind thinking, stagnation, poverty, and terrorism,

http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://www.islamiCity.com/quransearch/?ref=30:9&lang=ArabicText

Richard Bulliet's "conversion curve" shows a relatively low rate of conversion of non-Arab subjects during the Arab centric Umayyad period of 10%, in contrast

with estimates for the more politically, multicultural (Educational) Abbasid period which saw the Muslim population grow from approx. 40% in the mid-9th century to close to 100% by the end of the 11th century.[11]

Note: Non-Arabs (off the peninsula) became more conducive to Islam when we saw an increase in Muslim involvement with

Politics, Business, Dawah Culture and Education.

This was more than 508 years after the prophet’s death.

In most cases worldly and spiritual motives for conversion blended together. Moreover, conversion to Islam did not necessarily imply a complete turning from an old to a totally new life. While it entailed the acceptance of new religious beliefs and membership in a new religious community, most converts retained a deep attachment to the cultures and communities from which they came."[8]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Bulliet

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Bulliet

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umayyad

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbasid



So, what have we learned about the communal conversion process ?

We have to protect ourselves from and not repeat the baggage associated with unproductive conversion methods in Al-Islam.

•Reaction after Death of the prophet•Not trusting new leadership•Poor relationships with non Muslims•Poor relationships with new converts•Putting business and money before religion•Lack of charity•Not prioritizing Islamic education

What made us successfulMuslim involvement with

•Dawah •Politics •Culture •Business (Fair Dealing)•and Education (Islamic).

Be Your Own Self! By Imam W. Deen Mohammed

We have to be our own self. We have to be our own selves. Being your own self means more than conforming to your own nature; it means preserving yourself; saving yourself from slavery to other people or to other ideas.

The Muslim cannot be a slave to any people or to any other ideas. We are the slaves of Allah. We can’t be a slave to any ideology, to the Labor Party doctrine, to communism, to Shiite-ism or any other of the isms, Wahhabiism, or Sunniism. Once a Muslim becomes a “Sunni” rather than a Muslim first, he has taken on Sunni-ism. And Sunni-ism leads to the worship of Prophet Mohammed, over the obedience to Allah or slavery to Allah.

So we are not worshipers of Prophet Mohammed. We are not worshipers of his cousin Ali, may the peace and blessings be upon him, and may the peace be upon the Imam and Khalifa Ali. We respect them in their proper places.

Prophet Muhammed is the Messenger Prophet to all of us. Ali was his cousin, a wonderful friend and supporter, but no divine being. We can’t worship him. And Prophet Mohammed said “I hope my followers will not do as the Christians did when I pass, that is, go to my grave and weep and make long prayers and fall into the worship, fall into sin.” Yes.

We don’t worship Prophet Mohammed. We don’t worship anybody. We worship Allah. We are the slaves of Allah. Who guided us to this — through Prophet Muhammed (peace and the blessings be upon him).

It was that great prophet that guided us to this belief. He gave us this position, that we are slaves of G-d and slaves of no one else, no other ideology, no other person, and no other people.

The process of establishing Islam in America

Individual Conversion began in America a thousand plus years later.

1893 "Mohammad Alexander Russel Webb", one of the earliest "White American Converts", founds the "American Islamic Propaganda Movement". And on September 20th and 21st, he appeared at the First World Congress of Religions and delivered two lectures: "The spirit of Islam," and "The Influence of Islam on Social Conditions.”.

Individual Conversion began in America a thousand plus years later.

1893 "Mohammad Alexander Russel Webb", one of the earliest "White American Converts", founds the "American Islamic Propaganda Movement". And on September 20th and 21st, he appeared at the First World Congress of Religions and delivered two lectures: "The spirit of Islam," and "The Influence of Islam on Social Conditions.”.

Conversion in America represents great diversity

Islam always been part of the American fabric.Founding fathers were Knowledgeable of Al-Islam

In 1776, John Adams published "Thoughts on Government," in which he praises the Islamic prophet Muhammad as a "sober inquirer after truth" alongside Confucius, Zoroaster, Socrates, and other thinkers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Adams

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoughts_on_Government



When Benjamin Franklin helped establish a non-denominational religious meeting house in Philadelphia, he emphasized its non-sectarian nature by stating that "even if the Mufti of Constantinople were to send a missionary to preach Mohammedanism to us, he would find a pulpit at his service".[28]

Franklin also wrote an anti-slavery parody piece claiming to be translation of the response of a government official at Algiers to a 17th-century petition to banish slavery there; the piece develops the theme that Europeans are specially suited for enslavement on cultural and religious grounds, and that there would be practical problems with abolishing slavery in North Africa; this satirizes similar arguments that were then made about the enslavement of Blacks in North America.[29]



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States





When Benjamin Franklin helped establish a non-denominational religious meeting house in Philadelphia, he emphasized its non-sectarian nature by stating that "even if the Mufti of Constantinople were to send a missionary to preach Mohammedanism to us, he would find a pulpit at his service".[28]

Franklin also wrote an anti-slavery parody piece claiming to be translation of the response of a government official at Algiers to a 17th-century petition to banish slavery there; the piece develops the theme that Europeans are specially suited for enslavement on cultural and religious grounds, and that there would be practical problems with abolishing slavery in North Africa; this satirizes similar arguments that were then made about the enslavement of Blacks in North America.[29]

Thomas Jefferson defended religious freedom in America including those of Muslims. Jefferson explicitly mentioned Muslims when writing about the movement for religious freedom in Virginia. In his autobiography Jefferson wrote "[When] the [Virginia] bill for establishing religious freedom... was finally passed,... a singular proposition proved that its protection of opinion was meant to be universal. Where the preamble declares that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed, by inserting the word 'Jesus Christ,' so that it should read 'a departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion.' The insertion was rejected by a great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend within the mantle of its protection the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mahometan, the Hindoo and infidel of every denomination."[38]

While President, Jefferson also participated in an iftar with the Ambassador of

Tunisia in 1809.[39]



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Jefferson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahometan



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iftar

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisia



Conversion of the African American and indigenous American. Much more specific.

SlaveryMoorish science templeMarcus GarveyMosque of Islamic BrotherhoodNation of IslamDar Al-Islam

Muslims arrived as slaves from West Africa as early as the 1500s

1913 "Timothy Drew" (Noble Drew Ali) establishes an organization in Newark, NJ, known as the "Moorish Science Temple of America" (MSTA), responsible for many of today's African-American converts to Islam, and who was reportedly commissioned by the Sultan of Morocco at that time to teach "Negroes" in the United States

"Dues Muhammad Ali," was a mentor of "Marcus Gravey" and a person who had considerable impact on Garvey's movement. Dues Ali had strong nationalist and Pan Africanist views, but he was also an active proselytizer for Islam, having in 1926 established the Universal Islamic society in Detroit, Michigan. It is said that this organization was the precursor to both Noble Drew Ali Moorish Science Temple and the Nation of Islam and a source for their beliefs and information. This Islamic influence can be seen in Marcus Garvey’s motto "One God, One Aim, One Destiny

The Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood and the School of Islamic and Arabic Studies was founded in 1964. Incorporated in 1967, The M.I.B.is the lineal descendant of the Muslim Mosque Inc. started by the late El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X) , in 1964, after his departure from the organization known as the Nation of Islam. The founders of the Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood had been members of the M.M.I.

The formation of the Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood was very necessary and timely. It had become obvious that the then existing Sunni Muslim communities lacked knowledge and discipline, and were thereby exposed to manipulation and apparent use as a political arm. This unfortunate situation was rapidly resulting in confusion, and un-Islamic teachings within the Sunni Muslim communities, and the alienation of many people, who wanted a true understanding of Islam.

"As Muslim Americans of African descent, we believe in the principle of self-determination and strive for its actualization as a community of believers. Therefore our expressed purpose is to give a true presentation of Sunni Islam to American society. We intend to vigorously utilize our energies, as well as our facilities, to teach and spread this eternal message of all of the Prophets. And it is our hope and prayer that the American of African descent (Kushite) will be in the forefront of those, who accept this gift of (Almighty God) Allah.

Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood

The Dar ul-Islam movement was launched in 1967 by a group of African Americans who left the Islamic Mission of America in New York. They adhered to a strict interpretation of Qur'an and Sunnah and emphasized purity, knowledge, and independence from unjust, immoral American society. Guided by Imam Yahya Abdul-Karim, this group formed a federation of mosques around the country in the 1970s, each organized into ministries of education, defense, information, and culture. Dar ul-Islam was the largest indigenous Muslim group until W. Deen Mohammed transformed the Nation into a more inclusive Sunni Islam. In 1980, Imam Yahya relinquished leadership to an Indian Sufi shaykh who renamed the movement Jama'at al-Fuqrah. Several member communities did not follow the Shaykh, eventually affiliating themselves with Atlanta's Imam Jamil Al-Amin, the former H. Rap Brown.Today, the community does not have an official name, but brings together some thirty mainstream Muslim communities in the United States and the Caribbean. As members of the Islamic Shura Council of North America, these affiliated communities participate, along with the Ministry of W. Deen Mohammed, in efforts to coordinate the activities of immigrant and indigenous Muslims in America.Imam Jamil Al-Amin

IN 1931, Fard Muhammad was preaching a Great Truth of salvation when He met a man named Elijah Poole in Detroit, Michigan. He chose him to be His Representative in continuing this most difficult task of bringing truth and light to His lost and found people. For 3 1/2 years He taught and trained the Honorable Elijah Muhammad night and day into the profound Secret Wisdom of the Reality of God, which included the hidden knowledge of the original people who were the first founders of civilization of our Planet and who had a full knowledge of the Universal Order of Things from the beginning of the Divine Creation.

Upon the departure of Fard Muhammad in 1934, The Honorable Elijah Muhammad labored tirelessly to bring life to his mentally and spiritually dead people until his return to Allah in 1975.

During the Honorable Elijah Muhammad's initial 44 years, he suffered persecution & rejection from the very people whom he was appointed as a Servant of God. He was rejected and despised by the 10 percent leaders of America and the world because he revealed a Greater Truth and Wisdom that would end the old world of Satan's rule and dominion. He was not self-taught or self-made but ONE MIGHTY IN POWER had taught him what he knew not. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad had never received any more than a fourth grade education, yet his heart was true in what he saw and he saw the greatest of the Signs of his Lord.

The more converts that he made in the cities, in the by-ways, and in the highways of this land, along with receiving honor and fame abroad, the powerful leaders and rulers of this world grew in opposition. As the baby Nation of Islam came to birth in America, the world rulers were shaken in their foundation to learn of this miraculous achievement. The theme of the Holy Qur'an and Bible that most clearly defines this struggle is revealed in the history of Pharaoh's opposition to Moses and Aaron in the delivery of Israel in bondage in Egypt.

The son of Natin of Islam leader Elijah Mohammed, W. Deen Mohammed rose to power the day after his father's death on Feb. 25, 1975. Taking the helm of the NOI--a group that linked Islam with separatism and black nationalism-he led his flock on a dramatic new journey toward orthodox Sunni Islam.

Like Malcolm X had done more than a decade before, Mohammed rejected his father's racism, emphasized Islamic ritual observance and gained the respect of Muslim leaders worldwide. And he brought hundreds of thousands of people with him.

Our Communal Conversion

Unique process different from any other people•Originally Muslim; but Islam was stripped from our history and our reality (slavery)


Unique process different from any other people•Originally Muslim; but Islam was stripped from our history and our reality (slavery)•Fard Muhammad came attempting to bring Islam but it was rejected because we were to psychologically damaged as a community


Unique process different from any other people•Originally Muslim; but Islam was stripped from our history and our reality (slavery)•Fard Muhammad came attempting to bring Islam but it was rejected because we were to psychologically damaged as a community•We developed a unique understanding of what Islam was based on our circumstances, which were based in oppression


Unique process different from any other people•Originally Muslim; but Islam was stripped from our history and our reality (slavery)•Fard Muhammad came attempting to bring Islam but it was rejected because we were to psychologically damaged as a community•We developed a unique understanding of what Islam was based on our circumstances, which were based in oppression•We were protected from foreign influence and instruction by Elijah Muhammad


Unique process different from any other people•Originally Muslim; but Islam was stripped from our history and our reality (slavery)•Fard Muhammad came attempting to bring Islam but it was rejected because we were to psychologically damaged as a community•We developed a unique understanding of what Islam was based on our circumstances, which were based in oppression•We were protected from foreign influence and instruction by Elijah Muhammad•We developed our own internal government. Became a community living in a Vacuum


Unique process different from any other people•Originally Muslim; but Islam was stripped from our history and our reality (slavery)•Fard Muhammad came attempting to bring Islam but it was rejected because we were to psychologically damaged as a community•We developed a unique understanding of what Islam was based on our circumstances, which were based in oppression•We were protected from foreign influence and instruction by Elijah Muhammad•We developed our own internal government. Became a community living in a

Vacuum.•Developed our own economy (business for self).



Vacuum.•Developed our own economy (business for self)•Developed our own school system (taught ourselves)



Vacuum.•Developed our own economy (business for self)•Developed our own school system (taught ourselves)•Established what we believed to be the truth



Vacuum.•Developed our own economy (business for self)•Developed our own school system (taught ourselves)•Established what we believed to be the truth•Imam WD Mohammed transitions our community to Islam proper



Vacuum.•Developed our own economy (business for self)•Developed our own school system (taught ourselves)•Established what we believed to be the truth•Imam WD Mohammed transitions our community to Islam proper•Keeps good practices from NOI / Removes false picture / interpretation.



Vacuum.•Developed our own economy (business for self)•Developed our own school system (taught ourselves)•Established what we believed to be the truth•Imam WD Mohammed transitions our community to Islam proper•Keeps good practices from NOI / Removes false picture / interpretation.•Keeps focus on community concerns (within and outside of our community)



Vacuum.•Developed our own economy (business for self)•Developed our own school system (taught ourselves)•Established what we believed to be the truth•Imam WD Mohammed transitions our community to Islam proper•Keeps good practices from NOI / Removes false picture / interpretation.•Keeps focus on community concerns (within and outside of our community)•Outside influence and education is welcomed, but challenged



Vacuum.•Developed our own economy (business for self)•Developed our own school system (taught ourselves)•Established what we believed to be the truth•Imam WD Mohammed transitions our community to Islam proper•Keeps good practices from NOI / Removes false picture / interpretation.•Keeps focus on community concerns (within and outside of our community)•Outside influence and education is welcomed, but challenged•Imam Passes. Returns to Allah



Vacuum.•Developed our own economy (business for self)•Developed our own school system (taught ourselves)•Established what we believed to be the truth•Imam WD Mohammed transitions our community to Islam proper•Keeps good practices from NOI / Removes false picture / interpretation.•Keeps focus on community concerns (within and outside of our community)•Outside influence and education is welcomed, but challenged•Imam Passes. Returns to Allah•Prior to passing: Instructs community to move toward self autonomy



Vacuum.•Developed our own economy (business for self)•Developed our own school system (taught ourselves)•Established what we believed to be the truth•Imam WD Mohammed transitions our community to Islam proper•Keeps good practices from NOI / Removes false picture / interpretation.•Keeps focus on community concerns (within and outside of our community)•Outside influence and education is welcomed, but challenged•Imam Passes. Returns to Allah•Prior to passing: Instructs community to move toward self autonomy•Reorganizes itself within the freedom space Imam WD Mohammed envisioned.

What worked for us?

Attention to the political cultural educational dawah and business concerns of our people.

What worked for us?


NOI Uswah

What worked for us?


NOI Uswah• Emphasis on family conversion. Believers brought to family, wives, brothers, and others

What worked for us?


NOI Uswah• Emphasis on family conversion. Believers brought to family, wives, brothers, and others• Focus on cleanliness Purification

What worked for us?


NOI Uswah• Emphasis on family conversion. Believers brought to family, wives, brothers, and others• Focus on cleanliness Purification• Talked to the individual/personal Islam, Quran spoke to the individual needs

What worked for us?


NOI Uswah• Emphasis on family conversion. Believers brought to family, wives, brothers, and others• Focus on cleanliness Purification• Talked to the individual/personal Islam, Quran spoke to the individual needs• Self esteem raised up slave, women and the oppressed

What worked for us?


NOI Uswah• Emphasis on family conversion. Believers brought to family, wives, brothers, and others• Focus on cleanliness Purification• Talked to the individual/personal Islam, Quran spoke to the individual needs• Self esteem raised up slave, women and the oppressed• Business Business

What worked for us?



• Focus on community Focus on removing oppression

What worked for us?



• Focus on community Focus on removing oppression• Interfaith work Worked with other faiths for support

What worked for us?



• Focus on community Focus on removing oppression• Interfaith work Worked with other faiths for support• Politics, ACGG Treaty, politician, negotiation with people of

power

What worked for us?



• Focus on community Focus on removing oppression• Interfaith work Worked with other faiths for support• Politics, ACGG Treaty, politician, negotiation with people of

power• Relationship building, out of the Letters to leadership, vacuum

What makes our introduction to Islam different


Respect the intelligence of the people



Islam came to people by word of mouth television / electronic age, social media




Education (abroad, travel to Imams) Social Media (internet classes with medina university)





No books (limited) technology





No books (limited) technology Access to information (travel) internet / books





No books (limited) technology Access to information (travel) internet / booksHadith collection, small (Mathabs limited) massive and organized





No books (limited) technology Access to information (travel) internet / booksHadith collection, small (Mathabs limited) massive and organizedIlliteracy educated

Interrupted Progress

Interrupted ProgressCommunities were given the flexibility and time to

understand the deen.



Africa; Animism, tribal religion, etc was mixed with Islam. They were given a chance to self evolve.

Hundreds of years before Africans learned the Arabic Language, years of Swahili. Business Necessity





Indian Nations, Orient: Hinduism/ Buddhism. Polytheism mixed into Islam. Many Years before proper Aqeedah was established. They were given a chance to self evolve.





Indian Nations, Orient: Hinduism/ Buddhism. Polytheism mixed into Islam. Many Years before proper Aqeedah was established. They were given a chance to self evolve.Our baggage White Supremacy, White Christianity. Man as God complex. Psychological chains of slavery. We have had a short period to self evolve. 1930-1975 and 1975 to present. Not yet 100 years.






Slavery – interrupted natural progression, erased Islamic identityImmigration - The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 opens the door for more Muslim immigrants from the East and Africa.






Slavery – interrupted natural progression, erased Islamic identityImmigration - The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 opens the door for more Muslim immigrants from the East and Africa. Cultural imperialismAttacks to natural progression. You not practicing proper Aqeedah. Not doing it the way we do it at home. Not dressing like us, eating like us, no music, surrender your culture history, Embrace our history. Compromised Muslim.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said:

No one has to blindly follow any particular man in all that he enjoins or forbids or recommends, apart from the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). The Muslims should always refer their questions to the Muslim scholars, following this one sometimes and that one sometimes. If the follower decides to follow the view of an imam with regard to a particular matter which he thinks is better for his religious commitment or is more correct etc, that is permissible according to the majority of Muslim scholars, and neither Abu Haneefah, Maalik, al-Shaafa’i or Ahmad said that this was forbidden.

Hourani, Albert, 2002, A History of the Arab Peoples, Faber & Faber, ISBN 0-571-21591-2 pg 198 .

"The question of why people convert to Islam has always generated intense feeling. Earlier generations of European scholars believed that conversions to Islam were made at the point of the sword, and that conquered peoples were given the choice of conversion or death. It is now apparent that conversion by force, while not unknown in Muslim countries, was, in fact, rare. Muslim conquerors ordinarily wished to dominate rather than convert, and most conversions to Islam were voluntary. (...) In most cases worldly and spiritual motives for conversion blended together. Moreover, conversion to Islam did not necessarily imply a complete turning from an old to a totally new life. While it entailed the acceptance of new religious beliefs and membership in a new religious community, most converts retained a deep attachment to the cultures and communities from which they came."[8]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0571215912

Be Your Own Self! By Imam W. Deen Mohammed

We have to be our own self. We have to be our own selves. Being your own self means more than conforming to your own nature; it means preserving

yourself; saving yourself from slavery to other people or to other ideas.

Communal Conversion;The Transition of a Nation

Presented byImam Kashif Abdul-KarimMuhammad Islamic Center of Greater Hartford, CT.May 11, 20132nd Annual Uswah Conference .

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