Making It Plain

Yesterday, September 11, 2008, as America reflected upon the tragic events of “9/11″, the Muslim Community and the world mourned the loss of a dynamic man, a leader, visionary, author, businessman, father, husband, grandfather, Imam W. Deen Mohammed.

Thousands gathered in Villa Park, IL to pay their respects.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-mohammed-funeral-12-sep12,0,5321294.story

Around the country, thousands more gathered and offered similar prayers for the Imam in solidarity with those attending in person in the suburbs of Chicago. I was honored to and humbled by the opportunity to lead one such prayer at the Philadelphia Masjid, under the leadership of Imam Malik Mubaashir. And I, along with others among the several hundred men and women in attendance, was able to offer a few words of reflection and encouragement. Those words seem to have resonated with those there, by the permission of the Creator, and I hope to share some of those reflections in the days ahead, as they are relevant to the life and legacy of the Imam and address his theme “we can’t stop now”.

For now, I offer this, as I prepare to offer the Jumu’ah khutbah (Friday Prayer Sermon) this afternoon at Masjidullah in Plainfield, NJ; a dynamic and diverse community in association with Imam W. Deen Mohammed, under the leadership of my dear friend, elder and brother Imam Abdul-Wali Muhammad. And I yet again have the honor to lead another janaza prayer for our dear Imam:

Many people, and I speak for myself first and foremost, feel a great sense of personal loss with the passing of the Imam. In 2001, I published a small book titled “From the Nation to the Sunnah – Building the Bridge in 21st Century America. (My intent is to revise and reprint within the next few weeks, in dedication to Imam Mohammed); in the book, I briefly outlined the evolution from the Nation of Islam in 1995 to traditional (or Sunni) Islam under the skillful direction of Imam Mohammed. The challenge before us now is to continue that journey, and strive to keep our community together ideologically and philosophically. Meaning, although the leadership paradigm is continuing to change and evolve, this is NOT a time for everyone to just start (or in some cases, increase) doing their “own thing”.

Collective effort, collaboration, and what I’ve been referering to for years now as “functional unity” must be the order of the day. Who will take the baton and keep moving us collectively forward? ALL of us must share in and be focused upon this objective. Although it’s been said that there will be no “successor” to the Imam, we all are ideological and philosophical “heirs and inheritors” of what he stood for, represented and strove for tirelessly until his death. For whatever it’s worth, I hope to offer some insights, suggestions and steps forward towards that end. I do so with the benefit of having lived through and experienced that first transition that began on February 25, 1975 upon the death of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, and the next day, February 26, 1975, when as a child in the Nation I watched, through tears of grief, which turned to tears and smiles of hope and optimism, as many pledged to work with “Minister Walace D. Mohammed”. And I watched and listened as he boldly and courageously stepped up, in front of the world, and began what we would come to know as “the 2nd Ressurection”. We haven’t stopped yet, and “we can’t stop now”.

The 3rd Resurrection is upon us, and how we continue building the bridge, from the Nation to the Sunnah, working through issues of ideological difference with the Nation of Islam (thorough education, interaction, with wisdom and beautiful preaching as the Qur’an instructs….), striving to bring our communities together and move towards indigenization and independence, while still working across ethnic lines, will not only determine the next few years, but could very well impact the next 100 years plus of Islam in America.

Where do we go from here is the question. And what we do, and HOW we do it, is critical. We must tread carefully, critically, practically, and get there through results-oriented dialogue. Things as we knew them have indeed changed…………I remember my SPECIFIC instructions from Imam Mohammed in November 1999, and again in March 2000, when I saw him at Harvard University just after he’d returned back from Chicago and publicly appearing with Minister Farrakhan. Among the things he said to me that day was “Imam Amin, we are together again. We are all one family again!). And he smiled, we hugged again, and he went to the podium to give the khutbah. THOSE words and THAT smile is what will be in and on my heart and mind today. And in moving forward, holding fast to that spirit, which reflects the Qur’anic spirit “Hold fast all together to the rope of Allah and do not be divided”, I use a colloquial expression: “that’s how I’m doin it!”.

I have truly strived in all my published works thus far to make them more reader-friendly by writing in a style described in a phrase I coined over a decade ago when we launched our publishing initiative as “a language that all can understand”. This blog is not and WILL not be an exercise in writing for the sake of writing and pontificating; it is a dialogue that is intended to be a source of reflection, and if I am even remotely successful, inspiration and motivation for the grassroots community.

As a Muslim, I will of course, utilize the Qur’an and the Prophetic tradition found both through the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), his Seerah (biography), and other Islamic sources. However, I must stress again that I will be using practical examples, and basing this commentary substantively upon my own experiences and those of others who have been involved in the grassroots effort at both the layperson and leadership levels, and all other levels in-between.

A note of caution: this blog, as well as our collective work, is not and will not be for the faint-hearted. Just the thought of the challenges that we are faced with sometimes overwhelms me. Yet, whenever I become overwhelmed when pondering the many challenges that face us in 21^stcentury America, in addition to reflecting upon the guidance of the Qur’an, and the life example and expereinces of the Prophet Muhammad, prayers and peace be upon him, I often reflect upon the life and times of Malcolm X; the overwhelming abundance of life-altering, life-threatening challenges that he faced allows me to put my own and our collective situations in the proper context.

Upon self examination seeking answers to the question of where do we go from here, and how do we forge a new vision for Islam in 21^stcentury America, I am reminded of the quote by the psychiatrist and social theorist Frantz Fanon who said “every generation rises from relative obscurity and either fulfills its historic mission or betrays it”. I am convinced now more than ever that it is the responsibility of my generation, particularly those of us that spent our formative years in the Nation of Islam, witnessed the end of the movement as we knew it in 1975, continued our evolution from the nation to the Sunnah, and now have children, in some cases grandchildren, of our own, to play a significant role in shaping and implementing a new vision for Islam in 21^st century America.

Muslims in America at all levels shoulder an enormous responsibility and it is incumbent upon us to commit ourselves to building the future. Collectively at the grassroots level we have a substantive contribution which remains to be made. The challenges will continue to exist, as the guidance of the Creator tells us that like the alternating fortunes of the day and the night we asked human beings are tested in turn.

Over the past few years I have come to categorize every test as part of the purification process based upon the well known adage “what doesn’t kill you only serves to make you stronger”. Islamophobia, blanket judgments, sweeping stereotypes, and other factors beyond our control lie in wait as obstacles on the path to forging a new vision. Nevertheless, we must not be thwarted and must remain unwavering in our endeavor to establish community life with the parallel pursuit of freedom, justice and equality. For this vision to become a reality we must collectively seek common ground. This is one of the beauties of our historical development within the Islamic experience, particularly in Black America.

It is for this reason that I consistently reference my developmental years within the Nation of Islam, drawing from it’s best practices. (a review of my bio might prove helpful in better understanding my thought process and evolution; if interested, you can view at www.aminnathari.com) Within that first resurrection, we may have come from different backgrounds, neighborhoods, socio-political realities and philosophies, yet that experience allowed us to develop a certain trust and respect. It helped us to work through our differences, staying focused on the task at hand and uniting to get the job done. We established a precedence of soldiering together, and it was a labor of love as we had a common goal, objective and purpose then: to “build a nation”.

The grassroots community of America needs a common goal now to manifest a new vision for Islam in 21^st century America. In the process, our endeavors and collective work will allow us to accurately define for the broader society just what is Islam and to essentially redefine what it means to be a Muslim. The areas of engagement are multifaceted and multipronged, yet I firmly believe that for a new vision of Islam to be manifest at the highest level, an Islamic movement must commence. I am convinced that organizationally we have to move our collective work away from the institutional paradigm of loosely based alliances, organizations and the like.

While those organizational modalities serve an important role, the sheer nature of our organized and collective work, for me, mandates that we solidify ourselves on a deeper level. When I use the term Islamic movement, I utilize the definition of the contemporary scholar Yusuf Qaradawi, who defines it as “organized and collective work that is undertaken by the people to restore Islam to the leadership of society and to the helm of life”. Of course, this Islamic leadership is accommodating and tolerant of other faith traditions, and it seeks inclusion, not exclusion, with morality and the pursuit of the common good serving as the true litmus test. In shaping a new vision for Islam in 21^st century America and determining where we go from here, one must always keep in mind that the time dictates what must be done. You may be doing the right thing at the wrong time, looking for the right results.

Our own grassroots assessment should help us determine what our challenges are and what the responses to those challenges should be. This requires us to discard with the proverbial slave mind. It is this mindset that keeps us waiting for the six o’clock news, and tuning into the popular culture to determine what our issues are today. This is just one of many obstacles to taking control of our own destinies and developing and implementing a vision for the future. We must be bold and courageous enough to chart our own course, always keeping in mind, particularly within a socio-political context, that they are no permanent friends or permanent enemies, only permanent interests. The interests that best benefit the overall aspirations of the community are those interests that should be a priority for our collective efforts, endeavors and struggle.

I personally do not separate my vision for Islam from my vision for America, as I am a Muslim and just as much an American. The blood of my ancestors is embedded in the soil of this land. Their sweat and labor helped to build the very country in which we live today, one that we have a vested interest in its vision, success or lack thereof. I strongly believe that the religion and way of life of Islam, based upon a broad and comprehensive understanding with a practical application, can address many of the challenges issues and ills that exist in 21^st century America. Yet I also understand, as did Malcolm, that the challenges that face America are not Muslim, Christian or Jewish problems, they are human problems. The time has come that we move beyond the manifestation of these problems and start examining and having discourse around the sources of these problems. And we can no longer be in denial, tiptoeing or soft-pedaling around our situation as it is too critical.

The events of September 11, 2001, or “9/11” have grounded post modernity. That was our defining moment in the history of our generation. This reality has to move us a more ecumenical co-existence. I believe the first quarter of the 21^st century will be the most pivotal period in history; future generations will look back upon this period and we will be evaluated accordingly based upon our efforts and success or lack thereof, during this period. Like it or not, we are going to be history makers, the only question that remains is what kind of history will we make. The challenge is to address our issues and fix ourselvesso that we can move beyond ourselves.

To manifest a new vision for Islam in America, and fulfill our collective destiny, our leaders, Muslim and other faith traditions, must move throughout our communities, throughout the country and convene with our people, the grassroots. We must all be on the same team and we can never make the tragic mistake of giving the ball to people who playing for the other team. I define the other team as those who do not share in the goals, hopes and aspirations that will make us successful as a grassroots community in 21^st century America. I pray that I can help the home team and make a meaningful contribution to this new vision, a vision of hope, promise, success, and a fulfilled destiny, for the grassroots, and all of humanity.

I end this first post on a personal note. This year, 2008, marks thirteen (13) since I began what would be a life-changing journey. In the spring of 1995, I, along with a small band of committed and sincere brothers and sisters, set out on a path of implementing a broad and comprehensive plan of Islamic community development. And on September 1, 1995, in the face of hostilities and opposition, yet with hope and unbridled optimism, the Muslim Community Center of Essex County, in East Orange, NJ, also known in the lexicon of MuslimAmerica as “4th Avenue”, (and the mosque which would be housed there, shortly thereafter named Masjid As’habul-Yameen) formally opened its doors for “full-time” service to the Muslim community and the society-at-large. And although my formal relationship (as Founding Director and Imam) with that particular institution ended more than five years later in December 2000, my commitment to public service has continued uninterrupted, at what seems to be an unending pace, with writing, lecturing and other public discourse, as well as organizing and continuing to work on the ground.

I have certainly made some mistakes, miscalculations and will continue to make them, (albeit I pray less of them, as experience helps one attain maturity and we are all works in progress), as my shortcomings are many. However, the lessons I have learned along the way are seemingly endless, and I continue to pray that the lessons learned and continued experiences shared as I move throughout the country and build with our people, these things combined should be, God willing, more than sufficient enough to place our situation in the proper context. And although I don’t claim to have all the answers, nor am I a scholar in the traditional or contemporary sense, in the final analysis, I can only hope and pray, as stated by our late leader and brother Al Hajj Malik Shabazz, that my sincerity is my credential.

We have work to do in 21^st century America. So let’s go on, keep our heads high and get on with it. And although I no longer subscribe to the religious ideology I learned from him as a child (we will have much more discussion on the merits of a Nation-inspired movement based on a sound, 21st Century application of the Qur’an and Prophetic tradition), I reference the truth in the immortal words of the late leader and Nation of Islam architect Elijah Muhammad: Blackman, pick up your bed and walk!

The time and what must be done, then, as we see from the tragic deaths of Malcolm, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and too many others, it was a time for martyrs; today, we have an easier, yet equally important mandate: the time and what must be done, now, is a time for mentors. Malcolm was a martyr so that by chance we would have the opportunity to fulfill our responsibility and become mentors, in the broadest, most comprehensive sense of the term. I embrace this as a personal challenge, and have had and continue to have the honor and distinction to work with many who share the same sentiment and who live it, with consistency.

I must preface everything I have written thus far in this inaugural post of sorts, as well as what I will offer, by God’s Permission, in every future post on this blog, with the following: we ALL are standing upon the shoulders of those that came before us. Many have labored, toiled, strived and struggled, fought, bled and in many cases died for us to have the opportunity that we have today; the opportunity to work and strive together for change. And not only are we determined to be looked upon favorably through the lens of history, but by our ancestors whose spirit still dwells among us.

I remember growing up in the city of Newark, New Jersey, this city from where I write these words, during a time of social upheaval and turmoil here, as was also witnessed in other parts of our country, watching many exit our cities in masse, leaving many observers to conclude that life in inner-city or urban America was “history”. Now we find that many of our cities today, like Newark, are becoming places of great potential and opportunity, where many are coming back in masse, to share in the change that is occurring in those best examples of urban America. If we work and strive together for change and progress, together for all of our people, we will be successful in 21^st century America. But in order to achieve this, beyond rhetoric, jingoism and sloganism, and meet the challenges that face us, we are indeed going to have to realize that it is a time for a change. And change is best achieved through the establishment of order and priorities. Even in the process of the heavens and the earth, not every part of the earth is illuminated by the sun at the same time; not all the planets rotate around the sun at the same time. Everything has its appointed place and time. The absence of which would lead to chaos and collision, of catastrophic proportion.

Agreeing to accept our responsibility and execute a results-oriented agenda built upon priorities and best practices, if we rise to the challenge, we can save our generation and those that will follow us from drowning in the ocean of underachievement, disillusionment and despair, and empower them to live a life filled with achievement, fulfillment and economic and spiritual abundance. Above and beyond the commentary and reflections, this blog, Making It Plain, is a call to action. I will always try to offer commentary and thoughts on what I feel to be most urgent and pressing. I garner this both from my own experience, and from my many discussions with those in the trenches; my many fellow freedom fighters, both women and men who continue to dedicate their lives to working for the betterment of our people and our society, the human family. I owe them an unpayable debt of gratitude. (You know who you are).

Now, a few thoughts on Malcolm (and I must note that for some, this is the most controversial part of the new books’ title). I posit the question “What Would Malcolm Do?” I did this for a number of reasons. Of all the contemporary civil and human rights leaders and social actors that I have studied, I have the strongest personal and philosophical affinity towards the one that was tragically taken away from us over 40 years ago on February 21, 1965, when I was just one year old: Al-Hajj Malik Shabazz, popularly known as Malcolm X. Seemingly endless volumes have been written about and focused upon him, his life, legacy, leadership style, etc. Space does not allow for a detailed discussion of why, for me, Malcolm mattered, and still is relevant today. One of his most famous speeches was his Message to the Grassroots. Today, over 40 years later, in my mind, it is resoundingly loud and clear that the audience he was seeking to engage then is the same audience that today possesses the best potential to affect systemic, wholesale change in 21^st century America. For me, as a community servant, certain things just naturally appeal to me about Malcolm, the shaheed or martyr of our time.

For certain, it is an exercise in speculation to posit what Malcolm would have done had he lived to continue his mission, continued spiritual and political development and the like. Yet, from what he was during the years he served as National Spokesman for the Nation of Islam and the year following his departure until his untimely murder, we can accurately make a number of observations. Malcolm was a mature, pious Muslim and leader. He was the epitome of sincerity. When Malcolm said “a Muslim doesn’t smoke”, he wasn’t going in the back alley of the mosque and lighting up a cigarette. Contrast his example to what we all too often find today. Many are claiming to be imitating the Righteous Predecessors and in many cases are little more than the Modern Day Pretenders.

Malcolm spoke truth to power, and never wavered in his commitment for freedom, justice and equality, both economically and socio-politically. For all of his scathing racial indictments during his NOI days, Malcolm was ultimately killed, in part, for his diplomatic efforts. This illustrates that the process of bridging gaps and working to bring people together around results-oriented action, goals and objectives is a dangerous road indeed. Lastly, and of monumental importance in light of the reality of 21^stcentury America which is the central focus of this work, Malcolm was one of the best examples we have seen of a leader not allowing his personal religious beliefs to make him lose sight of his responsibility to humanity; even towards those who did not necessarily share his faith tradition yet agreed with his socio-political and economic vision.

It is well known that even after he changed his name, he often remarked that as long as the conditions that created Malcolm X continued to exist, he would continue to maintain names, identities. For him, his conversion to traditional Islam was not a passport out of blackness or a one way ticket out of social responsibility. I personally find this to be consistent to the compassion and empathy we garner from the Quranic passage that states (translated as): You are the best of people evolved from mankind; you enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil and you believe in God.(Al-Imran, 3/110).

One well known exegesis or commentary on this passage is that the Prophet (pbuh) said this means that we are the best people for others to look at and emulate as an example. This means we have a Divine mandate to serve everyone and to be engaged at every level. I emphatically believe Malcolm would have agreed that leaders have to make hard decisions in challenging times, and Malcolm, even if you didn’t agree with his decision, it would have been well thought out, keeping in mind the best long term interest of his community and people. He would agree that collectively, we can build a better world. If we had a united front, we as Muslims could galvanize the various forces looking for the establishment of good, fairness and justice. And he would most certainly agree that we may differ on particulars, but we need to agree that now is a time for action on all fronts.

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

In this corner: Slavery, Suffering and Death, and in that corner, Freedom, Justice and Equality. It was these words that I read every time I came into the auditorium of Muhammad’s Mosque #25 in Newark, NJ, which also did double duty as Muhammad’s University of Islam, where I received my primary education through the 7^th grade. These words were painted on the blackboard, along with a vivid image of a man (a black man, of course) with a noose around his neck. For me, even in those formative years, the scenario painted on the front side of the board represented challenges and choices. Moreover, it illustrated for me that the theme popularized by the Nation of Islam during that period, “the time and what must be done” dictated the choices one must make in order to face the challenges that the time presents. (more…)