The Time and What Must Be Done (Final Part)

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!