by Rami Mahmoud Elsawah
Do you really want an ummah, or are you just saying you do...Because if you really want an ummah you’re going to do some things you’re not going to like. You’re going to get off your butt and go to the library...you’re going to stay on your butt and read. You’re going to get on your butt again and watch c-span (because I know you have cable)...you’re going to read alternative news everyday, like whatreallyhappened.com…you’re going to learn why voting Republican or Democrat is just collecting the scraps off your oppressor table. You’re going to then get off your butt again and find out why no one has yet to copy the Brits and make their own Muslim Party.
Your mind will have to open...you'll have to start understanding America's culture crisis. You'll start reading Adbusters, you'll read books like The Autobiography of Malcolm X and With Justice for None by Gerry Spence. Then the most important thing of all the things that you have done, and have yet to do, is to use that cumulative knowledge to figure out that the reason that we have no ummah…is that there can be no ummah....while things are played their way.
But who, or whom, are they?
They, Them, Those... what we are speaking of is the system of Division...the system so well planned out that it needs no maintenance, it needs no leader, it is time perfected. It keeps us vying with each other to be the ones to lead ourselves out of the darkness...into division. Think about it, how many Muslim groups do you know of? How many of these groups pool resources and funds? How many masjids give their excess money to lesser struggling masjids? ….Now how many Muslim groups fight endlessly over pity things?
This system...this well planned out system...works so well that Muslims in Muslim countries have become brainwashed to believed that beard equals terrorist, white skin equals more attractive, African = lower class, Egyptian = pest, Saudi = arrogant, etc. etc. etc. The divisions go on and on. You know you've had a problem with someone's country before; I've had a few myself. We are all victims of this system…until the time comes when we break free…by the grace of Al-Rahman.
So let me state this again...in simpler terms. You want an ummah...so do I. So why are we fighting each other again?
Let's go back to the system. The system works in a very simple way. Keep us divided by using the differences in the way we think and the way we act against each other. For example, the activist will complain to his friend of his laziness and unwillingness to do anything...the latter will complain that the activist is spending his time, money, and energy on nothing. Both are right, both are wrong...nothing gets done. If you see this at the microscopic level, it is a fight between an introverted and extroverted characters...a division...a difference in which seeds are planted. Their arguments were both true: We rallied and the war went on/We rallied but at least we did something.
The Method of Healing must be formatted to oppose these dividing factors; to look for the good, get rid of the bad, and smash them together to make a method that works for all. For example Kalle Lasn, the founder of Adbusters addresses the situation of protest ineffectiveness in his book Culture Jam. If you convert his method of protesting McDonald's to our problem of protesting Israel at all of these rallies...we'd have some action. The method is simple...we reverse the planned out way of protesting handed down through the centuries to keep us ineffective by making our own plan. Here's mine (Your welcome to fix it, or come up with your own):
We protest without signs and shouting...we dress well...we speak without cursing...we don't insult...we don't talk to reporters (I know you have a lot to say)...we tell them instead to talk to our appointed spokesman (I know you’d rather see your name in the newspaper). We demand that things happen because it is our right as citizens, we demand that our money should not be spent to kill and to divide...because it is our money. We hold the power, it is our right to demand these things of the government.
Then people...insha Allah...will start to say to themselves: "That's right, we do work hard and bust are butts all day so we can feed ourselves and our family...Why are billions of our tax dollars going to Israel while we sit unemployed and uninsured?" It turns from a mob of angry Arab Moslems to a legitimate argument...one that holds weight with every American who pays taxes and works to survive, instead of the same old clips you stay up late see whiz by on CNN.
Insha Allah...may Allah bless our Ummah and grant us guidance.
You are right on the money! Great Job, Bro! :)
on January 23, 2004 12:50 PMVery nice article Br.Rami. I like the plan...May Allah give us Hidaya to come up with a collective plan to rejuvenate the Muslim Ummah and stick to it Inshallah. Welcome aboard and Jazakallah Khair
on January 23, 2004 2:47 PMIn the love of the prophet, it was so easy to remember Allah.
on January 23, 2004 9:53 PM"Ibn Arabi has exercised great influence on India and Pakistan especially as his doctrine of wahdat al-wujud is quite accommodative and flexible in many ways. According to this doctrine the real existence wujud is that of Allah whereas all of us are its manifestations. In fact entire universe is His manifestation.
Thus such a doctrine leads to demolition of barriers between people of one religion and the other."
huh? elaborate on that point a little please,Br. Islam
on January 24, 2004 10:25 AMRami, very well written artical. Good job . I have a question . Do you want to be an umma are you taling about muslim countries or here in the US ? What is an Umma in your view ? A country , group of people .
An Alim is in his place, yet The King [Mohammad] of the Alim is in His own place. Books of the heavens kept changing, yet the Quran of Mohammad has remained the same. People of Mohammad, the world will change, yet the Quran will remain the same. The world will change a thousand times yet, the Quran will always remain the same.
on January 24, 2004 1:52 PMI seem to have forgotten to put the quotes around the last posting.
on January 24, 2004 2:41 PMSalaams Tarek,
My main point was really to say that if we mend the divisions between ourselves as muslims, then we will be united. Whether it starts on a small scale or by countries forming alliances I don't know. But we would have to unite the muslims in our own country and on a small scale before we expect to unite with the world.
Your mom told me to tell you it's an "Ummat al-muslimin...did you forget?"
Thank you Tarek, amani(sis), and Nadia. Islam...I think we're all still confused about that quote on Ibn Arabi.
on January 24, 2004 3:00 PMI more than strongly suggest for everyone to read Malcolm X.
For thinkers, look into reading "Harnessing Complexity" by Robert Axelrod.
Let's not forget... we need to be muslims (ie. pray 5 times each day, fast, be humble, generous, seek knowledge, etc). GI Joe used to say, knowing is half the battle.
Insha'allah, we will read and do.
on January 25, 2004 2:15 AMsalamuyalaikum
islam, can you postr your eail b/c i would like to discuss a matter with you
S@!@MZ
i want u to help me.
on June 11, 2005 12:51 PM it was such a good article,but i'm sorry because i didn't understand much of it.
You friend
Ahmad hasan,
Cairo institute for arabic language studies,Cairo,Egypt
Thanks
For all you brill hidaya writers :-)
Assalaamualaykum wa rahmatullah!
Please spread the word! JazakumAllah khairan.
Forwarded message:
WRITING CONTEST: Support Prophet Muhammad
Assalamu Alaikum!
Insha'Allah this message finds you in the best of health and imaan. Amin.
This one landed right in my lap, so to speak...hahaha...on my laptop! It came with a link and I went to explore...so here is my report!
Before I forget! The scroll bar to the contest's website is on the LEFT! *smile*
This contest is organized to show and rally support for Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) against the vicious campaign of defamation waged by some newspapers. It started with a Danish paper publishing offensive caricatures insulting the Prophet (pbuh), hence all Muslims. The caricatures are meant to distort the Prophet's noble character and Message.
In response to the vicious campaign of distortion, the Al-Aluka Website has decided to organize this contest as a contribution to the efforts being made towards defeating the aggression against the Prophet's character on the one hand, and towards showing all the world his genuine and noble character on the other.
Al-Aluka hereby invites those interested in taking part in this contest to:
(1) write a research paper,
(2) a short story,
(3) an article, or,
(4) an essay on Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
The invitation is extended to a wide age range of participants, from 12-year-olds to academic researchers. The winners will be financially rewarded, and the winning material will be published so that decent people allover the world can see for themselves the nobility of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
For details and conditions, please read Contest Requirements.
May Allah, the Almighty, bless our humble endeavor to show and rally support for Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)and his noble Message against the vile and evil campaign of defamation. May Allah purify our intentions and attune our hearts to what pleases Him, which is for the good of all beings.
May His peace and blessings be upon Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), his kin and his Companions.
Contest Information in English: http://alukah.net/english/Page.aspx?PageID=5
Contest Information in Arabic: http://alukah.net/Page.aspx?PageID=1
Contest Requirements (by category): http://alukah.net/English/Page.aspx?PageID=6
Contest Rules: http://alukah.net/English/Page.aspx?PageID=7
Contest Prizes: http://alukah.net/English/Page.aspx?PageID=8
(Universal Currency Converter: http://www.xe.com/ucc/)
Submit entries via online form: http://alukah.net/English/Participate.aspx
(NOTE: There is a drop-down menu for selecting your country, however, the list is not in alphabetical order so scroll carefully, insha'Allah)
Submit entry via email: info@alukah.net
DEADLINE: MARCH 29, 2006
May Allah subhahanu wa ta'ala facilitate your energies, inspiration and writing with ease. Amin.
I cannot imagine a single loser in this contest, as the effort will be recorded in your book of good deeds, Insha'Allah.
Muslimah Writers Alliance urges you to support this project - please circulate widely, insha'Allah.
Ma'Salaama,
Aishah Schwartz
Founder & Director
Muslimah Writers Alliance
On the web:
www.muslimahwritersalliance.com
http://mwapeopleschoice.blogspot.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Muslimah_Writers_Alliance