Strategies for The Islamic Movement in North America Proceedings from a National Seminar: Islamic Movement in the West

Understanding the Goals of the Islamic Movement in North America The following goals and ideas are from Muslims promoting Islamic Mission  The Major Goal is to evolve together a unified approach among Muslims to the establishment of Islam in “this part of the world”

Workshops  Meaning of Islamic Unity  Character of Islamic Organizations  Diverse Traditions and Schools of Islamic Thought  The Nature of the Conflict Between Islam and the West  Social Integration verses Social Separation

 Islamic Movement: Nature and Model  Language of the Islamic Movement  Setting Priorities for Action

Islamic Unity Islamic Unity  Three levels: Local, National, Global  Within the framework of the “deen” of Allah  Unity is an effect of the cause of “the movement to establish the deen of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala on this earth” (p3)  “With Allah Deen is only that creed which makes man recognize Allah”

Unity (continued) Unity (continued)  Unity is conditional upon all Muslims seeking to establish the deen of Allah.  The Islamic Movement is the cause which will join us all together  The goal we should work for in unity is not something else but the Islamic Movement and the Jihad (p 3)

Unity (continued)  Nationally work for one organization  Disagreement occurred on the centralization of power and the autonomy at the local level  Do not copy from other countries  The need to divest of national and cultural affiliations of the home countries and have a truly American cultural social political movement

Unity (continued)  Problems seem to be people trying to import or copy from their own cultures  We must eliminate consciously the idea of differences in origin and culture, e.g. “overcome the ethnic character of Muslim organizations”  We must develop jurisprudence for America... From the Quran and sunnah

Unity (continued)  The Quran is the source  A print medium that is standardized  Train Muslims in humanities and organizational skills so they can work within existing organizations to develop them into an Islamic movement  Islamic education  Islamic training  Islamic motivation (p4)

Unity (continued)  Remain linked to world-wide Islam  We are a single brotherhood  Everyone in America should commit to “make some contribution to the establishment of Islam on this earth” (p 5)  No organization should claim it is the sole representation of Islam in America  Most problems are ethnic ones

Suggestions on Relating to Americans  Stick with Islamic Identity and interact with American society  Learn in all areas  Form alliances with other non-Islamic organization but “we should lead and be in the forefront” (p6)  If we cannot interact without jeopardizing our Islamic identity we should not

Suggestions on Relating to Americans  Muslims must associate with Muslims intentionally so there are marriages and relationships with the idea of establishing Islam and disseminating it to others (p6)  Sponsor academic Olympics, summer programs, camps, Muslim schools and colleges  Join the National Conference for Christians and Jews and change its name to “and Muslims” to increase understanding of Islam

Suggestions on Relating to Americans  Identify social ills and lead public demonstrations on all levels, “present an Islamic view on these issues”  Initiate databases on potential allies  Draft Islamic voter registration among Muslims  Maximize mass media to advance and spread Islamic principles and perspectives

Suggestions on Relating to Americans  Establish interest free borrowing and lending institutions  Establish Islamic literature in the schools  Target areas where Muslims can co- locate and be neighbors  Assist Muslims in relocating and finding other Muslims to associate with

Suggestions on Relating to Americans  Should we visit Americans who are non- Muslims? Should we invite them into our homes as a means of propagating Islam?  To what extent will we expose issues that are a “cancer in the society” and give Islamic perspectives?  Until we integrate our own communities, we shouldn’t try to integrate in America

Suggestions on Relating to Americans  Invite qualified teachers to explain Islam to Americans – we need more. How many do we have?  There can be no alignment with Christian fundamentalists or anyone like them because we must present views from an Islamic perspective  Beware of marrying Christians – the role the woman plays in child-raising and the mind of the child is fundamental

Suggestions on Relating to Americans  Set up a dynamic moral example for Americans to follow  Community in Islam is not geographic— we are community in cooperation  Do not violate Islamic principles  Develop teamwork as most of us are not qualified to discuss the difference between Islam and other religions

Suggestions on Relating to Americans  Islamic identity is not a cultural thing—it does not mean you sit on the floor and eat rice with your fingers  In 30 years we may have 50 million Muslims but they will look and behave differently then those “back home” (p7)  Diet, silverware, clothing, dress must be American Islam

Suggestions on Relating to Americans  We need to find commonality in ideology that crosses all barriers between Muslims  Beware of cooperating with groups. Wanting Muslims prayer in public schools is good as long as it remains the “Al- Fateha” Some groups have fallen into a trap of modifying it when they cooperate with Christians and others

Suggestions on Relating to Americans  Find need nobody is filling and fill it---don’t just copy the Salvation Army  Propagate Islam to your neighbor and don’t shove the responsibility off on others (p8)  We need professional looking material on Islam  We need Muslims teaching children in Muslim schools

Suggestions on Relating to Americans  Muslims tend to dump 10 million dollars in a new school that is mostly for looks – be more humble in architecture and more strategic.  Niyah – the purpose served. Integration or anything must depend upon the ultimate question “What is it going to accomplish [for Islam]” (p9)