When we think of Africa, rarely do we think anything positive. Our minds are flooded by images of vast deserts, animals and savanna. Most of us cannot come up with a single contribution to humanity from Africa. The narrative of Africa we hear in the West is one of primitiveness and ignorance.

A great lie has been painted about Africa, and it is only recently that we have begun to appreciate the true heritage of the African people. When Europe was drowning in the Dark Ages of disease and illiteracy, Africa was a center of trade, wealth and knowledge. Timbuktu was a hot, dry, desert city, but hundreds of thousands of people would come from far and wide on foot and by caravan to benefit from the city. Timbuktu had one of the first universities in the world, specializing in various disciplines such as math, astronomy and Islamic studies. It was not uncommon for books to be bought for their price in gold. By the 14th century, long before the rise of European intellectualism and science, the university already had 25,000 enrolled students.

The 15th century was a pivotal century for the world. Gutenberg perfected the printing press for consumer use and Columbus set forth on his famous voyage in 1492. Towards the end of this century, the Spanish unleashed the Inquisition on the innocent Muslim and Jewish population. According to Dr. Quick, the Spanish took on a policy in which they would destroy the buildings, books and culture of the people they conquered. It is estimated by Bettany Hughes that as many as 1 million books were burned.

Contrary to popular belief, Columbus did not actually discover the Americas. Not only were there native people living there, but there is also evidence of African sailors, Vikings, and Muslims who traded and settled in the Americas. Few structures and books were left behind for us to remember the civilizations past, and history was rewritten. Instead of recognizing the important contributions and advancements of the civilization that came before, a block of history was left out. Finally, three centuries later, Europe started its own period of enlightenment as a result of the books and knowledge they translated from the civilizations they conquered.

As a result of this unfortunate crime, many groups are struggling to piece together a lost history. This loss is something we share with many other groups around the world. There is a systematic miseducation that seeps throughout our societal, cultural and educational system. It is critical for us as Muslims, more than ever, to connect with fellow minorities, especially Black Americans. Our histories are intertwined, histories of integration and assimilation. It began in the early days of the message with the Companions who migrated to Abyssinia to seek protection under a just Christian king and continued through the ages, forming deep and plentiful roots.  Unfortunately, my limited knowledge and the length of this article do not permit that we dig deeper into this history, but from what we do know, we can draw some important principles.

As Muslims living in the United States, we are shielded by the history of other minorities. We lean on the horrid experiences of the Native Americans, Blacks, Japanese, Jewish, Vietnamese and other minorities when we point out current double standards and bigotry. We should be appreciative and humbled by their struggles; we should especially stand by their side in seeking educational and political justice for crimes of the past.

Additionally, we should take a humble pride in the fact that the Islam eradicates ethnic, racial, and gender divides as emphasized by the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) in his last sermon. Islam is free of the racist tendencies of Social Darwinism and the White Man’s Burden, and came centuries before the Civil Rights and Women’s suffrage movements.  In continuation of that legacy, we should break down the barriers between different ethnic groups in the Muslim community, especially those between the indigenous and immigrant Muslim population. As one brother asked, “How many of us that come from immigrant families have made the effort to go to a Black masjid?” They are of the largest segments of the US Muslim community, but we still remain largely segregated.

As Muslims, we should look to feel, appreciate, and internalize other cultures’ political, historical, and social narratives without judgment. We should seek to work with various groups in ensuring their narratives are shared from their own perspective. As Dr. Quick mentioned in the class, history is biased by nature. In an effort to obtain objectivity, we should seek the narratives of all races, ethnicities, and classes of society; from the rich as well as the poor; the famous as well as the common; the oppressed as well as the oppressor. This will build a comprehensive historical view that will allow everyone to make better judgments.

Some suggestions (especially to those on college campuses):

1. Make contact with fellow minority groups and seek to understand their struggles. This should be a mutual, institutional relationship where members are encouraged to interact in different gatherings, programs, and events.
2. Become champions for minority causes, especially educational justice. Establish or reform minority studies departments and put on programming to educate the student body.
3. Share resources and create a strong network. This should include people, money, time, advertising, tutors, mentors, and experience.
4. Make connections and parallels between causes. Some examples include the commonalities or intersections of history such as the ostracism of the Japanese during WWII, the religious motivation of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr., and the joint prosperity of Islam and many parts of Africa.

As we move forward to try to solve many of the ailing parts of our American society, these relationships and bonds will be essential to creating a just society.

Abu Raqiyyah Tamin bin Aws ad-Dari radi Allahu `anhu, may Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “[Islam] is an-nasihah.” We said, “To whom?” He said, “To Allah, to His book, to His messenger, the leaders of the Muslims and to the general populous of the Muslims” (Muslim).

Upon reading this hadith (saying of the Prophet ﷺ) it became clear that nasihah does not mean advice. How could one possibly advise God or His book? Nasihah actually means sincerity; it is striving to seek the best outcome in any situation in life. So when we have nasihah with Allah azza wa jal, that means that we are sincere in worshipping Him and following His commandments.

Nasihah is not so much about advice; rather it is about seeking the good and benefit in a situation. If we keep this in mind, we realize that when we give nasihah to our leaders and fellow Muslims it is not to prove our point, or because we feel violated; we don’t do it in anger or haste, but rather humbly, honestly and strategically. We look to improve the situation, or the individual, instead of debasing and humiliating them. Thus, we give nasihah in the best way possible: the way that it will be received.

This, in essence, is one of the very reasons we come together as a community. We seek to uplift each other in times of hardship and grow together in times of ease. It allows us to multiply our potential and seek the best in any situation. So don’t leave a brother (or sister) hanging and please keep the nasihah coming.

It’s true though. Sometimes, after trying so hard and going out of our way to help someone, all it takes is two words—thank you—to start the rush of accomplishment and success. In fact, it happens all the time at work and school when we get a pat-on-the-back for the job-well-done on a project or a paper.

I used to ponder on the significance of giving “thanks” to Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He). Clearly there is no benefit to Him, al-Ghani (the One that is free of all needs). Slowly yet surely though, life comes to show that it truly is the thought that counts; at the core, it’s about the very process and not the details. The very act of giving thanks is a humbling comment; a recognition of benefit and respect or even awe. The professor didn’t reminisce on the contents of the thank you, but rather the fact that he was thanked. And notice – the value of the thank you increased because the student was so thankful that he was willing to thank his professor years later, even at the cost of the student’s time and effort. In other words, the fact that his student was so thankful that he thanked him again, was worth more.

We’re so blinded by our own heedlessness and the thick, murky fog of this dunya (the physical Universe) that we readily miss the blessings that surround us. But when we are so fortunate to see some of the things that keep us standing, we don’t have to search for Allah’s contact information. He’s the friend that we’ve known the longest and His number never changes wa alhamdulilLah (and praise be to Allah).

Within seconds, the first man, standing at 6 feet tall and 200 lbs, was lunging at the vendor over a flimsy table, covered with BBQ, hot coal and sharp skewers. A couple of men from the crowd intervened, pushing the giant back against the opposite wall, but they were no match for his size and strength. He snatched a small blade used to open bread from the table and started swinging at the vendor in rage. This time, many more men stepped in and were finally able to drag him away as he yelled over his shoulder for vengeance.

I stood in utter shock. All this over what? BBQ smoke? For the attacker, nothing mattered more at the time than his pride in front of the audience. How dare the vendor humiliate him in front of everybody, not only by ignoring his request, but by talking back? The man allowed his rage and pride to consume him in a brief moment, to the point where he was willing to hurt (or even kill?) somebody to defend his honor.

The rage this man embodied is likely rooted in years of frustration, repression, shame and resentment. The manifestation of his rage was probably only outlet for his condition. This is exactly the kind of behavior that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ came to change. He ﷺ was sent as a mercy to show society how to manifest itself in its best form. Most of us can see that, but rarely do we understand or truly implement his methodology (i.e. sunnah). The Prophet ﷺ developed in the sahabah (his companions) a God-centric worldview that extended beyond their speech and into their actions. The Prophet ﷺ changed them from members of tribal factions into a united ummah. This truth was not only iterated through their verbal commitment, but through hard lessons and sacrifices. He ﷺ was able to show them the beauty of his sunnah by exemplifying it. It was through this example that he was granted the ability to transform the world – by the will of God – in 23 years.

Some say that in light of the Park 51 Islamic Center, the Qur’an burning, the vandalism, the hate-mail and so many other reported incidents, that “times are getting tougher for American Muslims.” It seems that an increasing number of people, especially in the media, are trying to define us, for us.

Having a God-centric worldview defines an individual as independent of their environment. An individual that is not contingent on societal relationships, but on a Divine relationship. An individual that trusts in the divine wisdom and divine decree.

American Muslims, and surely Muslims throughout the world, are in dire need of leaders willing to make the statement that our lives are not defined by shame, power, resentment or pride. A statement not given at the podium, but through our relationships at work with co-workers, in the classroom with our classmates, in salah with our brothers and sisters, in the dining hall with our dorm-mates and at home with our families. More profound than any news broadcast or YouTube video are the simple acts of kindness and strong bonds of friendship. This is one of the many reasons why the Prophet  ﷺ was so respected and trusted, even by his enemies. It was not because he did what everyone wanted or expected him to do, or reacted the way everyone else did, but rather because he always did the right thing.

This is a reminder, to myself first, to remember our identity as American Muslims, and to live by the example of the Prophet ﷺ.

“And women in the city said, ‘The wife of al-‘Azeez is seeking to seduce her slave boy; he has impassioned her with love. Indeed, we see her [to be] in clear error.'” (Qur’an, 12:30)

“So when she heard of their accusation, she sent for them and prepared a banquet for them; she gave each one of them a knife (to cut the foodstuff with), and she said [to Yusuf]: ‘Come out before them.’ Then, when they saw him, they exalted (at his beauty) and (in their astonishment) cut their hands. They said: ‘How perfect is Allah! No man is this! This is none other than a noble angel!'” (Qur’an, 12:31)

“She said, ‘That is the one about whom you blamed me. And I certainly sought to seduce him, but he firmly refused; and if he will not do what I order him, he will surely be imprisoned and will be of those debased.'” (Qur’an, 12:32)

Here we see the stark distinction between Yusuf (as) and the wife of the `Aziz. While Yusuf (as) feels a strong sense of responsibility for his actions, the wife of the `Aziz actually tries justifying her attempt. When word got around that she tried to seduce Yusuf (as), she calls the women to her home and shows them Yusuf (as). Once they have become bewildered and shocked at his beauty, she simply says: “That is the one about whom you blamed me.” In other words, “Now do you understand why I did it? He’s just too beautiful!”

This shifting of blame is problematic, and we naturally tend to fall into it as humans. Although we might seem stressed when we vent about things we have to do or things that we cannot do, many times we are just making excuses.

This Ramadan, it is time to stop making excuses every time we fail to utilize the opportunities this blessed month provides us with. It is time to take full advantage. With a sincere intention and some effort, Allah will make a way out for you just as He granted freedom and success to Yusuf (as) later in the story. Pick your friends wisely and get cracking!

As we grow up, especially here in America, it seems as if we develop a sense of independence and self-reliance. We like to do things for ourselves – we enjoy setting our own schedules and determining what the most appropriate thing to do is. We are often disenchanted with authority and restrictions; this can lead to tension during those hormone-driven teen years.

It hit me just now that it is not my parents who lose in our relationship when I leave, but me. It is simply amazing and unfortunate that we are often so blind as humans that we underestimate and overlook the blessings in our lives until we lose them or are about to lose them.

As I prepare to move out of my house for the last time, I cannot help but feel an empty void. My parents have always been there for me in the worst of times and best of times. Sure there might have been those communication mishaps where care and love leads to frustration and anger, but in reality those were only small bumps and potholes along the road. Compared to the many times my dad and I “fixed” things around the house together or chatted endlessly on world affairs, or the times my mom and I prepared meals together or discussed social affairs, those strained moments seem like simply nothing. In fact, looking back, one can really see that any difficult times were founded in deep care for one another.

“And your Lord decreed that you should worship none but Him and that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both attain old age in your life, then do not say to them ‘uff‘ (a word of disrespect), nor shout at them, rather address them in terms of honor. And lower for them the wing of submission and humility through mercy. And say, ‘My Lord! Grant them Your mercy as they brought me up when I was small.” (Qur’an, 17:23-24)

This is just a reminder to my fellow brethren (especially the younger ones) to kick it with your parents. Find all the small things that make your parents happy and just do them! Buy your mom flowers (even if it’s just once!) and do something for your dad that he really appreciates. Why? Simply to make your parents happy. When we go out of our way to make our parents happy we are obeying Allah in being dutiful to our parents and we get a glimpse at what their lives have been like; it allows us to appreciate all that they have done for us. Every stage in life has a sweetness to it, and without a doubt one of the sweetest things is being with and learning from your parents. Do not miss out!

To my parents: jazakum Allahu kulli khayran (may Allah reward you with good), may Allah `azza wa jal (the Mighty and Majestic) reward you both because I cannot come close to repaying you. I love you.

Our ultimate goal is the pleasure of Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (glorifed and exalted is He) in the eternal abode of Jannah (paradise). In trying to benefit the world around us in the best way possible, we sometimes forget the small stuff.

“He admits whom He wills into His mercy; but the wrongdoers – He has prepared for them a painful punishment.”  [Qur’an, 76:31]

Allah `azza wa jal points out that in fact it is not our deeds that get us into Jannah, but rather it is by His mercy. We can see this manifested in that Allah does not judge us on the size of our deeds, but rather the purity of our intentions. The Prophet ﷺ, “Verily actions are by their intentions…” [Bukhari]

Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala also says:

“Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer – We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do.” [Qur’an, 16:97]

Wa alhamdu lil Lah (and all praise is for Allah) that Allah will reward us according to the best of our deeds!

Since deeds are judged by their purity of intention and the best of deeds are those with purest intention, this naturally leads us to try our best in every deed. We never know which deed might be the sincerest and by which deed Allah might decide to grant us His mercy; it may be that $5 donation, the time that you were patient with your parents, or even the piece of trash you picked up off of the ground.

‘A’isha radi Allahu `anha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported:

“A poor woman came to me along with her daughters. I gave her three dates. She gave a date to each of them and then she took up one date and brought that to her mouth in order to eat that, but her daughters expressed desire to eat it. She then divided the date that she intended to eat between them. This (kind) treatment of her impressed me and I mentioned that which she did to Allah’s Messenger ﷺ. Thereupon he said: ‘Verily Allah has assured Paradise for her, because of (this act) of her, or He has rescued her from Hell-Fire.'” [Sahih Muslim, Number 6363.]

Surely then, no good deed, no matter what it is, is worth passing over.

Most of us are familiar with the ever so famous hadith that actions are taken to account by their intentions (maybe it’s about time we memorized it eh? – hint hint, wink wink, yes YOU!)

Most of us struggle with our intentions day in and day out and – subhan’Allah (glorified is God) – we’ve found that it’s no easy task; in fact, it’s a life long battle. One aspect we often miss, however, is that our actions are also judged by the size of our intentions! As recorded by Imam Bukhari, `Aisha radiya Allahu `anha (may God be pleased with her) narrated: Allah’s Apostle ﷺ said, “When a woman gives in charity some of the foodstuff (which she has in her house) without spoiling it, she will receive the reward for what she has spent, and her husband will receive the reward because of his earning, and the storekeeper will also have a reward similar to it. The reward of one will not decrease the reward of the others.” Allahu akbar (God is greater!)

Someone once mentioned to me that Islam is the best pyramid scheme ever, subhan’Allah, nobody loses! As humans we are often shortsighted and fail to see beyond the obvious. Our actions have implications much beyond our perception and Allah readily rewards us for those benefits. When we gain knowledge do we gain it solely for our benefit or also for the benefit of our family and friends? When we help a brother or sister move do we look beyond the labor and see the growth of a family and community? When we donate to a charity organization do we donate for that one time or do we also donate to the success of the organization? Imagine the individuals who first financed and put time into Islamic Relief! Talk about return on investment! When we give da`wah (call to Islam) do we give da`wah to one person or to an entire family, lineage, and social network?

So what are we waiting for? Let’s make our intentions grand!

This serenity is absent in our everyday lives. We live life stressed; constantly worrying about what everyone else thinks of us, how to make a billion dollars, how to marry someone attractive…and we start to live in the image of people. We start to live our lives as others expect of us, rather than by what actually makes us happy. This seems so contradictory to the tranquility of wildlife.

Once while in the midst of Allah’s creation, I was reciting some verses from Surat ali-`Imran and I came across the following verse:

“So is it other than the religion of Allah they desire, while to Him have submitted [all] those within the heavens and earth, willingly or by compulsion, and to Him they will be returned?” (Qur’an, 3:83).

How amazing and incredibly true! We seek other than the way of al-Hadi (the Guide) when we run after our desires and the material world. We exchange the endless bounties of al-Razzaq (the Provider) in this life and the next for temporal fame and material gain. In our arrogance we chart out the way we think is best to attain happiness, but end up failing. Even after seeing so many people who have it all yet still are not happy, we still run after the same things. When was the last time we did something because we knew that someone would think of us highly because of it? When was the last time we sold out our friends, family or even our honor and dignity for a grade or some pennies? When was the last time we gave preference to someone over Rabbana (our Lord) at the time of salah (prayer)?

The nature we see around us has submitted itself to the One, the Creator, in all of its complexities and intricacies, and as a result lives in absolute harmony. Imagine the peace of soul and mind when you become detached from the wants and desires of others, only seeking His pleasure. Imagine the serenity that can be found in not chasing after our desires as is championed by this society. Imagine simply living the most perfect life possible in this world. This is exactly the reality of the creation around us and the tranquility and harmony that are manifested are proof of its success.

But wait – isn’t the human being the best creation of Allah? I wonder what we could accomplish if we actually do exactly as He tells us…

Whenever we talk of these incidents, we often reflect on the greatness of the leaders and their accomplishments. These leaders, however, were by no means alone. They were surrounded by a generation of people and individuals who contributed to the effort in so many ways, some more critical than others, but all necessary.

In the book, The Rare and Excellent History of Saladin , Yūsuf ibn Rāfiʻ ibn Shaddād recalls the following incident:

The Crusaders had built three monstrous towers of wood and iron so that they could scale the walls of `Akka. They planned to place them against the fort walls, allowing thousands of soldiers to pour into the city. The towers were covered with hides soaked in vinegar, making them impossible to burn; the Muslims were terrified at the sight of these machines. Salah al-Din gathered his scientists and engineers to devise a plan, but numerous fire projectiles proved futile. Try as they might, they could not come up with a solution.

By the qadr (decree) and will of Allah, a young man was looking on. The man offered his help, saying that he could set the towers on fire, as long as the army could equip him with certain materials; and they did. But this was no easy task – they needed to sneak him into the city.

By this time the Crusaders had sent hundreds of thousands of soldiers from Europe to besiege the city; Salah al-Din’s men had to pass through the entire Crusader army, as well as slip through the city walls, unnoticed. Alhamdu lil Lah (all praise is for Allah) they were able to do so successfully. Baha’ al-Din Qaraqush was naturally skeptical about this “kid” coming forth and offering his services. Hadn’t all the professionals given it their best? What could he possibly have to offer?

After some convincing, Baha’ al-Din gave the okay. The young man mixed together the materials he had requested of the army – chemicals – and had the soldiers launch the mixture at towers. The Crusaders found this hilarious; the mixture was clear, so it looked like the Muslims were throwing water at this great wood and iron structures!  Then the young man gave the signal; the soldiers threw fire at the towers and the clear liquid erupted into flames.

The soldiers in the first tower could not make it out in time. When the soldiers in the other towers saw this, they started to jump out preferring the long fall to the burning fire. Alhamdu lil Lah all three towers were burned to the ground.

Allahu akbar (God is Greater)! The Muslims were in shock. Who was this man? Where did he come from? How did he know what to do?

The young man was of humble origins, a pot maker from Damascus. He used to be keen on studying chemistry even though no one was appreciative of his experimentation; nonetheless, he persisted.

Salah al-Din called this young man forth to reward him and praise him for his help, but he declined saying that he only did it for the sake of Allah `azza wa jal (the Mighty and Majestic).

Clearly this young man did not intend on being with Salah al-Din at this particular time nor did he study chemistry to solve this particular problem for the Muslims. Rather he was a deeply sincere individual and a seeker of knowledge. Allah `azza wa jal used him as one of His workers to accomplish one of His tasks; Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (glorious and exaulted is He) put him in the right place, at the right time and gave him the experiences and tools he needed to benefit the Muslims in this situation. Our experiences should never be belittled for we never know which skills will be called forth in the service of Allah.

Let us reflect on a little: how are we benefiting the Muslims and the world with the talents we have, and situations that we have been placed in? How are we using our extensive backgrounds as engineers, scientists, journalists, artists, producers, psychologists, politicians, teachers, activists and so forth to actually create a change (even if that change seems small and goes unnoticed)?

By putting our trust in Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala we find that none of our experiences go unused and none of our deeds are wasted. No action, no matter how large or small, has value until Allah honors it. There are many who passed before us in this legacy, never mentioned or remembered by the world, known only by Allah `azza wa jal; and who better to be remembered by? Is He not the All-Seeing, All-Hearing, the All-Aware and All-Knowing?

May Allah `azza wa jal use us to benefit His deen (way of life) and be instruments of positive social change for His sake. May He use us to be of those who spread good wherever they tread, solely seeking His recognition. May He allow us to use this dunya (the material world) for its intended purposes and to shy away from the superficialities of the glitz and glamour of the world. Ameen.