2. As a Muslims, I have no problem with law enforcement spying on me, as long as it’s in a public place (i.e. don’t bug my private property without a warrant). Look, we don’t have anything to hide. Are they detaining us? No. Are they physically threatening us? No. If in fact all they did was OBSERVE our PUBLIC BEHAVIOR, then what exactly is the issue? Who exactly got hurt because of this spying? The most that’ll happen is that some agent is going to realize that we are in fact advocates of peace and justice.

3. As much as I disagree with the point of view of this particular outcry, I STRONGLY RESPECT the fact that you are making your voice heard. We as Muslims need to take a more proactive role as American citizens. That means getting involved in our communities and being part of the social and political processes. Whatever our view may be, please let’s not sit on our couches and complain. Vote, write, advocate, whatever.

Assalaamu Alaikum Mae.

First let me say that this comment is intended for all to read but relates a little bit more closely with the comment you left. Also, this is not a criticism of your post at all, just some thoughts that arose from reading it.

I understand why you’re uncomfortable with donations coming from people in Saudi Arabia. Through mass media, we have become conditioned to assume the worst of any good that comes from that region. These suspicions may be well founded in some cases, and not in other cases.

I do have to say that this rhetoric about the “us and them” between the muslims is incredibly unsettling. For example, you talk about those stricter muslims who are really passionate about dawah, and you also talk about welcoming the police officers with open arms (which I actually do partially agree with) and showing them how many different types of muslims there are.

The thing is, there have always been different mind sets among Muslims. For example, we should reflect on why there are the four great Imams, who differed with each other on certain things, but all really respected one another. It has only been until recently that the division among Muslims has accelerated to such an extent that this rhetoric and mindset is being perpetuated with our own words. And we don’t even realize it half the time!

The tactic is simple: Divide and Conquer. That is exactly what islamophobic organizations are successfully doing every time we imply that one group of Muslims is “good” and the other is “bad.” The world just isn’t that simple.

After reading this article and contemplating about the direction that the ummah is going, I was a little bit heart-broken. I opened the Quran to read Al-Shura (Consultation) because that is simply where I had left off last. SubhanAllah, the surah couldn’t have addressed my concerns more clearly.

The middle of verse 13 reads “Uphold the faith and do not divide into factions within it.” Then continues on to say, “They divided, out of rivalry, only after knowledge had come to them, and, if it had not been for a decree already passed by your Lord to reprieve them until an appointed time, they would have already been judged.” It then goes on to say that there should be no argument between Muslims. The surah also emphasizes that the prophet was only sent down to deliver a message.

I’m not very religious (unfortunately), but I think it is especially important for the ummah to join together and turn to Allah swt and trust in him during these times. InshaAllah that’s what will happen, rather than us turning our backs on each other and dividing up into even more factions.

Abu Hurairah reported: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

لاَ يَشْكُرُ اللَّهَ مَنْ لاَ يَشْكُرُ النَّاسَ

“He has not thanked Allah who has not thanked people.”

[Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 40, Number 4811]

You brought up a good point in that the tactics and reasoning behind the tactics aren’t vile only because they are being used on some Muslims…but they are vile on principle and moral basis…it is wrong irregardless of religion, race, creed, ethnicity, culture, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, handicap status, etc.