Thank you much brother William for the enlightening lecture. I could not agree more that there is tension within Muslim communities regarding identification and performance roles. As an American Muslim of both White and Arab heritage, I feel lonely with regard to my culture and upbringing. There were a number of tense scenarios which you bring up in this lecture which I have heard of and witnessed in person, the most simple of which being my name and the wall issue. I wrote an essay some time ago regarding culture and religion. If you would not mind, I would love to share my writing with you and ask for your opinions regarding it. Please e-mail me so that I may respond with my essay.

Jazak Allah Khair wa Baraka

Something bothers me about the lecture and about the given examples. Just like the transition of thoughts from point of Qutbism, Abu a’la Al-Maududi, to salafis, to classical literature, and till today, synthesis of Islam. I found it more a critical experience given by a new Muslim. May Allah help us to stay on his path.
By the way there are much more greater examples where the youth are feeling very save to talk to. Its not only the daa3ie muhaasib Amr Khalid or others you mentioned. In Egypt there is Sheikh Muhammad Hassan, Sheich El Hawayny, Sheich Hussein Jacob. Some mustaftien from the youth feel good when they the go to a sheich and he would ease things up for them, so that those youth like them. Sincerity and truth is the most important thing in Islam. An example I was standing with a sheikh and a youth came to him and asked him. Is smoking haram? The So-called sheich told him its not haram to smoke. I asked the sheikh why you said its not haram. The sheikh told me, because its not Haram and the young man can’t stop anyway. Oke is this your daliel. I went to the boy and told the young man. I overheard your question and I would like to respond about it, because I think you are really sincere and wants to no the answer. He told me yes, I want to know, because I want to please Allah and his messenger. I give him the daliel from the Quran and Sunnah that it is Haram and he accepted it. The Young man stopped that day with smoking because of the sincerity and real search for truth. One time a sister questioning the wearing of hidjaab in Holland. The Shuyoogh or Daa3ieja in Islam must be sincere and upon the truth. The youth (people in general) needs honesty, sincerity, truth, guidance and patience.
May Allah guide us all
Abu Adam, Ibrahim

Barakallahufik for a very good speech and sharing it in the net.

I have to be honest with you, i personally felt like tears rolled down my eye when you described about your transition of thoughts from point of Qutbism, Abu a’la Al-Maududi, to salafis, to classical literature, and till today, synthesis of islam.

I had the same experience in my life as what your described, and reached the same point as you said about synthesis, and wallahi, i had done a lot of damage along the way before reaching to the synthesis point especially to people around me (friends, family, etc)and it took years to understand it. I believed previous years are hikmah for the present me.

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences as i really2 appreciate it and never thought that someone as great and renowned as you are would have the same experience. I am shocked the fact that i am from east (malaysia) and you from west(america) would experience the same thing especially with totally different cultures, paradigms and life experiences.

I will make dua’ for you and for all the work you are doing. May Allah bless you and gives you His taufiq and hidayah to support you more for your da’wah in america.

Jazakallahukhairan kathira

a very powerful and enlighting talk delivering the sparking purpose of visiting blogs such as this one. I have never heard a speech such as this one. Displaying the unity and love we are to have as american muslim identity, everyone should listen to this speech. May allah reward imam suhaib and may allah guide this ummah to unity, ameen

What I was getting at was that there are no unique “western muslim problems”. Muslims face pretty much the same issues all around the world.

Majority of the issues that come up in the West are because we have Muslims from different Islamic backgrounds.

Dear Uncle Tom:

I was simply addressing the topic given to me. I clearly stated that I don’t have those solutions to the problem you mentioned, but simply offered my reflections on my experience with this site and my interactions with Muslims in the West.

As Western Muslims, it is our duty to focus on that issue, but maintain enough humility to realize that we could be wrong on many of our assumptions.

SDW