How can Muslims become a powerful voice in the future elections?
Answer
They can become a strong party in the process if and when we can register enough votes and participate early in the campaigns. We will become, In sha Allah, real participants in the process.
Name
Alya
- United States
Profession
Student
Question
How should Muslim women participate in building a strong Mulim vote?
Answer
Well, in our work as Muslims, we are all (men and women) required to deliver the message of Islam and its values to our society. Islam encourages the believing men and women to be supporters of each other and without Muslim women participating in the affairs of the community and the society, we will be like the one who is walking on one leg.
Name
Sumaya
- United States
Profession
Teacher
Question
The difference between the Muslim organizations is obvious, but it is dangerous when it comes to fighting each other. How can these organizations be effective without destroying each other?
Answer
I hope that when we Muslims (organizations as well as individuals) work together, we should have a strategic vision that what we all do will either benefit our community and our society or it will harm it. The Muslims are meant to be agents of change for the betterment of our environment no matter where we are and no matter what the differences of ijtihad are between us. As long as we are all working within the parameters of our Islamic framework.
Let me tell you that the National American Muslim organizations, AMC, AMA, CAIR and MPAC are working together under the umbrella of the American Muslim Political Coordinating Council (AMPCC), which is a sign of us exercising unity and coordination.
Name
Ibn Ismail
- United States
Profession
Question
As-Salaamu Alaikum,
Could you please tell us a little bit about the Imams Conference taking place this coming weekend in Washington DC?
Answer
Wa Alaikum Salaam,
The concept of bringing the Imams together with the American Muslim Council is to discuss their role in the political process. We, at the American Muslim Council, consider the Imams as leaders of their communities and they can play a wonderful role in effectively bringing on board their members who attend the mosques daily. We have worked on developing this leadership conference in the United States for about two years. We thank Allah that we are able to bring them together with many Muslim scholars in Islamic law, political science, civil rights and social services. This way, we can develop a common understanding of our role in our society and how we can become Muslims for a better America.
Name
Mustafa
-
Profession
Question
Who are the speakers of the conference?
Answer
With the blessing of God, we have invited a variety of Islamic scholars which have graciously accepted our invitation. Among them are:
1) Dr. Taha Jaber Alalwani, Chairman of the North American Fiqh Council, President of GSISS.
2) Dr. Salah Soultan, President of the newly established Islamic Open University.
3) Dr. Jaafar Sheikh Idris, President of American Open University.
4) Dr. Suleyman Nyang, Professor of Political Science at Howard University.
5) Dr. Ayman Alouri, Political Scientist.
6) Dr. Sherman Jackson, Professor of Islamic Studies.
7) Dr. Jamal Barzinji, Vice President of IIIT.
8) Dr. Suhail Gannoushi, President of Muslim American Society; and many others, such as Nihad Awad of CAIR, Haroon Murray, Irshad Abdul Haqq, Sheikh Muhammad Al-Hanooti, Imam Mohamed Maajid, Imam Hasan Qazwini, Imam Yahya Hindi, Mehdi Bray, Dr. Imad eddin Ahmed, Dr. Rafil Dhafir, Khaled Saffuri, Shaker As-Sayyed, Asim Ghafour and many others.
Name
Buhary
- United Kingdom
Profession
Stdent
Question
What is the Islamic view over the political rule in Afhanistan now?
Does Islam allow women to be involved in politics and to be a leader of a country or the state? Please explain in detail.
Answer
I would like to emphasize that we Muslims are required by our faith to be servants of our deen according to the Qur'an and the Prophetic sunnah. Men and women are not forbidden their role according to their own means. I think that we in the United States have an opportunity to develop our Islamic culture with participation of both men and women in our affairs without violating the limits and the boundaries of our Islamic parameters.
Name
Khadijah
- United States
Profession
Question
What are some of the themes that you are going to discuss in the conference?
Answer
The conference is built upon two basic principles. The first one will deal with the "Muslim Perspective on Political Participation," which will also be discussed in the "Vision for Muslims in the Political Arena" discsussion. Another session is the "Political Role of Masajid and Islamic Centers" and the "Role of the Imam in Political Activities."
The other principle deals with understanding. For example, one session is "Understanding the American Political System," "On our Legal and Constitutional Rights." We will also have sessions like, "Addressing Muslim Issues: The Proper Approach," "The Civil Rights and Empowerment in America," and "Organizing our Political Involvement."
Name
Shakeel
-
Profession
Question
Muslims participating in the political process in the United States puts Muslims in an arena where we are not only the minority, but we are also involving ourselves with a people who don't share our beliefs. What is the justification for us to be involved in politics in the U.S.?
Answer
We need to be realistic in our prescence here. We are here to stay and our involvement in the society grows more and more everyday. We tend to accept this fact, but reject it at the same time.
Participation in the political process here in the Unites States doesn't mean that we have to compromise our Islamic beliefs. We simply need to be realistic and accept the fact the we are here for the long run. By this realization, we should share our beliefs and valuse as Muslims with the American people. One medium from which we can do this is by being involved in the political process.
More importantly, Muslims have a positive contribution to make. That contribution cannot be made by staying away from the mainstream.
Name
Rafidh
-
Profession
Question
Isn't participation in the American political system in a way an acceptance of secularism, which is against our basic Islamic beliefs?
Answer
No it does not. It is just like saying that if we send our kids to the public schools that we are accepting the secular society?...No we are not! What participation means is that we, as a community, look at the candidates and select the one that we believe will benefit us the most.
In fact, by our community not getting involved, we will actually lose benefit from the process itself. Also, American secularism is not anti-religion, but it is neutral to religious belief. It protects the communities of faith without adopting any faith as a state religion.
Also, Islam is a way of life that the multitude of the American people don't truly understand. Part of the reason that media and other mediums are able to present misconceptions about Islam is because we are not showing Islam to the people. Because they don't know what Islam is, they may fear it. When a people fear a thing, they attack it. Therefore, we should get more involved in the process so that people will start to understand better who we are as a community and what values and beliefs we stand for and represent.
If you look throughout history, any place that Islam has gone, when the people of that society truly understand it, Islam has impacted their lives in a positive way. This also goes for America. Even though there is still quite a bit that Americans don't know about Islam, in the past few decades, the growth of Islam in major cities as well as throughout the country as a whole has started to give the people an idea of what Islam is all about.
One factor that has to be emphasized is that the Muslims of America are part of a highly educated society that is also the leader of the technological revolution. The abilities and talents that we bring to the table can positively affect this society coupled with our beliefs and can as well benefit those living on the other 6 continents that span the globe.
Name
Shak
-
Profession
Question
If we participate with non-Muslims (Christians and Jews), are we forgetting what the Qur'an says that they will never accept us until we become their followers?
Answer
Certainly not, this is a very negative approach. It is as if Islam should be on an island separated from all others. Just look at the example of our beloved Prophet (SAAWS). He and the companions spread the good news about Islam and gave a good practical example of how our Islamic teachings are the refinement and complimentation of the teachings of Moses and Jesus (AS), which in their true essence are the same beliefs that we as Muslims have held for centuries and still do today.
Also, we are not here to satisfy or be approved by anybody, but we are here to play our role as Muslims. Islam is meant to be a global message to all humanity beyond demography and geography. We should be doing our share of making our society better because that is part of our obligation no matter where we may be. Being in America, living with a majority of non-Muslims, all we ask for our community is that they become a realization of their faith and values and not immitators of other communities of faith. In the final analysis, we look for the approval of God, not the approval of anybody else. We emulate the example of the Prophet (SAAWS) and not the example of anybody else.
