On Escaping The Muslim Box!
By: Nadirah Angail
What does it mean to be Muslim? No, scratch that. I’ve got a better question. What is the duty of a Muslim? I mean beyond the 5 pillars, beyond the believing and praying and eating and not eating. What do we do? What must we do? I did a Quran word search for the word “work” and found it in 108 verses, often paired with the word “righteousness.” For example, “Give glad tidings to those who believe and work righteousness, that their portion is Gardens, beneath which rivers flow” (2:25). The repetition of this phrase, work righteousness, implies that we have a serious duty to be active, not only in our spiritual lives, but in our physical lives.
So, how are we doing this, believers? By getting out in the world and showing everyone the talents and knowledge of Muslims, or by huddling in a circle and sharing our light only with each other? I get it. We’re a (relatively) small subgroup trying to carve out and maintain an identity that hasn’t been whitewashed by American dominant culture. I understand our tendency to want to stay within our own ranks. But, meanwhile, the world is marching on without us. “I was just watching President Obama’s speech. He said we have to ‘out educate, out innovate and out build.’ That’s what we [Muslims] need to be doing. Why spend all our hard-earned money on building mosque after mosque when we can build businesses that would fund those mosques and provide jobs? We need to move beyond the stereotypical ways of “being Muslim” and expand to include things people won’t necessarily expect from us. Right now, the media is branding Islam. The fact that they can target it means it’s in a box. We’ve got to get out of that box,” says YRAC creator Izzy the Artist.
My sentiments exactly. The national (and international) Muslim community has too much specialized talent to be focusing exclusively on impacting our communities. I believe the saying is, “Take care of self first,” not, “Take care of self only.” Part of the reason others are able to determine our reputation so easily is because the masses don’t really know us. They haven’t been exposed to our truths and our contributions, so why wouldn’t they believe what they see? Why wouldn’t they accept the misinformation, unquestioned?
That’s why YRAC’s mission is two-fold. Yes, it provides a safe environment for Muslims to meet and share, but it also aims to help Muslims build and create so that we can share ourselves with the non-Muslim masses. If you are a writer, share your writing with world. If you are an artist, share your art with the world. If you are a singer, share your songs with the world. Truth and talent resonates with the souls of anyone willing to receive. It knows no religious boundaries and sees no distinctions. We know who we are and what we’re about, but everyone is confused. Only we can clear up that confusion. Only we should clear up that confusion. It is no one else’s job but ours.
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Salaam! What a marvelous article! I’m pleased and ecstatic that this comes from My Muslim sister and how so true it is. Jazzakallah Khayr ! I think that Our Leaders in the Muslim Communities Worldwide should get this beautiful piece and move with the tide of times. We must equally by individual, make good use of this sweet sister’s advice. May Allah avail Us with the will power which seems to be lacking in Us now; thereby threaten to erode some important virtues of Our great Deen in this presents times of high moral degradation. Thanks sister!
Excellent article sis. It is truly all about that “SHARING WITH THE WORLD”… Allah made us Khalifah tul Ard, meaning the “Maintainers of the EARTH”… not just the maintainers of our corner, or our neighborhoods, or our communities. We should have big vision… and far reach. Thanks for sharing. Always a pleasure reading your thoughts.
As Salaam Alaikum
Can one who calls him or herself a Christian, Jew or other be a Believer?
I agree sister with your observation of reservation from among our Muslim ranks to fullfill our mandate from ALLAH to be a blessing to mankind. We are failing “collectively” to be proactive in mixing it up with non-Muslims (Believers?) – and getting in the race to be of great service to mankind.
Truly, I humbly believe that it shall be the Believers who shall figure this thing out and collectively come together with fellow right-minded people to creatively organize pooling their intellectual and financial capital for individual and mutual benefit in a way that shall benefit mankind.
A.S.A
i think one of the main responsibilities of a Musilim in America is to support their fellow Muslims, and to also spread awareness about our beautiful religion. Let’s face it, the memory left in America’s minds in reference to Islam is 911 and the nation of islam/black panther movement. We have to do better. We have to be reflections of Allah and all of his glory.
Asa Sis! I am right here with you! I live for the opportunity to get out in my community in my beautiful muslim “American” style, greet everyone that passes my way with a smile, or even give a kind word to a fellow shopper in the grocery checkout line! Believers cannot be sustained in a box, you’ll find the Believers are the ones that must get out and see this beautiful world Allah has created. You’ll find the Believer doing the abnormal and loving it! You’ll find the Believer making people in their own community mad, jealous, in fear, or even rage because they simply cannot understand why this dawg on Muslim won’t stay in the box! Well the box isn’t big enouph people! There is so much more for us to see, do, and share with the world. It is time for progress, not stagnation.We need to Create wealth for enrichment of our lives and this community! We can’t do that sittin around waiting and complaining! There are too many talented muslims out there, and way too much fear! Do we truly believe? Just step out of the box and you shall see! Thank you for opening this discussion, and thank you Sis for being who you are! A creative being! Much Love! <3 May we reach out to Allah for Inspiration….Ameen