Sadness over Gaza

This will be short, but I felt I had to write something. I'm just so upset over what is going on in Gaza. There are so many things to be sad about with this situation. It seems now that Israel is planning on going in on the ground as well. Meanwhile the Arab countries do nothing but verbally condemn the violence? How can they just stand by and do nothing? Of course the U.S. sides with Israel which makes me sick. There is a poll on CNN.com right now that asks if the attacks on Palestine are justified or condemnable.... 61% of those polled found it justifiable!!!! How horrible can anyone be to think that this is all justified???

We all should make dua for them and ask Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala to make it easy for them at such a difficult time.

X

Recently I read the Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Hailey. It was a wonderful story, and I really enjoyed learning more about this complex man's life. I was aware of the injustices done to black Americans, but this book brought them to new light. It is amazing that things like that happened such a short time ago.

One of the first things that really struck me in this book was how Malcolm X was able to immerse himself in learning while in prison. He read anything and everything, trying to get a new understanding of how his race had been treated over the years. This studying formed some of his most profound ideas later in life and allowed him to fully express himself.

Another interesting thing I learned was how strange the beliefs of the Nation of Islam are. I can see how at that time in history SOME of the NOI doctrine seemed to make sense to black Americans, but I honestly don't know how anyone can belong to it now. To think that 6000 years ago a 'big headed' (not my words) black scientist created the evil white race by doing recessive gene experimentation seems ridiculous to me. The way that it was explained in the book was almost laughable. I'm probably going to get in trouble with a few people for saying that, but it honestly makes no sense what so ever. I also never understood how anyone could read the Quran and think that any of that was true. How could you possibly think that WD Fard was Allah himself? And that Elijah Muhammad was his prophet? I also learned that members of the NOI do not pray 5 times a day and they don't pray like Muslims do at all.

Ok, now onto my favorite part... Malcolm X goes to Mecca and sees what TRUE Islam is. There is no color, no class, no gender... just Islam. I got tears in my eyes reading about all of his experiences while in the holy City. It was amazing to read the descriptions of him first learning to pray the right way. He even mentioned how his toe hurt from the sitting between sujood posture!

Now I'm not black, but I do feel that I can relate to Malcolm X because he discovered the true Islam and became passionate about it. I read in another blog somewhere that the poster didn't like it how non black Muslims 'use' Malcolm X for their own issues. Now for one thing I don't think that there is such a thing as white and black Muslims. There are only Muslims. If someone is that obsessed with their color, I think they have some issues of their own. Why is it that the same person that will rant and rave about equality will want to put separating barriers between the Ummah by color? Yes, most of Malcolm X's notoriety comes from his stance on race issues, but to me, A MUSLIM, I admire him for finding the true Islam, and digging himself out of that hole of shirk that he was in.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn about the life of this great MUSLIM. May Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala guide us all... black, white, brown, yellow, red....

Silly Little Reverts

Now that I have been Muslim for over 2 years, I see a lot of condescending attitudes out there towards reverts. The shiny new Muslim glow has worn off and now we are a target for attack. The same people, who once were so happy that we accepted Islam, now talk to us like we are children that don’t know any better.

I mostly see this kind of thing on Muslim forums and blogs. A well meaning Revert will want to share something they have learned only to be shot down by another Muslim telling them that they have revertitis or are going through a ‘phase’. A reverts desire to stick to Quran and Sunnah is turned against them, and they are called ‘extreme’.

While I am fully aware that we all grow and change in our deen, I don’t feel that most of these reverts (including myself) are going through a ‘phase’, that we will soon snap out of and come back to earth. As reverts, we were guided by Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala, to leave the religion of our past and embrace the truth. For a lot of us, this was not easy. We had to face persecution by family, friends, co workers and perfect strangers. We now choose to embrace and follow our religion to the best of our ability. To some born Muslims, that might seem extreme, but to us, it’s the only way we know how.

As I read these things, directed at me or others, I feel like pulling back even more from these social circles (online or otherwise). All they do is cause problems. Perhaps this is the best for me and others. Find those who are like you and stay away from the fitnah. Allah knows best.