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Muslim Milestones
Oliver Stone's son, Sean accepts Islam. What is interesting here are the reasons he gives for becoming a practicing Muslim in spite of the intense anti Muslim rhetoric.
British Muslim convert numbers surpass 100,000, where the average Muslim is a 27 year old Caucasian female. Most of those surveyed said they chose Islam to escape immorality in their society.
Earliest translation of Qur'an found in China province Lanzhou. Imam historians completed their translation in 1912, even though an Islamic presence in China can be traced back to the Tang dynasty in 618.
Aborginal Australians embracing Islam at alarming rates. Many of those identified relate to the emphasis of leadership the Qur'an states which has been denied them due to a history of racial discrimination.
Islamic Banking Starts in Nigeria after many years of struggle. Islamic banking means that no interest can be charged or incurred and that all loans must be backed by actual assets. Nigeria has a predominantly Muslim population in the North and Christian population in the South.
Abas Idris fought in court to show the universal message of Al Islam after being told that war was one of the pillars of Islam by his former employer Andrews International. As a 27 year old Muslim from Eritrea that worked for the company as a security guard he was awarded over $465,000 dollars for showing the pattern of racial and religious attacks he patiently endured while working for this company. During the trial he maintained his decorum, integrity and reaffirmed his committment to Al Islam by standing firmly against unjust practices. It is no small task for any individual to stand against an unjust practice of a corporation, and even more remarkable that a person who is not native to America, found the tenacity to maintain this struggle which culminated in triumph.
Little known History facts about Muslims in America are documented here such as Peter Saleem who was a Muslim African American who was enslaved before showing such bravery during the battle at Bunker Hill that a US postage stamp was issued commemerating his bravery in 1775.
Aisha al Adiwiya started an organization called Women in Islam and uses this vehicle to change not only perceptions of Al Islam in America, but to remind others of the much needed discussion concerning indigenous and immigrant Muslim Americans as she receives an MLK Brotherhood award for her pioneering activism and work.
Ibtihaj Muhammad is the first Muslim fencer in USA history aspiring to strike Olympic gold in 2012. She uses the sport of fencing not only as a sport, but an opportunity to be an example of inspiration to others.
Imam Kashif Abdul Karim is the leader of the Hartford County Connecticut Masjid where he works with college students from several colleges and universities including UConn in terms of teaching the Islamic way of life. His pathway to Islam was one that was made clear to him through his study of history. He now uses his position as the imam to convey those same history lessons.
Freedom Fighter Honors
UWM will honor the struggle for humanity by highlighting a central figure key to the human rights struggle throughout history. The only qualification is that said individual must have proven themselves willing to make the ultimate sacrifice in advance of human rights.
The price of freedom is death. El Hajj Malik El Shabazz (Malcolm X)
2/1/12 Sheikh Uthman dan Fodio
Born in Gobir—part of Hausaland in West Africa, now modern Nigeria and part of the Sudan—in 1168 A.H. (December 15, 1754 C.E.) Uthman Dan Fodio was first instructed in Qur’an by his father Muhammad, a scholar in Al-Islam, as well as other relatives and several North African Islamic scholars. In the Fulani language, Fodio means learned one. He was known for his uncompromising commitment to Al-Islam, superb teaching skills, kind treatment toward his students and a sincere desire to perfect his piety.
He began teaching others when he was just twenty years old and still a student himself. While other imams and scholars studied classical Islamic literature for the sake of study, he focused on implementing basic Islamic practices. He taught Al-Islam from a perspective all could relate to, no matter their condition or gender, causing the community to love and value him. As a result his community grew rapidly to over sixty households. He spoke against corrupt Muslim rulers as much as possible and urged them to follow the Qur’an and Sunnah instead of their own desires. The corrupt scholars refused to listen to him and increased their unjust practices. Even though his community loved and supported him, he lived a very meager life. He owned very little property and had no servants.
Many came from far away to learn from him. Returning to their homes, they taught others what they learned, so Sheikh Uthman’s influence was felt in numerous lands. Uthman’s popularity began to threaten the corrupt leadership. After all, since he had good moral character, knowledge of the correct application of Al-Islam, and the people’s loyalty, the corrupt leaders feared the masses would demand better leadership. In 1202 A.H. (1788 C.E.), Sultan Bawa of Gobir met with SheikhUthman. Originally he wanted to kill the sheikh as well as his influence but reluctantly agreed to five conditions the sheikh proposed.
First, the sheikh was allowed to call people to Al-Islam without opposition. Second, no one should be prevented from following the sheikh. Third, any man wearing a turban—the dress that distinguishedMuslims then—should be treated with respect. Fourth, all those thrown in prison unjustly should be freed. Finally, the sultan should not overburden his subjects with taxes. The agreement lasted ten years, until Sultan Nafata came into power upon Bawa’s death. Nafata did not honor the agreement and imposed four new conditions of his own. First, only Sheikh Uthman—and none of his students—could teach. The intended effect was to impede the spread of Al-Islam and force those in distant lands to travel in hardship. Second, no son could be converted from his father’s religion. Third, all who had become Muslims were to leave Al-Islam and return to the religion of their fathers. This made people who wanted to become and remain in a state of Al-Islam criminals. Fourth, no male could wear a turban, and no female could wear a veil.
Despite this attack on Al-Islam, the sheikh continued to teach.When Nafata’s son Yunfa became sultan, he attempted unsuccessfully to assassinate the sheikh. Uthman knew the Muslims’ situation would only get worse, so he decided it was time to teach Muslims the essence of fighting in order to protect their faith. By then Yunfa had amassed an army to finally deal with theMuslims and threatened to attack the sheik’s community, forcing the Muslims to make hijra (migrating from an unsafe country to a safe one) to a place called Gudu. Yunfa prevented as many Muslims as he could from joining the sheikh in hijra. He harassed them, confiscated their property and killed as many he could.
The Muslims knew it was time to unite. They chose the sheikh as their caliph against his will, after which he was called Amir Al-Muminin (The Leader of the Faithful). His first order of business was to exhort Muslims to defend themselves and their right to worship Allah. The Muslims captured two towns, and the sheikh appointed a treasurer to distribute the spoils of war according to the Qur’an and Sunnah. After the victorious battle, Sheikh Uthman’s son Muhammad Bello went to Muslim leaders in different provinces with a letter from the sheikh inviting them to make ba’ya (a pledge of allegiance and unity of leadership) to him and to unite with other Muslims against the enemies of Al-Islam, as Qu’ran and Sunnah require. The leaders accepted, and they all fought united until 1223 A.H. when Sultan Yunfa was killed and his forces defeated.
After appointing amirs (caliph appointed leaders who carry out specific duties in target locations) in different provinces to protect Muslim interests, Sheikh Uthman designed a flag to signify the caliphate’s unity. After the long struggle, he finally returned to teaching and writing. To ensure Muslims would recognize potential future catastrophes, he regularly taught against oppression and the abuse of power. In 1230 A.H. (1815 C.E.) he moved to Sokoto, where his son established a town. Sheikh Uthman died there two years later at the age of sixty-three. The establishment of the Sokoto caliphate was a very important event in the Muslim community throughout the world. It is uniquely significant because while Uthman dan Fodio was leading his community to independence, and autonomy, the descendants of Africans in America were enslaved and deprived of their humanity. The committment, dedication, and inspiration of Sheikh Uthman must not be forgotten.
Islam in Action
Imam Talib Abdur Rasheed addresses the NYPD Muslim Spy Scandal. The Associated Press recently discovered a confidential NYPD plan from 2006 to conduct targeted surveillance of masjids in the area.
Activist Aisha al-Adawiya who is the director and founder of Women in Islam, Inc. primarily works in New York gives advice for the indigenous Muslims in America to realize the work of both Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
America's Islamic Heritage Museum and Cultural Center honors Amir Muhammad's historic documentation of connections between African Americans and Islam which dates back to the 14th century.
Luqman Abdul Haqq also known as Kenny Gamble of the famous Gamble & Huff uses his talents and Islamic knowledge to build up the Philadelphia community in enumerable ways and deserves attention.