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Jun 24 Transforming Your Reality Jun 17 A History of Muslim Americans’ Political Engagement Jun 17 My Brother is Gay: Navigating the Intersection of Religion and Family An interview with Imam Wesley Lebron Jun 10 Islam and the Romans: Early Muslim-Byzantine Interaction May 20 Reclaiming the Sunnah of Adoption and Foster Care: An Interview with Basmah Salam Apr 29 National Poetry Month: An Ode to Faith, Visibility, and the Conversations We Don’t Forget Apr 15 Beyond Ramadan: Taking Its Lessons Farther  Apr 15 The Power of Saying No: A Reflection on Boundaries

Tag: convert

  • Finding Islam in Mexico

    Finding Islam in Mexico

    My name is Martha Patricia Garcia and I am 27 years old, a graduate of the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). I am currently working as a reporter for the entertainment section of a national newspaper in Mexico. I was born into a Catholic family and never had the intention of changing my religion, but alhamdulillah (all praise is due to Allah), today I am very happy to be a Muslim.

    Any lingering doubts about Islam did not last very long. I searched on the internet for the answer to the question: what must one do to become a Muslim?

    The first impression I had about Islam was not good because it was based on two movies that made me want to never set foot in any Islamic country, particularly Turkey where one of the stories was set. I used to make many friends on the internet and the social network, Hi5, was very popular. I became friends with a guy and after a while I realized two things: he was a Muslim and he also lived in Turkey; that did away with my misconceptions.

    Before I met him, Muslims seemed to me to be backward, fanatical people. But he was not anything like that. On the contrary, he was the friendliest and most polite 19 year-old I had ever met, and he was very intelligent. But as every rule has an exception, I wanted to be sure that he was not just an anomaly. I did not want to believe that the films, newsreels, and even print media were lying. So I began searching for Muslims from other parts of the world: Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia, and all had the common denominator of good manners, kindness, and intelligence.

    The Turkish guy and I started a long-distance relationship. He talked a lot about Islam and I liked learning, but always warned him that I would never change my religion because I was convinced about my faith. Four months later, our “courtship” ended, but I remained friends with many Muslims, who continued to explain to me their religion.
    Everything was going well until in 2010, I was told that in Islam, Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him) was a prophet. That offended me so much that I became obsessed with finding something that could prove that idea wrong. I went to fellow followers of Catholicism and they ignored me; then I went to a Christian forum where they spoke ill of other religions and I happened to share that Muslims were good people. The forum administrator told me: “This is a Christian forum, if you do not like it, then leave.” So I left.

    By then I had been communicating with an Egyptian who offered to send me books in Spanish to better understand Islam. I accepted because I did not know at the time that there were Muslims in Mexico. I received several packages and one of the booklets seemed to be the perfect tool to “sink” the arguments of the Muslims with regards to Jesus. It was called “The True Message of Jesus.” I took the book and, since it quoted the Bible, I decided to compare the verses mentioned one by one. My Catholic faith faded a bit more with each page I read. When I finished the book I did not know if I was a Muslim, but I knew I was no longer Catholic.

    Any lingering doubts about Islam did not last very long. I searched on the internet for the answer to the question: what must one do to become a Muslim? I found the shahada, the testimony of faith: “Ash hadu anna laa il?ha illa All?h, wa Ashadu anna Mu?ammadan ras?l All?h” (I bear witness that there is nothing worthy of worship, except Allah and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger). My heart was stirred by the idea of pronouncing it and so I did; I did it so many times that I memorized it. From that moment onward, I would repeat it, and as a Catholic would make the sign of the cross upon himself, I would say the Islamic declaration of faith whenever something frightened me.

    Shortly after I was pleasantly surprised to find a Mexican Muslim on Facebook who took me to the Educational Center of the Muslim Community in Polanco, Mexico City, and a week later I declared my shahada to the community. At first my family did not accept it, but gradually they realized that I had made a very serious decision and I would not change my mind.

    An Ordinary Muslimah

    One of the biggest obstacles I faced was the clothing. I tried to adjust my wardrobe to keep using clothes that were Islamically acceptable to my eyes, but not strange enough for people to consider me “weird”. The battles were tougher in the beginning when I would leave the house without hijab (the Islamic head-covering) and try to “play super hero” by looking for somewhere to cover myself before going to the mosque, or to remove the hijab before returning home. I disliked the idea of being questioned, especially by my neighbor across the street, who was also my “godmother” for my first communion.

    One day on a work assignment, I visited the hotel where the musical band, U2, was staying while on tour in Mexico City. As a journalist, I write for the entertainment section of the paper and often cover such stories. That day I dared to wear the hijab and when I asked a police officer for information about the fans surrounding the hotel, he looked at me in a derogatory manner because of the hijab and said “I cannot give that information.” This situation made my heart uneasy, but politely and firmly I asked “Am I being discriminated against?” while I pointed to my hijab. Another policeman who witnessed the scene from afar came and answered my questions politely.

    That incident put doubts on my intention to wear the hijab regularly; I was terrified of being discriminated against. Little by little I started inventing more excuses not to cover my hair despite having the desire to do so. During this period, my clothing began to transform into long shirts and blouses, and pants a little less tight. At last, this Ramadan, alhamdulillah, I began to wear the hijab every day and nothing negative has happened. People glance at me with a bit of curiosity, but no one has been rude.

    There are still days when I feel so strange that the thought of taking off my hijab crosses my mind, but then I remember that no matter how weird or unappealing my attire may seem to others, I have decided to do what pleases God. I will never give up my hijab! Another major battle I faced was the reaction of my family and friends. It took a while for them to get used to the idea that I do not drink and that I am no longer interested in partying. I cannot say I lost my friends because I know they are still there, although I do not see them as often. I would much rather say that I have found many new brothers and sisters.

  • The Beginning of My New Life

    The Beginning of My New Life

    While a university student, I became overwhelmingly interested in exploring all religions. One of the reasons was that I began to read the Bible. Unfortunately, each time I read the Bible, I found matters that contradicted one another or just didn’t make sense, until I reached the point where I no longer believed in any religion and thought to myself, “I will continue to worship God in my own way.” That lasted for two years. Then everything changed when I found a website about Islam and saw a “Dialogue between a Christian and a Muslim.”

    It was the first time I had heard the words “Muslim,”“Islam,” and “Quran.” The first thing I wanted to do was find a Quran so that I could study it completely, and alhamdulillah (all praise is due to Allah), when I had it in my hands, not even three days had passed before I was convinced that I wanted to state the testimony of faith. When I read the Quran, I immediately knew that it was a book that could not have been written by a human being, since I could feel that Allah knew everything about humanity through the statements that spoke directly to all of us. I had no doubt that this was the Last Message, like Prophet Muhammad had said, peace be upon him, and that he was the final one of the series of prophets and messengers sent by Allah to mankind.

    Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, blessed me by giving me the opportunity to go study in Medina, Saudi Arabia, after my mother and my brothers accepted Islam three months after me. I stayed there for eight years and I studied Islamic Law, or Shariah. Those were the best years of my life, and even better when my wife came to live with me and our son, Ismael, was born.

    I returned to Mexico three years ago and there is much to be done as far as dawah is concerned, but Allah, the Majestic, has blessed us with a good group of brothers and sisters who are willing to work for His Cause, eager to sacrifice from our wealth and our time to propagate this beautiful Message through classes, conferences, gatherings, and other efforts. I feel that we are being successful in our endeavors, alhamdulillah.

    The History of Islam in Mexico

    Islam is relatively new in Mexico because, contrary to other countries in the Americas where mass migrations from Islamic countries have been welcomed, in this country there are many obstacles in place that restrict this from happening. People of different cultures are viewed as a threat to the traditional way of life in Mexico.

    In addition, the Catholic religion has always played an important role in Mexico, on both a political and social level. One of three countries in the world with the greatest number of Catholics, there are a many churches in Mexico. Given the pervasive and strict adherence to the Catholic tradition, immigrants lose their language, culture, and religion. Once they marry non-Muslims and send their children to schools that provide a Catholic education, Islam gradually is abandoned in the home for good. There are stories of Muslim families whose grandchildren became priests or nuns.

    At the end of the 1970s, immigration policies became more flexible, allowing the influx of foreigners, but very little is known about how many of the newcomers were Muslims and whether or not they maintained the practice of their religion. With the introduction of diplomatic representation from Islamic countries, the perception of Muslims and local Islamic communities in Mexico became more tolerant. As early as the mid 80s, one of the embassies began to host Friday prayers. The construction of the first mosque in Mexico began during this time, founded by the Shia community in the city of Torreon.

    Dawah in Mexico

    With regard to the initiation of dawah (propagation) in Mexico, Omar Weston has played a vital role. He started one of the very first Islamic web pages in Spanish, founded an Islamic Center in the capital, and currently directs a center outside the city of Morelos. Also noteworthy are the Muslims of Chiapas and the diverse groups that exist among them; they are, unfortunately, divided by sectarian problems. In Mexico there are approximately 5000 Muslims and five to ten mosques at the most. The majority of immigrants come with a long-term goal of establishing a business and eventually returning to their home countries. They are not interested in establishing an Islamic school or a mosque so that their children remain devoted to the religion. They think, “For what? Soon I’ll be going back to where I came from.”

    Given that mindset, there is no cemetery for Muslims or a well-organized mosque to offer necessary education and services to the people. There are few educated Muslims who can properly teach the religion and at the present time, I am the only individual in Mexico who holds a degree in Islamic Studies (and I consider myself only a student of the religion). Yet, more and more individuals come to us every day, wanting to find out about Islam, or have already made a decision to embrace Islam.

    Alhamdulillah, there is great opportunity for dawah at the universities, and local fairs and events where the beauty of Islam can be introduced to Mexicans. We can provide them with a restored hope of returning to Allah through surrender and peace.

  • Dawah in Mexico

    Dawah in Mexico

    On June 26, 2012, as Nahela Morales-Essouiri stepped off her plane and she and her son Andrew walked through the arrival gates in Mexico City, she was unsure of what to expect from the place she once called home. Visiting her country for only the second time as a Muslim woman wearing hijab, Morales was on a special mission.

    Visiting her country for only the second time as a Muslim woman wearing hijab, Morales was on a special mission.  She was unsure of what to expect from the place she once called home

    Morales, like other immigrant Latinos in the US who have accepted Islam, was eager to introduce Islam to her family members in her native country and dispel common stereotypes and misconceptions. She had also volunteered to take essential Islamic materials and monetary donations to the emerging Muslim community in Mexico City. Her journey began at 3 a.m. in her home in Union City, New Jersey where she prepared to go to Newark Airport to board the 6 a.m. connecting flight to Detroit, Michigan which would take her to her destination.

    Prior arrangements were made with the religious leader of the Islamic Center, Al-Hikmah, in Mexico City to pick up the seven extra bags Morales had packed with educational materials and clothing donated by Muslims in the US, especially for this trip. She met Imam Isa Rojas and his wife, Moserratt Pimentel, for the first time in the airport and presented them with the luggage loaded with the Islamic provisions. She was then greeted by family members who drove her to her grandparents’ home, where she would be staying during her three week vacation.

    The following day after performing her morning prayer in her guest room, she recalls, “I sat there for a while crying, reflecting on every aspect of my journey the previous day… the struggle to get everything on and off a cart at the airport while people stared and still being able to smile at them as our Prophet [Muhammad] told us, making sure that the missing luggage would get there on time, hearing people whispering, ‘wow, she speaks perfect Spanish,’ and the hundreds of stares… that was all super easy.”The hard part, according to Morales, was her family’s immediate response to her attire.“My grandmother saying she does not want to see me with ‘that thing on my head because they don’t wear that here’ the night before in front of the cousin who had physically attacked me a few years back because of the hijab [Islamic head covering]was not [easy].”

    Her 103-year-old grandmother’s comment brought back bitter memories for Morales, who had received criticism four years prior for embracing the Muslim faith which obliged her to pray five times daily and don a headscarf and flowing garments to cover her shape. Although Morales was raised for years in her grandparents’ home in Cuernavaca, Morelos, she was now a stranger in her homeland because she is Muslim.

    In 1979, Morales’ mother took the risk of entering the US illegally and alone, leaving her infant daughter behind in Mexico under her grandmother’s care, to search for a better way of life. When Morales was 5-years-old, she was finally reunited with her mother who had settled in Los Angeles, California. After the Immigration Reform and Control Act was passed in 1986, the family was able to apply for amnesty and obtain US citizenship.

    Even as a US citizen, however, Morales still felt like a foreigner. At the age of 12, she revisited the land that gave her the most memorable years of her life, and she continued to visit often thereafter, even after moving to the East Coast in 2001.

    One of the highlights of the trip, according to Morales, was having the chance to pose side-by-side for a photo with a Mexican nun, a wonderful way to show that modesty is an integral part of both Catholicism and Islam

    However, this most recent visit was unlike any other. “I promised myself that I was there with a purpose and was going to carry it out no matter what,” Morales said. “The purpose was to show my family that my faith was here to stay, not a trend or phase like some thought, but very strong, true, firm, and most importantly, that I was only there to convey the message, and not to convert anyone.” As an Administrative Assistant and National Spanish Dawah Coordinator for WhyIslam, a project of the Islamic Circle of North America, Morales was more than prepared.

    One of her daily tasks in the WhyIslam office in Somerset, New Jersey, is to take calls from the 1-877-WhyIslam hotline, where people of all faiths in the US and Canada are encouraged to call to ask questions about Islam. The project advertises all over the nation, online, through mailings, and billboards inviting Americans to get answers. Such projects are unheard of, or perhaps only in the very beginning stages in Mexico; but Morales hopes to change that.

    Last year, when Morales began to plan her trip to Mexico to visit relatives, she called the mosque near her home. During her conversation with Imam Rojas, she learned about the resources that were lacking at the Al-Hikmah Islamic Center. She then spoke with friends and colleagues and formed an online network called “United for Dawah in Mexico/Unidos para Dawah en México.” Along with WhyIslam, seven other Islamic organizations volunteered to assist Morales on her trip and provided numerous resources including Islamic clothing for the new converts in Mexico City, pamphlets and audio CD’s about Islam, Islamic children’s books, and toiletries.

    This was an unprecedented collaboration of Islamic organizations in the US with the aim of assisting a growing Muslim community in Latin America. With Hispanic converts to Islam on the rise in the US since 9/11 —according to statistics in The American Mosque Report 2011 —many of these new converts, like Morales, are becoming involved in Islamic propagation and reaching out to their families back home.

    Tanya Cantu, a Spanish convert and mother of four living in San Antonio, Texas, is the founder of Muslimahs [female Muslims] Covered With Care (MCWC), one of the organizations which joined “United for Dawah in Mexico.” MCWC specializes in providing Muslim converts around the world with modest attire. They provide monetary and clothing donations and have distributors in the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia. Through MCWC, Cantu wishes to reach out to new converts to comfort them during a time, she knows, they are at their most vulnerable. She relates, “When I converted to Islam from Catholicism, my family accused me of rejecting our culture because of their misconceptions about Islam.” Cantu remembers receiving her first Islamic dress from a Muslim friend after her conversion in June 2006, during the month of Ramadan, a gesture which inspired her work.

    After hearing about Morales’ trip to Mexico, she was immediately on board, “We have been working together on a few projects and early this year, Sister Nahela shared with me the news about going to Mexico to visit her family. We discussed her huge desire to provide the Masjid Centro Al-Hikmah with much needed items. This was one of our many goals; to visit remote countries where the demand [for Islamic attire]is high. It was a great opportunity for MCWC to reach out and assist the Muslim women in Mexico.”
    Some of the other organizations that contributed material were Islam in Spanish, Hablamos Islam Niños (We Speak Islam, Kids), Radio Islámico (Islamic Radio), and NHIEC, who raised $1000 for the Hikmah Center and presented them with a plaque commemorating their dawah efforts in Mexico.

    In addition to bringing the donations and Islamic educational materials for the Islamic Center, Morales spent time with Imam Isa Rojas and community members, offered the female worshippers classes on Islamic hygiene, provided advice to the Muslim women on various issues, and participated in an educational expo in the capital to diffuse negative stereotypes about Islam. Morales also encouraged the members of the mosque to set up an outreach committee. She felt her involvement within the safe haven of the small Mexican Islamic community was successful, but dealing with her own family was the bigger challenge.

    Eventually, however, during her three week stay, things began to change. Her uncle surprised her when he confessed that he had purchased a Quran weeks before her visit, and other relatives began asking her about Islam.“Within a few days of my stay, I felt everyone was more at ease and questions began to flow from every direction. The questions never stopped or maybe it felt that way because I was always stuck in a conversation to clear up as many misconceptions as they had.” The cousin who had insulted her a few years previously and ripped off her hijab, now bought her some scarves as gifts. And when her 8-year-old niece tried Morales’ head covering on out of curiosity, family members smiled and said she “looked beautiful.”

    The opportunities to talk about Islam did not stop at her family’s home. While sight-seeing in Mexico, Morales was also approached by strangers who wanted to learn about Islam. “I did notice when I flashed a huge smile, the women’s faces would light up and they would admire my attire by pointing at it or they would come to me and in their limited English they would tell me ‘muy beautiful’ [very beautiful].” She carried WhyIslam brochures and educational Islamic CD’s in Spanish to hand out to anyone who was curious. One of the highlights of the trip, according to Morales, was having the chance to pose side-by-side for a photo with a Mexican nun, a wonderful way to show that modesty is an integral part of both Catholicism and Islam. The photo went viral after Morales posted it on Facebook and she hopes that it will serve as a reminder of what Muslims and Latinos have in common.

    Since returning to the US, Morales continues to collaborate with the community in Mexico and Islamic organizations like MCWC, to facilitate dawah and the distribution of resources to Muslims in Mexico.

  • From Juan to Shafiq

    From Juan to Shafiq

    Ever since childhood, I have felt in some way like a “spiritual” person, and found myself unlike other children. Because of this, I sometimes felt alienated. I was different, and it remained to be seen whether this was a good thing or not.

    My family members all know that I am a Muslim and and that it is a permanent choice. Initially, it was a little difficult. My family
    has come to accept that I am Muslim

    I am of Latin American descent. My parents came to NY from the Dominican Republic in the late 60s. Unlike the current depression (yes, I think it’s a depression), it was a time of industry and prosperity— lots of work and possibilities for success. Like other Latinos, I was born into the Catholic faith. I went through the motions of what it means to be Catholic: I was baptized, did my communion and confirmation. I was even an altar boy at one point. But by the time I was a teen, I was growing impatient with Catholicism. Part of it was that I was not getting the answers that I sought. I started exploring different religions and other forms of spirituality. I had already read the New Testament cover to cover — not an easy thing for a young person to do. One thing that annoyed me a lot and I found difficult to understand was the cult of saints. Another issue that troubled me is that there is so much written in the Bible that is not followed by the church.

    By age 16, I can confidently say that I had renounced Catholicism. I still considered myself “Christian,” however. I visited churches of differing denominations and watched lots of televangelists but just could not feel a sense of belonging. One of the biggest things that I did not like about Christianity was the inter-denominational bickering. There was a complexity to Christianity, or so it seemed to me, that just kept me wondering and doubting. In my search for understanding, I looked into Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Santeria, and various New Age and occult movements. As for Judaism, I recognized some “truth” in it.It seemed “truer” to me than Christianity. I just could not deal with a life without Jesus. This was a big sticking point for me (later, when I found Islam, it was very compelling to me that I would not lose Jesus, peace be upon him).

    Buddhism seemed too esoteric, a little complicated, and to some degree too bland. The kicker for me was when I went to a Buddhist temple in Manhattan. When I knocked, someone quietly came to the door, almost like they were sneaking up to the door, peeked through the peering hole, and quietly left, hoping I wouldn’t discern their presence. I knocked again and politely stood there for a few more minutes, hoping someone would acknowledge me but no one came back. Hinduism’s caste system and grandiose number of gods and goddesses just repelled me. That religion was interesting sociologically and it even had teachings that influenced me such as vegetarianism; but I could not find it in me to bow down to numerous and varied gods. Santería’s gods also repelled me. And it is a secretive religion and to me this was problematic— if you have the truth, there is nothing to be kept secret. The many New Age movements just seemed too complex and at times even silly.

    By the time I was 19, I had renounced Christianity once and for all. I continued my search, though. This led me to read on a continuous basis, something that I still do. When I was 20, a friend of mine gave me a book published by the Ansaaru Allah Community, a Black Muslim cultish group that was founded in the 60s (which by the 80s had abandoned its “Muslim” creed; they now call themselves the Nuwaubian Nation).Still, after reading their publications for about 2½ years, I decided to become “Muslim” at age23. In retrospect, I cannot say that I really was Muslim as the Ansar teachings were quite deviant from pure Islam. And the leader of this movement changed his beliefs and doctrines ever so often. This I found to be strange and it nagged me inside. I lasted two years in this movement.

    At the time, I did not know any orthodox Muslims who could guide me. Only God could guide me and this He did. One day, while attending Jumu’ah (Friday prayer service) at the central mosque in Manhattan, a Hispanic brother noticed that my jalabiya (Islamic dress) had an insignia sewn on that revealed my affiliation with the Ansars. This brother was kind enough to take time out and talk to me. He did not speak English well but he attempted to tell me the errors of the Ansar beliefs. This brother introduced me to some other brothers and gave me a book that set me straight. It was “The Ansar Cult” by Bilal Phillips. After reading it, I knew I was wrong to affiliate myself with the group.

    After this episode, I took shahada again with Alianza Islámica (Islamic Alliance), a Sunni organization in Manhattan. I was then 25 and had been guided to the truth by Allah SWT. I still love to read and I am constantly learning; but I am no longer searching for the truth – I have found Islam.

    Since then, I have co-sponsored the formation of LADO (Latino American Dawah Organization), a group dedicated to spreading Islam, with special focus on Hispanics. LADO strives to reach out to Latinos and provide information about Islam as a way of life, and to promote a greater appreciation of the legacy of Islam in Spain and Latin America.

    My family members all know that I am a Muslim and that it is a permanent choice. Initially, it was a little difficult. My dad thought I had been brainwashed. My mom was worried for my safety. It’s been many years since my conversion now, and my family has come to accept that I am Muslim and I have no problems with any of them. Yes, I have taken a different course than most people I have known. I have felt alienated from the faith of my birth. But now I know that it was all for the good.

  • El Sumarai Latino

    El Sumarai Latino

    For many people, when they think of martial arts, the first thing that comes to mind is Bruce Lee or Chuck Norris; and when they think of a Muslim, the first image that comes to mind is that of an Arab. So how about a Latino Muslim who is also a martial artist? Something of a samurai Latino, but one who only bows down to Allah SWT —this is who I am.

    Muslims throughout history have had a reputation of being disciplined, strong, and courageous. We can see and learn about this through the stories of the companions

    My parents migrated from Ecuador in the late 70s. In 1980 I was born and eight years later, I found myself in a black uniform and belt, kicking and punching on a green mat in Union City, New Jersey. I had started practicing traditional Tiger Claw Kung Fu and continued to do so all through my youth and teenage years up until my freshman year of college. Martial arts was a major and crucial part of my life because it helped keep me disciplined and focused. I didn’t hang around in the streets like most kids, I didn’t join a gang, or get into trouble because I was too busy focusing on training and maintaining a healthy way of life.

    When I entered college in 1998, I decided to push my training aside and focus on my education. During my college years, I was exposed to Islam and embraced it as my way of life in 2001. As I learned more and more about Islam — worshipping Allah alone and the sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (peace be upon him) — I realized that many of the things we practiced during our Kung Fu training were not acceptable Islamically, including bowing, working out to music, and intermixing with the opposite gender. However, there were other aspects that coincided with Islam such as honor, responsibility, mercy and love, discipline, dedication, perseverance, and loyalty.

    I found no solution to the conflict between the great benefits of training and the aspects of it that were not in accordance with Islam. Fast-forward to 2009. After having married and having two children, I moved to College Park, Maryland. At that time I was very unhappy with the condition of my health. I was 5’4” and over 200 pounds, which is considered obese according to medical standards. I remember thinking that the only way I could change would be if I began martial arts training again. When I started a new job at the local masjid in the administration office, I found out that one of my co-workers was training in the karate program that the masjid hosted. I was so happy that I finally found the opportunity I had been waiting for.

    I went the first day and immediately joined. I dedicated myself the same way I had during my teenage years. I shed 50 pounds and earned my Black Belt in a little over a year, all in an Islamic environment, training with other Muslims brothers, and worshipping Allah along the way. What I found here in College Park was a unique program. It is something that I encourage all communities to strive to establish and invest in to promote discipline, leadership, exercise, and a healthy lifestyle.

    Today, I am one of the head instructors of Aqabah Karate at Dar-us-Salaam/Al-Huda school, coaching in Korean Tang Soo Do and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. We run a solid program with 11 Black Belts and 5 Black Belt candidates. We have classes for men, women, and children starting as young as 5 years old. It gives our community members an opportunity to exercise and feel good about themselves while learning practical self-defense techniques.

    The Martial Arts: A Great Opportunity

    For many, including myself, Aqabah Karate is more than just an exercise class, a hobby, or an afterschool program; it is a complement to our way of life as Muslims. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said in an authentic hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah, “The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, but in both there is good” (Reported in Sahih Muslim).

    Many scholars have stated that this hadith relates not only to faith (eman), but also to physical strength because it is a means to increase eman. Physical well-being allows one to perform more acts of worship. The one who exercises, stretches, and eats right will feel much more energetic and alive compared to the one who does not. This energy contributes to the ability to stand in prayer longer, wake up on time for fajr or tahajud, and do charitable acts and other good deeds.

    In addition, the martial arts bring about so much benefit for the one who engages in the discipline as a journey toward self-mastery. It increases confidence and leadership abilities and develops agility, flexibility, and coordination in the practitioner. And, of course, it provides the practical knowledge of self-defense. Martial arts teaches the practitioner to be humble, respectful, honorable, and one who always strives to maintain self-control, self-awareness, and integrity in all his or her actions; and it provides the tools needed to overcome all obstacles, insha’Allah.

    Too many youth today are involved in sedentary pastimes that have little to no benefit such as video games and television. There is a huge increase in obesity and the associated diseases that affect the heart and digestive system. This is amazing, especially knowing that the Messenger of Allah stated in an authentic hadith, “The son of Adam will never fill a container as something worse and [more] evil than [that of filling] his stomach. It will suffice him some morsels [of food] that will keep him on his feet; otherwise, he should divide his stomach into three parts: one third for his food, the other for his drink, and the other third for his breath” (Ibn Hibban).

    There is a need for programs such as Aqabah Karate in our communities in order to help put a stop to the obesity epidemic. Muslims throughout history have had a reputation of being disciplined, strong, and courageous. We can see and learn about this through the stories of the companions such as Omar ibn al-Khataab, Khalib ibn al-Waleed, Osama bin Zayd, Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr, and many more. When we read about their lives, we learn that they were, in a very real way, true martial artists. They may not have had Black Belts in Karate or Kung-Fu, but they lived by the code of conduct integral to the martial arts — loyalty, obedience, respectfulness, mercy, honor, courage, intelligence, and an indomitable spirit. These are the standards of behavior that Aqabah Karate upholds and passes on to their students.

    Practice of the martial arts is indeed an essential discipline that can bring great benefit to Muslims in this age of sedentary lifestyles and obesity. Strength training and conditioning to build endurance and cardio health; grappling, sparring, and self-defense to increase confidence and acute awareness of one’s surroundings; and general principles to instill leadership, discipline, and honor — these are excellent physical, mental, and character assets for men, women, and children alike. Islamic centers and masjids can serve their communities well by establishing such programs. This is a means for all of us to be better than the weak believers and be of those who are more beloved to Allah.

  • A Puerto Rican Imam in Alabama

    A Puerto Rican Imam in Alabama

    Deep in the heart of Alabama, in the city of Mobile, rests a small mosque called Masjid AsSalaam, which means “Mosque of the Peace.” The imam of the mosque, Imam Yusef Maisonet, is a Spanish-speaking Puerto Rican convert. Imam Yusef, who was raised both in New York and Puerto Rico, is 61 years old and has been Muslim for 45 years. He was exposed to Islam in his teens through an Arab Muslim who introduced him to the Quran and Islamic manners.

    Imam Yusef’s rich background makes him a unique and well-rounded religious leader in his community. He explains, “I am a retired Merchant Seaman of 30 years, and have traveled through most of the world, made the Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)three times, been to the city of Medina three times, and also visited all of Palestine, including Jerusalem. I studied Islam in the UAE and also went to Al-Azhar University in Cairo for an intensive course in May 2012.”

    Imam Yusef works closely with the other Islamic centers and religious groups in Mobile, arranges educational and cultural exchange programs and visits to the Middle East and Puerto Rico, lectures, and is active in online activities that promote outreach and understanding. He is also a Muslim Chaplain at one of the most notorious prisons in America, Atmore Prison.

    From Alabama to Al-Azhar

    In May 2012, Imam Yusef was selected to attend a thirty-day intensive dawah course for Latinos at Al-Azhar University in Cairo. The program, which was sponsored by generous donors in Egypt, was designed to teach the 23students from Spanish-speaking countries or backgrounds how to effectively propagate a peaceful and moderate message of Islam. “The curriculum was put together by people who are educators and put a lot of thought into how they could get the message of moderation across to us as students and future preachers of Islam,” Imam Yusef describes.

    During their long days which began at 3 a.m. with Fajr prayer, they studied Qur’an and tajweed, Arabic, hadith sciences, the various schools of thought, or religious jurisprudence (fiqh), human rights, Islamic history, and Islamic economics. Now that Imam Yusef is back home in Mobile, he is putting his knowledge into full practice.

    Masjid AsSalaam offers classes on tajweed, marriage in Islam, “Riyadh us-Saliheen” (“The Gardens of the Righteous”, a classical work by Imam Al-Nawawi), and salat (prayer). They also offer once a week to substance abusers the “12 Step Islamic Program of Recovery from Alcohol, Cocaine, and Other Drugs.”

  • Spanish: Nuestro papel colectivo en el dawah en español

    Spanish: Nuestro papel colectivo en el dawah en español

    Hace más de 1.400 años, el Profeta Muhammad, que la paz esté con él, mencionó: “Sin duda, esta religión llegará a los límites del día y la noche y Alá no dejara pasar una zona rural o una vivienda urbana, excepto que Él hará que el Islam entre en ella…” (Ahmad y Ibn Hiban, Clasificado como auténtico)

    Somos testigos de la realización de esta profecía hoy en día, ya que el Islam sigue extendiéndose desde el este hacia el oeste, incluyendo América del Norte y del Sur, donde el número de musulmanes se duplicará para el año 2030, según las estadísticas.
    Muchos de los nuevos musulmanes son latinos que viven en los EE.UU. y en Latinoamérica. Estudios recientes, como el Reportaje de La Mezquita Americana 2011, revelan que los conversos latinos en los Estados Unidos están aumentando gradualmente desde el año 2000, más que cualquier otro grupo racial o étnico. Tendencias similares se están produciendo al sur de la frontera en México y también en América Central y del Sur, donde el idioma principal es el español.

    El español es el segundo idioma más hablado en el mundo, y el idioma oficial de 21 países. Con más de 50 millones de hablantes nativos y hablantes de segunda lengua, los Estados Unidos tiene la segunda mayor población de habla hispana en el mundo después de México y es la lengua extranjera más estudiada en los EE.UU.

    En el Corán, Dios dice, “Y no hemos enviado a ningún mensajero que no hablara en el idioma de su pueblo, para (poder) explicarles. Alá extravía a quien Le place y guía a quien Le place y Él es el Poderoso, el Sabio.” (El Corán 14:4)

    Debido al número creciente de musulmanes latinos de habla hispana en los EE.UU., la necesidad de recursos en español no puede ser ignorada. ICNA y su proyecto WhyIslam son dos de las pocas organizaciones que proporcionan servicios para esta demográfica, con operadoras de habla hispana en la línea telefónica 1-877-WhyIslam, material educativo en español, sesiones para los hispanohablantes durante la conferencia anual ICNA-MAS, y ahora la revista The Message International (El Mensaje Internacional) presentando artículos en español.

    El Islam es parte de la historia y cultura latina, por lo tanto, los hispanos que optan por convertirse en musulmanes no hacen más que volver a descubrir y aceptar su pasado. A través de nuestros esfuerzos, con la ayuda de Dios, podemos compartir el mensaje con nuestros hermanos y hermanas en la humanidad y facilitar su transición.

  • Spanish: Paz y Piedad

    Mi nombre es Nylka Vargas, y yo vivo en Nueva Jersey. Mis padres son de Peru y Ecuador. Yo me convertí al Islam cuando tenía 20 años. Hay muchas razones por las cuales yo me convertí, la primera de ellas fue el salat (la oración). Vi a unos compañeros de clase realizando el salat en público e inmediatamente eso me atrajo a la naturaleza disciplinada y pacífica de la religión.

    Años atrás, yo tenía dudas sobre las prácticas del cristianismo, particularmente la creencia en la salvación mediante la sangre de Jesucristo. No sentaba bien conmigo. Tan pronto aprendí sobre el Islam, tuve muchas preguntas. Tenía curiosidad y estaba feliz que mis súplicas para llenar mi vacío espiritual habían sido contestadas. Yo recibí algún material introductorio, y leí algunos versos del Corán que me convencieron. En solo unos cuantos meses, hice mi declaración de fe.

    Mi familia acepto mi conversión poco a poco. Ellos entendieron que la decisión era mía y que el cambio era positivo. Es muy importante ser un buen ejemplo; verdaderos maestros del Islam por dentro y por fuera. Alhamdulillah (Todas las alabanzas son para Dios) por la guía. Yo nunca podre ser una servidora suficientemente agradecida por el regalo de hidaya (la guía), y por el rayo de luz que fue puesto en mi camino justo cuando lo necesitaba. Mi viaje despegó, y continuó por años. Yo encontré a muchos musulmanes para apoyarme y conocí a otros con historias similares que la mía. En el Centro Islámico Educativo de North Hudson o NHIEC en Union City, encontré una comunidad proactiva de musulmanes. La póliza abierta y los programas allí facilitaron mis experiencias de aprendizaje.

    Luego use mis propias experiencias para contribuir por medio de ayudar a los demás. Conocí a la Hermana Khadijah Rivera, que Allah le llene de Su misericordia e ilumine su tumba con nur (luz), quien me invito a unirme a P.I.E.D.A.D. (Propagación Islámica para la Educación de Devoción a Alá el Divino), en breve, una organización de dawah (propagación) para mujeres. Ella falleció en el 2009 durante los días bendecidos del mes de Dhul Hiyyah, y tras su muerte, una gran activista comunitaria desapareció.

    Sin embargo, Piedad continúa. La hermana Khadijah era co-fundadora de esta organización que comenzó a finales de los 1980’s como un vehículo para dar dawah a los Latinos musulmanes. Luego se expandió para incluir otros servicios. Poco antes de ella fallecer, hablamos mucho sobre la dirección de Piedad y me alegro de reiterar, aquí en este articulo, que es un honor continuar con la labor de esta maravillosa organización que fue construida con nada menos que sinceridad. El nombre de la organización también ha ocupado varios significados para fortalecer nuestra determinación en el cumplimiento de una amana (confianza) y su misión, en caso de duda. El acrónimo (PIEDAD) y el término (Piedad) están dirigidos a lograr la piedad, la conciencia de Dios, y realizar actos de caridad.

    Alhamdulillah, este año estuvo marcado con emocionantes proyectos: mesas de información para el dawah, un taller sobre el hijab (el velo), co-patrocinio de Ladies Day Spa y Purple Hijab Day, la colecta local de juguetes para Eid con el Baitul Salaam Network, nuestra nueva iniciativa para mantenerse en forma y saludable, el capítulo de Nadoona de NJ para caminar/trotar, y colaboración continua de musulmanes latinos por medio de la Organización para el Dawah Latino-Americano (www.latinodawah.com).

    También hemos ayudado a muchas nuevas conversas con lo más básico sobre el Islam y el establecimiento de la oración. ¿Qué viene ahora? Insha’Allah (Si Dios quiere), planeamos desarrollar una red para mujeres, enfocarnos en proyectos del dawah hacia los latinos, y estar al frente de los servicios comunitarios, con una visión de éxito para la Ummah (comunidad) musulmana. Que Allah lo acepte de todos nosotros. Amin.

  • Spanish: El Regalo Del Islam

    Había un estante de madera en la esquina del lado derecho en la habitación de mis padres con una estatua de la Virgen de Guadalupe. Todos los domingos mi padre sustituía las flores por unas frescas en un jarrón que se encontraba enfrente de la estatua; lo recuerdo tan claramente como se ponía de pie frente a aquel mueble, que también tenía muchas otras estatuas, y oraba con mucho fervor. A la edad de 9 años, antes de su muerte, me enseñó muchas oraciones, pretendió enseñarme a realizar una limpieza espiritual contra el mal de ojo.

    Poco tiempo después de que mi padre murió empecé a tomar las clases de catecismo. Pasaba casi todas las noches y los domingos en la iglesia; así recibí la comunión como una católica e hice la confirmación, pero nunca me sentí cerca de Dios. La mayor parte de mis años de juventud practique la religión católica impuesta por mi familia, porque no era una opción asistir a clases; en mi casa era una obligación.

    A medida que fui creciendo mi madre se fue alejando de la iglesia. Se ocupo demasiado con su trabajo de tiempo completo, y considero que no estábamos practicando en realidad la religión. En el dormitorio de mi madre se encontraba todavía ese estante casero que mi padre construyó para él mismo y permanecían todas las estatuas a las cuales rezaba pero nadie colocaba ya flores en aquel florero o permanecía en frente de aquel mueble para orar.

    Ya en mis años de escuela secundaria mi vida había cambiado enormemente; me había convertido en una adolescente muy rebelde. Yo estaba perdida definitivamente. Como muchas adolecentes tuve que experimentar mucho mal durante mi adolescencia. Yo no tenía fe, y en realidad no creía en Dios.

    Alhamdulillah (Alabado sea Dios) después del nacimiento de mis hijas, cuando tenía la edad de 27 años, me di cuenta que era hora de hacer un cambio en mi vida en relación a la manera que estaba viviendo. A través del internet, unos amigos me presentaron al Islam. Nunca olvidaré la primera vez que oí el Corán recitado; sentí una conexión con Dios. Sentí algo que no había sentido antes en mi vida. A pesar de que no tenía ni idea de lo que se decía durante la recitación, me enamoré del Corán.
    Alhamdulillah, tuve la suerte de estar en contacto con muchos maravillosos hermanos y hermanas que me proporcionaron la información que estaba buscando. No pasó mucho tiempo, cuando decidí convertirme en musulmana y aceptar el Islam. Tomé Shahada (La declaración de la fe) en el 2006, Alhamdulillah.
    Hoy día ya sé por qué me enamoré del Corán, ya sé por qué sentía una conexión instantánea con Alá.
    Alá, el Poderoso dice: “Hoy os he perfeccionado vuestra religión y he completado Mi gracia sobre vosotros y he dispuesto que el Islam sea vuestra religión.” [Corán 5:3]
    El Islam es hermoso. Alá nos ha dado el regalo más grande, el regalo de la guía a Su religión, la religión completa y definitiva. Mi vida como mujer musulmana es increíble. Mi vida está llena de tanta paz y alegría. Mi familia, el hogar, y los esfuerzos están siendo continuamente bendecidos y la situación cada día es mejor, Alhamdulillah.
    Los musulmanes están unidos en sus corazones; esta unidad es el medio que da la fuerza a la comunidad musulmana. De hecho, es un don divino del cual los musulmanes deben hacer uso.
    “Los creyentes y las creyentes son amigos aliados unos de otros, ordenan lo bueno y prohíben lo reprobable, establecen el salat (la oración), entregan el zakat (la caridad) y obedecen a Alá y a Su mensajero. A ésos Alá les hará entrar en Su misericordia; es cierto que Alá es Poderoso, Sabio. “ [Quran 9:71]
    El hecho de ser partidarios unos de otros, esto para mí significa mucho. Yo quiero para mis hermanos y hermanas lo que yo quiero para mí misma, y después de contemplar y meditarlo durante meses finalmente me decidí a realizar un esfuerzo que sería de beneficio para todos y todas, especialmente para mis hermanas en el Islam.
    En mayo del 2011 lleve a la comunidad, al público en general, la organización Muslimahs Covered With Care (MCWC). Este proyecto fue diseñado para proporcionar hiyabs (velos) y abayas (vestidos) a las mujeres musulmanas. Yo personalmente entiendo la dificultad que conlleva la vestimenta islámica y entiendo el número de razones por las cuales algunas mujeres musulmanas no se cubren.
    Actualmente el equipo de MCWC consta de 7 mujeres maravillosas, otras están siempre animadas a unirse a nosotras. Contamos con coordinadores en los EE.UU., Europa, Canadá, Australia y el Reino Unido. ¡Únete a nuestro equipo en la cobertura de Muslimahs (mujeres musulmanas)!

  • Spanish: De Juan a Shafiq

    Desde mi niñez yo siempre supe que era una persona “espiritual”. Por alguna razón yo me sentía distinto a los otros niños que me rodeaban y a veces por eso mismo también me sentía aislado. Yo era diferente y soy diferente.

    Para comenzar, yo soy de descendencia latina. Mis padres inmigraron a Nueva York desde la Republica Dominicana en los años 60. Desemejante a la depresión que existe actualmente aquí, en esos tiempos era una era industrial con muchas posibilidades de empleo. Típicamente, como otros latinos, yo me crie dentro de la fe católica. Yo pase por todos los ritos que hacen a una persona católica; fui bautizado, hice mi comunión y confirmación. Hasta serví como monaguillo por un tiempo. Pero cuando llegue a la adolescencia, comencé a perder la paciencia con el catolicismo.

    Parte de ello fue porque no obtenía las respuestas que buscaba. Comencé a explorar diferentes religiones y espiritualidades. Durante mi adolescencia, ya había leído el Nuevo Testamento entero, algo que no es fácil para un jovencito. Yo me sentí especialmente incomodo con el culto a los santos. Yo descubrí que hay tanto escrito en la Biblia que no es seguido por la iglesia y eso me angustiaba. Cuando llegue a la edad de 16 años, puedo decir con toda confianza que había abandonado la religión católica. Sin embargo, me consideraba “cristiano”. Visité diferentes iglesias de varias denominaciones y vi muchos televangelistas, pero no surgía ningún sentimiento de pertenencia. Una de las razones que no me gustaba el cristianismo era por la cantidad de desacuerdos entre las denominaciones. Existía una complejidad en el cristianismo, o así yo pensaba, que me mantuvo pensando.

    Como mencione, estuve buscando en otras religiones. Específicamente, estudie sobre el judaísmo, budismo, hinduismo, santería, y varios otros movimientos y cultos. Del judaísmo, estuve de acuerdo con todo lo que era verdad, y me pareció más verdadero que el cristianismo. Pero no podía enfrentarme a la vida sin Jesús. Para mí eso era muy importante. De hecho, en el Islam, yo no perdí a Jesús, que la paz este con él. El budismo me parecía muy esotérico, un poco complicado, y poco fuerte. La gota que derramó el vaso fue cuando trate de visitar un templo budista en Manhattan. Cuando toque la puerta, las personas que estaban a cargo del templo vinieron a la puerta, muy calladas, para mirar por el agujero, y esperando que yo me fuera, se apartaron en silencio sin abrir la puerta. Yo toque nuevamente y me quede parado ahí por algunos minutos esperando que alguien me ayudara pero no regresaron.

    El sistema de casta y el número grandioso de dioses y diosas en el hinduismo me repugnaba. Aunque me interesaba sociológicamente y hasta algunas enseñanzas me influyeron (como por ejemplo, el vegetarianismo) pero no podía aceptar postrarme ante otros dioses. Los dioses de la santería también me repugnaban. La idea era muy extraña para mí, así que no la podía entretener seriamente. Cualquier persona que conoce algo de la santería sabe que es una religión muy secreta y eso me fastidiaba. Si tu tienes la verdad, no hay nada que esconder. Los movimientos de la nueva era me parecían muy complejos y a veces hasta tontos. No digo que nada de lo que vi en mis viajes y en mi búsqueda me gusto. Vi algunas cosas que me gustaban y algunas me llamaban la atención pero no tenían mi interés completo.

    Al llegar a los 19 años, había renunciado al cristianismo por completo pero continuaba mi búsqueda. Esta búsqueda me llevó a leer sin parar, algo que hago hasta ahora. A la edad de 20 años, un amigo me regaló un libro sobre el Islam, o lo que pensaba era el Islam. Era un libro publicado por el culto Ansar, si no se acuerdan de quienes eran, pues solían vender inciensos y perfumes. Después de leer sobre ellos por 2 años y medio, me decidí ser “musulmán” a la edad de 23 años. La verdad es que no considero que me convertí realmente en musulmán porque sus enseñanzas no eran el Islam puro. Por mi intensa experiencia en la lectura, me di cuenta que habían muchos errores en la doctrina Ansar, pero continué con ellos porque no me relacionaba con nada más. No conocía a otros musulmanes reales que me pudieran guiar. Solo Dios me podía guiar, y Lo hizo. Yo notaba mientras leía los libros Ansares que el líder de este movimiento cambiaba su fe y doctrina cada vez. Eso me parecía extraño y me desconcertaba. Dure 2 años dentro de este movimiento.

    Un día mientras asistía a Yummah (el sermón del viernes) en la mezquita central en Manhattan, un hermano hispano se dio cuenta que llevaba un símbolo en mi yalabiya (vestido islámico) que traicionaba mi lealtad a los Ansares. Un hermano fue tan amable de tomar su tiempo para hablar conmigo. No hablamos el inglés muy bien porque no era su primer idioma, pero trató lo más que pudo para explicarme que era un error estar con ese grupo. Él me presento a otros hermanos y me dio un libro que me ayudo. El libro se llamaba, “El Culto de los Ansares”, por Bilal Phillips. Después de leerlo yo sabía que estaba equivocado por haberles seguido a ellos. Después de todo este episodio, yo tome mi Shahada (testimonio de fe) nuevamente con Alianza Islámica, una organización Sunita en Manhattan. Tenía 25 años en ese tiempo. Alá me guió a la verdad, y también el hecho que nunca deje de leer, y también por la amabilidad de ese hermano quien me ayudó. Hasta ahora, ese es el final de mi viaje espiritual. Hasta hoy me encanta leer y estoy constantemente aprendiendo pero ya no estoy buscando la verdad porque para mí, la verdad es el Islam.

    Desde entonces, sin embargo, ayude en la formación de LADO, una organización dedicada a la difusión del Islam, específicamente a los hispanos pero naturalmente también a cualquier persona que este interesado. Tomamos el tiempo para hablar con reporteros que están curiosos de saber por qué los hispanos llegan a abrazar el Islam. Hemos hecho conexiones con muchos otros musulmanes, ambos hispanos y no-hispanos. De igual forma, les hemos respondido a muchas personas que buscan respuestas para las preguntas de la vida y están pensando en el Islam. Sobre mi familia, todos saben que soy musulmán y no voy a dar marcha atrás. Inicialmente fue un poco difícil. Mi papá pensaba que me lavaron el celebro. Mi mamá temía por mi seguridad. Muchos años han pasado desde mi conversión y ninguna de mi familia me desprecia y yo tampoco tengo problemas con ninguno de ellos.