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  • Protecting Our Muslim Youth in a Gender-fluid and Hyper-sexual Society

    Protecting Our Muslim Youth in a Gender-fluid and Hyper-sexual Society

    When I was invited to write an article about preparing youth for marriage, I eagerly agreed. I was excited to tackle the topic, not because this has become my field of expertise as the subject of my doctoral research and the focus of a great deal of my work as a youth counselor, but because I saw an opportunity. I had an opportunity to address marriage preparation, one among a list of important topics focusing on the well-being of our youth, including mentoring, developing leadership, time management, and other skills for success, or finding balance in one’s life. However, rather than simply discussing the importance of premarital education and counseling, I decided to focus instead on the issue of moral decline as it relates to sexuality, an issue that is plaguing our youth and causing a detrimental ripple effect deep into the bedrock of young marriages. This article focuses on the hyper-sexuality and shifting views of gender identification that our youth are currently exposed to. We, as parents, educators, community leaders, and activists must come to understand these issues if we are going to protect our children and youth.

    At an increasingly younger and younger age, youth are exposed to very mature content for which they are completely unprepared to process in the context of family, faith, and personal well-being

    As Muslims, we don’t talk about sex. And we definitely don’t talk about sexuality or sexual orientation with our youth. The taboo topic that often results in tongue-tied parents and red-faced religious leaders is not discussed in a healthy way with youth who are already socially exposed to these concepts through a variety of mediums. In neglecting the discussion of these topics, we are left instead with a multitude of curious teens and young adults seeking to learn about sexuality from the many sources that do offer open dialogue: friends, books, magazines, school, television, and, of course, the Internet. While the information may be plentiful and easily accessible, without guidance, a teenager may be left to his or her own devices to make sense of a very grown-up topic. Yet, our faith clearly indicates that we must have conversations with our youth in preparing them for dealing with the real world, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed that there should be no shyness in matters of religion when legitimately seeking knowledge.

    Social Influences

    Today, our youth are surrounded by books, movies, shows, and songs that glamorize intimacy removed from the sanctity of marriage. At an increasingly younger and younger age, youth are exposed to very mature content for which they are completely unprepared to process in the context of family, faith, and personal well-being. Songs by popular figures aim to normalize homosexuality and/or bisexuality, such as Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl,” in which Perry sings, “and I liked it.” Popular family shows such as “Modern Family” present same-sex parents Mitchell and Cameron.

    At the same time, books aimed at a young audience such as “See You at Harry’s” by Jo Knowles encourage exploration of teen and preteen sexual identification rooted in same-gender relationships. “Adult” books such as the infamous “Fifty Shades of Grey” by E.L. James completely subvert the idea of sexuality, presenting the content as romantic while filled with sexual and emotional abuse of women characters. Teenagers can covertly access this book despite warnings to stay away. Without a doubt, the impact of exposure to sexuality outside of marriage, and sexual lifestyle choices, is a corruption of the eyes, ears, and hearts, particularly in youth; and this is highly destructive to their developing worldview, sense of self and identity, and perceptions of marriage.

    With every open conversation we have with a teenager, there are ten more conversations that we need to have. Education, communication, patience, love, and prayer—lots and lots of prayer—form the cornerstone of open dialogue with our youth

    Every day, we see media icons such as Caitlyn Jenner (formerly known as Bruce Jenner) who are portrayed as heroes for choosing to “become” a gender they are more comfortable with, while the famed offspring of that same notorious family (Kim, Khloe, Kylie, and the other Kardashians) consistently flaunt their hyper-sexuality in the grossest form of shameless media exposure. Early teens and preteens are encouraged to explore not only what they will be when they grow up, but also what gender they select, as if it is a choice as easily negotiable as dying your hair or wearing colored contacts. Gender is currently viewed by pop culture as completely unbound by biology and genetics, resulting in the emergence of the cisgender identification (referring to the alignment of one’s gender identity with one’s biological sex assigned at birth) so as to normalize the transgendered choice.

    What can help our youth withstand the tide so as not to be swept away by the appeal to satisfy every fleeting desire? In a world that constantly preaches individualism and unbridled fulfillment of self, children are taught to feed the nafs al-ammara (base, lower self), to satisfy all worldly desires regardless of moral or religious reservations. This message of satisfying the self at all times and at all costs is a problematic contradiction for Muslims who believe in controlling desires of dunya as the ultimate form of submission to the will of Allah (SWT). But this message pales in comparison to the glitzy appeal of a world that advocates for the unfettered attainment of all desires. Consistently raising the bar on what will satisfy the nafs becomes a major factor in the lack of contentment pervading the marriage realm. When presented with a buffet of lifestyle choices, the singular distinction of monogamous marriage is seen as restrictive and confining. Marriage then becomes synonymous with monotony rather than being viewed as a path towards tranquility, stability, and, according to hadith, completing “half the deen.”

    Opportunities

    As Muslims in the West, we find ourselves working so hard on the constant defense of our faith from threats external to our communities that we sometimes lose sight of what threatens our youth internally. At one time, parents could easily warn their children about staying away from relationships with the opposite gender, which of course often occurred anyway but were considered scandalous when news inevitably reached the ears of the community. Yet, the parents of today have a whole other slew of sexual stances and definitions to warn their children about, things that they themselves may not fully understand. Trying to keep up with the constant barrage of LBTQ+ messages and identities from transsexual to pansexual to everything in between, is difficult for a generation that understands sexuality and gender identities as their parents and grandparents did, and their religion sanctions. Despite the religious rejection of these identities and actions, the exploration of such identities among our youth is growing at a terrifyingly rapid rate. The Internet provides an ever-changing menu for a variety of identifications, and our youth, decidedly more tech-savvy than us, are exposed to this confusing and harmful phenomenon.

    One may argue that the youth of the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s also grew up in a sexually permissive society and that the generation of that era turned out just fine. In those days, however, family values were still at the core of society and children were not indoctrinated to believe they had a choice in sexual orientation and gender identity. Traditional families and gender roles still held sway.

    As a Muslim community, we have yet to find the antidote for exposure to today’s sexual permissiveness, or the words to address it. We prefer to remain reticent on the topic of gender identification and homosexuality. Unlike the vocal faith groups who actively speak out against same gender relationships and the breakdown of the traditional family, we tend to tiptoe around the situation and prefer not to discuss something that we feel has nothing to do with our community. We try to avoid “planting the seed” in the minds of our youth without realizing that the seed has already been planted by others and that our reticence causes more confusion than clarification.

    Into the Future

    Protecting our youth in a gender-fluid and hyper-sexual society begins with talking to our own children. It begins by bringing down the barriers and allowing our youth the safe space needed to discuss with us openly what may be on their minds, what they are confused about, and what challenges they face as they attempt to navigate psychologically and emotionally through such turbulent times. Our work continues with identifying the factors that may influence our children and promoting a healthy consciousness of what a traditional faith-based relationship looks like. We must model purposeful, mature, and peaceful living in our own relationships. We are the stewards of the coming generation. With every open conversation we have with a teenager about the topics discussed in this article, there are ten more conversations that we need to have. Education, communication, patience, love, and prayer—lots and lots of prayer—form the cornerstone of open dialogue with our youth.

    What More Can We Do?

    After understanding the identity threats that impinge on our youth’s emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being, our natural response is “what more can we do?” The seemingly insurmountable mountain can be scaled by opening the lines of dialogue and discussion with our children. Here are some suggestions:

    • Begin discussion with your children from a young age about biological elements of the body. Don’t let their natural curiosity lead them down the path towards asking the wrong people or looking for information in the wrong places.
    • Refer often to the Quran. Teach your children the verses of Surat Ar-Rum regarding marriage and the creation of males and females as mates for one another, and other verses from the Quran that emphasize the beauty and sanctity of the marital relationship.
    • Keep hay’aa (modesty) as a central reference point in your home. Teach youth what modesty in action, in thoughts, in glances, and in interactions means, in addition to modesty in dress. Emphasize the importance of hay’aa for both girls and boys.
    • As your pre-teens and teens begin to enter the world of changing emotions and fluctuating hormones, be sure to discuss with them the difference between desire and action and how they can mitigate the emotions that they may not yet understand fully.
    • Help your children to recognize and fully appreciate the beauty of tawbah (repentance) and the love that Allah (SWT) has for those who sincerely repent; also talk about His love for those who are tested with desires but guard against sin because of their love for pleasing Him (SWT).
    • Use the words of the Quran regarding our prophets to exemplify guiding principles that can help protect our youth. For example, reference the story of Prophet Yusuf (pbuh) and how he was pulled by a woman’s desire, and he preferred to be put in prison than to be placed in that position. Explain to them also the situation of Prophet Lut (pbuh) and how he stood against those who acted in a way that was not pleasing to Allah (SWT) in trying to satisfy their lustful desires.
    • Finally, make a great deal of dua for the protection of your children and all the children of the ummah. Let your children see and hear you making dua often, and talk to them about the power of dua. Let them know that your dua is sincere and heartfelt, coming from a place of love for Allah (SWT) and for them.

    Finally, if you find it difficult to have these conversations with your children or teens, find a trusted mentor, an older sibling, or a youth group leader who can help guide your child in the right direction. May Allah (SWT) guide us all and guide all our children to the straight path. May He protect our coming generations from the fitnahs that we see today and the ones that we may not yet see.

  • Al Servicio de la Comunidad Mexicana

    Al Servicio de la Comunidad Mexicana

    Hace solo cuatro años que el primer informe fue escrito acerca del Proyecto WhyIslam en México, pero mucho ha ocurrido desde entonces. La campaña mexicana comenzó con un deseo de repartir ropa islámica y literatura a una comunidad creciente en la Ciudad de México llamada Centro Al Hikmah. Siete organizaciones se unieron para contribuir a la causa, donando todo lo necesario. Durante su vacación, Nahela Morales, una conversa mexicana, distribuyó los artículos a la comunidad islámica en junio de 2012. El viaje tuvo tanto éxito que se convirtió en un esfuerzo anual.

    El interés aumentó cuando personalidades muy conocidas como Nouman Ali Khan, Omar Suleiman, y Boonaa Mohammed respaldaron los proyectos en México. En 2013, Nouman Ali Khan viajó al estado mexicano de Chiapas, al pueblo de San Cristobal de las Casas, como parte del segundo viaje de divulgación en México. Se conmovió tanto al ver las condiciones de vida tan pobres en las que viven las familias musulmanas indígenas, que decidió filmar un recorrido de un hogar típico, una estructura humilde hecha de paredes de madera cubiertas en plástico para que no entre la lluvia, un techo de chapa, y piso de tierra. El video fue lanzado en el canal de YouTube de WhyIslam y lo han visto más de 215.000 personas.

    La meta para ese año era comenzar planes para renovar la mezquita, Al Kauthar. A través del uso de medios de comunicación y campañas para recaudar fondos, Morales logró reunir más de $30.000 para el material islámico y alimentos a distribuir durante el mes de Ramadán, y el proyecto de renovación para la mezquita. Sin embargo, las metas futuras eran ofrecer apoyo continuo a las familias necesitadas en este sector y proporcionar renovaciones a sus casas. Esto provocó planes para establecer un capítulo de Mano Amiga para la Ayuda y el Desarrollo en México, o HHRD (Helping Hand for Relief and Development).

    En 2014 Boonaa Mohammed viajó con HHRD y un equipo de grabación a México para producir documentales que llaman la atención necesaria a esta causa.

    El Profeta Muhammad, la paz sea con él, una vez aconsejó a Aisha cuando ella deseaba ofrecer un regalo a un vecino; le dijo que debía dar “a aquel cuya puerta está más cerca a la tuya”. La idea de ayudar a nuestros hermanos y hermanas en México nace de este consejo, siendo que México es uno de solo dos países que comparte una frontera con los EE.UU. También es el país más grande de América Latina con la población musulmana más pequeña. Sin embargo, los musulmanes están creciendo en número y necesitan ayuda. Alhamdulillah, hemos sido bendecidos con la capacidad de ayudar a nuestros hermanos por lo que pedimos su continuo apoyo y oraciones.

    Esperamos que ustedes disfruten leer algunos relatos y artículos informativos de nuestros hermanos y hermanas de México y de habla hispana, y que también los recuerden en sus oraciones. YazakumAllahu khaiyran.

  • Serving the Mexican Community

    Serving the Mexican Community

    It was only four years ago that the first story about WhyIslam in Mexico was written, but many exciting events have transpired since then. The Mexican campaign began with a desire to deliver Islamic attire and literature to a growing community in Mexico City, Al Hikmah Center. Seven organizations joined forces to contribute to the cause, donating everything from Islamic CDs to siwaks. During her vacation, Nahela Morales, a Mexican convert, distributed the items to the Islamic community in June of 2012. The trip was so successful that it became an annual effort and each year expanded to cover more than five cities within the country.

    Interest really took off when well-known lecturers and personalities such as Nouman Ali Khan, Omar Suleiman, and Boonaa Mohammed endorsed the projects in Mexico. In 2013, Nouman Ali Khan even traveled to the Mexican state of Chiapas, to the Islamic village in San Cristobal de las Casas, as part of the second annual dawah trip to Mexico. He was so moved by the poor living conditions of the indigenous Muslim families that he filmed a video tour of a typical home, a humble structure with walls made of planks and plastic covering to keep out the rain, a tin rooftop, and a dirt floor. The video was released on WhyIslam’s YouTube channel and has over 215,000 views.

    The goal for that year was to begin plans to renovate the town’s masjid Al Kauthar. Through the use of social media and fundraising campaigns, Morales was able to gather over $30,000 for Islamic material and food for distribution during Ramadan, and the masjid renovation project. However, future goals were to offer continuous support to needy families in this sector and to provide home renovations and reconstructions. This sparked plans to launch Mexico Relief Project by Helping Hand for Relief and Development.

    In 2014 Boonaa Mohammed traveled with HHRD and film crews to Mexico to produce documentaries that bring the necessary attention to this cause.

    The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, once advised Aisha when she desired to offer a gift to a neighbor, that she should give, “to the one whose door is nearer to you.” The idea of helping our brothers and sisters in Mexico is one that stems from neighborliness, in the sense that Mexico is one of only two countries which share a border with the US. It is also the largest Latin American country with the smallest Muslim population; however, the Muslims are growing in number and need assistance. Alhamdulillah, we have been blessed with the ability to aid our brethren so we ask for your continued support and prayers.

    We hope that you will enjoy reading some stories and informative articles from our Mexican and Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters, and that you will also remember them in your prayers. JazakumAllahu khaiyran.

  • El Coran abrio mi corazon

    El Coran abrio mi corazon

    Mi nombre es Margarita Aguirre y soy de la ciudad de Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. Nací en el seno de una familia católica practicante. Recuerdo que cuando estaba en la preparatoria tuve mi primer acercamiento al Islam sin darme cuenta. En el periódico mural de mi preparatoria expusieron un “poema” que me llamó la atención. Recuerdo que lo anote en mi libreta favorita de poemas porque me encanto. En la parte inferior del poema decía simplemente: “El Corán”. Pensé que este era un libro de poemas, y por lo tanto no busque más información.

    Pasaron los años y nuevamente me vi cara a cara con el Corán. En mi profesión como maestra y hasta ahora me apasiona mucho todo lo que tenga que ver con la historia. Fue así que leyendo libros de historia conocí las tantas religiones del mundo, y entre ellas el Islam. Un día organicé para mis alumnos una clase tratando sobre las distintas religiones del mundo. Durante la clase volví a revisar la palabra “Corán” en los libros de historia. En ese momento comprendí que este libro no era uno de poesías, sino más bien un libro que leen los musulmanes igual como los cristianos leen la Biblia.

    Fue una sorpresa muy grande para mí porque pensé que la Biblia era el único libro de Dios. Recuerdo que al terminar esa jornada de trabajo llegue a mi casa buscando aquello que había escrito durante la preparatoria y lo encontré. En ese momento quise saber más sobre el Islam. Ese fue el acercamiento más impactante, porque después comenzó mi búsqueda para información acerca de los musulmanes y el Islam. En realidad no había tenido un buen concepto del Islam pero quise indagar y darme cuenta por mí misma lo que era esa religión y por qué los musulmanes también contaban con un libro de Dios.

    Pensé que debía aumentar mi conocimiento de la religión y busque por el internet una página que hablara acerca del Islam. Las publicaciones de esa página me gustaban mucho, y así comencé a aprender. El administrador de la página me explicó ampliamente sobre la religión y despejó todas mis dudas. Yo como buena investigadora seguía corroborando lo que me decía el hermano de la página pero por mi propia cuenta, hasta que un día decidí bajar el Corán en forma electrónica.

    Al inicio, este Corán contenía la biografía del Profeta Muhammad, que la paz sea con él, y me impresionó, pues encontré una buena base para conocer quien había fundado el Islam. Recuerdo que cuando comencé a leer los versos del Corán mi corazón sintió que esas eran las palabras de Dios; que estaba leyendo las mismísimas palabras de Alá.

    Me sentí tan conmovida que no pude resistir más la verdad que mi corazón había reconocido. Esta hermosa religión que ha cambiado mi vida, es una fuente de bienestar y alegría para el corazón. Pues Dios en su grande sabiduría nos dejó todo el conocimiento que necesitamos a través del Sagrado Corán y la Sunnah de nuestro Profeta Muhammad, que la paz sea con él. Más importante aún es que fue en esta religión que realmente conocí la unicidad de Dios, Todopoderoso, y aprendí cómo amarlo como un Dios Único. Así me sentí completa y pude entender tantas cosas. El Islam perfeccionó mi alma y mis sentimientos y todas mis dudas quedaron resueltas, ¡Alhamdulillah! Y como Alá nos dice en el Sagrado Corán: “Esta es la escritura, exenta de dudas, como dirección para los temerosos de Alá” (El Coran, 2:2).

    Mi primer Ramadán fue de entrega total a mi Dios. Me sentía muy emocionada; para ese tiempo habían pasado dos meses desde que me convertí al Islam. Había declarado mi Shahada, o testimonio de fe, a larga distancia con un hermano Marroquí, porque no conocía ningunos musulmanes mexicanos. Luego busque una comunidad musulmana en mi ciudad y para mi gran sorpresa, encontré otros musulmanes en Guadalajara. ¡Yo hasta había pensado que era la única en México! Pude hacer el Shahada nuevamente con mis hermanas musulmanas en la mezquita. Alhamdulillah, pase un Ramadán hermoso, siguiendo todo lo establecido en el cumplimiento del ayuno, no solamente dejando el alimento durante el horario prescrito, sino también todo lo que afectara el alma como las malas conductas y acciones.

    Doy gracias a Dios que me haya dado la guía del Islam como religión y estilo de vida, pues nunca me había sentido tan feliz, Alhamdulillah.

  • Una Nueva Traduccion del Sagrado Coran al Idioma Espanol

    Una Nueva Traduccion del Sagrado Coran al Idioma Espanol

    Se despertó en mí el interés de hacer una traducción del Sagrado Corán que se preocupara me-nos por parecer árabe o por intentar imitar la calidad literaria del texto original, y estuviera pen-sada más en transmitir de forma correcta y directa todos aquellos significados, profundos y espi-rituales, pero también de un gran orden social, que había comprendido al leerlo y estudiarlo en su idioma original.

    –Isa García

    Un poco de historia

    Cuando acepté el Islam y lo asumí como forma de vida, estaba sediento de saber, quería conocer lo mejor posible la fuente primera del conocimiento, la revelación divina: el Sagrado Corán. Sabía desde el principio que el Corán fue revelado en árabe, y que este texto es original: ha sido pre-servado y mantenido intacto a lo largo de más de 14 siglos. Pero al no saber árabe, tuve que re-mitirme a diferentes traducciones que se han hecho al español.

    Lo que encontré llegó en ocasiones a decepcionarme, pues el texto aparecía muchas veces con-fuso o incongruente.

    Comprendí que esto se debía, principalmente, a dos factores. El primero, que muchas traduccio-nes han sido elaboradas por personas que no tenían el suficiente conocimiento del Islam, su mensaje y su historia, y que por ello confundían conceptos o incluso, en algunos casos de forma premeditada, trastocaban los sentidos para desacreditar al Islam y su libro sagrado.

    El segundo, que en su mayoría las traducciones son demasiado literalistas, imitan el estilo árabe en la traducción, no solamente en la expresión del significado sino en el orden mismo de las pa-labras, de modo que no se apegan a la gramática del español y por ello resultan confusas. A esto debe agregársele que algunas de las traducciones al español utilizan un lenguaje antiguo y lejano al que solemos utilizar en el continente americano, y que a la vez carecen en su mayoría de notas aclarativas sobre el contexto histórico o las implicaciones legales.

    Más tarde, cuando tuve la oportunidad de estudiar el idioma árabe y acceder a los significados del Sagrado Corán en su idioma original, comprendí que en la traducción me había perdido de mucho. Si bien es cierto que ninguna traducción podrá jamás acercarse a la belleza narrativa, poética y retórica del Corán, ni reproducir a la vez su sonoridad y las múltiples formas en que puede ser recitado, también es cierto que las traducciones, unas más que otras, fallan en trans-mitirle al lector la verdadera esencia del mensaje coránico.

    Esto despertó en mí el interés de hacer una traducción del Sagrado Corán que se preocupara menos por parecer árabe o por intentar imitar la calidad literaria del texto original, y estuviera pensada más en transmitir de forma correcta y directa todos aquellos significados, profundos y espirituales, pero también de un gran orden social, que había comprendido al leerlo y estudiarlo en su idioma original.

    Gracias a Dios pude por fin embarcarme en una traducción del Sagrado Corán pensada para la población hispanoparlante del mundo, pero principalmente para el público latinoamericano. Jun-to con un equipo de colaboradores expertos, he procurado poner al alcance de musulmanes y de no musulmanes, el mensaje del Islam de la forma más cercana posible a la revelación original en idioma árabe, pero utilizando a la vez un lenguaje sencillo y explicaciones claras de los términos, de manera que el contenido del texto resulte fácil de comprender.

    Antecedentes

    Si bien el Islam no es hoy día una de las religiones con mayor número de fieles en América Latina, se está expandiendo rápidamente por todo el continente. Ya existen mezquitas en todas las ca-pitales y ciudades importantes de Hispanoamérica y también está creciendo mucho entre la po-blación latina de Estados Unidos.

    Teniendo en cuenta la mala imagen que proyectan los medios de comunicación del Islam y de los musulmanes, contar con una traducción del Corán al idioma español que transmita de forma di-recta y sencilla el verdadero mensaje del Islam, cada vez se hace más importante y urgente por dos razones:

    Primera, porque los musulmanes que no conocen el idioma árabe necesitan leer los significados del Corán en su idioma para comprender y practicar mejor su religión, y así ser buen ejemplo de lo que es realmente un musulmán.

    Segunda, porque los no musulmanes que desean conocer el Islam necesitan tener una fuente confiable de información, que les permita formarse una opinión basada en lo que enseña real-mente el Corán, y no en estereotipos y concepciones erróneas que han permanecido durante siglos en muchas obras de orientalistas y en algunas de las traducciones del Corán.

    De ahí que el objetivo de esta traducción es presentar a los hispanoparlantes el verdadero men-saje del Corán, tal como ha sido conocido, entendido y practicado por los eruditos del Islam y por los musulmanes devotos durante más de 1.400 años, para ello se basa en un lenguaje claro, sen-cillo, directo y actual, pensando en el público latinoamericano.

    Distribución de copias impresas y versión digital

    El objetivo de esta traducción es su distribución gratuita para que de esta manera llegue al máxi-mo público posible.

    Para conseguir este objetivo se ha distribuido una versión digital en formato PDF, se ha agregado a distintas aplicaciones con múltiples traducciones y en breve saldrá una aplicación propia para lectura y audio.

    También se han hecho múltiples impresiones para su distribución gratuita. La primera de ellas fue de 50.000 copias de tamaño bolsillo para distribuir durante la Copa Mundial de Futbol en Brasil 2014.

    También se imprimieron 100.000 copias en Qatar para distribuir a nivel mundial, y en América La-tina se han hecho pequeñas impresiones en países como Bolivia, Colombia, Guatemala y México. En España ha comenzado un proyecto de distribución para el que ya han impreso 10.000 copias.

    Creo que es necesario que los musulmanes se unan y colaboren en la impresión de esta traduc-ción con el objetivo de acercar el mensaje del Islam a los musulmanes y no musulmanes.

    Sobre el traductor

    Isa García nació en Argentina, es licenciado en Lengua Árabe y en Teología Islámica de la Univer-sidad de Umm Al-Qura de la ciudad de La Meca en Arabia Saudí, especializado en la misma en los “Orígenes de las tradiciones Proféticas”. Cursó estudios en mediación y resolución de conflictos en Estados Unidos. Ha sido director del departamento de español en las editoriales International Islamic Publishing House y Darussalam, y de diferentes páginas web islámicas. Permanentemen-te dicta conferencias en diferentes países de América Latina y Europa, y en Estados Unidos. Ha trabajado como traductor del árabe y del inglés al español durante los últimos 15 años, y es tam-bién autor de obras sobre teología islámica y distintos temas sociales que afectan a la comunidad islámica. Fue nombrado por la revista The Muslim 500 como uno de los musulmanes más influ-yentes del mundo en los años 2013 y 2014.

  • Una Mision de Amor

    Una Mision de Amor

    A medida que inicié mi viaje más importante de Dawah a México, me puse a reflexionar y pensar en mis últimas tres misiones de divulgación. “¿Por qué era este el más importante?”, Me pregunté a mí misma, siendo que estaba viajando con menos equipaje y sola. Sin embargo, la respuesta era que iba para llamar a mi abuelita al Islam, mientras se encontraba en su lecho de muerte, y no sería algo fácil. Ver a mi familia angustiada y sentimental sería difícil, también. Hice este viaje en exclusiva para ella, para mi abuelita. Ella pidió verme y yo tomé esta solicitud como mi última oportunidad para transmitir el mensaje del Islam a ella. Mientras estaba volando sobre el Golfo de México le supliqué al Todopoderoso que abriera su corazón e hiciera que sus últimas palabras sean las mejores palabras, las palabras de Tauhid.

    Ha sido bastante tiempo desde que soy musulmana y he pasado por varias pruebas pero esta era la primera vez que Alá me estaba probando con la muerte. La muerte siempre parece estar tan lejos hasta que lo estás presenciando realmente. Para una conversa, la muerte es aún más aterradora y una de nuestras peores pesadillas. La idea de perder a un familiar me recuerda a nuestro amado Profeta Muhammad, la paz sea con él, cuando intentó llamar a su tío, Abu Talib, al Islam sin éxito.

    Hoy estoy experimentando esto con la posibilidad de perder a mi abuela quien me acogió desde los 3 meses hasta los 5 años. Durante visitas previas, nos habíamos sentado a conversar pero debido a su edad, siempre terminaba la conversación para evitar molestarla. He suplicado muchísimo, pidiéndole a mi Creador que me ayude con las mejores palabras para decirle. Como dije anteriormente, este viaje era diferente porque no llevaba 10, 11, o 12 maletas llenas de donaciones para los musulmanes de México, ni iba con un grupo de voluntarios. En el pasado, visitaba a mi familia por algunos días antes de visitar a las comunidades musulmanas para proporcionarles materiales islámicos, para dar una lectura o para ayudar a restaurar una mezquita. Sin embargo, me sentí más bendecida en poder compartir una conversación privada con este ser tan maravilloso quien me cuidó incondicionalmente.

    Al llegar, rompí en llanto viéndola tan débil, delgada y con oxígeno; como mínimo fue devastador. Una tía me aconsejó que saliera y me lavara la cara porque mi abuelita me necesitaba fuerte y no llorando. Cuando regresé al cuarto me fije en una pintura de la Virgen de Guadalupe, una imagen de María, la madre de Jesús, que es venerada e incluso adorada en México, y claro, me incomodó un poco porque la consideraba un obstáculo para mi misión.

    Mi abuela se despertó y al ver que yo estaba allí, ella sonrió y me pidió que me acercara. La abracé como siempre, apretándola con todas mis fuerzas. Ella gritó y dijo: “¡Tú me vas a romper!” Nos reímos y nos contemplamos la una a la otra. Yo le dije que la amaba y que todo iba a estar bien. Ella preguntó por mi hijo y le dije que estaba bien y en la escuela. Le dije, “Estoy aquí para ti, para cuidarte sin interrupciones, sólo tú y yo”.

    Mi visita fue corta pero pareció larga debido a los momentos agradables que pasamos juntas. Yo tuve la oportunidad de darle de comer, bañarle y durante todo tuvimos varias conversaciones acerca de la unicidad de Dios. Una hermana de la comunidad de la Ciudad de México llamada Nabíla se unió a mí para ofrecer su apoyo, el mejor regalo que Dios me envió, mashaAllah. Con su ayuda, pudimos hablar con ella y el resto de mi familia sobre el Islam. También durante su visita dimos Shahada a una joven local que se encontró con ella en el autobús de camino a verme. Al tercer día de mi visita, mientras la hermana Nabíla y yo salimos, el retrato de la Virgen de Guadalupe había sido retirado de la pared.

    La última noche que pasé al lado de mi abuelita le pregunté si creía en Dios como el Todopoderoso y el único Creador y ella me respondió que sí. Le pregunté: “¿Quién es Jesús?” Ella respondió: “Un mensajero de Dios”. Le pregunté si ella cree que él es el hijo de Dios, a lo que ella respondió que no. Trate de introducir la segunda parte del testimonio de la fe, pero ella se sintió abrumada. Me pidió que dejara las cosas así, ya que nunca había oído hablar del Profeta Muhammad, la paz sea con él. Al regresar a los Estados Unidos le comenté al imam local del incidente y él me informó que debido a su edad avanzada (104 años) y condición, fue suficiente, y Alá sabe mejor.

    Hoy me siento aquí muy agradecida por la oportunidad de completar esta misión y la oportunidad de ver a mi abuela por diferentes motivos. Fue maravilloso pasar tiempo con ella a pesar de que extrañe mucho a mi hijo, ya que nunca había estado lejos de él. Tampoco había visto a toda mi familia tan unida y dispuesta a escuchar lo que tenía que decir. Todos hicieron muchas preguntas y, por primera vez, después de todos estos años, sentí su aceptación y amor. Le pido a Dios que guíe nuestras familias, que nos dé la sabiduría para transmitir el hermoso mensaje del Islam, que los colme con la misma dulzura que hemos sido bendecidos y que nos permita vernos tanto en esta vida como la siguiente. Amen.

  • A Mission of Love

    A Mission of Love

    As I embarked on my most important dawah trip to Mexico, I began to reflect and think of my past three outreach missions. “Why was this the most important?” I asked myself, “I am traveling with the least amount of luggage and alone.” The answer was that I was going in order to call my elderly grandmother to Islam, while she lay on her deathbed, and it would not be easy. Seeing my family in distress and emotional would be hard, as well. I booked this trip exclusively for her, my “Abuelita,” my grandma. She requested to see me, and I took this request as my last opportunity to convey the message of Islam to her. As I was flying over the Gulf a Mexico I prayed for the Almighty to open her heart and make her last words be the best words, words of tawheed.

    It’s been quite some time since I became Muslim and I have been tested in various ways but this was the first time Allah was testing me with death. Death always seems so distant until you are actually experiencing it. As a convert, death is even more frightening, and one of our biggest challenges is losing a family member who does not embrace Islam. I am reminded of our beloved Prophet, peace be upon him, when he called his uncle, Abu Talib, to Islam, but to no avail.

    Today I am experiencing this with the possibility of losing my grandmother who took care of me from the tender age of 3 months until I was almost 5 years old. In previous visits we sat and had several conversations but due to her age I have always dropped the conversation to avoid upsetting her. I have made tons of du’a and asked my Creator to help me with the best words to say to her. Again, this trip was different because I was not carrying 10, 11, or 12 pieces of luggage full of donations for the Muslims in Mexico, nor did I have a group of volunteers. In the past I would come to visit my family a couple of days at a time before visiting Muslim communities to either provide them with Islamic material, give a talk, or help restore/rebuild a masjid. However, I feel more blessed to be able to have a one-on-one conversation with this wonderful woman who unconditionally cared for me.

    Upon my arrival, I broke down so see her so weak, thin and with oxygen; it was devastating to say the least. I was advised by an aunt to step out, wash my face, and come back. She told me that she needed me to be strong and not crying, so I did just that. When I came back to the room I noticed a huge poster of the virgin of Guadalupe, a depiction of Mary, the mother of Jesus, that is revered and even worshipped in Mexico, and of course, I was a bit bothered by it because I saw it as an obstacle to my mission.

    My grandmother woke up and when she saw that I was there, she smiled and asked me to come close. I hugged her as always, so tight and with all my might. She yelled and said, “You are going to break me!” We both laughed and gazed at each other. I told her I love her and that everything was going to be okay. She asked about my son and I told her he was fine and at school. I told her, “I am here for you, to care for you without interruptions, just me and you.”

    My visit was short but seemed long because of the quality time we spent together. I got a chance to feed her, bathe her and throughout all that we had several conversations about the oneness of God. A sister from the Mexico City community named Nabila joined me to offer her support, the best gift Allah sent my way, mashaAllah. With her help, we were able to speak to her and the rest of my family about Islam. Also during her visit we gave Shahada to a local young girl whom she ran into on the bus on her way to see me. By the third day of my stay, while Sister Nabila and I had stepped out, the poster of the virgin of Guadalupe had been removed from the wall.

    The last night I spent by my grandmother’s side I asked her if she believed in God as the Almighty and sole Creator and she said yes. I asked her, “Who is Jesus?” She replied, “A messenger of God.” I asked if she believed he is the son of God, to which she replied no. We tried covering the second part of the testimony of faith but she was overwhelmed. She asked me to leave it at that, since she had never heard of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. Upon returning to the States I asked the local imam about the incident and he informed me that due to her advanced age (104) and condition, it was enough and Allah knows best.

    Today I sit here so grateful for the opportunity to complete this mission and the opportunity to see my grandmother on different grounds. It was wonderful to spend quality time with her even though I missed my son so much, as I had never been apart from him. I had also never seen my entire family so united and willing to hear what I had to say. Everyone asked tons of questions and for once, after all these years, I felt their acceptance and love. I ask Allah to guide our families, to give us the wisdom to convey the beautiful message of Islam, to shower them with the sweetness we have been blessed with, and to allow us to see one another both in this life and the next. Ameen.

  • Combating Domestic Violence as a Muslim Woman

    Combating Domestic Violence as a Muslim Woman

    Violence against women is a matter that should concern us all, yet it seems only a few people are concerned. Throughout the world, one in three women is beaten or suffers some type of abuse in her lifetime. According to data from the World Health Organization, 70 percent of women who are killed, die at the hands of their partner or ex-partner.

    Violence against women is present in all societies in the world regardless of political or economic system, regardless of social status of perpetrator or victim, level of education, ethnicity, financial situation, culture, or religion. This everyday reality is manifested many different ways and it takes place in a number of settings; and my own country, Mexico, is of course no exception. In Mexico, violence against women is a social problem that hides itself within the home. Many female victims of domestic violence live with their enemy in the same house and are exposed to danger day to day.

    I am a psychologist working for an institution that provides psychological support to women who have been victims of family violence. Every day I hear stories of how their husbands beat them, threaten them, are unfaithful to them, insult them, and sadly some women have also died while making an attempt tto escape the violence. This is a hidden reality many choose not to talk about. My work is a positive challenge in my life, alhamdulilah; it is what I love doing. I feel very blessed for having the opportunity to be able to listen to women who put in my hands their hope of coming out of a problem that affects their lives and the lives of their children.

    I am Muslim, Mexican and defend women’s rights. This probably comes as a surprise to many of the women who come into my office; some of them even think it is contradictory. “Are you telling me that it is not?” A woman once asked me, “How can a woman who covers her head out of submission (she said referring to my hijab), tell me how I can escape the violence I am dealing with, when she herself cannot escape her own submission?” I smiled smiled and answered her with confidence. My hijab is my best tool for giving dawah.

    In fact, it was my inconformity and sense of injustice regarding violence against women that brought me closer to Islam. I also had a wrong idea about the situation of Muslim women, which I see now reflected in the faces of many of my patients when they see me for the first time; many express their surprise, and others – even if they don’t say anything – have a look of astonishment or shock on their faces.

    I could say that I do see my old self mirrored in some of them; who I was when I first met Muslim women smiling and happy, when they talked to me about the value of women in Islam, when I read about the rights of women in Islam. I used to ask myself, “Is this possible?” trying to understand. And this is why I do enjoy so much explaining to them why I am a Muslim, with my own words and with my behavior.

    Islam came to complement my life and it has helped better understand the work I do. It helped me understand my own value as a woman. Men mistreat women because of ignorance and failure to properly understand power dynamics. Muslims, men and women, must work together to combat domestic violence.

  • Muslim and Mexican in Turkey

    Muslim and Mexican in Turkey

    How I came to embrace Islam is a painful memory. However, I am grateful to God for everything that I had to endure to be where I am now. My first encounter with Islam was in 2009, when I met a Turkish Muslim online. I began investigating the religion and learned little by little through our friendship.

    The year that changed my life was 2010; it was then that I was diagnosed with lupus erythematosus. The news was difficult to bear. I knew absolutely nothing about this serious disease or its effects. The doctors told me that it is an incurable disease, but subhanAllah, glory be to Allah, for five years I have survived because of the strength of God’s infinite mercy. I consider my illness a blessing because despite the lows and relapses I have had to struggle with since being diagnosed, it has helped me to mature and strengthen my faith.

    I have realized that the life of this world is temporary; I am only here to learn and to serve the Most High, and for every pain, for every relapse, for every loss, I know that God will reward me in Jannah, in Paradise, insha’Allah. Perhaps my health will decline more with each passing day, perhaps I will have to make more sacrifices, perhaps I will lose something or someone; Allah knows best, but as a Muslim what I will never lose is my faith and strength in Allah.

    In 2011, I traveled to Turkey and heard the Adhan, the call to prayer, for the first time in my life, and I also visited a mosque. Since that first trip, I focused more on Islam because there were things about my Muslim friend that drew my attention. He spoke so highly of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and he advised that in order to know more about Islam, I had to learn about the Prophet, read about his life, and love who he was.

    That same year I was blessed with the opportunity of becoming a mother, but because of health issues, at five months gestation, on November 17, 2011, my pregnancy was interrupted. While in the operating room the doctors asked if I was Catholic, to which I responded, “No, my religion is Islam.” From that moment I considered myself a Muslim at heart although I had not officially converted.

    I was devastated because I understood that now I had to face two losses; not only because my baby died, but the man I considered my partner had abandoned me. I fell into a deep depression. I could not wait to get out of that crisis. I lost everything and even after several months I felt the same. One day in February 2012, I decided to log into Facebook to see what had happened during my absence. Coincidentally, a Muslim friend of mine was also logged on and he asked me how I was doing. Since I needed to get everything off my chest and speak with someone who viewed life differently, through another perspective, another culture, another religion, I vented. He was patient enough to read through everything I posted, until I finished.

    His response was, “I will send you something that will help you,” and that is how my first copy of the Qu’ran came to my hands. The first Surah, or chapter, which I read was Al Kauthar, and the verse that opened my eyes was, “Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice,” (108:2). It was after I read those words that I realized why I was going through such painful hardships; I had to sacrifice something that was never meant for me, something that in the end would not make me happy. Allah had already determined my destiny. I began reading more of the Qur’an and exploring Islam until finally, on May 2, 2012, I made the decision to declare my faith in a mosque in Mexico City.

    It has been four years since I entered Islam, Allahu akbar – God is Great. My life did not end with the loss of a partner and a child. On the contrary, I became stronger and found my real love, Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, and my true faith. I understood that in order to obtain happiness, one has to sacrifice and leave everything in God’s Hands.

    I married that Muslim friend who sent me a copy of the Qur’an, and now I live in Turkey. I arrived here in 2013, and moved to a city called Erzurum, where people are religiously devoted, conservative, and kindhearted. They have helped me to increase my faith. I attend Qur’an class five days a week, where I have learned to recite in Arabic and am attempting to memorize the entire Book. Insha’Allah, God willing, I can return to Mexico to share my knowledge.

    I made the decision to memorize the Qur’an because during the time I was living as a Muslim in Mexico, there was a young convert whom I believed to be knowledgeable who would say things that puzzled me. He even tried to teach me things that were contrary to the Sunnah, or Prophetic traditions, and I felt disappointed. That is why I wanted to understand the Arabic and memorize the Qur’an so that no one else could confuse me and also because every Muslim should learn the Holy Qur’an and live in accordance to the Sunnah.

    As a convert I felt even more compelled to seek knowledge. If people who are born and raised Muslims can learn, then I can do the same. Being a convert is no excuse for me, just as not having been raised in an Islamic environment is no justification for not seeking knowledge. From the very moment that I declared my Shahada, it became a commitment for me to change my life. I wanted to practice everything that Islam teaches and to always have the thirst for learning more and more about my faith, Alhamdulillah.

    Life in Turkey has not been easy since I have had to learn and adjust some of my behavior, but above all live a life in accordance with the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Here in Turkey was where I saw a woman covering her face with a veil for the first time, and men with long beards and tasbih beads making constant dhikr (remembrance of God). Men and women are segregated and the government puts a lot of love and effort into the month of Ramadan.

    In Turkey when people discover you are a Muslim from the West, they are filled with surprise and admiration, and at the same time, they offer their love and support. I consider this country the place that opened its doors to me and adopted me, and where I don’t feel excluded or judged because of my religion.

    I remember that in Mexico I used to be pointed out and ridiculed for wearing hijab. I used to be the center of attention and I believed in Turkey things would be different, but they are not. I am still the center of attention, but because I am a Muslim Latina, Alhamdulillah, and that is beautiful.

    Recently, during a family reunion, someone asked me, “Has your life changed after your conversion? Do you like it? How is your life now?” I simply responded, “Of course my life has changed, and for the better, alhamdulillah. Life in Islam is a new life.”

  • From Mexico to Madinah: The Story of Brother Rafael

    From Mexico to Madinah: The Story of Brother Rafael

    My interest in Islam began when I was only 17 years old. I started to read the Qur’an in Spanish from my computer and finished reading it completely, Alhamdulillah. Although I initially read it without any particular aim in mind, from the very beginning I knew that this was not a book like any other book I had read before. I noticed from the very first page that God was being praised and honored in such a unique way, in a manner that I had never experienced. I continued reading and a strange sensation came over me. Without wanting to exaggerate, I felt a lot of peace and tranquility when I sat in front of my computer and read it carefully, verse by verse.

    I have always liked science and I was amazed that many scientific facts, which have only been proven in the last few centuries, appeared in the Qur’an. Things such as the Big Bang theory, the expansion of the universe, the structure of the earth and space, the stages of the embryo in the mother’s womb, and many others were discussed in detail in the Qur’an. It was very surprising to me that they were described in such a clear way, understandable to any person with any level of education. I found that the Qur’an provides details about individual life, family issues, social justice, rules of engagement in battle, and, of course, worship of God. After reading it, I did not waste time in accepting that the Qur’an was a divine revelation and I decided to accept Islam.

    During a holiday in my country, which happened by coincidence to be the night of the 27th of Ramadan, I took my father’s bicycle and rode to the place where the Muslims in my city gathered. Although it was very far from my house and I passed by dangerous neighborhoods to get there, everything turned out perfect. I proclaimed my Shahada (testimony of faith) and everyone treated me well. They gave me a prayer rug and books, which I hid beneath my t-shirt so that my parents would not know, and I arrived back home after midnight. My Catholic family did not know about my conversion to Islam until a few years later. I used to hide the signs that I changed. Nevertheless, they noted a few things about me that were different. I used to withdraw from the family at certain times so that I could pray my five daily prayers, and sometimes I did not eat or drink everything they served.

    After my Shahada, I received many blessings. I noticed that it is certainly Allah that hears our supplications. Everything that I feel discomfort with is eased, and anything that I could need, I receive more than I ask for when I put my trust completely in Allah.

    Alhamdulillah, I had the opportunity to travel to Saudi Arabia and study at the University of Madinah for about a year. I was able to learn to read the Qur’an in Arabic and some of the language itself when I arrived not even knowing a single letter of the Arabic alphabet. Once there, I met excellent people who exhort and invite others to do good deeds and practice Islam in the best way. Apart from the knowledge that I received, which is invaluable, I also received the legacy of the prophets, the motivation to teach others about Islam.

    I also had the chance to see beautiful places. The simple act of visiting a masjid was of such great value to me since in my native city there are none. And, what is better than arriving at the city that gave refuge to our beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and then having the possibility of performing the Hajj? It is something unforgettable that I hope we all have the opportunity to accomplish. I advise you all sincerely to strengthen yourselves, especially those who value too little this Islamic obligation. If you visit Makkah and perform the Hajj, it will change your life!

    Unfortunately, I had to leave the city of Madinah due to family problems. Although it made me sad, a few months later Allah made it possible for me to marry an excellent woman with whom I am very happy and feel proud to share my moments.

    At the present time, Islam in my city, Guadalajara, continues to grow. Although it is growing at a slow pace, it can be said that there are new Muslims every month. We have less than five musallas, congregational prayer areas, but generally the people do not bother us if we pray in public or if we publicly invite others to Islam. There is more curiosity and interest in Islam than any harassment or rude comments. However, it is a sad fact that female converts are more likely to face opposition than the men.

    Insha’ Allah, the situation of the Muslims will get better throughout the world. However, before anything, we should be conscious that any change has to first come from our part by having sound intentions, performing righteous deeds, inviting others towards the good and condemning the evil. For this, there is nothing better than finding the wisdom in the Holy Qur’an, or following the excellent example of our Prophet, peace be upon him.