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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: whyislam

  • 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.

  • Peace & Piety

    Peace & Piety

    My name is Nylka Vargas, and I live in New Jersey. My parents are from Peru and Ecuador. I converted to Islam when I was 20 years old. There are multiple reasons why I converted, the first of which was the salat (prayer). I saw some classmates at school perform the salat in public and I was immediately drawn to its peaceful and disciplined nature.

    When I was young, I was hesitant about following certain practices of Christianity, in particular, the belief in salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ. It just did not make sense to me. Once I learned about Islam, I felt a deep curiosity and asked many, many questions. My prayers to God to guide me in filling the spiritual void I felt were being answered. After reading some introductory material and various passages of the Quran, I was convinced. In just a few months time, I declared my testimony of faith.

    My family slowly accepted my conversion. They came to understood that the decision was mine to make and that the change was a positive one. It is so important to be a good example — true representatives of Islam in our speech, attitudes, and behavior. Alhamdullilah (all praise is to God) for the guidance. I can never be a servant thankful enough for the gift of hidaya (guidance) that lighted my path right when I needed it.

    In my journey since, I have found many supportive Muslims and met others with similar stories. At the North Hudson Islamic Educational Center (NHIEC) in Union City I found a proactive community of Muslims. The open-door policy and programs there facilitated my learning about Islam. I then used my own experience in learning and growing as a Muslim to give back by way of helping others. I met Sister Khadijah Rivera, may Allah shower upon her His Mercy and fill her grave with noor (light), who invited me to join P.I.E.D.A.D (Propagación Islámica para la Educación de Devoción a Alá el Divino), a women’s dawah (outreach) organization. Sr. Khadijah, a great community activist, passed away in 2009 during the blessed days of the month of Dhul Hijjah.

    However, Piedad lives on. Sr. Khadijah was a co-founder of this organization that started in the late 1980s as a vehicle to give dawah to Latino Muslims. Later it would expand to include other services. A little while before she passed away, we talked a lot about the direction of Piedad and I am glad to share this story, as it is an honor to continue the legacy of this wonderful organization that was built with little resources more than sincerity. The acronym of the organization, P.I.E.D.A.D., spells out the Spanish word “piedad” which means piety. It reminds us always to strive for piety, God-consciousness, and sincerity in performing charitable acts.

    Alhamdullilah, this year was marked by a number of exciting projects: Informational Dawah Tables, Hijab (headcovering) Workshop, Co-Sponsorship of Ladies Spa Day, Purple Hijab Day, Local Eid Toy Drive with Baitul Salaam Network, our new Stay-fit and Healthy Initiative, the NJ Walk/Jog Chapter of Nadoona, and continued Latino Muslim collaboration with the Latino American Dawah Organization (LADO) (www.latinodawah.com).

    We’ve also helped many newly converted sisters with the very basics of Islam such as learning how to properly pray. Insha’Allah (God willing), we plan to develop our women’s network, the Latino dawah focused projects, and be at the forefront of community services —all with a heartfelt vision of success for our Muslim ummah (community). May Allah accept our efforts. Ameen.

  • 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: 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.

  • Spanish: Allah Rescata a un Boricua con el Islam

    Bismillahi Rahmanir Raheem. En el nombre de Allah el Clemente el Misericordioso. Que la paz de Allah este con Su último mensajero, el sello de los profetas, Muhammad. Y que la paz de Allah este con todos los que sigan sus pasos hasta el Dia del Juicio.

    Mi familia querida

    Fui bendecido con padres de origen puertorriqueño. Soy el menor de tres hijos que nacimos en Nueva York, y nos criamos entre Puerto Rico y Nueva Jersey.

    Mi familia fue bendecida con mi madre, quien antes de casarse con mi querido padre, era una monja. Mi madre les enseñaba a más de 50 niñas en el convento en Nueva York. Estudió sicología en la Universidad de Fordham. Mi madre tenía preguntas sin respuestas y eso la llevó a dejar el convento y luego se casó con mi padre. Mi madre nos enseño a siempre suplicarle a Dios por nuestra comida, al despertar, y antes de dormir. En Puerto Rico estableció el catecismo en nuestro hogar para los niños del barrio. Mi padre era un gran trabajador; nos llevaba a trabajar para aprender como sobrevivir. Desde pequeño aprendi a hacer pizza, huevos revueltos, y sandwiches. Mi padre jugaba con nosotros videojuegos y deportes en sus días libres. Mis hermanos mayores siempre jugaban comigo, me llevaban al cine, y siempre nos divertíamos juntos.

    El Islam y el baloncesto

    Desde pequeño era un fanático de Michael Jordan y los Chicago Bulls. Los Bulls ganaron 3 campeonatos y luego Jordan se retiró. Me quede como un niño sin estrella. Me puse a buscar y elegí como jugador favorito a Chris Jackson de los Denver Nuggets, que luego acepto el Islam y se cambió el nombre a Mahmoud Abdul Rauf. En ese tiempo no se tenía mucho acceso a ver juegos de otros equipos, a menos que esos equipos jugaran con el equipo local. La manera que me mantenía al día era coleccionando tarjetas. Una vez estuve leyendo las tarjetas de Mahmoud Abdul Rauf y encontré información acerca del Islam, como el significado de su nombre y sobre la peregrinación hacia la Meca.

    Como no tenía acceso de ver muchos juegos de Denver tuve que escoger uno de dos equipos locales que eran los Knicks de Nueva York o los Nets de Nueva Jersey. Elegí a los Knicks porque nací en Nueva York y como jugador favorito elegí a John Starks. Ese año los NY Knicks llegaron a las finales contra los Houston Rockets. Los Houston Rockets tenían a la leyenda, Hakeem Olajuwon, quien estaba ayunando durante los juegos para el campeonato. Muchos de los Knicks le hablaban basura y él pacientemente respondía con su juego.

    Los Rockets tenían la oportunidad de ganar juego con un lanzamiento por Starks, pero fue bloqueado por Hakeem y Houston ganó el campeonato de la NBA. Este fue mi primer contacto con el Islam, pero durante ese tiempo no estaba interesado en la religión.

    Las dificultades de un joven

    Mientras estaba en la escuela Secundaria de Union Hill, localizada en Union City Nueva Jersey, comencé a fumar cigarros porque todos mis amigos lo hacían. Después de la escuela íbamos a jugar baloncesto y algunas veces las personas que esperaban su turno para jugar tomaban cervezas o fumaban marihuana. A consecuencia, de joven me la pasaba jugando baloncesto, cantando reggaeton en las discotecas, tomando alcohol y “jangeando” con las amistades. Tuve algunas malas experiencias como la pérdida de un amigo que se ahogo mientras dormía intoxicado con alcohol a la edad de 18 años. También me envolví con una pandilla, en la que conocí a mi gran amigo, Carlos Hernández de Colombia, quien vivió unas semanas en mi casa. A Carlos le gustaba leer mucho y un día fue conmigo a la biblioteca pública y por él me robe una copia del Corán. Los miembros de la misma pandilla de la que yo era parte mataron a dos de mis amigos con quienes yo estuve el día anterior. Esa tragedia me afectó mucho. Día tras día pensaba en tres cosas: La muerte, la enfermedad, y la seguridad de mi familia. En esos momentos perdí la confianza de todo ser humano con excepción de mis padres, pero ellos no tenían le experiencia para ayudarme en mi caso. Decidí buscar de Dios. Fui a seis diferentes iglesias para buscar la Biblia de cada iglesia.

    Mi jornada espiritual

    Mi Jornada comenzó en el año 1998 cuando me sentía sin dirección, sin tener la habilidad de confiar en otro ser humano. Visité las iglesias del pueblo y adquirí 6 biblias. Mientras leía y comparaba entre ellas, me acorde del Corán que mi amigo, Carlos, dejó en mi hogar. Lo busqué y comencé a leer diariamente las 6 biblias y el Corán. Interesantemente, me enteré de la acusación contra la Biblia del Rey James de parte de la Nueva Revisada, que dice en la introducción: La Biblia Rey James tiene graves errores. Me puse a pensar, ¿cómo una Biblia Sagrada va a criticar a otra Biblia Sagrada? Pensé que eso es obra del ser humano no de Dios.
    Luego leí en la Introducción del Corán, traducido por Abdullah Yusuf Ali, que “este Corán es una confirmación del mensaje de Moisés, Jesús, Muhammad, y todos los profetas de Dios. También dice que el Corán permanece en árabe, en su forma original sin haber sido cambiado milagrosamente por más de 1400 años y millones de personas se lo han memorizado. Esto me impresionó.

    Mi lectura del Corán

    Continué la búsqueda y me apegue a la lectura del Corán. Quise aplicar toda orden que leía. Leí un versículo que decía:
    Establece el salat desde que el sol comienza a declinar hasta la llegada de la oscuridad de la noche, así como la recitación del alba. Es cierto que la recitación del alba queda atestiguada. {Sagrado Corán 17:78} Tras leer ese versículo, me levantaba a medianoche en secreto, entre yo y Allah, a leer el Corán mientras mi familia dormía. Sentí una fuerza interior cada vez que hacia un acto para complacer a Allah.

    Luego leí un versículo relacionado con el hablar bien:
    ¡Vosotros que creéis! Temed a Allah y hablad acertadamente. Él hará buenas vuestras acciones y os perdonará las faltas. Y quien obedece a Allah y a Su mensajero ha triunfado con gran éxito. {Sagrado Corán 33:70-71} Enseguida después de leer ese versículo comencé a poner mucho esfuerzo pare controlar mi manera de hablar. Y solamente esforzándome para hablar bien o mantenerme en silencio.

    Me mantuve leyendo el Corán por nueve meses consecutivos y a través de la lectura y la aplicación me di cuenta que gradualmente iba curándome del vicio de fumar cigarrillos y tomar alcohol. Esa fuerza interna me hizo confiar más y más en el Sagrado Corán. Finalmente después de 9 meses de lectura del Corán tome la decisión el 24 de septiembre de 1999 para aceptar el Islam. Acepte el Islam en el NHIEC: Centro de Educación Islámico del Norte de Hudson en Union City con el Sheij Mohammed Al Hayek, quien regularmente ofrecía clases en ingles para nuevos musulmanes. Dos años después, mi querida madre y mi querido padre también aceptaron el Islam. Alabado sea Allah.

    Esfuerzos en divulgar el Islam

    En el año 2002 establecí una clase en español en NHIEC titulada “Entendiendo el Islam”. Luego, en una reunion del Comité de Dawah, el Imam Al Hayek me preguntó si tenía una idea para un evento dirigido a la comunidad latina. Yo sugerí El Día de los Latinos Musulmanes. Através del maravilloso esfuerzo del Comité de Dawah se llevó acabo el primer evento en el 2002. Continúe mis esfuerzos haciendo las clases semanales desde el 2002 hasta el 2004.

    Mi paso hacia estudiar el árabe y los estudios islámicos

    En el 2004 recibí la maravillosa noticia que se me ofrecía una beca para estudiar en Egipto; el idioma árabe en el Instituto Eqraa y estudios islámicos en la Universidad de Al Azhar. Estudie en Egipto desde el 2004 hasta el 2007, completando 5 años de materia en 3 años en Al Azhar. Alabado sea Allah. Conocí maravillosos hermanos y hermanas latinos en Egipto, quienes ayudaron a ubicarme. Entre ellos: Abdul Rahman Khairo de Colombia, Sheikh Uzman de Argentina, Dr. Juan Yahya Suquillo visitaba y siempre nos daba buenos consejos, y también conocí a nuestro querido hermano Mujahid Fletcher, el fundador de IslamInSpanish. Pasamos noches hablando de cómo poder servir a nuestra comunidad Latino/Hispana.

    IslamInSpanish: Mi nueva familia

    En el año 2010 traslade a mi familia de Nueva Jersey hacia la maravillosa ciudad de Houston, con el propósito de trabajar en Iman Academy, una escuela Islámica como maestro y trabajar con IslamInSpanish. Me junte a IslamInSpanish por su extraordinaria misión de producir multimedia educando a los latinos sobre el Islam.

    Ha sido una maravillosa experiencia poder trabajar con IslamInSpanish en el servicio de nuestra comunidad latina, grabando los programas de IslamInSpanish en el Studio de Andalucía Center con “La Voz de IslamInSpanish”, el narrador oficial Abu Mujahid Fletcher. IslamInSpanish tiene mucho que ofrecerle a la comunidad latina. ¡Alabado sea Allah!
    Materia de Educación Islámica en www.islaminspanish.org

    La comunicación con la comunidad latina por medio de Facebook en la página: facebook.com/IslamEnSpanish
    Material disponible para la venta en: http://www.dar-us-salam.com/
    Presentaciones nacionales e internacionales: Contáctelos via: info@islaminspanish.org. http://www.facebook.com/IslamEnSpanish

    Elegido Imam para la comunidad de Beaumont Texas

    A finales del año 2011 recibi una oferta para ser un Imam en Beaumont, Texas. Honestamente, mi primera respuesta fue no, estaba super contento viviendo en Houston, y con mis trabajos en Iman Academy y en IslamInSpanish. Claro que estaba extremamente ocupado y no tenía mucho tiempo para mi familia. Mi maravillosa esposa me dijo: Vamos a dondequiera que vayamos. Hice la oración Istikhara (La Consulta con Dios), analicé la oferta y me dije a mi mismo, “Con esta oferta podría balancear mi vida y manejar mi tiempo mas adecuadamente. Podría hacer dawah, continuar mis estudios del Islam, pasar tiempo con mi familia colectivamente e individualmente y ser un ejemplo musulmán. Después de la oración Istikhara consulte con Isa Parada, Abdullah Oduro, Mujahid Fletcher, Abu Mujahid Fletcher, mi madre, y tome la decisión de aceptar la oferta como Imam de la Sociedad Islámica de Triplex. En el mes de enero del 2012, fundamos la escuela Al Hidaya, una escuela suplementaria que se lleva acabo los fines de semana.

    La Mision de Al Hidaya es: “Desarollar en los jóvenes un amor por Allah como su Dios, un amor por el Islam como su modo de vivir, un amor por Muhammad (Que la paz sea con él) como el sello de los Profetas, y un amor por el Corán como la guía para la humanidad.” En Al Hidaya, los estudiantes aprenden el árabe, estudios islámicos, la lectura del Corán, baloncesto y artes marciales. Al Hidaya constituye de maravillosos estudiantes, maestros, y voluntarios.

    Otros programas de IST (Islamic Society of Triplex):
    (1) KnewU: Clases para nuevos musulmanes en ingles. Programa fundado por Abdullah Oduro.

    (2) La Explicación del Corán

    (3) Visitas a la prisión

    (4) Programa para jóvenes

    (5) El Dialogo Religioso

    (6) Noches de Película

  • Spanish: El Sumurai Latino

    Al pensar en artes marciales, mucha gente inmediatamente se imaginan a Bruce Lee o a Chuck Norris, y al pensar en un musulmán, lo que se les viene a la mente es alguien árabe. ¿Pero qué tal un musulmán latino que también es artista marcial? Algo como un samurái latino que solo se inclina hacia Alá? – Ese soy yo.

    Mis padres emigraron desde Ecuador a los Estados Unidos a final de los años setenta. En 1980 nací yo y después de ocho años me encontré en un uniforme negro y un cinturón, pateando y pegando sobre una estera verde en Unión City, Nueva Jersey. Comencé a practicar Kung Fu de Garra de Tigre durante mi niñez y adolescencia, continuando hasta mi primer año de la universidad. Las artes marciales fueron una mayor y crucial parte de mi vida porque me ayudaban a mantenerme disciplinado y enfocado. No me la pasaba andando por las calles como otros muchachos, no me uní a una pandilla, ni me metí en problemas porque estaba muy ocupado entrenando y manteniendo una vida saludable.

    Cuando entre a la universidad en 1998, decidí dejar mi entrenamiento para enfocarme en mi educación. Durante mis años de estudio, conocí el Islam y lo abrace como mi estilo de vida. A según fui conociendo más y más del Islam; sobre cómo adorar a Alá únicamente y las costumbres del Mensajero de Alá, Muhammad (que la paz este con él), me di cuenta que muchas de las cosas que practicaba durante Kung Fu no eran aceptables islámicamente, como la reverencia, haciendo ejercicios al escuchar música, entremezclarse con el sexo opuesto, etc. Sin embargo, había otros aspectos que coincidieron con el Islam como el honor, responsabilidad, la misericordia y amor para los demás, disciplina, dedicación, perseverancia, lealtad junto con otras cualidades.

    No encontraba una solución al conflicto entre los beneficios del entrenamiento y los aspectos que no estaban de acuerdo con el Islam. Pasemos hasta el 2009; después de haberme casado y tenido dos hijos, me mude a College Park, Maryland. Durante ese tiempo me encontraba descontento con mi condición de salud. Mido 5’4 de altura y pesaba más de 200 libras, de acuerdo con la mayoría de doctores era obeso. Recuerdo que pensé que la única manera que podría cambiar era si comenzaba a entrenar nuevamente en artes marciales. Empecé un trabajo nuevo en la oficina administrativa de la mezquita local. Uno de mis compañeros estaba entrenando en el programa de karate que la mezquita ofrecía. Estaba tan feliz que finalmente encontré la oportunidad que esperaba.

    Fui mi primer día e inmediatamente me inscribí. Me dedique de la misma manera que lo había hecho durante mi adolescencia. Perdí 50 libras y recibí mi Cinturón Negro poco más de un año después; todo en un ambiente islámico, entrenando con otros hermanos musulmanes, y adorando Alá mientras tanto. Lo que encontré en College Park era un programa único. Es algo en que todas las comunidades deben establecer e invertir para promover la disciplina, liderazgo, buena salud y el ejercicio.

    Hoy soy uno de los instructores principales de Aqabah Karate en Dar-us-salaam/Al Huda School, enseñando clases de Tang Soo Do Coreano y Jiu Jitsu Brasileño. Dirigimos un programa solido con seis Cinturones Negros y doce candidatos al Cinturón Negro. Tenemos clases para hombres, mujeres, y niños desde los 5 años de edad. Les da a los miembros de nuestra comunidad una oportunidad para hacer ejercicios y sentires bien mientras aprenden técnicas de defensa propia prácticas.

    ¿Por qué es importante que todos los musulmanes aprendan artes marciales?

    Para muchos, incluyéndome a mí, Aqabah Karate es más que un programa extracurricular o un pasatiempo; es un complemento al estilo de vida que llevan como musulmanes. El Profeta (que la paz este con é) dijo en un hadiz autentico narrado por Abu Huraira, “El creyente fuerte es mejor y más amado por Alá que el creyente débil, pero hay bien en ambos.” (Reportado en Sajih Muslim)

    Muchos de los eruditos han dicho que este hadiz es relacionado no solo a la fe (el iman), sino también a la fuerza física y que es una manera de aumentar el iman. El bienestar físico ayuda al individuo a practicar más actos de adoración. El que hace ejercicios, se estira, y come bien tendrá más energía comparado al que no. Esta energía contribuye a la habilidad de pararse a rezar por un tiempo prolongado, a despertarse a tiempo para fayr o tajayud, o para hacer actos de caridad y otras buenas obras, etc.
    Además, las artes marciales tienen tanto beneficio para el que se propone embarcar en su trayecto, tal como aumentar la confianza, coordinación, habilidades de liderazgo, agilidad, flexibilidad, y, por supuesto, el conocimiento práctico de la defensa propia. A través de las artes marciales, el estudiante aprende a ser humilde, respetuoso, honorable, y también le ayuda a mantener el control, la integridad en sus acciones, y le provee las herramientas necesarias para superar todos los obstáculos, insha’Alá.

    Demasiados jóvenes hoy en día están involucrados en actividades sedentarias como los videojuegos y la televisión. Hay un gran aumento en la obesidad y las enfermedades asociadas que afectan al corazón y al sistema digestivo. Esto es sorprendente, especialmente sabiendo que el Mensajero de Alá dijo en un hadiz auténtico,

    ““El hijo de Adán nunca va a llenar un recipiente con algo peor y malo que su estómago. Es lo suficiente algunos pedazos (de alimentos) que lo mantengan en pie, de lo contrario, se debe dividir el estómago en tres partes: Un tercio para su comida, el otro para la bebida y la otra tercera parte para su aliento “(Ibn Hibban)

    Hay una necesidad para programas como Aqabah Karate en nuestras comunidades para ayudar a parar esta epidemia de obesidad. Los musulmanes a lo largo de la historia han tenido una reputación de ser disciplinados, fuertes, y valientes. Podemos ver y conocer de esto por las historias de los compañeros del Profeta (que la paz este con él) como Omar bin el Khatab, Khalid bin el Walid, Osama bin Zaid, Abdulá bin az Zubair, y muchos más.

    Cuando leemos sobre sus vidas, aprendemos que ellos fueron verdaderamente, maestros de las artes marciales. Quizás no tenían Cinturones Negros en Karate o Kung Fu, pero vivían por los códigos de conducta íntegros de las artes marciales que incluyen la lealtad, obediencia, respeto, amor y misericordia, honor, valentía, inteligencia, y espíritu indomable. Estas son las normas de comportamiento que se han establecido en Aqabah Karate y se les enseña a sus estudiantes.

    La práctica de las artes marciales es una disciplina esencial que puede traer grandes beneficios a los musulmanes en esta etapa de pereza y obesidad. Actividades de fuerza y acondicionamiento ayudan a aumentar la resistencia y la salud cardiovascular; la lucha, el entrenamiento de golpes y defensa propia ayudan a aumentar la confianza; y en general, las clases inculcan un sentido de liderazgo, disciplina, y honor que son cualidades excelentes tanto para los hombres que para las mujeres y niños. Los centros islámicos y mezquitas pueden servir sus comunidades a través del establecimiento de este tipo de programas. Es una manera para todos poder ser mejor que los creyentes débiles y ganar el amor de Alá. ¿Por qué no comenzar hoy?