EDITOR’S DESK March 9th 2012 - March 22nd 2012
Editor-in-Chief: Minhaj Hasan Office Manager: Stephanie Benmoha Layout & Design: Fadlullah Firman Staff Writers: Fatimah Waseem Wafa Unus Rashad Mulla Sharia Advisors: Sheikh Salah as-Sawi Imam Safi Khan The Muslim Link (TML) is published every other week on Fridays and distributed throughout the Washington, Baltimore, and Northern Virginia Metropolitan Areas. TML is a non-profit publication and is based at Dar-us-Salaam in College Park, Maryland, USA. Staff and contributors are not necessarily affiliated with Dar-us-Salaam. The views expressed in The Muslim Link do not necessarily reflect those of Dar-us-Salaam or TML management or their underwriters. Dar-usSalaam and TML are not responsible for the accuracy of information presented by advertisers, or for the religious compliance of events, products, or services published in TML. This publication contains the names of ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta’ala). Please keep, recycle, or share it with others The Muslim Link 5301 Edgewood Road College Park, MD 20740 Phone : (301) 982-1020 Fax: (240) 209-0702 editor@muslimlinkpaper. com Advertising: 301-982-1020 or email us at office@ muslimlinkpaper.com The Muslim Link. All Rights Reserved 2012
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR NOT THE MINARETS, PLEASE
[This letter is in response to the Muslim Link’s front page article from the Frebruary 24, 2012 issue, “Masjid Architects Say Design Should Reflect American Culture”] A few years ago during a visit to India, I found myself searching for a Masjid. As I drove through the city, it took me about ten minutes to locate a Masjid – May those who built that tall Minaret rest in paradise. Domes and Minarets were originally invented for certain reasons such as amplifying sound. However, over the last fourteen hundred years, the Minaret became the emblem of Islam – a symbol of unity among Muslims whether in China, Russia or Africa. It shouldn’t surprise us if such a daring symbol that represents oneness of a people with different backgrounds might result in dislike among those who are not tolerant of Islam. In order to lessen the emotional pain of having to give up what we hold dear in return for being accepted by the majority, it is tempting to reduce a Minaret to basic functional needs that can be met otherwise. We know our cultural baggage has not been very helpful in strengthening our faith, perhaps if we threw the Minaret into that bag, it might be easier to get rid of and succumb to pressure? But there is a problem. There is no such thing as a Pakistani, Arabic or Chinese Minarets. As a minority group living in the US, it’s clear that we are taking the brunt of the anger against Islam expressed in different ways. However, we can’t respond with appeasement and justify it as “Dawah” or submit to assimilation and give up our faith. The unprecedented nature of this endless and senseless demagoguery against Islam is expected to take a toll on
us. It is easier to react to all this negative impressions toward Islam by directing the blame at ourselves rather than standing up to the bullies. If we are taking the low road, we might as well start with the Hijab – that’s another symbol people don’t like. Some “muslims” before us already took care of the “Niqab” and placed it into the casket labeling it as merely “cultural” under the cloak of integration. We can start with the Hijab, the Minaret, The Beard (or what’s left of it) and recreate a way of life that is more appeasing to the majority. Put a little American “Cultural” touch and you get yourself a Mosque that Rocks.
Or we can dare to be like the Tatar Muslim who persevered the tortures of communism and fascism for hundreds of years while living in the heart of Russia yet did not compromise. When they celebrated the one thousandth year of Muslim existence in today Russia, they could only express such a deeply felt innermost joy with an outermost beautiful Minaret. One that cries in the depths of the skies the perseverance that helped it overcome Fascism, Communism and Islamophobia. We must do the same. Let’s build a Masjid so that one day, long after we are gone, a Muslim visiting Washington DC from another corner of the world sees our Minaret from a far distance, makes it to our Masjid and after having performed his prayer, proclaims “May those who built that tall Minaret rest in paradise”! By Rustam Bake from Maryland. --------------------------------------------------
Citizenship interview after 7 years! Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah. After 7 years and a lot of follow-ups, finally on the 29th February, 2012, I was called for
my citizenship interview. After the interview I had to give fingerprints for the third time! The interview went for over two hours, mostly focused about my religious practices and [questions exploring] whether I had any affiliation with any terrorist organizations; supported, assisted or donated any money to them, or any of the people I ever knew were indicted in terrorism. Also, I was asked: what kind of work did I do? So, when I told that my husband was a translator, who translated books from Arabic to English and I edited his translations, the focus was once again on the type of material we worked on; whether it was of extremist religious views etc! By the way, my husband is a reverted Caucasian American Muslim, and we are married for the last 30 years with seven grown up American children. It will not be out of place to mention that before my interview, I happened to come across two women who had finished their interviews and were waiting for oathtaking. On my questioning – a natural concern --the women assured me that their interview was very easy and quick, and right away they were asked to decide if they wanted to take the oath the same day. I guess I was the only one who was sent home without a clear answer, to wait for more time. It will not be as long as 7 years the interviewing officer promised me. In either case (grant or denial) I will be informed within a couple of months. Looking at my case process and the length of the interview time, the question arises: why was I given different treatment than those who were either non-Muslims or secular Muslims? Is it because I am a practicing Muslim , or because I cover letters Pg 30
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