Muslim 9/11 Reflections: Islam In America 10 Years Later

"A Bright Future For American Muslims" by Imam Mohamed Magid

I believe in an America that will overcome these difficult times in the next 10 years and help create a better future for people of all faiths (or people of no faith), be they Christian, Jewish or Muslim. Continue reading ...

"9/11 A Decade Later: The Ironic Impact of Islamophobia" by Sherman Jackson

Ironically, all of this has begun a slow but steady and long overdue process of shifting the Muslim understanding of America and thus of themselves as Muslim-Americans. Continue reading ...

"Islam Was Not Hijacked on 9/11" by Dalia Mogahed

From the very first instant, Muslim American first responders tapped into their spiritual tradition for the courage to risk death so that others may live. Others sought comfort in its values as they grieved for their lost loved ones. Continue reading ...

"The Complexity Of Muslim Identity, 10 Years After 9/11" by Asma Uddin

Muslim Americans feel a sense of urgency to take control of their narrative. My personal attempt at translating this urgency into action is reflected through my work to explore the inherent complexity of gender-and-Islam. Continue reading ...

"Victims Or Villains: Moving Beyond Post-9/11 Narratives" by Rami Nashashibi

My hope is that our efforts are successful in forging a new narrative of American Muslims as transformative, committed and, yes, complicated agents of change, hope and stability. Continue reading ...

"The Quranic Solution to the 9/11 Abomination" by Irshad Manji

Sept. 11 was a twisted way to introduce Islam to most of America. On reflection, though, it might have taken nothing less than a cataclysm for Americans to think about my religion at all. Continue reading ...

"Muslims in America at the 10th Anniversary of 9/11" by Parvez Ahmed

The incessant headlines about violence in the name of Islam have led nearly one in two Americans to erroneously conclude that the faith of Islam is more likely than other religions to encourage violence. Continue reading ...

"5 Myths About American Muslims 10 Years After 9/11" by Engy Abdelkader

While 9/11 thrust the American Muslim community into the center of public attention nearly a decade ago, misinformation regarding this group persists against an alarming back-drop of rising Islamophobia. Continue reading ...

"Muslims Rising Above the Ashes of Misunderstanding" by Kari Ansari

To make this climb, we know our focus must stay on our youth. There are thousands of young, dynamic American Muslims already creating change in our nation's high schools, colleges and workplaces. Continue reading ...

"A Muslim American Declaration" by Wajahat Ali, signed by Hussein Rashid, Reza Aslan, Zeba Iqbal and many other Muslim leaders.

Regardless of whether we were born in this nation or have recently adopted it as our home, we are committed to working with our fellow Americans to create a more perfect union. Continue reading ...

"Prophet Joseph and 9/11" by Imam Abdullah Antepli

As we reflect on 9/11, can we feel the intense pride and gratitude that Joseph felt when he faced his aggressors? Can we tell these evil forces: You wanted to divide us but we are more united than ever. Continue reading ...

"One Muslim's 9/11" by Melody Moezzi

On this mournful anniversary, I pray to one day spend an uneventful year in New York -- without the disaster, without the stench, without the hate. Continue reading ...

Comments

[Joan E Freyer]

08:02 PM on 09/14/2011

google 'Islamic slavery' and you will find many sites that document the millions of souls enslaved by Muslims over the centuries. the Muslims enslaved more millions than the West. Some Muslim states were still allowng slavery in the 1960s. Some clerics even today justify slavery as lawful in Islam and even advocate the enslaving of the kafirs today. And unlike the West, no major Islamic organization has apologized for Islamic slavery.

JEF

[Bazera68]

07:16 PM on 09/15/2011

Your sense of religious and historical facts is twisted.

[Joan E Freyer]

07:54 PM on 09/15/2011

Read Wikipedia Arab Slave Trade and Slavery in Islam, or read such sites as Slavery in Islam, Islamic Slavery, Islam and Slavery, the Scourge of Slavery, or the Role of Islam in African Slavery. Apparently the majority of sites including the BBC 'Slavery in Islam' say I am right. The facts are the facts unpleasant as that may be

JEF

[pomonaaj]

05:54 PM on 09/12/2011

It is funny that just cause this catastrophe was caused by man we are going to war against man. The death toll of 9/11 was aprox 2,800. The death toll fo hurrican Katrina was around 2,000 with bodies still turning up. My point is that while man fights over ideolgy, religion and land that nobody really owns mother nature can wipe us out whenever she feels like it. We will never see it coming because we are too busy fighting eachother.

[massie]

12:24 PM on 09/12/2011

Since 9/11 imagine if what happened in America was done by christian organization in a Muslim country what will be repercussion to other faiths in the Islamic states.

[mamahappy]

02:01 AM on 09/12/2011

Can't we all just get along? All organized religion is nutty to me, but who cares. We all have the right to believe what we want. Violence is wrong no matter who is doing it. There's bad apples in every bunch.

[-PZ-]

06:38 PM on 09/10/2011

Almost 40% of the slaves brought to the US were muslim...

A good talk about muslims in American history...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCbLcVTex1c

[HaleemK]

12:15 PM on 09/12/2011

Interesting subject

Islamic views on slavery
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_views_on_slavery

Islam institutionalized slavery.
Muhammad began to take slaves after he moved to Medina, and had power. Slaves were usually taken in raids on nearby Arab tribes, or war, either through offensive or defensive actions. Islam allows the taking of slaves as "booty", or reward for fighting. This has led to numerous "jihads" by Muslim states and tribes to attack other non-Muslim groups and obtain slaves. Islamic jurisprudence laid down regulations for the proper treatment of slaves. However, abuses have occurred throughout history.

[-PZ-]

03:38 AM on 09/13/2011

You're copying text verbatum from that hate site answering-islam.org

:)

Actually, I am named after a black slave. Bilal

Please see this topic for specific details on how the prophet treated slaves...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad%27s_views_on_slavery

He and his family are supposed to have freed 39,237 slaves...

"Muhammad encouraged manumission of slaves, even if one had to purchase them first. Traditional biographies of Muhammad give many examples where Muhammad's companions, at his direction, freed slaves in abundance."

Please read up on the Mamluks (Slave kings) in Egypt and India...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamluk

Then we have the Jannisaries of turkey

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janissary

The concept of slavery is discouraged in Islam... Historically there were very strict laws for keeping a slave. A slave could take his master to court if he is not treated well. A slave must wear similar status clothes as the master and eat at his master's table (Same food)

In many cases slaves married into the master's family. Your own link provides quite a lot of content which portrays Islam's views positively...

[HaleemK]

12:46 PM on 09/10/2011

People in the west are so naive, they think everybody want the same freedom.

What does islam ultimately wants

Muslim Scholar Saying after 10 years Europe will be Under Islamic Sharia (Law)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDd-RFaHNmc&feature=fvsr

Muslim Scholar Says Islam Will Conquer Europe and World
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYDfACr-y4s

Islam: Muslims will Conquer and Rule Europe! - Shaykh Yusuf Al Qaradawi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AqvJ_O8Ii8&feature=related

[-PZ-]

03:38 PM on 09/10/2011

In the first video, the guy says absolutely nothing about implementing sharia law...

He is talking about the growing population of muslims in europe; that is about it... The title is misleading...

In the second video; how does the talk of a single old man make a difference??? There is no organized church in Islam. This is just one man talking... You can link a video by OBL and say that every muslim is saying the same...

The third video is talking about conversions and growth of muslim population in europe. Did you know that no muslim army sailed to Malaysia and Indonesia (The most populous muslim nation on earth).

Why are you so afraid of people making up their own minds about their own religion?

[HaleemK]

12:24 PM on 09/12/2011

I am doubting your reading / comprehension / Arabic / focus capabilities.

"In the first video, the guy says absolutely nothing about implementi­ng sharia law."
- It about taking over... If Indians and Persians in the gulf countries speak out on Youtube and say they wanted to take over Kuwait and Saudi Arabia what do you think would happen. H@ll Saddam tried.

"In the second video; how does the talk of a single old man make a difference­?"
- That OLD man lol is Shiek Ali Al Faqir a former Jordanian minister of religious endowment.

"The third video is talking about conversion­s and growth of muslim population in europe. "
- Al Qaradawi talks about taking over Europe to Islam peacefully. That makes sense to you I presume.

[Doug Sandlin]

04:28 PM on 09/10/2011

Why do you think these kinds of views are representative?

Personally, I see a lot more expression of mutual respect, creation of interfaith projects, promotion of peace, recognition of each other as equals and allies, etc., between Muslims and non-Muslims, especially in the United States.

Examples:

ISNA (Islamic Society of North America) Conference, featuring talks by Pastor Rick Warren and Rabbi Marc Schneier
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyxGcdRLgOw

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf - "Lose Your Ego, Find Your Compassion"
http://charterforcompassion.org/learn/talks/imam-faisal-abdul-rauf

Sheikh Hamza Yusuf - Receives (Tikkun) Jewish Award
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0IMzz7p6Mk

Georgetown Professor John Esposito & Oxford Professor Tariq Ramadan
Muslims Today: A Radical Reform
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOFBz1d6O8k

Sheikh Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri
Speaking Against Radicalism in Islam
United States Institute For Peace (96 Mins.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2wHvCXYhx4

[HaleemK]

12:33 PM on 09/12/2011

I am giving you the views from the area where Islam was born and 20% of all muslims live. You give links to Sufis and foreign converts who represent what some 2% of Islam.

Qaradawi
" is considered one of the most influential such scholars living today."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yusuf_al-Qaradawi

Shiek Ali Al Faqir
A former Jordanian minister of religious endowment.

Amr Khaled
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amr_Khaled
is an Egyptian Muslim activist and television preacher. The New York Times Magazine, in reference to Khaled's popularity in Arab countries, described him in its April 30, 2006 issue as "the world's most famous and influential Muslim television preacher."

[CarmanK]

10:56 AM on 09/10/2011

The muslims in the Middle East are nearly 60% illiterate and because of that state of ignorance, the tribal leaders exercise power over the conduct and beliefs of the people. The fanatics in the Middle East can poison the minds of the illiterate because they are the only source of information. In America, the muslim population is educated and participatory in a unique experiment in democracy. They are able to discern and are not easily radicalized and they certainly cannot be motivated to BETRAY their country as a community. Remember, the slave owners were forbidden to educate negroes because they might get uppity and rebel!! The point is, that the american muslim community, is not the ignorant followers of the SAUDI PRINCE, the TALIBAN or radical IMAMS. They are first americans and they have a right to practice their religion free from harrassment. The Koran recognizes the greatness of Jesus, the beauty of Mary and advocates peace and love of neighbor. The 9/11 terrorists were not AMERICANS.

[-PZ-]

02:57 PM on 09/10/2011

Islam says that even in war, you are not to kill women, children or the old; you are not to burn trees or crops (Oppress people by destroying sources of livelihood) or harm people who are not combatants or those who throw down their weapons.

People who argue that terrorism is a legitimate way to do war, are going against Islam. The teachings above are obligatory, they cannot be abrogated or set aside.

Civilians are not acceptable collateral damage in any situation, shape or form.

We have people on --both sides-- of the conflict who basically justify slaughter of innocents in some manner. These people are no different than hitler, stalin or others who also justified the slaughter of people on a mass scale...

[LeFlaneur]

08:41 PM on 09/11/2011

That's a general problem with religion. It can be bent to serve any goal and justify any behavior.

[qzy]

01:33 AM on 09/12/2011

Total BS. Muhammad, himself, ordered the killing of prisoners. They didn't have any weapons to throw down.

[see-ellen2001]

12:20 AM on 09/12/2011

Carman: very well said.

[MIKEinNYC]

09:15 AM on 09/10/2011

Radical Muslims make news. Moderates don't.

Is it the fault of the news media or has there never been a Muslim leader who took to the stage to denounce radicalism while supporting the American way of life. I just never heard that.

[Doug Sandlin]

04:32 PM on 09/10/2011

Google Muslims Against Terrorism for (literally) millions of results .. many of which are videos of live talks.

Just because you missed it doesn't mean it didn't happen.

Muslims and Muslims leaders have been denouncing terrorism, pointing out the specific errors in radicals' thinking, issuing fatwas against terrorism, and working to proactively end radicalism in their own communities as thoroughly as anyone from any religion could realistically be expected to, for a long time now (since before 9/11).

Seriously: some people with an anti-Islam agenda like to promote the (false) idea that Muslims and Muslim leaders might somehow be sympathetic to terrorism.

I'm not saying that you're doing this ... I'm saying that you may have believed people who have suggested this.

It's easy enough to find out for yourself that it's not true ... just Google Muslims Against Terrorism.

[MIKEinNYC]

06:26 PM on 09/10/2011

Thank you for your good advice and your reasonable response.

[qzy]

01:34 AM on 09/12/2011

I found a lot of hits for Muslims Against American Terrorism.

[WhoIsNoOne]

10:31 PM on 09/09/2011

to all Muslim Americans, just carry on being
who you are.
You should not have to change, or defend yourselves
because of the actions of radicals (nor do I expect Christians
to defend their religion because of the actions of Christian radicals)
When I was a kid, I grew up in England in the 70's and early 80's
and in those days we pictured Terrorists as Catholics with an
Irish accent.(to some in the US, my adopted country, they were
seen as freedom fighters)
What I am saying, is that this will pass. Muslims are no more
terrorists than Catholics, or Protestants, or Atheists.

[FDRinhell]

03:10 AM on 09/10/2011

The statistics do not bear that out. The global jihad wages unabated.

[Puncastle]

04:20 AM on 09/10/2011

Read the first line of his/her post: to all Muslim Americans, i.e. Muslims in America.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/five-myths-about-muslims-in-america/2011/03/30/AFePWOIC_story.html

[Doug Sandlin]

04:38 PM on 09/10/2011

Actually, the statistics *do* bear that out.

The actual percentage of Muslims who are terrorists is staggeringly small (a tiny fraction of 1% of Muslims are terrorists).

And most terrorists, contrary to popular misunderstanding, are not Muslims.
http://www.loonwatch.com/2010/01/not-all-terrorists-are-muslims/

The facts just don't support that more than a tiny percentage of Muslims are terrorist. The "global jihad" is only an interest of a very few, relatively small terrorist groups, such as Al Qaida.

The Taliban, for instance, has no interest in global domination ... they just want the U.S. out of Afghanistan, and have said that they will "return to their homes" as soon as U.S. Forces leave.

Even hardcore Islamist groups such as Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood are focused on the Middle East ... not the entire globe ... enough so that both groups (and quite a few others) condemned the 9/11 attacks almost immediately after they happened.

http://kurzman.unc.edu/islamic-statements-against-terrorism/

[Reno Fickler]

07:38 PM on 09/09/2011

Most Germans (my people) were not hard-core Nazi SS soldiers, most Japanese, although compelled by different virtues and values, were just soldiers like GI Joes were. Like most Muslims are not fanatical terrorists. But we ended our problems with the Germans and Japanese and welcomed them into our world. (After we let some of the Japanese out of confinement.) We learned from that mistake.
The problems with the radical Muslims began after we invited you into our country.
This post is not to express opinion, but to state facts.

[O K Ali]

07:44 PM on 09/09/2011

When do you think the first Muslims arrived into America?

[Reno Fickler]

08:24 PM on 09/09/2011

That was the reason I pointed out our mistake with the Japanese. They were HERE and we persecuted them. Their performance in the Italian campaign in WWII proved they were as American as anyone. I know there are many Muslims in our armed forces fighting against their forebearers. My German uncles ( whose parents came here from Germany) on both sides of the family, fought the Nazis IN Germany in 1945. And they were Protestants fighting Protestants.

[-PZ-]

03:00 PM on 09/10/2011

Muslims in American History: A Forgotten Legacy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCbLcVTex1c

[22Keys]

07:36 PM on 09/09/2011

"Have no unbelieving friends. Kill the unbelievers wherever you find them"
- Koran 4:89

"Kill both parties in adultery"
- Leviticus 20:10

The God of Abraham has a thirst for blood it seems.

[Puncastle]

04:26 AM on 09/10/2011

Death by lethal injection for the following crimes:

* Murder
* Sabotage
* Causing a train wreck that results in death
* Treason
* Sex crimes committed on a child under the age of 14 years (Oklahoma)

If we look at the world in a one-dimensional view, the United States of America has a thirst for blood it seems.

[22Keys]

07:46 AM on 09/11/2011

You have listed actual crimes. In my verses people are to be killed for imaginary crimes (adultery and disbelief).

[gunrunner99]

01:23 PM on 09/12/2011

Death by lethal injection,not stoning,beheadings,etc, which is more bloodthirsty,AND, GOOD for OKLAHOMA!!! Last I saw,adultry is not a crime,so kill them and let a child preditor live,in your mind,that makes sense?

[-PZ-]

03:24 PM on 09/10/2011

Surah 4

88. Why should ye be divided into two parties about the Hypocrites? Allah hath upset them for their (evil) deeds. Would ye guide those whom Allah hath thrown out of the Way? For those whom Allah hath thrown out of the Way, never shalt thou find the Way.

89. They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks;-

90. Except those who join a group between whom and you there is a treaty (of peace), or those who approach you with hearts restraining them from fighting you as well as fighting their own people. If Allah had pleased, He could have given them power over you, and they would have fought you: Therefore if they withdraw from you but fight you not, and (instead) send you (Guarantees of) peace, then Allah Hath opened no way for you (to war against them).

[eastfernstreet]

05:08 PM on 09/09/2011

Since 2001, at least twenty-five times the number of people killed on 9/11 (yes, I mean 75,000+) have been murdered by Christians living inside the United States. While not as visually spectacular or as politically convenient as the 9/11 attacks, it is far more likely that one is going to be killed in an attack by a Christian than by a Muslim.

Guess that doesn't make consumers buy papers, get people to give up their rights, encourage one to embrace irrational hatred or convince voters to go to war though, does it?

[caseyjosh]

06:29 PM on 09/09/2011

Did not know that! A different perspective.

[22Keys]

07:31 PM on 09/09/2011

Your comparison is not parallel at all. Terrorism and homicide are two completely different animals.

[O K Ali]

07:45 PM on 09/09/2011

Murder is murder.

[eastfernstreet]

07:45 PM on 09/09/2011

Perfectly parallel to the people who are killed. And, after all, isn't that what you're all pretending this is about?

[22Keys]

05:00 PM on 09/09/2011

Perhaps the moderators will allow this comment through about the doctrines of Islam.

[Berlet98]

04:51 PM on 09/09/2011

Newsday Puffs Muslims

Newsday, Long Island’s default daily newspaper due to its status as the only Long Island daily paper, published a commentary on Tuesday that must have been a failed attempt at twisted humor, an excursion into fantasy, an Islamic puff piece, or all of the above. (http://bit.ly/npGBJ2)

In a few hundred words, Ibrahim Negm, described as “senior adviser to the grand mufti of Egypt, the second-highest cleric among Sunni Muslims, and a visiting scholar at the Islamic Center of Long Island,” managed to incorporate dark humor, fantastical flights of disturbed fancy, and an unabashed puffery not as much for himself as for his religion, Islam.

Practicing its typical distortions, the ultra-liberal Newsday titled the piece, “Negm: American Muslims, American Goals,” as if its readers would be familiar with the ”senior adviser to the grand mufti of Egypt,” as if they would buy into the premise of the title, as if they would accept the idea that an Egyptian could speak for Americans and believe he would speak the truth.

Published just days before the tenth anniversary of the day when Muslim terrorists screaming “Allahu akbar!” attacked the United States and murdered 2,977 innocent people, the Newsday article reached a new low–even for Newsday–in its contempt for its readership and its country.

Negm begins his piece with what has to be the most preposterously-amusing and bizarre lies . . .
(Read more at http://www.genelalor.com/blog1/?p=5392.)

[snurps]

04:20 PM on 09/09/2011

I support my fellow Muslim Americans.

[laundrybrick]

06:51 PM on 09/12/2011

Do you support your fellow Christian Americans?