Re: Muslim Activism On A Local Level

Isa Abdul-Tawwab <[email protected]>

Salaams,

Isa, what's your address? I'll send a check!

Mudhillun  :)

Quoting Isa Abdul-Tawwab <[email protected]>:

> As-salaamu aleykum wa Rahamatullahi wa Barakatuh,
> 
> I have been hearing for a long time in my local Ummah, as well as in national
> Muslim publications, that Muslims in the USA should become more involved in
> public issues in their local communities.
> 
> Helping the homeless, collecting money for charities that help Muslims and
> non-Muslims alike, voter registration, fighting poverty, etc. I've heard
> about Muslims who organised in their local communities for such things and
> they were appauded for it by the Ummah and Islamic organisations.
> 
> Here in Hawai'i, I came-up with the idea of a Muslim radio show on a local
> station. At first, I had very few supporters on this. Since the show's
> purpose was to work dawah and to correct the misconceptions non-Muslims had
> about Islam and Muslims, they felt that the "Jewish-controlled media" would
> never allow such a show to exist.
> 
> Actually, while there are very powerful people in media who are Jewish, most
> of the media power in the USA is firmly in non-Jewish hands, I suppose the
> Muslims who opposed the show felt that the local and national Jewish
> community would find-out about a Muslim radio show and lobby, or sue, the
> station to take us off the air.
> 
> We got some money together and got the show started. It was instantly
> well-received by the station's listening audience who would call-in and ask
> all sorts of questions and a few people did embrace Islam as a result of the
> show. No Jew, at any time, tried to have the station take our show off the
> air. A group of evangelical Christians did oppose us and they put their own
> show on the air to counter ours. Their show didnt last as long as our and we
> were better-liked by the average station listener. The Christian show went
> off the air and we continued.
> 
> The radio show "Islam In Focus" was on the air for almost two years, issues
> of concern to the Muslims community were expressed, anti-Islam critics were
> addressed and responded to and numerous guests were interviewed, including
> many Muslim scholars and authors from around the USA. Overall, the show was a
> success. 
> 
> >From opposing such a show, in the beginning, local Muslims began to support
> us in our work and expressed pride in our accomplishments. Due to funding
> issues, the radio show as eventually cancelled and replaced with a television
> show on a Public Access channel and that show is still on the air to this
> day.
> 
> Recently, I signed-up to participate in a local fundraiser for charitable
> organisations that help people infected with the AIDS virus, called the
> "Paradise Ride". The groups putting it together provide treatment, education
> and prevention services. While many of their clients are homosexuals, they
> are not "gay groups", they help anyone with AIDS, regardless as to how they
> were infected. I thought that it would be a good idea for a Muslim to be
> involved in such an event. It would help people in the community and they
> could see that Muslims care about such issues, too. While AIDS has not left a
> trail of devastation in the Muslim world, as in Subharan Africa or India,
> there are Muslims suffering with AIDS today. Indonesia is seen as the next
> place where AIDS would spread on a devastating level, due to IV drug use and
> prostitutes.
> 
> When I started, I thought to myself "Now, the Muslim-bashers will see what
> Muslims can do. We'll have some one at this event and Muslims will show their
> support financially. No one will be able to say that Muslims dont care about
> anyone but themselves."
> 
> How wrong I was.
> 
> Exactly two Muslims have made donations so far, out a community of 3,000 in
> Hawaii. Muslim friends have brushed me off when I asked them for help. Only a
> few days ago, I appealed to a friend for help. I've known him for years and
> he is a well-respected Muslim teacher who does a lot of dawah in the military
> community. The response I got was not what I expected.
> 
> Essentially, I was told that as most AIDS victims contracted the disease due
> to engaging in homosexual behavior, IV drug use or fornicating with
> prostitutes, that the Muslim community would not support any effort to help
> AIDS victims. I was advised to withdraw from the event and work to help "more
> deserving Muslims". Bringing-up the fact that many people who have AIDS
> aquired it from blood transfusions, women got it from unfaithful and/or drug
> using husbands, children were infected from the womb because their mothers
> had the disease, etc. fell on deaf ears. He told me that he will not help me
> raise donations in Hawaii for such a cause.
> 
> Needless to say, I felt very depressed and discouraged after that
> conversation. But I am not going to withdraw from the event. I will have to
> struggle with this one on my own, with little help from Muslims in Hawaii. As
> I said, I have gotten two Muslim donations and another Muslim has promised
> one, after he finishes moving his office to a new location, but that is all.
> I wont hold my breathe waiting for more help from Muslims in Hawaii.
> 
> I've emailed every Islamic organisation I can think about, asking for help.
> None has responded to me, not even to decline to help. I am being ignored as
> if I didnt exist.
> 
> So, now I have to turn to the kafiruun to help me, which is pretty funny, in
> a way. If I were to be successful in raising a large amount of donations -
> say $10,000 - I know that the local Muslims would hail my achievement and
> hold me up as a good example of a Muslim. This is exactly what they did when
> we were putting the radio show together years ago: No help, at first, but
> take credit for it if it is a success.
> 
> We often hear about Jewish or Christian charities and the work they do. We
> seldom hear about Muslim charities helping the needy in their community. I'm
> beginning to understand why.
> 
> 
> As-salaamu aleykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,
> 
> `Isa Abdul-Tawwab
> 
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