With all candor, it seems that Muslims today live with some illusions. We speak of achieving high goals and ideals, but do not really work toward them. We demand, for example, that Islam be respected and its universal values appreciated, not distorted nor manipulated, yet we are confused about matching our goals with deeds or are simply too lethargic to devote ourselves toward our goals.

We want our children to grow proud of their faith and lead their community toward empowerment, but their elders are not doing enough to pave the way for them. We want our federal and local governmental leadership to recognize our presence, respect our voice, and respond to our particular needs, but we are too timid to participate in the political process.

We complain about public officials ignoring or disrespecting our community, but we do not contribute to the political campaigns of those who offer Muslims earnest attention and respect. We want our politicians to make principled decisions regarding immigrants and to take care of the uninsured; we want our streets to be safe; we want our foreign policy to be fair and balanced and reflect the core universal values of this country and its various people, including Muslim values. We want these objectives but are not involved enough to move steadily toward them to eventually affect positive change.

We all agree that Islam is "a way of life" and not "a way of chat." Godliness involves more than tending to personal rites and family obligations. We do not live nomadic lives. By high plan and purpose, we live in a society towards which we have appropriate obligations. In other words, there is no righteousness in separation.

On the contrary, we have a duty to set aright our affairs, which includes making clear our voices regarding major issues facing all people in this land. When there are 47 million Americans without healthcare, we can't ignore that injustice and feel self-satisfied with prayers and fasting.

How can we brag about Islam as a way of life while people suffer and often perish for lack of proper health care? When our government spends 1.9 trillion dollars on an unjust war in Iraq but ignores education, immigration, and homelessness, do we respond with silence and contentment with staying on the sidelines? When Congress fails to solve the plight of 12 million undocumented immigrants who are widely regarded as non-human abstractions, slave laborers, or some vague threat, can we claim that this is not our problem? The chief concerns of religion are dual: First, belief in the oneness of God and our devotion to Him, and, second, standing up for social justice and the welfare of all creation, human or otherwise.

The United States Constitution protects the right of individual believers and religious bodies to participate and speak out without government interference, favoritism, or discrimination. Our nation's tradition of pluralism is enhanced, not threatened, when people of faith bring their convictions into public life.

However distasteful "politics" can often become, removing ourselves from it will only make it worse. Our involvement in public affairs is a great way to present our faith and values, unfiltered by those who seek to vilify the image of Islam.  Muslims speaking out, registering to vote, showing up in numbers to the polls, and being involved in the political process are important ways to bring about good change and alter public perception of Muslims. Being able to vote and participate in the political process is a privilege that no one should forsake.

The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was a master of activism, of  building alliances, of addressing society's need before he was called to prophethood and after. Paraphrasing a famous statement of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, "When you witness an injustice or wrongdoing, anywhere, anytime, then it is your responsibility to change it through proper action."

We are now in an election season that appears to be among the most important in recent memory. It is especially vital to be involved.

Dr. M. Zaher Sahloul

Have you ever had an opinion about an important issue and wondered how you could make a difference?  It's your civic duty as a citizen of the United States to let your voice be heard.  The Mosque Foundation has recently helped to add 1,134 more voices on November 4th, exceeding its original goal to register one thousand new Muslim voters! 

Mosque Foundation president, Dr. Zaher Sahloul, recently announced this great news at a press conference on October 7th, held by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights, which also announced their impressive numbers of newly registered voters in the Latino and other immigrant communities, after a marathon campaign of outreach and education targeting potential voters.

With so many relevant issues on the line in Illinois' archaic state constitution, the Mosque Foundation community turned out in great numbers to support the "Vote Yes!" campaign launched by United Power for Action & Justice on October 12th.  The purpose of the campaign is to educate voters to vote for a State Constitution Convention on the November 4th ballot.  The Convention issue is only on the ballot every couple of decades, so it's important to vote "yes" in order for our state's constitution to be updated and amended.  Many issues such as health care and education are at stake if the Constitution Convention doesn't pass, not to mention the almost unbelievable fact that Illinois is currently one of the few states in the nation which has no term limits for government offices!

The Mosque Foundation strives to educate and empower the Muslim community to stand up and let their voices be heard!  Make a difference, go out and vote on November 4th!

The Mosque Foundation recently received an award from "Faith in Place" during its 9th Annual Harvest Celebration Dinner at Garfield Park Conservatory on Sunday, October 19th.  The award was presented to the Mosque Foundation for its environmental conservation efforts by becoming the first mosque in the nation to install solar heating panels for the new water heating system this past August. 

Faith in Place is an environmentally conscious organization established in 1999 to help faith communities understand that issues of ecology and economy, and caring for God's creation, is a vital part of faith and social justice. 

Sh. Kifah Mustapha accepted the award on behalf of the Mosque Foundation, delivering inspiring words to the multi-faith audience, and relating some of the traditions of our Prophet (PBUH) concerning environmental issues in Islam.
 

During the sixth and seventh centuries in the Middle East there was an expectation, a clear understanding that a world religious event was about to occur, and it would happen in the Arabian Peninsula. There are authentic stories that allude to the fact that a Prophet was fully anticipated; even his physical qualities were known and remembered by the era's religious authorities, primarily the People of the Book. The following is a brief true story about one man and one historic expectation.

A close relative of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, Zayd ibn 'Amr was a determined man, able to think independently of his surroundings. In pre-Islamic Makkah, this was not an easy quality to nurture. Zayd ibn 'Amr resisted being trapped by the norms and culture of Makkah, which was mired in the worship of idols, and easily resorted to violence against anyone who would dare reject the stones and lumber people worshipped.

Zayd observed, painfully, his clansmen believing in things that made absolutely no sense to him. Idolatry in itself ran against logic and the natural yearning of the human soul to be close to its Maker; but it was especially absurd in a city whose most important structure was the Ka'ba, a House of worship built by Ibrahim (Abraham, peace be upon him) and dedicated to the worship of the one, unseen, and only God.

Zayd did not keep his feelings secret. One day, when throngs of the Quraysh celebrated a festival-with the men decked out in brocade turbans and posh Yemeni attire, women glittering with jewelry, and children in their best clothing, all to watch garlanded animals slaughtered before dozens of idols-Zayd couldn't contain himself.

He shouted, "O people of Quraysh! It is God who created the sheep. He sends rain from the skies from which they drink and causes the fodder to grow from which they feed. You slaughter them in names other than His. You are an ignorant folk!"

When al-Khattab, the father of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, heard Zayd say this, he marched toward toward him and slapped him on the face: "Damn you! We hear such idiocy from you!" Thereafter, al-Khattab provoked some of Makkah's people to persecute Zayd and make his life unbearable, until Zayd was forced to leave the valley of Makkah and seek refuge in the surrounding mountains. (All of this took place before Muhammad, peace be upon him, was called to prophethood.)

Zayd ibn 'Amr would not regret his stand. In fact, he took it to a higher level when he left the region altogether, journeying throughout the land to find answers. His search took him as far north as Mosul in the north of Iraq and back southwest to Syria. In his journey, he asked monks and rabbis about the religion of Ibrahim (peace be upon him). But the answers did not satisfy him.

Finally, he came across a monk in Syria who was honest with Zayd and told him that the religion of Ibrahim which he sought no longer existed. The monk, however, told him that this was about to change, for the time had come when God would send forth, from Ibrahim's own lineage, a prophet who would revive the religion of Ibrahim. The monk also told Zayd that he would never mistaken this prophet if he should ever see him. The monk said one more thing: this prophet would soon appear in the very city that Zayd had been forced to leave, Makkah.

Zayd retraced his steps toward Makkah. His intentions were to meet this expected prophet. He believed in him though he had not met him. But as Zayd traveled through Lakhm, on the southern border of Syria, he was attacked by a group of bandits and killed before he could set eyes on the Messenger of God (peace be upon him). It is said that his last words were: "O Lord, if You have prevented me from attaining this good, do not prevent my son from doing so."

The Prophet (peace be upon him), later during his mission, praised Zayd ibn 'Amr, although he had died before meeting the Prophet (peace be upon him). Still, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that on the Day of Resurrection, Zayd "will be raised as a nation in himself."

Allah the Exalted answered Zayd's final prayer, for Zayd's son, Sa'id ibn Zayd, became a believer when he was less than twenty. He and his wife, Fatimah ('Umar ibn al-Khattab's sister) had become close followers of the Prophet (peace be upon him). It was Sa'id and Fatimah that 'Umar grew enraged at when he learned that they had become believers, as the well-known conversion story of 'Umar is recorded. When 'Umar confronted the couple about the rumor of their acceptance of Islam, they boldly admitted it. 'Umar hit Sa'id and even struck his sister, who bled. 'Umar was immediately ashamed at what he had done and calmed down. He then heard the Quran recited. 'Umar's life changed, and shortly thereafter he declared his faith before the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself.