Once again, our Chicago Muslim community found itself in the midst of a crisis of great proportions. The aggression against Gaza has stopped temporarily, but the grief, dispossession, suffering, and human disaster continue to unfold and our responsibility as a community likewise continues. Regardless how emotionally difficult a crisis can be, it is vital that we evaluate our response and candidly point out our strengths and weaknesses.

Crises are facts of life. We are explicitly in the Quran told that we shall be tested in our health, our wealth and our lives. We "pass" the test if we rise to the challenge and persevere, but if our response is late, weak, fainthearted, or ineffective, then we have failed the test.

In order to respond effectively to major crises, our community should have in place a clear and applicable crisis management plan.  So, what steps do we need to take in order to improve our crisis response and management? I suggest the following:

1)  Have in place a comprehensive, articulated and coherent Crisis Management plan with clear assignments of responsibilities.

2) Better message control. Our message should be clear, thoughtful and well-worded and conveyed to the community, the media and public officials by qualified, native-speaking writers and spokespersons.

3)  Improve our communication with our community, using technological advances and tools.

4)  Strengthen our alliances with our civic partners in the African American, Latino, and other communities; educate them about our issues and educate ourselves about their issues, and form new alliances with new partners.

5) Improve our media strategy. Changing the "unbalanced and unethical" coverage can be done only by developing long term and strong relationships with editorial boards and reporters, frequent writing of letters to editors and opinion editorials, and encouraging young Muslims to become journalists, reporters, producers, board members and owners of major media outlets.

6) Improve our lobbying efforts with our representatives at the state and federal levels.

In a complicated and dangerous world amidst looming financial disaster, we need to expect and plan for the worst. We need to be vigilant and ready for the unexpected. We need to be well prepared. Trust is not lazy, so in God, let us place our trust. Upon Him do we rely.

Dr. M. Zaher Sahloul