Muslim Americans at the DNC

The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs reports that Muslim Americans were not only participants in the opening interfaith session at the DNC this past August, but that they also held a breakfast meeting with 50 Muslim Delegates from around the country.

Keith Ellison, a Muslim and congressperson was present, as was the other Muslim US congressperson Andre Carson.

Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN), who in 2006 became the first Muslim American elected to Congress, spoke passionately at the luncheon about the need for Muslims, as well as other minority groups, to increase their political involvement by voting, participating in local politics, and running for political office. “America, our great country, needs the Muslim community,” said Ellison, who was sworn into office using a Qur’an once owned by Thomas Jefferson—proving, as he said, that there is nothing un-American about Islam.

The article goes on to point out how Muslim Americans are becoming an important demographic in the US, especially in several swing states.

Bavarian Mosque wins "best building"

The exquisitely beautiful Penzberg Mosque in Bavaria has been awarded "best building" by a panel architects, IslamOnline reports. The combination of classical and modern elements provides a stunning effect. Visitors are welcomed in Arabic and German and tours are offered regularly to all comers. This combination of beauty and openness sets an interesting standard for European mosques. Will other mosques follow?

"This prize is very important for us, not just as architects but as Muslims," architect Alen Jasarevic, a Muslim of Bosnian background, told IslamOnline.net.

"We have proven that Muslims can have their own contributions. We are proud that the mosque, with its design as well as activities, has become an attraction for thousands."

There is a slide show at the link as well.

Little Mosque on the Prairie

Some readers might not be familiar with the Canadian television series Little Mosque on the Prairie. It takes place in a small Canadian town and examines the life of a growing Muslim community there. The Anglican Journal presents an article by Sitara Hewitt who plays Rayyan in the series about her background and what's it like to play a young Muslim on television (Hewitt is Anglican).

When I say, “overwhelmed,” I mean it in a positive way. It’s been exciting to experience how Rayyan and, more surprisingly, I – Sitara Hewitt – have become a role model of sorts to young Muslim women around the world.

The show is one of the most positive and complex portrayals of Muslims in North America. Of course the premise is playing off the old Little House series, which in its book form was explicitly Christian.

DJ Khaled

We've written on this site in the past about the ongoing relationship between hip hop and Islam. DJ Khaled is an American deejay of Palestinian background. He's known to most radio listeners for his shout-outs over a handful of hip hop hits he's produced in the last year including "I'm So Hood" and "We Takin' Over" featuring a who-is-who of current stars. In a recent interview with Heeb (a magazine targeting young, intellectual Jews) Khaled talks about his background and his music and how they interact. For example when talking about his studio in Miami, his current hometown:

You named your studio Jerusalem. Was that any kind of statement?

I did it cause I feel like my studio is a holy place, everybody is allowed in there, and I feel like its blessed like the Dome of the Rock, you know?

And about working with other artists:

Let me ask, when you get together with the artists that you work with, do you discuss your different backgrounds?

A lot of people, some of these rappers are Muslim, and sometimes we’ll be kicking it. But everyone respects me as a man, respects me as a person. Everyone’s got their way of being brought up, in their different belief systems, like that. I’m a normal person, just like everybody else, you know it?

The photo of Khaled shows an interesting interaction of hip-hop fashion and religious expression (necklace).

Muslim Contribution to Spanish Cuisine

European culture as a whole owes much to the Muslim world. However in Spain it is easier to trace the direct influence, as much of the Iberian peninsula was ruled by Muslims for nearly 700 years. CultureKiosque reports on April 6th at the Alhambra Palace museum in Granada a group of historians and cooks will explore, talk about and taste the influnence of Al-Andalus on Spanish food. This will range from the introductions of foods like "almonds, saffron, paprika, peppers and sweets for pastries" to broader contributions:

Many of these innovations including the three-course meal, the use of crystal rather than metal goblets for drinks at table and the introduction of the asparagus have been attributed to Abu al-Hasan Ali Ibn Nafi, a.k.a. Ziryab (c. 789—857),a Baghdad-born virtuoso musician (oud, persian lute, singer), theorist and gastronomic chef of mixed race (African-Persian) at the Umayyad court of Abd-ar-Rahman II, Emir of Córdoba (822–852).

The wonderful event is part of the Guardian Hay Festival which takes an in depth look at the centuries-old Arab-European exchanges.

American Muslim History at the Capitol

Muslims played a part in US history from its beginning. An obvious, but seldom mentioned fact is that many slaves brought to the Americas from Africa were Muslim. But there were other Muslims who came to the New World as well. Much of their history was lost or destroyed. The Muslim American Society reports about an exhibition at the Capitol called 'Collections and Stories of American Muslims' which was assembled by Amir Muhammad. It includes all kinds of narriatives, as well as antique American copies of the Qu'ran as well as American Muslim names recorded in the first US census in 1790. It seems to be a remarkable effort to resurrect this largely forgotten history:

One enslaved Muslim, a Fulani African prince and military commander named Abdul Rahman Ibrahima born in 1762, is featured in the remarkable documentary movie called "Prince Among Slaves". Abdul Rahman, who was literate in the Arabic language, was captured by slave traders and transported to Natchez, Mississippi, where he was forced to labor on a cotton plantation. But never abandoning his faith, he was able (by Allah’s mercy) to eventually secure his freedom from bondage. He and his Christian wife were able to return to before his death in 1829.

You can learn more about the exhibit at the America.gov site and at the Muslims in America site.

Cool Islam in France

The BBC featured a few French Muslims who, in various ways, have made efforts to make Islam "cool", and more notably, emphasize its common values with other religious traditions and ways of life. The piece profiles Medine, a French rapper, and his promotion of clean Islamic living and its positive values.

"I think that in all religions today, there are common human values", says Medine.

"I don't think that sharing is unique to Islam, or that generosity is unique to Catholicism, or love is unique to Judaism.

The BBC does not mention that, as far as cool goes, American rappers were making Islam cool from nearly the beginning of hip hop, from Public Enemy to Wu-Tang to Lupe Fiasco today. The Article goes on to profile a new bride and a progressive Imam and concludes:

People such as Imam Oubrou and Medine insist that however radical Islam's adaptation to contemporary culture, it will preserve a kernel of uncompromising, permanent Muslim belief.

They say European societies need to let it flourish if they are to win the bigger prize of a renewed, reinterpreted Islam no longer at odds with a secular West.

Of course, its always Islam that needs to be "reinterpreted" and "adapt" and any ground ceded by the "West" is decried by the usual reactionaries. But I think it's essential for the secular West to also be reinterpreted and adapted, so it to can flourish. The "secular West" just had the most devastating and destructive century arguably of any society that ever existed. It must continue to change too and cool Islam, could be one of those agents of change. Just as these Muslims are willing to open, so too, must France and the rest of the "West".

Walmart and Arab America

Newsweek published this interesting article about a Wal-Mart that opened up near Dearborn, Michigan, which has one of the largest concentrations of Arab-Americans. This Wal-Mart has specifically targeted Arab-Americans with everything from Egyptian Mango Juice to Halal meats. Notably (after surveying potential customers) the Wal-Mart decided not to carry hijabs (head scarves), because people felt uncomfortable buying them from Wal-Mart.

I am honestly surprised that something like this has happened already. Monolith corporations are steering away from cookie-cutter standards to accommodate specific consumer markets, because this is how the 21st century Capital is making money. Note the "Asian" McDonalds (complete with feng shui) that opened recently in a heavy Asian-American part of California.

What I find most curious is this:

Despite the sensitive sell, local shopkeepers still worry about Wal-Mart. "There is a fear factor in the business community," says Osama Siblani, publisher of Dearborn's Arab American News. To allay those fears, Wal-Mart is making an extraordinary promise: it will not undercut the prices of the small local merchants (though it will still go after Kroger). The insular company even agreed to be scrutinized by a "community advisory board" made up of local Arab-American leaders to ensure it isn't harming the mom-and-pop shops. One example: Wal-Mart agreed to charge one dime more than local grocers for a six-pack of pita bread.

Amazing. Besides the few communities that have successfully kept Wal-Mart out, I never have seen this level of open concession to local merchants. I wonder if it will be an isolated incident? Regardless, Wal-Mart "going native" is bent on undermining those small merchants.

London School for Islamic Art

The Lebanon Daily Star profiled an intriguing school in London's East End for Islamic Arts. The Prince's School for Traditional Arts was founded by Prince Charles:

Choosing either a masters or a doctoral track, students are taught theory and crafts, including mosaic, miniature painting, stone carving, calligraphy, arabesque (Islimi), woodwork and tile making.

The school has since expanded to include a commercial aspect, so the students can sell their creations. Islamic Arts have been present in Europe for centuries, notably in Spain and Eastern Europe, but as the article notes, there are few schools left in the world devoted solely to this pursuit. Most importantly for this school is the promotion of the idea of Islam as complex and indeed, quite often, beautiful.

Interesting to note Prince Charles association with this wonderful project. His family, the Windsors, are partly descended from the Prophet Muhammad.

Barack Obama, Benjamin Franklin and other Semitic Names

Juan Cole, professor of South Asian Studies at the University of Michigan, made a simple, but eloquent point about the controversy over Barack Hussein Obama's name in his weblog recently. Semitic names from Benjamin to Rihanna to John Adams are prevasive in our society and, obviously, something to be proud of. Cole notes that Hussein (Barack's grandfather's name) means "the Good" and, Saddam aside, is a proud name the world around:

The other thing to say about grandfathers named Hussein is that very large numbers of African-Americans probably have an ancestor ten or eleven generations ago with that name, in what is now Mali or Senegal or Nigeria. And, since so many thousands of Arab Muslims were made to convert to Catholicism in Spain after 1501, many Latinos have distant ancestors named Hussein, too. In fact, since there was a lot of Arab-Spanish intermarriage, and since there was subsequent Spanish intermarriage with other European Catholics, more European Americans are descended from a Hussein than they realize. The British royal family is quite forthright about the Arab line in their ancestry going back to Andalusia.

It's incredible how such an obvious-seeming point can be overlooked not only by fanatical McCain supporters, but also by the major media powers. So, in honor of Barack Hussein Obama, say "hi" to a person with a semitic name today. I bet you can't help yourself!

Macedonian Muslim looks to L.A.

The Jewish Journal looks at the invitation to Macedonian Muslim Ismail Bardhi to teach at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and his troubled past in Skopje. Bardhi was a peace activist who tried to bring together the Orthodox and Muslim communities in Macedonia. Bardhi is a polyglot and a scholar and received a rifle butt in the face for his troubles. But his move to LA seems very hopeful:

"If we want people to get a more three-dimensional aspect of faith in the modern world," she added, "especially these days when it comes to Islam, there is no better place to get it than the horse's mouth. Everybody asks, 'Where are the moderate Muslims?' Well, it's great that there is one right at HUC."

Bardhi plans to stay through the spring semester, which ends in May, and then return home. Why? So he can teach his compatriots how to live in an ethnically and religiously diverse community, something he hopes to learn a lot about in Los Angeles.

I love that last bit, looking to Los Angeles for inspiration. So many see Los Angeles as a place devoid of culture, but really the city is a fascinating mosaics of people from everywhere. Much luck to Bardhi in the future!

via Progressive Muslima News.

Ahmadiyya Mosque Building in Berlin

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community has been building a new mosque in Berlin. The reporting has been mostly focused on how non-Muslims react. The mosque is being built on a cheap piece of land in the Eastern suburbs of Berln and the people in the neighborhood (mostly non-Muslim) have had some sadly uninspired reaction to the mosque:

"The mosque is supposed to go up right here," says Günter Bronner, a blustery white-haired man with glasses pushed up on his forehead who's lived in the neighborhood for 42 years. He points to a drab piece of land at the end of the street where a defunct sauerkraut factory stands. "They want to have a minaret with a muezzin who gives the call to prayer five times a day. Can you imagine? Five times a day over our rooftops."

Heinersdorf is one of those sad and dying old East Berlin suburbs that got the short end of the reunification stick. Most investment, economic and cultural, has been fleeing such places. They have mostly used the building of this mosque as chance to show off old prejudices and give Neo-Nazis a chance to show up at their anti-Mosque rallies (Where, bizarely, people also chanted anti-Communist slogans). All bad for Heinersdorf.

Hopefully, with the mosque almost complete the Heinersdorfers could use this as a chance to reach out to a new group that is actually somewhat under threat in certain parts of the Islamic world (Pakistan does not grant Ahmadis the right to call themselves Muslims. This stems from Ahmadiyya belief in a prophet who arrived after Mohammad. Ahmadis consider themselves Muslims). The could join in the festivities, welcome their new neighbors. Maybe even use the mosque, meetings of old FDJ (the East German Communist youth groups) friends in the banquet hall, or simply show up to learn more about the Ahmadis. The Ahmadis were one of the first Muslim groups that many African Americans came into touch with in the USA and in a sense were one of the early influences on the civil rights movement, with their insistence on racial equality. Lastly, any Berliner who's been awoken early on a Sunday morning by the tremendous clanging of bells from churches echoing through the neighborhood - and has ever heard a call to prayer, instantly longs for the soothing singing of the muezzin every time.

European Muslims look to Obama for Hope

The Voice of America reported an interesting story from Thiais, France about Muslim and other minority politicians in Europe who are looking to Barack Obama for hope in their own campaigns. European minorities (like American minorities) are woefully underrepresented in their political systems, but the idea that a person of color can transcend the racism and prejudice of society to achieve the most powerful office in the world is causing a stir of excitement. Zohra Bitan, a Socialist candidate in Thiais regards herself as fully French. Her parents were economic migrants from Algeria.

In Thiais, Bitan is also following Barack Obama and his chance of becoming America's first black president. But she doubts a Barack Obama will emerge in France anytime soon.

Bitan says France is ready to elect mayors or members of parliament who are a racial minority. But she says the country is not ready for an ethnic minority as president.

Coskun Coruz, a member of the Dutch Parliament, also thinks that an Obama presidency could send a powerful "signal" to Europe. But he also notes that immigrants to Europe (Coskun migrated from Turkey to the Netherlands when he was 6, but now feels "%200 Dutch") must become active European citizens and "work for change."

via Islam in Europe.

Buy U A Drank

T-Pain, the Grammy Award-winning rapper/singer from Florida has become a near ubiquitous in pop music, from his frequent collaborations (most recently with Flo Rida on "Low") to his own hits ("Buy U A Drank", "I'm In Luv Wit A Stripper"). T-Pain was born near Tallahassee as Faheem Najm to Muslim parents. There are a large number of Muslim entertainers in the US and Europe, many of them involved in Hip-Hop and RnB. We will feature many such entertainers on this site, but I thought T-Pain would be good introduction precisely because there is nothing obviously evident of his Muslim background in his familiar prescence. Muslims are a diverse and complictated group of humans like any other and their faith isn't always at the forefront of their identity. Or as Faheem told the Australian News in an interview when asked what is like to be Muslim in America:

"It's like being any other person," he says. "I'm still a person, a human being, no matter what religion I am."

But has the war on terror changed perceptions about Muslim faith?

"People don't even know," T-Pain says. "Me, Busta Rhymes, Lupe Fiasco - they don't even know we are Muslim. People think a Muslim has to have a turban or a big beard. It's stupid."

To explore the mysterious world of T-Pain you can visit his official website here http://www.t-pain.net/

Kosovo - Europe's New Addition

The Khaleej Times, a daily English-language paper in Dubai published an interesting opinion piece about Kosovo by Claude Salhani on the 22nd of Febuary called "Europe’s new addition — a Muslim country without a veil". Salhani notes that a new European country has been added, and the maps must be withdrawn. But it's not just any country, it's a Muslim-majority European country. Salhani believes that Kosovo will be a ray of light for moderate Muslims:

To those who believe that a milder, kinder form of Islam cannot exist, allow me to paraphrase former US president John F Kennedy by saying, "Let them come to Pristina."

The Kosovo situation is complex, but I believe Salhani is making a very interesting point here. As Christian-majority European countries continue to interact with their Muslim citizens they could look to Pristina to understand the fundamental compatibility. As one Kosovar journalist explained her identity:

"I am a Muslim, but in my own way," she said. "We belong in Europe. But still, I consider myself a Muslim."

That compatibility is a theme we will explore much more in Green Shade. Bosnia was perhaps even of a "ray of light" than Kosovo. It was committed to an ambitious cosmopolitanism (influenced by a long Islamic flavored notion of he "common life" and "neighborliness") when it declared independence in October of 1991. That dream was almost entirely destroyed by war and genocide in which the Bosnians were the overwhelming victims. Now the same dangerous Serbian rhetoric of nationalism and Christian religious mythology that perpetuated those crimes in Bosnia to a large extent threatens the Balkans once again. Let us hope its influence is checked to a few burnt embassies.

A note on Claude Salhani: He is an editor with The Middle East Times, a Cairo-based paper funded by the Unification Church founded by the Reverend Moon (a.k.a. the "Second Coming of Christ"). Reverend Moon made some news in 2000 when he teamed up with Minister Louis Farrakhan, the acting head of the Nation of Islam to co-sponsor the Million Family March in Washington D.C.