"Today, and it breaks my heart to say it, finding a homeless person who has died of cold, is not news. Today, the news is scandals, that is news, but the many children who don’t have food — that’s not news. This is grave. We can’t rest easy while things are this way."
British Political Journalist Mehdi Hasan writes about his views on homosexuality as both a committed and practicing Muslim, and as a citizen in a free and democratic society. I suspect his thoughts mirror those of many American Muslims who are trying to balance the same things:
yes, I’m a progressive who supports a secular society in which you don’t impose your faith on others – and in which the government, no matter how big or small, must always stay out of the bedroom. But I am also…a believing Muslim. And, as a result, I really do struggle with this issue of homosexuality. As a supporter of secularism, I am willing to accept same-sex weddings in a state-sanctioned register office, on grounds of equity. As a believer in Islam, however, I insist that no mosque be forced to hold one against its wishes.
"We have created new idols. The worship of the golden calf of old has found a new and heartless image in the cult of money and the dictatorship of an economy which is faceless and lacking any truly humane goal"
— Pope Francis
(Source: timesofmalta.com)
A public school teacher who teaches Math in Virginia is running for the Virginia House of Delegates to represent the 13th district (Manassas & Prince William).
Folks need to stop beating up on “young people” or “Young Invincibles”, we’ve had enough!
Does this mean our parents generation has failed us?
The average net worth of someone 29 to 37 has fallen 21 percent since 1983.
…
For the first time in modern memory, a whole generation might not prove wealthier than the one that preceded it.
Looks grim, but I suppose money isn’t everything, right?
Hospitality at Mosques
I recently read this blog post by a young Christian woman who moved to a new town, and went through the process of finding a new Church for herself. Here’s one thing she said, about a particular church, that struck me:
In addition to plentiful food and conversation at the social, each time I’ve gone to church on Sunday, at least one person has spoken to me. This doesn’t sound like much to write home about, but you may or may not be surprised to hear that I’ve been to plenty a church where not a single soul went out of their way to greet me.
I have been to a lot of Masajid. In all my years attending masajid, I have never been greeted or made to feel welcome the way the woman above described. At 99% of the masajid I’ve visited, no one ever spoke to me, or introduced themselves, or asked me if I was new. Even at the Masjid where I was raised, when I go back and visit, only the people who recognize me talk to me.
I suggested to a friend, who had moved to a new town and was trying to meet other Muslims, if she had visited the mosque, she said: “Why? what would the mosque have for me?” I had no response for her because the truth is, the mosque has nothing for her. If anything, attending the local mosque could have driven her further away from Islam.
I have family members now who don’t like to attend mosques anymore because almost every visit, someone yells at them, talks down to them, or lectures them. At best, no one makes them feel like they want to come back.
If masajid want to attract the younger generation, they should start out by being welcoming. Why aren’t volunteers or staff recruited and trained to act as greeters and welcomers? why aren’t community members taught to welcome and talk to people they don’t recognize at the Jummah or Halaqa?
Here’s what really hit me in the above mentioned blog post:
not only are we all welcome to worship, the church is actually willing to meet the diverse needs of those who desire to strengthen their relationship with God
Not a day goes by that I don’t yearn and dream for such a Masjid to attend. That’s the whole point isn’t it? strengthening our relationship with the Almighty. How many times have our visits to masajid resulted in us feeling less spiritual or connected to God? I’ve lost count.
Our results demonstrate that individuals will forego economically beneficial options if these options promote a value that is in conflict with their political ideology,
RVA Muslim Private School holding Open House
Richmond City’s only Muslim private school is holding an open house this May 11, 2013 from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
Tawheed Prep School PRESENTS: STANDING AT THE CROSSROAD
A parents seminar & open house featuring guest speaker DR. Zaki Elsarrag.
Tawheed Prep School
1202 Oak St Richmond, Va 23220
(804) 344-3350
Lunch will be served at 12:00 noon. Speaker after lunch.
About Tawheed Prep:
“Tawheed Prep School is Richmond Virginia’s only secondary Islamic educational institution for youngsters in grades six through twelve. It has grown over the past six years from nine students to a maximum enrollment of thirty-eight.”
"They say that I am crazy because I refuse to be crazy the way everyone else is crazy."
— Peter Maurin
