As’salaam Aleykum Wa’Rahmat’Ullah,

Ahkee not every Muslim prays, let’s be serious now. Furthermore, I am proud to be a Houstonian because we have various resources and programs set up to aid these types of individuals – as well as other low-income Muslims. Not to PLUG but check out: http://www.dawahcorps.com for your dawah materials (PLUG)!

Ma Salaama

the focus shouldn’t be on stamping out criminal culture as much as it is about educating and employing. when you exclude the action of some of those in the US govn’t you see groups of college educated or other gainfully employed people running commiting crimes. robbing dope houses or selling bootleg merchandise

so again I ask (rhetorically) Who are YOU helping in YOUR community. Thats where change starts

Ameen I agree with your statment thats why I work with MANA with its minor blemishes and all

Shahada AbdulMughni – yes indeed there are “criminal Muslims” or Muslims who habitually commit crimes no matter how often a person commits a crime this does not take them from the fold of Islam.

Furthermore you make some great points although I would say the need for salaat goes without saying, after that we need to actually help people, not just advise.

At the end of the day the hierarchy of needs are going to kick in, and a homeless hungry person can’t focus on salaat so the real question is what is each of us doing to resolve the issue “yeah talk and type” are fine. OK cool. Then what?

A mandate in our ‘way of life’ is that we invite all to the way of Islam. This means that people will come into our communities at VERY DIFFERENT LEVELS OF ECONOMIC RESOURCES, EDUCATION, UNDERSTANDING, BEHAVIOR, ACCEPTANCE,etc. and so we will always, as a ummah, be concerned with how to best to bring all of those disparities into a middle ground.

As BAM we might consider the utility of a national organization that all communities are connected to , with a governing board of BAM leadership,to hammer out policies which all in the organization are bound to put into place in their local communities. We also must begin to recognize that in our various communities we have experienced BAM leadership, scholarship and statesmanship to implement such a national agenda.

I do not believe there is any such thing as a Muslim criminal. This is because every well intentioned Muslim who really fears Allah azza wajall puts his/her best foot forward to re-form themselves. Let us not forget that some of our Muslim brethren were once career criminals, it is a matter of “The reminder benefits the believer”. This is always the case, at-least it should be.

End of Rant.
Jezzakum’Ullahu Khairan!

Indeed this is a very interesting and thought-provoking post you’ve put forward brother. I also agree with Sister Kameelah on most, if not all of her response. As far as the idea of embracing and aiding in the re-building and re-assimilation process of these individuals back in to the free world, let alone the Muslim community. Discussion of this type is very much needed not only on this Blog, but in every Muslim community in the US. There is a sort of ignorance involved where it concerns the education of non-Muslims as well, reverts. I think what needs to be addressed first and foremost is the idea of disassociation. Indeed one cannot help their pre-Islamic doings; however, I do agree that there is no excuse for perpetuating others’ wrong doings by writing it off as, “he or she is from prison” or the other extreme – boycotting them entirely. If we do not take up the responsibility of doing it, then who will? I find that the Christians have made head-way in their endeavors to re-assimilate and re-educate their followers (re-formed Christian brethren from prison), who often make the most strides in calling others to the Christian faith – as do Muslims in the same fashion. We see now it is more of the re-formed Muslims who are out really making “street da’wah” pushing Islam through the often ignored areas of our cities.

Verily Allah does not change the condition of a people unless they change it themselves.” 13/11.

Despite this, the “middle class” Muslim considers these to be chance occurrences or mere coincidences, thus never pausing to even consider the actual cause and reason behind said actions. At the most, a few concerned affluent individuals, who are momentarily stirred by the state of affairs in their seemingly decent communities, call up some fancy conference, pass a few vague resolutions and disappear back into oblivion, contented that they have fulfilled their duties towards Islam and their brethren. I do not believe those from the Arab/Indo-Pak community fully understand this problem and therefore completely ignore it.

In my experience, when one accepts Islam there seems to be a conflict as to what exactly is allowable in terms of past behavior and how they can fuse their past with Islam. We must understand and take in to consideration the background and up-bringing before judgment is passed. Again, Alhamdlillaah for the Qur’an and Sunnah of our Nabi, and when I mention Sunnah I am mostly speaking in the context of his character and mannerisms (sal Allaahu aleyhi was’salaam). How patient he was with both his companions and enemies’. We may see criminal behavior from our brother/sisters with a shady past, but how many of us have really invested time in to aiding said individuals into becoming productive citizens? How many of us sit with them on a one on one basis in order to encourage the inculcation of “Islamic behavior” as opposed to criminal in their daily lives? Often times, and for lack of a better word, we have to re-program ourselves because our culture becomes that of Islam (at-least whatever does not coincide with the Shariah should be abandoned). This is a very un-natural idea for some people, and we can see it in ourselves. Islam forbids a thing that we so easily indulged in prior to Islam.

A dire need exists for us to study the Qur’aan and Hadith and thereby realize the primary cause for our disgrace and downfall. It is an undisputed axiom of reality that no incident occurs in our communities by mere accident. We as Muslims believe that every occurrence is directly by the command and doing of Almighty Allah azza wajall. However, every occurrence has been assigned an outward cause, that apparently seems to control and govern it. Thus our difficulties are also governed by causes which Allah and His Rasul (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) have explained to us in the Quran and Hadith:
* “And whatever calamity befalls you, it is due to your own doings and Allah forgives many of your shortcomings.” 42/30.

“Where are our real estate brokers, professors, lawyers, health care workers, teachers, accountants, business executives, government employees, the kinds of people you need to build a balanced, healthy and strong society”

Indeed, where are these individuals and what exactly are they doing for the Black Islamic community? As well, I do not think any sincere Muslim can say the wanting of an Islamic State with a Khalifah is an “un-realistic dream.”

Thereis merely a framework and a totally elementary program for general uplifting and reforming Black Muslim community.

1. Every Muslim, male and female, must immediately resolve to at least fulfill the basic requirements of Islam, salat in particular.

2. A massive educational program to be specially launched on an organized basis with emphasis on religious education and education of adults. Assimilation in to Muslim/Non Muslim society.

3. Basing our social life on the sunnah and our economical activities solely on the laws of Shariah.

4. To amicably solve any problems through proper arbitration. Referring all matters back to the Quran and Sunnah and those with ilm.

5. Dissociation from all customs and rituals that are contrary to Islam.

8. Particular emphasis on work ethics, cleanliness, family dynamics, health education and physical fitness.

The aforementioned are merely my opinions based off my own observations in Da’wah. You can agree or disagree – whatever I said of good is from Allah and the mistakes are mine. I ask Allah ta 3la to guide us, rectify our actions and reform our communites in order to received His baraka.

my salam.