Imam Talib Shareef (L) of Washington, D.C.'s Masjid Muhammad, a retired U.S. Air Force veteran, with Paul Monteiro of the White House Office of Public Engagement, and Imam Earl El-Amin of the Muslim Community Cultural Center of Baltimore. Monteiro spoke during the banquet and public address at The Mosque Cares' 2011 Annual Muslim Convention in Tinsley Park, IL. (Also see previous post.)

Three generations of Muslim Americans: Imam Benjamin Shabazz (L) of the Seattle, WA Al Islam Center with his son and grandson during the Father/Son Breakfast.

More scenes:

Nur-Deen-Haj (L) and Osie-Sheik Muhammad (Muslim American pioneers also featured in the previous post) were among the dozens of U.S. military veterans honored during the 2011 Annual Muslim Convention hosted by The Mosque Cares, Ministry of Imam W. Deen Mohammed.

— C.B. Hanif

Nur-Deen-Haj (L) and Osie-Sheik Muhammad during the Pioneer Reception at the 2011 Annual Muslim Convention hosted by The Mosque Cares, Ministry of Imam W. Deen Mohammed.

“…the best thing that came out of it is a sincere, conscious effort to understand Muslims better.”

While our mass media shamefully stereotype Muslims as Arabs, kudos to South Town Star reporter Steve Metsch for his perceptive “10 years after 9/11?” question during yesterday’s news conference, here in Chicago, at the 2011 edition of the annual Muslim Convention hosted by The Mosques Cares Ministry of Imam W. Deen Mohammed.

Also credit “The Imam’s” son Wallace Mohammed II, president of The Mosques, for his above-cited response. It is reflective of the constructive outlook of our dedicated and balanced Muslim American community, whose roots on these shores extend before the beginning of America, and who, thanks to the astute leadership of Imam Mohammed, continue influencing human society for the good.

As for any misguided  or ill-informed attempt to define for us what being Muslim is, here, from the news conference, the Friday congregational prayer, the Pioneer Reception, the Coalition for Good Government’s Town Hall Meeting, and a few other stops in between, are more scenes:

— C.B. Hanif

(L-R): Imams Yusuf Ramadan, Faheem Shuaibe and C.B. Hanif, among others at the 2011 Ramadan Session.

After all these years I shouldn’t have been surprised at how beautiful everyone looked during the 2011 Ramadan Session, hosted by The Mosques Cares Ministry of Imam W. Deen Mohammed last weekend in Elizabeth, NJ.

Of course, almost to a man and woman, we all were fasting for G-d’s sake. Still I was surprised that everyone seemed to be glowing.

So much for the question of why continue to have the Ramadan Sessions if our dear departed Imam W. Deen Mohammed, leader of the largest community of Muslims in the United States, no longer can be present to share his wisdom, as he did for us for so more than three decades. In fact the Imam was present — in part because we were, whether from California to Connecticut, Ohio to Florida.

Wallace D. Mohammed II, president of The Mosque Cares, affirmed his commitment to continue furthering his father’s work. Imam Kareem Muhammad (L) was a 2011 co-chair.

From the very first session, presented by Imam Dr. Nasir Ahmad, ’til the very last with Imam Faheem Shuaibe, and the other outstanding presenters in between such as Imams W. Deen Shareef and Earl El-Amin, right up to the Taraweh prayers each evening, there was wealth on which to reflect for every student of “Our Imam.”

But don’t just take my word for it. Get the CDs or DVDs. If a link for them becomes available, I plan to post it here. Meanwhile, once again as part of the continuing effort here to help chronicle this community, more scenes:

Ramadan Session 2011 Co-Chair Sutanah Whitfield announcing updates on the annual Islamic Convention, also hosted by The Mosque Cares each Labor Day weekend, again in Chicago, IL this year where an even larger gathering is expected.

— C.B. Hanif

In actuality I deserve none of the thanks here. It started with a kind note from one good man to another:

From: Nathan Wilson <Nathan@fccshelby.org>
To: Michael Saahir <saahir@sbcglobal.net>
Sent: Thu, August 18, 2011 1:24:13 PM
Subject: Please tell me what you think

Michael,

That article (see here and here) next was forwarded to me and others by Imam Mikal Saahir, my good friend and fellow student of Imam W. Deen Mohammed, with the note:

May the Peace that only G_d (Allah) can give be with you!  From Michael “Mikal” Saahir 

I in turn forwarded all that to my interfaith e-list. Soon, appreciation for Rev. Wilson began pouring in, as folks copied me their messages to him. I decided to archive some here, unedited (see below). But first, this addendum from Imam Saahir:

Here are the comments that reached me:

———

I am so inspired by your article and more so by your courage to break the traditional interest-based boundaries that separate the human race. This Ramadan you and your family is in my prayers. Thank you for being unbiased and openminded. — Afifa

———

———

DEAR REV NATHAN. MAY OUR LORD CREATOR OR THE HUMAN FAMILY KEEP BLESSING AND REWARD YOU FOR YOUR GOOD WORK. AS SALAAM ALAIKUM — ABDUL KARIM ALI

———

———

Excellent!   We need this sort of interactive communication to make this a better world.   Best wishes for continued success in all your efforts. —  Hope P. Cramer

———

———

Thanks for sharing.  The info is enlightening. — Rose Ann

———

Thank you Rev. Wilson for the enlightening article, that CB Hanif forwarded to me, about Ramadan and the true Muslim’s love of peace, which is really another word for Islam. It is so much more effective coming from a Christian, and a priest at that. The use of your personal experience with the Muslim hiker, told simply but elegantly, made your comment worth its weight in gold. We need more like you to spread the message of peace. It is only through understanding responses like yours that we can overcome the hatred of those misguided 9/11 zealots and their counterparts in our own American society. My sincere thanks and congratulations. My God bless you. It is fpeople like you — Jews, Christians and Sabians — people who have “faith and do good deeds” that the Quran says “have nothing to fear in the hereafter.” — Gholam 

And last, my thanks to our Maker for Rev. Wilson, and for all of you.

— C.B. Hanif 

Thank you Marilyn Lewis-Alim (and The Huntsville Times) for this inspired essay.

Last night was an awesome evening of excellence and elegance, as a galaxy of friends and admirers gathered for an appreciation banquet in well-earned recognition of the longstanding contributions and sacrifices of Imam Dr. Nasir Ahmad, his wife Haleema and their family.

Not many families can boast of mother-and-daughter doctors — much less such a pair who also are among the most humble of human beings.

But that’s also a reflection on “Imam Nasir,” the leader of Miami’s Masjid Al-Ansar, and the beloved brother, friend and teacher of countless Muslims and others from here in the  South Florida to around the world. As much as he abhors attention on himself, the evening was an opportunity to show our love. And so he submitted.

Appreciation abounds for the tireless work of Hanan Ali, who with her husband Harold and their family led the charge in pulling the evening together, along with their Masjid Al-Ansar team. Getting the word out so broadly — thus ensuring a capacity crowd — while keeping the evening a surprise for Imam Nasir (who thought he was heading to another interfaith meeting), was a major feat.

Appreciation too to Imam Fred Nuriddin, another longtime Masjid Al-Ansar leader who along with is wife Debra helped make the mosque such a venerated South Florida institution.

The elegant evening at the Signature Grand in Davie included fine dining, time for prayer (naturally), and another amazing jazz band performance led by composer / arranger / producer / trumpeter and Florida Memorial University music professor Melton Mustafa.

We even learned a few new things about our dear Imam Nasir during Imam Qasim Ahmed’s stirring keynote.

Among fellow imams  trekking to the event were Baltimore’s Imam Earl El-Amin and Houston’s Imam Eugene Farooq. Imam Mikal Saahir of Indianapolis, IN, signed copies of his newly released book The Honorable Elijah Muhammad: The Man Behind the Men. (An outstanding piece of scholarship, I can say, having served as one of its editors.)

Once again, Imam Dr. Nasir Ahmad has cemented and invigorated our local, statewide and national community, simply being himself.

It goes without saying that countless more of his friends, students and admirers wanted to be present last night. For those and others, we hope to follow with more photos. Meanwhile, perhaps the scenes above and below will convey some of the flavor and spirit.

(I tried scanning the program, which depending on your browser should be clickable to enlarge.)

More scenes:

— C.B. Hanif

For me, the most enduring image from the 25^th Annual New Medinah Islamic Retreat was the youngsters, blissfully enjoying the sun and fun, engrossed in their safe, stimulating, loving-and-learning environment. It was a reminder of times gone by, when elders provided the same for us — who now have a responsibility to do even more for the generations to come.

Yet the contented youths were among many memorable images from  this 120-acre educational, agricultural and farming community in Southwest Mississippi, founded in 1987 by Muslim American students of Imam Warith Deen Mohammed.

I’d heard much regarding the vision, commitment and diligence with which New Medinah’s hard workers were establishing the rational spirituality and model community life for which our Creator made us, and to which our late leader Imam Mohammed pointed us. (See backgrounders here, here, here, here and here).

But during New Medinah’s 25^th Anniversary Celebration, May 27-29, with the theme, “All ‘Roots’ Lead to Education,” I saw for myself the land, the wonderful spirit and why all the kudos.

For the youngsters were the hay rides, horseback riding, water slide, story telling, bonfires and kosher marshmallow roasts, swimming, sports, games, Children’s Village, jump house, youth workshops and youth social.

For all, there was the Friday congregational prayer. Three days of presentations by some of the world’s most knowledgeable and insightful imams. Family breakfasts and luncheons. An inspirational banquet, with live entertainment.

For visitors choosing to forgo a hotel room, there was room to pitch a tent under the stars. Or roll in an RV.

And much more:

A Grand Bazaar featured outstanding food and merchandise — including honey from New Medina bees.

There was the groundbreaking for the W.D. Mohammed Boarding School. And the dedication of Ayesha K. Mustafaa Road, honoring the tireless editor of our international weekly Muslim Journal.

Plus, ladies’ sessions on “Hajj — Journey of a Lifetime,” and a “Healing Circle.” A talent/fashion show. A singles social & workshop. The “New Medinah Games.”

There was our meeting of the Southern Association of Masajid and Centers, comprised of my fellow imams and others in positions of leadership in our communities.

Also, a special business session. And a meeing of the Muslim American Veterans Association (MAVA).

As always, I learned much to take home from our sessions, and from conversations with our community’s pioneers.

There also was time for private conversations with the Divine, while strolling the rolling land that echoed its past even as it fulfils the Almighty’s promise for the future.

In between were scenes such as the med-school bound college ladies receiving encouragement from our beloved Imam Dr. Nasir Ahmad of Miami’s Masjid Al-Ansar — one of whose own daughters recently completed her medical school training.

There were second-, third- and fourth-generation Muslim teens…

… Little ones cozy in their mothers’ arms …

… and young adults born into or new to our balanced Muslim community.

Long-timers told me New Medinah’s inaugural celebration featured fields full of tents. Today there are Masjid Al-Halim, the Dr. Rashad Ali Community Center and other sturdy buildings.

Thus I thank our Maker — “The One Who takes you from nothing, and brings you to maturity,” as one imam put it — for the organizational diligence and hospitality provided by Imam Alvin Shareef, his wife Rosa and the New Medinah team.

This was the most time I’ve spent in Mississippi. Given the historical legacy, it was a revelation. I’m not ready to pick up and move. Not yet. But G-d willing, my wife and I plan to be regulars in New Medinah each year.

More scenes:

— C.B. Hanif

“You all have some of everything here.”

“This is like having real money to shop with.”

“The children’s clothes are free? I can’t believe that.”

“I’m so glad that you invited us — this is really a good thing that you are doing.”

“I’m going to church because I found me some church hats, some church clothes and some church shoes! I’m going to look good when I go to church!”

Members recalled similar comments from guests of the 5^th Annual Shop ’Til You Drop Day organized by The International League of Muslim Women’s South Florida Chapter.

The public service event, held Dec. 18 at Masjid Ibrahim on Miami’s 7^th Avenue, benefits women in homeless, drug treatment and battered women’s shelters.

In coordination with those facilities and their various programs, this year’s league beneficiaries received $75 vouchers, used to purchase donated new and gently used personal items — all kinds of clothing, shoes, handbags, scarves, jewelry, toiletries, linen, books and even children’s clothes.

Once again this year the crowd was lined up well before the event’s 10 a.m. start.

Making final preparations (L-R): Chapter President Aneesha Hanif and volunteers Khalilah Abdullah, Elsa Ramirez, Haneef Abdul Rashid and Fern Mateen.

“Everything that a woman needs and can use, we had that for them,” said Aneesha Hanif, president of TILMW’s South Florida Chapter, which spans Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

“It is a wonderful tribute to all our donors and supporters — women and men of all walks of life. And of course I can’t say enough for our Muslim and Christian volunteers. For months they spent their Saturdays separating, pricing, tagging and otherwise preparing the donated items for the big day. Great teamwork.”

She specifically cited the contributions of chapter Vice President Hanan Ali, her husband Harold, Imam Rasool Malik of Masjid Ibrahim, the high school student volunteers who received community service credit this year and the supporters who provided needed manpower.

As for the beneficiaries:

“As they were leaving, some of the women would hug me so tight because they were so grateful, so thankful,” Hanif said. “It was just amazing to them that we were doing this.”

The International League of Muslim Women is a not-for profit community service organization of almost 30 chapters. Most members are students of the distinguished Imam W. Deen Mohammed, who passed in 2008.

TILMW members also belong to, participate in or partner with other social service groups, such as sororities, as well as organizations and agencies not specific to women.

The South Florida Chapter’s annual projects include their Grandmother / Mother / Daughter Luncheon.

Said Alia Pasha, the chapter’s Social Services Committee chair and coordinator of Shop ’Til You Drop:

“The general comment from most of the ladies was thanks for having the STYDD, and how nice we (TILMW) were for doing this every year. Some of the ladies have attended this event for two years because of the length of time they spend in recovery (in-patient, three-quarter house and out-patient treatment) before the completion of their treatment. That is why some have participated for more than one year.”

Wearing the league’s trademark red-and-white, chapter president Aneesha Hanif assists in the checkout line.

Other comments from the 2010 Shop ’Til You Drop Day:

From one lady who was in a residential program last year, and is now in a three-quarter house and working, was that she was here last year and had no idea that she would be able to come again this year. The owner of the three-quarter house where she lives gave her a certificate, and as soon as she saw it, she knew it was a blessing.  She said that last year when she was shopping, that she was just shopping because she was brought there with the other residents. But this year she has a job, she goes to church, and she was shopping this year with a different feeling, like she was successful.

Another lady said that the way we had things set us was like a real store. She said that we had it set up like we cared about people.

Another lady said that she got some very nice clothes for her baby and that some of them were new and some were almost like new.

There was one lady there with 12 children looking for clothes for herself and her children.  She stated how nice everything was and how we made it like they were shopping in a real store. She was amazed at the new things that she was able to find. She said that she didn’t get something for everybody, but she got some nice things. When she told me that she had 12 children and some were boys, I was able to find some male items that we had not put out, and gave them to her.

And there was this:

“I’m looking for a job – I’m going to look good. Do you know anybody who does this for getting your hair done?”

League members Judith Sharif and Hanif

Also, from 2004: The International League of Muslim Women again does community service with “Shop ’Til You Drop”

— C.B. Hanif

“With reference to a saying of the Holy Prophet, your Imam calls attention to the fact that Muslims are to contribute to the wholesomeness of Christian religious holiday festivals. An indication of the Muslim role in promoting respect for wholesome and sacred celebrations is found in the teaching of Prophet Muhammed, which prohibits arbitrary fasting during the holidays of people of the Book. The purpose serves to preserve and to promote solemn respect for G-d and for the sacred devotion of all people.”

My thoughts in that spirit, in my latest Florida Weekly commentary:

“We need no labels to reflect on traditions, values at Christmas“

The column’s here. See the entire digital edition here. Or keep reading:

Amid all the joys of Christmas, most folks find time for reflection, if only for a moment, seeking meaning in the holiday season. So, dare I wade into the social and political swamp of (yikes!) “meaning” in this winter holiday season?

You betcha. Because despite rampant commercialism, Christmas is a spiritual commemoration of the miracle birth of Christ Jesus, peace be upon him, and of that great teacher’s way of bringing the light into the world.

Of course, a lot of folks these days are scared of spiritual. That’s largely due to the tumult throughout history and throughout the world in the name of spiritual.

Yet the horrors that have been done in Jesus’ name — and those of many other great lights throughout the ages — hardly are representative of them. It’s worth noting that the Bible-totin’, cross-burning Ku Klux Klan and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. both claimed guidance from the same holy book.

One result today is that people increasingly aren’t inclined to consider themselves aligned with any particular religious label. More and more, it seems, people are spiritual independents, so to speak. Not affiliated with any particular… er, party.

And that’s fine. It’s way past time for quibbling over how good people conceptualize their spirituality.

In fact, we’d all be better off if the world could grasp the simple concept that there should be no compulsion in matters of religion.

I’m finding that more and more people, some more actively than others, are trying to learn what other folks are spiritually about — or not — and honor that.

Given the occasion, I keep thinking back to what I wrote a few years ago in a column titled, “This Muslim Honors Christmas.”

“I hardly claim to speak for all Muslims, who are as diverse as humanity. But count me among those for whom this day highlights the spirit of love and humility that Jesus taught and lived, and of whom God says in the Quran (57:27): ‘We gave Jesus the Gospel and put compassion and mercy into the hearts of his followers.’ ”

I mentioned that for decades it has been my practice to bestow ribbon-bedecked bottles of Martinelli apple cider upon friends, a token of both the season’s joy and sober reflection.

I cited, though not by name, my dear now departed friend Stebbins Jefferson’s query: “I thought you didn’t celebrate Christmas.”

I don’t, was my reply, but I honor it because she — and so many others whom God has made the repositories of so much grace and good in America and the world — do.

A lot has changed since then, of course — and little has.

Roberta Popara, associate director of Our Lady of Florida Spiritual Center in North Palm Beach, said that being in Iraq for Christmas in 2003 “gave me an opportunity to see how a Christian minority and another culture celebrate one of the most important feast days second only to Easter.”

Most countries don’t observe the cultural Christmas that Americans do, said the Dominican Sister. “Rather the religious significance takes precedent. Even so, in homes and shops there are modest displays for this holiday. Even some Muslim shopkeepers display Christmas lights and images of Baba Noel, as Arabic speakers call our Santa Claus. Special foods such as kibbi and pasha become usual fare for the holidays. There is some gift giving but again, very simple. The Christian community gathers for plays and pageants as well as prayerful observance of the holy season.”

“Even so,” she said, “since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and the rise of counter insurgency, holy seasons such as Christmas bring their own fear upon this minority community as certain groups, claiming they are doing God’s will, bring terror and death by targeting Christian churches and gatherings.

“This needs to be understood in balance with the continued experiences of terror for the ordinary Iraqi citizen regardless of religious identity.”

Methinks Muslims and others should be more aware of an episode in the early history of the Muslim community.

Severely persecuted in Mecca, some left to Ethiopia, whose Christian Negus sheltered them. The Meccans pursued, seeking their forced return. The Muslims appealed to the king that they once had been steeped in ignorance, worshiping idols and committing abominations, but had turned to worship only the creator. They recited the opening verses of the Quran’s chapter 19, named for Jesus’ mother Mary, at which the ruler wept.

The Meccans then claimed that Muslims disrespect Jesus, to which the reply came that the prophet taught that Jesus was a creature of God and his prophet, as well as his spirit and his word, which was cast unto the Blessed Virgin Mary. Upon which the king said he would never give up the Muslims to their persecutors.

There’s been way too much suffering among religious folk since. Witness “An Advent Evening of Commemoration and Reflection” for the four U.S. churchwomen martyred in El Salvador on Dec. 2, 1980.

The Dec. 14 advent program, hosted by Pax Christi Palm Beach at St. Ann Church in West Palm Beach, remembered Sisters Maura Clarke, Ita Ford, Dorothy Kazel and lay missioner Jean Donovan.

They had accepted dire risk in choosing to remain and serve as a shield for El Salvador’s persecuted poor. What else would his sincere followers do, than what Jesus would do?

Hearing their stories, my sense is the sisters would have appreciated a moment of levity from several Sundays ago, courtesy of the Rev. Carol Yorke of the First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Palm Beaches.

“So, you do know what would have happened if it had been three wise women instead of men, don’t you? They would have asked for directions. Arrived on time. Helped deliver the baby. Cleaned the stable. Made a casserole. And brought disposable diapers as gifts.

Rev. Yorke went on to remind that, “Horror and tragedy do not mean the end of meaning, unless we choose to view it that way.”

Instead, she said, “We can choose gratitude.”

There’s room to remember that meaning of this day and season.

Christmas, as someone once said, is what you make of a reflection of your values, desires, affections and traditions.

With spiritual label or not.

— C.B. Hanif

I still was feeling gratitude for the response by justice system and other community members to our “Rethinking” Racially Biased Policing workshop — when I was further heartened by the response to our Delray Beach Interfaith Clergy Association’s 2nd Annual Interfaith Harvest Festival.

My Delray Interfaith Clergy Association colleague Ron Arflin (R) chaplain at Abbey Delray South, host of our 2nd Annual Interfaith Harvest Festival.

The workshop was presented  by my Catalyst for Justice colleagues Jane Tierney, Rabbi Paul Menitoff and me at Florida Atlantic University Nov. 12. We had major support from Dr. Maria Santamarina and FAU’s Diversity Committee.

C4J directors (L-R) Jane Tierney, CEO, Rabbi Paul Menitoff, chairman, and yours truly, president, learning a lot at FAU.

The workshop featured Lorie Fridell, Ph.D., associate professor at the University of South Florida’s Department of Criminology. It was an outstanding presentation by the national expert on advancing professionalism through research and training.

Dr. Fridell gave the audience — justice and social service personnel, community and advocacy organizations, educators, academics and general public — plenty to consider.

Judging by comments from the law enforcement and other community participants, the workshop more than met our goal of presenting best practices that can assist the entire community in significantly decreasing ethnic, religious, gender and other bias.

Diana Scavo (L) of the Focolare movement and her daughter Joylani were among my guests. "It was a special and great time for us to listen to so many loving people who really want to contribute to be one family of God," Diana said.

I can’t say enough for this year’s host, Ron Arflin and Abbey Delray South — and last year’s, Dick Lewellan of Abbey Delray North, the companion Lifespace Communities retirement facility. See other comments and more photos at our DBICA Facebook page, also below and at the end of this post.

Our hostesses were members of The International League of Muslim Women's South Florida Chapter, in their trademark red-and-white.

The table conversation summaries not only were heart-warming, but affirmed our best hopes for the event.

(L-R): Participants from the Florida Conference of Muslim Americans included Imams Fred Nuriddin, Delacie Ummah Phillips, Hanif, and Melton Mustafa.

Along with those events, I was fortunate to hear Deborah Lee Prescott, Ph.D, associate professor of English at Palm Beach Atlantic University, as she elaborated at the Cenacle Sisters’ retreat in Lantana on Nov. 13 regarding her new book, Imagery from Genesis in Holocaust Memoirs, about which I wrote for this month’s Coastal Star.

And all of that followed my very rewarding time with our local Pax Christi group, when I spoke about the Quran and the Hajj. (This week, Muslims worldwide celebrated the successful completion of this year’s pilgrimage to the holy city Mecca with our major holiday, Eid al-Adha.)

Of course, I’m loving all of this — increasingly seeing people of all stripes learning more about each other — and even better, learning how to better treat each other.

Yes, in the words of the eminent Imam W.D. Mohammed — ”America’s Imam”  — (see here, here and here): “Goodness is on the rise.”

More evidence:

— C.B. Hanif