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.

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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

While in Chicago for The Mosque Cares’ 2011 Muslim Convention — I’m thanking my friend Larry Stauber who I see has posted excerpts of my (“What is Al-Islam”) talk of last Sunday, along with several dozen of my wife’s photos, at the First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Palm Beaches’ Facebook page. While there, note the many thought-provoking items listed.

— C.B. Hanif

…where beloved Imam Dr. Nasir Ahmad succinctly delivered the message that our fasting during Ramadan from the lawful and natural desires in the material world also helps the inner being grow, overcome and push back against the desires for the extremes in the material world that the forces of greed, etc. ever are seeking to cultivate in the human being.

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Imam Dr. Nasir Ahmad shares announcements following the Eid Al-Fitr prayer at Miami, FL's venerable Masjid Al-Ansar.

— 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

On a wonderful Saturday, June 18, an amazingly diverse, overflow crowd of the South Florida Muslim community, family, friends and students paid last respects to Judith Sabreen Sharif (October 17, 1947 – June 16, 2011), of the Republic of Panama, Brooklyn and Miami.

If there was any doubt how beloved was this wife, mother, businesswoman, teacher and education chair of The International League of Muslim Women’s South Florida Chapter,  a double sign appeared as the sun set at Miami’s Masjid Ibrahim:

The spiritual significance? One interpretation might be two pots of gold at the rainbow’s end. A better interpretation: good and more good, a double portion of the Mercy and Peace that our Maker has promised — for our dear Sister Judith, and us for whom she so faithfully and tirelessly cared.

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— C.B. Hanif

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.)

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— 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.

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— C.B. Hanif

Our annual trek to visit my wife’s family in Memphis has been tempered by her dad’s illness, though his spirit is ever good. Meanwhile another joy continues better than ever: the city of Memphis’ annual salute to its Muslim community.

Masjid Al-Mu’Minun is in its ninth year of spearheading this monthlong series of “Muslims in Memphis” activities. They peak with the “Slammin’ Jammin’ Finale” weekend whose highlight is the banquet at which I sit as I write. This always wonderful evening will conclude with many of the Muslims and non-Muslims, family and friends on the dance floor. (No, these Muslims are not too holy for the Electric Slide.)

Not only do my wife and I plan our annual trek to coincide with this weekend. So do Masjid Al-Mu’Minun’s friends and family from around the country, as well as the Southern Association of Masajid and Centers, an organization of my fellow imams and others in positions of leadership in our communities. Our SAMC meeting earlier today included another excellent session by Imam Qasim Ahmed, an internationally noted scholar of Arabic from our community. We heard too from the Coalition for Good Government.

But this is not the time for me to wax at length on “Muslims in Memphis.” For now we pray the Almighty’s Peace and Blessings upon the outstanding work being done here by the Masjid Al-Mu-Minun team.

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— C.B. Hanif

Tremendous gratitude to the local Pax Christi group for hosting me as speaker during their monthly meeting Nov. 10.

In prepared comments I spoke about the the Hajj, the pilgrimage to the holy city Mecca that I was blessed to make in 2001. This year’s Hajj is due to begin on Monday, so I was expanding on my previous day’s talk during our monthly meeting of the Interfaith Clergy Committee of the Jewish Community Relations Council.

For Pax Christi I also brought along copies of my various translations of the Quran. Members were able to study them as we perused some of the verses, and I addressed some common questions of folks who may have few or no relationships with Muslims or little working knowledge of Islam.

I also shared how the Quran sounds to many of us in our Muslim American community, through a CD featuring the sonorous Arabic recitation by Imam Rasul Madyun, one or our outstanding young imams who we unexpectedly lost to Crohn’s disease. Along with English translation, the verses (Quran 17:23-25) prescribed kindness to parents.

Thanks again to David Pena and Pax Christi for letting me visit with longtime friends, such as Beth Cioffoletti and Tom Burroughs, and make new ones.

As usual I learned a lot — this time about this Catholic peace movement whose sentiments I overwhelmingly share.

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— C.B. Hanif