Islamophobia

If you are involved in interfaith work, raise the topic of Islamophobia at your meetings. Stress the urgency for people of all faiths to address and condemn it, along with other forms of intolerance publicly.

A large number of Imams have informed me that they use articles from Sound Vision's website for their sermons. May Allah accept it. In consideration of this, I am taking the liberty to suggest some points for your forthcoming Khutba.

A problem, until named or described, is often ignored. Consider that until we had the terms “racism” and “anti-Semitism”, these two types of prejudice were difficult to combat. It is time we understand this and start calling out anti-Islamic and anti-Muslim prejudice for what it is: Islamophobia.

Here, in a darkened room, in a museum built more than a 100 years ago, in a non-Muslim country, a non-Muslim woman decided to shed light on the magnificent discoveries of MY people, at a time where Muslims had drifted off into the darkness in terms of knowledge and research, a time when they didn’t even care where their literature and art and discoveries were going, and in whose hands they were in.

Much is being made of two Muslims who took Pamela Geller’s bait and were killed in Garland, Texas, where she was hosting her hateful “Draw Muhammad” art contest of May 2015. However, what is not being discussed is the stellar way Dallas area Muslims have overall dealt with her hate, and the Islamophobia movement in general.

Lift your head, my sister, my brother. Let your shoulders shed their undeserved burden. Smile at your neighbors. Walk carefully but without fear, and do not despair. For surely, disaster has struck us. But Allah has told us that if we are patient and return to Him, good tidings are in store. And He always, always keeps His word.  

Since its inception in 1988, Sound Vision’s aims have been purely religious, spiritual development, religious education and edification, as well as bridge-building with the neighbors of other faith. We have focused our efforts on “helping tomorrow’s Muslims today”, as our motto goes.