activism

The following speech was given by Jawad Khaki, Corporate Vice President at Microsoft Corp, President and a Founding Director of the Ithna-asheri Muslim Association of the Northwest, at the annual dinner of the organization Muslim Advocates in December 2010 in Milbrae, California.

Although you have done nothing wrong, in an Islamophobic environment where 59% of our neighbors hold a negative opinion of Islam and Muslims, Islamophobes will be enjoying their non-stop commentary to continue to blame Muslims.

Throughout the Quran, Allah encourages us to think, wonder, consider, and imagine. He has even advised us that the successful people decide their affairs by putting their heads together:  Ameruhum Shura Bainahum (Quran 42:38).

Sharia is not a word Muslims use on a daily basis in their lives. Actually, until the recent Sharia debate, most Muslim Americans may not have used this term more than a couple of times in their lives.

"The Earth is a mosque, and everything in it is sacred." This is the first line in Ibrahim Abdul Matin’s book, and it shows the clear connection between environmentalism and faith, Islam in specific.

Aminah Assilmi (nee Janice Huff, 1945-March 5, 2010) was an American Muslim activist, Emmy-award winning broadcaster, speaker and director of the International Union of Muslim Women. She was named one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world in 2009.

Have you seen him who belies the rewards and punishments of the Hereafter? He it is who drives away the orphan and does not urge giving away the food of the poor. (Quran, 107:1 - 3)