By Melissa Robinson, "A new Islamic Community" - [Date: November 8, 2007 Publication: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The (GA) Page Number: A19 Word Count: 893 - If the link to the article is broken, try this link: http://tinyurl.com/6zebpu]- Atlanta Journal Constitution - Atlanta, GA, U.S.A.
Thursday, November 2007
A new Islamic community
Four years ago, while studying French, Italian and women's studies as an undergraduate at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, I accepted Islam by taking "shahada," or the declaration of faith, during Ramadan, proclaiming that there is one God and Mohammad was a prophet of God.
I had spent three years studying various religions and belief systems before taking this important step in my spiritual journey.
I was moved by Sufi poets and the beauty of a faith that allowed for pluralism. I enjoyed the sense of unity that came with performing rituals alongside other Muslims. I was thrilled to discover a belief system that was not at odds with scientific knowledge.
The Islam I came to know allowed for diversity in interpretation and encouraged the pursuit of knowledge and critical thinking. I have grown so much in my faith since that time and am proud to call myself Muslim.
Earlier this year, I moved to Atlanta with my husband and was excited to visit the various mosques in the area. I had hoped to find a supportive and open-minded community in which I would feel at home. However....
(...)
Habitual seekers of knowledge, Kelly [Kelly Wentworth, the writer's good friend] and I were in the midst of reading books such as "Standing Alone in Mecca," "Living Islam Out Loud" and "The Trouble with Islam," along with various Sufi poetry, biographies of strong Muslim women such as Rabbia, a Sufi poet; Aisha, a wife of the prophet; and Khadijah, the first wife of the prophet and his benefactress, and others.
We became inspired. We knew we were not alone in our interpretations of an inclusive Muslim world, even though there was no community to support us.
We decided to form our own community. On Oct. 18, we filed for incorporation with the state of Georgia as the American Islamic Fellowship, an organization dedicated to providing a safe and supportive community for the diverse voices of Muslim Americans.
The Islam I have embraced is one that protects the rights of women, is tolerant of multiculturalism, promotes peace among mankind and encourages spiritual enlightenment through religious practice, critical thinking, and the quest for knowledge.
The Islam I practice is egalitarian and just and is not a religion of blind followers, but of conscientious believers.
Kelly and I are committed to developing a community through the Fellowship that will encourage studying, discussion and diversity of thought. We hope to promote cooperation between faith groups and charitable organizations.
As converts, Kelly and I offer a unique perspective on the practice of Islam. Through studying, critical analysis and thoughtful interpretation, we attempt to make educated and conscious decisions concerning tradition.
We believe that the emerging identity of the American Muslim is as diverse as the American populace. As representatives of that group, we hope to demonstrate the progressive tenets of Islam through tolerance, education, equality and the democratic process.
We aim to focus our efforts on studying the similarities between various groups rather than focusing on the differences.
As descendants of American revolutionaries, Kelly and I follow in their footsteps as we set out to redefine our reality. In the spirit of our forefathers, we have embarked on a revolutionary path.
We have a vision of a community that supports and encourages its members to pursue knowledge and define their own boundaries rather than following lines previously drawn.
The American Islamic Fellowship meets on the first and third Fridays of the month at the Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church on Mount Vernon Highway from 8 to 10 p.m. We welcome anyone who is interested in pursuing spiritual discussion.
We are committed to maintaining an open community and welcome members of other faith groups to participate in interfaith dialogue. Please visit our Web site, http://www.americanislamicfellowship.com/.
Habitual seekers of knowledge, Kelly [Kelly Wentworth, the writer's good friend] and I were in the midst of reading books such as "Standing Alone in Mecca," "Living Islam Out Loud" and "The Trouble with Islam," along with various Sufi poetry, biographies of strong Muslim women such as Rabbia, a Sufi poet; Aisha, a wife of the prophet; and Khadijah, the first wife of the prophet and his benefactress, and others.
We became inspired. We knew we were not alone in our interpretations of an inclusive Muslim world, even though there was no community to support us.
We decided to form our own community. On Oct. 18, we filed for incorporation with the state of Georgia as the American Islamic Fellowship, an organization dedicated to providing a safe and supportive community for the diverse voices of Muslim Americans.
The Islam I have embraced is one that protects the rights of women, is tolerant of multiculturalism, promotes peace among mankind and encourages spiritual enlightenment through religious practice, critical thinking, and the quest for knowledge.
The Islam I practice is egalitarian and just and is not a religion of blind followers, but of conscientious believers.
Kelly and I are committed to developing a community through the Fellowship that will encourage studying, discussion and diversity of thought. We hope to promote cooperation between faith groups and charitable organizations.
As converts, Kelly and I offer a unique perspective on the practice of Islam. Through studying, critical analysis and thoughtful interpretation, we attempt to make educated and conscious decisions concerning tradition.
We believe that the emerging identity of the American Muslim is as diverse as the American populace. As representatives of that group, we hope to demonstrate the progressive tenets of Islam through tolerance, education, equality and the democratic process.
We aim to focus our efforts on studying the similarities between various groups rather than focusing on the differences.
As descendants of American revolutionaries, Kelly and I follow in their footsteps as we set out to redefine our reality. In the spirit of our forefathers, we have embarked on a revolutionary path.
We have a vision of a community that supports and encourages its members to pursue knowledge and define their own boundaries rather than following lines previously drawn.
The American Islamic Fellowship meets on the first and third Fridays of the month at the Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church on Mount Vernon Highway from 8 to 10 p.m. We welcome anyone who is interested in pursuing spiritual discussion.
We are committed to maintaining an open community and welcome members of other faith groups to participate in interfaith dialogue. Please visit our Web site, http://www.americanislamicfellowship.com/.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment