theBuilding

Hey everyone, here's your chance to shoot an Iraqi!

41 year old Art Institute of Chicago Professor Wafaa Bilal is crudely interrupted by the sound of gunfire as he speaks. "...the trigger of this project was that I was watching (*bang*) the news - in fact, ABC news, when they had an interview with an American soldier sitting in a base in Colorado, and she was firing missiles into Iraq (*bang*) after being given information by American soldiers on the ground (*bang*) in Iraq, and when asked if she had any regard of human life, she said "No, these people are bad, and I'm getting very good intelligence from people on the ground."

   For the past 24 days, Bilal has literally placed himself in the line of fire as part of a performance art slash dramatic demonstration piece entitled “Domestic Tension” LINK. Voluntarily secluded in a contemporary art gallery in Chicago, Bilal is monitored 24 hours a day via web cam. Viewers are given the opportunity to watch and communicate with Bilal, or take control of a remote controlled paintball gun and shoot at him.

   Why would anyone subject himself to  something like this? Especially considering how painful it is to be shot with a paintball. Clearly Bilal must be some sort of masochist exhibitionist trying to work out some issues.  Well, that’s what I thought initially, but upon further investigation I found out that Bilal was aiming at something larger. Bilal seems to be fascinated by the implications of dehumanization, along with the distance and video game culture that nourishes it. The project appears to be his way of probing at the innards of human tendency while at the same time, illustrating the plight of the Iraqi people. When I imagine the paintball’s whizzing past Bilal’s head and how some of the people of Iraq are experiencing the same thing, only with real bullets, I have to believe that these thoughts are exactly what Bilal is aiming for…

Foiled Fort Dix Plot will Boost Levels of Mistrust and Suspicion

I have problems with the word "Islamophobia". I don't like it. Its overly simplistic, unoriginal and worse, inadequate to describe most of the situations to which it is applied. This makes it all the more unfortunate that Islamophobia will probably be the final word in describing the American Muslim experience of this decade.

Todays L.A. Times reported on the five men in New Jersey charged with conspiracy to kill U.S. military personnel. Instead of the standard approach of painting the men as caricature-like monsters, the Times went to great lengths to highlight how "normal" and "American" these men were. Neighbors and acquaintances of the men were quoted as saying that the men played basketball, joked about Nikes, music and girls, prayed, and preached about the peace and non-violence of Islam. One neighbor  noted how "nice" some of them  were. Basically, some of theses men were the epitome of the fully integrated moderate Muslim American (according to the Times' description).

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand the implication that the Times is making here. Sadly, it's the same conclusion that most Americans will probably reach, and that is; All Muslims are potential terrorists, regardless of anything else that may suggest otherwise.

Look, I'm not a fatalist, but lets face it. The American perception of Islam LINK is a P.R. nightmare that is sure to keep C.A.I.R. very busy in the upcoming years. Am I saying that its wrong for Muslims  to believe (either consciously or unconsciously) that gaining acceptance is a way to bridge the gap between Muslims and non-muslims? Uh....YES.

A guy named Robert Michum once said "There just isn't any pleasing people. The trick is to stop trying." Now I'm not saying that pleasing people is absolutely synonymous with attempting to gain acceptance, but there is clearly a close relation and correlation between the two. Anyway, I think Michum is right, but I would add to his adage; The trick is to stop trying to please people and focus on pleasing your creator.

-abuMuhammad-

Friction between Muslim and non-Muslim Americans explored on popular radio program "This American Life"

Just when you thought that our site was defunct and you no longer had to scoff through our misdirected rants, pretentious suggestions and esoteric viewpoints... we're back. God willing, we'll try our utmost to bring important issues to the forefront and present you with your portion of yummy Islamic goodness from around the web.

One issue, which seems to grow more and more complicated as time progresses, is the presently turbulent relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims in America. I think about this every day, and the more I think about it the more I see parallels between it and a pesky virus that had previously lain dormant. I could produce a long list of problems that a practicing Muslim deals with daily  in a society like the one we live in today. Added to that list, is the precarious and somewhat conditional acceptance of Islam in America. Like a virus, the problem  lies just beneath the surface. Seething, incubating, just waiting to be triggered into an outbreak. Now, I wouldn't go as far as to say that the state of affairs between Muslims and non-Muslims in America is a powder keg situation, threatening us with the possibility of death and dismemberment. But it definitely forebodes great discomfort and unpleasantness if not acknowledged and properly confronted.

The impetus for today's post was an episode of This American Life  that left me particularly unsettled. The episode revolved around the theme of Muslim and non-Muslim Americans not seeing eye to eye perspective-wise.    CLICK HERE TO LISTEN   For most  indigenous Muslims living in America, all of this is just par for the course, but for anyone  still delusional unclear about the complexity of the touchy relationship, the stories presented are  a realization of some of the subtleties involved in navigating daily life  as a Muslim in America. The difficulties associated with being a subculture presents  dilemmas of identity and acceptance, as well as coming to terms with ones place on the short continuum  between isolation and assimilation.

::WeblogWednesday::8.23.06 Yummy Islamic Goodness from around the Web

Initially WeblogWednesday was intended to be a public service to save you, dear reader, the trouble of finding the best and most beneficial islamically related weblogs that you never heard of. But this week, I decided to feature a blog that I'm sure everyone already visits. The reason I decided to do this was because of the quality and content of this weeks featured blog. I wanted to give everyone (readers of this blog, future bloggers or anyone else who aspires to be effective through words) a benchmark. An example of a blog that is truly driven by content and the masterful wielding of the english language. While the current blogging practice of repackaging and regurgitating the works of others (i.e. posting a gang of links) no doubt has its benefits, there is a lot to be said for those blogs (especially ones written by muslims) that consistently churn out relevant, articulate, provocative and most importantly, original material.  Today's featured blog (that I will repackage and regurgitate for you) is definitely  one of the better ones, and is entitled....

Avari-Nameh

For the three of you out there that aren't familiar with Avari-Nameh, it the weblog of prolific author and columnist Haroon Moghul. One of the things that determines the overall effectiveness of a blog is the authority of the author. While not a shaykh, some of Moghul's writing clearly indicates that he has devoted a portion of his life to some serious religious study and proof of his writing chops is his success in having had several of his works (including a few books) published. Moghul's modern interpretation of Ibn Tufayl's famous Qissatu Hay Ibn Yaqzan can be read for free by CLICKING HERE (Note: Sense of humor and understanding of satire required). Moghul is perfectly comfortable and adept providing observations about Muslims and the practice of Islam in the west. These observations are often endearingly critical, sharp, insightful and charmingly amusing all at the same time. This combination of wit based on experience, coupled with a solid understanding of the deen with an academic ease of word usage, makes for a satisfying and at the very least, entertaining read.

The blog itself is minimalist in format and is driven, as I have mentioned, by Moghul's commentary and opinions regarding current events and anything else that he feels is important or inspiring enough to write about. The variety of topics is wildly wide, ranging from the War on terror Islam (listed under the war on alternatives) to entertainment (listed under entertainment is haraam). What makes the posts so addictive, is that no matter what the subject matter, Moghul usually manages to make it relate to Islam in some way. I admit, I enjoy reading an article that initially appears to be about basketball and have Moghul somehow work in a reference to  the Islamic caliphate. It is almost as if Avari-Nameh (and other blogs like it) are online documentation of the West's admixture with Islam in the 21st century. Whether you agree or disagree with the stances taken, or the Islamic legal opinions followed  by writers like Moghul, one cannot help but marvel at the transcendence and enduring constancy of the Deen by way of its vast breadth. I have found that reading Avari-Nameh provides an almost guiltless pleasure, often benefical, always witty and definitely bookmark and feed worthy.

-abuMuhammad-

::Traditional Text Tuesday:: 8.22.06

Over the past decade or more there has been a palpable movement regarding the advancement and dissemination of "Traditional" Islam. One of the barriers to this movement has been the condition of the intended audience. Lets face it, most of us are attention deficient, impatient, novelty biased and weighted down with worldly preoccupations. These flaws, along with others make it difficult for many of us to be able to partake in any in-depth study and unearthing of some of the treasures of knowledge and insight provided by many our beloved scholars of previous generations.

In keeping with my practice of bringing to your attention the works of those who are clearly more talented (and qualified) than myself, I present to you, dear reader, the first in a series of weekly posts (insha'Allah) entitled Traditional Text Tuesdays. The format will be simple. I recommend a traditional text, provide a bit of background info. about said  book and its author and the rest is up to you.(i.e. you go read it!)

While I cannot claim to be doing any type of service to these books, their authors or the Ummah by mentioning them on this blog,  I do believe that the possibility of gleaning any portion of the immense benefits contained within these texts far outweigh any discrediting defects or shortcomings of the presenter or presentation.

So, onto the business at hand. Here is this week's offering...

Bidayatul Hidayah (The Beginning of Guidance)
By Imam Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali

Author: Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad Abu Hamid al-Ghazali al-Tusi (450-505H/1058-1111). Also known as “Proof of Islam” due in part to the fact that the existence of such an individual is a Proof of the greatness and veracity of Islam. Some  latter-day Muslims have misinterpreted and misunderstood some of the Imam’s works which has led to  much malignment. But make no mistake, Imam al-Ghazali was an accomplished scholar. Imam al-Ghazali was so renowned for his preeminence in knowledge, that he was referred to by his contemporaries as “Shafa’i the Second”.

Having been blessed with a profound level of Godfearingness along with an astute grasp of the realities of the hereafter, the Imam left his life of fame and wealth behind. Imam al-Ghazali set out on a self imposed sequestration that would last for more than a decade and would result in one of the most outstanding texts ever produced, “The Revivification of the Religious sciences.”(Ihya-Ulum al-Din). The Imam penned many other works that continue to be of great benefit. Bidayatul Hidayah is one of these works and is especially relevant for those wishing to establish a foundation of good habits that will effect ones hereafter.

Some chapter titles that make you want to read the book:
-Obedience to Allah
-The proper way to go about awaking from sleep
-The avoidance of disobedience
-The disobedience of the Heart
-The meaning of the first part of the testification of faith, There is no God other than Allah
-The meaning of the second part of the testification of faith that, Muhammad (Peace Be Upon him) is  the Messenger of Allah
-The excellence and superiority of the Companions