Bullet holes in back of stage where Malcolm X was shot.

Autobiography of Malcolm X. Must Read. Should be on everyone’s bookshelves.

Having been in these discussions before, we could easily end up having a long drawn out debate. Without scholarly guidance, we tend to fumble and at times, make matters worse. I didn’t want to have this discussion leave everyone with a sour taste. I jumped in immediately and offered my perspective on how we should approach a different faith before we start lambasting a group that we don’t understand.

My adopted uncle and mentor, Uncle Zainul CC’ed me on this thread. I had to pipe in as it is very worrying to see how easy it is to be led like sheep with a veil over our minds. If you don’t feel like reading my back story, please skip to “LONG STORY SHORT” below.

I am a convert and I came into this religion of Islam voluntarily without coercion or worldly intentions (marriage, wealth, power, politics, etc.)

Before Islam, I was a Roman Catholic (baptism, confirmation, catechism, confession, just short of being an altar boy) and I wanted to explore other religions as I felt there was something out there, something I needed to find to have inner peace.

Now there were 2 ways I could have explored the other religions (I did look into the various Christian denominations, Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, etc.).

1. Go to authentic sources, learn from the normative scholars and texts and read about why the followers are satisfied with their faith.

2. Go to haters, enemies of the faith, critics, people who like to cry a lot, moan & groan, dissatisfied with their faith and/or people who have an ulterior motive to degrade the faith.

Thinking logically, with common sense, which method do you think I chose and we should all choose before we make judgment about the faith of others? (Unless you can create water molecules at will, move clouds, stop the sun from rising, I think we should leave judgment to the One who can)

From this email thread, it looks like there are people from a variety of faiths. Would you want your faith to be analyzed with method #2 above? When has propaganda ever been a benchmark? Real facts, real sources, real discussions. Professor Google, Father Wikipedia, Imam Yahoo, Reverend Fox News, Rabbi CNN are not authentic, normative scholars.

LONG STORY SHORT
Don’t believe everything you read online, don’t be led astray without using your own analytical skills and realize that we have bigger problems to worry about.

Global poverty, shortage of potable water supply, easily prevented diseases in an areas that do not have enough medical supplies & treatment, putting ALL children through school, rapidly aging generation that needs medical supplies & care, Mother Earth annihilation. THIS AFFECTS ALL OF US. All faiths. All ethnic backgrounds. All wealth brackets (the rich can do their part). All ages. Work together. Commonalities will strengthen us. If we see each other in the Afterlife, just imagine the hugs and camaraderie we will be having.

With peace,
Mikael Pittam
http://about.me/mikaelpittam

Confirmed speakers: Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Imam Zaid Shakir and Imam Tahir Anwar, Sister Rabia Khedr

Sunday, May 11, 2008 (Mother’s Day) in Fremont, California. Special tribute to Sidi Abdul Sattar Rydhan.

Organizers: Zaytuna Institute & Rumi Bookstore & SBIA

Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=17092165855&ref=mf

The organizers are looking for donations. Sponsorship packages are also available ($1000 – full reserved table, $1500 – full reserved table + your organization’s logo on all promotional material). We are seeking sponsors from women’s organization. If you are interested, please contact us.