Jama'at al-Muslimeen # 3

Jamaat al-Muslimeen [News] P.O. Box 10881 Baltrimore, MD 21234 Race is a False Construct Used by the Oppressors and the Power Structure to Divide, Exploit, Subjugate and Rule Dr. Abdulalim Shabazz , Professor/The Endowed Chair in Mathematics from Grambling State University, Louisiana, addressed the National Islamic Shoora of Jamaat al-Muslimeen in Greensboro, North Carolina on November 8, 2008. This is an abstract of his hour long presentation. The real issue in politics, underlying the hype and rhetoric, is the issue of the control of resources (human and material). People are not allowed to focus on this basic issue through the manipulation of their sentiments by the clever, and often subtle, use of the race card. European colonialists brought millions of human beings from Africa to America as slaves and used them to create America's wealth. The descendants of these slaves are known as African Americans. Barak Obama, the President Elect, is almost universally considered African American and, therefore, African Americans, and oppressed people the world over are rejoicing, and rightly so, for he has become a symbol of change and hope for a better future. However, as is well known Obama's father is Kenyan and his mother is a European American from Kansas. The issue of race in America is devious in the extreme. At one time the White supremacist rulers of America divided the population into White and Black. The term "Black" was given numerous, derogatory and negative meanings in the American English language. Then in the 1970s, the "powers that be" decided to subdivide "white" into various subdivisions owing to which all of the people descendant from the original people of the Middle East, North Africa and Europe are classified as "White." The famous Mustafa Hefny case in Detroit was about an Egyptian naturalized school teacher who resisted being forced into the "white" category. I have always been considered Black, but now a geneological study tells me that my mitochondrial DNA is of European ancestry, not an African lineage, and that about 60,000 years ago my maternal antecendents moved out of Africa and their descendants are found today in the Near East and Europe. Race is a false construct which is used to confuse the issue by ignoring the fact that all people came out of Africa and then migrated into other continents. The election of Obama has to do with a determined new effort by the rulers of this country to control the resources of the world. His dramatic emergence as the winner of the recent election campaign has Zionist underpinnings and hence must be looked at analytically and critically. America Post-Bush: What is our Role as Muslims? National Islamic Shoora of Jamaat al-Muslimeen Analyzes Obama's Election Victory & Its Impact on U.S. Muslims and the World of Islam November 8, 2008: Representatives of U.S. Muslims from various parts of the country met to analyze the November 4 victory of Barak Obama and fhe development of the Islamic movement in America. Islamic scholars and activists explored the situation in the Black, Latino and Asian communities. The role of Zionist Jews, Zionist Christians and Zionist "Muslims" was discussed in the light of verses from Sura al-Baqarah and other chapters in the Qur'an. In addition to several hour long presentations, there was extensive interactive discussion as well as question-and-answer sessions. Br. Sulayman Solano, from Texas, made an hour long presentation about the Mexican and Central American [Hispanic] populations in the U.S. He said that the prospects for the spread of Islam among them are very high. He explained that Hispanics voted for Obama in large numbers because they saw in him a hope for change and bright prospects for all minorities. Hence we should be happy that change is acceptable to our people. Br. Solano traced the history of the Hispanic people from the time when the Inquisition tried to erase Islam from Spain. Extreme measures were taken against Islam; hence we can see how much pork has been popularized and Hispanics are taught to eat with both hands rather than the right hand which Islam favors. Br. Solano emphasized that most Hispanics are cultural Christians. We can easily draw them into Islam by emphasizing the pure UNITY [Tawheed] of Allah, as opposed to the trinity. He discussed the extreme poverty and suffering of the Mexican people and their efforts to come to the U.S. which contains lands actually belonging originally to Mexico. He also outlined the issues involved in setting up small masjids in southern Texas and in Mexico. The Shoora went on from 9.30 AM to 8.30 PM with breaks for prayers and lunch [halal chicken, rice and salads provided by the local community.]. Jamaat al-Muslimeen's projects and programs for the coming year were also outlined and formulated. The following resolutions representing the Islamic aspirations of the Muslims of America were passed by the National Islamic Shoora of Jamaat al-Muslimeen and are being published here for mass circulation in America and the Muslim world: AMERICA: We understand the symbolic value of the Obama victory for African Americans and people of color in general. The victory represents a major break in the mental framework of racism which has denied African Americans their sense of fulfillment as Americans. So, we are not surprised at the celebration of the victory. McCain was not a choice of any relevance. However, we do NOT ENDORSE obama's victory as the victory of the people. Islam helps us to understand that the victory came about owing to Zionist Jewish manipulation of the depressed mood of the American people linked to the disastrous situation created by Bush. The sense of manipulation and maneuvering by the Zionist special interests linked to Israel was quite clear during the election campaign, as could be seen in Obama's obeisance to AIPAC, the control of key positions in his campaign by hard core Zionist Jews and the unremitting stream of propaganda produced in his support by the corporate media. David Axelrod was his chief strategist, George Soros was his financial backer. Obama's special links to Israel were put beyond all doubt a day after his victory when he chose a Jewish terrorist, Rahm Emmanuel, as his Chief of Staff. This man is more an Israeli than an American. He served with the terrorist military outfit, the IDF. His father was a terrorist in the Jewish Israeli organization, the Irgun. The ongoing collapse of capitalism and its $810 billion bail out supported by both Obama and McCain provided a fitting background to the election campaign and played an important role in the growing disillusionment of the American people.The economic upper strata looted America's wealth and are being compensated by the American tax payer for their rapacity. It is time for America to stop mending a failed system and instead pay attention to the Islamic economic system which is the best economic model for himanity. At this time the American people are looking for change and we urge a rebuilding and re-formulation of the American prison system and the unjust "justice" system which creates and re-creates a pattern of incarceration which is like a cancer at the heart of America. We demand that ALL political prisoners be freed, in particular Dr. Omar 'Abdel Rahman, Imam Jamil al-Amin, Dr. Ali Timimi, Ahmed Abdel Sattar, Jose Padilla, Masoud Khan, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, Prof. Sami al-Arian, Imam Siddique Hasan, Abdul Kareem Ibraheem, of Trinidad, Dr. Kifah al-Jayyousi and all the others being punished for being Muslim. We urge the media to give right of reply to opponents of the power structure. It is time for America to listen to the wisdom of its most eminent critics like Ramsey Clark, Mark Weber, Charles Carlson, Mark Glenn, Ralph Nader, Min. Farrakhan and others whose voices have been denied to the American people owing to Corporate and Zionist ownership and control of the media. We remind the new rulers that REPARATIONS must be paid to the descendants of the slaves whose labor built this nation. This is the most opportune time for reparations because Obama is being presented as the first African-American president. The President elect should take special measures to ensure that drugs are not distributed in the Black communities. All prisoners of African descent imprisoned for non-violent crimes should be freed to herald the new presidency. President elect Obama promised to the Native American nations that the treaties made with them will be fulfilled. We urge that this promise not be delayed in its fulfillment. We condemn the ongoing exploitation of women in the media. Urgent social reform is needed to stop crimes against women and the battering of more than 4,000,000 women every year in episodes of domestic violence. We oppose all attempts to present women as commodities and instruments of money making and business. We urge the U.S. government to stop its raids on undocumented people coming in from Mexico and central American countries. We must treat them fairly in a land which belongs to Allah the Creator and not to any one race or elite. The intense poverty and suffering of the people of Haiti, so near the American mainland, smacks of racism and planned subjugation/exploitation. We urge the incoming administration to ease the restrictions on the immigrants from Haiti and to spend a few billion dollars, now being sent to Israel, in the reconstruction of Haiti. Palestine: Sanctions on Gaza must be lifted without further delay. We hail the activities of ships and boats which are trying to break the Israeli-Egyptian blockade of Gaza but these symbolic acts will not suffice without sanctions on Israel. We urge Palestinian factions to stop mutual rivalries and conflict which are playing right into Israeli occupation policies. We demand that all prisoners held by Israel be released and the suffering of women prisoners be brought before the International Court of Justice. The Palestinian Authority [PA] should stop its brutalities on opponents and should release the large numbers of prisoners it holds. All weapons of mass destruction in Israel need to be identified and removed under international supervision. The U.S. should ensure that further nuclear resources do not reach this terrorist entity. Iraq and Afghanistan: We reiterate our demand that the occupation of both Iraq and Afghanistan be ended forthwith. U.S. occupation of Iraq and the NATO occupation of Afghanistan is bringing misery and mass suffering to the people but cannot quell the Islamic resistance. It is time for Karzai of Kabul to step down as the occupation forces retreat. We urge the U.S. to stop the bombing of civilians which is resulting in mass deaths in Afghanistan approaching genocidal proportions. Iran and Syria: The American people must keep an eye on the Bush-Israeli plans to raid Iran just before Bush leaves office. This would be a final act of Bush's irresponsibility which would burden America's future relations with the Muslim world. We condemn the bombing raids on Syria which were carried out to intimidate and suppress the Syrian people. AFRICA: We hope that America under Obama will not continue the blatant violations of the basic rights of various African countries. The occupation of Somalia by Ethiopian military forces and the bombing carried out by the U.S. every now and then must stop. Suffering of civilians in Somalia is comparable to the suffering in Iraq but the U.S. media ignore it. The conflict in the Congo, ostensibly backed by the U.S. and Israel, has wrought havoc with the civilian population and has displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians. We see this conflict as an attempt by western powers to grab the great wealth in the form of precious minerals which exists in the Congo. We urge Americans to investigate and oppose the conflict in the Congo. Zionist attempts, in the name of "Darfur," to divide and undermine Sudan must be opposed and stopped. Again this is an attempt to destabilize an African country to deprive it of it new found oil wealth. Stop western inteference and destabilization in Zimbabwe and stop opposing the transfer of land to Africans. Stop the import of westernization, linked to the AIDS epidemic, into South Africa, Uganda and Kenya. This is a form of cultural imperialism. Pakistan: U.S. Muslims are watching with horror, Obama's plans to invade Pakistan. Such blatant expressions of planned aggression are a clear violation of international law. We urge Obama to publicly put an end to fears that aggression against Pakistan is part of his agenda. We condemn the U.S. and Pakistani military's bombing of Pakistani villages in their attempts to kill Islamic fighters. Pakistan's military must stop its military occupation of the Pakistani regions of Bajaur, Swat, Darra Adamkhel, North Waziristan and South Waziristan. Such brutalities have displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians and have sown the seeds of further conflict. Pakistan should focus on freeing Kashmir from Indian occupation. Pakistanis should not forget that the K in Pakistan stands for Kashmir. By giving up Kashmir and attacking the Islamic tribal populations, Pakistan's rulers are violating the pledges given by the Founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam. Khutba: November 7, 2008 to 400+ people in Greensboro, North Carolina Understand America: Do not become part of the Mass Culture: Issues of Modesty, Food and Self-Study: Be Kind to non-Muslim Oppressed People The Islamic Center of the Triad [ICT] is deeply involved in charitable activities. Its social services and youth committee have made steady progress. The storage space is packed with supplies for refugees who have come in from Iraq, Sudan and Somalia. Women are playing an increasing role in helping the community. As the numbers of juma' worshippers increase, parking has become a serious problem which is being tackled by one of the ICT committees. On Novemer 7, Dr. Kaukab Siddique was the khateeb for Juma' prayers. The following are the main points of his khutba being published here to help khateebs prepare their khutbas in communities which have large numbers of immigrants from Arab and African countries. Texts for the Khutba: "The messenger of Allah, peace be on him, was more modest and shy than a virgin hiding behind her veil. When he disliked something, its signs could only be seen in his facial features." [Hadith in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim, narrated by Abu Saeed al-Khudri, r.a..] "For months at a time, nothing was cooked in the home of the messenger of Allah and we used to live on dates and water. Sometimes our Ansar neighbors would send camel's milk to the messenger of Allah, pbuh, and he would give it to us." [Hadith, narrated by 'Ayesha, r.a., in the Sahih of Bukhari and Muslim] * Read a few verses of the Qur'an every day. * Read one or two Hadith every day. * Pray 5 times every day, because without regular prayer, we are nothing more than cultural enclaves, exotic but powerless. * In America, there is much good but also serious evil. * Millions in this country want Islam, but you cannot reach them by hooking up with the people in power. The Pharoahs have their own agenda. Do not be fooled by them. *Study America. Study slavery. Study the elimination of major Native American tribes. Study the hard work ordinary people put in here to make this country efficient. * Taqwa and study are essential for our survival as Muslims in this country. * Sexual modesty [haya'] is central to our existence as Muslim communities. * The food we eat is related to our daily lives as Muslims. If we drink Coca Cola and Starbucks coffee, eat Mcdonalds stuff, and other "fast foods" loaded with sugar, fat and salt, our health will deteriorate and in addition we will be on the way to assimilation into this society. * Honor and respect women: ALL women regardless of whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims. * Be aware of the evil being spread by the Zionist-controlled media. Oppose their glorification of fornication and adultery. * Homosexuality is being legitimized through an organized and systematic campaign. The power of the "gay" lobby is such that even Muslim imams are hesitant to speak out lest they be not invited to the White House or be allowed to get on media outlets. [1] * Unless we understand MASS CULTURE, salat can become ineffective because as soon as our young people step outside the masjid, they are subject to the influence of MASS CULTURE. This money oriented way of life is so powerful that race barriers cannot stop it. Notice that almost all young people, be they Black or White, dress alike from New York to Los Angeles. They also eat alike and think alike in most cases. Sexuality, food, dress, humor, trivialization of religion are all manipulated by the currents of mass culture. * Thus without awareness of Allah [Taqwa] at all times, we may well be absorbed into the oppressive system though we may pray and fast. 1. [Lot said] "Of all the people in the world, will you lust after males and abandon the wives whom Allah has created for you? Surely you are a people trangressing all limits. They replied: O Lot! If you don't stop criticizing us, we will drive you out...." [The Qur'an 26:165-167] Imam Badi Ali's Questions for President Elect Barak Obama: What will Change for Muslims? Mr. President The entire nation is looking forward to change for the better, both at home and abroad, after 8 miserable years of the Bush presidency. Among those most concerned and hopeful are the Muslim citizens of America who have suffered tremendously during these eight years. We are eager to know: Will you order an end to warrantless searches, arrests and wire tapping? Will you put an end to the Patriot Act and revert to the normal Rule of law which the Constitution envisages? Will you stop FBI infiltration of Muslim communities which creates the sense of collective guilt? Will you close down Guantanamo Bay? Will you ensure that no one is treated as guilty until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt? Will you demolish Abu Ghraib prison? Will you withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq? If so by when? Will you withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan? If not, why not? Do you consider anyone who puts up armed resistance against the U.S. a terrorist? Are armed enemies supposed to be terrorists under international law? Were German, Italian, Soviet, Chinese or Vietnamese forces treated as terrorists? Will you stop arming Israel seeing that it is already militarily more powerful than all the Arab states put together? Will you urge Israel to let Palestinian refugees return to their homes? Will you stop U.S. citizens from working in Israeli settlements and sending funds to Israeli settlers on land declared occupied land by the U.N.? What is your position on Jerusalem? Why do you support Israel when the Soviet threat is no more and all the Arab countries are willing to be your allies? Will you condemn Israeli attacks on Palestinian opponents of Israel on Palestinian territory? Will you urge Israel to release the tens of thousands of Palestinian prisoners it holds? Will you stop funding regimes, like those of Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and King Abdallah of Jordan, which are violating the rights of their own people? If the IAEA finds out that Iran is using its nuclear project for peaceful purposes and cannot produce nuclear weapons in the foreseeable future, will you stop pressuring Iran and Syria? Will you investigate Israel's nuclear weapons and stop U.S. help for Israel's nuclear program? Will you take steps to investigate the gross violations of human rights in Kashmir and Chechnia by India and Russia?

JAMi