Here is a good discussion from one of my favorite scholars on Puerto Rican culture, Raquel Rivera. She specializes in the Puerto Rican role in hip-hop and the roots of reguetón (reggaeton). My interest in these areas is not on the musical aspect, but the social and historical aspects. She is very good at seeing the links between Puerto Ricans and other African-diasporic people. Simply put, Puerto Ricans and African-Americans (or other Black peoples) are not totally different and distinct groups. I love the way she critiques the way people use the antiquated term "Spanish" so loosely to describe people from Spanish-speaking countries (i.e., "Latino" or "Hispanics").
Friday, May 24, 2013
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Knowing the Men - Yasir Qadhi
Several weeks ago an interview with Shaykh Yasir Qadhi came out. In this interview, he clearly stated how he was no a Salafi Muslim. Despite his claim, some have claimed that he was taken out of context and that you must listen to whole recording. It is amazing how those who are always saying "Don't call so-and-so a so-and-so.." or "Did he/she say that he/she is a so-and-so.?" In other words, to them the only way someone can be "labelled" as being part of some deviant sect is when he/she outwardly claims to be of such a sect. However, when the opposite is true and Yasir Qadhi says he is no longer a Salafi Muslim than they make a million excuses about how he is a Salafi.
Shaykh Yasir Qadhi's statement, to me, was not at all surprising. He only stated openly what I and other brothers have been saying for years. He has proven time and time again how he contradicts the usul (foundation) of the Salafi minhaj (methodology). Let us take you back to the late 1990s (or earlier). During that time the American and British brothers who we formally known as all one group and all known as Salafis split into two distinctive groups. One of these groups revolved around the Saudi scholar Shaykh Safir Al-Hawali and Shaykh Salman Al-'Oudah. Yasir Qadhi was at the head of this group of brothers. The others tended to gravitate to Shaykh Rabi' Al-Madkhali and others. The first group, did not seem to see that these two shaykhs actually contradicted the Salafi minhaj and were in fact member of the al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun. The other group - which I will not focus on now - strived their best to purified the religion of any deviances which were added to it. They are the ones who are know as the Salafis - despite the fact that some may have (or do) go to extremes in accepting some of the statement of some scholars. However, overall their minhaj is Salafi.
Why bring this up? The reason why I bring this up is because the trend nowadays in the US tends to be that we are all Muslims and there are no differences between us and if there is one we will not take about it and "divide" the ummah. This path actually is in contradistinction of the consensus of the early Sunni scholar who would make clear statement against inovation and its people. They would not attend conferences with these people and smile and laugh and joke with them. They had some level of concern, pride, and jealousy for Allah's religion.
So I am making this post to clarify to the world the state of affairs of the these deviated individual who I stated above and the highlight the correct unanimous position of the Salaf in this regard and the incorrect "American Muslim" (or one may call it Ikhwani) position that is the one promoted in the US nowadays.
Shaykh Yasir Qadhi's statement, to me, was not at all surprising. He only stated openly what I and other brothers have been saying for years. He has proven time and time again how he contradicts the usul (foundation) of the Salafi minhaj (methodology). Let us take you back to the late 1990s (or earlier). During that time the American and British brothers who we formally known as all one group and all known as Salafis split into two distinctive groups. One of these groups revolved around the Saudi scholar Shaykh Safir Al-Hawali and Shaykh Salman Al-'Oudah. Yasir Qadhi was at the head of this group of brothers. The others tended to gravitate to Shaykh Rabi' Al-Madkhali and others. The first group, did not seem to see that these two shaykhs actually contradicted the Salafi minhaj and were in fact member of the al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun. The other group - which I will not focus on now - strived their best to purified the religion of any deviances which were added to it. They are the ones who are know as the Salafis - despite the fact that some may have (or do) go to extremes in accepting some of the statement of some scholars. However, overall their minhaj is Salafi.
Why bring this up? The reason why I bring this up is because the trend nowadays in the US tends to be that we are all Muslims and there are no differences between us and if there is one we will not take about it and "divide" the ummah. This path actually is in contradistinction of the consensus of the early Sunni scholar who would make clear statement against inovation and its people. They would not attend conferences with these people and smile and laugh and joke with them. They had some level of concern, pride, and jealousy for Allah's religion.
So I am making this post to clarify to the world the state of affairs of the these deviated individual who I stated above and the highlight the correct unanimous position of the Salaf in this regard and the incorrect "American Muslim" (or one may call it Ikhwani) position that is the one promoted in the US nowadays.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Friday, May 03, 2013
Free Assata!
I am just deeply disturbed by the recent announcement of adding Assata Shakur to the FBI's most wanted list and increase the amount of money for her capture. This is yet another act of aggression against Black folks from the Obama administration. That's right such actions were not taken under the Bush administration, but the "activist" American-African (not African-American) president.
Under his administration, we have seen the increase spying on Muslims in United. Many people I know have been questioned by law enforcement. All these people who would always raise their voice against George W. are quiet when Obama takes such actions.
Under the Obama administration the situation of African-Americans has actually gotten worse and not better. Today is definitely a sad day for all Blacks in the US. I am not saying that I promote violence against any law enforcer, but let us look at the facts again. Assata was a political prisoner and her case is not that different from Mumia Abu-Jamal. She was convicted for her political beliefs and not any hard evidence.
Khalil Al-Puerto Rikani
Under his administration, we have seen the increase spying on Muslims in United. Many people I know have been questioned by law enforcement. All these people who would always raise their voice against George W. are quiet when Obama takes such actions.
Under the Obama administration the situation of African-Americans has actually gotten worse and not better. Today is definitely a sad day for all Blacks in the US. I am not saying that I promote violence against any law enforcer, but let us look at the facts again. Assata was a political prisoner and her case is not that different from Mumia Abu-Jamal. She was convicted for her political beliefs and not any hard evidence.
Khalil Al-Puerto Rikani
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)