What Muslims Are Doing to Stop Terrorism

September 5, 2013December 1, 2016 by Corbin ♥ 19 Comments

Written by Theresa Corbin

You hear it all the time: if the majority of Muslims aren’t terrorists and radicals, then why don’t we hear about them trying to stop the ones who are? Well, it might be news to you, but we are. Big Time!

What the Imams (religious leaders) are saying:

1. All acts of terrorism targeting civilians are haram (forbidden) in Islam.”In the light of the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah we clearly and strongly state:

2. It is haram [unlawful] for a Muslim to cooperate with any individual or group that is involved in any act of terrorism or violence.

3. It is the civic and religious duty of Muslims to cooperate with law enforcement authorities to protect the lives of all civilians.

We issue this fatwa [ruling] following the guidance of our scripture, the Quran, and the teachings of our Prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him. We urge all people to resolve all conflicts in just and peaceful manners.” read more here.

What the Muslims are doing:

All over North America, Muslims are doing their civic duty and informing the authorities when they learn of a radicals planning to harm their fellow citizens. Read about one such foiled terror plot where a tip helped stop an attack on a passenger train in Canada here.

In another case in New Jersey, the families of men accused in terror plot aided the FBI.

In fact, Muslim communities have helped U.S. security officials to prevent nearly 2 out of every 5 Al-Qaeda plots threatening the United States since 9/11, according to a study done by Muslim Public Affairs Council. Read the report here.

As Samia from Muslimgirl.net writes:

“I just finished reading a string of comments claiming one after another how the ‘majority ‘Moderate Muslim’ population’ is not doing anything to denounce the radical Muslims which means that they are, in actuality, in agreement with their actions.

“[…] As far as I have heard and read in numerous places, the scholars right here in the United States have continuously spoken against terrorism in plain words.

“[…] Did anyone notice the convention that they had [in Pakistan] with the most respected scholars of the country that came together to denounce such actions? That might not seem important enough to some but then I would like to remind them that as of now, Pakistan is currently involved in a very heavy war against terrorism in its own turf. That convention happened in the middle of an Islamic country which is being plagued by many of those 7%* terrorist who are not afraid to call every Pakistani who does not follow their ideology non-Muslim.

“[…] Not to mention, the suicide bombers, roadside bombs, random shootings are not hard to miss during this war which has claimed many innocent lives. And in that entire ordeal, an Imam was killed with such a suicide bomber after he proclaimed that the extremist actions were indeed un-Islamic.

“[…] The self-proclaimed-intellectualists continue to ask, ignoring all the efforts that Muslims have been doing to scream that violent tendencies are against Islam, if moderate Muslims have done anything at all. I would like to ask him or her in return: What would you have us do? As a moderate Muslim, you are telling me to do something. What exactly would you suggest?

“[…] Please tell us, what more can we do to show you that we are indeed peaceful and not agreeing with the hateful speech spoken and preached by those 7%*? It is my humble observation, and I say this with all due respect to those who vehemently deny any efforts by Muslims to go against violence, that you are not seeing what is laid out before you and are seeking only what you wish to seek.“

*7% is an over exaggerated estimation of the amount of terrorists in the global Muslim community. In a number of other studies the number is estimated to be as low as 1%. But it is difficult to tell.

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Eid Time

August 6, 2013November 30, 2016 by Corbin ♥ 2 Comments

Written by Theresa Corbin

Eid is in the next few days. It is celebrated to mark the end of the month of fasting (Ramadan). I have never really celebrated Eid except to go to Eid prayer then go back to work or school. That’s Eid in the West for ya! This year will be different inshaAllah. I will leave you an Eid present. It’s a video making fun of Muslims who use fasting as an excuse for everything, even as an excuse to get out of prayer, among other Ramadan no nos. Hope it makes you smile.

islamwich out!

Stereotypes About Muslim Women

August 1, 2013November 30, 2016 by Corbin ♥ 11 Comments

On The Matter of Not Muslim Enough

July 17, 2013November 25, 2016 by Corbin ♥ 32 Comments

Written by Theresa Corbin

Islam is not meant for a specific nation, a specific race, or a specific place. Islam is meant for all mankind for all time.

It can be amazing to see young and old, rich and poor, people from all corners of the world praying together as one, breaking fast together as one big, happy family, and sharing thoughts and knowledge with one another as beloved companions.

It is truly beautiful, and I look forward to this kinship in the masjid (mosque), no matter what city I happen to be living in. And I feel like my home town has a very blessed community with brothers and sisters of great humility and sincerity.

However, I have, in the past seen and heard terrible tales of astounding acts of ugliness that come with the pride of culture or nationalism.

I am referring to any person born into a Muslim family who feels the need to treat converts as if their faith is less valid, always eyeing them as if they cannot be trusted and will apostate at any moment, always excluding them as if they are not “Muslim enough” because they don’t have a certain last name or skin tone (and unfortunately this kind of ugliness is not only dished out to converts).

As many converts have before me, I came to Islam loving the example of the Prophet (PBUH) and his companions (RadiAllahu Anhum: May Allah be pleased with them) and hoped to meet their present day heirs, the Muslims.

I am sad to say that sometimes I and other converts cannot find them. While, I advise new Muslims to be patient and gracious as they navigate the politics and culture of raised Muslims, I do not excuse this kind of behavior.

It must be easy for those who are born into Muslim families to practice, while we converts have to struggle against what feels like the entire world just so we can be practicing Muslims.

Don’t be arrogant, you had no choice in where you were born and to what family. Had you been born in the West to a non-Muslim family, would you have made an effort to look for the truth? Would you have been open to the truth of Islam in the face of all the lies your culture and community have told you about it? Would you have the courage to stand up and say you are a Muslim, even if you were the only Muslim in your school, in your town, in your state?

Perhaps it is the convert that should question the faith of those who claim Islam through their parents and have never had to fight for it. Perhaps it is the convert who should question the faith of those who call themselves Muslims, but only practice what their culture dictates, and then only when it is convenient for them.

No, perhaps not, it is not for anyone to question anyone else’s faith, whether convert or otherwise. Let us leave this to Allah, and we can only know each other through our actions. We will never be able to see what is in each others’ hearts.

BUT Don’t be confused. You may be an Arab, but that doesn’t make you the owner of Islam.

Don’t get it twisted. You may be Asian, but that doesn’t make you the keeper of the faith.

All too often converts come to the masjid to find that it is nothing more than a cultural center. Arabs going to the Arab masajid and Asians going to the Asian masajid.

Brothers and sisters take it upon themselves to become the “haram” police with no manner of tact or gentleness. And for the few fortunate converts that are accepted into an almost tribal clique, the leaders try to impose their own culture (which all too often is confused for Islam) upon the newly converted.

There is nothing wrong with having a cultural community center, but don’t call it a masjid if you are not open to all Muslims. Do not call it a masjid if you are not there to help the Muslims in the community. Do not call it a masjid if you are not there to create a multi-ethnic/cultural, Muslim community.

And please:

Stop asking converts if they know how to cook some dish from your country or dessert your mother made back home. This doesn’t make anyone more or less Muslim. This is your culture.
Stop telling newly converted Muslims that they must wear the thobe, abaya, or a shalwar khameez, because “this is how Muslims dress”. This is your culture. As long as men and women dress modestly, they can wear the clothes from their own culture.
Stop grilling converts about their stance on all aspects of politics in the Middle East and “back home”. They didn’t come to Islam as if it were the Democratic Convention. Teach them the religion. Then discuss politics as a separate matter.

While it is true that if you are Arab, you are from the same general area, ethnicity, and you speak the same language (kind of) as the Prophet (PBUH), but did you forget that it was also the same people from that same ethnicity that tried to kill the Prophet (PBUH)?

While it is true that the Asian persuasion boasts the biggest percentage of the Muslims in the ummah. It is also true that in the Prophet’s (PBUH) last sermon he urged his followers to understand that:

All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood.

Say “Salam” to a new Muslim. Even if they aren’t from your tribe, they are still your brother or sister. Don’t be ignorant. Don’t be exclusionary. Don’t be racist. And the fact that I feel the need to even say this reflects the seriously sad state of the ummah.

Have you forgotten that ALL the companions of The Prophet (PBUH) were converts?

And you are supposed to be the Ansar (the helpers).

Truly think about that. If you have had the occasion to meet a convert, have you tried to help them? I mean truly help them by offering protection, financial assistance if needed (many converts lose everything when converting), your time, and effort to teach them how to pray? Or have you spat out a list of haram and halal, and then just lectured them about how they aren’t “doing” Islam right?

Just like those who make dawah (invite to Islam) and give the message of Islam to the people will be rewarded for their efforts, so too will the people who push folks away and out of Islam be rewarded with a punishment from their Lord for their evil actions.

Arrogance, national/cultural pride, haughtiness, etc. have NO place in Islam. We are all Muslims however we came to our faith, in whatever part of the world we originate from, we are all one community, one ummah (nation of Muslims).

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Like the post, share it, pin it, comment on it, and/or do whatever social media magic it is that you prefer. Find out more about us in the understandably named “About Us” page and browse other posts in “Table of Contents”.

Summertime And The Livin’ Is Crafty: Crafting Hijab Friendly Clothing

June 27, 2013November 29, 2016 by Corbin ♥ 8 Comments

Written by Theresa Corbin

This week I have been a busy little bee, sewing, baking, writing, editing. In my endeavors to be productive, I noticed something vitally important … it is flippin’ hot (this being my first summer since I moved back to Louisiana). Snowball stands are open for their delicious cooling business, the heat is all anyone is talking about, and people are starting to peel back the layers of clothing.

This is not really a surprise to me, and not really much different from the place I moved from to get back home to NOLA. It is hot all over The South, but the New Orleans area is just so humid. And since I refuse to undress for the heat for many reasons including modesty (read my blog post about my hijab habit), I have decided to get off my sweaty you know what and get started on putting together a new wardrobe.

Sure I could order abayas off the internet, but I like to keep my own style. A quick look around the mall and Target had left me with the conclusion that the fashion industry wants to make women as exposed as possible.

Any shirt that you pick up is either see-through, or barely covers anything, and when you do, by some miracle, find a shirt that looks relatively modest, i.e. long sleeve, it is either so low cut it is pointless or the moment you put it on it turns into shrink wrap, suctioning itself to the skin.

I remember wearing clothes like this in my pre-Islam days, but I guess I was used to the level of discomfort my clothing collection offered. These days if an article of clothing doesn’t offer a potential breeze to circulate between me and it, I cannot stand it.

I see people in short shorts and tight tees and cringe, not because of the amount of skin showing (I don’t judge. You do what you wanna do), but because I cannot imagine what kind of nerves-o-steel and tolerance for torture by clothing it takes. I would freak and run home for PJs.

ANYWAY, the wheels in my head were churning, the dust on my sewing machine was collecting, and then it happened. My sister asked me to join her on a fabric store expedition. I know good and well that when I get into a craft/fabric store I will not come out the same person. Usually the monster that emerges that was once me is loaded down with fabric and notion and tons of happy ideas about how wonderful life will be once I make such and such.

All my Pinterest activity sprang to life in my head and I bought two cuts of fabric. This was only the beginning. It was a gateway shopping trip. I won’t go into the details, but it got pretty ugly. And as of now I still have 5 projects pending.

I have managed, however, to make a pretty solid start to a summer wardrobe.

My first adventure was in the land of headscarves. I found a great hemming tutorial on Pinterest that has worked wonders on those slippery fabrics that I love to buy and hate to hem. This tutorial from cratsy.com works miracles.

And this was my first product, a minty green square hijab with black filigree looking patterned edges.

With one scarf over my head, I was well on my way to a new summer line. So, I started on a maxi skirt. This tutorial of course was also from Pinterest and I had been thinking about trying it out for a while. It’s from the blog Individual Rivalry and was super easy. I used linen (the official fabric of The South) in one of my favorite colors, mustard, and it turned out splendid.

But, a scarf and a maxi skirt does not a wardrobe make, so, what’s next for islamwich you might be wondering? More maxi skirts, for sure. One in sheer sucker-a light and breezy fabric for sipping alcohol-free mint juleps on the veranda- and some upcycled men’s shirts like the one from cutandkeep.net, but with long sleeves.

All these tutorials and more crafty ideas can be found on the islamwich Pinterest board “Just DIY“. Stop on by and see what else islamwich is pinning on Pinterest.

Part 2 Guide to Islamic Parts of Speech: Back with Arabic

June 20, 2013November 25, 2016 by Corbin ♥ 9 Comments

Written by Theresa Corbin

My first post here on islamwich.com was about the Islamic parts of speech, what the difference between Islam, Muslim, Islamist, and Islamic are, and what in the world an “islamwich” is.

When I wrote that very first post, I was sick and tired of people saying that I am Islamic, or that I am Islam, or the dreadful Southern drawl of a mispronunciation of Muslim (MOOOzlim). And that post was my feeble attempt at learnin’ y’all a thing or three (or maybe just tellin’ y’all what ya already know).

So here I am again, serving up some fresh islamwich info for those who:

-Have only ever heard the phrase Allahu Akbar used as some sort of battle cry and you fear people who use it.

-Or you thought Allah was the name of some moon god.

-Or if you heard someone say InshaAllah and said “God bless you” in reply because you thought they sneezed.

-Or you have heard people greet each other with the phrase Asalamu Alaikum, and wondered what it meant.

If any of these things describe you, what follows might be useful to know, and if you already know and know people who do not know then pass it on, so we can all know, ya know?! You can also check out our g lossary for definitions of these words and more.

Allah [uhl – LAH] (n.)- The name of the one God who has no partners, The Creator, The Sustainer, The Provided, The Judge of all in existence. Allah is not a man, a woman, a stone, or an animal. Allah has created all of this and is far beyond comparison with any of His creation. It is the word in the Arabic language that is similar to the English word “God” with a capital “G”. But the Arabic word “Allah” cannot be made plural, a fact which goes hand-in-hand with the Islamic concept of God’s oneness.

ex: Allah created you and me, the moon and the trees, and Jesus and Muhammad (Peace be upon both of them).

Allahu Akbar [uhl – LAH – who – ACK – bar] -1.) A phrase used many times in the five daily prayers meaning “God is the greatest”. Also used when one truly feels Allah’s presence in their life. 2.) A phrase often misused by Muslims to symbolize death and destruction and misunderstood (understandably) by non-Muslims who may believe it is a call to battle.

ex: 1.) Allahu Akbar! The Saints won the super bowl!!!

InshaAllah [in – SHA – uhl – lah] – 1.) God Willing. If God allows it. A phrase used when making future plans or referencing anything that has not happened yet. Founded on the fact that nothing will happen without the will of God even if you and all that is in the heavens and earth try to make it happen. 2.) A phrase often misused by Muslims who are not willing to fulfill their commitments and misunderstood (understandably) by non-Muslims who may believe it means that someone will not do what they say.

ex: 1.) I am going to make some halal peeps today, using the islamwich recipe found here, InshaAllah 2.) Yeah, yeah, yeah, InshaAllah, I will be finished with your drywall by Wednesday.

Assalamu Alaikum [As – sa – LAMB– oo – ah – LAY– coom] – 1.) Used as a greeting meaning “peace be upon you”. The person greeted should respond with the phrase “Walaikum Assalam”, meaning “and peace be upon you”. Also known as giving salam (peace).

ex: Me: Assalamu Alaikum, Kiran. What’s up?

Kiran: Walikaum Assalam, Corbin. Nothin’ much.

Jinn: A Creature Made of Smokeless Fire

May 29, 2013November 25, 2016 by Corbin ♥ 18 Comments

Written by Theresa Corbin

Like any good scary movie with plot and intrigue, any creepy jinn story attracts the darker side of my attention. And it has been brought up on a number of occasions by people who don’t even know each other that they thought I was going to write about the jinn. (Maybe the jinn told them to say that to me?!)

I have no clue. I have never been known to write about any creepy crawly subjects, even though I think it would be tons of fun.

Some may be wondering WTH are you talking about, Corbin? You talkin’ ’bout that Star Wars dude, Qui Gon Jinn?

If you are wondering this, then let me be the first to introduce you to a whole world of the unseen.

The Islamic belief in the jinn is where the Western culture gets the idea of a genie in a bottle. But this is not at all the reality of the jinn, or unseen creatures that walk among us.

Allah says in the Quran:

And We did certainly create man out of clay from an altered black mud.

And the jinn, We created before from scorching fire. (Quran 15:26-27)

From Allah’s words we know from which substance each was created. And that the jinn were created before man from fire. But why jinn?

Allah says:

And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. (Quran 51:56)

So, the purpose of the jinns’ creation is the same as human creation: To worship The Creator of all things. The Quran was revealed for jinn and mankind alike.

The jinn are like us

They think and reflect, eat and drink, get married and have children. They can be good or bad. They live and die,

and will be questioned on the Day of Judgement.

And they are different from us

They are not visible to the human eye, but they can make themselves appear to us as a person or an animal. They have much longer life spans than we do. They posses the ability to travel long distances in a very short time.

God has given the jinn these powers and abilities as a test for them, they are forbidden from using them against His creation, but much like human beings they do use their powers for evil anyway.

Some mean us no harm

An entire group of jinn converted to Islam and became Muslims when they heard the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) recite the Quran. Some are good and listen to the commandment of Allah not to interfere with mankind.

As a matter of fact there is an entire chapter in the Quran (Surat al-Jinn) named after them, in which the belief of and some of the activities of the jinn are explained. Check it out. It is a short chapter of only 28 verses.

And some mean us harm

Once upon a time, their was a jinni (singular for jinn) who was so good he was allowed to pray with the angels. Then Allah created man and told the angels, including the jinni who prayed with them, to bow down to man (Adam). The jinni refused out of arrogance and pride and perhaps jealousy.

This jinni’s name was Iblees, or as he is known in Christianity, Lucifer. He was cast out of the ranks of angels and allowed to roam the earth, swearing that he would try to mislead man until the end of time and so far he has made good on that promise. He is Iblees, the Shaytan, the Devil. And some jinn choose to follow in his path.

Allah tells us about him in the Quran:

[Iblees] said, “My Lord, because You have put me in error, I will surely make [disobedience] attractive to them on earth, and I will mislead them all

Except, among them, Your chosen servants.” (Quran 15:39-40)

Allah has given us direction in the ways we can protect ourselves from the evil of the jinn.

Let me share some jinn stories with you:

Tale 1: Upon waking

When I first converted, I experienced something terrifying upon waking from sleep. I was lying on my back when all the sudden I couldn’t move, my chest felt constricted and I couldn’t speak. Everything went pitch black.

A horrible male voice said that I would give up my religion. Then it showed me a dark hole that never ended and told me he would throw me in if I didn’t turn away from my faith. I was terrified and then all of the sudden the vision, the voice, and the feeling went away.

Allah knows best, but it seemed to me to be a jinni from among those that follow Iblees trying to scare me away from the true path of Islam.

Tale 2: Move!

Just a few days ago, my husband and I were lounging in the living room. I dozed off on the couch and woke up around 3 AM to what I thought was my husband shouting at me saying, “We need to move!”

I thought he was trying to tell me to move to the bed. I shot up and swore I saw his face, just his face no body. Then a second later it was gone, and I could hear him snoring in the bed. Then I realized he would never risk yelling at me while I am sleeping, or any time for that matter, but especially while I am sleeping. He would likely be harmed for the offense. j/j … maybe.

I changed my sleeping position recited Ayat al-Kursi (a verse in the Quran that is recited for protection) and went back to sleep on the couch (Not wanting to face the snoring) very shaken. The next morning I awoke remembering the incident and thought maybe it was a jinn trying to make us move from the house.

May Allah protect us from the evil of mankind and jinn!