This article tries to shed light on the predicament of American Muslims in facing the problems of American society and how they affect the lives of the Muslims in America.
Predicament Definition:
Predicament means, a difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation.
If we look around, we encounter scenes and events, which are counter to Islamic values. The predicament is a common problem among American Muslims.
Drugs
In Schools, our children may be introduced to drugs. Our children may also be introduced to alcohol or cigarette smoking. They watch their friends kissing, hugging their friends of the opposite sex. American children do much more than this.
Imam Siraj Wahaj who is the Imam of Al-Taqwa Masjid in Brooklyn, New York has cleaned several Blocks in the neighborhood of drug addicts. He also received an award and recognition for this outstanding work. The Muslims in the Nation of Islam has a reputation to be free of Alcohol and Drugs.
TV
Both boys and girls who watch a loss of violence on television have a heightened risk of aggressive adult behavior including spouse abuse and criminal offenses, no matter how they act in childhood, a new study at the University of Michigan’s Institute of Social Research says. The study recommends that parents restrict viewing of violent TV and movies by young children and preteens as much as possible.
TV has a great impact and a profound influence on Children. When you see a James Bond movie on the T.V., your child may innocently ask you “Why James Bond is kissing so many women?” James Bond is a hero who fights evil enemies. However, his morals do not fit into Islamic morals. The child’s question may be funny but it cannot be laughed off. The parents should give serious thought to the question. Parents should monitor which programs the children are watching. In some Middle East countries, TV programs are Censored.
Internet
Housewives can download Food Recipes, Gardening tips, Childcare. With E-Mail, one can receive and send letters, documents, photos, etc.
One can do shopping online, book airline tickets, and perform e-trade and e-commerce. Search Jobs and post one’s resumes on the Internet. One can find a Mosque in any city; one can find prayer times.
There are good things and bad things about Internet surfing. The good thing is Qur’an, Hadith, Islamic History and Hundreds of topics on Islam are available on the Internet.
The bad thing is the promotion of erotica on the Internet. Crimes, sale of Alcohol and Drugs on the Internet, online gambling, child pornography. Many have been arrested for child pornography by FBI sting operations. The question is how many Muslims have been arrested? Our teenagers and youngsters are susceptible or vulnerable.
Internet CHAT ROOMS and the Predicament:
Rape and Murder of American Muslim teenage girls who use the chat rooms are frequently reported in the News Media. Strangers entice innocent girls and commit rape and later murder them. They kidnap innocent girls.
Looking at the Moral problems of America, Some Muslim American families got scared and returned to their homeland in order to raise their children in an Islamic atmosphere. However, they come back to the United States within a few months. Because of problems of adjustment to the old world.
STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) and Predicament:
There are 15 million new STD cases each year in the United States. Sexually Transmitted Diseases are herpes, genital warts, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis. How many Muslim adults and Muslim teenagers suffer from STD.? In Kentucky in the year 2002, there were 88 cases of Syphilis, 3,722 cases of Gonorrhea, and 8,755 cases of Chlamydia.
Every year in the United States, one million teenage girls give birth to children out of wedlock. This is scary, but the question is how many Muslim teen-age girls give birth to children out of wedlock?
Other than this, there is a high acceptance of homosexuals in those societies. What do you think, would Muslims living there be safe from this weird trend of homosexuality?
Find Solutions of Predicament:
Now those of us who have decided to stay in the United States and have become citizens of the United States should face social problems and find solutions. African Muslims, New American Muslims, Black American Muslims actually all the Muslims in America settled in those strange lands and raised their families Islamically and to avoid a predicament.
The USA is glorified as glittering, glamorous, rich, and affluent. Many of us who are immigrants and naturalized citizens came here for higher studies to stay here to avail of the good job opportunities to lead a high-quality life. America has a high standard of living. Everyone likes affluent life in America. Everyone looks forward to fulfilling the American Dream. America gives the opportunity to become rich. There is nothing wrong in Islam to become wealthy and accumulate wealth, provided it is Halal earning, and Zakah is given on the wealth.
America also gives us the opportunity to practice our faith, to build Mosques and Islamic Schools. Build Muslim hospitals, to own and operate T.V. stations. Own and publish Newspapers, Magazines. So we have the opportunity to cater to the needs of the Muslim Ummah.
So what is the Inference or conclusion of This Predicament of American Muslims?
The result is zero, which means we are adhering to our Islamic values. We are following the commands of Allah (SWT) as revealed in the Qur’an and practiced by Prophet (Peace be upon him), which is the Sunnah.
We should get a pat on our backs and we should say “Alhamdulillah” Praise be to Allah. This is a blessing. Its a great achievement and we are an excellent example to non-Muslims. This is an example of Da’wah work. Slowly Americans will appreciate the Islamic values and the Islamic Way of Life. Insha’Allah, the Muslim population in America will grow and it is already growing. Islam is the fastest-growing religion in America and in the World.
We see the bright side of America and also the dark side of America. We need to enjoy the best of both worlds. What I mean is we can lead our lives as Muslims and at the same time we can enjoy the bright side of America. How to do this? Let’s start thinking.
