MJ's Youth Voice: March 16, March 30, April 13, 2007

Friday, April 13, 2007
MJ's Youth Voice: April 13, 2007 Category: Religion and Philosophy
THE COLOR AND THE CULTURE OF THE BELIEVERVerily, all praise is due to Allaah. We seek HisForgiveness for our transgressions and all unjust actscommitted by our hands upon others and ourselves. HisGuidance is the best Guidance, so, if His Guidance isnot what we follow, then surely we will be lost andmisguided to the pits of Jahannon. I pray that Hesaves us from the trials and torments of the grave andthe Fire. Amen.My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Islaam, As SalaamAlaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakutu. Insha Allaahu ta'alaa, this scribe will find you in dhikr of our Lord,Allaah, Ar-Rabbil al Ameen. I write this letter outof concern for the states of the minds of some ourMuslim youth and adults. I am speaking primarily ofthose Muslim youth and adults who are trying toidentify more with their culture as African-American,or whatever their culture or nationality may be, asopposed to trying to identify more with beingbelieving Muslims who fear Allaah. Our culturalidentification, with respect to our race, is secondaryto our learning and living this deen that Allaahu ta'alaa perfected prior to the death of the greatestexample of man, Prophet Muhammad ibn Abdullah(sallallaahu alaihi was salaam). In this perfection,any additions or deletions to this deen will berejected and find its way into the Fire.The Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi was salaam) said:"Indeed there is no excellence for an Arab over anon-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab, nor a whiteperson over a black one, nor a black over a white one,except through taqwaa (piety and obedience to Allaah).[Saheeh: Related by Ahmad (5/411), and this hadithwas authenticated by Ibn Taymiyyah inKitaabul-Iqtidaa.] Surely, on the Day of Judgment,that Day of Gathering when all stand before our Lordbarefoot, naked, and uncircumcised, and this is theTruth, We will not be judged by our skin color,adherence to our racial culture, etc. We will bejudged by our deeds and our adherence to thisbeautiful deen. The deen, our culture, which isdefined as a way of life, what culture is more refinedand pristine than Islaam? Bring your evidence if youare truthful. Islaam is the cultural identificationthat supersedes all other in this dunyaa (world). This is how we identify and draw nearer to our lord sothat He may have mercy on us and grant us Janna.I am in no way in opposition to one learning abouttheir roots and practicing their respective cultures,but is it fair to say that only a particular peoplewill be granted Paradise because of their skin color? Or their sufferings as slaves or being the descendantsof those people? Subhanallah. Our judgment andrewards will be based on our faith while we were inthese states. Yes, I am an African-American, but didI live as a Muslim and die upon the Haqq and theStraight path? Just as well, our ancestors struggledand were punished as slaves, but did they struggle andendure punishment and then die as Muslims upon Tauhid?We must look at our deeds, which will be weighed onthe scales, not the color of our skin nor our ethniccultures, for surely our Lord Allaah is Just, and Hewrongs no one. For it is us who wrong ourselves. Surely, this is the Truth.Our culture has a point of relevance with respect tohow we deal with one another, but if I deal andidentify with you by observing and giving you yourrights as a Muslim, what would be the significance ofmy culture as it relates to my skin color? Is ourculture as African-Americans, or whatever ournationality may be, a divinely revealed way of life? Does our culture free us from bondage and grant usJanna? How will it benefit us in the Hereafter? Lookto Allaah, His book, and way of life that he hasprescribed for us. He knows best. Alhamdulillaah. We must learn our religion. Only when those culturesthat we identify with don't contradict or conflictwith Islaam are we allowed to practice them.In my opinion, based upon experience, some of us aretoo caught up trying to assimilate ourselves into acorrupt and wicked society whose ways and thinking areadverse and inferior to what our Lord, Who knows best,has given us as a sign of His Mercy. We are Muslimswho just happen to be African-Americans, Caucasians,Latinos, etc. It is not the other way around. Ourlifestyles are to conform to the deen, not vice versa,for this is not true submission, That would becompromise. There is no separation with respect toour social/personal lives and the religion. It is allIslam. Our way of life. How we live, eat, drink,bathe, sleep, and pray. IslamLet us unite our hearts and minds to the common cause,the foundation, the total submission to the Will ofAllaah first. Let us make our deen the primary pointof focus. For surely, those of us whom Allah wishesto punish in the fire, our skins, no matter theircolors, will only be burned without prejudice, butwith justice, and Allaah knows best. So, I ask you,what takes precedence? Our race, culture, orreligion? And what is the color of the believer?Hakim M. Abdul-WasiAge: 37As Salaam Alaikum KEEP YOUR HEAD UPKevin CombsEast Elmhurst, NYMichael Sanyika ScottReidsville, GeorgiaWHAT'S HAPPENING10:00 AM - 6:00 PMGeechee Kunda, the gullah/geechee cultural centerlocated in Riceboro, GA will hold its annual "TheGathering" program on April 22, 2006. Day Clean: TheAfrican Soul www.daycleantheafricansoul.com will beperforming.GET DOWNIra "ENIGMA" DavisAll Muslim and/or thought provoking athletes, authors,educators, entertainers, event planners, imams,inventors, musicians, poets, and politicians betweenthe ages of 17-30 who want to be featured on MJ'sYouth Voice Page. Contact Ira "ENIGMA" Davis via www.myspace.com/EnigmaRecords (click message) or3470 Cherry Ridge PlDecatur, GA 30034Muslim Journal1141 W. 175th St Homewood, IL 60430

Saturday, April 14, 2007
MJ's Youth Voice: March 30, 2007 Category: Religion and PhilosophyIra "ENIGMA" Davis

WORDS MAKE PEOPLE

As Salaam Alaikum,

"Words make people" is a quote attributed to our illustrious leader, Imam W. Deen Mohammed, and I must concur with this statement. In my dual roles as both a hip hop artist and educator, I am constantly bombarded with the truth of this statement. In the past generation and a half, hip hop has served as the soundtrack for many in our nation. In this span of time, I have seen the "Dope Man" go from someone who was vilified by gangsta rap pioneers N.W.A. to someone who is glorified by many of today's popular artists as well as listeners.

At the home going service of the late g-dfather of soul, Rev. Al Sharpton spoke of James Brown's hope that Michael Jackson and all those that had imitated him would clean up the music. Min. Louis Farrakhan, in his recent Saviour's Day address, stated that rappers are the new heroes of the youth and that the elder statesmen of our Black community should not condemn them but rather encourage some hip hop artists to change their abrasive tones.

With that stated, hip hop is not the only genre of music that needs a cleansing. It's across the board. Log on to http://www.cleanmusiccampaign.com to make a change. Remember we have the ultimate power in deciding what gets played. We are the consumer and we dictate the market.

With Allah's Name
The Merciful Benefactor, the Merciful Redeemer

Dawud A. Yusuf's Theme

"Closer and closer comes the reckoning." (the hour of judgment). Oh humanity, it has come to my attention that Allah is one G-d and the African American are still slaves economically and psychologically. Caucasians are equally artificial in claiming they have blood relations with Allah. No, Allah is free of all wants, worthy of all praise. Besides his creation of the heaven and the earth, he created for females twin mates. How are you departed from your true center? The one who said: "Wait a minute I want him."

We have a Muslim American for Human Salvation. His name is Wallace Deen Mohammed. You can find his lectures in the Muslim Journal. Call 708.657.9600 to buy our journal. It behooves you to get the Holy Quran, Allah's last revelation revealed to Prophet Muhammad Ibn Abdullah, the last Universal prophet. You can also buy a copy at the above number.

There are Caucasians, who consider African Americans their slaves, when we use their names and adopt their thinking bank. Although, there are those who are innocent and want to be at peace with you. So, change your names, our ancestors were Muslims.

Brothers and sisters we should come with love and obedience to our leader whom Allah (swat) has chosen for us and the world. We need each other. Can a body survive without a head? No. Therefore, we can't survive without unity and leadership. Collectively, we're not a poor people. The statistics report that over 720 billion dollars pass through our hands every year. It is spent on other businesses. We don't own much of the pie, if we look around. And be aware of words, they form and shape you. Was salaam. (peace).

Sincerely yours,

Dawud Abdullah Yusuf

WHAT'S HAPPENING

The National Young Adult Association
9th annual Young Adult Conference
April 4-8, 2007
Sheraton Atlanta Hotel Downtown 165 Court St Atlanta, GA

GET DOWN

All Muslim and/or thought provoking athletes, authors, educators, entertainers, event planners, imams, inventors, musicians, poets, and politicians between the ages of 13-40 who want to be featured on MJ's Youth Voice Page. Contact Ira "ENIGMA" Davis via http://www.myspace.com/EnigmalRecords
, Homewood , IL 60430www.muslimjournal.net

Friday, March 16, 2007
MJ's Youth Voice: March 16, 2007 Category: Religion and Philosophy
Ira “ENIGMA” Davis

A Message of Concern!

As Salaam Alaikum,

I recently received a letter from a sister alerting me of an issue that is plaguing her local community. Some Muslims are apparently engaging in homosexual liaisons and have begun to target young school-aged children in the community. She is also greatly disturbed because many sisters are unaware of what’s going on. This sister has asked me to post her concern.

So, it is not my intention to bash any member of our human family. However, as a Muslim, I must promote the Quran and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammed (pbuh). I turn your attention to a few ayats from the Quran, the holy book for Muslims worldwide in which WE do not deviate:
7:80-1 “We also sent (Lut) he said to his people, “Do you commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you? “For you practice your lusts on men in preference to women. You are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds.”
26:165-6 "Of all the creatures in the world, will you approach males. And leave those whom Allah has created for you to be your mates? Nay, you are a people transgressing (all limits)!”
27:54-55 "And Lut! when he said unto his folk: Will ye commit abomination knowingly? Must ye needs lust after men instead of women? Nay, but ye are folk who act senselessly."
29:28-29 "And Lut! (Remember) when he said unto his folk: Lo! ye commit lewdness such as no creature did before you. For come ye not in unto males."
Re: MJ’s Youth Voice/Article Named, “What’s happening?”

Assalamualaikum,

I am a 26 yr. old young Muslim Man whom is confined to the perilous confines of a correctional facility.

I have been one to follow politics, and what is happening in this world is not very good. Muslims are turning against each other in the Middle East , and a U.S. Congressman is choosing bigotry over truth. What ever happened to know thy neighbor? Has the philosophy of this countries forefathers’ gone out the window? Along with the morals and values they built this country on…

I do not speak out of hatred at all, nor would I. I speak out of mere confusion and concern on to what could be happening next… Is this country and other countries around the world going to fall apart due to bias, bigotry, and untruthfulness coming to our hearts from the hands of the Shaitan? We as Muslims should be reaching out now more than ever to try to help those whom are in dire need of help and guidance. It says in the Quran to help those in who would help you if the situations were reversed. I am a firm believer of that, matter of fact I live it. I will always help those or guide those on who need guidance. A brother/sister in Islam will always be a brother/sister in Islam no matter if they are Shiite, Sunni, White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, Middle Eastern descent or American.

Remember how Malcolm X reacted when he came back from the Hajj, he saw that there were many variations of color that made up the Muslim Brothers/Sisters that went for their Hajj. We as Muslims should be uniting with each other not fighting, shunning or pushing each other away just because of such differences that are frivolous views in which do not allow us to be together as a Muslim Community, nor does it allows us to be together as one…Al Hamdo-Lillah

Salaam,

Ishmael A-R Daa’Qaadir
Nemansket Correctional Facility
30 Administration Rd.
Bridgewater, Massachusetts 02324-3230
GET DOWN
All Muslim and/or thought provoking athletes, authors, educators, entertainers, event planners, imams, inventors, musicians, poets, and politicians between the ages of 13-40 who want to be featured on MJ’s Youth Voice Page. Contact Ira “ENIGMA” Davis via www.myspace.com/EnigmaRecords (click message) or
3470 Cherry Ridge Pl
Decatur, GA 30034Muslim Journal1141 W. 175th St, Homewood , IL 60430

MJ's Youth Voice: March 2, 2007

Ira “ENIGMA” Davis
QUESTION
Should there be a reinstitution of the F.O.I and M.G.T. or similar groups to combat some of the problems facing Muslim youth?
RESPONSE

Bro. Enigma,

As-Salaam Alaikum. I applaud your spirit. I see your enigma. You are a young Muslim with courage and conviction. I pray that Allah makes your way very easy. Your bold forthright thinking and fearless approach to truth is refreshing and vital to the growth of Al-Islam amongst the Negroes in America. We have many Christian Negroes and many Muslim Negroes in America. A Negro is a mind and a thought pattern. That mind accepts that it is second class to the Arab in the case of our brothers and sisters trying to follow Eastern cultures to the exclusion of our own. That mind accepts that White Christian values are to be embraced to the exclusion of our own value systems. That mind also accepts that Thomas Jefferson had a Quran and gets excited over that. Thomas Jefferson does not validate the Quran. The Quran was in the hands of many tyrants, slave dealers and racist Devils. Black and White! The Klu Klux Klan as well. The deceivers have always sought after the wisdom to enslave others. The reason that they put the Quran behind their backs was because Islam frees the human soul. It does not enslave it. They could not find anything in the Quran to justify making a slave. Having said that, the honorable Elijah Muhammad X’ed us out of all that inferior thinking. We gave it all back to the slave dealers, Arab, Caucasian and others who sought to subjugate and enslave our minds. The F.O.I. and the M.G.T. were the greatest organizational vehicles to free the Negro and to make the Black Man think for himself. The first teaching was “Be yourself and yourself is a righteous Muslim.” He did not say a righteous Arab or a righteous Christian. The Arab has his way and the Christian has his way and they both should be left alone to peacefully follow their way. The independent Nation of Islam frightened the hell out of Christian America and the Arab influences over Islam. They both subliminally joined forces to validate the teachings of the honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam. So we have an Enigma, people caught between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. The Deep Blue Sea is the deep spiritual truth of the soul seeking after Allah and his own place in this corrupt society of confused, hypocritical, religiosity. What is spiritual and what is religious very often clash unconsciously. Keep your mind open and your spirit free, my brother. Only Allah, the divine guidance of the Holy Quran and the life example of Muhammad the Prophet to whom the Quran was revealed are obligatory to you the Muslim. Everything else is by choice. There is no obligation in Islam but to “believe in Allah and then after be upright”. Allah will then guide you to the ‘Salaatul Mustaqueem’, the straight and narrow way. Whether one believes that Jesus the Christ is Lord or Fard Muhammad is God Allah, or only Jews are going to heaven is a personal choice. Allah will straighten out that religious mess on the Day of Judgment. But what is obligatory on every human being is to treat everyone with freedom, justice and equity or fairness. Human rights supersede religious rights. As we search for balance and empowerment as human beings let us embrace the truth of all matters religious and otherwise. A Muslim is one who is obedient to truth ‘Allah’. In answer to the question should the F.O.I. and M.G.T. be re-installed, absolutely and definitely yes and I daresay that if it is not, then the Negro will always be alive as a second class thinker and the Black Man will never be born in America. The teachings of the Nation of Islam of the time of Elijah Muhammad are past. The new free and independent thinking of truth in the light of the Holy Quran and the life of Muhammad the Prophet must replace the old way and the logical mind of thinking a thing through to its logical conclusion must take precedent over blind faith. Faith must be based in light or truth not in darkness or falsehood. Press on my brother, may Allah bless you with much light and courage.

Salaams,

Your brother in truth and faith

Allah-U-Akbar
GET DOWN
All Muslim and/or thought provoking athletes, authors, educators, entertainers, event planners, imams, inventors, musicians, poets, and politicians between the ages of 13-40 who want to be featured on MJ’s Youth Voice Page. Contact Ira “ENIGMA” Davis via http://www.myspace.com/EnigmaRecords (click message) or
3470 Cherry Ridge Pl
Decatur, GA 30034Muslim Journal1141 W. 175th St, Homewood, IL 60430

MJ's Youth Voice: February 16, 2007

Ira “ENIGMA” Davis

MESSAGE TO THE LOST-FOUND

As Salaam Alaikum,

One of the most dynamic shifts in our community occurred in February 1975. The honorable Elijah Muhammad died and his son Imam W. Deen Mohammed assumed leadership of the Nation of Islam. The imam wisely shifted the ummah to orthodox Al-Islam. The only drawback to this change was that it left a small minority of members confused and disillusioned. Many of these members had children and these young adults are now confused and disillusioned.

A topic that is rarely addressed is the multitude of “lost Muslims” especially among the young adult population. There are people who have identified themselves as Muslims all of their life that know very little about Al-Islam. There are others that express no faith and many caught somewhere between.

There is no compulsion in our faith but I encourage those who were once touched by the light of Islam to study the faith again. Please read the “Muslim Journal” and visit your local masjid or center under the guidance of Imam W. Deen Mohammed.

SPOTLIGHT

MO BETTA
Muhammad Abdur Rahmaan was born May 20, 1981. He is also known by the aliases ABDU and Mo Betta. He is a Sunni Muslim and claims both Denver, CO and Baltimore, MD as his hometowns. He is currently a student in Graphic Design at the Art Institute in Washington, D.C. as well as an aspiring hip hop artist.
Mo Betta describes his music style as universal because of the influence of living in the varied landscapes of Denver and Baltimore. Some of his lyrics are more commercial but overall he is putting out music that is positive for black people. According to Mo Betta, the current masters of the hip hop industry influence rappers to only speak on money, cars, gold, and women to bring down the black race.
Mo Betta has experience as music producer, lyricist, and graphic artist. He is currently the CEO of Masterline Recording which he co-founded in 2004. In 2005, his artwork and music afforded him a feature in Vibe Magazine. Mo Betta is currently working on a new album called "Two Citiez". He describes the release as an east coast voice with down south, reggae, and west coast beats.
Contact info:
443.204.6961
www.masterlinerecording.com
http://www.indie911.com/mo-betta
WHAT’S HAPPENING

The National Young Adult Association
9th annual Young Adult Conference
April 4-8, 2007
Sheraton Atlanta Hotel Downtown 165 Court St Atlanta, GA

KEEP YOUR HEAD UP!

Donovan Lowe a.k.a. Malik Shadid Qawi
Jackson State Prison
Jackson, GA

GET DOWN

All Muslim and/or thought provoking athletes, authors, educators, entertainers, event planners, imams, inventors, musicians, poets, and politicians between the ages of 13-40 who want to be featured on MJ’s Youth Voice Page. Contact Ira “ENIGMA” Davis via www.myspace.com/EnigmaRecords (click message) or 3470 Cherry Ridge PlMuslim Journal1141 W. 175th St, Homewood, IL 60430www.muslimjournal.net

MJ's Youth Voice: February 2, 2007

Ira “ENIGMA” Davis
KNOWLEDGE OF SELF
As Salaam
Alaikum,
“Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud” was a song penned by the late James Brown as the turbulent 1960s neared its end. Mr. Brown was not the first to make this bold assertion. Before him there was the Honorable Elijah Muhammad teaching that the original man is the Asiatic Black Man. During the 1920s, Marcus Garvey lauded that Black is beautiful. Even before these men, there was Carter G. Woodson who established Negro History Week, which would later become Black History Month.
We must take the initiative to educate ourselves about our heritage. Generally black history is not apart of the educational curriculum of most public as well as private schools. We should not expect anything different. We must realize that the minority group lives at the whim of the majority group. Therefore, I applaud the efforts of the various Mohammed Schools located throughout America for instilling cultural pride in youth. Now more than ever it is time to teach our young people pride and self worth as they are bombarded with every negative possible.
SPOTLIGHT
Day Clean
The African Soul
Jamal Touré is a proud native of the Low Country of Georgia and South Carolina (Savannah and Hilton Head Island). He is a Djeli ("Griot"). He helped to revive the spirit of the Gullah Geechee Djeli. Providing lectures, presentations, Sankofa or remembrance ceremonies, and tours of the Gullah Geechee lands are his forte. His living history presentations are able to show the connections between African people in the diaspora and at home (the motherland).
He is the founder and director of Day Clean: The African Soul. Day Clean seeks to inform, enlighten, and inspire. The African Spirits of Day Clean are known for exhilarating performances. They can share the history of African people wherever they are located. Day Clean is regional, national, and international in its scope and essence. In addition, he is the art director and one of the Resident Scholars for Geechee Kunda. Geechee Kunda is located in Riceboro, GA and it is the Gullah Geechee Cultural Center and Museum of Georgia, Southern South Carolina, and Northeastern Florida.
Jamal is a graduate of Savannah State University with degrees in Political Science and Marketing (cum laude); and the Walter F. George School of Law, Mercer University with a Juris Doctor.
He has performed at weddings, family reunions, and other programs. Contact “The African Spirit” at today at (912)220-5966
Email: daycleanhhi@yahoo.com
Website
www.daycleantheafricansoul.com
WHAT’S HAPPENING
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Geechee Kunda, the gullah/geechee cultural center located in Riceboro, GA will hold it's annual "The Gathering" program on April 22, 2006. Day Clean: The African Soul will be performing.
GET DOWN
All Muslim and/or thought provoking athletes, authors, educators, entertainers, event planners, imams, inventors, musicians, poets, and politicians between the ages of 13-40 who want to be featured on MJ’s Youth Voice Page. Contact Ira “ENIGMA” Davis via www.myspace.com/EnigmaRecords (click message) or
3470 Cherry Ridge Pl
Decatur , GA 30034Muslim Journal1141 W. 175th St, Homewood, IL 60430