Last post on Jackson’s death, iA, & no Janazah prayer

This will be, G-d willing, the last of my posts regarding the death of the King of Pop Michael Jackson and the bizarre reactions that have accompanied it.

It is clear from Muhammad Abdul Aziz aka Jermaine Jackson’s recent comments on the Larry King Show that Michael did not accept Al-Islam and will not be buried as a Muslim despite the many myths that have circulated such as an Imam visited the staunchly Jehovah Witness Jackson parents to discuss funeral arrangements to the fable that Dawud Wharnsby and an unknown Imam witnessed him accepting Al-Islam.

What is also clear is that some prominent Imam(s) in California should reach out to Abdul Aziz during this time of grieving and in the long term, encourage him to further his studies of Al-Islam.  During the Larry King interview, Abdul Aziz said that Michael Jackson was “the most incredible human being there will ever be.” To state that a pop singer is the most incredible human being ever, more incredible than Moses (AS), Jesus Christ (AS) or Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) is an extremely peculiar if not blasphemous statement to be made by a Muslim.  To be honest, I’m not quite sure of the creed of Abdul Aziz though I’m aware that he is close with the Nation of Islam (NOI), who provided security for Michael in 2003 during the child molestation case.

Even more queer than this were the comments I heard on yesterday’s Rev. Jesse Jackson Talk Show in which he stated that there have been nine suicides linked to the death of Michael Jackson!  It seems that the perversion of referring to Michael as an “idol” was taken literally by these nine and certainly countless scores of others who have slipped into depression or forms of mania.  An idol is a false deity or false symbol of worship, their symbol of worship died, and it appears that these misguided souls died with their idol.  Perhaps they had histories of psychological problems that may have been exasperated by their pop star idolatry. 

Anyway, I’m sure that more weird stories will surface after the burial, the custody battles will continue, and fights will ensue over royalties and yet to be released material.  My disappointment resides more in irrational behavior and words that Muslims have expressed over Michael’s death, the strangest being a report that was passed on by a sister that a prominent mosque in Illinois holding a Janazah prayer for Michael. 

It raises some serious questions in my mind anyway.

Jermaine: ‘Michael is a gift from Allah’

Muhammad Abdul-Aziz aka Jermaine Jackson

As the world remembers Michael Jackson after his demise, Muhammad Abdul-Aziz aka Jermaine Jackson gave an interview with Matt Lauer of the Today Show (Video) this morning that will surely further speculation as to whether his brother accepted Al-Islam.

Abdul-Aziz said (see 3:20 minute mark on video) that “Michael is a gift from Allah, and He [Allah] has taken him back.”

It is still unclear, however, that Michael, who allegedly changed his name to “Mikaeel” ever became Muslim.  Myths have circulated that Dawud Wharnsby and Yusuf Islam discussed the Islamic religion with Michael and witnessed him becoming Muslim, claims that both have rejected on their blogs.  According to a British tabloid, Michael was given his shahadatayn (witnessing the oneness of G-d and Muhammad being His messenger) at a home by an Imam; no one knows who this mystery Imam is however.  This rumor was rebuked by Michael’s lawyer 3 days afterwards in the NY Daily News.  Unfortunately, media outlets throughout the Muslim world carried the tabloid story without verifying the information and never aired or printed a correction given by Michael’s lawyer.  Thus the story of his conversion mushroomed. 

Going back to Abdul-Aziz’s interview, he made a couple of bizarre statements, probably due to the amount of stress, which he is under.  He stated that he wished that he had died instead of Michael and that he spoke for Michael in times when Michael couldn’t speak for himself like Moses.  Obviously, it is never fitting for a Muslim to wish death for himself/herself or that he/she dies in the place of another.  Also, Aaron (Harun) was the prophet who Moses (Musa) prayed for as an assistant to aid him when he had a difficulty in speech. 

One thing is for sure that we are a week into Michael’s death, Abdul-Aziz has not declared that Michael was a Muslim, and there has been no Janazah (Islamic funeral prayer) for Michael.

The drama continues…

Planned Distribution Of 100,000 Copies Of Qur’an To American Officials

The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) today announced its planned distribution of 100,000 copies of the translation of the Qur’an to public officials in an effort to clarify misconceptions about Islam.

 Click here to watch today’s press conference.

 Visit http://www.explorethequran.com/.

More thoughts on how affirmative action is not the primary solution to the ills of Black America

The US Supreme Court recently ruled that White firemen were unreasonable denied promotions in New Haven, CT when tests were set aside for promotions because they adversely excluded Blacks from promotions due to generally lower test scores. 

The ruling was a victory for those who view affirmative action as “reverse discrimination” or “reverse racism” though many of them perhaps are unaware of the reality of historical White privilege in America, or perhaps they are aware and desire to maintain their privilege.

The question must be asked among Black Americans is has the collective condition of Black America improved since affirmative action has been instituted?  If not, then why? 

Though there are more Black professionals than 50 years ago, it appears that the condition of Black America is in worse shape currently.

My father told me that he was trained that if you want to get ahead, you need to work twice as hard as White people.  This mentality bred supermen and superwomen in the Black community.  This mindset linked one’s striving for excellence in both personal and community sense and not waiting for any special breaks as the primary path towards success.  This is an Islamic teaching.

G-d does not change a condition of a people until they bring about change their inner-selves/psyches. [Al-Qur’an 13.11]

Is there a reward for excellence except excellence? [Al-Qur’an 55.60]

“Surely G-d loves that when a servant [of His] endeavors anything, he seeks to perfect it,” said the Prophet Muhamamd.

The Qur’an speaks of two forms of oppression that should be challenged, which are outward and inward.  There is no doubt that the residual effects of slavery and White supremacy still manifest themselves in the American socio-political order despite our having a Black president in this mythical age of “post-racialism.”  However, what troubles Black America most today is internal oppression, not external.  As long as Black activists and preachers focus more attention on preserving the status quo such as affirmative action or requesting reparations than addressing what Dr. Na’im Akbar has labeled our collective “insanity”, no amount of legislation in the world can help Black America.  This is where Muslims need exemplify leadership in Black America.

The mystics have a saying, “Whoever knows himself, as most certainly known his Lord.”  Meaning that if a person examines himself sincerely, he/she should come to some conclusion.  He/she should conclude the following:

1. I am not infallible

2. My best independent thinking in many instances has not led me to successful results.

3. I am beneath He who created me.

4. I must depend on His guidance for success in this world and in the next life. 

Thus, Muslims, who understand this concept, need to be at the forefront in challenging the collective social norms within Black America through raising awareness and presenting an alternative modality to what is generally viewed as normative.  

This alternative modality, despite some of its theological flaws, was presented during the lifetime of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad while he led the Nation of Islam (NOI).  The NOI exhibited a viable alternative to Black morality and ethics, which addressed many of the issues that plague a large percentage of Blacks.

Al-Islam has the answer to fixing the pervasive nature of out of wedlock child births (currently 7 out of 10 Black children) and the serve as a shield from commercialism, gross materialism and anti-social aspects within pop culture, which helps fuel this pathological.  Al-Islam has socio-political measures to bring Black America out of economic and political immaturity within the American democracy to raise her up to par and above what is deemed as productive.

It is Muslims who have to step forward and led by example to serve as an alternative mind to what intrinsically unacceptable in man’s nature (Al-Fitrah). 

Without intense internal repair within the Black psyche, affirmative action can not further raise up the educational and economic opportunities for Blacks in a meaningful way.  The incarnation rates will increase, drug abuse will increase, and depravity will increase for the masses while some will thrive.

Affirmative Action Is Going Down & So Is Black America Unless…

The US Supreme Court today ruled that White firemen were unreasonable denied promotions in New Haven, CT when tests were set aside for promotions because they adversely excluded Blacks due to their generally lower test scores. 

Today’s ruling was another strike against decades of affirmative action in America.  This, however, is not a surprise at all to me for a couple of reasons.

For one, it was to be expected as of November 5, 2008 when America elected its first Black president that affirmative action would become a questionable issue to many Americans, especially to those who had a propensity to lean towards affirmative action being “reverse discrimination” or “reverse racism”.  Now that there is a Black president (though he is not from the offspring of slaves), everything is equal now has become the mantra from the “Right.”  Even those on the “Left” who made silly proclamations on election night that “Dr. King’s dream has been realized” feed into this non-sense.

The reality is racism in America is real though less overt towards Blacks (Arabs are checking it more these days).  Racism is institutionalized in America though nothing like it was a century ago.  For instance, White abuse drugs at similar rates as Blacks in America, yet Blacks make up 50% of the 2 million people in person.  This is an obvious sentencing issue since Blacks only make up 12% of the population.  School expulsion rates are disproportionate, exploitation through usury occurs at much higher rates, and other forms of more subtle discrimination are still the order of the day in America.

On the other hand, much of what Black America suffers today is self induced in which affirmative action and even reparations can not fix.  Black out of wedlock births were significantly lower in 1959 than now.  It’s hard to fathom a group of people succeeding socially and economically when 70% of its children are born into single parent homes in which a large percentage of the mothers are under-educated.  Since Black male role models in too many homes are MIA, too many Black children look to rappers like Lil’ Wayne to athletes like football star Terrell Owens, who live flashy, dysfunctional lifestyles as role models.

Blacks are the biggest consumers with the least amount of capital in America.  Prior to desegregation (never has been true integration), Blacks had vibrant business districts and owned significantly more farms.  No one is stopping Blacks from cultivating Black business cooperation like Arabs, Jews and Koreans have in America.  The psychological chains of slavery that grip Black America and are stronger than chains made of iron are the greater issue.

I’ll share some thoughts tomorrow, G-d willing, on the role of Muslims in the Black community on how we need to step up to the plate with others in offering a solution and going back to the old school so to speak in solving these issues.