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My Favorite Muslim Sheikhs and Intellectuals

"The argument that Muslims are uniquely facing persecution rests on presenting a catalogue of abuses involving Muslims. Whether it's the war in Iraq, the oppression of Palestinians or the abuse of prisoners in Abu Ghraib and Guantلnamo Bay, the message is clear: Muslims are getting it in the neck all around the world."
Ever since 9-11, 2001, the Muslim community around the world was being attacked in many places, whenever and wherever they may be. Such events are not broadcast, but the once in a while violent Muslim response gets more airtime. This created a perception in the mind of many rightwingers out there that Muslims are "not progressing" and that there is no "image" that "stands up to the likes of Bin Laden". They refer to the so-called "absence" of condemnation from Muslim sheikhs worldwide and the "absence" of sheikhs and other Muslim intellectuals who teach Islam the way it is supposed to.

To anyone still wondering about that, look no further than this post. Even before 9-11, there have been far more Islamic religious preachers who preach for Islam's fundamental values than those who preach for radicalization and violence. Sadly, many in the West have grown willfully blind of such people who are willing to take the extra yard to show non-Muslims the true face of Islam. Their continuous preachings for peaceful co-existence with others... doing righteous deeds... refraining from corruption and worldly sins... all these cries of outrage against the already-demoralizing Muslim community of today have gone unheard and unspoken... and yet many of them have also been treated as calls to "terrorize" the West, or have been taken as ammunition for those who argue that Muslims of the East hate the West for the West's "freedoms".

Anyways, mulling this over, I will introduce you to several sheikhs I tune in to or read from.

The first is Amr Khaled. He was a bank accountant before he achieved fame as an Islamic "televangelist". Yet, unlike his Christian counterparts in the West, he spoke of a more accepting message... reaching out to the wayward teenagers on the Arab street, and providing them a way out of their corrupted misery, and into the path of righteousness. What makes him unique is that he applies Islam to daily life in his anecdotes during his many televised seminars and lectures. Moreover, his style of dialogue is personal and informal, and doesn't strike as a monstrous evangelical preacher who frightens people right from the start. Furthermore, the way he preaches Islam is at its best, with high values, strong principles and almost impeccable morality.

For shame, he has been exiled from Egypt. What irked me further is that two singers, Nancy Ajram and Haifa Wehbe (both who have earned my disrespect and contempt for their whorish attitudes), were allowed in so they may perform and divert the young Arab street once more from the straight path. It pisses me off to no end that people like Amr Khaled are being scorned even by other sheikhs, especially those with "liberal" Islamic leanings (and by liberal, I mean those who are very loose on Islamic teachings, not moderate like Amr Khaled). This regime, that of Husni Mubarak, which is supported in part by the Anglo-American alliance, has really done it when it barred entry for Amr Khaled into his homeland. Even worse, at the height of his popularity, other trends and shows were becoming popular, such as the emptiness that is the duo of "Star Academy" and "Superstar" (on LBC and Future TV respectively).

Even though both were going on, people were still tuning in to Amr Khaled and his website, as well as his lectures. Despite the extremely wavering support he has, he continues to air till today, and brings out the best of Islam in his televised lectures and seminars, with stories from the Prophet's (peace be upon him) life, commentary on today's issues, anecdotal examples, Quranic interpretations, advice and so forth. God bless Amr Khaled and people like him, and I hope that his voice shuts off all criticism for Islam... as well as those who seek to bring us down ("Star Academy" and their bunch).

Another sheikh I frequent, though not as much, is Hamza Yusuf Hanson (formerly Mark Jordan Hanson). Hamza Yusuf is not the first convert to Islam from the West, but he certainly is one of those who have shown Islam's truest face in his repetitive condemnations of extremism and support for those who have been oppressed and corrupted under the flag of Western imperialism. He made this show on the Arabic channel MBC, which involved him going around the States and meeting Muslims and Muslim converts alike. What I liked about the show is that he gave insight into the Muslims on the street, and showed for truth that Islam is not a racist religion, as it knows of no race or color or ethnic background. At the same time, he also promoted cooperation with society and education on Islamic principles. He is definitely someone I'd like to meet someday.

Then there are those who can recite the Quran with tartil (liturgical tone). While they don't offer much in the condemnation of extremism, some of them are prominent imams in mosques who have actively preached for peaceful values and at the same time pledged support for Muslims living under oppression. For example, there are the two sheikhs of Mecca, Saud Ash Shuraim and Abdel Rahman As Sudais, both of whom have achieved status in the Quranic world for their memorable recitations of the Quran. There is also sheikh Saad El Ghamdi and Abdallah Khayyat (a personal favorite, as his voice is melancholy and provokingly capturing). There is also that of Adil al Kalbani, who is also the imam of a mosque not far from my home.

Well, that's about it for now. If you want to learn more, I suggest you visit Islam-Online.net and other sources (as listed on the sidebar) for more information. To conclude this topic, there are sheikhs out there who have denounced extremism and so forth. You just have to know where to look.

Salaam, from
Saracen

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