veiled4allah: Independence Day message from brother Abdul-Malik Mujahid of Soundvision.com

Assalamu Alaikum and Happy Independence Day. I pray for freedom and happiness for all peoples wherever we may live.

On July 4th I plan to get up early in the morning and submit myself to my Creator in prayer thanking Him for everything He has blessed us with while remembering those who do not have what I do in terms of freedom, life, food, or shelter.

I must admit I am a bit offbeat. I remember crying on the happy days of Eid thinking about those who do not have much to celebrate. I have many feelings on the eve of this Independence Day —happiness, thankfulness, gratefulness, and, a lot of sadness.

It amazes me that we who have plenty to eat, who take our freedom for granted can so easily forget those who scramble for their daily bread in Palestine, Kashmir, and Chechnya and who continue to struggle for freedom. Half of the Chechnya's population has been wiped out in the last 100 years but they have not given up on their dreams of freedom. I wonder why my feelings for these people is not shared by my caring and ethical neighbors? May be I am not a good neighbor? Can we truly be free without recognizing the rights of others to live in freedom? Why can't my fellow Americans hear the Patrick Henrys of today saying, "Give me liberty or give me death"?

I am blessed and I am thankful. But I am not happy. I am an American in pain. I am in fear too. Fear of some arrogant people taking down another building to terrorize innocent human beings; worried about my taxes being used to bomb innocent people; and fearful of my daughter being harassed because of her hijab. I am resentful also. Resentful of those Muslims who have harmed our great faith through a street theology of anger. And of politicians like U.S. Attorney-General Ashcroft who pledged to uphold my rights but ridicules my faith instead.

I have lot of feelings today. I will carefully note them down this Independence Day as I pray, think, and, interact with our fellow citizens and I will share them with you next week, insha Allah.

In the meantime, I resolve to be a better Muslim, a real neighbor, and a better citizen than I have been. This Independence Day I will declare my personal jihad for building bridges between people, of creating a third side in America that includes all decent human beings of all faiths to take our civilization to a higher level.

Wassalam,

Your brother in Islam

Abdul Malik Mujahid Sound Vision