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Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Pop Islam versus the Real Struggle |
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| Maliha |
| 08/19/04 at 09:05:52 |
| [slm] Pop Islam versus the Real Struggle Cute Hijabs, matching tight pants, perfectly manicured hands drumming restlessly to the beat of the latest Nasheed pop; Nice rides, sipping café lattes, halaqas embraced in the depths of cozy rooms, speaking of distant dreams and privileged existences. [i] Do we know the real struggle?[/i] ISNA club, throngs of fans milling air conditioned convention halls, pop star speakers glimmer in the spot light, beckoning distant hearts to spirituality and deeper lives; chastising in that “oh so mesmerizing voice”; as the crowd yells a deep bass “Takbir” followed by shrills of “Allahu Akbar”… [i]Do we really comprehend the Greatness of our Creator? [/i] Trekking the globe in search of meaning, disenchanted existences within treasure filled homes, dreams of substance blocked by trivial minds; apathy radiates in different colors; squeezing potential out of our beings like deep soaked sponges inflated by muddy waters; [i] Can meaning seep into a suffocated heart?[/i] Following zigzag paths of nothingness; in search of “Deen” or “the other half of my Deen” whatever comes first. So we step in style, mouthfuls of “Subhana Allah”; gleeful “Mashaallah”; echoing from empty hearts frenzied by empty lives. Scratching the surface of submission; echoing lines from distant lives; dreams of greatness shelved away; as we pander our “Proud to Be Muslim” shirts; cheap prices for cheaper wares. Pardon my jaded writing…perhaps I forgot the subtle depths of this struggle; as I begin to still the meaningless symbols clanging in my heart; Please remind me: [i]Do rays of the Divine ever illuminate these darkened corners?[/i] -Maliha |
| Re: Pop Islam versus the Real Struggle |
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| lala |
| 08/19/04 at 10:32:59 |
| [slm] I like this.... Why? because no speaker, no book, no halaqa, NO ONE, can give you faith. Faith is intangible...it cant be bought- or created..it just becomes part of you. 'Fitting in' no matter what becomes part of people...fitting into the cool crowd..'cool muslim crowd' doesnt mean you are necessarily profitting your deen. Those that are the heads of MSA's, frequent conference go-ers may not always be the ones with whom we need to befriend. Sometimes all it takes is a little introspection and I believe you have started that process... Seems that everything is marketable these days...even our religion. Such is capitalism for you! :P be well sis... peace |
| Re: Pop Islam versus the Real Struggle |
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| Sara |
| 08/23/04 at 11:36:01 |
| [slm] That's powerful stuff sister. Reminds me a little of Dawud Wharnsby-Ali's Why are the Drums so Silent. I wish there was a poetry reading/slam session at ISNA. |
| Re: Pop Islam versus the Real Struggle |
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| jannah |
| 08/23/04 at 20:56:20 |
| [wlm] sigh u do sound jaded sis.. i think everything has its positive and negative.. not everything becomes emptiness and baseless.. some of those things u mentioned (nasheed, conferences, fashionable hijabs etc) as 'pop islam' are alternatives to people and help people to become better muslims even tho they can become hollow if misused or abused.. |
| 08/23/04 at 20:57:41 |
| jannah |
| Re: Pop Islam versus the Real Struggle |
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| lala |
| 08/24/04 at 00:05:51 |
| [slm] we just have to find what works ....i had to think about this.. ::) but alas, even with all the frills, I think if we keep in mind our true purpose we'll be alright.. maybe we think too much peace n love |
| Re: Pop Islam versus the Real Struggle |
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| jannah |
| 08/24/04 at 00:59:26 |
| [wlm] If I think over my life, I really don't know where I would have been without MYNA camps when I was a kid, MYNA Raps, and later ISNA Conventions and MSA Conferences were huge motivations for me in getting through my college years. All I did was listen to speakers tapes and nasheeds, read books I got from ISNA or get all these new hijabs so that I could match all my clothes ;) etc. I think I was much better at that time imaan wise and 'amaal wise than I am today. I can't think where I would have been without those things. Perhaps there are people that don't need those things, somehow they are able to develop a closer relationship with Allah without anything. I don't know.. I just know I am weak as a human and if I didn't have those "elements of pop islam" I would be a 'cultural muslim in name only' right now. It reminds me of Rabiah's famous saying where she says she worships Allah, not out of fear of Heaven or Hell, but to worship Him out of Love. That's like... how many Muslims can say that. That's a level that's way above most people. Most people like me need the fear of Hell and love of Heaven. That's why it is there in Islam, to motivate us and be a reason for our actions. Can we all just develop this deep love of Allah that motivates us, I don't know. I think we all have to start somewhere, so we shouldn't be critical of those things that bring us closer to understanding and Islam unless they are abused or become unislamic. As lala said we should just find what works...;) wlm, |
| Re: Pop Islam versus the Real Struggle |
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| Maliha |
| 08/24/04 at 12:16:15 |
| [slm] i didn't realize this poem was startin' to create a stir :P Jannah, I totally agree with you; and remember not so long ago when i was getting on Abuhamza's case of saying something similar to what i wrote (sorry bro:) ) all these things have their place, and everyone goes thru' stages; most of the time its a rollercoaster ride of imaan..the ups and deep downs and more ups and downs etc. but when i was writing this, i was thinking of certain people that i know in my life; that i care deeply about; who are falling into..this trap. Like everything else in our life, things have a purpose and place and a lot of times we lose the balance and start hanging on to pretty meaningless symbols forgetting the bigger picture. islam has gotten very "in" and "trendy" amongst the youth lately..but then i wonder at what price? maybe in the end its all part of the process of growth; and maybe i am overthinking it; but anyone who has been to any conference lately can't really blame me for being so jaded ::) aight, be nice y'all :) its just an exercize in expression afterall ;) [wlm] |
| Re: Pop Islam versus the Real Struggle |
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| al-ajnabia |
| 08/25/04 at 19:26:06 |
| [slm] i dig it. there has almost always been a gulf between stage religion (not meaning "staged" religion) and behind the scenes religion. How many truely turn to religion to get in with allah rather than to get in with "religious" people? How many know the reality of evil that true perfected religion can shelter a person from? the bigger the outward expression, the catchier the phrase is, the easier it is to imitate in emptiness, without any meaning at all. has anyone here ever witnessed a person getting shouted down by people when they spoke the discription of a religious expression but failed to call it this or that or whatever it was known of by the crowd. I suppose pop religion can get the crowd to ocasionally do good they wouldnt have bothered to do, and once in a while a deeper understanding emerges in an ocational indiviual, but it can just as easily turn into a facade which can front absolutely anything, if enough people collude to cover for one another. and this is just something I have seen. |
| Re: Pop Islam versus the Real Struggle |
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| bhaloo |
| 08/26/04 at 02:03:26 |
| [slm] Maybe "these people" have not reached a higher spiritual station like some of the good brothers and sisters, but ultimately we all want the same thing, admittance to the Garden. Putting them in good positivie Muslim environments can insha'Allah encourage them and build up their confidence. We just have to be patient, who knows when someone may be guided, do not despair or give up hope. Perhaps Allah (SWT) is testing you as well to see if you have patience and will remain steadfast in doing dawah. |
| Re: Pop Islam versus the Real Struggle |
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| Trustworthy |
| 08/26/04 at 03:09:24 |
| [slm]... There's no stir Sis. Iz all good, you know. I am at 50/50 with this. You see 50 here is for the trend of "hype" that Islam is and then there's the other 50 that is here for the HYPE that is Islam. I do agree with jannah where these conferences, lectures, nasheeds, etc do help some people a whole lot like myself. I find inspiration and motivation in nasheeds and writings like yours because it's like you know how I feel yet I can't express it so beautifully. I am not alone. I, myself, is not influenced by any "trend". Don't believe in them. Allah (SWT) blessed you with your own mind so why waste it with "trends". I sometimes need the HYPE to get a reality check of myself and deen because I am not the perfect Muslimah lke I want to be, dream to be, hope to be, need to be. Jazakh...for the reality check. Many du'as and Allah (SWT) bless.... Ma-assalaamah.... |
| Re: Pop Islam versus the Real Struggle |
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| Maliha |
| 08/26/04 at 12:43:40 |
| [slm] Subhana Allah, the real test is putting some heart felt writings up..and getting slam dunked in the process ::) [wlm] [quote author=bhaloo link=board=library;num=1092917152;start=0#8 date=08/26/04 at 02:03:26][slm] Maybe "these people" have not reached a higher spiritual station like some of the good brothers and sisters, but ultimately we all want the same thing, admittance to the Garden. Putting them in good positivie Muslim environments can insha'Allah encourage them and build up their confidence. We just have to be patient, who knows when someone may be guided, do not despair or give up hope. Perhaps Allah (SWT) is testing you as well to see if you have patience and will remain steadfast in doing dawah.[/quote] |
| 08/27/04 at 10:56:45 |
| Maliha |
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