Source & Credits: Chicago Islam Examiner
Qasim Rashid | Chicago, IL
What went wrong with Islam and Chicago?
Chicago's historical roots run deep. Michael Jordan, the Cubbies, and Al Capone are household names in countless countries of the world. However, there is much not known about the impressive history of the Windy City. Around the same time Al Capone enjoyed his meteoric rise to world infamy, a humble scholar of Islam made his way to Chicago from India.
America’s first Muslim missionary, Dr. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq arrived in 1922 to spread the message of peace in the burgeoning nation of America. He chose our great city, and established the Sadiq Mosque at 4448 South Wabash, a structure that stood until 1995 when it was replaced with a renovated Mosque. In a time replete with excessive spending, political corruption, and rising crime rates, a humble man emerged with a message of love, freedom, and respect for all faiths.
Some 90 years later, much has changed while much has remained the same. Our economy still spends more than it can afford, Chicago politics are well, Chicago politics, and not a day goes by where we don't hear about another depressing drive by. However, the religion which once inspired 700 American converts in just two years, now seems to be completely misunderstood in purpose and in practice.
So what went wrong? Rather than peace, Islam seems to tie more with 'terrorism,' 'oppression,' and 'hatred.' Can these be the attributes that attracted so many Chicagoans to Islam less than a century ago? Absolutely not! Then what does Islam truly stand for?
Indeed the Holy Qur'an, the holy book of Islam, addresses this question most clearly. In Chapter 51, Verse 57 God says , "And I have not created the Jinn and the men but that they may worship Me." True worship of God can only happen when there exists peace and accord among people. This in fact is what Islam stands for.
The purpose of Islam is not to blindly gain converts, but to facilitate freedom of thought and expression. These were the very attributes that lead to it’s acceptance in Chicago some 90 years ago. Rather than feared or rejected, Dr. Sadiq was honored by public and private organizations alike. Aside from the honorary doctorates in theology and literature he received from numerous American Universities, the every day people of America were drawn by his love and sincerity. Once while passing on a street in Chicago a small girl cheerfully pointed out to her mother, "Look mother! Jesus Christ has come!" Such was the magnanimity of this follower of the peaceful Islam taught by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) some 1400 years ago.
It might sound harsh, but what went wrong had nothing to do with America and everything to do with Muslims. While blaming and pointing fingers rarely, if ever, resolves problems, taking responsibility almost always does. As Muslims, we must take responsibility over the misinformation that has spread about Islam. If Muslims choose not to take responsibility and instead wish to blame others, well, the misinformation will only continue. The attributes of peace, freedom, and respect for other faiths demonstrated by Dr. Sadiq, the first Muslim missionary, are what led to his loving acceptance during the Roaring Twenties. These very attributes represent the bridge needed to rekindle the once beautiful relationship that existed between Islam and the America into the 21st Century. Let's get to work.
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Qasim Rashid is a contributing member of Majlis Sultanul Qalm, USA (MSQ USA) and regularly writes for Examiner.com and various other publications on topics ranging from Islam to human rights. Leave your thoughts and comments, or email Qasim at 1muslim.examiner@gmail.com
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