'I believe he will help bring about a better understanding Islam is religion of peace'
€ ¦© 2009 WorldNetDaily
SOURCE
A magazine that proudly promotes itself as Muslim has announced a
special edition for Barack Obama's inauguration as president, with
Editor Nida Kahn claiming, "It's our time."
The publication, Elan magazine, also includes endorsements of Obama's
familiarity with Islam from the daughter of Malcolm X and Benjamin F.
Chavis Muhammad, the chief of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, as
well as others.
The magazine, which calls itself the "guide to global Muslim
culture," is distributed in the U.S., Pakistan, Indonesia, Canada,
Qatar, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, as well as
online.
Its cover story for the edition, "Muslim World Embraces
Obama," "explores the hopes and aspirations of Muslims regarding
America's new president."
(Story continues below)
Editor Khan writes, "As the guide to global Muslim culture, we here
at elan felt compelled to honor the 44th president of the United
States via this special inauguration issue. Barack Hussein Obama not
only possesses a keen understanding of the complexities of society
but has demonstrated his willingness to engage in discourse and seek
amicable solutions even with our opponents."
She includes a disclaimer that she is not identifying Obama "as a
Muslim."
But she confirms her desire to celebrate and honor the next
president, "who, by his very nature, experiences and principles truly
does represent hope for the millions of Muslims € ¦’¶ and non-Muslims
alike € ¦’¶ on this planet."
In a statement released on the PR Newswire network, Khan writes of
her intention to "offer an independent all-inclusive forum for
Muslims."
Chavis Muhammad writes that "with some 1.25 billion Muslims across
the globe, the Islamic world couldn't be more excited and
anticipatory about the possibility of increased dialogue,
understanding and unity that Obama's presidency will undoubtedly
bring."
"As an African American Muslim, I can say my prayers were answered
when Obama was elected," Chavis Muhammad writes.
He quotes Ayann Ahmed, an entrepreneur working with hip-hop mogul
Russell Simmons, saying, "I believe he will help bring about a better
understanding that Islam is a religion of peace and compassion. Obama
is a man of understanding of the world."
Also cited by Chavis Muhammad is Imam El-Hagg Talib Abdur-Rashid of
the Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood in New York, who says, "Obama has a
job ahead of him of immense proportions. But so do we as Muslims in
America."
"Whenever there is an advance in the consciousness of people to do
away with unjustified prejudices against Islam or the Muslim
community, then that is cause for hope and goodwill," Chavis Muhammad
says. "With President Obama, rhetoric will translate into sustainable
actions for the greater good of society."
"Beyond his name that signifies his connection to both the African
and Muslim worlds, Barack Obama has demonstrated an openness and
familiarity with Islam that gives Muslims hope that we will move
beyond the 'clash of civilizations model,'" writes Zaheer Ali, a
student at Columbia.
Ilyasah Shabazz, the daughter of Al Hajj Malik Shabazz, aka Malcolm
X, says were her father alive today, he would "share everyone's joy
about the prospect of returning the United States to a position of
credibility, respect and leadership."
"Forty-four years after his martyrdom, he remains the most famous and
recognized Muslim American, as well as a role model for men and women
alike advocating for social justice," she writes.
"Forty-four years ago, the idea of an African American as president
of the most powerful nation on earth € ¦’¶ let alone president with a
name that is common among Muslims € ¦’¶ wasn't even imaginable. Yet in
2008, the people of the United States of America voted," she said.
"I believe that President Obama and the citizens of the world will
also come to understand that Islam is a religion of peace and unity,
which in effect, are the same ideals for which my own father
advocated," she continues. 'These ideals run contrary to those of
that small minority of people who have obviously strayed away from
the message of the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him) when he taught that even if you absolutely have
to fight, it should be avoided at all costs as a peaceful solution is
better and bloodshed is abhorred by God. That even in such a case,
you should display the beauty of Islam in your conduct in battle in
an honorable way by adhering to the strict laws of conflict and
chivalry that have been a fundamental part of the religion since the
time of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) 1400 years ago."
WND documented earlier the report from Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin,
the premium online newsletter published by the founder of WND, about
the rise of the Salafi jihadist movement because of Obama's announced
intentions.
Salafi jihadists follow a more radicalized version of Salafism and
include such adherents as al-Qaida. The report says the movement is
on the rise in the Middle East as the new Obama administration
prepares to take office.
Obama already has indicated a new strategic approach for the Middle
East by eliminating at the outset the pre-emption policy of the
outgoing Bush administration against terrorists, the report said.
This change of policy has not been lost on Salafi jihadists who seek
to rally Muslims for a global jihad as they already have done in
Afghanistan, Bosnia, Chechnya, Kashmir and even the Philippines, the
report said.
WND also reported earlier when Obama announced plans to deliver a
major address in an Islamic capital as part of his global outreach,
which he said would target the Muslim world.
Jakarta mosque
"I think we've got a unique opportunity to reboot America's image
around the world and also in the Muslim world in particular,' ' Obama
said in a free-ranging interview with the Chicago Tribune.
The Tribune reported Obama spoke of a major address in an Islamic
capital but did not provide specific details.
Obama's comments came just days after WND reported an Egyptian cleric
broadcast on state-funded television a plea urging Obama to convert
to Islam while claiming the president-elect has roots in Islam.
"You, Obama, are among those who have pledged before Allah € ¦’¶ Allah
who created you, sustained you, and brought you to this position € ¦’¶ to
be a Muslim who believes that Allah is the one God, especially since
you have some kind of roots in Islam," declared Egyptian cleric
Hassan Abu Al-Ashbal, speaking last week on the state-funded Al Nas
religious television network.
"Convert to Islam, and you will be saved. All glory and honor lie in
following Allah and his messenger, Muhammad. Know that the true
religion is the religion of Islam, and all other religions are
fabricated religions, which are null and void € ¦’¶ religions that were
abrogated by the Shariah of Muhammad," Ashbal said.
Obama repeatedly has denied he is a Muslim. His presidential campaign
website contained the statement, "Senator Obama has never been a
Muslim, was not raised as a Muslim, and is a committed Christian."
But as WND has reported, public records in Indonesia listed Obama as
a Muslim during his early years, and a number of childhood friends
claimed to the media Obama was once a mosque-attending Muslim.
Obama's campaign several times wavered in response to reporters
queries regarding the senator's childhood faith.
And in Obama's autobiography, "Dreams From My Father," he
acknowledged studying the Quran and describes the public school as "a
Muslim school."
"In the Muslim school, the teacher wrote to tell mother I made faces
during Quranic studies," wrote Obama.
In an interview with the New York Times, Obama described the Muslim
call to prayer as "one of the prettiest sounds on Earth at sunset."
The Times' Nicholos Kristof wrote Obama recited, "with a first-class
[Arabic] accent," the opening lines of the Muslim call to prayer.
The first few lines of the call to prayer state:
Allah is Supreme!
Allah is Supreme!
Allah is Supreme! Allah is Supreme!
I witness that there is no god but Allah
I witness that there is no god but Allah
I witness that Muhammad is his prophet ...
Some attention also has been paid to Obama's paternal side of the
family, including his father and his brother, Roy.
Writing in a chapter of his book describing his 1992 wedding, Obama
stated: "The person who made me proudest of all was Roy. Actually,
now we call him Abongo, his Luo name, for two years ago he decided to
reassert his African heritage. He converted to Islam and has sworn
off pork and tobacco and alcohol."
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