Discussion One: A New Generation

   Assalamu-Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu

   This week I would like to talk about what has become of the new generation of Muslims and where Islam is seemingly going to go. A while back I went to the Eid prayer and through my friend I found put that her uncle has just published a book. It is called, Shades of Islam. They are poems for a new century. This book is very inspirational as is the man that wrote it. He is a professor at Rutgers University and used to be a teacher here. His name is Rafey Habib. Reading through his poems I felt a new sense of awareness and productiveness. It was like a wake-up call to what the new century is going towards. There are many great poems in the book, and some even made me cry.This next poem is what I would like to share with you:

New Generation

We're always complaining:

The Jews are so much better,

Cleverer, higher-aiming

Than us, more organized,

More unified. Why can't we

(Who outnumbered them

A hundred to one) ever

Get our act together? Let's see:

The Whitefield Jewish Youth

Have Cubs, Scouts, Karate

Drama, cookery, computing.

From the Fort Wayne Federation

They attend Jewish Youth

Conventions, arrange trips to Israel,

Liaise with agencies like United Way.

In the Poconos, young Jews have a summer

Camp, abrim with fun and learning.

At Brandeis, an artistic institute

For talented kids from school.

At St. Louis Jewish Center, a big gym

In which all ages can keep trim and fit.

And what do our youth do, our

Local Muslim youth? They

Wonder where to seat their

Women, so their sense

Won;t be hit. They sit

About, talking, talking

About where to sit.

Our youth is really not doing much now,. They are becoming lazy and becoming more American too fit in with their school. Sure fitting is is not all that bad, but what about forgetting your dreams, forgetting who you are? Would mahatma Gandhi have done that? Would Rosa Parks have gotten anywhere if she had done that? No. We need to remember who we used to be, we need to step up and we need to keep the faith, Allah (swt) has put us on this Earth for a reason, Not to keep up with the latest trends, or worry about our hair, or get guys to look at you, or to worship the music of Drake, Lady Gaga, or watch TV all day long. Don;t care what others people may think of you. What they think of you is not going to help you in the end. Only Allah (swt) will help you in the end. He has put us on this Earth to worship him and to create a strong unified Ummah. When the Day of Judgment comes. Drake and lady Gaga are not going to be there to speak and serve you. They are not going to be the ones to say don';t let so ans so go to Hell. It is our faith that will be there, it will be the people whose hearts that we have touched. Remember that, remember who you are and you will Inshallah be among those who are righteous. Also if you get a chance, I would recommend you to buy the book and read it.