Constructing Muslim Identity
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Muslim-Free Democracy | Who Is Leading Our Schools | Constructing Muslim Identity MARCH/APRIL 2016/1437 | $4.00 WWW.ISNA.NET CONSTRUCTING MUSLIM IDENTITY IN THE CLASSROOM Through collaborative and deliberate efforts, educators can construct a positive Muslim identity for their students. CONTENTS VOL 45 NO. 2 MARCH/APRIL 2016 visit isna online at: WWW.ISNA.NET EDUCATION 21 Leading Initiatives 24 Who Is Leading Our Schools? 26 W hy do Islamic School Teachers Drop Out? 30 C onstructing Muslim Identity in the Classroom 32 Islamic Schools vs. Public Schools 36 Why We Need Diverse Books 38 Envisioning Authentic Islamic Schools 40 T he Role Schools Can Play in 21 Constructing a Muslim Identity HEALTH & WELL-BEING 42 Ethical Decision Making and the Muslim Patient 44 Overcoming Stigma ISLAM IN AMERICA 46 Equally Empowered 48 Standing with Muslims 46 MUSLIMS IN ACTION 50 Seeds of Progress FINANCE 52 The Islamic Law of Inheritance SPECIAL FEATURE 54 Yes, Islam Really is a Religion THE MUSLIM WORLD 52 56 Muslim-Free Democracy FAMILY LIFE DEPARTMENTS 58 Embodying Care and Mercy 6 Editorial 8 ISNA Matters 10 Community Matters 60 New Releases DESIGN & LAYOUT BY: Gamal Abdelaziz, A-Ztype Copyeditor: Jay Willoughby. The views expressed in Islamic Horizons are not necessarily the views of its editors nor of the Islamic Society of North America. Islamic Horizons does not accept unsolicitated articles or submissions. All references to the Quran made are from 58 The Holy Quran: Text, Translation and Commentary, Abdullah Yusuf Ali, Amana, Brentwood, MD. ISLAMIC HORIZONS MARCH/APRIL 2016 5 EDITORIAL Teaching with a Heart PUBLISHER The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) PRESIDENT is heartening TO note that some enjoys respect among teachers and Azhar Azeez SECRETARY GENERAL schools are moving from “teaching to school administrators with its Edu- Hazem Bata the test” to using “teaching the whole cation Forum, which is now in its 17th child” approach. year, and the West Coast Education EDITOR It Omer Bin Abdullah Generally schools have emphasized Forum launched five years ago. EDITORIAL ASSISTANT on academic success and what should Also, ISNA has good experience in Faryal M Khatri be done to ensure students doing well engaging dozens of volunteers around EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD on standardized tests. These tests have the year in its annual convention, Parvez Ahmed (Interim Chair), Iqbal Unus, been used as a tool to gauge student and many other regional and special M. Ahmadullah Siddiqi, Hazem Bata. performance, which correlated with events. And of note is ISNA’s well-es- ISLAMIC HORIZONS teacher performance; and in fact tablished credentials in the interfaith is a bimonthly publication of the Islamic real estate values also peg on “better activities, which can be a rich source Society of North America (ISNA) P.O. Box 38 • Plainfield, IN 46168‑0038 schools, better home prices.” Thus, of service-oriented projects. Indeed, Copyright @2016 teachers, worried about their students’ communities that run Islamic schools All rights reserved Reproduction, in whole or in part, test scores, are unable to use teaching can add a another dimension to their of this material in mechanical or strategies that are focused on a holistic interfaith activities by drawing into electronic form without written permission is strictly prohibited. teaching approach. ISNA’s network to offer their students Islamic Horizons magazine is An example is Raleigh, N.C.’s Al- service-oriented projects. available electronically on ProQuest’s Ethnic NewsWatch, Iman School, which has adopted the ISNA is working with Islamic LexisNexis, and EBSCO Discovery Service, “teaching the whole child” approach, centers across the nation in service and is indexed by Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature. where students are encouraged to par- projects such as the “Stop the Hun- Please see your librarian for access. ticipate in service-learning projects ger” food packaging drives, which also The name “Islamic Horizons” is protected as part of their school’s mission. The bring a new meaning to community through trademark registration ISSN 8756‑2367 school has centered its service projects where people congregate and work on Our Three Winners: Deah, Yusor, together to serve a people they may POSTMASTER Send address changes to and Razan, who have left a legacy be- never know or see. Islamic schools Islamic Horizons, P.O. Box 38 hind that the school can continue to can benefit from ISNA’s experience Plainfield, IN 46168‑0038 support in the years to come. in executing such programs, which in SUBSCRIPTIONS Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23, Yusor fact may create greater consciousness Annual, domestic – $24 Mohammad, 21, and and her sister among their students, Canada – US$30 Overseas airmail – US$60 Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, 19, ISNA, ever since its start as a stu- TO SUBSCRIBE who were shot and killed on Feb. 10, dent body, has nurtured a culture of Contact Islamic Horizons at 2015 in a crime that has hate written giving, caring and sharing. (317) 839‑8157 / (317) 839‑1811 Fax (317) 839‑1840 all across. Islamic schools need to benefit E-mail: [email protected] The school, which starts its ser- from such ISNA assets and coordi- ADVERTISING vice-learning projects with its kinder- nate their service projects with ISNA. For rates contact Islamic Horizons at gartners, makes its mandatory for its The schools, which are best situated (703) 742‑8108, [email protected], ww.isna.net eighth graders to complete a minimum to involving parents, teachers, stu- Canada Post International Publications of ten hours of community service in dents, alumni and other communi- Mail Product (Canadian Distribution) order to graduate. ty members, can add to the value of Sales Agreement No. 0666300 This is an area where ISNA can their service projects through such CORRESPONDENCE lend a supporting hand. ISNA already cooperation. Send all correspondence and/or Letters to the Editor at: Islamic Horizons P.O. Box 38 • Plainfield, IN 46168‑0038 Email: [email protected] 6 ISLAMIC HORIZONS MARCH/APRIL 2016 ISNA MATTERS MUSLIM AMERICANS ADDRESS RISING ISLAMOPHOBIA our co-workers. Let’s be very Middle East, can radicalize young people. clear. Anti-Muslim bigotry The ultimate goal is to help young people and anti-Muslim hostility are rejoin the mainstream community and un-American. We are appre- protect the civil liberties of all Americans. ciative of the support we have The founding members of USCMO received from our interfaith include American Muslims for Pales- partners and public statements tine, the Council on American-Islamic from elected officials. Relations, the Islamic Circle of North “USCMO [The US Coun- America, the Muslim Alliance in North cil of Muslim Organizations] America, the Muslim American Society, leaders and members under- the Muslim Legal Fund of America, the ISNA president Azhar Azeez joined stand the magnitude of the challenge Muslim Ummah of North America and leaders and representatives of Mus- facing our nation and our community The Mosque Cares (Ministry of Imam W. lim American organizations at a press and will not allow either Islamophobes Deen Mohammed). conference held on Dec. 21, 2015, at the or un-Islamic extremist groups like ISIS National Press Club in Washington, D.C. to define American Muslims or to decide During this event they announced the our fate,” said USCMO secretary general NOTICE OF RETRACTION “One America” campaign. Oussama Jammal. “American Muslims In the January/February 2016 issue of This campaign and other initiatives will define themselves and will chart their Islamic Horizons, an article entitled “A Due Clarification” was published on page 10. In were discussed at a Dec. 20th day-long own destiny by securing both our faith error, the authors were listed as Dr. IMTIAZ national summit of more than 100 and the security of America.” AHMAD, and Dr. Sheema Khan. The article Muslim American leaders in response to The organizations discussed the vio- was in fact authored only by Dr. Sheema Khan, the unprecedented rise in anti-Muslim lent extremist groups preying on young and not by Dr. IMTIAZ AHMAD. IH regrets bias since the Paris and San Bernardino people via the Internet and how they twist this error and hereby issues this retraction. attacks as well as the ongoing inflammato- Islam. It was noted that the majority of ry political rhetoric. The other initiatives ISIS and similar groups are Muslim. Law include the “National Open Mosque Day,” enforcement experts stated that Muslim NOTICE OF CLARIFICATION a drive to register one million voters and Americans are on the front line of identi- In the January/February 2016 issue of strengthening existing alliances with in- fying and reporting suspects. Islamic Horizons, an article entitled “A Due terfaith, social justice and other minority Attendees shared their experiences Clarification” authored by Dr. Sheema Khan was published on page 10. This article con- organizations and communities. and information regarding effective tained information regarding on-going legal ISNA vice president Altaf Husain said, “community-driven” solutions. The issues pertaining to ISNA Canada and Dr. “ISNA joins local, regional and national coalition committed itself to improving Muhammad Ashraf. As the parties are in- organizations to launch the ‘One Amer- its efforts, and experts in the field talked volved in on going litigation, the decision to ica’ initiative. This is not a Muslim-only about how isolation, twisted religious publish an article pertaining to the substance effort. We will benefit from the continued ideologies, toxic anti-Muslim political of the lawsuit and related issues may not have been in the best interests of our readers. Dr. collaboration with our interfaith and rhetoric, and negative perceptions of Ashraf’s attorney has requested, and ISNA social justice partners, our neighbors and American policy, particularly in the has declined, to publish a statement on his behalf, rebutting the statements made in Dr.