Bismillah
As salaam aleikum

Dear beloved Imam,

Yes you are right. I pray to see a photograph of change with you standing next to President Obama, out of love and unity and not fear.
I pray that we will see better days and our children will inherit a religion and a future brighter than we can ever imagine.

May Allah bless this day now and forever, and may the joy of Nov 5th outweigh the fear of Sept 11th.

Jazaka Allahu khayran!

Barack MuBarack!

I completely agree with you Imam, thank you for these thoughtful words and your invitation to sincere, focused, and consistent civic service for the pleasure of God.  Obama’s victory is a watershed moment in the history of the United States.  Millions of “non-blacks” showed their confidence in the vision and leadership of a “Black” man through their volunteerism, donations, art, and votes.  Such selfless sacrifice by so many people of diverse backgrounds under the leadership of a son of Africa AND America has not been witnessed since perhaps the civil rights era.  Obama’s victory is a wake up call for Muslims to truly embrace the sublime example of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings rest upon him and his family) in our relations with our fellow citizens.  Doing so will enable us to soar above small and narrow paradigms, parochialism, and neglect of our civic responsibilities.  Doing so will enable Muslims to participate in and illuminate the dialogue on the most critical issues of our age and work actively towards establishing programs and institutions that benefit all people.  Programs and institutions which resonate with the beauty, compassion, and excellence of Islam.

As’Salaamu Alaykum Imam Zaid

I think that you have summarised this all very well.
Today makes me think of this statement by our dear brother El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz:
“I for one believe that if you give people a thorough understanding of what confronts them and the basic causes that produce it, they’ll create their own program, and when the people create a program, you get action.”

That is, more or less, what has happened. I remember reading in President-elect Obama’s autobiography that it was Brother Malcolm’s writings that got him going in the direction that he eventually went in.

It is indeed a great moment. While I fear that this victory will cause some to believe that all issues of race have been resolved, the lasting result of this election is that any child can aspire to any office in the land.

That is indeed a blessing.

Bismillah. Allahu Akbar. I’m a immigrant from Africa. A United States Citizen. My two children are Americans born in this country.  I never thought the day will come for me to say “I’m proud to be American”, but that day arrived with President elect Obama’s victory last night.  May Allah Most High make the Muslims triumphant and guide President Barack to the straight path in all his affairs.  Aamin.

Asalaamu Alaykum shaykh,

While I appreciate the historic event and hope for change in America, we have to be a little realistic.

He is not for Muslims and he will continue policies of killing Muslims in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Palestine and maybe even Iran.

I voted and supported him as a lesser evil and I pray he ends in the war in Iraq.

But the Muslim enthusiam and undaunting support given to Bush in 2000 is not forgotten.
I will not make the same mistake again.

May Allah protect this ummah

Asalamu Alaikum Imam Zaid, i hope you are well

With the greatest of respect to you, I can not fully understand why you have chosen the position you have taken on Barak Obama.

It is quite clear, I believe, that his foreign policy objectives negates any justified support for this man. As Muslims we are supposed to be concerned with the welfare of the Ummah but he has consistently stated his position on Israel at the expense of the Muslims.  He said Jerusalem should remain the undivided capital of Israel which is contrary to international law and more importantly the status and wellbeing of the Muslims. 

He undoubtedly considers Israel’s security as his primary objective and has stated as such which means that, like all previous Presidents, he will remain silent when Israel attacks and kills our innocent brothers and sisters in Gaza and elsewhere; remain silent when Israel launches another war in Lebanon and remain silent when their lands are further occupied.

And of course there is Afghanistan and Pakistan....

He (in fact any President) will never be good news for us and so I am a little surprised at your and many other Muslims position regarding him.  There seems to have been a huge propaganda campaign that has been mounted by the powers that be in the United States and man Muslims have been drawn in.  When you stated in your post:

“...it is quite clear that Senator Obama valued the support he received from the Muslim community. He appointed a liaison to the Muslim community, high ranking members of his team met with Muslim delegations, and his campaign was supportive of Muslim grassroots efforts such as “Muslims for Obama.”

I am left thinking what is the big issue with that?  Of course that is what he would do; we shouldn’t have expected any less of him. He didn’t feel the Muslims important enough to have paid them a personal visit; he in fact distanced himself as far away as possible from us.

Are we that weak, that low that even if he sends a guy to the community we become all thankful and loving towards him, where is our self respect?

As for the “Muslims for Obama” campaign, they need to address their priorities…

“Senator Obama’s election also opens a new door for Muslims in America”

This insular way of thinking is one of the main problems with the Muslims today I feel. We are one body according to our beloved Nabi (saw) and we should therefore be feeling the pain of the rest of our body, whether it is in Palestine, Afghanistan or Iraq etc, but instead we are happy and content if the Muslims in America receive a few smiles and leftovers...because that’s all it will be.  We are so happy with this situation that we will support this system and even vote for it in our muddled delusion.

I am pretty confident that not much will change for you in America and yet many Muslims will be asked on the Day of Judgment about why they supported a man and system that is actively seeking to harm Islam and the Muslims around the world.

I hope they have an answer....

To buy into the propaganda machine is to sell the Muslims short.

With love and may Allah (aza wa jal) bless you and your family. amin

Your brother

Hamza

Yes we CAN! Alhumdulillah!

Assalaamu Alaikum,

I agree whole-heartedly with this blog, as well as the Obama-MLK blog. I think it shows great insight by Imam Zaid and a call for unity is always needed.

However, I am concerned that for some Muslims they may misread Imam Zaid’s remarks as an allegiance to the new president-elect.

I must admit I was caught up in the emotional run of Obama while he was trying to obtain the democratic ticket. His opponent ran her campaign in a way that was easily hated. I also admit to listening to the “Yes, We Can” song by Will I Am and feeling such a great affirmation for a man who resembled El Hajj Malik or Malcom X.

Then somewhere along the way I became more critical of Obama. I think Bush was such a wolf and people were more than ready to get him and his administration out of the white house. However, some wolves come in sheep clothing. I believe we as Muslims should be very concerned of the president-elect, Senator Obama’s liberalism. From his acceptance speech to his first choice, Rahm Emanuel- a huge supporter of the zionist cause, we should always take a moderate stand and keep our HOPE with ALLAH.

"Rosa Parks sat, so that Martin Luther King Jr. can walk, so that
Barack Hussein Obama could run, so
that you and I can fly.”

--Kristin Jensen Sullivan
Professor of Environmental Studies
DeAnza College, Cupertino, CA

Assalamu ‘alaykum,
Jazakhallah for the article,I was wondering what your thoughts were on Barack Obama appointing Rahm Emanuel who is a strong Israel partisan,as House chief of staff?Jazakhallah.

Wslaam

As-Salaamu Alaykum

I agree with your comments Imam Zaid. I hope Barack Obama’s election will result in some healing of this nation and the world. Just the image of a Black Man as President of the United States has inspired millions in this country and probably millions around the world. I know that anyone can see the significance of this historic event but as a Black Man, to see another Black Man reach the highest rank in this land is a feeling that I cannot describe and that only a Black Man can truly understand. So many of us, including myself, were overcome with emotion at the announcement of his victory. This is something that most of us never believed would ever happen.

I hope this election creates a paradigm shift in the image of the Black Man in America. I do not believe that Barack Obama is an anomaly but we usually do not get the image of the Black Man that is intelligent, educated, family-oriented, well-spoken, carries himself with dignity, has integrity and good character. Unfortuantely we have images of being thugs, gangsters, players, pimps, hustlers, etc. Some of these images we have portrayed ourselves and even make money from it. I hope that we, Black Men, are not just pleased with him being President but also take from his example.

I am even more hopeful that the Deen we are on will have even more impact in the years to come, if we practice it correctly. President-elect Obama has proven that if you exhibit knowledge and excellent character good people will love you and follow you. People are looking for someone with Prophetic qualities to lead and guide them. We as Muslims have the blueprint for success. Barack Obama, at least publically, has exhibited these types of qualities: Knowledge, Dignity, Integrity, Family, Humility, etc. I was particularly impressed with his acceptance speech where some commentators thought he was in a somber mood but what I saw was humility in victory. Someone that understood the burden of leadership and was humbled by people that believed in him. It reminds me of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when he came into Makkah in victory with his head down out of humility. Barack Obama is one of the few politicians I’ve seen that seems sincere. I hope this is the case.

And finally, I hope that this is a sign of success for those who believe and indeed for all of humanity.

Dawud
Pittsburgh, PA

Yes we can.

I volunteered for BO’s campaign in Dearborn, MI as well as in Iowa.  Of course I am glad that he won, because of his pragmatic approach to issues, especially domestic issues. 

But I fear that the dialoge that he promised to the muslim community (an address during the first 90 days, I believe) might get swept under the rug, due to the overwhelming economic crisis. 

I would like to see a panel done with Zaid Shakir, Siraj Wahaj, Hamza Yusuf and Barack Obama clarifying his positions on Muslims and handling religious relations in the wake of these wars.

As-Salaam ‘Alaikum Hamza,

May Allah reward you and bless you and your family. Your criticism is fair, respectful and greatly appreciated. As you know, our Prophet, peace upon him mentioned, “The religion is based on sincerity [and sincere advice].” Please continue to exercise your Islamic duty to give advice and to criticize. However, here are some issues that you raise which I would like to respond to.

First of all, you state, “With the greatest of respect to you, I can not fully understand why you have chosen the position you have taken on Barak Obama.” I would ask, “What position have I taken?” I am not an uncritical supporter of Barack Obama. In fact, I have been and will remain very critical of Senator Obama. In case you have not read critical pieces assessing Obama on this vey blog, i.e. “Barack Obama, Martin Luther King, and the Future of America,” “Hopefully Obama is Not a Used Car Dealer,” “Drilling and Killing for God,” and other articles. I will mention a few quotes from those pieces by way of reminding you some of my criticisms:

“With his slavish remarks at the recent AIPAC conference, Senator Barack Obama, issued an uncritical endorsement of the program of the most right wing elements of the Zionist movement, and suggested, at least through his words, that he has no real interest in a fair and just solution to that problem.”

“By insinuating an unwillingness to talk with the leaders of Hamas, he compromised the most promising pillar of his diplomatic strategy, one designed to demonstrate his movement away from the Bush/Cheney doctrine of preemptive, no room for diplomacy militarism—namely, a willingness to talk, in good faith, with our enemies.”

“If Obama’s value as an “African American” candidate is largely symbolic, As Michael Eric Dyson and others, including this writer have argued, then that symbolic value extends beyond the African American community, and America at large. It extends to the people of the world. If Africans, Asians, Europeans and Latin Americans view the thus far successful Obama candidacy as a symbol of a changed social and political climate in America that is a harbinger of policies that will bring the interests of the American empire into closer alignment with the interests of the rest of the world, then the Palestinian issue is a litmus test of sorts as to the sincerity of any American politician to pursue a new type of politics. In this regard, Obama has failed miserably.”

“The election of an African American, or a woman for that matter, without an associated “revolution of values” will do no more than possibly delay, but will not stave off, this country’s inevitable spiritual demise.”

However, having said these and many other things highly critical of Obama, I cannot deny the nature of his actual election and the coalition that made it possible. That is what is truly important, the grassroots coalition behind Senator Obama’s election. That is the real basis for hope, not Obama himself. It is interesting that you quote many statements from my article to support your arguments, but you did not quote this particular point. To reiterate the point I will quote it:

“However, the coalition of forces that has come together to guarantee Senator Obama’s victory represents a powerful realignment in American politics; sincere whites who were feed up with the corruption, venality, and mendacity of the cabal in Washington, young people of all ages and races (the hip hop generation), a re-energized African American electorate, progressive Latinos, particularly in Florida and the Southwest of the country, and Muslims, yes Muslims, many of whom worked just as doggedly as Senator Obama’s other supporters, despite the stigmatizing of their faith and themselves in many instances.

It is the promise that this new coalition represents as much as the inspiring leadership of Senator Obama that in the long run will translate the prospect of change that drove so many during the long electoral campaign into the reality of change. The heavy lifting that will be required to make the sacrifices necessary to usher in a new day in American society will be undertaken, on the ground, by members of this coalition.”

I ask you, how does my “position” demonstrate that I have been suckered by “a huge propaganda campaign that has been mounted by the powers that be in the United States and many Muslims have been drawn in…” as you word it, to uncritically support Senator Obama? I am not so naďve as to believe the mere election of Barack Obama will reverse the entirety of America’s domestic and foreign policies, that everything he does will be all positive for Muslims, or that his administration will lead to the immediate resolution of all of the world’s conflicts. However, I am not so cynical as to believe that his election is meaningless. Both America and the world are far too complicated and nuanced for me to arrive at either conclusion.

As Muslims, we are hopeful that we will find good in situations that confront us, this is one of the fundamental teachings of the Qur’an and in the Sunnah of our Prophet, peace upon him. The tone of your letter displays a degree of pessimism that does not allow for a positive interpretation of the potential good that might accrue from an Obama presidency. You state for example: 

“It is quite clear, I believe, that his foreign policy objectives negate any justified support for this man. As Muslims we are supposed to be concerned with the welfare of the Ummah, but he has consistently stated his position on Israel at the expense of the Muslims.  He said Jerusalem should remain the undivided capital of Israel which is contrary to international law and more importantly the status and wellbeing of the Muslims. 

He undoubtedly considers Israel’s security as his primary objective and has stated as such which means that, like all previous Presidents, he will remain silent when Israel attacks and kills our innocent brothers and sisters in Gaza and elsewhere; remain silent when Israel launches another war in Lebanon and remain silent when their lands are further occupied.”

This statement displays an extremely unproductive approach to international politics that plagues many Muslims. First of all, you judge Obama’s entire foreign policy, in terms of it’s potential benefit to Muslims based on the Palestinian issue, and you assume that his position will not differ from other US presidents in that regard. This statement is naďve and shows gross generalizations. Not all US presidents have been slavish in their support of Israel. Dwight Eisenhower could be described as clearly anti-Israel, John Kennedy, vehemently opposed many Israeli policies, especially Israel’s nuclear weapons program. There are even some conspiracy theorists who argue that Kennedy was assassinated by the Mossad. In 1991 George Bush Sr. suspended a $10 billion loan guarantee to Israel in order to affect the Israeli political process in a way he deemed beneficial to American mid-East policy, and clearly subordinated US support for Israel to other American policy goals. President Jimmy Carter, who has recently written a book accusing Israel of being an apartheid state, through his UN Ambassador, Andrew Young, was pursuing a very even-handed approach to the Palestinian question. You might recall that Mr. Young was forced to resign when it was revealed that he had engaged in secret meeting with several representatives of the PLO.

So to assume on the basis of some statements made by Senator Obama in the context of the election campaign, such as his recognition of Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel, a position he modified a day later, or to assume that the appointment of Rahm Emmanuel as his chief of staff, a position with no real policy-making significance, means that there is no room for Obama to take a more constructive approach to the Palestinian issue is shortsighted.

What would be the basis of Senator Obama pursuing a more constructive approach to the Palestinian issue than say John McCain might have had he prevailed in the elections? First of all, as a former activist, who was a member of an activist church, Senator Obama is sensitive to the realities of oppression and the issues of oppressed people. You might not consider the fact that Senator Obama had ties to the likes of former Palestinian professor and Zionist critic Edward Said significant, but believe me it matters.

Also, McCain had committed himself to continuing the unilateral, preemptive strategic position of the Bush administration, while Obama has committed to a position rooted in multilateralism and negotiations. That is a clear basis for optimism in terms of the implications of an Obama presidency in the Muslim world, in general and in effecting a meaningful and just resolution to the Palestinian issue in particular. Senator Obama also wants to be a great President and he knows that contributing to or actually bringing about a just solution to the Palestinian issue will be one of the measures greatness.

Cynicism and pessimism also governs your assessment of Obama’s potential position on Pakistan and Afghanistan. Yes, Obama in the context of the election campaign said some disheartening things about expanding the war in Afghanistan, and about possible strikes on targets in Pakistan. I have condemned this position. For example, in my article, “Drilling and Killing for God,” I stated:

“Yesterday, September 3, 2008, United States ground forces swept into Pakistan in a raid that resulted in the deaths of 21 Pakistani civilians. This raid has evoked outrage across Pakistan, and is a clear and unnecessary violation of Pakistani sovereignty. It comes in the context of increasing attacks in Afghanistan that are resulting in the deaths of a growing number of civilians. An example of such raids is the recent one on the Afghan village of Azizabad that reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 90 civilians, 50 of them children.

All of this is occurring during the evolving American election campaign in which both major party candidates, the Republican John McCain, and his Democratic rival Barack Obama, have identified Afghanistan as the “good” war that America should be directing the bulk of her military resources towards. If indeed America decides to expand its role in Afghanistan, then it is headed into a serious confrontation with grave implications for this country.

First of all, any expanded role for America in Afghanistan will necessitate an expanded role for American air power, a role that will inevitably result in more widespread Afghani civilian casualties. The rising number of civilian casualties will lead to a more popular and widespread Afghan resistance. As the Afghan resistance expands into a full-fledge Jihad, it will be far more than a fight against isolated Taliban units, although America will present an expanded conflict as a fight against the Taliban in order to maintain domestic support for what will be an increasingly unjust war.”

However, to assume, as you do, that “He (in fact any President) will never be good news for us” is overly pessimistic and naďve, for it assumes that all US Presidents are the same, and that the policies they pursue do not differ in their implications for the Muslim world. The inaccurate nature of your assumption is revealed by the fact that Obama and his team are already drafting plans to close the Guantanamo Bay prison and to extend constitutional protections to the prisoners there. That is a stark reversal of President Bush’s policies. He is dismissing the heads of both the CIA and military intelligence as part of a sweeping effort to dismantle the regime of legalized torture constructed by Bush. All of these plans have deep implications for Muslims, and they are in stark opposition to his presidential predecessor. Hence, to argue that who is the president of the United States is meaningless as far as Muslims are concerned is a debatable position.

As for the relations between Obama and American Muslims, had Senator Obama overtly identified strongly with our community he would have probably lost the election, it is that simple. The opportunities such identification would have provided for the right wing propaganda machine would have been enormous and difficult for the Obama campaign to have overcome. However, to imply, as you do, that Obama’s position on the Muslim community and that of the McCain campaign or the Bush administration is one and the same with no positive implications for Muslims, is simplistic thinking.

At the end of the day, had Senator Obama strongly identified with the American Muslim community, would we have his back covered? Would we have spent tens of millions of dollars to counter what would have been an expanded “Obsession” campaign by creating and then disseminating DVDs that showed Islam and Muslims in a positive light? Would we have help house gathering of the type sponsored by “Move On” to explain our positions and beliefs to our non-Muslim neighbors? Would we have stepped forward with millions of dollars to offset the campaign contributions he would have lost? The answer to each question is, no. If that is the case, why would we even expect Senator Obama to make strong overtures to our community when we know that as a community, we would not have done what is necessary to justify him taking that risk?

Despite the risks, Senator Obama did reach out to Muslims in the ways I mentioned in my article. You can also rest assured that he vetted and approved of Colin Powell’s defense of Islam and Muslims in the statement he made when he endorsed Obama. You dismiss these issues by stating:

“I am left thinking what is the big issue with that?  Of course that is what he would do [that]; we shouldn’t have expected any less of him. He didn’t feel the Muslims important enough to have paid them a personal visit; he in fact distanced himself as far away as possible from us.”

The big issue is that the McCain campaign did none of the above. There was absolutely no outreach to Muslims at any level. Furthermore, as opposed to what Obama and his campaign actually did or endorsed, elements in the McCain camp were mounting a smear campaign to link Obama with Islam and to link Islam with terrorism, fascism, and irrational anti-American violence. In light of that reality, the position taken by Obama, his campaign and his surrogates was a very big deal deserving of Muslim support.

You imply that it is wrong for Muslims in America to consider a strategy rooted in our specific interest. You state in that regard:

“This insular way of thinking is one of the main problems with the Muslims today I feel. We are one body according to our beloved Nabi (saw) and we should therefore be feeling the pain of the rest of our body, whether it is in Palestine, Afghanistan or Iraq etc, but instead we are happy and content if the Muslims in America receive a few smiles and leftovers… because that’s all it will be.  Are we so happy with this situation that we will support this system and even vote for it in our muddled delusion?”

There are several issues in this statement that demand attention. First of all, it is oxymoronic, for you mention Palestine, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Are not the Muslims in each of these countries doing what they feel is best for themselves based on their “insular” view of their situation? Do you think a Muslim in Palestine is giving a second thought to what is in the best interest of Afghani Muslims when he is deciding on how to get fuel delivered to the Gaza Strip to get electricity to hospitals turned on? Of course not! He or she is looking at the immediate situation that he or she is confronted with and how he or she can best affect that situation with his or her direct action.

Does this mean that he is she does not care about the situation in Afghanistan? It does not. However, as I mentioned in my original article, all politics are local, and if we cannot begin to address local issues in a meaningful way and to organize locally, first and foremost, we are never going to be able to affect events at a national or an international level.

Your statement also implies a bad opinion of other Muslims here in the U.S., namely that we do not feel the pain of Muslims suffering in other parts of the world. I would argue that Muslims here in the U.S. are as concerned about Muslims in other parts of the world as Muslims in other western countries, if not more so. However, we realize that if we do not subordinate our global concerns to that of forming a viable strategy that can unite us here in America, and build real strength in this country where we can eventually have a far more positive impact on foreign policy formation, then we will never do great things elsewhere.

You mention at the end of your letter:

“..and yet many Muslims will be asked on the Day of Judgment about why they supported a man and system that is actively seeking to harm Islam and the Muslims around the world. I hope they have an answer...”

Here is my answer. O God! In this past presidential election campaign Muslims in America were presented with a clear choice: one candidate, Senator Obama, committed to the proposition that America is a constitutional democracy where the rule of law should be respected, and another candidate whose running mate derisively dismissed the rule of law, on the night before that candidate accepted his parties nomination to run for president, by quipping that Obama wants to “read terrorists their rights.” We were presented with one candidate, Obama, who stated that American military power should be used judiciously as a last resort, and another, McCain, who was committed to a hundred-years-war, in principle. We had a choice between one candidate, Obama, who built a wide coalition that represented the youth, disaffected whites, and racial minorities, who promised the prospect of meaningful change consistent with the changing nature of American society, and another, McCain, who presented an increasingly narrow message that promised holding on to old prejudices and denying the changing nature of American society and the world. We had a choice between one candidate, Obama, who promised to protect our environment, and another, McCain, who promised to finalize the destruction of all of the environmental protection standards that was started by his predecessor. The callousness of his apporoach in this regard was captured in a slogan his campaign popularized, “Drill Baby Drill!” Finally, we had a choice between one candidate, Obama, who was shaped by a pastor who fiercely condemned the excesses of American power, and the injustices in American society, and another, McCain, who sought the endorsement of a pastor, Rod Parsley, who believes it is the historical mission of America to destroy Islam. That the overwhelming majority of American Muslims, under these circumstances, supported Obama is nothing we should be ashamed of or apologize for.

Does that mean everything promised by Senator Obama will be delivered? No. To again reiterate, “The heavy lifting that will be required to make the sacrifices necessary to usher in a new day in American society will be undertaken, on the ground, by members of this coalition.” FDR did not run on a platform that promised the sweeping reforms of the New Deal. It was pressure from below that pushed him to make those reforms. LBJ did not run on a platform that promised sweeping civil-rights legislation. Again, it was pressure from below that urged those reforms. Major advances in America have always been motivated by pressure from below. However, that pressure from below has to be met by a president with vision and courage if it is to translate into any meaningful change in American policies and institutions. In that regard, if we as Muslims do what we must do, along with others, to generate real pressure from below, then we are hopeful that President Obama will make a real difference in the qualities of our lives and the quality of the lives of many people around the world, both Muslims and others.

This ability to hope is what makes America, for all of its many abuses, excesses, and imperfections, such a unique place, and as we know, hope is one of the fundamental virtues advanced by Islamic teachings. Hence, until the verdict of history proves otherwise, can we contribute to a better world under President Obama’s leadership? Yes We Can!  That, at least, is our hope.

I have posted this response along with your comment in its entirety on the home page of the NID website. May Allah bless you and keep you strong

asalamu alaikum Imam Zaid, i hope you are well.  May Allah (swt) continue to bless you

Thank you for taking time out to reply.  I know you are really busy.
You wrote a very detailed reply mashallah to which I am not able to fully respond to. What I will say, however, is the pessimism you found in my original comment is, in my opinion, not pessimism, it is rather a position of clarity based upon history and the removal of his rhetoric.

The USA has, since 1945; been directly responsible for the destruction of 50 governments, including democracies, and 30 popular liberation movements, causing the deaths of countless (10’s of millions) innocent men, women and children, let us not forget the 1 million plus Muslims in the past 5 years.

The lies told to the world about these events were deep and shows us, if we care to look, that the hadith of our beloved Nabi (saw) is true where he is reported to have said:

“The time of the Dajjal will be years of confusion. People will believe a liar, and disbelieve one who tells the truth. People will distrust one who is trustworthy, and trust one who is treacherous; and the ruwaybidha will have a say.” Someone asked: “Who are they?” He said: “Those who rebel against Allah and will have a say in general affairs.”

I do not feel this behaviour will change because of the promises of a new liberal black man seeking office, despite what the illusion of change may appear to be.
He says he wants to build up US military power; and he threatens to ignite a new war in Pakistan, killing yet more Muslims.

I am not going to be fooled into buying into his idea of “Change” when that just means a change of location for more Muslim deaths.

We should remember that although Obama distanced himself from Bush during his campaign, Obama voted to give Bush what he wanted for the wars.

I also cannot and will not separate his foreign policy positions from his domestic ones because for me they are related. However, I hope you are proved right, and that I am proved wrong.
Just because the face has changed it doesn’t mean the things we care about will

With love

Hamza

Assalamu Alaykum Imam Zaid,
MashAllah a great article and it is definitely a new moment in history. I cannot help but agree more on the fact that injustice is still happening at the moment and there are still people being locked up in jail.

My opinions on President Obama are quite neutral and I cannot say whether he will be a good president or not to the US. I can say is this, he ran a great campaign. As a marketing undergraduate, I could not help notice the great tactics used by Obama to get the nation on his side. From consistency to inspiring messages that were catered to specific audiences wherever he went, you don’t find a better marketer than Obama.

But it poses a different question for me, like any marketing campaign that is launched and as people rush to the stores to buy the latest gadget. The truth of the product is revealed in a few days, months or even years depending on the product. Similarly, I agree, right now we have to give Obama the benefit of the doubt that he is what he said about what he will do and change.

A new black president that came out of nowhere and took the United States by storm, sounds like an apple ipod which came and took the stores by storm. His success and popularity will rest on his ability to deliver time after time, to innovate and come up with strategies to solve the problems of the nations. If he cannot, then like any normal consumer, they will be out once again looking for that inspiring product that will solve all their problems.

I cannot help but reflect on this that part of consumer psychology is to have his or her needs fulfilled by purchasing and relying in the object in itself. Rather we know just by our belief that even the quenching of thirst with water is in Allah’s Will and Power. If Allah Wills, Barak Obama will quench the thirst of millions of Americans hoping to having their dreams and problems solved.

May Allah guide us all to the straight path and give this Ummah strength and unity.

With Love and Respect,

Basim