ISLAM OUR GUIDING LIGHT

About the Book

“What happens to a dream Deferred?” Langston Hughes asked in one of his most moving and insightful poems. “Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?...Or does it explode?” I asked myself the same question about my own life. Literally born in a land of pain and discrimination and forced to face a violent world. What happens to a dream deferred? Does it snake and slither towards hopelessness, drunkenness, addiction, and poverty? Or does it explode in rage? A dream deferred. My parents always said, “Follow your heart, but take your brain with you!” So, I payed attention to what my soul was conveying to me and I also understood the importance of becoming my own personal activist and advocate, not in grief and despair, but in firm faith and hope in Allah. I knew that if I was unable to transform my personal experiences of contempt and negativity into positive ones, I could easily become an American nightmare. By definition, an alchemist is a person who transforms or creates something through a seemingly magical process which is basically how my life evolved. By no means has it been an easy journey, I’ve made a lot of mistakes and plenty of bad decisions, but for His own purpose, Allah’s amazing grace and mercy salvaged me. Alhamdulillah! As the accomplished author of previous literary work, my passion for writing has enabled me to complete this sacred project Titled: Islam Our Guiding Light. By the grace and mercy of Allah, time has grown and matured me into an elder, though a native son and product of the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, N.Y. where I was born, cut my teeth, and was reared in the midst of the harshness of the early 1950’s. I lived in the trenches of this inner-city village with parents and siblings during my childhood and regularly ventured off a walking distance to my second home, Grandmother’s house. My Grandmother was the family matriarch, the “premier of ladies”, and an expert teacher in morals, manners and dignity. Her method of teaching and guidance, though firm and non-negotiable, was really simplistic and entailed the virtuous example she indubitably lived by. She taught me that in order to truly know God, you had to live right and act right, otherwise the Devil would snatch and consume your soul. She admonished me to believe in God wholeheartedly and dare-not divide and portion off His worship to others. Grandmother instructed me to worship the Most High upon principal and specifically on purpose. She assured me of the Absoluteness and Oneness of God, His independence, but creations dependence upon Him. Grandmother told me to live and act as if I actually see God, especially since He always see’s me. Despite the socio/economic challenges, hurdles and obstacles in my path, at an early and tender age, with eyes wide open, though a contemptible, agitated and restless young man, I was able to navigate my way through life’s journey and entered this incredible evening of my calcified life with minimal casualty and my soul still in tact. Instinctively, I knew how to fly under the radar, so my youth years weren’t out of control and enabled me to kinda strive according to the so-called “American Tradition.” I completed formal education, worked in private industry and government. I’ve fought against the odds during some of the darkest days of racial unrest, from the rise of the Ku Klux Klan to the newer label of “White Supremacy”, and the struggles of the civil rights movement. I witnessed and participated in the civil rights revolution transforming a frontier into the pinnacle of American history, freeing African Americans from centuries of disenfranchisement. Though, several decades later, I’m sadly witnessing how the progress and achievements of those struggles have caused tragic side-effects as racism recedes as a serious obstacle to Black advancement. Unfortunately, the horrific particulars of that era remain a terrifying reality in its echoes in this present day. Thereby, Islam has always been my Guiding Light and source of oxygen even during my clouded thoughts and darkest moments. Its edifying principles and teaching constantly reminded me that my duty was to stand firm and unwavering, obey Allah’s commands, be courageous in my quest for truth and persevere the righteous journey with Allah’s Word (Qur’an) and His Prophet’s (Muhammad PBUH) example.

About the Author

In this book, I humbly wish to share with the reader, some collectable informative content, thoughts and experiences. My Dad repeatedly commanded me to always choose my battles wisely, and never expose my battle plan to the enemy or the “evil eye’s” of others. Herein, I have violated my own sacred rule by exposing the source of my success and inspiration for my intellectual and spiritual battle plans which include, foremost, the Holy Qur’an, Hadith, and continuously holding firmly to the Rope of Allah. My experience as a twentieth-twenty first century American Muslim spans across seven decades and includes the various schools of Islamic thought. In addition to its spiritual principals and structural aspects, Islam has provided me with a source of pleasure and contentment. As a pioneer of Islamic movement in America, I experienced its periodic realignment and growth from a very few, to becoming the fastest growing religion in America and the world. This beautiful religion of Islam has always afforded me reason and purpose, and the ability to utilize both virtues with upright civility and humanitarianism. While I have spent most of my life in constant enlargement of my acquaintance with Islam, there is no replacement for the discerning eyes, ears and brilliance of others, especially those who became expert on one or another aspect of it. Thereby, I am honored to pay homage to the legacy of Sheikh Daoud Ahmad Faisal (May Allah be pleased with him) for establishing the first Masjid in America during a time when Islam was most repulsed. Despite his arduous task of propagating Islamic faith, Sheikh Daoud worked diligently in the civil-rights movement. He carefully tutored and provided guidance to my spiritual and physical life journey. To reckon and honorably mention, Sheikh Daoud who was my first real teacher in Islamic studies and as dear to me as a parent, may Allah grant him Heavenly blessings. It is my ardent hope that this book will impart to the reader a grand symphony of orchestrated knowledge and inspiration epitomizing the qualities that contribute to the world’s advancement, improvement and felicity. Every man is guilty for the good he did not do. Sheikh Bilal Raqib Muhammad