Ulama prison in Texas, United States, fighting for Islam in its own way. Now the number of converts in 23 prisons in the state increasingly multiplied.
Imam Omar Shakir white-painted cinder across the room in haste. At the end of the hallway, a group of women with a white jumpsuit was getting restless waiting for him. Apparently this makes walking half running.
Assalaamu alaikum, peace to you, Shakir said with a smile of respect. They answered with no less reverent greetings. After calling excuse the delay - a classic problem: traffic congestion - Shakir started tausiyahnya. The theme this time is Towards Peace of Heart by remembrance. No waiting for a matter of minutes, tausiyah transformed into an interactive dialogue. Each participant seemed to have prepared a series of questions to Shakir. One hour of time provided, such as less. He closed the discussion with short sentences, Save your questions for the study next month.
Reaching this group is not an easy thing for Shakir. He must travel as far as 161 km from San Antonio where she settled into her special prison Halbert Unit in Burnet, northeast of Austin. Shakir was nearly three years of this profession, to be scholars in prison. Together with four colleagues, he joined the Islamic Faith in the 110 program in Texas prisons. : Video
This program ensures that all Muslim prisoners have rights over the ministry the same as those who are outside prison. Now its probably a little easier, after a team of mostly volunteers who are willing to convert without pay to help them.
In prisons in Texas now there are approximately 7500 Muslims. Many of the inmates had become Muslims after being in prison. For them, the prison like a field of enlightenment, because the light of Islam actually found in that place.
For Shakir, this program is an effective way to contribute to suppress the increasing number of repeat offenders in Texas. We are facing an epidemic of social, religious, in my opinion is one of the cure, he said. Without the basis of religion, he said, people will die and lose their sense of morality.
He considers what he's doing - teaching religion to those who are not religious - a jihad. I am happy to teach religion and see the rays emanating from the shaded their eyes, he said.
Shakir is the name hijrahnya. He was born as the Kirk Spencer, born in Lima, Ohio, in 1958. By the first birthday, her parents left town and settled in Schenectady, New York.
Year 1974 was the first time he touched with understanding of Islam. She was only 15 years old when he knows that his art teacher of Islam from a Muslim.
He had run away from home because her parents did not agree he converted. But his determination was unanimous, then the birthday-17, he became a Muslim and changed his name to Omar Quadir Adib Shakir. No need to change the name actually, but I do it as a symbol of the rebirth of myself, said the father of three children ages 23, 21, and 16 this year.
Moving religion change her life. Islam not a religion full of rituals, but a comprehensive set of street life, he said. Islam was his desire to spread the peace that makes chaplains (scholars with special specifications) and also served in prisons in Texas.
He worked for two out of 23 jail in Texas, which is in the prison of El Paso and the Rio Grande Valley. Two or three times a year he gave tausiyah in other prisons.
Outside of that task, he became the imam at the Bilal Mosque in the city. The mosque is led by 19 Muslim families in San Antonio and became one of the local residents to learn the Islamic references.
Attendance is very important for prison scholars of Muslim prisoners. Like Curtis said Elliott, was not easy being a Muslim in prison alone. Many tests, and we must be strong for our faith, he said.
Elliott, 29 years old, grew up in a Baptist Christian family. But he never felt the touch of religion into the inner recesses.
Year 1994, for some reason, he should curl up in jail for 10 months Cotulla. He lived a cell with a Muslim prisoner.
Just like other Americans, he looked crooked colleagues sepenjaranya it. However, the stereotype of Muslims increasingly faded after seeing his partner's daily figures. He never hurt anyone or blasphemous people. He is very clean and well mannered, Elliot tells about his friend's first impression.
Until at one point, he took his friend to take your lessons. Two or three times in the present study group meeting, he sure chose Islam. This religion is without a doubt. Religion is indeed for me, he said.
Before stating kesilamannya, he did all of worship like a Muslim, including the five daily prayers and fasting during Ramadan. Unlike what we previously imagined, fasting does not make us die of hunger, he said, chuckling. He also bersyahadat in front of his friends, with the guidance of prison clergy.
Now he not only prayer, fasting, and charity alone, but to volunteer to help the clergy in jail. Inside his cell, he was preaching in his own way. There are doubts in the beginning, but you only need a little time for reevaluation of life and discover what has lately taken a wrong step, he said.
It takes but suspected
The number of adherents of Islam in prisons in the United States are growing. A nationwide study even been done to prove this hypothesis. The most dramatic figures obtained at the Rikers Island prison complex in New York, where most residents have now become a Muslim.
The spread of Islam in prison by the inmates themselves. Generally is among black residents, which was inspired by the spirit of Elijah Muhammed and Malcolm X, U.S. black Muslim leader. But lately, prisoners and ethnic Hispanic whites are also many who converted.
Imam Omar Shakir was not the only cleric in prison whose name is widely cited media. Previously, a few names stuck out as an ingredient in smelling pendiskriditan writings of Islam, following the findings of the increasing growth rate of Muslims in prison. Prison clerics fought tuck the number of trained Muslim ekstemis prison, so news headlines top several Western media writes.
Many scholars prison labeled a terrorist teacher. Alternatively, conspiring with terrorist prisoners. The last case is what happened to Muslim chaplain James Yee, who had served in Guantanamo prison.
U.S. Pemasyakatan Institutions Bureau (U.S. Bureau of Prisons) has been criticized in May related to the selection of prison clergy who considered weak and therefore they have to grow the seeds of terrorism in prison. Needs to be done the necessary steps to correct it, so the sound of the headlines of The Washington Post.
Department of Justice to act swiftly to answer it. Through ispektor general, Glenn Fine A, they claim to receive 13 new recommendations related to acceptance of a new prison clerics, including in the process of screening to their supervision. The same process applied to the contractors and volunteers who helped out their duties.
Fine said the cleric in jail is needed to convey the spiritual services for Muslim inmates at the same time reduce them. Without cleric prison, he said, the spiritual service will be led by inmates themselves and it creates a potential distortion and raises religious extremity
shadow_ - April 24, 2007 08:03 AM (GMT)
Imam Omar Shakir white-painted cinder across the room in haste. At the end of the hallway, a group of women with a white jumpsuit was getting restless waiting for him. Apparently this makes walking half running.
Assalaamu alaikum, peace to you, Shakir said with a smile of respect. They answered with no less reverent greetings. After calling excuse the delay - a classic problem: traffic congestion - Shakir started tausiyahnya. The theme this time is Towards Peace of Heart by remembrance. No waiting for a matter of minutes, tausiyah transformed into an interactive dialogue. Each participant seemed to have prepared a series of questions to Shakir. One hour of time provided, such as less. He closed the discussion with short sentences, Save your questions for the study next month.
Reaching this group is not an easy thing for Shakir. He must travel as far as 161 km from San Antonio where she settled into her special prison Halbert Unit in Burnet, northeast of Austin. Shakir was nearly three years of this profession, to be scholars in prison. Together with four colleagues, he joined the Islamic Faith in the 110 program in Texas prisons. : Video
This program ensures that all Muslim prisoners have rights over the ministry the same as those who are outside prison. Now its probably a little easier, after a team of mostly volunteers who are willing to convert without pay to help them.
In prisons in Texas now there are approximately 7500 Muslims. Many of the inmates had become Muslims after being in prison. For them, the prison like a field of enlightenment, because the light of Islam actually found in that place.
For Shakir, this program is an effective way to contribute to suppress the increasing number of repeat offenders in Texas. We are facing an epidemic of social, religious, in my opinion is one of the cure, he said. Without the basis of religion, he said, people will die and lose their sense of morality.
He considers what he's doing - teaching religion to those who are not religious - a jihad. I am happy to teach religion and see the rays emanating from the shaded their eyes, he said.
Shakir is the name hijrahnya. He was born as the Kirk Spencer, born in Lima, Ohio, in 1958. By the first birthday, her parents left town and settled in Schenectady, New York.
Year 1974 was the first time he touched with understanding of Islam. She was only 15 years old when he knows that his art teacher of Islam from a Muslim.
He had run away from home because her parents did not agree he converted. But his determination was unanimous, then the birthday-17, he became a Muslim and changed his name to Omar Quadir Adib Shakir. No need to change the name actually, but I do it as a symbol of the rebirth of myself, said the father of three children ages 23, 21, and 16 this year.
Moving religion change her life. Islam not a religion full of rituals, but a comprehensive set of street life, he said. Islam was his desire to spread the peace that makes chaplains (scholars with special specifications) and also served in prisons in Texas.
He worked for two out of 23 jail in Texas, which is in the prison of El Paso and the Rio Grande Valley. Two or three times a year he gave tausiyah in other prisons.
Outside of that task, he became the imam at the Bilal Mosque in the city. The mosque is led by 19 Muslim families in San Antonio and became one of the local residents to learn the Islamic references.
Attendance is very important for prison scholars of Muslim prisoners. Like Curtis said Elliott, was not easy being a Muslim in prison alone. Many tests, and we must be strong for our faith, he said.
Elliott, 29 years old, grew up in a Baptist Christian family. But he never felt the touch of religion into the inner recesses.
Year 1994, for some reason, he should curl up in jail for 10 months Cotulla. He lived a cell with a Muslim prisoner.
Just like other Americans, he looked crooked colleagues sepenjaranya it. However, the stereotype of Muslims increasingly faded after seeing his partner's daily figures. He never hurt anyone or blasphemous people. He is very clean and well mannered, Elliot tells about his friend's first impression.
Until at one point, he took his friend to take your lessons. Two or three times in the present study group meeting, he sure chose Islam. This religion is without a doubt. Religion is indeed for me, he said.
Before stating kesilamannya, he did all of worship like a Muslim, including the five daily prayers and fasting during Ramadan. Unlike what we previously imagined, fasting does not make us die of hunger, he said, chuckling. He also bersyahadat in front of his friends, with the guidance of prison clergy.
Now he not only prayer, fasting, and charity alone, but to volunteer to help the clergy in jail. Inside his cell, he was preaching in his own way. There are doubts in the beginning, but you only need a little time for reevaluation of life and discover what has lately taken a wrong step, he said.
It takes but suspected
The number of adherents of Islam in prisons in the United States are growing. A nationwide study even been done to prove this hypothesis. The most dramatic figures obtained at the Rikers Island prison complex in New York, where most residents have now become a Muslim.
The spread of Islam in prison by the inmates themselves. Generally is among black residents, which was inspired by the spirit of Elijah Muhammed and Malcolm X, U.S. black Muslim leader. But lately, prisoners and ethnic Hispanic whites are also many who converted.
Imam Omar Shakir was not the only cleric in prison whose name is widely cited media. Previously, a few names stuck out as an ingredient in smelling pendiskriditan writings of Islam, following the findings of the increasing growth rate of Muslims in prison. Prison clerics fought tuck the number of trained Muslim ekstemis prison, so news headlines top several Western media writes.
Many scholars prison labeled a terrorist teacher. Alternatively, conspiring with terrorist prisoners. The last case is what happened to Muslim chaplain James Yee, who had served in Guantanamo prison.
U.S. Pemasyakatan Institutions Bureau (U.S. Bureau of Prisons) has been criticized in May related to the selection of prison clergy who considered weak and therefore they have to grow the seeds of terrorism in prison. Needs to be done the necessary steps to correct it, so the sound of the headlines of The Washington Post.
Department of Justice to act swiftly to answer it. Through ispektor general, Glenn Fine A, they claim to receive 13 new recommendations related to acceptance of a new prison clerics, including in the process of screening to their supervision. The same process applied to the contractors and volunteers who helped out their duties.
Fine said the cleric in jail is needed to convey the spiritual services for Muslim inmates at the same time reduce them. Without cleric prison, he said, the spiritual service will be led by inmates themselves and it creates a potential distortion and raises religious extremity
shadow_ - April 24, 2007 08:03 AM (GMT)
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