Salaam Alaikum! For my debut on MB, I thought it would be prudent to touch on some pertinent and critical issues affecting not just the Bangladeshi-American community, but the greater Muslim American community at large by sharing an article I wrote right after Barack Obama was elected to the Presidency. If there are any whom I offend by my words, please accept my humble apologies and forgive me for I sincerely intend no malice upon anyone. Indeed in this particular article as well as any and all future articles I may write, anything I say in error will be attributed to my own ignorance while any truth will be attributed to the grace and boundless knowledge of Allah (SWT).

So Barack Obama has finally triumphed. He has managed to overcome perhaps the most noxious display of Islamaphobia in one of the most vicious (and at times outright libelous) presidential campaigns in the history of American politics and carried over ninety-percent of the Muslim American vote (on par with the African American vote) in the process.

Yet while it is of course far from “mission accomplished” by any means for Muslim Americans, this is perhaps the best time in American history to actively voice our concerns and aggressively push for our issues to get addressed on a national level. Now, more than ever, we must come together as Muslim Americans from all walks of life in order to first forge and then aggressively promote a common platform. Only then will we truly become a political force to be acknowledged and reckoned with. Unfortunately it isn't mere activism which will help further our agenda-funding to support our endeavors is also a very critical issue. Therefore not only must we maintain a robust and visible presence on the political activism scene, but we must also generously contribute towards progressive campaigns, think-tank groups, and academics who are more willing to objectively view issues vital to national, and Muslim American interests as well as issues regarding the global Muslim ummah. We must be as generous with our wallets and hearts as we are ambitious with our plans.

Indeed this isn't just up to the professionals and more fortunate among the Muslim community, but must be a widespread, massive grass-roots endeavor (just like Obama's campaign) since even modest activism and donations matter! This is the political goal to strive for, and the time to do so is now. President-elect Obama is probably as intelligent, engaging, dynamic, open-minded, widely-respected and all-around virtuous of a president that we can expect to witness in our lifetime. For instance in his interview on Foreign Exchange with Fareed Zakaria, he demonstrated a remarkably insightful understanding of the shifting trends facing the Muslim world and the various realities of Islam and Muslim society in ways no prior US president has ever been able to (here is part one of the three-part interview for those who are interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGJgbDxy_xk).

Here is a president who not only understands the complexities, nuances and immense diversity of the Muslim world (as opposed to viewing it as one monolithic entity as so many others have done and continue to do) but embraces them and is clearly willing to intellectually engage with it on a global level. For the American Muslim community to remain sitting on the sidelines and not recognize the unprecedented opportunity we have to finally have our grievances addressed would be the height of complacence and cynicism. Indeed all of my prior suggestions in terms of potential actions (such as forming lobbies, contributing to campaigns, establishing a common agenda, etc.) are indicative of the reality that it's not about whether our voices are currently heard or not, but whether we can make our voices worthy of being heard by the powers that be.

However before we can even hope to bring about any change on a political level, it's up for us to first change our own communities from within. For us American Muslims, I believe it means doing more strengthening our own ummah at home including adequate financial support of every American Masjid. Many of our fellow African American, Caucasian, Hispanic, and other reverted believers have justly complained about the fact that far too often, mosques run by predominantly immigrant Muslims send back nearly all of the surplus contributions they raise abroad without reinvesting any of it in the American Muslim ummah here. As a first generation Bangladeshi-American Muslim myself, I have personally witnessed this unfortunate phenomenon occurring within several of our communities. There are incredibly well-funded mosques in the US, while on the other end of the spectrum there are dilapidated mosques which are barely able to operate from month to month-but sadly we have yet to see any nationwide cooperation and aid from the former to the latter.

As far as community-based Muslim unity is concerned, our deen itself has made it perfectly clear that Islam is not about establishing exclusive ethnic or nationalistic-based communities-it's about all of us actively coming together to acknowledge the oneness of Allah (SWT) and to worship and function as one united entity bounded by our faith. Indeed by its very definition this is what being a true ummat al-mu'minin is all about. Personally I find it so depressing to go to large metropolises like New York and see all of these homogenous mosques catering only to a certain demographic of Muslims. Is not Islam's greatest strength is in our breathtaking diversity? Do we really want to witness our most precious ummah being tragically sliced up into competing "Desi mosques", "Arab mosques", “Latino mosques“ "black mosques", "white mosques", etc? These are the issues that our generation must address if we are to have any chance of forging a visible, united and empowered Muslim ummah here in America. It means “reaching across the isle” and building bridges transcending the bounds of race, religion and ethnicity and it means proving to America once and for all that Muslims are patriotic, hard-working, intelligent, and valuable members of society.

So can we do it? Accomplishing any, much less all, of this will do doubt be a daunting task and will take much time, effort, and patience on behalf of everybody-but has that ever been a real obstacle for those who in their collective determination are passionately devoted to achieving something? After all, if our generation of American Muslims does not actively strive to unite and fails to capitalize on this unprecedented atmosphere of unity, optimistic hope and the desire for change and reform which has so permeated through American society, then we have nobody but ourselves to blame for abdicating our responsibilities and it will be something that we will one day have to painfully explain to our children as we transfer this burden to them. Enough noxious pessimism, enough bitter cynicism, enough loathsome apathy, and enough lame excuses. Now is the time for proactive action. Now is the time for noble deeds to consumate our virtuous words. President-elect Obama may be able to bring about change for our nation, but only we can bring about comprehensive and lasting grassroots change for our ummah. Insha' Allah, yes we can.