Muslim leaders look inward after arrests of N.Va. men.
The adults thought they’d done all they could. They had condemned extremist ideology, provided ski trips and scout meetings, and encouraged young people to speak openly about how to integrate their religion, Islam, with the secular world.
But since five college-age Virginia men were arrested in Pakistan earlier this month after allegedly being recruited over the Internet to join al-Qaeda, many Washington area Muslims are questioning whether mere condemnation is enough.
….Until now, many Muslim leaders have focused on what they saw as external threats to young people, such as Islamophobia or the temptations of modern secular life. Now they say it is time to look inward, to provide a counterweight to those who misinterpret Koranic verses to promote violence — and to learn what rhetoric and methods appeal to young people.
Radicals “seem to understand our youth better than we do,” said Mahdi Bray, executive director of the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation.
johnpi and 
Abu Noor Al-Irlandee 4:27 pm on December 25, 2009 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I agree with the comments in the article that this is a very rare phenomenon and therefore it would probably be a mistake to think that the central purpose of masjid youth programming should be to prevent radicalization. It is still true without a doubt that far far more youth are being lost to the religion on the other extreme, meaning that they have little understanding of and have lax to nonexistent practice of Islam and are “fully integrated” into the society.
Still, some of the solutions might broadly be similar. We all agree that mosques desperately need to develop programming that is more relevant to youth and helps to guide them as to who to integrate a positive Muslim identity with constructive approaches to helping others and seeing one’s place in society. Personally, I really dislike when this is done through channeling Muslims into the American political system. There is more merit to attempting to engage in charitable works and other positive community engagement. The idea of some kind of “Muslim peace corps” that could actually give young people a chance to assist with other parts of the ummah in concrete ways sounds great although great care must be taken not to associate such a project with the U.S. government or its foreign policy objectives which in our current situation will undoubtedly be difficult.
Abu Noor Al-Irlandee 4:28 pm on December 25, 2009 Permalink | Log in to Reply
should be “how to integrate” not “who to integrate”
johnpi 6:12 pm on December 25, 2009 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Why charitable projects for the ummah? Why not charitable projects for struggling Americans? Aren’t we supposed to be a mercy to mankind as well as to fellow Muslims?
I know I’ve seen that narrowly interpreted as meaning we are a mercy when we convert other humans to Islam, but I read that and see that we are commanded to do good deeds among all peoples, not just for other Muslims…
Abu Noor Al-Irlandee 6:21 pm on December 25, 2009 Permalink | Log in to Reply
John,
You’ve misread my comment, and I’m not sure exactly why. I stated “engage in charitable works and other positive community engagement.” Absolutely no mention of ummah, muslims or anybody’s religion, ethnicity, or nationality.
Then I went on to also agree that the idea of a Muslim peace corps that could assist the ummah in other parts of the world which was mentioned in the article had some merit as a specific way to positively engage the concern for the ummah that young people have.
There is no debate nor dispute about the obligation and encouragement in Islam for helping all human beings regardless of their religion. I am always disturbed when people from any direction desire to create such a dichotomy, whether by saying that we should only help Muslims, or whether by saying that we should care less about the ummah and focus on Americans. The choice and the dichotomy is a false one.
johnpi 6:23 pm on December 25, 2009 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Thank you for the clarification, Abu Noor.