Imam M. A. Azeez

http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=oid%3A48470 

http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=335761

Imam Azeez believes that the responsibilities of today’s Imam encompass far more than leading prayer and giving answers to complicated questions about Islamic law. Imam Azeez counsels and mediates in family concerns, teaches classes for both the Muslim and non-Muslim community, actively promotes and participates in the Sacramento interfaith community, acts as the spokesperson and outreach coordinator…. and organizes events at SALAM.

Imam Azeez holds that a “modern” Imam must go beyond the traditional role of leading prayers and giving khutbas. He also must be concerned with energizing the community… providing a broad world view and an understanding of political and social life. He must even make statements to the media clarifying misconceptions and explaining how Muslims fit into the overall American and international communities. Imam Azeez and SALAM have recently been highlighted in various news articles in both our local and national media.

Imam Azeez acknowledges that Imams living in 2006 must be able to comprehend the culture and society that they live in. “Even jokes”, he quips. In retrospect, it seems as if he was being prepared all along to step into his role at SALAM. Along the way, he has acquired a unique perspective on Islam in America. Through his education and upbringing, he has learned to view Islam through both a traditional spiritual and an objective secular lens. He has studied the biological, historical and sociological aspects of mankind in detail. He is, so to speak, a “Renaissance” imam, particularly suited to SALAM which, he claims, is “an open-minded environment where good ideas thrive, guided by the strong evidence of Qur’an and Sunnah.”

Imam M. A. Azeez counts Sheikh Mohamed Al-Ghazaly among his mentors. Al-Ghazaly was very well grounded in Qur’anic study, Seerah (the study of the Prophet’s life) and Islamic history. He used logic to apply sacred text to situations faced today, understanding that while Islam is valid in all time periods, intellect and logic must be used to understand Islam’s teachings. Sheikh Al-Ghazaly strived to live in accordance with his statement, “My prayers, my rituals, my life and my death are all for Allah, the Lord of the Worlds”.

Continuing his post-graduate education, keeping abreast of current Muslim social and political thought and staying at SALAM are among Imam Azeez’s personal goals. He has a special interest in the critical reading and analysis of Islamic history.

Imam Azeez enjoys nature, especially picnicking with his family. In fact he considers any time spent with Zeyneb as precious. He likes to exercise and he certainly gets plenty of it with his busy schedule and keeping up with Zeynab. He bikes, jogs, lifts weights and rollerblades. He is also intrigued by all things computer and electronic. In fact, he relies on his trusty BlackBerry to inform him of Salah times.

Here are some quotes from Imam Azeez:

“SALAM’s future lies in the Hands of Allah SWT. Insha’Allah SALAM will move beyond a masjid or Islamic center to become a national model for a religious and spiritual center for Muslim and non-Muslim alike. A place to develop the American Muslim identity. A place to make sense of reality here and now. A place 100% open to non-Muslims… a place where American-born Muslims, sisters, youth and converts feel at home. The first building completed at SALAM was the school/community hall. Our Center for Higher Islamic Learning is already under way and will feature our masjid on the second floor and a sophisticated center for Islamic education and research on the first floor. Beyond that, I envision an academic think tank where issues of concern to the community, both Islamic and non-Islamic will be addressed, insha’Allah, and an endowment fund, which among other things, will assist Muslim businesses and promote education of Muslims in our community. I realize that this is a tall order indeed, however I am of the opinion that SALAM has already developed the firm roots needed.”

 “Over time, the focus of most masajid has become primarily spiritual and divorced from the real lives of its members. Rigidity in doctrine coupled with cultural behavior may lead to disillusionment with one’s faith and a lack of connection within a masjid’s community. Conversely, our mission at SALAM is to focus on all human needs… be they social, political, physical or spiritual. A language barrier does not exist here at SALAM. We see our youth not as a group to be accommodated, but rather our priority. Every activity at SALAM is conceived with the youth in mind. SALAM also supports the empowerment of women. Sisters are represented everywhere here. In fact, this was one of the major reasons I accepted the position of imam.”

“SALAM has a democratic process. No politics. No power struggle. No censorship. We understand that we live in America here at SALAM. The fact that there was very little local backlash post 9/11 can be attributed to SALAM’s policy of community outreach from the beginning.  We strive to view Islam from both inside and out. To revive Muslim thought from within and in so doing, refrain from promoting radicalism.

 My father taught me that the greatest pleasure in life is drinking a cup of tea with someone who knows how to use his brain. It is this sense of fellowship and community that I find here at SALAM.”

“I feel a particular kinship with converts. Every single Muslim needs to “convert” to Islam. Each of us needs to use reason and intellect to find God… not the other way around. We need to look at God from the atheist’s perspective, to step outside the whirlwind that surrounds us daily… to confront our doubts and darkest fears rather than to avoid them.

To see that God makes sense.

We will come to accept that belief in God allows us to make sense of our universe and gradually realize that we cannot afford to live without Him. Alhamdulillah, we will walk gradually towards the truth, as Allah guides us to faith. A faith that will allow us to make sense of our reality and to experience harmony and serenity in our lives.

If asked to sum up SALAM in one sentence, I would reply that SALAM is a good manifestation of a fully operational American Islamic center.”