UMA’s Forum on American Muslim Community

Newark: United Muslims of America (UMA) invited the representatives of several Muslim Organizations and
Muslim activists to share their concerns and proposed solutions to the various challenges Muslims are
currently facing in America. The following people participated in the Forum:
Dellous Lundie, Media Committee, South Bay Islamic Association, San Jose (SBIA).
Samina Faheem, Founder and President of American Muslim Voice (AMV) Maha Elgenaidi, Co-Founder of Islamic Networks Group (ING).
Omar Ahmad, National Chairman of Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR) Hazem Kira of American Muslim Alliance (AMA) Imam Bilal of All Muslims’ Islamic Communication Center (AICC), San Jose. Rifat Mehmood of American Institute of Internationa Studies (AIIS).
Khaja Ashraf of Pakistan American Congress (PAC). Abdul Awwal of Pleasanton Mosque.
Waseem Sufi of Livermore Mosque In addition, Moina and Mohammad Shaiq (Fremont), Farrukh Shah Khan of World Business and Technology, Dr. Joseph DiCaprio (San Francisco), and UMA’s Shafi Refai, Iftekhar Hai, Hammadullah Husaini, and Waheed Siddiqee also took part in the discussion.
There was general consensus that although Muslim Americans have made progress in establishing
themselves as a visible community in America, they need to become much more active in social, political,
educational, legal, economic, public relations, media, and interfaith activities on a grassroots level. Only
then can we become an effective and influential community.
Some statements touched upon the following concerns:
1. A growing need for developing a positive image of
Islam and Muslims in America.
2. The emergence of some Muslim groups that seem to be
compromising the basic moral fabric of Islam in the name of progress.
3. Muslims seem to have lost their zeal to take initiative and achieve excellence. They have just
become followers, instead of leaders.
4. Most American Muslims confine their activities to within the Muslim community. They should take equal
interest in the problems of society overall since it affects us too.
5. Immigrant Muslims do not work as closely with indigenous Muslims as they should.
6. Various Muslim groups and organizations need to share and pool their resources.
7. The majority of young Muslims do not seem to be involved in community affairs.
8. A need to develop a better translation of some Qur’anic verses pertaining to non-Muslims.
9. A basic need for Muslims to develop a mindset consistent with modern times.
Following the presentations by different participants, a few action Items were agreed upon as follows:
1. Conduct a series of workshops to educate and motivate Muslims to participate in various local
grassroots activities.
2. Work on establishing an endowment by approaching Muslim businesspeople.
3. Conduct training sessions to produce good P/R people and articulate speakers
4. Conduct communication training workshops.
5. Develop a “Who’s Who in the American Muslim Community” Database
It was the consensus that similar sessions should be held on a monthly basis. UMA expressed its willingness
to take the responsibility and the next forum will take place in late March.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------