Islam in America
AlMagrib Institute: Islamic Scholarship Meets “Cool” and “Hip”
By Susan Smith
A collage of AlMaghrib Institute textbooks taught in 16 North American cities (Courtesy Almagrib Institute).
As for Muhammed Al-Shareef, he once wrote an article, "The Jews and Their Treachery." He is a Wahabi toy. The Maghreb Institute - the Maghreb being North African land that was captured by Arab imperialists - should not exist on US soil.
CONTRARY to conventional wisdom, fundamental Islam and “cool” are not necessarily mutually exclusive. In fact, since 9/11 the pursuit of Islamic scholarship has grown exponentially, and part and parcel of this revival is a new generation of hip and self-confident young Muslims. While previous generations sought to emulate mainstream American society by shedding their scarves and beards, today’s younger Muslim Americans increasingly show up in classrooms wearing traditional Muslim garb with self-esteem. Much of this phenomenon is in response to the microscope put on Muslims since 9/11. The intense scrutiny and resulting introspection have caused Muslims to defend, protect and relish their faith and identity. As a result, North America is witnessing a burgeoning of organizations promoting Islamic education and awareness. Foremost among these is AlMaghrib Institute, which offers university-level double-weekend seminars to a growing student body of 7,000 in the United States and Canada.
Perhaps the AlMaghrib phenomenon is the result of its state-of-the-art advertising, graphics and 21st century vernacular. Or maybe itÂ’s the way reverent material is delivered with a touch of, well, irreverence.
The AlMaghrib Institute’s Internet homepage reads: “Even to a seasoned Arabic ear, the name ‘AlMaghrib’ carries with it a collage of connotations and images. To some, it may remind them of a land—ancient Andalus or the Northwest lands of Muslim Africa. To others, the name may offer a feeling of heritage, a heritage of advanced Islamic Scholarship and discipline. And yet some—perhaps this is what you pictured—envision the sun embracing the ocean announcing the beginning of a new Islamic day......you’re like, “Umm...no, actually I was thinking Maghrib prayer.”
Muhammad Alshareef, the 31-year-old founder and director of AlMaghrib Institute, admits that he gets mixed reviews for his avant-garde style—even though he is scrupulous not to deviate from basic Islamic teachings rooted in the Qur’an and Sunnah (practices and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad).
Students respect Alshareef’s credentials (including memorization of the Qur’an, and an Islamic Law degree from the University of Medina, Saudi Arabia) and are drawn by his “hip” approach to boosting their Ilm (knowledge) and Eman (faith in God). They can visit his EmanRush Audio Web site to buy CDs which “accelerate faith…and bring a rush of blood to the mind and heart, causing tears, warm whispers of repentance, hair to stand and an overwhelming urge to prostrate to Allah; sweet.” Or, they sign up for personal Islamic coaching by clicking “Dude, I’m in!” at his DiscoverU Web site.
Some of the more traditional ulama (Islamic scholars) give Alshareef a hard time, however. “They don’t think it’s fitting for an Islamic organization to make jest of itself,” he explains, “but this attracts students. Students who want to learn about Islam don’t need to suffer through serious, strict lectures sitting on a hard floor. We smile, laugh and have a good time.”
Thus Alshareef imports “21 Teaching Methods of the Prophet” into the 21st century to impart scholarly material in a manner consistent with Islamic tradition, while underscoring brief, relevant, and practical applications of Islamic knowledge to daily life.
Despite the criticism by some of their elders, young Muslims love Alshareef, and today AlMaghrib Institute is offered in 16 cities, from Houston to Toronto, and from New York to Los Angeles. Particularly when many in the West view Islam as a pariah religion (with even the pope bashing its teachings as “evil and inhuman”), AlMaghrib gives a shot in the arm to those who feel misunderstood, battered and beleaguered by the press—and, worse, blamed for 9/11...