:salam2:
I hope each of your Brothers and Sisters is in Good Health and Firm State of Iman...
I am preoccupied with an issue...
I have been very keen on watching the primaries...elections..and media coverage of the presidential candidates..in the United States...and I will admit...I am impressed by Barack Obama quite much (I know..some of you might attack me for this..but it's the truth)
I will be a citizen soon inshallah..and will receive the privilege of voting..
But I am hesitant for many reasons...
1. Aside from my resentment towards the current American administration...and much of the issues in American foreign policy...I have met tens and tens of Americans who'd been nothing but wonderful people...and whom I respect and admire very much...and this country in its positives and the matters which do not go against Islam...has become my haven..it is my home! (in a couple of years.how long I've lived here..will be longer than how long I've lived in my country of birth!)..and I want to do something *for* it...at least by voting!
2. When I hear Obama speak..I sense a genuineness in what he says...this is the first time I ever get interested in hearing what a politican says..and sobhanallah he says certain things which I strongly agree with...I think he is a man with passion...and he really wants to do practice what he preaches!...
3. The problem is that...there are some issues which make me a little unsure if I should go on with voting for him (i.e. palestine issue)...but there's the issue of Iraq..he wants to withdraw the troops from there..and knowing EXACTLY how much Iraqis are suffering under occupation (I am Iraqi..and have family in Iraq still)...I am totally up for it...also...he wants to improve things *here*...and that is something I would like to see...even if I am a minority and Muslims might not get a big chunk of positives...but all people deserve comfort and happiness...and I would love to see people's lives change to the better!
4. Another issue is...the permissibility of what I want to do...I know that as far as Muslims go...non-Muslims cannot have wilaya over a Muslim...I know this applies for marriage and social issues of the sort...but I don't know about that politics wise...especially in the case of immigrants and refugees living in non-Muslim land...
At times I think...well I live in this country and I will be a citizen of it...and this privilege is a chance for me to let my voice be heard and participate in something which can be of benefit for many people!...
but then at other times I think...how can I be selfish and think this way???..my action *might* harm Muslim brothers and sisters in other lands...and I will be doing more harm than good!...I should just reserve this privilege...or pretend it never exists!
I really don't know what to decide on anymore...I want to be directed somehow...I would like to have your inputs on the issue...and possibly the views of Alims on the matter...
I know this is not the MOST urgent thing in the world...but you know...I don't want my nafs to make me fall into error which I can prevent...but at the same time...I do not want to prevent it from doing some good for others first..and myself second...
What Do You All Think?
I hope each of your Brothers and Sisters is in Good Health and Firm State of Iman...
I am preoccupied with an issue...
I have been very keen on watching the primaries...elections..and media coverage of the presidential candidates..in the United States...and I will admit...I am impressed by Barack Obama quite much (I know..some of you might attack me for this..but it's the truth)
I will be a citizen soon inshallah..and will receive the privilege of voting..
But I am hesitant for many reasons...
1. Aside from my resentment towards the current American administration...and much of the issues in American foreign policy...I have met tens and tens of Americans who'd been nothing but wonderful people...and whom I respect and admire very much...and this country in its positives and the matters which do not go against Islam...has become my haven..it is my home! (in a couple of years.how long I've lived here..will be longer than how long I've lived in my country of birth!)..and I want to do something *for* it...at least by voting!
2. When I hear Obama speak..I sense a genuineness in what he says...this is the first time I ever get interested in hearing what a politican says..and sobhanallah he says certain things which I strongly agree with...I think he is a man with passion...and he really wants to do practice what he preaches!...
3. The problem is that...there are some issues which make me a little unsure if I should go on with voting for him (i.e. palestine issue)...but there's the issue of Iraq..he wants to withdraw the troops from there..and knowing EXACTLY how much Iraqis are suffering under occupation (I am Iraqi..and have family in Iraq still)...I am totally up for it...also...he wants to improve things *here*...and that is something I would like to see...even if I am a minority and Muslims might not get a big chunk of positives...but all people deserve comfort and happiness...and I would love to see people's lives change to the better!
4. Another issue is...the permissibility of what I want to do...I know that as far as Muslims go...non-Muslims cannot have wilaya over a Muslim...I know this applies for marriage and social issues of the sort...but I don't know about that politics wise...especially in the case of immigrants and refugees living in non-Muslim land...
At times I think...well I live in this country and I will be a citizen of it...and this privilege is a chance for me to let my voice be heard and participate in something which can be of benefit for many people!...
but then at other times I think...how can I be selfish and think this way???..my action *might* harm Muslim brothers and sisters in other lands...and I will be doing more harm than good!...I should just reserve this privilege...or pretend it never exists!
I really don't know what to decide on anymore...I want to be directed somehow...I would like to have your inputs on the issue...and possibly the views of Alims on the matter...
I know this is not the MOST urgent thing in the world...but you know...I don't want my nafs to make me fall into error which I can prevent...but at the same time...I do not want to prevent it from doing some good for others first..and myself second...
What Do You All Think?