What Muhammad Ali’s Funeral, Janaaza, Will Teach Us About Islam

What Muhammad Ali’s Funeral, Janaaza, Will Teach Us About Islam
When “The GREATEST of All Time, The Peoples Champ”, Allah Ali Hajjirahmemek me Muhammad Ali, is buried, millions of Americans will have their first glimpse of the Islamic funeral service, Janaaza—one that looks a lot like Jewish and Christian services. Thursday, the world saw the most widely covered Muslim funeral in our nation’s history.
No one would’ve been happier about this than Muhammad Ali. May Allah (SWT) grant him Jannat-ul-Firdous.
Ali wanted to be an ambassador for Islam in America, as he told us in his 2005 book The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life’s Journey, co-authored with his daughter Hana. In it, he shared an unfulfilled dream he had harbored, “I sometimes thought I would like to be a Muslim Billy Graham.” He continued: “But God had a different plan for me.”
SportsImage Ali CoverOn November 5, 1995, we brought Ali here to California to honor him with “The Sports Image Award”, as one in sports that had given the most dedicated effort, time and money to better their community, the nation and the world. Those who out matched their dignity with dollars and who use sports for it’s highest and most noble purpose, the uplifting of the human family!
That “plan,” of course, was Parkinson’s disease. It was only through his Muslim faith, Ali continued, that he “could deal with this challenge… it was my faith that restored my sense of purpose and self-confidence. My faith gave me back my joy and enthusiasm for life.”
It’s hard to reading that for a man whom was called simply “The Greatest” and had achieved so much knew that Parkinson’s made the beautiful dream he had for the next phase of his life impossible, or an unplanned reality.
And to cry tears of regret that if Ali could have fulfilled his dream of being a bridge between Muslims and our fellow Americans, perhaps our community wouldn’t be in the place we find ourselves in today.
That’s a dark, challenging and often lonely place. One where politicians like Donald Trump demonize us to score political points. A place where hate crimes against us have spiked over the past year. Where Muslim American students being bullied for their faith is no longer the exception, but the disturbing new norm.
On a personal note, I can’t help but think of the traditional white cloth the body was wrapped in after the ceremonial washing of his body—just as Ali was before his funeral Thursday, when many Americans will have a new experience and even learn a new word: Janaaza. That’s the Arabic word for funeral, and one Christian Arabs also use.
For Muslims, however, Janaaza signifies the Islamic funeral ritual. At Thursday’s Janaaza for Ali, Zaid Shakir will offer a traditional prayer that asks God for “mercy, forgiveness of Ali’s sins and acceptance of Ali into heaven.”
Islamic funeral prayer is very much like the ones offered at Christian and Jewish funerals of seeking mercy, forgiveness and acceptance into heaven. We may use different words or even languages but all three of these Abrahamic faiths share the same common humanity and God.
As for the burying of Ali, typically in Islam, like Judaism, the deceased should be buried as soon as possible. But it’s not an absolute mandate, rather “it’s more about appropriateness.” In Ali’s case, it was appropriate to wait so that the family could organize the funeral and memorial service so that the world could pay their respects to one of its icons—a man who was proudly Muslim, proudly Black and proudly American.
Ali’s prayer service, at the Freedom Hall in Louisville Kentucky, was open to people of all faiths. It will be followed Friday by an interfaith memorial service for the greatest. As the spokesperson for the Ali family explained earlier this week, “Ali spoke of inclusiveness his entire life and we want this to be inclusive of everyone.”
Honoring AliThis significance of Ali’s public funeral has certainly not been lost on Muslim Americans. As Ali’s “detailed wishes for his funeral prayer and memorial were that they be open to all people and all faiths, a powerful testimony to the inclusive principles he lived by” as a Muslim and an American.
In a political climate in which Islamophobia is front and center, his funeral will counterpunch the ridiculous notion that being a good Muslim and a good American are at odds.”
When a person dies, Muslims traditionally say, “To God we belong and to God we shall return.” Ali may have returned to God, but on Thursday and Friday Ali will bring together Muslims from across the nation to stand shoulder to shoulder with their fellow Americans of different religions and races. Even after his death, Ali is still fighting for the things he so dearly believed in.
R.I.P. dear Friend, role model, and client!,
Jalil

AMWF & Oakland Public Library Host FREE CLOTHING GIVEAWAY

AMWF & Oakland Public Library Host FREE CLOTHING GIVEAWAY
Swap Not Shop
Why shop when you can swap?
The AARON & MARGARET WALLACE FOUNDATION (AMWF), will be partnering with the Oakland Public Library to host a FREE CLOTHING GIVEAWAY on Friday, April 8, 2016, ALL DAY at the Eastmont Branch Library, Eastmont Mall- 7200 Bancroft St., Ste. 211, Oakland California. Everything is FREE OF CHARGE!! Just select a few items you need of the items donated.
Hand of Dignity” Program
AMWF provides a wide range of educational opportunities and employment preparation services for our clients including scholarship and admissions programs, referrals for job training, career development support, resume workshops, job search assistance, interview skills training and preparation.
AMWF, a volunteer-based organization, extends the “Hand of Dignity” to those less fortunate- men, women, and children, and provides them with the basic human necessity of quality, proper clothing, shoes, and accessories with an emphasis on low-income residents successfully obtaining an education or seeking employment to successfully transitioning into the workforce.
Our goal in the “Hand of Dignity” Program is to help low-income residents in Bay Area Counties improve their self-image and self-esteem by providing them with quality school or business apparel appropriate for attending school, job interviews and the professional workplace so they can obtain and education, secure employment and become economically self-sufficient. Many of the women in need of these services have nothing but the clothes on their back because they are escaping from abusive situations.
“Hand of Dignity” accepts new and gently used baby, children, teen youth, men’s and women’s clothing in excellent condition. We do not accept items in bad condition and they must not be noticeably worn, stained, torn, or imperfect. We are very selective as to what we will accept and ask/require that all donations to be in excellent condition, cleaned, pressed and on hangers.
We refresh the baby, children, teen youth clothing and give them new life with someone in need.
“Hand of Dignity” rescue, restore, and re-purpose the men’s and women’s business attire and accessories (suits, shirts, blouses, dresses, skirts, ties, scarfs, shoes, accessories, etc.) and provide them to individuals and programs which support people in transition or on welfare get jobs in the business world. Those “Qualified” clients in need can call to arrange a fitting of business attire and visit our ”showroom”, meet with a volunteer wardrobe adviser who helps select appropriate outfits for interviews and work for their new job.
Are there any clothes in your closet that you no longer wear? Put them to use by donating them to AMWF. The less fortunate are always in need of stylish, fresh, clean clothes. We would like to encourage you all to take the opportunity to do a little “closet purging” — and gather all those things that, quite honestly, will NEVER fit your body again.
Among the things that will find a new home with someone in need are some of your very nice, “classic” style, men’s and women’s suits, shirts, blouses, dresses, skirts, ties, scarfs, shoes, accessories, children and babies clothing, etc.
AMWF specializes in some new, but mostly gently used clothing and accessories in designer apparel sold in the nation’s leading upscale department stores and retailers and provide First Quality designer apparel, footwear, and accessories. We operate and maintain an inventory so we can offer our patrons diverse selection at all times. This is what separates us from the majority of non-profit distributors. We also handle electronics, sporting goods, toiletries, general merchandise, and more. We offer great styles in urban wear clothing, hip hop and designer apparel names like Armani, Ralph Lauren Corporation, Hugo Boss, Lacoste, Calvin Klein, Gucci, Burberry, Nike, Adidas, Tommy Hilfiger, Diesel, J. Crew, American Eagle, Abercrombie & Fitch, Puma, Lee,Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Dior, Versace, Banana Republic, Timberland, Vans, Gap, Reebok, New Balance, Zara, Levi Strauss, DKNY, Quicksilver, Kenneth Cole, Hollister, H&M, Izod, Clarks, Perry Ellis, Superdry, Champion, Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, Givenchy, Aeropostale, Under Armour, Lululemon, Chanel, Forever 21, Ralph Lauren,Van’s, Converse, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Jordan, Target, Lilly Pulitzer, Eileen Fisher, Tory Burch, Justice, Diesel, True Religion, Ed Hardy, Haggar, Apple, Urban Outfitters, Ray Ban, Old Navy, Wet Seal, Quiksilver, Hurley, Billabong, Penguin, BCBG, Ann Taylor, Arizona, Baby Phat, Bebe, Billabong, Buffalo, Express, Expressions, Girbaud, Guess, Gymboree, Healthtex, Heritage, Hurley, John Deere, Lands End, Le Tigre, League, Lucky Brand, Mossimo, Next Concept, NY & Co., Choppers, Penguin, Munsingwear, Private Label, Rampage, Redsand, Roxy, Sean John, Timberland, Tommy Bahama, True People, Turbulance, U.S. Expedition, US Polo Association, Victoria Secret, Von Dutch, William Rast, Ecko, Eddie Bauer, Akademiks, Energie, Fila, Fubu, Gap, North Face, Phat Farm, Rocawear, Avirex, Ocean Pacific, Hanes, Jerzees, Gildan, Sport-Tek, Dockers, Ecko, Eddie Bauer, Enyce, Esprit, Faded Glory, Harley Davidson, Nautica, Umbro, Varcity VeeTee, Vokal, Zoo York, Clarks, Alfani, Disney, Hello Kitty, Sesame Street, Gymboree, Jockey, Hanes, Fruit of the Loom, Bike, Bali, Chantelle, Glamorise, Olga, Playtex, Spanx, Wacoal, K-Swiss, Asics, Saucony, Brooks, Mizuno, New Socks, Altamont, American Needle, Beats by Dre, Been Trill, Black Scale, Brixton, Crooks & Castles, DGK, Dickies, Funderwear, Hall of Fame, ICNY, LRG, Maui & Sons, Mishka, Neff, New Balance, O’Neill, Oakley, Pacsun, Rainbow, Ray-Ban, Reef, Riot Society, Vanguard, Volcom, Young & Reckless, Beauty & the Beach, Body Glove, Brixton, Bullhead Denim Co., Diamond Supply Co., Dolce Vita, Erin Wasson, Glamorous, Insight, JanSport, Kirra, Pink, Body-Solid, Fitness Gear, Valor Fitness, Rage, Easton, Everlast, FootJoy, Franklin, JanSport, Jockey, Ecco, E-Force, Ektelon, Marmot, Maui Jim, Maxfli, McDavid, Oakley, O’Brien, Ocean Minded, O’Neill, Rawlings, Riddell, Spalding, Speedo, Wilson, Wolverine, Worth, and others!
Apparel donations can be dropped off in the Bay Area or a convenient and easy pick-up can be arranged. For complete information, call or text us at 510 394-4101.
Please click the link and complete the “Hand of Dignity” request form to instruct us how best to help you.
We are looking for a shop in the East Bay Area, California, to offer FREE clothing and accessories on a monthly basis. We already have clothing items, racks and displays. The clothing will be given based on need while they last and are listed below! We have new and gently used fashionable clothing available for mainly Middle School to College students and some Big & Tall! We have the latest style clothing and accessories of ALL types: footwear; eye wear; sports gear; weight training equipment and accessories; swimwear and swim equipment and accessories; electronics; toiletries; health and beauty products, equipment and accessories; hair care products, equipment and accessories; and much more! Just complete the request form below for consideration!
If you have a venue or know of one, please do not hesitate to contact us immediately!
Jalil
Call or text (510) 394-4101