Dr H Koya

IMAM a title that creates “social distancing”  with Whites in America

Ahmadi Muslims engaged in TABLIGH E ISLAM, instructed by Khalifa to desist from using the title Imam with their own name for good reasons.

 ( Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Islamabad, England)

They are Murabees, servants or missionaries not Imams.
I had deep concerns when I first started contacting the key players with mainstream Islam in the Bay Area when they used to hand out business cards with Imam in front of their names.

What I feared was that Ahmadi Muslim missionaries might follow the trend and join in giving mix messages to public. That’s what exactly happened.  Soon they too started using the title Imam and handing out their business cards. Many times I felt like lodging me compliant with our Khalifa Sahab but I didn’t do it.
I am pleased that now that the Khalifa sahab issued a directive to the effective.
Why?
1. Thirst and foremost in Islam, there is only Imam at any given time appointed by Allah.
2. Anyone uses the title gives mixed messages as to who is actual Imam.
3. The Imam thing in USA was started by the Black Muslims in effect The Nation of Islam which it’s own pride, prejudices and exclusivity not permitted in Islam.
This has created (among other things) a resentment and aloofness among the White Americans who are practicing “social distancing” with Muslims and Islam.

THE BLACK MUSLIM APPROACH

After a fallout within the so-called Black Muslims (Nation of Islam), many if them started “outsourcing” searching for opportunities in the mainstream Islam. They had some success in gaining a few key position but in the sense they meant Imam. Some fallouts started their own groups with Imam title in front of their names.

Already sensitive to White population in USA,  they couldn’t and in effect would not win hearts of The incensed Whites of Americans as the Black Muslims believe Islam is not for them. That’s a major reason the don’t have any Whites in their Congressman.

This social distancing has been created by themselves. It will be hard to undo them.

This presents a difficulty for us who don’t believe in color coded Islam as Black White, Blue it Green Muslims.

That’s not Islam as explained in the Holy Quran. And the Imam title and sensitivity with it is also a stumbling block on our way to inviting the Whites to Islam. No fault of theirs.