The Proposal: How We Stop the War on Terror with Islam. Part 1

How to Stop the War on Terror Series

The Goal

Everyday there is a story about Islam and the Muslim community. All over the country and the world there are stories breaking everyday. Yet the overall Muslim community in the United States is extremely lacking in representatives who can communicate their views in a coherent and meaningful way. The best way for integration and change to occur is for Muslims to be active from within their own community to better portray and explain their views and opinions.

The goal: to find alternative ways to communicate and increase the diversity of opinions available by networking of individuals in the United States and elsewhere that can be trained and organized to be effective communicators for the Muslim world.

Implementation Areas

Viral Internet Content:

With the changes in technology it is becoming increasingly clear that more and more people are getting their opinions, and forming their religious and political views from the content on the internet. Even though many people still go and sit with a local Sheikh or Imam, the next generation of Muslims is getting a lot of their information from online content. Even amongst “radicals” or “extremists” as the terms may apply, the content they are viewing is online. Many times there is no direct content between those that react violently and any other organizations or Terrorist entities. Therefore, the necessity to provide positive alternative content, both audio and video, to help diversify the online Islamic content, is clear.

The Friday Khutbah (Sermon)

The key to change in any Muslim community is a better message from the pulpit on Friday. The position of the sermon in Islam is highly respected. The stature of the person who is able to command the pulpit is paramount. Generally speaking those that promote an integration model are considered by most, to be non-practicing or not authorities in religious matters and unworthy of the pulpit. Creating a new generation of Speakers that are qualified religiously to give a sermon and can be taken as authority from the community are the keys to changing the message the community hears.

Public Relations (PR) and the Media

Currently there are only a few organizations that are able to handle themselves with the Media and who can appear relevant as subject matter experts in the US Muslim community. There is a need to organize and develop individuals who can appear as experts in various fields. Daily there is a need for guests on TV for commenting on news stories. There are radio stations talking about Islam from both the left and the right, generally without any contribution form the Muslim community. Many organizations are looking for these Muslim individuals from Think Tanks, and expert witnesses for court, to poets and artists for entertainment.

Community Services

The Muslim community all across the country is in need of services. By helping individuals on a community level to better themselves you create and foster an environment of positive social change. There is a need to provide conflict resolution services for the community. Mediation of disputes, pre-marital and marital counseling, divorce prevention and support, youth leadership and entrepreneurship are just a few. By providing services and training we help alleviate the stresses of life for the community. People who are actively involved in self improvement do not resort to acts of desperation.

Concerns

The issue of concern is always what form of Islam is going to be promoted. There is a general misunderstanding amongst many people in the United States that there are forms of Islam. How do you stop the radicals from spreading their message? You can not control the information available. The best way is to develop a better message and provide more services. To spread many different opinions from various people and let the value of the content drive the information. By promoting alternative forms of information and content you provide the opportunity for young and old to have grater choice in what they chose to adhere to. Freedom of Speech. Freedom of Press. Freedom Religion. This is the American method, with the belief that if many alternatives are available, the messages of the extremists hurting Islam will be diluted.

How to Stop the War on Terror Series

The Proposal: How We Stop the War on Terror with Islam. Part 1

Social Networks and Viral Internet to End the War on Terror. Part 2

Friday Khutbah Sermons to Stop The War on Terror in Islam. Part 3.

Media and Publict Relations PR to Stop the War on Terror in Islam. Part 4.

Community Service for Muslims to Change the Ideology of the Next Generation with Islam. Part 5.

Download The Proposal

 Please check out our other series of articles.

Alternative Careers for Muslims To Stop Terror and Win the War of Ideology in Islam

Using Technology Internet Social Networks Trends To Understand People, the World

Saleem Siddiqui is a Political Commentator, Public Speaker, Actor and Consultant. He is a trained Mediation and Conflict Resolution Specialist. He conducts sermons and training for various religious and Nonprofit organizations. Working with effort to increase Muslim and Islamic awareness in Communications, Public Relations (PR), Public Speaking, Political Strategy, Media, Marketing, and many  other fields as they relate to the integration of Muslims in the United States of America and around the world.

Saleem Siddiqui has undergrad degrees in Arabic and religion from the Middle East and attended Law School in Houston,Texas. He has consulted with the FBI and testified on behalf of the District Attorney of Virginia on cases relating to National Security and “The War on Terror”.

Muslim Nightly Call In Radio Show.

Listen to our Past Shows: Archive of HotConflict Radio Podcast