By Linda D. Kozaryn
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON -- Qaseem Ali Uqdah and Abdullah Hamza Al-Mubarak
share a common goal. Both former enlisted men aim to help make
life a little easier for people in the armed forces who share
their faith.
Uqdah, a former Marine, and Al-Mubarak, a former airman, are
followers of Islam, a religion based on the teachings of the
prophet Mohammed. The 1.2 billion who practice the faith
worldwide are known as Muslims. They believe in one God, Allah,
and abide by religious laws written in the Koran, Islam's holy
book.
Islam is the fastest growing religion in the United States. The
Council on American-Islamic Relations here estimates there are
now 6 million Muslims in America compared to 2 million in the
early 1970s. Nearly half are African-American converts. The rest
are immigrants from such countries as India, Pakistan, and Arab
and African nations.
Uqdah and Al-Mubarak converted to Islam and while on active duty
often found themselves with nowhere to turn for religious
guidance. For the most part, Muslim chaplains were unheard of in
the armed forces. When the two service members left the enlisted
ranks, they set out to help their religious brethren in uniform.
Uqdah, a 21-year Marine Corps veteran, today heads the American
Muslim Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Council, based in
Arlington, Va. Al-Mubarak is now an Air Force Reserve second
lieutenant and attending the School of Islamic and Social
Sciences in Leesburg, Va. Upon completing seminary training in
May, he will become the Air Force's first Muslim chaplain.
"When I started at Parris Island [Marine Corps Recruit Depot,
S.C.] in 1975, there was no support for Muslim service members,"
Uqdah recalled. The former gunnery sergeant has worked to change
that since he retired eight years ago. "It's been a labor of
love. This is like Christian missionary work. We have to have
someone focus on it. If you don't, it's going to fall short."
Since Uqdah and Al-Mubarak served in the enlisted ranks,
military leaders have come to recognize Muslim service members'
religious needs. Things have improved somewhat for the estimated
4,000 Muslim service members now on active duty. Two Muslim
chaplains serve the Army and two serve the Navy.
Along with Al-Mubarak, two more Muslim chaplain candidates are
in training, one for the Air Force and one for the Army. The
first permanent Islamic mosque, the Masjid al Da'wah, opened at
Norfolk Navy Base, Va., last November for the estimated 750
Muslim sailors there.
Al-Mubarak said he experienced "a certain level of anxiety and
emptiness" not having a chaplain of the same faith. He said he
missed having someone who could facilitate his religious needs
and understood his religious etiquette.
In 1995, he took the initiative to find out why there were so
few Muslim chaplains and got the ball rolling to do what he
could to change that. Two years later, he picked up his
commission and entered the Air Force chaplain candidate program.
The program allows the military and the candidate to look each
other over while the candidate's enrolled in seminary, he said.
Today, Al-Mubarak goes on active duty during seminary training
breaks and works with chapel staffs. "In my case, whatever base
I go to, it has been something new for everybody," he said.
"Other chaplains have been fantastic at showing me what it takes
to be a chaplain -- how to help airmen, how to work within an
ecumenical environment to facilitate other faith groups without
compromising your own."
Uqdah and Al-Mubarak recently helped senior military leaders
recognize Muslim service members. Deputy Defense Secretary John
J. Hamre and Vice Adm. Vern Clark, director of the Joint Staff,
invited them and about 25 Muslim service members to the Pentagon
Jan. 15 in honor of the month-long celebration of Ramadan.
During Ramadan, Muslims do not eat, drink or have sexual
intercourse from sunup to sundown. After sundown, they break the
fast during "Iftar." This was the second annual Ramadan Iftar
hosted at the Pentagon.
Uqdah said the event is designed to remind commanders and senior
enlisted members that they have Muslim service members within
their ranks.
"Often, Muslim service members have the support of the chaplain,
but the one who truly makes a difference is that commanding
officer," he said. "When an issue comes up with respect to
religious accommodation, ... the chaplain will make a
recommendation, but the commanding officer is the one who says,
'This is what's going to happen.'"
By recognizing Muslim service members at the Pentagon, military
leaders send a clear signal to the field that "Muslim soldiers
are there; take care of them," Uqdah said.
Before dining, the Muslim troops turned toward Mecca, the Muslim
holy city in Saudi Arabia, and chanted prayers led by Army
Muslim Chaplain (Capt.) Mohammed Khan of the 519th Military
Intelligence Battalion, Fort Bragg, N.C. Khan also led prayers
during the first Iftar at the Pentagon.
Khan, an 18-year Army veteran born in India, said he originally
worked in preventive medicine in the Army Nurse Corps. He said
he became the Army's second Muslim chaplain in May 1997.
"They were looking for chaplains, so I switched over," he said.
"I was already serving the Army, educating commanders and troops
about Islam, especially during Desert Storm. I was writing
articles about Muslim events like Ramadan and dietary
requirements for Muslim soldiers."
Khan said the annual Pentagon celebration of Ramadan is very
encouraging and supportive for Muslim soldiers. "It indicates
the integrity of the armed forces that they're committed to all
faiths," he said.
One guest who accompanied Khan from Fort Bragg echoed the
chaplain's view. Army Pfc. Boukassim Khalid of C Company, 1st
Battalion, 321st Field Artillery, said the Iftar celebration
gave him a chance to meet some fellow Muslims and discuss
religious issues. Originally from Morocco, Khalid said he joined
the military two years ago to earn education benefits. "Muslim
troops are a minority, but they are a part of the military," he
said.
After Muslim service members said prayers and broke their day's
fast with water and dates, Clark expressed his appreciation for
their contribution to the nation's defense. "I'm thankful that
we're here where it's all right for us to have different views
and different faiths," he said. "Diversity is part of our
greatness."
Hamre, who also spoke at last year's event, told the group, "we
come together as people of faith who have assumed a larger
responsibility -- service to our country."
Hamre said the fundamental principles expressed in the
Constitution -- liberty, justice, equality and opportunity --
are the same fundamental values of Muslims, Christians and Jews.
"We are faithful to our Constitution only if we recognize the
religious freedoms and rights of all of our soldiers, sailors,
airmen and Marines," he said.
Muslim Troops Highlight Nation's Diversity
By Linda D. Kozaryn
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON -- Qaseem Ali Uqdah and Abdullah Hamza Al-Mubarak
share a common goal. Both former enlisted men aim to help make
life a little easier for people in the armed forces who share
their faith.
Uqdah, a former Marine, and Al-Mubarak, a former airman, are
followers of Islam, a religion based on the teachings of the
prophet Mohammed. The 1.2 billion who practice the faith
worldwide are known as Muslims. They believe in one God, Allah,
and abide by religious laws written in the Koran, Islam's holy
book.
Islam is the fastest growing religion in the United States. The
Council on American-Islamic Relations here estimates there are
now 6 million Muslims in America compared to 2 million in the
early 1970s. Nearly half are African-American converts. The rest
are immigrants from such countries as India, Pakistan, and Arab
and African nations.
Uqdah and Al-Mubarak converted to Islam and while on active duty
often found themselves with nowhere to turn for religious
guidance. For the most part, Muslim chaplains were unheard of in
the armed forces. When the two service members left the enlisted
ranks, they set out to help their religious brethren in uniform.
Uqdah, a 21-year Marine Corps veteran, today heads the American
Muslim Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Council, based in
Arlington, Va. Al-Mubarak is now an Air Force Reserve second
lieutenant and attending the School of Islamic and Social
Sciences in Leesburg, Va. Upon completing seminary training in
May, he will become the Air Force's first Muslim chaplain.
"When I started at Parris Island [Marine Corps Recruit Depot,
S.C.] in 1975, there was no support for Muslim service members,"
Uqdah recalled. The former gunnery sergeant has worked to change
that since he retired eight years ago. "It's been a labor of
love. This is like Christian missionary work. We have to have
someone focus on it. If you don't, it's going to fall short."
Since Uqdah and Al-Mubarak served in the enlisted ranks,
military leaders have come to recognize Muslim service members'
religious needs. Things have improved somewhat for the estimated
4,000 Muslim service members now on active duty. Two Muslim
chaplains serve the Army and two serve the Navy.
Along with Al-Mubarak, two more Muslim chaplain candidates are
in training, one for the Air Force and one for the Army. The
first permanent Islamic mosque, the Masjid al Da'wah, opened at
Norfolk Navy Base, Va., last November for the estimated 750
Muslim sailors there.
Al-Mubarak said he experienced "a certain level of anxiety and
emptiness" not having a chaplain of the same faith. He said he
missed having someone who could facilitate his religious needs
and understood his religious etiquette.
In 1995, he took the initiative to find out why there were so
few Muslim chaplains and got the ball rolling to do what he
could to change that. Two years later, he picked up his
commission and entered the Air Force chaplain candidate program.
The program allows the military and the candidate to look each
other over while the candidate's enrolled in seminary, he said.
Today, Al-Mubarak goes on active duty during seminary training
breaks and works with chapel staffs. "In my case, whatever base
I go to, it has been something new for everybody," he said.
"Other chaplains have been fantastic at showing me what it takes
to be a chaplain -- how to help airmen, how to work within an
ecumenical environment to facilitate other faith groups without
compromising your own."
Uqdah and Al-Mubarak recently helped senior military leaders
recognize Muslim service members. Deputy Defense Secretary John
J. Hamre and Vice Adm. Vern Clark, director of the Joint Staff,
invited them and about 25 Muslim service members to the Pentagon
Jan. 15 in honor of the month-long celebration of Ramadan.
During Ramadan, Muslims do not eat, drink or have sexual
intercourse from sunup to sundown. After sundown, they break the
fast during "Iftar." This was the second annual Ramadan Iftar
hosted at the Pentagon.
Uqdah said the event is designed to remind commanders and senior
enlisted members that they have Muslim service members within
their ranks.
"Often, Muslim service members have the support of the chaplain,
but the one who truly makes a difference is that commanding
officer," he said. "When an issue comes up with respect to
religious accommodation, ... the chaplain will make a
recommendation, but the commanding officer is the one who says,
'This is what's going to happen.'"
By recognizing Muslim service members at the Pentagon, military
leaders send a clear signal to the field that "Muslim soldiers
are there; take care of them," Uqdah said.
Before dining, the Muslim troops turned toward Mecca, the Muslim
holy city in Saudi Arabia, and chanted prayers led by Army
Muslim Chaplain (Capt.) Mohammed Khan of the 519th Military
Intelligence Battalion, Fort Bragg, N.C. Khan also led prayers
during the first Iftar at the Pentagon.
Khan, an 18-year Army veteran born in India, said he originally
worked in preventive medicine in the Army Nurse Corps. He said
he became the Army's second Muslim chaplain in May 1997.
"They were looking for chaplains, so I switched over," he said.
"I was already serving the Army, educating commanders and troops
about Islam, especially during Desert Storm. I was writing
articles about Muslim events like Ramadan and dietary
requirements for Muslim soldiers."
Khan said the annual Pentagon celebration of Ramadan is very
encouraging and supportive for Muslim soldiers. "It indicates
the integrity of the armed forces that they're committed to all
faiths," he said.
One guest who accompanied Khan from Fort Bragg echoed the
chaplain's view. Army Pfc. Boukassim Khalid of C Company, 1st
Battalion, 321st Field Artillery, said the Iftar celebration
gave him a chance to meet some fellow Muslims and discuss
religious issues. Originally from Morocco, Khalid said he joined
the military two years ago to earn education benefits. "Muslim
troops are a minority, but they are a part of the military," he
said.
After Muslim service members said prayers and broke their day's
fast with water and dates, Clark expressed his appreciation for
their contribution to the nation's defense. "I'm thankful that
we're here where it's all right for us to have different views
and different faiths," he said. "Diversity is part of our
greatness."
Hamre, who also spoke at last year's event, told the group, "we
come together as people of faith who have assumed a larger
responsibility -- service to our country."
Hamre said the fundamental principles expressed in the
Constitution -- liberty, justice, equality and opportunity --
are the same fundamental values of Muslims, Christians and Jews.
"We are faithful to our Constitution only if we recognize the
religious freedoms and rights of all of our soldiers, sailors,
airmen and Marines," he said.
''The Muslim [soldier] must perform [his] duty in this fight despite the feeling of uneasiness of 'fighting without discriminating [between criminals and innocents].' His intention (niyya) must be to fight for enjoining of the truth and defeating falsehood. It is to prevent aggression on the innocents, or to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice. It is not his concern what other consequences of the fighting might result to his personal discomfort, since he alone can neither control it nor prevent it. Furthermore, all deeds are accounted (by Allah) according to [their] intentions. Allah does not burden any soul except what it can bear. In addition, Muslim jurists have ruled that what a Muslim cannot control, he cannot be held accountable for, as Allah says: 'And keep your duty to God as much as you can (Koran 64:16).'"
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