Keep your clan in Pakistan
briefed about Muslims in America

If you're a Muslim in America, you are witnessing an amazing event: the unfolding of Islamic history in America.

Once upon a time, the thought of Muslims living in North America, let alone natives of this land converting to Islam, was unthinkable. Today, that is exactly what is happening.

You can share this amazing history as it unfolds to family and friends in Pakistan. This will generate a hope and renewed interest in Islam in Pakistan. The news and information they receive will show them that Islam is not something for old people only in the East. Rather, Islam is vibrant, alive and for people of all places and spaces, including the modern West which many Pakistanis seek to emulate.

Start off by subscribing to sources of information about Islam and Muslims in America. There are a number of Muslim-American news sources and advocacy groups that publish newsletters that are sent to subscribers via e-mail on a regular basis. Subscribe to all of these. Some of the ones you should receive are from: the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) (www.cair-net.org), the American Muslim Council (AMC) (www.amconline.org) and the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) (www.mpac.org).

Also, check out online publications that share news about Muslims such as Iviews.com and Islam-online.net. And don't forget the traditional media: there are plenty of newspapers and magazines out there that share news about Muslims in America. Some of the notable ones are Islamic Horizons, The Message Magazine, The Muslim Observer and The Minaret.

On a side note, remember that when you subscribe to these publications, it will cost you some money. But remember, not only will you find the information you need, you will also be supporting a Muslim publication.

Once you have your sources of information, start a file on your computer and in your filing cabinet for Muslim news. Whenever you receive your newsletter on e-mail, pick out the items which you want to share with your family and friends in Pakistan and put them in a folder on your desktop labeled "Muslim news for Pakistan". Do the same thing with your paper file, in which you will put those news stories you've clipped from the magazines and publications you receive.

Given the volume of material you'll be receiving, it's important to set aside one day a week to select, clip and file the material you want to use otherwise you'll be overwhelmed and give up before you've even started.

Some news that you will want to keep an eye out for: new Masjids and Islamic schools that are established; stories of Americans converting to Islam; Muslim mobilization for an Islamic cause, whether it's Kashmir, Chechnya or Palestine; a new book published by a Muslim author in America; the latest anti-Muslim assault on civil rights or attack in a newspaper and Muslim response, etc.

Also, don't hesitate to add new from your own city, whether it's a conversion in your Muslim community, the building of a new Masjid or school, or a report on an Islamic lecture that was held in your community.

Once you've got your material, it's time to put together your news digest. Don't copy news stories word for word. Just take a few lines from each one and don't forget to give the source of the information as well as the internet address if it's a web source.

Start off by sending your digest only once a month. Then, if you have the time and inclination, make it bimonthly, then weekly. The frequency is important because on the internet, one week is like a month and if you don't update regularly, subscribers may lose interest.

If other people in Pakistan start wanting to receive your mails, make your digest into a full-blown list that is sent weekly to subscribers. This way, you'll be sharing this vital information with more than the small circle of family and friends you started out with.

Date/Time Last Modified: 6/17/2002 3:47:56 PM

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