An American Muslim in Cairo

Los Angeles Times ^ | September 2, 2007 | Borzou Daragahi

[Lorianne]

A native Californian's recent visit to Egypt becomes one of religious discovery and cultural disillusionment. ___ Friday morning came, and the broad-shouldered young African American made his way to the sedated city's ancient quarters. He walked the streets with the determined gait of a football receiver to Al Azhar Mosque, arriving just as the muezzin's call to prayer summoned the faithful.

Suddenly, the outgoing Californian ceased his banter and gaped, awestruck, at the intricately carved minarets reaching for the heavens, the browns, reds, greens and blues interwoven into masterful calligraphy.

Salahudin Ali was a long way from the drab office buildings used as mosques in the Bay Area, where he grew up, or the small student lounge he and his friends used as a prayer room at college in Oregon.

"You just get kind of shy," he said. "It's like being around a very pretty girl. You almost blush if you look."

This summer, the 22-year-old Portland State University pre-law student pursued a years-long dream. The young Muslim traveled to Cairo to broaden his understanding of his faith, following the path forged by Malcolm X, whose thinking about race relations changed after he visited Egypt and other parts of the Mideast and Africa.

At first, his voyage of discovery was a thrill ride. He was welcomed by Egyptians ecstatic to find not only an American-born Muslim, but one named after one of Islam's greatest heroes: Salahudin, the warrior who pushed the Crusaders out of Jerusalem and raised a hilltop fortress in this very city.

But Ali brought his American tendency for criticism and skepticism to a part of the world that values obedience and cohesion above all. He challenged much of what he saw, and ultimately he found himself uncomfortable in the heart of the Muslim world.

[PeteB570]

Egypt is somewhat secular s is Turkey.

There are many working to change it back to strict islam, getting ride of it’s decadent ways.

[john drake]

I’m wondering as to when he’ll head south to the Sudan and watch his Muslim brothers slaughtering his black brothers, all in the name of Allah. Oh, I forgot, it’s the religion of peace. Fuhgetaboudit.

[VOA]

But Ali brought his American tendency for criticism and skepticism
to a part of the world that values obedience and cohesion above all.
He challenged much of what he saw, and ultimately he found himself
uncomfortable in the heart of the Muslim world.

Not to worry. It's not his fault or Allah's.
He can blame his rationally questioning nature on the Judeo-Christian
society made possible by The (gasp! RACIST) Founding Fathers...
that he grew up in.

At least that's one place a bunch of Islamics and leftists
would lay the blame for this sort of "aberrant" thought patterns.

If he decides to be a REAL Muslim, i.e., observant of the Koran and
heading off to be a Jihadi, I'm sure he'll get over it.
(/SARC)

[elfman2]

“Friday morning came, and the broad-shouldered young African American made his way to the sedated city’s ancient quarters.”

So if he immigrated, would that make him an African American African?

[Eagles6]

Wow! Imagine the times publishing a story like gushing over a conversion to Christianity?

"following the path forged by Malcolm X, whose thinking about race relations changed after he visited Egypt and other parts of the Mideast and Africa."

malcolm x accepted Whites after he visited egypt only if they were muslims. If they weren't then they were still blue eyed devils.

[Candor7]

ultimately he found himself uncomfortable in the heart of the Muslim world>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Duh? Really?

The LA Times is starting to awaken to the lack of feedom in the Muslim world?

A little on the slow side, wouldn't you say?

Wait until our American Muslim football hero gets a linebackers crush on one of the local Shaharazhads.

I wonder if the LA Times dares to write about what our local Muslim American hero might go through then?

LOL

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

"American tendency for criticism and skepticism "

What?

Americans as a whole could have a lot more criticism and skepticism than they do.

One of the flaws in American culture, opinion.

[Tamar1973]

No, but I think there's a glimmer of hope...

He yearned to head back to the Portland campus for Ramadan. He and his fellow Muslim students are organizing their second annual holiday "fast-a-thon": Non-Muslims can join in the traditional dawn-to-dusk abstention from food and drink. "There's a reason why they're over there (America) and not here (Egypt)," he said. "They're really the best and the brightest."

[dennisw]

Salahudin Ali ........

Let’s cut to the chase. Basically this guy is an idiot. Any Christian is an idiot to reject Jesus Christ for a false prophet named Muhammad. Any Jew who converts is also an easily duped fool

[dennisw]

I think the exoticness of Mohammed’s cult gets lots of people interested. Plus they fool newbies into thinking Muhammadanism will solve their problems and give them a righteous way to live their life