I first discovered your nasheed album The Prophets Hands? Promoted on http://www.nasheedbay.com

Indeed – others too have often suggested that my “issues” surrounding what I perceive as common misuses of the words “islam” and “muslim” are just a matter of semantics. Fair enough. I’ve decided ~ for the most part ~ to just stop talking about religion in my interviews and on my website, and just try to live what I believe. My response to the forum on Ummah.com though was my effort to just try and put and end to people’s gossip. Easier said than done. As my mother always says, “Some people are happiest when they are unhappy.”

As a writer who makes his living dealing in the use of words, I take their meanings very seriously. So, for the record: My understanding ~ from the onset of my study of the Qur’an ~ is that the word “islam” is not an Arabic proper noun or name of a religious institution, but an Arabic gerund, implying “action”. Hence, all things in nature that submit to the laws of the Creator are in a state of “islam” and are therefore “doers of the action of islam” ie. “muslim”. (This would include rocks, wind, sunshine, gravity etc).

In the years following my decision to embrace the Qur’an, and especially following my pilgrimage to Makkah in 1995, I was very active in the production of religious educational materials for children ~ especially hymns (nasheed) based very directly on Qur’anic teachings (royalties from which have always been, and continue to be, funnel through to charitable efforts). You can read more about that here. Lately though, in an effort to avoid commercialization of my increasingly personal faith, I have opted to drop out from “nasheed tours” and religious conferences, focusing my efforts more on pubic school audiences and intimate gatherings. That seems to have left many people somewhat confused about what I believe.

I recently outlined my ideas clearly in an August 21st reply to a comment on this blog and I shall paste it here below once again, for those who may be interested.

Beyond this folks, and what you hear in my songs, I prefer to just put a lid on religious discussions if that’s ok. I simply do not have the time or energy any longer to discuss theology…I’m honestly too busy just trying to live it.

Thanks Asim and peace always,
dawud

August 21st 2010

…I wish more folks were like you and just dropped me a line to ask their questions ~ or actually listened more deeply to my song lyrics ~ instead of just speculating about aspects of my personal life. I trust that The Creator is more merciful and understanding than human beings.

With regards to “religion”: I do not believe that any one “community” can claim ownership of God or the teachings of prophets… nor do I believe that any human being has the right to determine who is “favoured” by God or who is not. To me religion is not a club we join, it’s a set of principals we try to live by. There are many people who may call themselves “Muslims”, “Christians”, “Jews” etc, ~ even though the principals they live by day-to-day may be very far from what is taught in the Torah, Qur’an or New Testament. I believe that my responsibilities are to live and act with integrity…not live to please or validate the opinions or expectations of a specific community.

I believe there is nothing that should be worshiped accept for God, I believe equally in all the thousands of prophets who have left their wisdom with humanity over the centuries and I personally choose to follow the teachings of the Qur’an as my primary source of spiritual guidance. I believe that each day I wake, my soul purpose is to enter into peace through surrender to the natural laws of God’s creation and seek to keep balance in all aspects of life. If all that makes me a “muslim” than so be it ~ I happily accept the title. If people won’t trust me as being a “muslim” until I believe ~ hook line and sinker ~ all their cultural, historical or political opinions about God, the prophets or the Qur’an…well, I’m not bothered. “To you your accountability/way of life, and to me my accountability/way of life.”.

With regards to these rumors you spoke of: Some folks may believe I am “off base” from what they think “islam” is because I have strong opinions against capitalism, modern day weaponry/warfare and institutionalized religion…or perhaps because I believe in passive resistance to end nationalistic conflict, the importance of independent thought, respect of people’s personal spiritual paths and the principles of unitarian universalism ~ however I feel the qur’an is completely in line with my approach to such ideas and leaves room for pluralism within it’s teachings. I also personally don’t follow opinions that music is “haram/unlawful” and I avoid eating meat to the best of my ability – but to say I am not in a state of “surrender to God” or a “muslim” because of such personal practices in my life…? Well ~ people are entitled to their opinions.

Hopefully this answers your question. Please do keep me in your prayers and don’t ever be shy to keep in touch.

- dawud wharnsby
August 21st, 2010
Abbottabad, Pakistan

I saw your post on ummah forums and just wanted to first apologize for the junk on there and second to get to the brunt of the theological part of your post.

I think I understand your reasoning, but don’t you think you are playing a little too much with semantics? Calling oneself a Muslim does not mean you get to be arrogant and self-righteous. Nor is it wrong to say a non-Muslim is off the right path. The Shahadah is 2 parts because there are many who say they believe in God and do good things, but do they follow the message and example of the Prophet (s)? The one who Allah (swt) sent down to us as Mercy to mankind to help us re-establish the true path towards Allah’s (swt) Pleasure.

The terms Christianity and Judaism were made by men who butchered the Prophetic messages of the past, but the term Islam was given to us by Allah (swt).

Same as being called a Muslim:

[QUOTE]And strive for Allah with the striving due to Him. He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty. [It is] the religion of your father, Abraham. [B]Allah named you “Muslims” before [in former scriptures] and in this [revelation] [/B]that the Messenger may be a witness over you and you may be witnesses over the people. So establish prayer and give zakah and hold fast to Allah. He is your protector; and excellent is the protector, and excellent is the helper. Surah Hajj 22:78
[/QUOTE]

So I’m just confused about all these ‘above the labels’ arguments. Or maybe I’m reading it all wrong?

I’ve always enjoyed your nasheeds and hope nothing but good for you insha’Allah.

TRANSLATION From Spanish:

Dani, you are “a crack” (brilliant!)! I hope (wish) bigger people were as generous as you, then famine would be finished in the world and we all would be a little happier! You (deserve) a very strong kiss from Madrid.

From Kuka and David.

Thank you for your kind words – glad to hear your son enjoys my work. There is a new project on the way specifically aimed at children your son’s age…so do watch for that. I’m completing work on it this month and then it will be off to the publisher (Kube Publications in UK) and onward to release by next year if all goes well.

Indeed, us gora (“whitie”) husbands are a rare breed. Testimony to my wife’s very wonderful, unique, culturally accepting and open-minded family. Their daughter not only married a gora, but a gora who’s a musician too! God bless ‘em.

As for my experiences in Pakistan: I simply love where I live here in Abbottabad. It is my belief that the whole world and all its people have wonderful things to teach us, if we remain open, accepting and gracious wherever we go.

Pakistan has (like all nations) it’s struggles, challenges and difficulties – but it is my aim to always seek goodness and beauty wherever I go. If it gets hard to find such goodness and beauty – I try my best to create some. It has always been my dream to live a simple life in a rural or semi-rural environment. Since child-hood I have loved fields, goats and forests and have had my heart set on living in a place where I may be close to nature, grow vegetables and farm bees

Since my wife is from Pakistan, since I enjoy the culture, cuisine and community feel of the quiet mountainous area of her home-town, and since life here still remains somewhat simple – I am very content to be residing in the NWFP. We embrace somewhat of an extended-family-life-style where our daughter spends time daily with her great grandparents. Being on the out-skirts of town, she is also free to roam out-doors to explore gardens and wave at local insects, birds and live-stock. At the moment we are also sorting out some land where we may grow our own food and build our own little home “off the grid” (powered and sustained by alternative sources of energy).

Contrary to what may be broadcast on English news channles about specific regions in Pakistan where tragic violence is indeed occurring for very complex reasons – life here in Abbottabad is peaceful day-to-day for us simple folks who just value peace, community and human dignity. Those of us who do not desire to live beyond our means and who seek to help others struggling to meeting their needs.

People are very accepting of my being here, very warm to my inter-racial marriage, very supportive of my work as an artist and very tolerant of my personal approach to spirituality. If anything, what raises the confused eyebrows of others the most, is not that I am a Canadian, or a “gora” married to a Pakistani, or a musician….but the facts that I reject the informal economic apartheid which exists here in Pakistan, as well as the capitalism of other countries which so many elite Pakistanis seek to embrace. We do not use domestic servants (in our home, my wife and I do all our own laundry, cleaning, shopping, home/clothing repairs etc…chores I believe all capable people should have the pleasure of doing for themselves). Of the groceries we must buy, we stick to locally made and grown products as much as possible. Though we have been blessed with a comfortable abode, we make the best effort possible to ensure that we live simply – reducing, reusing, recycling, composting, avoiding the purchase of plastic whenever possible and trying to minimize the amount of “stuff” we collect, store and disregard.

Just last week I went from sitting in my little home-studio tracking demos for new songs, to picking up a scythe and going out to harvest wheat by hand with my friend… Having the freedom to live in a place that gives me such diversity in life’s experiences is very exciting for me.

Just yesterday a new friend of mine here asked me “So what exactly is your work?” I told him in my broken Urdu: “I sing. I write. I read. I do laundry. I clean my house. I play with my daughter. I teach her that bugs are cute and money is dirty. I travel. I learn. My work is my life and my life is my work – and it’s all fun!”

…and so the adventures of the gorahubby continue. Thanks for your interest in my world and be sure that my ongoing adventures will inspire more of my songs, my poems and my two-bit philosophy.

Peace always,
davie