The Dar-Ul-Islam Movement: An American Odyssey Revisited

In the pages of this book, Dar ul Islam, an American Odyssey, discover the journey a young 16 year old African American high school student whose interests are music, race and religious philosophy as he becomes totally absorbed in his new found faith Islam. Follow his adventure into the largest American Muslim fundamentalist organization known as the Dar ul Islam Movement (1962-1983). See how the Dar, as it was known by its membership, began and organized itself with the object of establishing the religion of Islam in America. The 'establishment' of Islam was understood by its membership, as a semi-autonomous way of living in America with the Qur'an and the Sunnah (Shariah) as legitimate tools for governing the Muslim American Community. The Dar ul Islam Movement, at it's height was directly responsible for the Islamic direction taken for twenty-one years in over 44 American cities under the leadership of one Imam, Sh. Yahya Abdul Kareem and his Amirate or administrators. In Dar ul Islam, an American Odyssey, Sh. Mahmoud Ibrahim gives some valuable insights into the inner workings of the headquarters of the 'movement', Yasin Mosque, and the Imam's commitment to the Sunnah or practices of Muhammad (pboh) in an urban environment.

Mahmoud Andrade Ibrahim was born in N.Y.C. on 21st Rabi Awwal, 1371 AH (Dec. 20-1951) to Cape Verdean and African American parents. Mahmoud took Shahadah (became Muslim) 1388 AH (May 1968) and began his activities in America’s largest Fundamentalist Muslim Revivalist Effort, The Dar ul Islam Movement. In his religious life during the years of 1970-1975, Mahmoud was an Assistant to the Amir of Daw’ah (propagation), Photographer of the Movement’s publication, Al Jihadul Akbar (The Greatest Struggle) and a Dar ul Islam Prison Committee Chaplain. Mahmoud’s professional life includes positions as an Ophthalmic Photographer and Manager for the Department of Ophthalmology at the Cabrini Medical Center, NY, 1975-2006. He was also a Radio Producer and On-Air personality for WBAI 99.5fm NY from 1983-1999. Mahmoud is the father of five children and lives with his wife, Nermeen in Manhattan. He completed Hajj in 2003. Sh. (Sheikh) a prefix used to distinguish age and experience. Al- Amreeki (the American) is the suffix used to distinguish and locate Mahmoud’s nationality within the context of the broader Muslim trans-national reality.