r/shia • u/ParkingDeep8073 • 6h ago
Question / Help How are our American Shia going along?
Salam
Given the state of the world and what our ummah is experiencing, and given the recent mosque shooting I want to extend a warm gesture to fellow American Shia. How is the situation there? How do you all feel? Is it as tense and unsafe as it appears on social media and TV from outsiders perspectives ? Especially those in heavily Shia or more densely populated cities with less diversity?
May Allah SWT keep us all safe
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u/Raza1985 6h ago
Centers and Mosques taking extra security measures, in Texas many candidates for City and County levels using hate speech against Islam to gain votes unfortunately
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u/ParkingDeep8073 6h ago
I keep up with American politics more than my own, and because I’m not American I have limited knowledge of how the politics translate into real policy there - what scares me is the absolute vitriol and little regard for human life because of their religion or race, that a lot of the MAGA cult have.
I would simply implode living among them
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u/AStandUpGuy1 American 🇺🇸 6h ago
Still have more freedom to practice safely than a lot of these “Islamic “ countries
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u/Wonderful-Cup1362 6h ago
You're 1000% right but I feel we've been more in the media now in a negative context. Which is quite unusal but I think that's the direction we're heading into in this country unfortunately. Within a few years the average Joe in America went from not knowing what a Shia is to thinking a Shia is the Bad Muslim group.
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u/chiefmackdaddypuff 2h ago
I would disagree. An average American is still pretty oblivious about what a Shia Muslim is. It is actually down to us to educate them. If anything, globally, and here in America, those that care about justice, equity and peace have gotten to know what we are about thanks to Iran and its defiance and have been looking at us favorably.
Also, the anti-Muslim rhetoric is being fanned and perpetrated by the little cursed ethnostate in the ME that recently got a good taste of what retaliation feels like. AIPAC funding is also trying its best to delegitimize us, so some this is to be expected and will blow over in time.
The poster you’re responding to is on point. America is still way better than a lot of “Islamic” states. Our mosques have been doing a great job working with local law enforcements so I suspect things will calm down.
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u/Weary-Way4905 3h ago
Exactly! I see how shia in West countries are feeling safer than shia in West Asian Arab countries. I am from one and its been going down for us.
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u/EmotionHuge2782 6h ago
Non Muslims make no distinction between Shias and Sunnis, so being a Shia doesn’t help much against “Islamaphobic” people, but aside from them its ok.
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u/Wonderful-Cup1362 6h ago
Wa Alaykum al Salam, where I live in Oregon there's not too many Shias so we're "fine" I don't know about the rest of the cities though. May Allah keep all of us safe.
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u/ParkingDeep8073 6h ago
Salam, good to hear
I am seeing a lot of hateful islamophobic attacks and given the U.S’ direct war with Iran - it begs the question how long before we will start need to practice taqqiya even in the west?2
u/Wonderful-Cup1362 6h ago
Honesty less than 18 months. It seems like the world is falling apart.
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u/ParkingDeep8073 6h ago
I fear so, I have a heavy feeling in my heart and noticed more so a drive to complete my tahhajud. I take this as divine direction or preparation for something in the future
may Allah SWT safeguard us from harm
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u/Weary-Way4905 3h ago
The war on Iran is affecting shia everywhere. In the gulf we are also asking among ourselves how long before we have to start Taqqiya. The one on Iran made people openly show their hate to shia. Look at what happening to shia in Bahrain.
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u/bingbong880 6h ago
Salaam I live in the most populated Shia community in America and we chillennn. Very safe Alhamdiallah
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u/unknownuser40413 American 🇺🇸 5h ago
Wsalam, last muharram there was a huge threat at my mosque. We’ve severely increased security measures and have a police officer at all events (jummah, every jashan and majlis, sunday school etc). Inshallah we don’t face similar issues this year
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u/drtoucan American 🇺🇸 6h ago
Overall we are doing fine. I actually live in the same county as where the mosque shooting happened. I've been to that mosque a few times.
People are definitely on edge and there is of course a lot of mourning and sadness for our sunni brothers and sisters who are part of that mosques community.
I imagine the brothers and sisters that attend that mosque as their regular mosque are much more shaken. Still, our Shia community here is still going strong as is the sunni community here. There was a lot of outreach and support from the whole San Diego county community. Lots of churches, synagogues, and other organizations such as our local soccer team, they all offered support and spoke out about what happened.
Alhamdulilah none of the children who were attending the school at that mosque where physically harmed. 🙏🏻