What should we do to help Islam in the Philippines

By Yusuf Morales

This is a recurring debate that everyone wants to share a piece of his mind, deb
ate and endlessly argue about the superiority of his or her ideas, and yet do no
thing to achieve it or create the needed means and scenarios to materialize it.

Recently, I have met a lot of people who were asking me a very pointed question,
"how can we help Islam in the Philippines?" Instead of going for the high fallut
ing and ambitious projects that a lot of people would like to debate, Ive come u
p with some simple ideas that I hope some people can consider doing something ab
out it, each in his and her own small way.

Share the Intellectual legacy of Islam. For ordinary Muslims, you can do this by
sharing or photocopying good Islamic books in Islamic Psychology, Islamic Philo
sophy, Rights of Women In Islam as well as other really intellectual islamic Boo
ks or articles and sharing them with your friends, co-workers or teachers.For Or
ganizations, you can donate these types of books to catholic, non-sectarian,, Pr
ivate or government Universities and request the Librarian that these books be n
ot placed in the islamic section but in their particular sections where they sho
uld be placed had they not been written by a Muslim.€

Ensure that more Muslims finish a decent education and engage in High-yield busi
ness ventures or productive enterprises whether in private or Government service
. For individuals, they can always help by ensuring they sponsor their relatives
finish a good education and ensure that these people they have helped contribut
e to the Muslim community in one way or another to its development or help fix o
r donate second hand equipment a Muslim school, for organizations, they may cons
ider making a significant influence in Manila by supporting a Muslim school in t
he national capital region to be a center of excellence not by dole-outs, but by
either sponsoring scholars to study, sending school equipment, or allowing them
a place to occupy so that they can continue operations, so as to ensure that th
ese schools run and are managed efficiently and are able to effectively train st
udents. So that when the students graduate, they can plan a way on how to either
engage in a very high-yielding business, engage in Community development work,
or become a public servant. We must always remember that most of the major battl
es are fought in Manila, and thus we must increase the number of Muslims who cou
ld effectively influnece or craft policy in government. This may seem so impossi
ble but given the time and preparation this can happen.

Ask people who are abroad who wants to think of supporting Dawah to instead supp
ort efforts for self sustainability of Institutions that represent Muslims in th
e country. This could ensure that this program of ensuring that Muslims become b
oth productive and influential members of society can become a reality.

Send 5% of the best minds (not the rejects) to study Islamic studies. €So that we w
ill have again the best minds and a flourishing of Islam in the Philippines, mor
e of the Intellectual islam.