Published: April 21, 2010

Houston, Texas (04-17-2010 – Pakistan Chronicle News): “Islam On Air” comes at Houston radio frequency 1460AM KBRZ every Saturday between 5pm.-6pm.; hosted and produced by young Hafiz Tauqer Shah, Muhammad Ahmad, Uzair Yousuf, Osama Siddiqi, Hafiz Tauseef Sahah, and Hafiz Qasim. People worldwide can listen to the show live at http://www.islamonair.com/

On Saturday, April 17, 2010, the team and well wishers of Islam On Air organized an unique program “Muslims’ in Media”; a dinner party for Muslim families in relaxed atmosphere in the Sugar Land Ballroom located along Dulles Street in the city of Stafford (outskirts of Houston); to come together and consider the idea was to why Muslims need to be in the media and ponder on how to achieve this through the process of prioritizing.

Imam Khalid Fattah Griggs was the passionate speaker of the evening. After recitation of Quran and welcome remarks’ by Hafiz Tauqer Shah, Imam Griggs in a thirty minutes captivating speech, gave history of media in USA and how it has always been monopolized either for the colonial powers, government, or in recent times corporate interest. He explained from historic and present day perspective that why having a Muslim Media is not just a good idea: It is a necessity (Wajib near many learned scholars). Community needs to do the work required in their time and not look behind what was done in the past, especially in today’s world, where things are changing quickly and becoming obsolete rapidly.

Imam Khalid Fattah Griggs said he has been on Islam On Air three times and each time, he has felt it is not easy come, easy go; fluffy sort of show: It tackles hard and difficult issues of Muslim Youth and Families in the context of American Society and seeking relevant and practical answers through invigorating dialogue with experienced persons of various fields including Islamic Scholars & Thinkers; which is quite an achievement. And this needs to prosper through fervent community support into a full-fledged Muslim Media Outlet, catering the needs of both the Muslim Community and American Society. “Americans have long been starved to know the Truth and this is duty of all Muslims to bring the Truth to them with the effective use of media,” added Imam Griggs.

Continuing Imam Khalid Fattah Griggs said there is immediate need of independent Muslim Media to be established in USA, since present media is developing wrong opinion of Muslims in the larger society; then defining Muslims by categorizing them (which had never been done in the history); and as such with this distorting stance making it almost impossible for the Muslim Youth to preserve their unique Muslim identity. With several hybrid terms like fundamentalists’, jihadists, moderates, etc., once the distinctiveness of Muslim identity is gone, everything will be lost. Secondly such an independent media will create a dialogue within the American society and instead of they and us, there will be talk of us as Americans and Muslims will be able to show their contributions to the world and the American society.

Imam Khalid Fattah Griggs stressed the need for Muslim Youth to enter into Schools of Journalisms in large numbers, to learn the art of opinion creation and use such knowledge in a positive manner to bring the truth to the masses. In all we need to develop writers, speakers and technicians to establish an independent thriving Media of the American Muslim Community.

Hafiz Tauqer Shah informed people about Radio Islam On Air and said Muslim Youth in USA are not going anywhere else: They are all born in USA and this is their country. Many parents by design or some inadvertently feel that USA is their country of temporary abode and that one day soon they will go back with their children to their country of birth. But that is not the case of Muslim Youth. They are here to stay and would not live elsewhere. In order to assist them in preserving their Muslim identity within the multifaceted culture of USA, Radio Islam On Air was started in conjunction with other healthy Youth activities’. It is one very small step towards ultimately establishment of a full-fledged USA Muslim community media.

Another producer of the program Muhammad Ahmad gave the vision of making this one hour program to ultimately becoming a 24 hours radio station and media institution. He explained that Islam on Air is a quality Islamic Radio Program presents original, authentic Islam and its teachings in a manner that attracts the young generation and the community as a whole. Aim is to bring everyone closer to Islam, to understand the teachings of Quran and to follow the practices of Prophet Muhammad (PBUh) and as such becoming exemplary citizens. Mission of Radio Islam On Air is to spread the true understanding of Islam and to fully appreciate the glory and perfection of the divine message. Each show has segments that are focused on improving moral values to ultimately enhance and strengthen our society. Every program is designed to fulfill the spiritual and leisure needs of our community (through proper channel).

Appreciable number of Muslim families attended, although more people were required looking at the theme of the event. Atif Fattah of Radio Sirat-e-Mustaqeem said that despite what is happening around us, where others’ are defining, who are Muslims, our community is somehow still in deep sleep. They would spend hundreds and thousands of dollars elsewhere on entertainment, but when it comes to building the institutions of the community; shaping the future of the community & society; and preserving the identity of next generation, people do not have time and resources. Still when we all sit, we are always talking about problems in our community and society. Media is one such tool we use every day and which has grassroots level affect, but our community despite feeling sorry about our pathetic situation, does not want to use this media in a positive manner to change ourselves and the environment around us. Community needs to wake up for own sake and for the sake of society around us; or it would be too late; added Atif Fattah.

For more information and support, visit http://www.islamonair.com/

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