guidance
02-12-05, 07:25 PM
Renda Toshner
A Turkish-American Architect
Renda was born in America in a Turkish home. He was not a new Muslim but he didn't have any idea of Islam until his youth. His life story has many lessons for us.
Let me first describe the Turkish community living around Detroit in Michigan. Turks started migrating to America in the 1970's. Now their third generation is thriving in America. They hold very high professional jobs and successful businesses. Most of them live in the rich suburban areas of Detroit. They are financially well established and socially well connected with government officials. I was introduced to them recently, as I participated in a few of their funeral services at the Tawheed Masjid in Farmington Hills, Michigan. I had closer interaction with them when I was invited to visit their homes and their Turkish social club. I found out that as Muslims they had melted into American society. This trend is not unique with the Turkish community. Many Muslim immigrants have come to America from different lands and have melted into American society, thereby losing their Islamic identity. On the other hand, we observe that many Muslim immigrants are better practicing Muslims in America than in their homelands. Their children even outshine their parents in the practice of Islam due to the religious freedom in America.
Renda's parents were prominent members of this American Turkish community. They were both physicians and did very well financially. Thus, Renda was born in an affluent family. Nevertheless, they brought up their son without any kind of Islamic education.
Renda completed his high school and joined a university. He had no idea about Islam until he started mixing with overseas Muslim students at his campus. America and American universities offer a great deal of freedom of choice and do not interfere with such personal choices. Since Renda had a very gentle nature, the Islamic teachings and practices attracted him. He was surprised to discover that he was born in a Muslim family, but family circumstances kept him far away from the knowledge and practice of Islam. Renda learned more and more about Islam every day and tried to put it into practice.
Renda was very smart in his studies. He proceeded to architectural engineering and finished the coursework very easily. He joined an American architectural firm when he was preparing for his professional license examination. It usually takes a few years to pass the license examination after a f6w attempts. Renda was so smart that he passed the licensing examination in only one try.
Renda's growth in Islamic knowledge and practice was similarly very outstanding. He benefited a great deal from the Islamic activities at the Anarbor Masjid and the Muslim community there. His parents had retired and chose to go back to Turkey. They settled down in their native country for the rest of their lives. Renda chose to stay in America since he liked the Anarbor Muslim Community. He wanted to increasingly take part in Islamic activities. I used to give the Friday Sermon (Juma Khutba) once a month in the Anarbor Masjid at Michigan State University. He was usually the Muazzan(the person who calls for the prayers) of this large Masjid. I recall that in one Juma Khutba I described the story of Prophet Yousuf (peace be upon him; pbuh). In this story I mentioned that the brothers of Yousuf (pbuh) tried to use his shirt to prove that he had been eaten by wild animals. Later, when the wife of Aziz tried to have an affair with him, his shirt served as proof that the wife of Aziz was guilty. Much later the shirt of Yousuf(pbuh) was used to regain and repair the eyesight of his grieved father. I added that if Yousuf's shirt could perform such miracles, how unique that person would be who wore it. Renda liked these remarks and called me on phone as soon as I reached home. He asked me, " Are these your ideas?" I told him, " Not at all. Anything I say is from Tafseer(explanations and interpretations of the Qur'an written by Islamic scholars). I am not a scholar and I do not have the right to give explanations of the Qur'an from myself."
A Turkish-American Architect
Renda was born in America in a Turkish home. He was not a new Muslim but he didn't have any idea of Islam until his youth. His life story has many lessons for us.
Let me first describe the Turkish community living around Detroit in Michigan. Turks started migrating to America in the 1970's. Now their third generation is thriving in America. They hold very high professional jobs and successful businesses. Most of them live in the rich suburban areas of Detroit. They are financially well established and socially well connected with government officials. I was introduced to them recently, as I participated in a few of their funeral services at the Tawheed Masjid in Farmington Hills, Michigan. I had closer interaction with them when I was invited to visit their homes and their Turkish social club. I found out that as Muslims they had melted into American society. This trend is not unique with the Turkish community. Many Muslim immigrants have come to America from different lands and have melted into American society, thereby losing their Islamic identity. On the other hand, we observe that many Muslim immigrants are better practicing Muslims in America than in their homelands. Their children even outshine their parents in the practice of Islam due to the religious freedom in America.
Renda's parents were prominent members of this American Turkish community. They were both physicians and did very well financially. Thus, Renda was born in an affluent family. Nevertheless, they brought up their son without any kind of Islamic education.
Renda completed his high school and joined a university. He had no idea about Islam until he started mixing with overseas Muslim students at his campus. America and American universities offer a great deal of freedom of choice and do not interfere with such personal choices. Since Renda had a very gentle nature, the Islamic teachings and practices attracted him. He was surprised to discover that he was born in a Muslim family, but family circumstances kept him far away from the knowledge and practice of Islam. Renda learned more and more about Islam every day and tried to put it into practice.
Renda was very smart in his studies. He proceeded to architectural engineering and finished the coursework very easily. He joined an American architectural firm when he was preparing for his professional license examination. It usually takes a few years to pass the license examination after a f6w attempts. Renda was so smart that he passed the licensing examination in only one try.
Renda's growth in Islamic knowledge and practice was similarly very outstanding. He benefited a great deal from the Islamic activities at the Anarbor Masjid and the Muslim community there. His parents had retired and chose to go back to Turkey. They settled down in their native country for the rest of their lives. Renda chose to stay in America since he liked the Anarbor Muslim Community. He wanted to increasingly take part in Islamic activities. I used to give the Friday Sermon (Juma Khutba) once a month in the Anarbor Masjid at Michigan State University. He was usually the Muazzan(the person who calls for the prayers) of this large Masjid. I recall that in one Juma Khutba I described the story of Prophet Yousuf (peace be upon him; pbuh). In this story I mentioned that the brothers of Yousuf (pbuh) tried to use his shirt to prove that he had been eaten by wild animals. Later, when the wife of Aziz tried to have an affair with him, his shirt served as proof that the wife of Aziz was guilty. Much later the shirt of Yousuf(pbuh) was used to regain and repair the eyesight of his grieved father. I added that if Yousuf's shirt could perform such miracles, how unique that person would be who wore it. Renda liked these remarks and called me on phone as soon as I reached home. He asked me, " Are these your ideas?" I told him, " Not at all. Anything I say is from Tafseer(explanations and interpretations of the Qur'an written by Islamic scholars). I am not a scholar and I do not have the right to give explanations of the Qur'an from myself."