Islamic Retreat (Day Four)

Cedros Bay - The proposed site of the Muslim village

The Muslim Village

Today we didn't have any lectures. We got back on board the buses and drove the the southern most point of the island of Trinidad to the town of Cedros. There is a property that was once a coconut plantation. It consists of 2000 square miles of coconut palms with a fresh water creek and beach front property close enough to see Venezuela on a clear day. Imran Hosein is firm in his position that the correct response to a Godless modern world is to retreat to an isolated sanctuary, as the People of the Cave did in Surah Kahf. To these ends, he proposes the Muslim Village, and this is one of the sights he proposes for his community. If the village was a great success he imagines a sister village across the water in Venezuela so fishing and trade can be established.
 

We spent the day at the beach, and viewing the property. For lunch we had some of the local fish. This was the first time I'd been in the ocean, or swimming at all, since my conversion to Islam. The water there is clear electric blue and as warm as a drawn bath. Simply amazing.
 

After lunch we returned to a local Masjid for prayer and a presentation from a local engineer about the concept and mechanics of the village. First and foremost the village would be run in conformance to Shariah, the Quran and the Hadith. Clarification is needed by me what exactly is meant by this, but I'll save that for the Question and Answers session at the lecture on this topic. Second, the village economy must be independent and sustainable. This means that Sunnah Money must be implemented, and we must be providing for our own means for survival. The village must also be Green. They are aiming for a zero carbon footprint, and Earth friendly strategies like solar energy and a recycling program. Also important to the village will be social developments. There must be recreation for people, so living there is a pleasure. Hunting and fishing, and for the children playgrounds and sports facilities. And of course communication, radio, TV and internet.
 

In the presentation the civil engineer discussed subjects from the nursery to the cometary.
 

If found it interesting the the proposal was not a Muslim only village, only that Islam would be the established public order. But they fully expected local Hindus and Christians in Trinidad to prefer the village to secular society. And many guests spoke about non Muslims in their home countries who already wished to live in such a village. Non Muslims would be free to practice whatever religious practices they wished, and they would not be subject to Islamic laws, but they would be required to agree to certain norms of public conduct.
 

One of the primary focuses of the presentation was food production. They intend for village agriculture to include livestock, local crops, hydroponics, fish and medical herbs. And with the growing trend toward genetically modified food, and the use of pesticides and preservatives, the civil engineer imagines that selling the pure food produced in the village will be a large source or outside commerce.
 

Another source of outside commerce they imagine is Halal tourism. That Muslims wishing to take a holiday to a beautiful local, but also wishing to avoid the alcohol, nudity, gambling and other behavior typical of tourist destinations can be provided with an Islamic vacation in Trinidad.
 

A common question has been one of Dawah. Some are concerned that if Muslims leave non Muslims lands there will be no spread of Islam. In response to this the Shaikh references the life of Muhammad himself. That when the Muslims were a minority among nonbelievers in Mecca, and Dawah was on an individual basis, people trickled into Islam. But when the Muslims were in Medina, and the justice and tranquility of a Muslim social order existed in just one city, people flocked to it.
 

This is just an introduction to the concept. Shaikh Imran will go into greater detail in a future lecture.

An evening fire at Barackpore Islamic Centre

Evening Celebrations

We returned to Barrackpore and the Islamic Centre there and took some rest. After dinner and prayer they created a bonfire in the open land behind the Masjid and we all gathered under the full moon to tell stories and sing songs. Locals from Trinidad played drums to give us a taste of their culture and guests to the retreat told stories from back home. Great joy and fun was shared by all.