The Strength of the Muslim Man

In my journey into Islam as a new Muslim woman, I have began to observe and understand the strength of the Muslim man. When thinking of leadership, caring for family, and caring for persons in the community,  all other men run second to Muslim men in their dedication. I can tell you from my own personal experience that the Muslim man's traits are very real.For example, my 17 year old son can be a very stubborn person when it comes to standing up for what he believes in. I don't know rather or not it came from me telling him that there was no such thing as can't when I'd encourage him to never give up on something when he was beginning to learn about it. One recent morning, I received a phone call from the school with the message that my son was in the assistant principal's office because he'd refused to take off his favorite shirt of Topak with a west side sign thrown up. He had worn this shirt many times prior to this incident. The school's assistant principal wanted me to pick my son up from school. Before going, I asked to speak to my son. I asked him to just remove the shirt so that he could remain in school. Still he refused to take the shirt off. I headed for the school, more than a little upset about the matter. Once in the principal's office, I saw that my son was fairly upset. The assistant principle was answering different phone lines while trying to talk to me. He said that he was too busy to have to deal with a student refusing to follow adult instructions on changing a shirt. The principal went on to explain that he had already spent 1 hour out of  his day dealing with my son about the removal of the shirt. He went on to tell me that he had gotten information that this particular day was "national gang day" and that he was merely trying to keep my son safe..The only thing I could think to do was to immediately get on the phone to Mr. Eric Harmon, a Muslim man, my teacher, and a person who had taken my son under his wings. I informed Mr. Harmon of what was going on. He asked that I put him on speaker phone. Mr. Harmon spoke, the room became quiet as he asked my son the reason for not removing the shirt, he then asked the principal why hadn't a notice been sent home about gang day , and that perhaps if it was not already being done, that it could be implemented  into next year's agenda. Then he asked to be taken off of speaker phone to speak with the principal one on one. After speaking on the phone with the principal, the phone was handed to my son. I could see the anger and hardness leaving my son's face, as he listened to Mr. Harmon. To my surprise, my son handed me the phone, began to take of the shirt, stood to pulled up his pants, tightened his belt, and replaced his shirt with one of the school shirts that the assistant principal had collected from another office. I put the phone to my ear in amazement. Mr. Harmon explained that men think differently from women. Being that my son was a "young bull", he explained, my son had to make a point. He let my son know that his point was made, but it was now time to follow instruction and head back to class. I cannot thank Mr. Harmon, an active Muslim man for having insight, reaching out, and caring enough to defuse a situation that could have been worse. He showed leadership, love, and understanding for a young teen boy on the verge of manhood. Yes, the Muslim man is indeed a leader, a person interested in family, and actively take interest in those things and persons that are in the community. The assistant principal, in the end, asked if he could add Mr. Harmon to persons to contact for my son, if a need should ever arise again.