Violence Condemned, Yet Again!

Khatib : Sadullah Khan
Khutbah No: 249
Khutbah Date: 09/28/07

ان الله رفيق  يحب الرفق فى الأمر كله
ويعطي على الرفق ما لا يعطي على العنف
Allah is kind and loves kindness in every matter,
and kindness has been granted capacity which violence could never attain.
[Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)]

Why the Lingering Negative Perception
The survey of over 3,000 Americans conducted last month by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press and the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life found;

As for people’s non-familiarity with Islam; this is indeed strange, since Islam is the second largest religion in America at present with over 7 million adherents nationwide, as ell as being considered the fastest growing religion, not only in America, but in the West.
Islam is not a new phenomenon here. There is distinct evidence that Muslims from west Africa traded with indigenous American Natives on the east coast as far as the Gulf of Mexico. [Read MUSLIMS IN THE AMERICAS BEFORE COLUMBUS By "Dr. Youssef Mroueh].Many of those who were brought on slaveships from Africa to America werte Muslims The fact that Dr Alex Haley in his historic work ROOTS traced his family back to Africa, found his forefather to be Kunta Kinte, a Muslim, is sufficient proof of this. So, Islam is not a new phenomenon to the Americas.
As for Islam’s similarity with the other major religious traditions such as Christianity and Judaism; we share a common legacy, we share moral values, we share common personalities (23 Biblical Prophets are mentioned in the Qur’an), we believe in the mission of all these Prophets, Moses (pbuh) is referred to more times in the Qur’an than Muhammad (pbuh), we accept Jesus as the Messiah and revere his pure mother Mary, and we are considered part of the Abrahamic Faiths …what is so different?
As for Muslims being more likely to encourage violence… it was Muslims in Africa, Far East and Middle East who have suffered for centuries under the tyranny of white supremacist racist colonialism (often under the false guise of Christianity); whose lands were looted and whose people reduced to second class citizens  in their own land; such as we still see evidenced in Chechnya, Palestine and Iraq. The majority of the present 7 million refugees in the world are Muslim … these are victims of state-sponsored, neo-colonialist, selfish self interests. These are the ones who are the victims of terrorism.

Condemnation of the Killing of Innocents
The sanctity of human life in Islam is paramount, without condition or qualification:
           ِ ذَلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُمْ بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُون وَلاَ تَقْتُلُواْ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللّهُ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقّ
“Take not life, which God hath  made sacred, except by way of justice and law. Thus doth He command you, that ye may learn wisdom" [Q 6:151].
Do we not realize that among the fundamental Qur’anic teachings are …

Desiring to implement Islamic values is always noble, but having a meaningful and effective strategy is indeed most significant. Just because something needs to be done does not mean that anything that is done is okay; and just because something is done in religious fervor does not in any way prove that it is Islamically correct.
The Qur’anic principles of ‘adl and Ihsaan (Q16:90) Justice together with the notion Goodness underpins ALL Muslim engagement pertaining to every dimensions ofco-existence. People insist on portraying extremism as a religious phenomenon (and more recently, as “Islamic” in particular), whereas it is in reality a social phenomenon. Yet, people usually use their own interpretation of Islam as reference to as such acts. Islam gives no religious or moral basis for any action that goes against the values and the teachings of the message. Among peoples of all faiths do we find the tendency to abuse religion to justify their opinions and legitimize their actions. Some deviant people/groups are committing acts in the name of Islam which are contrary to the fundamental of our faith, while very few seem to be openly standing up to these bullies who are denigrating the name and image of Islam.
The Challenge
All Muslims around the world need to challenge not just those committing atrocities, but also the philosophy and political doctrine used by these cowards to justify their murderous deeds; because invoking Islam to commit violence, or harming/killing of ANY innocent people; is reprehensible; and those who show case this terror as an act of 'protest are equally complicit in these crimes. This acts are neither nor acts of valor or sacrifice; it is simply reprehensible expressions of violent intolerance and indifference to the lives of innocent people. Remember the words of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh):
“A Muslim (one who proclaims faith) is that person from whose hands and tongue other Muslims are safe; A Mu’min (one who manifests faith)  is that person in whom humanity find safety and security regarding their lives, property and honor.”

Why should the deviation of some extremists cause some Muslims to redefine Islam. As they commit the crime against themselves and others, they drag with them the reputation and image of the religion they claim to venerate. They not only violate its basic teachings, but disfigure the message of "mercy to the worlds" into a justification for cruel, cowardly and repulsive behavior.
In this way, hearts that were supposed to be opened to the word of God got closed and minds that were hoped to have been opened to the light of guidance are shut.

We, as people of faith and conscience, also need to express our utter disgust at the on-going duplicity in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict; the blind support for the brutal illegal occupation and subjugation of Palestinians and Kashmiris; the illegal invasion of Iraq, the propping up of repressive and despotic regimes all over the globe; and the double standards in dealing with the poor “Third-world” countries; which is merely a racist way of referring to lands of people of color.
The only hope for a lasting peace in this world is for all governments; from Washington to Islamabad, from Teheran to London, from Cape Town to Cairo; to take a just, ethical, and principled stand against oppression, usurpation and occupation in the whole world; promoting justice, respect and peace without ulterior self-serving political or economic interests.

What is Islam then, and what does it demand of its Adherents?
Islam is a faith that teaches its adherents to live their lives according to certain values originally defined by the Divine. People have a choice to reject them or accept them because they are responsible for their own actions. Islam teaches its adherents that their role on earth is to be God's khalifah/vicegerents and to carry out His commands for the welfare and benefit of all of existence. Such a role relies heavily on the interpersonal conduct, behavior, character and morality of each and every individual.
Prophet Muhammad said; ان الله كتب الاحسان على كل شيء  Allah has prescribed goodness and excellence in all that you do;, this statement  motivates a person to utilize one’s life skills in the most progressive and pro-active manner. This requires living with dignity and the demonstration of …

Allah says و لفد كرمنا بني آدم I have honored the human being. Every conscientious human being has the obligation of opposing that which undermines human dignity; just as every decent human being has the responsibility of upholding the honor of humans and of supporting that which promotes human integrity.

 

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