( Written and Posted by F.Sheikh)
Today at Islamic Center of Rockland, sermons ( Khutba) given by Mr. Muhammad Abbasi was not only courageous but right on target, especially at this time of crisis.I am paraphrasing his comments. He supported his comments by references from Quran.
He started his khutba by first sending his condolences to the victims of Boston Marathon bombing and then reminded the audience that it is our duty to fight the evil not just outside, but within our own community also. We have to face Boston Marathon Bombing head on. He added, we have difference of opinion with our government’s policies towards Iraq, Afghanistan and other places, and we have such right, but we have no right to violate the laws of this country. We talk about these differences at home with our children, riled them up, but we do not tell them what to do about it, and leave the conversation incomplete. In these conversations we also have to tell them that in order to make a change, we have to use legal means by expressing our opinion and use the power of voting. If we only rile up our children, but do not complete the conversation by emphasizing on using the power of political system to bring a change, then someone else will fill this gap with different agenda. He continued, at home we have to teach our children right from wrong, and if we don’t, someone else will fill this space with its own version of right and wrong.
He lamented the fact that how misdeeds of misguided few, malign the whole community. He said that in Muslim community, it is two-way street. If I see something wrong, I have the obligation to point it out, similarly if someone see something wrong in me, it should be pointed it out to me. Just ignoring and going along is not the option.
He said, when we apply for visa and get a visa to enter this country, we take the oath to abide by the laws of this country. As a Muslim, we have to fulfill this obligation and abide by the laws. If you do not like it, leave this country, and you have no right to stay here. If someone is breaking the law and involved in harmful activities, it is like stabbing in the back, and it is a grave sin in Islam. You cannot take oath when you get the visa, and then stab in the back. He continued, we came to this country by our own choice and we have our children and grandchildren here. This is our country, and we have to live by the laws of this country. We have every right to criticize the wrong policies of the government, but we have to use lawful and political means to change it.
Thanks Dr. Fayyaz Sheikh for sharing the abbreviated version of Friday sermon by Imam Muhammad Abbasi. The sermon has a positive and constructive message for the Muslim community. I do not want to repeat the message, it can be read in the original posting.
This sermon is delivered in the mosque so it is meant for a specific audience.
Imam did a great job of being rational, pragmatic and courageous enough.
But Thinkers forum USA has also an intellectual as well as social obligation to discuss these issues at a deeper and higher level.
When a group hits a soft target (terrorism), implicitly the group admits that the group does not have the strength and resources to deal with the situation.
If the objective is political, in certain situations terrorism may be or may not be justifiable to make a point and gather momentum for the political cause. (IRA is northern Ireland and Tamil Tigers in Ceylon, Palestinians in Palestine).
You may have a point of view that terrorist activities are NOT permissible under any circumstance. We are discussing only principles.
Question # 1
If the objective is ideological, can the terrorist actions be justified?
Question # 2.
In modern times what is the definition of Muslim identity?
Please be careful Chief Justice Munir in Pakistan was not able to get a single, common and agreeable definition of a Muslim from lot of
Muslim religious scholars.
A definition is not what you imagine or contemplate in your mind, it should be written on the paper and it should be properly analyzed and compared with other definitions.
Questions # 3.
Muslims in western societies (North America and Western Europe) are very successful in professional achievements but we tend to live in isolated cultural clusters.
What about cultural integration of Muslims in western culture?
It is just a question whether TF USA is ready to handle it or not yet.
It might be a burning hot potato.
..
Noor Salik