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Protect the spirit of the Quran and Sunna - Stand up against blaspheme laws, By Dr. Aslam Abdullah

Protect the spirit of the Quran and Sunna - Stand up against blaspheme laws

By Dr. Aslam Abdullah

There is nothing in the Quran or the authentic teachings of Prophet Muhammad justifying the killing of people for opposing, criticizing, humiliating or showing irreverence toward holy personages, religious artifacts, customs and beliefs of Islam. 

The Quran says: "Revile not ye those whom they call upon besides Allah, lest they out of spite revile Allah in their ignorance. Thus We have made alluring to each people its own doings. In the end will they return to their Lord, and We shall then tell them the truth of all that they did. [Quran 6:108]

"O ye who believe! Let not some men among you ridicule others: It may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): Nor let some women ridicule others: It may be that the (latter are better than the (former): Nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames: Ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness, (to be used of one) after he has believed: And those who do not desist are (indeed) doing wrong. [Quran 49:11]

"Those who avoid the greater crimes and shameful deeds, and, when they are angry even then forgive;" [Quran 42:37]

If blasphemy was punishable by death in Islam, then the Prophet would have been the first one to order the killing of hundreds of his foes who later became his closest companions. With the exception of a very few earlier Arabs who accepted the Prophet as the messenger of Allah, the majority of people of Makkah opposed him, humiliated him, cursed or blasphemed him or even tried to kill him, yet he preferred to practice forgiveness and to seek the divine mercy for them. 

The old woman who used to throw garbage on the Prophet was visited by him when he learnt that she was not well. When Suhail bin Amr, a poet who composed poetry ridiculing the Prophet was taken as a prisoner of war after the battle of Badr, the Prophet asked his companions to show kindness to him. There are examples after examples that show the Prophet never resorted to violence against those who were showing even the most utter disrespect to him.

The assassination of a Pakistani Christian cabinet minister for speaking against the blasphemy law is a stab in the heart of Islam and a humiliation of the Prophet by those who claim to be his followers. Those who are supporting his killing or similar actions are the worst enemies of Islam who neither understand Islam nor respect the Prophet . No matter who they are, they must be challenged on the basis of the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet .

Unfortunately, their argument is built on a position that is supported by a good number of Muslim religious scholars all over the world that demand death for acts of apostasy and blasphemy, two of the practices that were developed under the influence of corrupt despotic Muslim rulers who misused their power to twist religious scholarship to serve their political interests.

The idea of blasphemy is foreign to Islam. It was justified by many medieval Muslim scholars on the basis of their understanding of Christian and Jewish texts supporting laws against those who blaspheme and vilify their religions. 

The word "blasphemy" came via Middle English blasfemen and Old French blasfemer and Later Latin blasphemare meaning "I injure." Based on this definition, rulers used laws to victimize non-members of and dissident members of the ruling sect or cult. Countries that had a state religion used it often to serve the interests of the rulers. In Judaism, the third book of Torah, Leviticus 24:16 states that those who speak blasphemy shall surely be put to death. The seven laws of Noah seen by Judaism as applicable to all of humankind prohibits blasphemy.

In Christian theology, the Gospel of Mark 3:29, describes blaspheming the holy spirit as unforgiveable eternal sin. Thomas Aquinas considered blasphemy a major unforgiveable sin, more grave than murder. The Book of Concord describes it the greatest sin ever committed. The Baptist Confession of Faith calls it a disgusting and detesting act. Catholic Church has specific prayers and devotions as Acts of Reparation for blasphemy against God and the Church was a crime punishable by death in much of the Christian world. In England, the last blasphemy execution, was that of an 18-year-old Thomas Aikenhead who was executed for the crime in 1697. He was prosecuted for denying the accuracy of Old Testament and the legitimacy of Christ's miracles.

The teacher is no longer there

The Teacher is no longer there

by Dr. Aslam Abdullah

The most prominent Muslim thinker of our generation born in Egypt in 1928 was buried in Southern California on September 11, 2010 leaving a void that is impossible to fill by his contemporaries. Dr. Fathi Osman bid farewell to our mortal world around Fajr time in his home in Montrose, California on Saturday, Sept 11. The author of more than 50 books in Arabic and English left behind his wife and daughter, a huge Islamic library and an unprecedented legacy that will long be remembered by those who came in contact with him.

He was my mentor, guide, teacher, and almost like a father. I sat at his feet for almost 30 years to learn the Quran, history, hadith, contemporary Islamic thoughts, intellectual trends and above all the etiquette's to acquire and respect knowledge. I cannot recall a single day when he was not in my prayers. What an irony that I could not make to his funeral even though I drove from Las Vegas to Los Angeles as soon as I heard the news from Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi.

Challenges before us

photo by Ridwan Adhami                                       

by Dr. Aslam Abdullah

We are entering the 10 days of Maghfirah in this holy month as our Prophet said the first ten days of Ramadan are days of mercy and the next days are days of maghfirah and the last ten days are days of saving us from hellfire. We need Maghfirah, which literally means protection and forgiveness. During this month the Muslim community in the United States has come under attack from Islamophobes who are making Islam and Muslims an easy scapegoat for their frustration and anger. Muslims as usual are divided and unable to respond in a unified manner wherever they are. Thus, we are exposing ourselves to far bigger danger. We ask Allah to protect us and show us the guidance to take a better course of action.

Allah tells us that things would not change for better unless we are willing to change ourselves and our conditions. At this time, when the media is full with reports and talk shows spitting poison against Islam, it is our duty to respond and protect our interests. Two years ago during the last Presidential campaign, the Islamophobics distributed a documentary called Obsession to spread hatred against Islam and Muslims and this year, which an election year, they have turned  construction of an Islamic Center in Lower Manhattan as a national issue to implicate Islam and Muslims in 9/11. We responded to that challenge befittingly and published a full page ad in the newspaper inviting people to visit our places of worship.

Those who are actively speaking against Islam and Muslims have planned a series of actions against Islam and Muslims. Some of them plan to burn a copy of the Quran on September 11. Others plan to take rallies out against masajids on the same day. Conservative talk show hosts and politicians are vomiting poison against Muslims by equating them to Nazis and barbarians.

Attacks against Muslims have increased in the last one month. According to reports in news media, more than 50 incidents of violence against Muslims have been reported in the last 30 days. We must be proactive. We must seek the protection in Allah at this time. Seeking protection in Allah means doing things that Allah has asked us to do in these situations.

This is what the Quran tells us to do in these situations.

Allah asks us not to be intimidated and not to be depressed.
Allah asks us to be positive for his mercy.
Allah asks us to put our heads together and work to improve the situation.
Allah asks us to spread the truth about his message to all those ignorant.
Allah asks to be always prayful.

Recent news requires some introspection

by Fateen Seifullah

Dear Muslims, 

It has been a long time since I have written a blog post. I can’t think of a better time than now to restart my engine.  During the month of December, seven Muslims were detained at a local convenience store in Henderson for performing Magrib Salat.  Since the incident was made public I have received emails suggesting a protest, and phone calls from Channel 8 News along with other comments and concerns.  However, my dilemma or challenge, is to assess the situation without bias.  I had to ask myself real questions, and make shura with those that I pray with. Of course the feedback varied.  On the surface we all seem to sympathize with the Muslims. After all they were traveling, maybe they did not know where the Masjid was, although they were less than five miles from two of them (Masjid An-Nour, Haykal Academy).  Maybe there fiqh prevented them from delaying and combining the salat, maybe that appeared to be the safest place to make pray.  Whatever their reason, their decision is fuel for thought.

Please bare with me while I share the various comments I have heard since this incident: 
•    Are we becoming victims of poor thinking and bad judgment? And do we want everyone else to pay for that? 
•    We are not in a Muslim country. We are not on Muslims lands, in fact some scholars say that the land we live in is Darul Harb – an abode of War. Others say that this is Darul Dawah, regardless of what you choose, we know for sure that it is not Darul Islam.  Which means all that is permissible and encourage in an abode of peace, an Islamic Society may not be encouraged/permitted in either of the two above-mentioned abodes. 
•    Over the years many of us have performed salat in various places: in the airport, on airplanes, in convenience store parking lots, rest stops, along the highway, you name it.  But is that wise in this climate, where more than five thousand American Soldiers have been killed on Muslims land?
•    Which is more meritorious before Allah? Stopping at a store parking lot to pray? Or going out of your way when traveling to synchronize watches to be near a Masjid when it is time to pray?  I realize that we may not always be able to coordinate our trips to the letter, yet we still have options that should be explored.
•    They were on private property. 
•    One Muslim said that we should not do Monday morning quarterbacking on Muslims who stopped to perform Salat. 

Cover may be deceptive

by Dr. Aslam Abdullah

Three months ago, when he first came to Las Vegas, apparently no one knew him. This is what he claimed. But within a short span of time, he became known as one of the most pious persons of the town. He would pray five times a day in one of the five masajid of Las Vegas. People spoke of his habit of fasting for four days a week. His room mates would even report on his tahajjud (nightly) prayers. Certainly, he introduced himself as a man of God, without any interest in the worldly affairs. He claimed that he was a displaced Palestinian who was a victim of world politics. He told people about his displaced family. He told them of the persecution that his family has gone through. Later, he revealed that his Palestinian father had married with his Egyptian mother, even though some people doubt it now.

The man was unemployed and sought help. Our community came forth. Almost every masjid gave him whatever the people could afford. He took the money and told the people that he was moving to Anahiem to find a job there. Ten days later he came back. A Muslim teacher, struggling to survive, provided him temporary stay at his apartment. Another young engineer paid his cell phone bills.
Then, in the month of November, he informed the community that his brother was shot and wounded by the Israeli soldiers during their attack on Masjid Aqsa in Jerusalem. He sought help and people donated him their hard earned money. He did not have a bank account, so he asked a young Muslim whom he met in one of the masajid to deposit his checks and pay him the cash. The young Muslim even gave him his bank account so that people who wanted to help could directly deposit the money. Later, he found out that the account was misused by someone.

Three weeks before the Eid ul Adha, he hired an unemployed old man to distribute fliers on his behalf in all the masajid. The flier offered a very lucrative price for a lamb or goat sacrifice during Eid ul Adha. He offered a lamb for $160 and a goat for $150. Even though he had initially introduced himself as Abdullah, the flier was in the name of Abu Bakr. People called him and reserved animals for sacrifice. He asked for advance money. He would invite the people at any of the masajid to finalize the transaction. It is believed that he collected money for about 300 to 400 goats and lambs. Most people paid by cash. Those who paid by check were not refused. However, he asked one of his acquaintances to cash checks for him.

Mass Killers and News stories about Major Nidal Malik Hasan

image by thepagandepot.com                        

by Dr. Aslam Abdullah

 

Look at the pattern of reporting news stories about mass killers in our national and local media.

* On March 10, 2009, Michael McLendon set fire to the rural south Alabama home he shared with his mother with her body inside. He then set off on a 24-mile shooting spree during which he fired more than 200 rounds and killed 10 more people, including himself. Was he ever described by the media or officials as an American Protestant?

 

* On April 3, 2009, a Vietnam immigrant killed 13 people and then himself in a shooting spree at the American Civic Association in Bighhamton, New York. Did anyone call him a Vietcong terrorist?

 
* In the year of 1989, in two separate incidents, Westley Allen Dodd sexually assaulted and killed three boys ages 11, 10 and four. His methods were so heinous, forensic psychologists dubbed him one of the most evil killers in history. Did anyone call him Christian killer?

 

 * Jeffrey Dahmer was responsible for a series of gruesome murders of seventeen young men in Ohio and Milwaukee. Who called a Christian murderer? No one.

 

* Why Ray and Faye Copeland, both in their 70s, went from being loving grandparents to serial killers who used the clothing of their victims to make a warm winter quilt to snuggle under is a story both morbid and perplexing. Did anyone describe them American terrorists?

 

 * Dean Corll was a 33-year-old electrician living in Houston, Texas, who, with two teen accomplices, was responsible for kidnapping, torturing, raping and murdering at least 27 young boys in Houston in the early 1970s. No one called him an evangelical terrorist?

 
* Accompanied by his girlfriend Debra Brown, Alton Coleman went on a six-state raping and killing spree in 1984. He was not described as a Christian rapist?

 

* When looking into the life of Richard Chase, one can only wonder who is to blame for the six people he savagely murdered. His parents and health officials considered him sane enough to live freely. Yet, early on in his life, Chase was displaying severe abnormal and dangerous behavior.

* Angelo Buono, Jr. was, along with his cousin Kenneth Bianchi, one of the Hillside Stranglers who went on a two month rape, torture and murder spree in 1977, in California. Was he identified with his religion and ethnicity.

After Ramadan

Photo by Harraz               

by Fateen Seifullah

As salaam alaykum

Ramadan is over, farewell old friend.  We pray to meet you again next year.  It has been said, that when Ramadan visits it is like when old friends or family members come to visit. We are excited about there presence, but generally by the end of the visit we are happy for them to leave.  Don’t get me wrong, it is not as though we are ungrateful, nor do we hate Ramadan, but rather we are  people with certain appetites and passions, some natural and normal, while others un-natural and abnormal.   Ramadan is the month that provides us with an excellent opportunity to put those passions in check.  We learn to check our appetite, to control it, to delay it, and in some instances we have even given up indefinitely those character killers.  Character killers such as excessive talking and laughing; social ills like gossip, etc.  Now that Ramadan is over, what will we do?  Will we go back to our lust and desires?

Defeating the purpose

photo by Amekinfo               

by Fateen Seifullah

As salaam alaykum, dear Muslims Ramadan Mubark

 

Our prophet (SAW) is reported to have said strange are the ways of the believer, they find good in everything and this is the state of mind of only the believers.  It is always fascinating and strange to watch Muslims as Ramadan draws near.  These brothers and sisters, many of them who have found it very difficult to fast Monday's and Thursday but who are now excited about Ramadan.  They are so excited for Ramadan that they begin calling the Masjid, days and sometimes weeks, early to find out about its date.  There is no other group on the earth that I'm aware of that approaches sacrifice like this.  I tip my hat to all those men, women, and children who value Ramadan in this manner. 

 

However I must now caution some of us who are excited about fasting, who’re also just a little to excited about the iftars.  You know the ones that can’t wait for the Imam to Taslim out so they can run to the food, no zikr, no sunnah, no supplication, straight to the food.  And if that is not bad enough, they pile their food so high that it spills over the sides of the plate, and still worse, is that some of these same individuals make plates to go before they check to see if everyone has eaten. Labeling this as poor table manners would be an understatement. It would be more accurate to say that they are undermining the whole spirit of Ramadan and the idea of self - sacrifice. They are failing to feel the pain of those who are less fortunate.  Maybe this is why we can go back to business as usual; wasting food and ignoring the needs of the homeless.  Maybe this is also why we throw our food away rather than eat the leftover portions.  In part, it is  because we cannot relate to those less fortunate.  Not only are we failing in our portions, we are also failing in our preparation. By the time that Eid comes, we are tired of eating, and the Eid festival can match the iftars that were prepared on weekends.  We have to return to the way of our prophet (SAW) if we want to make ourselves better.

Ramadan Preparation

photo by Time magazine

(This post was submitted over 2 weeks ago, I appologize for taking so long to share it, Usman)

by Fateen Seifullah

As salaam alaykum

It has been a while since I have written, so forgive me for presenting some of the ideas from last week’s khutbah.  The title, “Preparing for Ramadan”, speaks for itself.  Our prophet (PBUH) said: “Rajab is the month of Allah, Sha'ban is the month of the Messenger and Ramadan is the month of the Quran”.  And some of the salaf use to pray, “O Allah bless us in Rajab and Sha'ban and we hope we will meet Ramadan”.  This should also be what we pray because this year many of us have either lost a friend, family member, or know someone who has.  This year, our Muslim community has performed more than thirty Janazahs.

 The month that is approaching is full of so many blessings and benefits; there are too many to count. Because of this we should not approach the month ill-prepared.  There is an expression in the west, “chance favors the prepared mind”, more simply put it means, that the best opportunities are seized by the one who is prepared.  This month comes as no surprise,  It is not a trick date; nor is it a date that catches one off guard.  We know that when Rajab comes we are slowly getting closer to Ramadan.  When Sha'ban comes we should begin preparing for Ramadan we should discipline ourselves, our eating habits should change, and we should reduce our intake of food.  All of this is in preparation for a month that provides us with a peek into the lives of those who are less fortunate than us.  Our prophet (SAW) fasted more and gave more in charity during this month, than any other.  He was teaching us, preparing us for both the spiritual and physical challenges that we will face during Ramadan. He (pbuh) said:  Sha’ban is a month between Rajab and Ramadan much neglected by the people.  In it the actions of all servants are raised to the Lord of the Worlds.  I love for my actions to be presented when I am fasting.  And in another hadith as Aisha reported, she asked Messenger of Allah, “Is Sha'ban your favorite month for fasting?”  He said (pbuh) In this month Allah prescribes the list of the people dying this year, therefore I like that my death comes when I am in a state of fasting.

Islamic Information Center (IIC) "Dawa Center" Ramadan Updates 2009

by Dr. Khaliq Baig

Ramadan Kareem to all.

May Allah swt make this an easy and blessed month of Ramadan for everyone and may Allah accept our efforts to please Him.

1. Taraweeh prayers will be held at 5383 S. Maryland Pkwy, La Vegas, NV 89119.  Isha will start at 8:45 PM and the Taraweeh prayers will follow.  We have two huffaz, leading the prayers.  Hafiz AzzizurRaham Patel was here last year and returns from England.  Hafiz Bilal Wardak is from Toronto, Canada.  We welcome both of them to our community.

2.  Iftar will be served everyday. Please see attached schedule and if you wish to sponsor the iftar, please contact Brother Ahmad Fayed at: a_fayed@hotmail.com.  There are various options to sponsor the Iftar, so contact brother Ahmad.

3.  We were expecting that the new Center will be open before Ramadan, but due to some delays by the County inspectors, the Contractor is running behind. Perhaps another 10 days?

4.  We are planning to have a fund raising iftar on Thursday September 17, 2009 at the new center located at 1610 E. Russell Road, Las Vegas, NV 89119.  Brother Monzer Taleb will be the guest speaker.  We have not seen him for a while now and we do look forward to seeing him Las Vgeas.  We wish to express our appreciation for him to take time out of his busy schedule.  May Allah reward him for his efforts,  Insha Allah. Every one is welcome.

5.  We need your help and would appreciate your generous donations during this blessed month of Ramadan.