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Friday, May 14, 2010

[MahdiUniteMuslims] KHUTBAH : INTERFAITH MEETINGS- AHL AL KITAB: THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER (PART 5)

 

THE STREET MIMBAR

JUM'AH KHUTBAH (14 May 2010)

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It is in such a manner that We make plain Our signs so that the course of the

Criminals may become clear.

Bismillah Ar-Rahmaan Ar-Raheem.

Alhumdulillah. Peace and blessings on Muhammad (sallalahu alaihi wa sallam), his Noble Companions and Family.

Brothers and Sisters on our way to Allah…

 

Audio on http://www.islamiccenterdc.com/khutbassermons.htm (04-23-2010)

 

INTERFAITH MEETINGS- AHL AL KITAB: THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER (PART 5)

There is much to be clarified about many of the words that we use. You and I know that the Muslims of today's day and time are living a crisis because they simply cannot come to the practical and functional meanings that come to them from Allah. One of these words that have become almost a combination of convenient definitions is the words Ahl Al Kitab. You've probably heard that word since you were very, very young. You've heard it recited when there's a recitation of the Holy Qur'an, from the Manabir, in classes, group discussions or conventions. Inevitably, the word keeps on coming up. People say "Ahl Al Kitab." Don't expect in one khutbah a full range answer to the issues that pertain to these two words Ahl Al Kitab. There are scores of ayaat in the Qur'an in which the word Ahl Al Kitab is mentioned. On this day and at this day of taqwah, when our only consideration is the Authority and Power of Allah, we should at least begin to get a healthy understanding of what Ahl Al Kitab means. Allah says to us in another short surah in the Qur'an… Before we delve into the pertinent and intended meanings of this ayah, we'd like to say that the simple translation of the word Ahl Al Kitab is People of Scripture. Some may say People of the Book or Folks of Scripture or Folks of the Book. What is meant is any individual/society that thinks of itself as belonging to the revealed scriptures from Allah. So in this sense, we have for all practical purposes two communities of people who say "they are affiliates or they belong to scripture." In the generic sense, not the consuming sense of the word, it makes them Ahl Al Kitab. The people we call and they call themselves "Jews and Christians" can be in a very general sense included under the title Ahl Al Kitab; but there's more to it than this over-arching definition. Remember, the word Ahl Al Kitab is mentioned in different ayaat, at different times in history and in the Seerah and by extension in our time and into future times in which we have to scrutinize the sub-divisions Ahl Al Kitab. Once the pieces are put together, they give us the meaning of Ahl Al Kitab. In this ayah in what is called Surah Lamyakun Alladhina Kafaru or Surah Al Bayyinah or Surah Al Qayyimah or (and this is one of these definitions that have virtually died throughout the course of the past fourteen centuries ; this surah at the beginning was called) Surah Ahl Al Kitab. Remember, in previous times we pointed to Surah At Tawbah that had some designations that had died in the course of time. Died meaning we Muslims no longer use them. We said another name for Surah Al Isra' is Surah Bani Isra'eel. Even though Bani Isra'eel are causing us all the agony and pain, we have not had enough intellectual come-back to designate this Surah as Surah Bani Isra'eel. We said, (recently), there is Surah Al Hashr which we all call Surah Al Hashr, but no one for hundreds of years calls this Surah Bani An Nadhir. The same thing is applicable here. We come to this short surah in juz' Al Amma which many of us have memorised and when have you heard someone referring to this surah as Surah Ahl Al Kitab? Which is if we realise it is a wake up call that our intellect lags far behind the developments of the real world. In this surah- Surah Ahl Al Kitab, Allah says

Those who are involved in the action of kufr from people who say "they are Ahl Al Kitab" as well as the Mushriks will/are not going to break from their kufr until evidence comes to them. (Surah Al Bayyinah verse 1)

They are going to remain clinging to their concept/defiance of kufr until they are presented with evidence from Allah, by His Messenger. What is the meaning of kufr? This is yet another word that begs a definition because many Muslims take this word and put on a secular mind and they understand it the same way a non-Muslim understands the word and says "kufr is disbelief" or such secular "religious" terminology. That's not the case. Kufr is the state of mind that has the potential of becoming an ideology/strategy/policy. So Allah is telling us within Ahl Al Kitab they have this feature called kufr. So there is a common ground between those who refer themselves as "belonging to the Torah and the Injeel" and those who within that same society/history/context who are in denial of Allah's Power and Authority. This is what Muslims are going to have to wake up to and express it as it is. The issue of kufr is and has been concentrated throughout the history of Prophets on the Authority and Power of Allah. It's not concentrated on Allah's mercy. No one disagrees that Allah is Merciful. You come to a Jew/Christian/Muslim and the guy says "God is Merciful." Come to them and say "Allah is Ra'uf/Raheem/Wadud/Qareeb/Sami'/Mujeeb and all of these other attributes and everyone agrees. So what is all this disagreement about Allah? What's the difference then if all of us- Muslims/Christians/Jews- agree that Allah is the nearest One to us, Allah hears/knows everything? What we disagree about becomes the definition of kufr and that is we disagree about Allah's practical/relevant/immediate Power and Authority. This is where we disagree. Some people render Him as a God somewhere up in the heavens with no impact/influence in our personal/social lives/affairs of the worlds as it is. This is a serious departure point. Now, the question is: "Can Muslims themselves become guilty of denying Allah's Power and Authority?" We haven't had and no one has had or is permitted to have the opportunity to survey the Muslims in the world on how they think/feel about Allah's Power and Authority. Muslim opinion has been taken away from circulation for 1,300 years on the issue of Power and Authority and today, (if) you want to come and query them: "What do you think of Allah's Power and Authority?" you will not be able to do so in a systemic/organised/extended way. We cannot gage this fact. But what we do know, because the proof is in front of our eyes, is that we have rulers who govern in Muslim countries/societies who do not owe their allegiance to Allah when it comes to His authority and Power. They don't believe in the Power and Authority of Allah and some of them may have Islamic Laws from the book that are applied to society. If a thief steals, these types of people who do not believe in the Power and Authority of Allah, will chop of the hand of a thief, but applying Islamic Laws does not mean that these rulers applying these laws honour the Power and Authority of Allah. Brothers and sisters, let us not be fooled by this! Obviously, applying the laws of Allah's as the Prophet did it is an integral part of an Islamic order/society/lifestyle/system. We're not denying that, but we're not going to be fooled by people who take the legal component of Islam and apply it to the disenfranchised citizens of their countries and then present themselves to you/me/public/world as being Mu'mineen and the protectors of Haramayn Ash Sharifayn. We're not fooled. So if Muslims who deny Allah's Power and Authority the same way as the Jews/Christians deny Allah's Power and Authority are reduced to the status of Ahl Al Kitab, meaning now we become a people who claim we have a scripture and who decorate ourselves with religious activities and Masjid programs that make us appear as if we are obedient to Allah, in the meantime, the critical matter of Allah's Power and Authority goes without being questioned. Where are these people when it comes to Allah's Power and Authority. So Allah says

These types i.e. the kafirs from Ahl Al Kitab… (Surah Al Bayyinah verse 1)

Remember, right now, the kafirs from Ahl Al Kitab means any kitab from Allah.

are not going to break from their kufr… (Surah Al Bayyinah verse 1)

Remember, right now, kufrs means objecting/rejecting for practical purposes when we think out policies/strategies and when we think out programs for our communities/societies/state apparatus and we omit Allah as our reference of Authority and our source of Power, we also carry the burden of the Jews and Christians.

These types, i.e. the kafirs from Ahl Al Kitab as well as the Mushriks… (Surah Al Bayyinah verse 1)

Now why are the Mushrikeen mentioned? Because obviously, by definition, the Mushriks have diluted Allah in their minds and in their social interactions and made him insignificant/irrelevant.

These types i.e. the kafirs from Ahl Al Kitab and the Mushriks are not going to break from their kufr and shirk until clear/manifest/obvious evidence comes to them from Allah. (Surah Al Bayyinah verse 1)

We've seen how in the history of scripture/societies/peoples who belonged to Prophets and Messengers the dynamic of breaking from kufr takes place; but it takes place once people identify the God-given evidence that comes to them. In the time of Allah's Prophet, Ahl Al Kitab, the Jews/Al Yahud in the Arabian Peninsular in particular would go to the Mushriks and say to them you have more guidance/direction/are on a better course than those people who are committed to Allah. Imagine/think of this dynamic. The kafirs from Ahl Al Kitab fuelling the animosity/belligerence of Al Mushrikeen. So Allah is not fooled and we should not be fooled if some people come and say "Oh I'm a very religious Jew/Christian"  or for that matter "I'm a very religious Muslim." So what? Where do you stand on the issue of Allah's Power and Authority? Where does that figure into your belief system/thoughts/what you do in real life? Don't show us your moments in the Synagogue/Church/Masjid, we don't want to see that! What is your behaviour if you belong to Allah and scripture? If you are Ahl Al Kitab, what is your behaviour/character in the real world? So, when they are presented with the truth from Allah, from there on begins a break from their kufr. Is it a serious/substantial break from this kufr? We know how the history of Al Yahud and An Nasara went. The substantial/serious break from kufr and the affirmation of Allah's Power and Authority was by the last Prophet of Allah. That's when we had some real results that took place and now Allah is honoured as the only Authority of man and the only Power for man.

… until clear evidence comes to them from Allah. (Surah Al Bayyinah verse 1)

What is it?

A Messenger from Allah who is sequencing unpolluted pages of Wisdom. (Surah Al Bayyinah verse 2)

 Obviously, that is in reference to the Qur'an. This is where people begin to ask "Do we consider Christians/Jews to be Ahl Al Kitab?" Number one: it depends on what your definition of Ahl Al Kitab is. To gain a grounded definition of Ahl Al Kitab, you are referred to all of the ayaat of the Qur'an that speak about Ahl Al Kitab in the particular circumstances and social activities that address and define them within that context. So, we have Ahl Al Kitab today, i.e. those who say "we are Jews/Christians." When we have Jews and Christians we ask ourselves "how do they stand on the issue of Allah's Authority and Power? Are they closer to iman i.e. committing to Allah's Power and Authority or are they closer to kufr i.e. objecting and rejecting Allah's Power and Authority?" What we mean by power and authority is not an idealistic/other worldly/imaginary power and authority. No. Allah's Power and Authority means His Authority and Power here and now. So where do these people stand? Obviously, we will probably find individuals-Jews/Christians/Muslims- who will agree that all power and authority belong to God. How do they feel about the way the world is being run when all of these governments in the world don't honour/recognise Allah's Power and Authority? The world is open, you can go and see. Have a brush with reality and see who are these who say "we are Jews/Christians" who will only honour the Power and Authority of Allah. The fact of the matter is very clear. As far as their governments/power structures/militaries/educational programs, all of them omit the power and authority of Allah. So how can these be Ahl Al Kitab in the sense that these are dear to Allah? Where did this confusion come from? OK- if you have more difficulty and if you need further information, ask them about Rasulun min Allah. What do they say about Muhammed? Why is there silence about this? When they come out… In recent years they've been coming out. Before this was a secret that they kept to themselves. They don't want to speak about this. "OK- you have your religion and we have our religion, let's not create bad feelings about speaking about Muhammad and this so we'll keep it." But now they're coming out with cartoons, foul language and books from the Satanic Verses twenty odd years ago to the media fiasco concerning our beloved Prophet in the past few years. We've all been privy to this. Why can't they deal with this crowd? This is not a miracle beyond their comprehension. This is Rasulillah. The information about him is prevalent/all over.  We are willing to explain to them, (but) why is it that when they come out… This is what happens. Listen to what Allah is telling us and then we compare what Allah is telling us with what they are talking about us, then we'll begin to see whether this is Ahl Al Kitab or Alladhina Kafaru min Ahl Al Kitab! There won't be any confusion any longer.

Within these suhuf/scripts there are bodies of written knowledge that are not polluted. (Surah Al Bayyinah verse 3)

This is a matter of innocent pride that Muslims who belong to and honour Allah and His Prophet have. We don't have a polluted book. No one has come and changed things around in our book. This is the way it came from Allah and it's been preserved ever since and it's an open book for everyone. Why are they looking the other way? Allah and His Prophet are inviting them and they're making fun of them or they draw these pictures and insulting images of Allah's Prophet?! Something is wrong with them. Can we help them in any way?   

 

Many Mufassireen/people who looked into the meanings of the Qur'an found that this surah is very difficult to explain because the first ayah says munfaqqeen. Lam… …Munfaqqeen means not breaking away from their ideas/notions of kufr until they are presented with evidence. OK- that's a fact. We've just explained. That's not very difficult to understand. But then this ayah comes and it says

And these People/Folks of scripture were not divided/separated from each other except after evidence came to them. (Surah Al Bayyinah verse 4)

We think that if people are thinking through these ayaat in the real details of life, there's no difficulty in understanding them. When some people who belong to the Torah and Injeel are presented with evidence, they part with kufr and they submit to Allah. This happens/happened. How do you think many of these Muslims beyond Arabia became Muslims 1,400/1,300/1,200 years ago? These were Ahl Al Kitab. They parted/broke with kufr, but then Allah says

These same types of people i.e. Ahl Al Kitab did not go their divisive ways until after Al Bayyinah or the Prophet of Allah comes to them. (Surah Al Bayyinah verse 4)

This also happens. This is a dynamic of human life. Some of these people who are under the umbrella of Ahl Al Kitab will acknowledge/honour and affirm Allah's Power and authority just like every other Muslim committed to Allah will do, but some of them will with this same bayyinah and Rasul from Allah generate divisions among them. What is hard to understand about that? We see this in today's world. When Muslims who are in the character/sweat/tears/struggle of Allah's Prophet begin to honour/affirm Allah's Power and Authority, we begin to observe that this House of Ahl Al Kitab is a very divided house. Only a superficial understanding of things tells you that they are united. They're not united.

You may consider them to be a consolidated group of people who are together, but the fact is their hearts move in diverging directions/every which way. (Surah Al Hashr verse 51)

Brothers and sisters, committed Muslims: we pray that our understanding of the words of the Qur'an becomes a very accurate understanding so that we don't fall into the type of dissension that we find ourselves in. Muslims now are taking the word kufr and accusing other Muslims of it when they haven't pickled up the train/cumulative meaning as it appears in the many ayaat in the Qur'an.

O Allah, we ask you to relieve us of the burden of being inaccurate and accusatory towards innocent people who don't share in the guilt/crime of kufr and in the same breath we ask you, O Almighty, to grant us the understanding to place the meanings of your words where they belong in the real world today as they relate to real people in positions that have dislocated your Power and Authority.

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Islam…

We know (that) this is quite an early time to some people to speak about the yearly activity of Yawm Al Quds i.e. the last Jum'ah in the month of Ramadhan. On this day- the day of Jum'ah is a day of taqwah. If we had a healthy/clean understanding of the word taqwah we would know that it means we have to avoid Allah's Power punishment. In previous years we have had committed Muslims express themselves on that day, but now almost four months before that day arrives a reminder to you to try to communicate the importance of this day and to have responsible individuals who are concerned with the issues of justice- this is an issue of justice. Justice resonates with a Muslim who is a technical Muslim and with a person who is not a Muslim in the technical sense of the word. Everyone can see the injustice that is being done to those who are suffering from a daily military bloody policy. Most of these obviously are Muslims and the others are Christians who are living in Palestine. If you know of an Islamic Centre or a Church or even a Synagogue, (which is very rare), who will participate in this day, try to communicate with them beginning this coming week so that we can be on the record communicating with these people. And not one/two individuals. If all of us took this upon ourselves as an Islamic/God-given/defined responsibility, then we will approach them from different angles and let them go on the record and say whether they want to support people who are going under i.e. a population that is dying or they want to just watch, be passive or not involved. Whatever the case, their truth has to come out and this has to begin now; not the last few weeks or when the month of Ramadhan comes along. We should begin this now. Expect maybe a dose of frustration; but isn't this the course of Allah's Prophets? This is not a time to give up or cut corners. It's a time to be sincere and to do what your heart that you have cultured with Allah tells you to do. 

 

This khutbah was presented by Imam Muhammed Asi on the occasion of Jum'ah on 23 April 2010 on the sidewalk of Embassy Road in Washington D.C. The Imam previously led the daily and Jum'ah prayers inside the Masjid. His speeches were revolutionary and thought provoking, and eventually irritated and threatened the Middle-East Ambassadors who control the Masjid. Finally, the Imam, his family, and other Muslims faithful to the course of Islam were forced out, into the streets. This khutbah originates from the sidewalk across the street from the Islamic Center, currently under seige.


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