Abstract: Imam Shamshad Nasir of Baitul Hameed Mosque in Chino, CA answers two important questions: Should Americans be afraid of Muslims and do Muslims place American first or their faith when it comes to loyalty? He says Islam mandates obedience to those in authority wherever they live and the Holy Prophet of Islam taught that not just obedience but love of one’s place of residence is a part of a Muslim’s faith. In fact even if Muslims are persecuted and deprived of their freedoms, yet they are not allowed to take the law into their own hands. The Holy Quran says instead they should leave such places and migrate and assures them that God would take care of them in those new places.
In his own life the Holy Prophet followed these injunctions. Instead of creating disorder in Mecca when he ands his followers were denied their basic freedoms he told them to migrate and in the end when his life itself was threatened he left Mecca and migrated 200+ miles to Medina.
SHOW #: 3 TITLE: “Should we be afraid of
Muslims in America?”
AIR TIME:
9:30am to 9:40am DATE: Tue. Sept. 22, 2009
| DENNIS:
|
As you may or may not know, every Tuesday at this time,
we have Imam Shamshad from the Chino Mosque here for a segment we call
“Understanding Islam”. . .
Salaam Ah-leh-kum, Imam Shamshad. . .
|
| IMAM:
|
Wa Alaikum salaam, Dennis.
|
| DENNIS:
|
Now, Imam, this week I want to broach a sensitive
subject. . . It’s good to talk about peace and what Islam is truly about,
but unfortunately, because of 9-11 and who many people believe are
responsible for it, the words “Islam” and “Peace” do not go together in a
lot of people’s minds. So I want to ask you some questions I think a lot of
our listeners would like to have answered.
|
DENNIS POINT:
Should we be afraid of Muslims in
America? And which comes first for a Muslim? Loyalty to God or loyalty to
the country they live in?
| |
| IMAM:
|
In answer to your first question, Dennis, the answer is
No, of course not. There are between six-million and eight-million Muslims
in America. If even one-tenth of one-percent of these Muslims were doing any
kind of terrorism, there would be thousands of terrorist acts committed
every day. In answer to your second question, the Holy Quran and the Holy
Prophet are both clear on the question of loyalty to one’s country. Islam
mandates obedience to the authorities wherever a Muslim lives. The Holy
Quran says:
[4:60] يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْۤا اَطِيْعُوا اللّٰهَ وَاَطِيْعُوا الرَّسُوْلَ وَاُولِى الْاَمْرِ مِنْكُمْۚ
O ye who believe! obey Allah, and obey His Messenger
and those who are in authority among you.
|
IMAM POINTS:
Muhammad and his followers were persecuted horribly in Mecca for 13 long years and they never once committed
a terrorist act against the Meccans who murdered and persecuted them.
Muslims -- even when persecuted -- are not allowed to “create disorder in
the land.” They are commanded to emigrate rather than fight or commit acts
of rebellion. Muslims being persecuted by the Meccans in Arabia emigrated to
Abyssinia where a Christian king gave them protection and political asylum.
These Muslims refugees never broke the laws of Abyssinia or created
disturbances in that land.
| |
| IMAM:
|
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: “Hubbul watanay
minal imanay...” He said: Love of one's country, meaning where one lives, is
a part of a Muslim's Faith.” LOVE of one’s country -- not just dry
obedience -- but obedience out of love is what defines a true Muslim. This
is the teaching of Islam. . . It is this teaching that we as Muslims must
follow if we want to create peace in the societies and countries where we
live.
|
DENNIS POINTS:
What about Muslims who believe they are being loyal to
God by being disloyal to America and committing terrorist acts?
| |
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