Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

“The strong one is not really the good wrestler but the one who controls himself when he is angry.” (Agreed Upon) 6

Commentary: Society, today, is placing too much emphasis on physical strength
and the ability to fight. The “law of the jungle” has become the prevailing source of the political and economic decisions made by individuals and even powerful nations. Muslims have been subjected to torture, imprisonment and exile without the recourse to the rule of law or the justice of “civil society”.
This injustice should not cloud our eyes to “Prophetic guidance”. Prophet Muhammad(saw) was blessed with the ability to express profound meanings in a few words. Here he reminds us that fitness and self-defense, that undoubtedly, form part of the Islamic personality, are not the source of real strength. Real strength comes from self-control.
An accomplished martial arts master avoids brawling and saves his energy and skill for the ultimate encounter. Only the arrogant novice looks for a fight and exposes his abilities to the world. A Muslim loves and hates for Allah and should be confident in the help of the Creator. He should be humble yet firm, open-minded yet commited to his faith. Patience and moderation will bring about, Insha-Allah, long term victories and win the pleasure of Allah.

6 See Al Lu’Lu wal Marjaan, Vol 3 p 199 Hadeeth # 1676

As an African American with ties to the First Nation Mohawk people of northeast America, travelling across the globe and interacting with people of different nationalities, religious persuasions and orientations toward life has been extraordinary experience, to say the least. A recent visit to Australia and heart rendering discussion with an official of the Aboriginal people of Melbourne only added to my hope for the plight of the under privileged and the neglected voices of marginalized majority of this world to be put on the main stage of world discussions. How can we really tackle climate change and political instability when the majority of the people on this planet only have access to a small percentage of the natural resources? How can we claim to have democratic, free societies when a large percentage of earth’s human population is not figured into the daily public discourse.

For over 30 years, it became normal for me to witness silent yet beautiful people from the poor districts of Los Angeles, California, Kingston, Jamaica, the townships of Cape Town, South Africa and the frontline states of the Southern African region, seeking a way out of poverty and destitution by turning to time honored religious values and lifestyles. Many turned to Islam to overcome the ravages of disease, extra-marital pregnancy and physical and sexual abuse. How could a mainstream religion with ties to the war torn Middle East assist a destitute person in the township of Soweto, Johannesburg? How could a religion in such international turmoil bring peace to an individual in a far off land?

The Blessed Qur’an, teaches that all human life is sacred and must be protected. In the chapter Bani Isra’il, verse 70 it states,

And verily, We have honoured the children of Adam, provided them with transport on land and sea, given them good and pure things for sustenance and conferred on them special favours above much of Our Creation.

In the chapter called Al-Ma’idah, verse 32, The Blessed Qur’an magnifies the unjust taking of life saying:

…We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one killed a person, unless it be for murder or spreading mischief in the land, it would be as if he killed the whole of humanity. And if anyone has saved a life, it would be as though he has saved the life of the whole of humanity.

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) respected life and property so much that even when sending his Companions into battle to defend his young Islamic state he would tell them (in words):

“Do not kill women, children, servants, the aged, non-combatants nor monks in their monastaries. Do not destroy churches, synagogues, buildings nor burn crops and kill animals.”

After the Prophet’s death, it is reported in the annals of Islamic History that his 2nd successor, Umar ibn Al Khattab when asked by the Patriarch of Jerusalem to come to receive the keys to the city, arrived in Bethlehem at the time of the daily afternoon prayer. Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) refused an offer by the Patriarch to perform his prayers in the Church of the Nativity. He made his Salah (prayers) outside saying that if he prayed in the church his followers might change it into a masjid. Today we find the Masjid of Umar on one side of the courtyard and the Church of the Nativity, still standing, on the other side. For centuries, Muslims defended the rights of the Christians and the Jews in Jerusalem to maintain their houses of worship and retain their faith.

Today, Muslims find themselves living as minorities in secular societies in Europe and the Americas that are going through tremendous transformations. Religious values are being challenged and new forms of marriage and human relations are appearing every decade. For many in today’s society, alcohol and drugs have taken the place of prayer or religious counselors. Materialism and hedonistic pleasures are the new yardsticks to define success in this life. The concept of the hereafter has been relegated to a science fiction adventure in an apocalyptic world or a journey into deep space.

Muslim counselors and leaders are confronted daily with people who have changed their sexual orientation, become addicted to powerful chemicals or who have been surviving from a life of crime. The question arises: How do we confront these practices that have been considered sinful and sometimes blasphemous in our sacred texts? Rape, murder, adultery, homosexuality, the taking of interest, intoxication, magic, stealing from orphans, abusing children and the elderly have all been classified as unlawful behavior in an Islamic environment. Islam encourages Muslims to maintain family life and provide wholesome alternatives in recreation and entertainment for their children. Today’s rapidly changing cultural landscape has challenged these Islamic norms and questioned the very validity of religion itself.

The challenge in easing the tension lies in finding a way to maintain the right to stand for religious principles in secular society yet at the same time protect the right to life for all citizens. Muslims, particularly those living in western societies need to remember that taking the life of any individual in any society without due process is a major sin. At the same time, Islam and many major religions of the world condemn sexual relationships outside of marriage, thus fornication, adultery, homosexuality, pedophilia, bestiality and rape are all considered to be major sins. Family-based sexuality should have its place in the public discourse, and ‘freedom of speech’ should enable an individual to express his opinion or stand up for her religious orientation. At the same time, this does not give anyone the right to kill or terrorize people who do not agree with him.

After years of working with individuals who approached our mosques and social service centers for assistance in coping with a myriad of problems, I was shocked to see a group of people in the U.K. label me as being a preacher of hate! Yes, homosexuals, drug addicts, distraught parents and estranged children approached me for counseling and practical steps for reconnecting with their spirituality. I willingly sat with them for hours in the Islamic Social Services and Resources Association of Toronto, Ontario in Canada. I was not always successful but our meetings confirmed the fact that the mosque should be open for everyone and Muslims should reach out to people of other faiths and varying circumstances. The door of repentance, self analysis and reconstruction has been opened by the Creator, Himself, and will never be closed. In the Sacred Al Quran (39-53), it states:

Say, ‘O my servants who have wronged their own souls! Despair not of the mercy of Allah, for Allah forgives all sins. Surely He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Our position is to clearly show the stance of Islam concerning all the issues that Muslims are facing in modern society yet to seek a respectful way of agreeing to disagree with others who hold different perspectives.

Maybe these young zealots who want to purify Europe of all foreign elements and close the door for dialogue on controversial issues need to review their concept of freedom of speech. Expressing your faith’s concepts on God, sexuality, family and society does not mean that you are a preacher of hate! The bottom line is whether we can live together in society in peace and harmony yet respect the rights of free speech. I have always encouraged Muslims to express themselves openly and without fear yet ensure the safety and dignity of all human beings regardless of their color, religion, gender or sexual orientation.

Can we today in this turbulent, dangerous world not empower the silent, marginalized majority, learn to agree to disagree and co-exist in peace and justice?

Dr Abdullah Hakim Quick

Toronto, Canada

January, 2011

Before setting the record straight, I feel it is vitally important to recognize that many people may have understandably felt threatened or hurt by this swirling controversy. As an African American who grew up during America’s civil rights era and whose ancestry includes people from the Mohawk nation, I’ve certainly felt threatened and fearful by hateful talk directed toward me. It pains me to know that people from various walks of life have been hurt by something I’ve said. To all those people who have felt imperiled by what they have seen or heard I would like to offer my sincere apologies. As you will hopefully see, this is not an accurate depiction of who I am as a human being nor of the religion that I have chosen as my way of life.

On a recent visit to London, protestors denounced me as a “hate cleric” and numerous attempts were made to keep  me from my speaking engagements.   I learned that the protests were instigated by a group called OutRage!  Based on what I have learned, this group has been accused of anti-Semitism and has a history of aggressively attacking religious leaders including the Archbishop of Canterbury (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OutRage! and http://rosecottage.me.uk/OutRage-archives/carey98.htm). The group spent a great deal of time pouring over many years of my audio lectures and carefully selecting quotes that misrepresent me as homophobic and intolerant of Christians and Jews.

I have never been the target of protests and this attack left me unsure about how to deal with the situation. As I deliberated the controversy spread to Sweden. I realize now that I should have confronted my detractors immediately. I want to take this opportunity today to tell you exactly who I am.

My Track Record

I have been an Imam in Jamaica, Los Angeles, Toronto, and, Capetown.

Over the last three decades, I’ve visited over 58 countries in the east and west and spoken to tens of thousands of people. I’ve spoken at universities, stadiums, mosques, churches, TV programs and public squares. My audiences have included Muslims, non-Muslims, academics, laypersons, artists, political and religious leaders. By the Grace of Almighty God, I can say that people appreciated my talks wherever I travelled.

I have always stood against racism and ethnocentrism.  I have been a lifelong advocate of women’s rights and for decades have encouraged the empowerment of young people. I pioneered the first social service agency for Muslims in Toronto, Canada whose doors were open to all – rich and poor, Muslim and non-Muslim, gay or straight. As a counselor I learned first-hand of the terrible violence inflicted upon gay people by bullies and thugs and I publicly spoke out against it.

While I was in Toronto I was the first Imam to have inclusive sermons for the hearing impaired.  For years I was a regular columnist on religion for Canada’s largest newspaper, The Toronto Star.  I have also been an advisor to highly respected public institutions such as the Royal Ontario Museum and the Toronto District School Board.

For the last 10 years I have worked with some of the most impoverished citizens of South Africa providing education, spiritual counseling and vocational opportunities for people living in the African townships.

Some of my closest blood relations are Christian and many well-wishers, colleagues and friends are of the Jewish faith. In no country where I have lived or any of the countries that I have visited has there ever been any confrontation between me and another faith community. It’s possible that those who have sought to malign my reputation may have missed all these things in doing their research. Or maybe furthering their own agenda at the cost of my name was a stronger incentive for them than speaking the truth.

The Allegations

With regard to my comments about the punishment for homosexuality, about 15 years ago I was approached by a group of gay Muslims who wanted me to re-interpret the basic principles of Islam. I refused and indicated to them the very serious condemnation  in Islam toward homosexuality.  My statements were a moral reprimand only. I understand now that they did give off the wrong impression. For that, I am sorry. I have never advocated violence, vigilantism or disregard for the rule of law.
Islamic scholarship is crystal clear that Muslim minorities must respect the laws of the countries in which they reside or leave to find another homeland. The overwhelming majority of Muslims living in the West are respectful of this fact and feel duty-bound to recognize the rights of others even if their views are contrary to what Islam holds as sacred.

The debate among those who support homosexuality and those who do not is an intensely polarizing one. Nevertheless, I think that this debate is essential and must continue for the common good of us all. I have always articulated my concern, both within my community and without, in a manner that has been respectful of the rights and duties of individuals in a pluralistic democracy.

A clip taken from another lecture made me appear to be intolerant of Christians and Jews. Toward the end of my talk I made a supplication for God to purify Islam’s third holiest shrine from the “filth of the Christians and the Jews.”  The implicit — and obvious understanding for anyone who heard my lecture — was that I was asking God to heal the spiritual corruption that afflicts some members of religious groups which in turn leads to injustice against innocent people. Spiritual purity has been the focus of prophets, teachers and reformers for thousands of years. Students of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths know this well. Prophet Jesus’ famous condemnation of the Pharisees is even known to many non-religious people. My supplication was not a blanket condemnation of all persons belonging to these two respected faith traditions. Such a statement would be in direct contradiction to Islam’s basic teachings and my own personal beliefs.  Indeed, there are Christians and Jews in Israel and abroad who have been in the forefront of speaking out against racism, violence and Islamophobia.  Their valour and commitment has earned my deepest respect.

No society is without disagreements. However, those disagreements should not be magnified to the point of obscuring the many universal principles upon which we do agree. This is the challenge for any society that sees all its citizens as equal. We share public space but not always opinions and ideas.  We will disagree, but we must continue to live together.  And we must strive to do that in peace.

May the peace and mercy of God be with you.

Respectfully yours,
Dr. Abdullah Hakim Quick

This lecture series was recorded by the Discover Islam Centre in Cape Town South Africa.

This part contains 4 Parts out of 8. The rest of the series will follow in a future post insha-Allah.

Below we you can listen to the mp3 audio or watch the Video Lectures covering this topic.

In recent weeks, Republican politics and attempts across America to block the building of mosques have underscored the impact of Islamophobia in American society.

Republican candidates have jumped on a bandwagon, appealing to racist attitudes towards Islam and Muslims as a political wedge to gain electoral votes in the coming November elections. Bogus charges in 2008 that Barack Obama was a Muslim, as if that should discredit him, is an example of an Islamophobia which is still being used as a political strategy today. This form of political hate speech was addressed by Colin Powell in his endorsement of Obama when he asked:

“Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? … I have heard senior members of my own party drop the suggestion, ”He’s a Muslim and he might be associated [with] terrorists.” This is not the way we should be doing it in America.”

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, desperately seeking to recapture his national Republican leader role, tried this past week to create a bizarre national threat about the implementation of Islamic law, shariah, that doesn’t even exist: “One of the things that I am going to suggest today is a federal law which says no court anywhere in the United States under any circumstance is allowed to consider sharia as a replacement for American law. Period.” Republican Rex Duncan of Oklahoma followed suit, warning there is a “war for the survival of America,” to keep the sharia from creeping into the American court system. In California, a Tea Party Rally in protest of an Islamic Center in Temecula, encouraged protestors to bring their dogs because Muslims hate Jews, Christians, women, and dogs.

Republican politicizing of Islam and Muslims has deep roots from positions taken by their major presidential candidates (John McCain, Mitt Romney, and Rudy Guiliani) to unfounded accusations by members of Congress. In the 2008 presidential campaign, Republican candidate John McCain’s desire to credential himself with the Christian Right, whose votes, he aggressively sought, led him to embrace pastors of megachurches and televangelists with highly divisive views.

McCain received endorsements from Ron Parsley and John Hagee, prominent Christian Zionists. Parsley in his 2005 book Silent No More to warning of a ”war between Islam and Christian civilization.” Parsley decries the ”spiritual desperation” of America’s civil libertarians who advocate the separation of church and state, and identifies Islam as an ”anti-Christ religion” predicated on ”deception.” Muhammad, he writes, ”received revelations from demons and not from the true God.” Parsley says, ”The fact is that America was founded, in part, with the intention of seeing this false religion destroyed. ”Jihad has come to America. If we lose the war to Islamic fascism, it will change the world as we know it. . . . It’s here. . . . They are waiting to respond as terrorist cells against this nation. It is a war between the culture of death and the culture of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” . . . Radical sects, which include about 200 million Islamics, believe they have a command from God to kill Christians and Jews, he said. . . . ”Our crisis is that half of America doesn’t know the war has started,” Hagee said. ”This is a religious war.”

When informed of Hagee’s extreme statements about Islam, McCain initially refused to disassociate himself from this pastor. It was only after the revelation of Hagee’s past anti-Catholic comments, in which he had argued that Adolf Hitler merely built on the work of the ”Roman Church,” which he called ”the Great Whore of Babylon,” that McCain finally severed his ties.

Congresswoman Sue Myrick from NC and Congressman Paul Broun from Georgia charged in an abortive campaign that the American Muslim organization CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) fostered the secret infiltration of Muslim student interns into key national security committees on Capitol Hill.

American Muslims: Myths & Realities

The taint of foreignness and terrorism continues to brushstroke American Muslim as “the other.” But what do major Gallup and Pew polls reveal about American Muslims? They are one of the most diverse communities in the world, representing 68 different countries as well as indigenous African Americans and converts. Over the past few decades, the vast majority of American Muslims have become economically and increasingly politically integrated into mainstream American society. Muslims represent men and women spanning the socioeconomic spectrum: professionals (doctors, lawyers, engineers, and educators), corporate executives, small business owners, or blue-collar workers and laborers. In fact, 70 percent have a job (paid or unpaid) compared to 64 percent of Americans overall. … Muslim women report monthly household incomes more nearly equal to men’s, compared with women and men in other faith groups.

Education is a priority for many Muslims, who, after Jews, are the most educated religious community surveyed in the United States. Forty percent of Muslims have a college degree or more, compared to 29 percent of Americans overall; 31 percent are full-time students as compared to 10 percent in the general population. (See The Future of Islam, pp. 14-15)

Despite their integration as American citizens, their rights of religious freedom and civil liberties are often threatened. Today, opposition to mosque construction, in locations from NYC and Staten Island to Tennessee and California, has become not just a local but a national political issue. Plans to build an Islamic Center near the World Trade Center site have been transformed into a national referendum polarizing political and religious leaders and the media. Right-wing political commentators, politicians, hard-line Christian ministers, bloggers and some families of 9/11 victims have charged that building this Islamic Center is insensitive to 9/11 families (overlooking the fact that innocent Muslims who worked in the WTC were also victims). They characterize this cultural center as a “monument to terrorism.”

Islamophobia threatens the fabric of our American way of life

Efforts to demonize Islam and Muslims have become a political football that now threatens the first amendment rights and freedoms not only of Muslims, but indeed of all Americans. Islamophobia is fast becoming what anti-Semitism is for Judaism and Jews, rooted in hostility and intolerance towards religious and cultural beliefs and a religious or racial group.

Despite the persistent distinction by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama between the acts of terrorists and the faith of the vast majority of Muslims, what we are witnessing today is the tip of an iceberg formed post 9/11. Far right political and religious leaders and media commentators whose hate speech, like Ann Coulter’s comment:

“We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity” would never appear in mainstream broadcast or print media about Jews, Christians and other established ethnic and racial groups in America.

The barrage of similar tirades, like the ones below, create an atmosphere of fear and hostility that is totally unfounded, given what we know about mainstream Muslims in America.

Michael Savage, host of the The Savage Nation, warned: “I tell you right now – the largest percentage of Americans would like to see a nuclear weapon dropped on a major Arab capital. They don’t even care which one … I think these people need to be forcibly converted to Christianity. It’s the only thing that can probably turn them into human beings.”

Rush Limbaugh, reacting to criticism of the abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib, commented, “They’re the ones who are sick… They’re the ones who are perverted. They are the ones who are dangerous. They are the ones who are subhuman.”

Leading figures in the Christian Right were not to be outdone. Franklin Graham stated, “The God of Islam is not the same God of the Christian or the Judeo-Christian faith. It is a different God, and I believe a very evil and a very wicked religion.” On Fox News’ Hannity & Colmes, Pat Robertson warned, “This man [Muhammad] was an absolute wild-eyed fanatic. He was a robber and a brigand. And to say that these terrorists distort Islam, they’re carrying out Islam…I mean, this man was a killer. And to think that this is a peaceful religion is fraudulent.”

Impact and Implications of Islamophobia 

Across America, Islamophobic hate speech and political grandstanding have painted all Muslims negatively, creating deep negative impressions among those who do not know Muslims personally. Major polling by Gallup and PEW shows that significant numbers of respondents question the loyalty of Muslim citizens and would approve policies that profile Muslims or require them to carry special identity cards. Hate speech has precipitated violent crimes against Muslims, Sikhs and other minorities of Asian and Middle Eastern descent who “look Muslim.” It has led to indiscriminate accusations against mainstream Muslim institutions (mosques, civil rights groups, political action committees, charities). Concerns for domestic security have unfortunately led to the abuse of anti-terrorism legislation, indiscriminate arrests and imprisonments of Muslims that compromise all of our civil liberties. The net result is a growing climate of suspicion and distrust.

Where Do We Go From Here?

The social cancer of Islamophobia must be recognized as unacceptable as anti-Semitism. It is a threat to the very fabric of our democratic pluralistic way of life, one that tests the mettle of our democratic principles and values. Political and religious leaders, commentators and experts must do more to counter hate speech; they must lead in safeguarding and strengthening religious pluralism and mutual respect. They must walk the fine line between distinguishing the faith of mainstream Muslims from the violence terrorists justify in the name of Islam. Blurring this distinction plays into the hands of preachers of hate (Muslim and non-Muslim, religious and political) whose rhetoric incites and demonizes, alienates and marginalizes and leads to the adoption of domestic and policies that undermine the civil liberties of Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

By John Esposito  |  August 3, 2010; 4:26 PM ET 

– 
Ahmad Eldridge Cleaver

The beginning of wisdom is the fear of God.