Download “UNDERSTANDING ISLAM” with Imam

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“UNDERSTANDING ISLAM” with Imam Shamshad on KCAA -- SHOW #3 (09-22-2009)
Abstract: Imam Shamshad answers two important questions: Should Americans be afraid of
Muslims? Do Muslims place America 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:
IMAM:
[4:60]
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?
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:
ِ ْ ‫ولْل ذْلن ذِ ْاط هَ يْل ذ وْ ذَُّا ل ي ْ ْ ذ هَ يّٰلل ا‬
ٰۤ‫َ ي ذْۤ ذْٰاٰ هاَ يْيذ يَ ها هَ يُّ اَ ي‬
‫ْاا ا‬
‫ْيذ ذْٰ ذ هَ يّٰلل ا ْ ط‬
O ye who believe! obey Allah, and obey His Messenger and those who are in authority among you.
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“UNDERSTANDING ISLAM” with Imam Shamshad on KCAA -- SHOW #3 (09-22-2009)
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.
Here are the relevant verses from the Holy Quran:
[4:98] Verily, those whom the angels cause to die while they are
wronging their own souls, they (the angels) will say to them:
‘What were you after?’ They will reply: ‘We were treated as weak
in the land.’ They will say, ‘Was not Allah’s earth vast enough for
you to emigrate therein?’ It is these whose abode shall be Hell,
and an evil destination it is;
[4:99] Except such weak ones among men, women and children,
as are incapable of adopting any plan or of finding any way.
Now, what do those who accuse Islam, the Holy Quran and the Holy
Prophet of teaching violence and adopting warfare have to say?
The point I want to make is that all these so-called scholars and
learned people who are out there making these false statements to
defame Islam. I am certain they have read these references that I am
highlighting and they know the history of the life of Muhammad,
peace and blessings of God be upon him. Yet they hide these facts
knowingly.
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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“UNDERSTANDING ISLAM” with Imam Shamshad on KCAA -- SHOW #3 (09-22-2009)
Imam:
How can they be loyal to God, if God says they should be obedient to those in
authority and they are being disobedient. For a Muslim there is no choice…not
even, as I said before, if they are facing severe persecution. They have to be loyal.
Dennis:
Thank you Imam Shamshad for another enlightening discussion.