MURDER IN THE NAME OF ISLAM
by Mahmoud Andrade Ibrahim
We are much better that this! The recent events that have taken place in Garland,Texas, at an event ostensibly to promote the idea of free speech, but which also was meant to insult and assault the sensibilities of the world wide Muslim Community in defaming the personage of our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (pboh), ended in bloodshed and shame.
Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi
The Bloodshed: was unnecessary. Prophet Muhammad suffered many insults to his person. Some of the Makkans would throw rotten food and dung on his doorstep. Curse at him as he walked along the streets of Makka. Make fun at his new religion, the way he offered prayer and curse him and his companions with the most vile and contemptible language known among themselves. His example, his guidance in these instances was to cause us to remember that we are above these petty attempts to defame the sublime character of Allah’s religion.
خُذِ الْعَفْوَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْعُرْفِ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْجَاهِلِينَ
Hold to forgiveness, enjoin what is right and turn away from the ignorant. Sura al A'raf 7:199
We must walk in the confident shoes of Muhammad with the knowledge that Allah alone is All Powerful. He is above all that they say, all that they draw, all that they ascribe to Him in worship. That it is Allah alone that will protect the Muslim Community and the world. That it is Allah Alone that will protect His Deen, in the same way that He has done since the beginning of Time.
But to intend to commit acts of violence as was done by Nadir Soofi and Elton Simpson, the 2 lost souls in Texas, is proof that they didn’t trust in the Power of Allah to correct whatever wrongs that were being done. To intentionally commit an act of murder is not justice for someone that draws a picture. There is no justice in this. There is no honor in this. No redeemable qualities in this act, there is only shame ! That their efforts were thwarted is important here. ! They are dead.
The Shame: is ours. In our zeal to communicate the lessons of Islam, sometimes we emphasize the history and political struggle of first community without putting into context the amount of personal effort (the Greater Jihad) that it took for the Prophet Muhammad and his honorable companions to change themselves. To make their souls and their hearts repositories of goodness and healing.
We quite often skip over the core essence of Islam which is personal development. The idea of submission to the will of Allah is to understand that Allah requires that you change yourself into a servant of humanity and by doing so you earn the pleasure of His Majesty.
إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّى يُغَيِّرُواْ مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ وَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللّهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُوءًا فَلاَ مَرَدَّ لَهُ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِ مِن وَالٍ
Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. And when Allah intends for a people ill, there is no repelling it. And there is not for them besides Him any patron. Sura Rad 13:11
قَالَتِ الْأَعْرَابُ آمَنَّا قُل لَّمْ تُؤْمِنُوا وَلَكِن قُولُوا أَسْلَمْنَا وَلَمَّا يَدْخُلِ الْإِيمَانُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ وَإِن تُطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ لَا يَلِتْكُم مِّنْ أَعْمَالِكُمْ شَيْئًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
They say, "We have believed." Say, "You have not yet believed; but say instead, 'We have submitted,' for faith has not yet entered your hearts. And if you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not deprive you from your deeds of anything. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." Sura al Hujurat 49:14
I am of the opinion that we will begin to see more and more of these incidents particularly because there is not enough discussion about the dangers of this kind of mindset emanating from the mimbars and the constant reminders in the classes and lectures given in our local communities.
We are to blame when we don't warn our young men and women about the dangers of Unprotected and Risky Religious-Social Intercourse (click here)