Due to the recent tragic events in Fort Hood, Texas a hate-filled statement was made by a former imam of Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center, Anwar Al-Awlaki. As I understand the teaching of the scriptures our mission and method as Americans of faith is to enrich our society with faith, service, wisdom and beautiful preaching of God’s love and mercy to all of mankind.
I openly denounce the statement of Mr. Al-Awlaki as posted on his website and those who may follow him. During Mr. Al-Awlaki’s employment his public speech was consistent with the values of tolerance and cooperation.
Mr. Al-Awlaki, after his return to Yemen and his imprisonment, now claims that the American Muslims who have condemned the violent acts of Major Hassan have “Committed treason against the Muslm Umaah (community) and have fallen into hypocrisy”. With this reversal Mr Al-Awlaki has clearly set himself apart from the Muslim community in the United States. Al-Awlaki served a brief term of employment at Dar Al-Hijrah from January 2001 until his depart of April 2002.
November 10, 2009 at 12:01 am |
like how this events unfolded….
imam pitting against another imam…
November 10, 2009 at 3:48 am |
Imams can have disagreements. I don’t see where this pitting of imams is. Its human for people to have different opinions, especially when one may call for or incite harm on a people.
November 10, 2009 at 8:37 am |
Asalam Alaikum…I am proud to see a strong muslim leader in America stand up and denounce this. For too long the moderate muslims have been just sitting at home watching the extremist and misguided muslim population taint the name of Islam. I would go further and challenge those who say that denouncing this horrific act is treason against the muslim community and say PROVE IT! where in the Quran did God tell us to kill innocents in the name of Islam? As a Muslim American I continously grow frusterated with the misguided sentiments of those who are following a religion that does not reflect the teachings of the Holy Quran.
November 10, 2009 at 9:46 am |
Sir,
As you are fully aware the later chapters of the Qur’an as well as many hadith promote violence, intorerance and racisism. You are not to make friends with the unbelievers. You are ordered to spread Islam all over the world by force if need be, etc. Admit the truth that what Major Hasan did was in keeping with Islam.
November 10, 2009 at 7:54 pm |
Im sorry but what Quran are you reading that promotes violence, intolerance, and racism? this is exactly the type of ignorance that formed groups like the KKK, and the Hitler followers. Islam is a religion of tolerance. And whereas the Hadith may be for some an interpretation the Quran is the only book of Islam. The Quran refers to believers as the Muslims, the Christians, and the Jews. In order to be a believer you must believe in God and only God. As for the people who think what he did was okay because Muslims are getting killed in the war, I will say this…Islam does NOT preach an eye for an eye. One murder does not condone another. The wars that are being fought are not to threaten Islam, those of you who believe that are sadly mistaken, and misguided and I will pray that Allah shows you some light of intelligence.
November 10, 2009 at 10:31 am |
I think thats a rather hasty judgement to make about the Imam. He has given a multitude of inspiraional and educational lectures and not in any one of them has he preached violence or hate so this parallel that your making between his ideology before and after his time at Dar Al Hijrah is unfounded. The imam was impronsed but was later released as there was no evidence for the crimes which he has allegedly commited, not unlike Moazzam Begg and others but the way your phrasing it sets the Iman in the same league with Luther and makes it seem as though he was and should be locked up for inciting hatred.I hardly think hes advocating for every Tom Dick and Harry to become trigger happy, more likely is that he’s just veiwng the incident fomm the perspective that the Major killed those who are responsible for the deaths of so many Muslims; hardly a reson to ostricise him. Make dua for him if you think he’s misguided in this veiw but don’t set him apart fromt he Ummah.
November 10, 2009 at 3:31 pm |
I didn’t know this was a totaletatrian-esque website. Why allow comments to be made on this post if your intention is to delete the ones that are not in line with your own views? Not all muslims are so hasty to judge such an eminent scholar who is loved and respected by an unquantifiable number of people for his vast amount of knowledge of the deen, simply based on a comment he has made on a controversial topic. its unfair to level such charges against him without even offering a shred of evidence to support your claims, like i said in my previous response to your post, not a single one of his lectures incite hatred, never has he called on anyone to use means of violence against others. And finally it is indeed highly hipocratic and all too easy in today’s hyper politically correct climate to go on a Major Hassan is anti-american terrorist rant when we complain incessantly about how many muslims are being killed all over the world, because they ARE being killed by Americans and granted other forces too. Major Hassan could not reconcile his beliefs as a muslim with having to kill his own muslims brothers and sisters abroad and the outcome of this is what we all know. But condemning him for killing those who are killing us, is rather paradoxical don’t you think. The only difference is that he is going to be held accountable for his actions. Your welcome to delete this now
November 12, 2009 at 4:17 am |
No, its not paradoxical. How many Muslims were killed by Sadam Hussein? How many Muslims die every day via bombs set off by other Muslims in Pakistan? How many Muslims killed other Muslims in the Iran Irag war? How many muslims are killed by a “suicide bomber” does that mean they should go out and kill Taliban members? The United States did not enter into peaceful Muslim countries that were in no need of intervention. Major Hassan was a PSYCHIATRIST! he was not serving in infantry, would never have been on security/field patrol or on the front line. He was scheduled to serve on a base to treat soldiers, and guess who else? Iraqi citizens…who im assuming are MUSLIM. While we are on it what about the wars between Muslim nations? It doesnt matter if the Imams previous lectures do not reflect hatred, what matters is that the statement he made now does. To say that those who think it is wrong to murder will be committing treason againt thier ummah….that not only spews hatred against Americans, but between Muslims who can differentiate between right and wrong. And finally people…if you hate Americans so much….dont live here! My family migrated here from Pakistan and back then it was still India in 1892. You can still be proud of your heritage and be proud to be an American. This struggle that some Muslims have self created that you must choose between Islam and America is ridiculous. Muslims kill Muslims everyday in Pakistan. Its sad, and disgusting what that nation has come to when it had so much potential to be a great Islamic Nation. I am not going to sit back and say “yes please keep destroying the country and killing eachother” Im gonna say that another nation needs to step in before it becomes another war ridden, murderer infested homestead for terrorist, extemists, and dictators.
November 10, 2009 at 9:52 pm |
Salam Alaikum:
Thank you Imam Jahari for speaking out. Not only on behalf of Dar Al Hijrah that definately positively has denounced this Imam’s comments. But for all us American Muslims that love our country.
As a Female Disabled Navy Veteran and as a Muslim I am saddened very deeply and shocked by this incident. It is sad that people learn islam through the news media and not by studying it individually. So are so quick to judge us when these incidences arise. Why is not Christianity listed when a Christian goes on a killing spree, or a person of another religion? It happens often too, sad to say. Why if a Muslim does it, is their religion mentioned?
What people need to realize is that the whole story is not out. They jump to conclusions to blame Islam and maybe it could have been a case of Post Tramatic Stress Disorder or a mental disorder that caused this young man to snap. PTSD is not a disease that you necessarily get just from going to the war zone.
I understand personally how hard it is to be a veteran and yet be a Muslim. I can sometimes just walk down the hall of the Veterans Hospital in DC and be called a “f… Muslim” by someone that is uneducated. And I have to go there this Thursday and I must admit after this incident I am scared to go. I do wear long robes and hijab (head scard.) But I will pray and keep in mind the others that go there and work there that do not judge me just by the way I dress, and treat me respectfully and kindly. Alhamduillah.
The beautiful religion I reverted to and studied for many years before I reverted taught me that if I kill even one innocent person then it is as if I have killed the whole world. This I believe strongly.
May Allah help the grieving familes of these innocent lives that were taken. They were all brave individuals that did not deserve to die in this manner.
May Allah (God) help us all to learn of each others religions and have respect and not jump to conclusions and learn to look at the heart of a person and not the title they give themselves through their religion.
November 11, 2009 at 4:21 am |
the problem is, Imam Anwar speaks from knowledge, and “American muslims” speak from emotion, and fear.
November 12, 2009 at 3:57 am |
Im curious brother mohammad…what knowledge do you think he is speaking from? Can you please reference the surah in the Quran where it teaches that murdering innocent people is ok, and those who stand against it are committing treason? I will say this again, even if the sick twisted justification that since muslims are dying in other countries then its okay for people here were accepted by some people…ISLAM is not a religion in which the people are allowed to act on vengeance or thier sick version of retribution. I’d like to know where you get your knowledge. And it is okay to be a proud American and be a Muslim.
November 11, 2009 at 3:00 pm |
Imam Johari –
Thank you for your response. As one of the few Muslim leaders who has come out and openly denounced Imam Al-Awlaki’s hateful words, I applaud your courage and bravery. I understand these issues are difficult, but it takes decisive leaders to stand up and take a position, one way or another, and help guide Muslims through this period of turbulence. Thank you for being decisive and standing on the side of truth and not on the side of politics.