Dealing with Islamophobia

            by Arshad Gamiet

Royal Holloway College/Univ. of London /UK.  8th November 2002.  

“As-salámu 'alaikum wa rahmatul láhi wa barakátuh!”  [Wait for adhán]

“A-úthu billáhi minash shaytánir rajeem.  Bismilláhir rahmánir raheem.

Al hamdu lillahi nahmaduhu wanasta’eenahu, wanastagh-firuhu, wanatoobu ilayhi, wana’oothu Billaahi min shuroori an-fusinaa, wamin sayyi aati a’maalinaa.

May- Yahdillahu fa huwal muhtad, wa may- yudlill falan tajidaa lahu waliyan murshida. Wa ash-hadu an Laa ilaaha ill-Alláh, wahdahoo laa shareeka lah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhoo warasooluh”

All Praise is due to Alláh, We praise Him and we seek help from Him. We ask forgiveness from Him. We repent to Him; and we seek refuge in Him from our own evils and our own bad deeds.

Anyone who is guided by Alláh, he is indeed guided; and anyone who has been left astray, will find no one to guide him.

I bear witness that there is no god but Alláh, the Only One without any partner; and I bear witness that Muhammad, sws, is His servant, and His messenger.

 

My respected Brothers and Sisters in Islam,

 We Muslims who live in the West have a great responsibility. Much of what the West perceives about Islam, apart from the mostly biased mass media, is through direct contact with Muslims. We are the tangible link between Islam and the modern, secular world. In more than one sense, we are living in two cultures, two civilizations, at one and the same time.

 In the past year, Muslims in Europe and North America have come under scrutiny as never before. There is much confusion and misinformation about Islam that fuels fear, suspicion and Islamophobia. Unscrupulous politicians in many countries where Muslims find themselves a vulnerable minority have exploited these fears for short-term political gain. We now have a simple choice; either we sit back, do nothing, and hope that the hatred and violence will pass. Or, we can seek advice from the Holy Qur'án and the example of Prophet Muhammad sws.  In Sura Al Ahzaab 33:71 we read:

 “Yaa ay-yuhal latheena aamanutaqul-laha wa quooloo qowlan sadeedaa. Yus-lih-lakum a’maalakum wayagh-fir lakum thunoo-bakum, waman-yuti’illaaha warasoolah faqad’ faaza fouzan atheemaa.”

 O you who believe” Have the consciousness of Allah, and speak a straightforward word. He will repair your deeds, He will forgive your sins, and whoever obeys Allah and His messenger, has surely gained the highest achievement.

 How do we remain conscious of Alláh, and  ‘speak a straightforward word’ in a situation where there is so much ignorance and hostility towards us, and towards our faith? Here, again, we find another valuable instruction from the Holy Qur'án: [Sura An-Nahl,16:125]

 “Od’ ‘U ilaa sabeeli Rabbika bil hikmati, wal mow ‘idatil hasanah..”

Invite to the Way of your Lord, with wisdom and beautiful preaching…”

 The only way we can address the ignorance and hostility that breed Islamophobia, is to promote the beauty of Islam. We can promote the beauty of Islam through the written and spoken word, in elegant language and a calm, dignified manner.

 By far the most eloquent message will be through our own living example. Just live Islam, and be a good Muslim. That’s all. Part of being a good Muslim is being a good neighbour, being a trustworthy and honest person in your business and social life, and being a loving and caring member of your family. It’s as simple as that. But, first we must ensure that Islam becomes is a living reality in our lives. It’s a lifetime journey, and only when we begin that journey, we will see that memorable promise of Alláh in Hadeeth Qudsi:

  When my servant takes one step towards Me, I take ten steps towards him. When my servant comes walking towards me, I come running towards him.”

 “Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil ‘Aalameen. Was-salaatu was-salaamu alaa Khairil mursaleen. Muhammadin-nabeey-yil Ummiy-yee, wa-‘alaa aalihee, wasah-bihee, aj-ma’een.

All praise is due to Alláh, the Lord of all the Worlds; may the greetings and peace be upon the best messenger, Muhammad, the unlettered prophet; and upon his family and upon all of his companions.

Ammaa ba’ad:

Innalláha wa malaaikata yusallúna alan nabi. Yá ay yuhal latheena ámanu sallú alayhi wasalli mú tas leema.

Behold, Alláh and his angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O you who believe! Ask for blessings on him, and salute him with a worthy greeting.

 Allahumma salli alá Muhammad, wa ala áli Muhammad, kama salayta ala Ibrahim, wa ala ali Ibrahim. Allahumma barik ala Muhammad, wa alaa áli Muhammad, kama barakta ala Ibrahim, wa ala ali ibrahim. Fil ála meen, innaka hameedun majeed.”

O Alláh! Send your greetings upon Muhammad and his family,  just as you sent your greetings on Ibraheem, and his family. O Alláh, send you blessings on Muhammad and his family, just as you blessed Ibraheem and his family. In both worlds, you are praiseworthy and exalteed. 

Second Khutbah: 

Sub’ hanallahi wal hamdu lillah, wala hawla wala quwwata illah billah yu althi yual theem.

Dear Brothers and Sisters

Let us enter this holy month of Ramadhan with a commitment to make Islam a living reality in our lives, and to make our yearning for Alláh’s good pleasure, the main focus of every thing we do and every decision we make. We know that Alláh will not change our unhappy situation until we change what is within ourselves. And once we are on that epic journey of self-purification and self-renewal, then we can confidently expect the help of Alláh in our time of need.

 In Sura Al-Tawbah 9:51 we read:

 “Qul-lay-yuseebanaa ilaa maa katabal-laahu lanaa. Huwa mowlaanaa. Wa-alal-laahi fal yatawak-kalil mu’mineen.”

 Say: Nothing will happen to us except what God has decreed for us; He is our Protector. And on Alláh let the Believers put their trust.

 In Sura Al-Imran 3:173, we learn about that inspiring moment, when the Believers were warned that a great army was gathering against them. This dramatic news, Instead of frightening them, only increased their faith. 

Wa qaaloo, Hasbunallaah wa neya’mal wakeel”

They said, “Alláh is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer for affairs.

Dear brothers and sisters in Islám! Let us end our khutbah with this very important and inspiring thought. Here in this holy month of Ramadhan, as the enemies of Islam gather their forces against us, let us feel no fear. Rather, let us repose our trust in Alláh, and let the rising dangers be matched by equally rising Faith. Let us pray to Alláh, that as we extend our hands in goodwill to others, that He will reinforce our iman and taqwa, and He will facilitate our efforts to invite others to Islam. 

"Rabbana la tu'akhizna in-nasina aw akh-ta'na. Rab-bana wa la tahmil 'alayna isran kama hamaltahu 'ala-lladhina min qablina, Rab-bana wa la tuhammilna ma la taqata lana bih, wa-'fu 'anna wa 'ghfirlana warhamna anta Maulana fansurna 'alal-qawmil kafirin." [AlBaqara 2:286]

"Our Lord! do not punish us if we forget or make mistake; Our Lord! do not lay on us a burden as You laid on those before us; Our Lord! do not impose upon us that which we have not the strength to bear; and pardon us and grant us protection and have mercy on us, You are our Patron, so help us against the unbelieving people." (2:286)

 Ameen!           Aqeemus salaah!

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