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Sh. Abdirahman we know that you are the imam of one of the finest mosque in the state of Minnesota; but just recently we had attended an event that was the introduction for a new organization (Islamic League of Somali Scholars in America (ILSSA)). How did that happen and are all of the scholars and imams of the state of Minnesota members of this organization?

Thanks to Dar Al-Hijrah times, it had happened because of the hunger of the Muslim community in America, we saw that we need it to happen.  It went through many stages of brainstorming, which started with the question of do we need a united voice of scholars? Then followed by serious meetings which were about 47 meetings altogether; that is when we decided on this organization and that is how it happened. As for the imams not all of them are a part of this, but we are hoping to get everyone on broad, we intend this for or everyone who interested for the common good for all of humanity.

What are the goals and the objectives of this unique organization?

The goals and objectives of this organization include:

• Assist Somali Muslim communities in America to practice their Islamic faith and maintain a strong Islamic character.
• Spreading the message of Islam and the word of Allah with wisdom and patience.
• Advance and strengthen the religious, charitable, educational, and spiritual well-being of the Somali Muslim communities in America.
• Promote interfaith dialogue, religious tolerance, and the peaceful coexistence with other faith groups.

Is the membership of this organization open to both individuals and organizations if yes what are the requirements?

It is open for both individuals and organizations but the criteria of the two are different. Generally both individuals and institutions must possess the following: basic understanding of Islam, protect the concepts of Islam, to stand by the policies, rules and objectives of the organization

Since you are a strong figure in the community and an imam of one of the strongest mosques, we would like to take you to another set of questions. So even though you, your organization and some others are doing a lot of good work there are still a lot of problems in Muslim communities, both here and back home in Muslim majority countries.  Can you explain what Islam is?

The word Islam comes from the Arabic word of “silm”, it means both peace and submission to one creator- Allah. It was sent to the entire world to safeguard the needs of individuals’ daily life to government or administration level. In other words, Islam is a way of life that guides all aspects of a person’s life.  Islam incorporates all of these, character, knowledge, and humanity and even more. Islam is a mercy to the whole universe that emphasis minority rights and the poor for example with five basic pillars we have “Zakat”, the poor due. The mercy, for example that a person who gave water to a dog went to heaven and one who did wrong to a cat went to hell. So Islam laid the foundations of respect, patience, strength, knowledge, mercy, justice, and equality for everyone.

What does Islam say about the Muslim and non- Muslims treatment or coexistences among them?

Allah created the world for all people to live together, from the beginning to the end.  There will be Muslims and non-Muslims and Allah has created it that way which Allah also said in the Quran “And if your Lord had so willed, He could surely have made mankind one Ummah [nation or community (following one religion only i.e. Islâm)], but they will not cease to disagree” (11:118). Allah knew that there would be both Muslims and non Muslims, and he has outlined this in the Qur’an that Allah would have made everyone the same religion; however, Allah has made us all different with cultures, colors, knowledge and religion. Therefore, Islam allows the differences. For example Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) lived with all types of people. The Prophets (pbuh) loaned something from a Jewish man and in return the Jewish man kept the Prophet’s war dress. If the Prophet (pbuh) had this kind of interaction with Non-Muslims, it shows the permissibility that Muslims and non-Muslims can live and work together. The mercy and tolerance of the Prophet towards Muslims and non-Muslims was a practical example. We all know that one of the Prophet’s non-Muslim neighbors got sick and the Prophet went to visit him, when the Prophet spoke to the young boy who was dying, immediately the father of the boy demanded that the young boy to accept what the Prophet was telling him. In another occasion, the dead body of a non-Muslim person was passed by the Prophet and the Prophet stood for it, when the companions noticed the Prophet about it being a non-Muslim person he said “Is it not a life”. This shows that every living being deserves care and respect. Also another example, the Prophet (pbuh) also created constitution for the people of Medina when he came to Medina.  The constitution granted security of live and property including religion for everyone. Thus, Muslims and non-Muslims lived together peacefully during the Prophet’s time, caliphates’ time and early Muslim generations.  Although today is unfortunate and things was made opposite by those who carry their narrow minded political agenda which has nothing to do with religion.

In these days not even Muslims are getting along, we have seen a lot of killings, suicide bombings, and amputations among Muslim groups, for example in Somalia, so who has the authority to carry out such penalties?

Muslims are humans and they can have different opinions and there were at time that they went war.  But at anytime we need to use our basic knowledge and the consequences that one gets when they kill someone is outlined in this verse. “And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein, and the Wrath and the Curse of Allâh are upon him, and a great punishment is prepared for him” (4:93). The importance of a human life is seen in the example the Prophet (pbuh) when he came to the K’abah and looked at it and said “Oh kabah what is better than you” except the life of a human being.

As for the suicide bombing, it has no roots or history in Islam and no one did it during the time of the Prophet and his successors.  It is forbidden, and it is just like killing one’s self, which is not allowed.

As for the penalties such as amputations, to carry out such actions, there it has to be a central government for the whole people (country), which provides security, food, shelter, education, work, and a basic life for everyone equally. When the person is accused of such a crime, he or she must be brought through the justice system in which he or she is not guilty until proven guilty and this justice system has to be representative for everyone equally.

Also we heard every time someone is murtad (apostate) like groups in Somalia, who has the authority to decide whether a person is a Muslim or not?

Islam is a universal religion and everyone is born into Islam naturally. Regardless of either, person is born Muslim or comes into it; one cannot force a person to be a Muslim. Unless the person denies the foundations of belief such as Allah, Prophets, Angles, or essentials of Islam such as Salah, Fasting, Zakat and so on, one cannot deny their belief. Unless that happens, no one can claim a person to be a non-Muslim and even that needs to go under authority. When it comes to judging a person’s religious conviction there has to be an authority that is equal and fair for everyone. And that authority has to go through a lot of process, which includes a justice system. One has the chance to argue for his rights and is not guilty until proven guilty.

However, what is going on today in many parts of the world is un-Islamic; first of all, none of the authorities or the process we described above exist today.  Therefore no one has the right to come to a conclusion of labeling people to be unbelievers. Just because a person has a different idea or opinion than you; or maybe you do not like them personally; or maybe he is not a part of your group as what is going on today in Somalia does not make that person to be either Muslim or non-Muslim.  That is false and aggression to the religion itself.

So since this is not a part of Islam as you have explained, where are these ideas coming from?

These kinds of ideas existed since the Prophet’s time, and there were few number people who suspected everyone else including the Caliphates such as Ali ibn Abi Talib. However in Somalia, it was not known until the past 40 years and especially in the past 30 years. The following descriptive phrases were their talking points to label others, such as he has no Aqeedah, Apostate (murtad), lined up with the infidels (gaal raac), innovators (Bidcoole), wrongdoers (Khuraafaysta) and other names. The opinion and the ideology that uses these words to same very Muslim people brought the chaos that we have today. The idea that claims we are the best Al-’firiqa Nageya (Saved group), Ad’Dhaifal Munsoor (victorious sect); we are the ones who are following the footsteps of the Prophet and early predecessors is not part of Islam, no more than excessive and deviation from the path of Muslim majorities. But unfortunately, in these days, many people use the name of the religion to fulfill their political agenda and to promote their hate crimes to society. The same very people who spread this ideology/methodology are being hit back with their same very own students.

The same very people who used these phrases for well known Somali Scholars, he has no Aqeedah, Apostate (murtad), lined up with the infidels (gaal raac), innovators (Bidcoole), wrongdoers (Khuraafaysta) and other names, was used these phrases by their same very students today. They took the lessons and applied to their own scholars.

What is your advice to the Muslim community in Minnesota?

Thank you for this interview, my advice for the community is as follows:

1. Learn and become comfortable with your Islam and be proud to your Islamic identity
2. Know that in Islam we are all equal in God’s sight
3. Work for the common good and public interest of the society
4. Respect each other within our differences and learn from our diversity, practice tolerance, coexistences, values and principles that we all adhere and uphold regardless of our differences.
5. Take advantage of the opportunities we have such as education, work, health, and many others.
6. Contribute to the society to do your civic duties

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