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by Islamic League of Somali Scholars in America

Minneapolis, MN – 26 October, 2010

Islam instructs us that when the Muslim community faces new situation, we should seek the solution from the Book of Allah (the Qur’an) and the Traditions (Sunnah) of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Allah, while addressing this issue, says in the Noble Qur’an:

يا أيّها الذين آمنوا أطيعوا الله وأطيعوا الرّسول وأولى الأمر منكم فإن تنازعتم فى شىئ فرُدّوه إلى الله والرّسول إن كنتم تؤمنون بالله واليوم الآخر / النساء 59 )
“O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.” (An-Nissaa’, 4:59)

Similarly, Islam admonishes us not to rush to judgment when dealing with new situations for which we don’t have full information yet. Allah says:

” يا أيّها الذين آمنوا إن جاءكم فاسق بنبأ فتبيّنوا أن تصيبوا قوما بجهالة فتصبحوا على ما فعلتم نادمين ” ( الحجرات 6 ) 1)
“O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful.”(Al-Hujurat, 49:6).

2) “وإذا جاءهم أمرٌ من الأمن أوالخوف أذاعوا به ولوا رَدّوه إلى الرّسول وإلى أولى الأمر منهم لعلمه الذين يستنبطونه منهم ولولا فضل الله عليكم ورحمته لاتبعتم الشيطان إلاّقليلا ” ( النساء 83 )
“And when there comes to them information about [public] security or fear, they spread it around. But if they had referred it back to the Messenger or to those of authority among them, then the ones who [can] draw correct conclusions from it would have known about it. And if not for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy, you would have followed Satan, except for a few.” (An-Nissaa’, 4:83).

(( الإسراء 36 “ولاتقف ما ليس لك به علم إنّ السّمع والبصر والفؤاد كلّ أولئك كان عنه مسئولا   3)
“And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart – about all those [one] will be questioned.” (Al-Israa,17:36).

Unfortunately, an event to support Muslims in the United States who face intense negative scrutiny was taken out of context. The Somali-Muslim public was told that various religions were merged together and Muslims participated in the prayers of other faiths and that they stood before idols. All these allegations are false and far from the truth. To make matters worse, respected Islamic scholars and well-known community leaders in the State were labeled as unbelievers.

The Islamic League of Somali Scholars in America strongly condemns labeling Muslims as unbelievers. Doing so contradicts verses of the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet reported below.

والذين يؤذون المؤمنين والمؤمنات بغيرما اكتسبوا فقد احتملوا بُهتانا وإثمنا مُبينا  ” ( الأحزاب 58 ) 1) ”
“And those who harm believing men and believing women for [something] other than what they have earned have certainly born upon themselves a slander and manifest sin.” (Al-Ahzab, 33:58)

إنّ الذين يُحبّون أن تشيع الفاحشة فى الذين آمنوا لهم عذابٌ أليم فى الدنيا والآخرة ..”  ( النور 19 ) 2) ”
“Indeed, those who like that immorality should be spread [or publicized] among those who have believed will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. And Allah knows and you do not know.” (An-Nur, 24:19).

3) ” ياأيّها الذين آمنوا إذا ضربتم فى سبيل الله فتبيّنوا ولاتقولوا لمن ألقى إليكم السّلم لستَ مؤمنا تبتغون عرض الحياة الدنيا “  ( النساء 94 )
“O you who have believed, when you go forth [to fight] in the cause of Allah , investigate; and do not say to one who gives you [a greeting of] peace “You are not a believer,” aspiring for the goods of worldly life; for with Allah are many acquisitions.” (An-Nissa, 4: 94).

4) ” عن ابن عمر رضى الله عنه قال: إذا قال الرجل لأخيه ياكافر فقدباء بها احدهما ، فإن كان كما قال وإلاّ رجعت عليه ” رواه الإمام مالك ، البخارى ومسلم
Ibn Umar may Allah be pleased with him related that the Prophet peace and blessing of Allah be upon him said: If a Muslim calls another unbeliever, then if he is an unbeliever let it be so; otherwise, he [the caller] is himself an unbeliever.” (Related by Imam Malik, Bukhari, and Muslim).

5)”عن أبى هريرة رضى الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلّم (..كل المسلم على المسلم حرام دمه وماله وعرضه ”  رواه مسلم وأحمد
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: ((كل المسلم على المسلم حرام دمه وماله وعرضه)) رواه مسلم. Abu Hurayrah may Allah be pleased with him said that the Prophet peace be upon him said: “Every Muslim is haram for a Muslim blood, property and honor” Narrated by Muslim. (Related by Muslim and Ahmed).

Furthermore, the Islamic League of Somali Scholars in America emphasizes that co-existence and cooperation among different peoples is clearly stated in Islam.

1)      “ولوشاء ربّك لآمن مَن فى الأرض كلهم جميعا افأنتَ تُكره الناس حتّى يكونوامؤمنين ” ( يونس 99 )
“And had your Lord willed, those on earth would have believed – all of them entirely. Then, [O Muhammad], would you compel the people in order that they become believers?” (Yunus, 10:99).

2 ) ” قل يا أهل الكتاب تعالوا إلى كلمة سواء بيننا وبينكم ألاّنعبد إلاّالله ولاتشرك به شيئا ولايتخذ بعضنا بعضا أربابا من دون الله فإ تولّوا فقولوا اشهدوا بأ نا مسلمون ” ( آل عمران 64 )
Say, “O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you – that we will not worship except Allah and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lords instead of Allah .” But if they turn away, then say, “Bear witness that we are Muslims [submitting to Him].” (Aali-Imran, 3:64).

3)” لاينهاكم الله عن الذين لم يُقاتلوكم فى الدين ولم يُخرجوكم أن تبرّوهم وتُقسطوا إليهم إنّ الله يُحبّ المقسطين “( الممتحنة 8 )
“Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes – from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.” (Al-Mumtahina, 60:8).

4) ميثاق المدينة أو دستور المدينة Document or Constitution of Madinah

خلاصة الوثيقة : كانت الوثيقة عبارة عن ميثاق للأمن والسلام ، والتعايش في ظل العدل والتفاهم وتحديد الحقوق والالتزامات المتبادلة.
Summary of the Document: The gist of the Madinah Document is to establish peaceful co-existence, understanding, and safeguard the rights and responsibilities of both sides.

وكان من محتويات الوثيقة قوله صلى الله عليه وسلّم “وإن يهود بني عوف أمّة مع المؤمنين، لليهود دينهم ، وللمسلمين دينهم . . وإن بينهم النصح والنصيحة والبر دون الإثم”
The Madinah Constitution contained the statement of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), that the Jews of Bani Awf are allies of the Muslims, while each side kept their distinct religion. They deal with each other with mutual advice and virtuous interactions.

Finally, the Islamic League of Somali Scholars in America, admonishes the Somali-Muslim community the following:

* To be conscious of Allah at all times and in all places

* To hold on firmly to their Islamic religion

* To safeguard the common good and peaceful co-existence

* To stay away from anything that creates turmoil and hatred

All Success comes from Allah, Wassalamu alaykum,

Sharif Abdirahman Mohamed,

President, Islamic League of Somali Scholars in America

Email: shabraahin@yahoo.com; Phone: (612) 558-5389

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