Justice, Not Suspicion
| Khatib : | Sadullah Khan |
| Khutbah No: | 254 |
| Khutbah Date: | 11/16/07 |
March for Justice
As we gather here today there is in process a March for Justice, taking place in Washington wherein 1 000s are participating, particularly young people from all over the country. The primary purpose of the march against bigotry is to bring to attention the element of discrimination that still permeates the Justice system. The Jenna 6 case and the increase in the despicable nooses (which diabolically reflects the colonialist supremacist mentality that racists still harbor) has highlighted how elements of racism and prejudice are still prevalent in much of the community. That color, creed and cultural background still plays a great role in how people are perceived, rather than the perception that we are all just people, part of the human race.
Mapping
The LAPD’s vague plan to map Muslim communities to identify potential hotbeds of terrorism …
- implied a severe infringement upon civil liberties.
- made a lot of assumptions about Muslims without any concrete evidence and promotes apprehensions about a people whose record as peaceful citizens of Los Angeles is transparent. With the lowest incidents of crimes in its ranks, the Muslim community is likely to become the number one suspect in the eyes of law enforcement agencies
- indicated that Muslims would be religiously profiled. Those who already harbor ill feelings towards Islam and Muslims will use every possible opportunity to play with the sentiments of the people by spreading hatred and rumors and may exploit the situation
- assumed that Muslim communities harbor ill will towards the United States of America, that Muslims are anti-Americans, that Islam promotes violence and extremism, that Muslims are a threat to the city and its residents; that the Muslim community is a hostile and enemy community viewed with suspicion and considered as dangerous.
Scrapping of Mapping
Here in Los Angeles, the intended “mapping of Muslims” announced last week has been scrapped just yesterday; thanks to the concerted joint efforts of leading Muslim organizations.
There are an estimated 500,000 Muslims in Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties. The planned mapping was immediately and roundly criticized by Muslim and civil rights groups who said it amounted to religious profiling. Many argued it would achieve the opposite of its intent, making Muslims hesitant to work with authorities
Suspicion of the Innocent
There is no hard data/evidence that suggests that Muslims in Southern California were involved in any activity that can be termed as anti-national, hostile or threatening. The fact that none of the 9/11 attackers were recruited from America and since not a single Muslim American has been found guilty of being involved in any terrorist attacks, it begs the question ….
Why has the war on terror become a war on Islam? Is this a response to some evangelists who want to thwart the spread of Islam as the fastest growing faith in the West? Or is it a means of declaring undesirable those who do not remain silent in the face the injustices being perpetrated against the people in Kashmir, Palestine and Chechnya?
Law enforcement agencies exist to protect citizens rather than harass or discriminate against them.
Shame of Suspicion
Islam seeks to establish its society on a clear conscience and mutual trust, not on doubt, suspicion, accusation, and mistrust. Hence the Qur’an mentions …
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ
O you who believe! Avoid(indulging in) suspicion as much (as possible): for suspicion in some cases is a sin. [Qur’an 49:12]
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) advised us …
إياكم والظن فإن الظن أكذب الحديث
Be careful of suspicion for suspicion could be the worst lie.
Among the trademark of a true Believer is …
المُؤمن مَن أمِنَهُ الناس على دِمَاءِهِم و اموالِهم و انفسِهم
A Mu’min is one in whom humankind find safety and security
regarding their lives, their property and their honor
Allah reminds us in the Qur’an,
إِنَّ السَّمْعَ وَالْبَصَرَ وَالْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُولـئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْؤُولاً
“Surely, every act of hearing, of seeing or of (feeling in) the heart will be enquired into (on the Day of Reckoning). [Q 17:36]
Believers’ Duty
We must constantly remind ourselves that Muslims must care for others because “You are the best nation set up for humanity" qualified by "[because] you enjoin that which is good, you forbid that which is evil, and you believe in God” [Q3:110] . Muslims must care because that is their mission on earth. Both the Qur'an and hadith literature abound with statements stressing the utmost importance of caring for others. When Surah ad-Duha (93) was revealed: during the Meccan period, when the Muslims were under siege and their lives and livelihoods were in constant danger because of their faith; yet God tells the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and (by implication) the rest of the Muslim community to "treat not the orphan with harshness, nor repulse the petitioner (unheard).”It was the Muslims themselves who needed help and support, yet still, God reminded them to
help those in need.
We must be behind whatever "good" and stand against whatever "evil/injustice" there exists on earth, first starting with those around us and expanding out in concentric circles. Not only is the racial profiling of Muslims and the Arab-looking “evil”, but "evil" as well is the racial profiling of African-Americans, Hispanics, and other minorities. Not only is helping to build Islamic schools and mosques "good," but "good" also is helping to build housing for the homeless, poor, and less fortunate. If we fail to "enjoin what is good" and "forbid what is evil," then we do not qualify the "best nation set up for humanity."
Avoid Suspicion
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) advised us …
إياكم والظن فإن الظن أكذب الحديث
Be careful of suspicion for suspicion could be the worst lie
Given the basic assumption that people are innocent, mere suspicion should not be allowed to cause an innocent person to be accused. We should realize that the moment there is suspicion about a person's motives, virtually everything that person does becomes tainted. All seems infected that the infected spy, as everything looks yellow to the jaundiced eye. Wise ones have said, Suspicion is far more to be wrong than right; more often unjust than just. It is no friend to virtue, and always an enemy to happiness.