Quranic Guidance on Masjid Controversy - Corrected Transcript

Quranic Guidance on Masjid Controversy - Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda

Opening

Introduction: The Current Context

Something that's concerning us at the moment as a community, as a Muslim community here in America, is of course the news that we hear and the constant media surface going on around the building of masajids, most prominently in New York City, but even other masajids that we've talked about throughout the morning, throughout the news. And there's a lot that can be said, and a lot that hasn't been said, and a lot more that probably wants to be said.

But one thing that I wanted to talk about was I didn't want to discuss the validity of building a masjid versus not building it and all these other things. Those things are for policy makers and other people to discuss and decide. But what's happening as a consequence of that is that there's a discussion about Islam. In mainstream American media amongst common circles, common citizens in this country now, there's a discussion about Islam in general.

What are the motives of Islam? What is this religion preaching? What is this religion based on? That's why when you turn on the news, it's no longer talking about hallowed ground or the sensitivity. The conversation is completely switched to this religion itself.

The Prophet's Tireless Concern for Humanity

And subhanAllah, the shaykh was reciting the ayat right now. In the beginning of the surah starts in a very powerful tone. He talks about Muhammadur Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم). Allah addresses him by saying:

Quran 18:6:

"Perhaps you would kill yourself through grief over them, [O Muhammad], if they do not believe in this message."

It shows that how tireless the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم)'s concern, his effort, and his drive, and his motivation was for the sake of humanity. To benefit people, to preach to people, to teach people, to bring guidance to the doorstep of people. This is how concerned he was, how selfless he was, that he was literally at the verge of killing, destroying himself for the sake of people.

The Story of Musa and Fir'aun: A Lesson in Confronting Opposition

And then subhanAllah, you know the Quran is a complete discourse and a complete dialogue. And it addresses topics that are very, very profound and are very sophisticated things. When you go a few ayat ahead, Allah (جل جلاله) talks about the story of Musa (عليه السلام). And He talks about what transpired with Musa (عليه السلام) and his time between him and Fir'aun.

The Nature of Opposition

And we see that Allah (جل جلاله) when He's talking about Musa and Fir'aun and what happened between the two of them, this is as a consolation and as a guidance to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), that while you are investing yourself 110% into this effort, while you are willingly, literally at the edge of just completely annihilating yourself, destroying yourself, in your tireless effort, pursuit of the guidance of humanity and mankind, you will be confronted.

And you'll be confronted by people of no morals. You'll be confronted by people of no ethics. You'll be opposed by people who have not a drop of decency within them. They are not looking for logic. They are not looking for an intellectual argument. They are not looking for rationale.

They are not concerned about their own well-being, let alone the well-being of all the rest of the people. Their motives are simply based on personal legitimacy. Their only motivating force and factor in this life, the only thing they care about in this world, is their own popularity, fame, power, money, influence.

The Dialogue Between Musa and Fir'aun

Quran 26:23-42:

That look, Musa (عليه السلام) one of our greatest, brightest, most noblest messengers, with some of the greatest miracles that any prophet has ever displayed. His staff, his glowing, shiny hand, and all the rest of the miracles that Allah had given to him. And he went to this man, Fir'aun, to give him the message, to talk to him about what's reality, what's the truth.

But look how Fir'aun confronts him. He begins the dialogue by saying:

Fir'aun said: "And what is the Lord of the worlds?"

SubhanAllah, even the language of the ayat doesn't say "ما رب العالمين - What is this رب العالمين that you call me to? You know, like in English, you say, what's this nonsense you're talking about? What is this رب العالمين business that you're talking about? Why are you wasting my time?

Musa (عليه السلام) responds:

He said: "Lord of the heavens and the earth and that between them, if you should be certain."

He says to the people that are sitting around him:

He said to those around him: "Do you not hear?"

He doesn't even let Musa (عليه السلام) finish. He goes, are you listening to this guy? Are you paying attention? You know when you're talking to someone who's trying to mock you, ridicule you, so disrespectful, so stubborn, so arrogant? He's not even looking at you. He looks at the guy next to him. Is he a clown? Do you hear what he's saying?

Musa (عليه السلام) responds

He said: "Your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers."

What does Fir'aun say in response to that?

He said: "Indeed, your 'messenger' who has been sent to you is mad."

He looks back to the people and he goes, this messenger that's been sent to you? He's crazy. He's lost his mind. Listen to what this guy says.

What does Musa (عليه السلام) respond now?

He said: "Lord of the east and the west and that between them, if you were to reason."

Now Musa (عليه السلام)'s persistence, his commitment to haqq, truth, keeping the conversation what it needs to be. We are talking about Allah. We are talking about what matters.

Look what it's enraging Fir'aun:

He said: "If you take a god other than me, I will surely place you among those imprisoned."

Musa (عليه السلام) responds

He said: "Even if I brought you something clear?"

He said: "Then bring it, if you should be of the truthful."

So [Musa] threw his staff, and suddenly it was a serpent manifest. And he drew out his hand; thereupon it was white for the observers.

What did he finally respond with?

He said to the eminent ones around him: "Indeed, this is a learned magician. He wants to drive you out of your land by his magic, so what do you advise?"

Lessons for Our Current Situation

We Have a Clear Message

But one thing very important that we realize here, one thing very very profound that we realize, we have a message. We have a message. We have a very clear message. A very direct message. And that is that we are inviting humanity to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.

Just like Musa was inviting Fir'aun to Allah. Just like Muhammadur Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was inviting the Quraysh and all of humanity and the people of the Arab and all of humanity to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. And there will come along people like Fir'aun, like Abu Jahl, like others who will try to divert the conversation.

Don't Fall Into the Trap

Fir'aun said, interrupting him over and over again. Trying to derail the conversation. Because he knows this conversation, as it goes forward, as it progresses, it's not going to be good for him.

Abu Jahl tried to derail the conversation. "Muhammad, what do you want? You want to be famous? We'll make you famous. You want to be powerful? We'll make you our chief. You want money? We'll give it to you. What do you want? Name your price." But the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) stayed the course.

And that's why you and I are sitting here right now today. We're faced with a similar situation. A similar test and a similar task today.

The conversation is being derailed. Everything else has been talked about except what needs to be talked about. The mistake that we cannot afford to make is to fall into this trap of derailing the conversation.

The Balance of Truth and Falsehood

We need to stay the course. We have truth. We have haqq. And just like Allah said:

Quran 51:49:

"And of all things We created two mates; perhaps you will remember."

Allah's created a pair of everything. Opposites in everything. So wherever there will be haqq, there will always be forces of batil.

I mean think about Muhammad Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم). Think about the haqq that he represents. But there were munafiqun inside of Medina. There were munafiqun that would pass him on the streets every single day. Hypocrites. Wherever there's haqq, batil has to be there. It will be there. It will find a way to survive there. But we need to stay the course.

Our Greatest Miracle: The Quran

And just like Musa, when the conversation escalates to the point where that's it, threats are being issued, ultimatums are being thrown down, the table is being slammed. Musa (عليه السلام) laid out the miracles, the unbelievable, amazing miracles that Allah had gifted to him. He laid them on the table and he said now answer this.

We have the greatest miracle that Allah has ever bestowed upon humanity and that is the Quran, the book of Allah. That is the beautiful life of the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم). We need to lay that on the table.

This has changed more people's lives throughout the course of human history than any other course. It's very different. But in that we also realize our problem and our mistake.

Our Problem and the Solution

We haven't read this. We haven't studied it. We haven't understood it. We most definitely have not lived it. And we haven't shared it with humanity the way it needs to be shared. That's our problem.

And so during this month of Ramadan, this beautiful, blessed month of Ramadan, and I pray and I hope everybody is having the most amazing Ramadan of their lives. One thing that we can all make a commitment to because Allah tells us in the Quran this is also the month of the Quran. Let's make an intention, a firm intention during this month to recommit ourselves, to reconnect ourselves, to renew our