Changing The Tide Islam In America

Changing The Tide: Islam In America

Opening Prayer

As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu.

Allahumma salli ala Sayyidina wa Habibina Muhammad wa ala alihi wa sahbihi wa sallam.

"O Allah, we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, You are the All-Knowing, the All-Wise."

"O Allah, teach us what benefits us, and benefit us with what You have taught us, and increase us in knowledge."

"O Allah, open upon us Your wisdom and spread upon us Your mercy, O Possessor of Majesty and Honor."

Wa salli allahumma ala Sayyidina wa Habibina Muhammad wa ala alihi al-kiram. Wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billahi al-'aliyyi al-'azim.

The Reverence for the Prophet

Alhamdulillah, it's very difficult to follow up a talk about the Prophet because just making mention of him should move the heart. And Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, it was said that whenever the Prophet was mentioned, just his name, that his actual face, the color of his face would change.

And he never recited hadith standing up or walking or anything like that. I mean, obviously if somebody's giving a khutbah or a lecture, but he wouldn't. Somebody asked him once about a hadith while he was walking, and he said, "I used to have a high estimation of you as a student, but I never thought you would ask for a hadith while we were walking."

So he was very strict about that.

Gratitude and Context

It's very nice to see some people here, Imam Shibli, dear brother, and also some of the people here. I haven't been to ISNA for some time, and it has never had anything to do with anything other than just scheduling. They've invited me many times. It's an honor to be invited by the organization, and I have nothing but goodwill towards the organization.

The July 4th conference - there's a conference on the West Coast at that July 4th weekend. And a very close friend of mine, he's actually my cardiologist. So you don't want to get your cardiologist upset with you. So he always asks me to come to their July 4th weekend. I don't want him to put my heart in some kind of ventricular fibrillation or something like that. He wouldn't do that, but he might tell me you're too sick to travel or something like that.

But I was looking at Infiltration, and they actually had a quote from my last ISNA speech in there. So I'm going to try to be good tonight.

The Question of Islam in America

First of all, "Why Islam?" is a good question. "Why not Islam?" is also a good question. "Try Islam" is a good question. But I think it's very important for us to realize that we're in a very precarious situation.

Our community is under siege. And if you don't think there's a siege going on right now, you're simply out of touch with reality.

The Post-9/11 Reality

After 9/11, oddly enough, the polls indicated that most Americans actually separated the event from Islam. And one of the good things about the administration initially was to do that. They really did try to distance and separate Islam from the act - visiting a masjid, all those things. Those were important things to calm people down and try to place the community in the context of the fabric of American society.

Unfortunately, since then, things have changed drastically. Books like this have become an industry. There's now an industry of writing books against Islam.

The Anti-Islam Industry

I don't really want to encourage this by even putting the idea out, but one of the quickest ways to become a best-selling author is just to apostate from Islam and write a horrible book about Muslims or Islam. And suddenly you're on all these talk shows, and you become an expert on Islam. I mean, there are people now that are experts on Islam because they wrote a book and they know nothing about Islam. They've never studied, they don't have any background, but this is the condition we're in.

And taking people who've apostated from Islam, who've left Islam, and putting them forward as people to attack Islam is a very clever strategy, because you can just let them do the dirty work. It's like having - you know, the conservative party loves nothing better than African-American conservatives. Because traditionally, the African-American was a completely Democratic caucus. Now you're getting African-American conservatives, and the conservative party really likes to put them forward. So, and that's because, well, you see, I mean, the party - we're inclusive, we're a party of the people, etc., etc.

So it's very good to use people that create this pattern of disruption. "Oh, well, if these Muslims don't even like their religion, that must be a bad religion." You see, and that's what they do.

So the most recent one is this poor Syrian lady who's come out and attacked Islam.

The Gallup Poll Results

Now, one of the results of that is in a recent Gallup poll, over 50% of Americans polled, when asked, "What do you like about Islam?" or "What do you admire about Islam?" - over 50%, in fact, the majority, almost 40%, said "Nothing." And the others said, "I don't know." That's over 50% of people in this country.

Now, about 35% said, "I like their devotion to their religion," which is good. I mean, that's good, but that's a small number of people.

If you have over 50% of people that have nothing to admire about Islam, that is because these people have been effective in delivering their message, and we have been completely ineffective in delivering our message.

The Problem of Negative Identity

One of the major problems with the Muslim community today is that we're constantly defining ourselves by what we are not. We don't tell people who we are, we tell them who we're not.

And Islam, in many ways, becomes a player in identity politics. There are Muslims that define themselves vis-à-vis the kafir: "I'm not a kafir." Even though they're not practicing Islam in any serious way, just the mere fact that they're not a kafir puts them in this special category, the chosen people category. You see, so that's a problem.

But then we're constantly telling people we're not terrorists, we're not this, we're not that. Well, when you're under siege, defense is a natural response.

The Situation in Western Europe

So we have a very serious problem in this country, and believe it or not, the problem is worse in Western Europe. So if you think it's bad here, it's worse in Western Europe. It's in France, in Belgium. They're now having tests in Germany - homophobic tests for Muslims. If you don't pass them, they're not going to give you residency, to see how you feel about homosexuality, how you feel about this, that, or the other. I mean, these are realities.

So we're moving into this inquisitorial period where people, their basic patriotism is challenged, you see. And there's a big difference between patriotism and nationalism.

Patriotism vs. Nationalism

Patriotism is love of your country for its good, and recognizing also that you have an obligation to change the

things that are wrong about your country. Nationalism is just blind belief in your country, where you're not looking with any balance. That's not patriotism, which is why patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. People will cling to patriotism.

The Need for Balanced Discourse

One of the things in this country - our community has failed, and I include myself in this, and I'm sure Imam Zaid Shakir, and I don't want to speak for them, but I think I know him well enough to say this - that in previous periods, when I first started speaking in the early 90s, that our discourse was not balanced.

There are people who say, "Oh, well, you've changed." But if you see a tree when it's young, when it's just sprouting out, and then you come back years later and the tree is full grown, it looks different, it's not the same. You could say it changed, but that's a natural evolution of a tree. If you're staying the same, something's wrong. You're not alive. You're dead. You shouldn't be staying the same. You should be growing.

But the point is that our discourse was not balanced. We were focusing so often on what was negative about this country that our discourse was not balanced, and we ended up alienating some people. People would come to talks, and they would hear something, and they would be alienated by that talk.

Principle Over Spin

And that's why it's not a spin when you change that discourse. It's not for spin. It should be based on principle. Because Muslims are principled people.

And the Prophet, for instance - I have, in the early period, I've said things about other religions that I regret now. Not because of spin, but because I don't believe that they were Islamically sanctioned statements. I don't believe that. I really, truly do not believe that. I think they were incorrect. And I can't stand on that.

You have to recognize what's true and what's not true in your discourse. And if we don't do that, one, we're denigrating our own religion, because we're not being true representatives of our religion. It's absolutely important to do that.

The Imperative to Educate

On the other hand, again, we are under siege as a community. And so we have to respond to the circumstances that we find ourselves in, in this country.

We now must educate people in this country. We have to. We have to tell them who we are. We have to tell them who we are. Not just for our sake, but for their sake.

Meeting Chris Hedges

One of the things about these books - I was with a friend of mine, Dr. Hatem Bazian, and we were with a man

named Chris Hedges. I don't know if people know him. But Chris Hedges wrote War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning. And he wrote Losing Moses on the Freeway: The Ten Commandments in America.

He's somebody who studied theology at Harvard University, and he became a war correspondent for the New York Times. He worked twenty years corresponding in combat conditions, writing newspaper articles for the New York Times. During that time, he was in fifteen wars. Fifteen wars. He's seen wars all over. He was seven years in the Arab world. He knows Palestine very inside out. And he studied Arabic. He's a very interesting man.

The Danger of Hate Books

But he was there with us, and I told Hatem Bazian, I said, "Congratulations." He said, "About what?" I said, "I was reading the book The 100 Most Dangerous Professors in America, and I saw you were in there. I think he's number 65 or something."

So I was telling him, "Congratulations." And when I said that, I was being a little facetious, but when I said that, Chris Hedges said, "Those books are very dangerous." You know, and he was actually really upset about it.

These books, like these, you can laugh them off, but they're very dangerous, and these books are on the front in Barnes and Noble, in Borders. People come and they buy that. They trust the information. They think they're getting sound information, and these people are liars. They're fabricators of truth. They distort reality. And this is wrong to do that.

The Discourse of Hatred Before War

Because what Chris Hedges said is that in every single war he covered, he said there was always a discourse of hatred that began before the war that set the stage for that war. And he said the same thing is happening in this country. The same thing is happening in this country.

And his book now is on the religious right of this country, because he's deeply concerned about where this country is headed.

Our Historical Role

And we have to take these things very seriously, because, and I've said this before, and Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah has really reinforced this concept: we are a historical community. We are part of a historical process. We are here for a purpose.

We are in the United States of America in large numbers, and we should be utilizing that fact. We have a job to do. And that job is about reconciling, because we don't want a planet that disintegrates into more war, into more hatred, into more violence, into more conflict, into more human suffering. We don't want that.

The Prophet's Example

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was a man of peace. He was a man of justice. He was a man of mercy. He was a man of compassion. He was a man of forgiveness. And he was a man of courage.

He was a man who was willing to forgive his enemies. He was a man who was willing to show mercy to those who had wronged him. He was a man who was willing to show compassion to those who were suffering. He was a man who was willing to show forgiveness to those who had sinned. And he was a man who was willing to show courage in the face of adversity.

And that's the example that we have to follow. We have to follow the example of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. We have to be men and women of peace, justice, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, and courage.

The Prophet's Teachings

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us many things. He taught us about the importance of faith ( iman ), the importance of prayer ( salah ), the importance of charity ( zakat ), and the importance of doing good deeds .

He taught us about the importance of treating others with respect and kindness. He taught us about the importance of being honest and truthful. He taught us about the importance of being patient and forgiving. And he taught us about the importance of striving for excellence in all that we do.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also taught us about the importance of seeking knowledge. He said, "Seeking knowledge is a duty upon every Muslim." He encouraged us to learn about the world around us, to learn about our faith, and to learn about ourselves.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was a great teacher. He taught us how to live a good life, how to treat others with respect, and how to strive for excellence in all that we do.

The Prophet's Legacy

The legacy of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is one of peace, justice, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, and courage. He left behind a legacy of teachings that continue to inspire people all over the world.

His example is a guide for us to follow. His teachings are a source of wisdom and guidance. His legacy is a reminder of the importance of living a good life and striving for excellence in all that we do.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was a great man. He was a great teacher. And he left behind a legacy that will continue to inspire people for generations to come.

The Importance of Dialogue

One of the most important things we can do is to engage in dialogue with others. Dialogue is the key to understanding. It's the key to building bridges. It's the key to resolving conflicts.

When we engage in dialogue, we have the opportunity to learn from others. We can learn about their perspectives, their experiences, and their beliefs. We can also share our own perspectives, experiences, and beliefs.

Dialogue is not always easy. It can be challenging to listen to people who have different views than our own. It can be difficult to express our own views in a way that is respectful and understanding. But it is essential.

When we engage in dialogue, we are not necessarily trying to change the other person's mind. We are trying to understand them. We are trying to build a relationship. We are trying to find common ground.

Dialogue is not just about talking. It's about listening. It's about asking questions. It's about being open to new ideas. It's about being willing to change our minds.

Dialogue is a powerful tool. It can help us to overcome prejudice, to build trust, and to create a more just and peaceful world.

The Benefits of Dialogue

There are many benefits to engaging in dialogue. Some of the most important benefits include:

• Increased understanding: Dialogue helps us to learn about other people's perspectives, experiences, and beliefs.
• Reduced prejudice: Dialogue can help us to overcome prejudice and stereotypes.
• Building trust: Dialogue can help us to build trust and relationships with others.
• Conflict resolution: Dialogue can help us to resolve conflicts peacefully.
• Creating a more just and peaceful world: Dialogue can help us to create a more just and peaceful world.

How to Engage in Dialogue

Engaging in dialogue can be challenging, but it is also rewarding. Here are some tips for engaging in effective dialogue:

• Listen actively: Pay attention to what the other person is saying. Try to understand their perspective.
• Ask questions: Ask questions to clarify what the other person is saying. Show that you are interested in their perspective.
• Be respectful: Treat the other person with respect, even if you disagree with them.
• Be open-minded: Be willing to consider the other person's perspective.
• Be honest: Be honest about your own views and beliefs.
• Be patient: Dialogue takes time. Be patient and allow the conversation to unfold.

The Importance of Education

Education is essential for individual and societal progress. It empowers individuals with knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities, enabling them to make informed decisions and contribute meaningfully to society.

Education fosters personal growth, promotes social mobility, and enhances economic opportunities. It equips individuals with the tools they need to navigate the complexities of the modern world and to pursue their aspirations.

Furthermore, education plays a crucial role in promoting tolerance, understanding, and respect for diversity. It exposes individuals to different cultures, perspectives, and ideas, fostering empathy and breaking down barriers.

Education is not limited to formal schooling; it encompasses lifelong learning and the pursuit of knowledge in various forms. It is a continuous process of acquiring new information, developing skills, and expanding one's horizons.

By investing in education, societies can create a more informed, engaged, and prosperous citizenry, capable of addressing the challenges of the present and building a better future.

The Role of Education in Islam

In Islam , education holds a central position, as it is considered a fundamental duty for every Muslim, both male and female. The pursuit of knowledge is highly valued, and the acquisition of wisdom is seen as a means of drawing closer to Allah .

The Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasize the importance of seeking knowledge and understanding the world around us. The Quran encourages Muslims to reflect on the signs of Allah in nature, to study history, and to engage in critical thinking.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, "Seeking knowledge is a duty upon every Muslim." This hadith underscores the obligation of Muslims to pursue knowledge throughout their lives.

Islam promotes a holistic approach to education, encompassing both religious and secular knowledge. It encourages Muslims to acquire knowledge in various fields, including science, technology, arts, and humanities.

Education in Islam is not merely about acquiring information; it is also about developing character, cultivating moral values, and striving for excellence in all aspects of life.

The Importance of Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is the ability to analyze information objectively and make reasoned judgments. It involves evaluating evidence, identifying assumptions, and considering different perspectives.

Critical thinking is essential for navigating the complexities of the modern world, where individuals are bombarded with information from various sources. It enables individuals to distinguish between fact and opinion, to identify biases, and to make informed decisions.

Critical thinking is not about being negative or cynical; it is about being curious, questioning assumptions, and seeking evidence to support claims. It involves considering different viewpoints, evaluating arguments, and forming one's own conclusions.

By developing critical thinking skills, individuals can become more informed citizens, better problem-solvers, and more effective communicators. They can also resist manipulation and propaganda and make more sound decisions in their personal and professional lives.

The Importance of Community

Community is a fundamental aspect of human existence. It provides a sense of belonging, support, and shared identity. It is where individuals come together to connect, collaborate, and contribute to the well-being of society.

Communities can take many forms, from local neighborhoods to online groups, and they play a vital role in shaping individuals' lives. They offer opportunities for social interaction, mutual aid, and the development of shared values and goals.

Strong communities foster a sense of security and stability, providing a support network during times of need. They also promote civic engagement, encouraging individuals to participate in decision-making processes and contribute to the common good.

In a world that is increasingly interconnected, the importance of community cannot be overstated. It is essential for building social cohesion, promoting understanding, and creating a more just and equitable society.

The Role of Community in Islam

In Islam , community ( Ummah ) is of paramount importance. The Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasize the significance of unity, cooperation, and mutual support among Muslims.

The concept of the Ummah encompasses the entire global Muslim community, transcending geographical boundaries and cultural differences. It is based on the shared belief in Allah and the teachings of Islam .

Islam encourages Muslims to build strong relationships with one another, to support those in need, and to work together for the betterment of society. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, "The believers in their mutual love, mercy, and compassion are like one body: if one part of it is in pain, the rest of the body shares in the sleeplessness and fever."

Community in Islam is not limited to religious gatherings; it extends to all aspects of life. Muslims are encouraged to be active members of their local communities, to contribute to the well-being of their neighbors, and to promote justice and fairness for all.

Building a Strong Community

Building a strong community requires effort and commitment from all its members. Here are some key principles for building a thriving community:

• Foster inclusivity: Create a welcoming environment for all members, regardless of their background or beliefs.
• Promote communication: Encourage open and honest communication among members.
• Encourage participation: Provide opportunities for members to get involved and contribute their skills and talents.
• Support each other: Offer help and support to those in need.
• Celebrate diversity: Recognize and appreciate the unique contributions of each member.
• Promote shared values: Establish a set of shared values and principles that guide the community's actions.

The Translation Problem

A letter came to the State Department. This is how bad things get. A letter came to the State Department from Cairo. There was somebody there who had to leave. He said, "I'm forced to leave Egypt in extenuating circumstances." The Arabist who got the telegraph from the State Department - he lived back in the 50s - he translated it: "I'm forced to leave Allah in extenuating circumstances."

Seriously, that's a problem. When they don't know Allah means God, we're in trouble. That's a problem of translation.

You know, I was mentioning earlier today - somebody was complaining about Franklin Graham. And I said, "I met him. He actually shook my hand, and I found out later he considered Muslims devil worshippers." I wouldn't shake hands with a devil worshipper. Maybe, I don't know, I'd call him to Islam. But we have problems. Seriously, we've got serious problems of translation, of understanding.

Soft Power vs. Hard Power

Now, finally, I'd like to say, Joseph Nye - he's an interesting man, but he's at Harvard. And he wrote a book about soft power and hard power, which is a very interesting concept. One of the things that he said is power, the nature of power is of two types.

The hard power is military power. It's the ability to force people to do something. That's hard power.

Soft power is persuasive power. It's the power to make somebody want to do something that you want them to do. And he said that America uses too much hard power. It doesn't utilize its soft power enough. And it has a lot of soft power. And so he argues that we should be using soft power as a country, as opposed to hard power.

Because if you want to win hearts, you don't drop bombs on their heads. It's as simple as that. You know, if you want to make people love you, you don't drop bombs on their heads. Seriously. Because they won't. They just won't like you.

The Greatest Recruitment for Extremism

And the greatest recruitment for Al-Qaeda - I mean, I'll give advice to the State Department any day on this one - the greatest recruitment for Al-Qaeda is current American foreign policy. That is the greatest recruitment. And we want to stop that because we don't want to see their ranks swell. I don't want to see their ranks swell.

But Iraq - seriously, look what's been done. It's a tragedy. The conservatives are backing out. Even Buckley is saying it's a mistake. They're all backing out now. They're washing their hands of it. Fukuyama, the whole lot of them. Seriously, they're washing their hands of it. Because it was a mistake.

The only option? Get out. It's as simple as that. And we should be supporting that. We should be supporting anybody that's supporting that.

A Moral Platform

We want to see commerce with mutual agreement. That's what we want. That should be our platform. It's not a political platform. It's a moral platform. It is a moral platform. Because religion, its role in politics is to remind people of the highest ethical standards of humanity.

Islam and America share many great principles. This country shares many great principles with the Islamic religion. Most of the Bill of Rights is right out of Islamic teaching. Really. Most of the founding principles of this country, right out of Islamic teaching.

And so we should be calling these people to be who they are. Not to be people of Abu Jahl. Really. We don't want that America. We don't want the America of Abu Jahl. We want the America of the finest people that represent this tradition. Really, the finest people that represent this tradition. That's what we want to see. And that's what we should call people to.

The Call to First Principles

For Muslims, be Muslims. Americans, be Americans. If Muslims start behaving like Muslims, and Americans start behaving like Americans, the problems will go away. They'll go away. If they adhere to their first principles, we can avert all of these problems.

So we have to call our own community back to the highest virtues and principles in our religion. And we need to remind Americans: You're Americans. This is a country that George Washington wanted to see a country of benevolence. A country of commerce and trade. A country that did not have passionate attachments to any foreign nation. Passionate attachments to any foreign nation. Any foreign nation.

Make it an even playing game. Even Steven. Put it out there. Just make it even Steven. That's the way.

Islamic Principles on Arms Trade

And we should not have as our number one export, weapons of mass destruction. We need to end the arms trade. These are Islamic principles.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

(Hadith)

"The one that sells weapons during times of strife is cursed."

Blessed Are the Peacemakers

And Jesus, according to the head of this country, current head - according to the current head of this country, his favorite philosopher was Jesus. So I'd just like to remind him: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God."

The Soft Power of Islam

In conclusion, I have never, in my entire life of study, seen anything more powerful than the soft power of Islam. And I personally believe it's time the Muslims gave up the idea of hard power. It's been long gone.

Muslims have not had hard power in a very long time. It's a waste of time. And I believe that we need to begin to expend our soft power. Because this religion has a persuasive force that is overwhelming.

And people need it. They need Islam. They really do. I believe that. I believe that this country can benefit greatly from the teachings of Islam. Whether they embrace Islam or just study the teachings. Like some people study Buddhism for benefit. They study Hinduism or Christianity.

Just like Islam nurtured Europe out of the Dark Ages, without Europe embracing Islam, it has an immense potential to help nurture the West out of its current nihilistic morass of relativism. Really.

Closing

And I hope that you participate in spreading the soft power of Islam.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

(Sahih Muslim 2593)

"Indeed, Allah gives for gentleness what He does not give for harshness."

What He'll never give with violence.

"May Allah reward you with goodness. And peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings."