SHAFAQNA – (Delivered at the 12^th Annual Muslim Congress in Dearborn, Michigan, on Saturday, August 6, 2016.

It is a blessing, a privilege, and an honor to speak at the 2016 Muslim Congress on a subject that impacts us all: Islamophobia, the dislike of Islam and Muslims; the prejudice against Islam and Muslims; and the fear and hatred against Islam and Muslims. I wish I could tell you that everyone loved us. Unfortunately, a hell of lot of people hate us.

Although we have hit rock bottom and our popularity rating is the pits, we should not despair. We should view this as an opportunity and challenge as well as a test and a trial. When you are down, the only way is up. We might be in the darkest part of the night; however, rest assured that the dawn will come and the sun will rise.

As followers of Ahl al-Bayt, ‘alayhim al-salām, I am sure you know what I mean, and who I mean, when I speak of the Sun behind the clouds. I speak of the Light of Islam, the Axis of the Universe, and the Imam of the Age. Ṣalawāt ‘alā Muḥammad wa āli Muḥammad

Rest assured that we are not alone. Allah is with us. Rasūl Allāh is with us. The A’immahare with us. And the Malā’ikah are with us. Consider these our Meccan days: a period of persecution and a period of sadness and tears. Do not despair. Do not lose faith. Almighty Allah has promised us victory in both this world and the hereafter. Verily, we will be triumphant.

During this age of intolerance and ignorance, in which Islam and Muslims are victimized and demonized in generalized fashion, we should not feel helpless and hopeless. There are many things that we can do, and that we must do, for our sake, the sake of Islam, the sake of Muslims, and the sake of humanity as a whole.

First and foremost, we must teach Muslims to truly represent Islam. One of the most effective ways of combating Islamophobia is to show non-Muslims that the things and they hate and fear about Islam and Muslims have nothing to do with Islam. As Imam ‘Ali, may peace be upon him, has said: “People are enemies of what they don’t know.”

If al-Qaedah, the Taliban, the recently rebranded al-Nusrah, Boko Haram, al-Shabab, and ISIS represent Islam, then people have every right to hate Islam. If the Salafi-Jihadis, the Wahhabis, the Khawarij, the Najdis, the Nawasib, and the Takfiris are Muslims, then people have every right to hate Muslims.

In reality, Islam and Muslims are the target of a massive campaign of negative marketing on a global scale. Efforts to distort Islam and to dehumanize Muslims date back to medieval times. These efforts intensified during colonial times.

However, nothing can be compared to the all-encompassing propaganda that has been polluting the planet for the past few decades. Billions upon billions of dollars have been spent to portray Muslims as terrorists and savages who threaten civilization as a whole.

While our resources are limited, we must fight ignorance with knowledge. We must fight misinformation with information. We must fight propaganda with facts. We must fight falsehood with truth. We must fight fake Islam with true Islam. How, then, should we proceed?

In order to combat Islamophobia, we must combat extremism and terrorism ideologically, informationally, and religiously.

On the ideological front, we have an immense challenge. There are approximately 100,000 Takfiri terrorists. 7% of self-professed Muslims support them. However, the number is significantly higher when we ask Muslims whether they share the same ideology.

The Takfiri ideology could never have spread without an immense and widespread ignorance of the depth and greatness of the Islamic social, intellectual, and spiritual tradition, an ignorance that is traceable back to the destruction of the traditional Muslim educational system under western colonialism.

Islam must get beyond the barren dialectic between the liberal modernizers who attempt to take various secular forms of social organization as models in order to “bring Islam into the 21^st century” by a process of voluntary re-colonization through imitation of the west, and the blind and violent reactionaries who wish to return Islam to its so-called “original purity.”

The only alternative to this poisonous dichotomy is to re-discover the supremely just, intelligent and humane forms of social organization established by the Prophet Muhammad himself, peace and blessings be upon him and his household, in his Covenants, his Treaties, and in the Constitution of Medina.

Within these documents can be found the fertile seed of a “universal declaration of human rights” that owes nothing to the atheistic ideologies of the west, one capable of growing into a great tree providing shelter to the nations, a tree springing directly from the soil of Islam itself.

If, however, Islam fails to dedicate itself to recovering its greatness–not so much the greatness of its past but the greatness of its essence–then Daesh and its various litter-mates will occupy the burned-out heart of our religion, and Islam will be destroyed.

On the Information Front, every effort must be made to make the world’s population aware of the many actions presently undertaken by Muslims from both the governmental and the private sectors against ISIS and other Takfiris, while at the same time providing expanded opportunities for public participation in these actions. Unless the war of information is won, the war between true and false Islam for the hearts and minds of the Ummah, Islam will be destroyed.

As for the Religious Front, it cannot be limited to the ideological sphere. It should certainly include the establishment of ongoing diplomatic liaisons with the leaderships of the non-Muslim religions presently being persecuted by Daesh, for purposes of developing a common strategy to defeat them.

The central strategy and tactic on the Religious Front, however, must be to make ferventdu’as to Allah, to implore His guidance in the war against His enemies. It was not you who threw when you threw, but God threw. If we do not put Allah first, if we do not exalt His Will and His Agenda over whatever strategies and agendas we may decide upon in this gathering, then it will not matter if Islam is destroyed, because–in terms of this assembly at least–it will be dead already.

In our collective struggle against Islamopobia; in our fight against extremism and terrorism, please allow me to propose a few concrete steps that any ordinary Muslim take.

1) Spread Islam. Spread traditional, civilizational, Islam. Spread non-sectarian Islam. Spread an inclusive Islam; an Islam of diversity, tolerance, love, mercy and justice. Spread it by word and spread it by action. Put Islamic morals and ethics into practice.

2) Fight fake Islam with true Islam. Compare and contrast: present a verse from the Qur’an and then contrast it with the actions of extremists; present a hadith from the Prophet and then contrast it with the actions of extremists; thus delegitimizing the discourse of the extremists.

3) Disseminate the Constitution of Medina. Islamists claim that they wish to create an Islamic State; however, they ignore the fact that the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his household, produced the first political constitution in the history of humanity, an inclusive and pluralistic Political Charter that granted equality to all citizens regardless of religion, race, or gender. From day one, the Ummah of Islam was composed of Muslims and non-Muslims. The Prophet, his Companions, and his Holy Household, all respected the People of the Book who were friends and allies of the Muslims. They were one Ummah united on universal and primordial principles.

4) Disseminate the covenants and treaties that the Prophet Muhammad concluded with Christian, Jewish, and Zoroastrian communities. These include the Treaty of Maqnah, the Treaty of Aylah, the Treaty of Najran, the Covenant with Monks from Mount Sinai, the Covenant with the Christians of Persia, the Covenant with the Assyrian Christians, the Covenant with the Armenian Christians, the Covenant with the Coptic Christians, and the Covenant with the Parsees…

5) Disseminate the covenants that the Caliphs and Sultans concluded with non-Muslim communities. These include the Covenant of Abu Bakr, the Covenant of ‘Umar, the Covenant of ‘Ali, the Covenant of Salah al-Din, and the Covenant of Sultan Mehmet.

6) Pressure leaders in the Muslim world to protect Christian minorities from persecution. Demand that Muslims minorities around the world receive the same protections.

7) Join or organize demonstrations calling for the protection of persecuted Muslims and Christians.

8) Join or organize demonstrations calling for the protection of sacred sites and places of worship as Christian, Sunni, Shi‘ite and Sufi spaces are the preferred targets of Takfiri terrorists.

9) Denounce any government, Muslim or non-Muslim, that supports, directly or indirectly, Takfiri terrorists who persecute Christians, Sunnis, Shi‘ites, and Sufis. They include the United States, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and Israel.

10) Oppose foreign interference in our Islamic affairs in the Western world. Denounce religious colonialism. Mosques and Muslim organizations in the West should be concerned about the interests of Western Muslims and should not serve the strategic plans of any so-called Muslim country.

11) When people slander Islam, the Qur’an and the Prophet, point them to The Covenants of the Prophet and let Muhammad ibn Abdullah, peace and blessings be upon him and his household, speak for himself.

12) Share the Covenants of the Prophet with the People of the Book in word and in action. Build bridges of understanding between all believers.

13) Volunteer your time and skills. We need translators. We need people with expertise in business, marketing, advertising, social media… Everyone has something to offer.

14) If you cannot donate your time, donate your money. Support the Covenants Initiative or other efforts. Give sadaqah. Give zakat. Give khums.

15) Familiarize Muslims, and non-Muslims, with all the initiatives against extremism and radicalization, efforts that are deliberately unreported or underreported for political purposes. They include:

1) ISNA’s Muslim Code of Honor. Signed in September, 2007, it denounces extremism and violence, calls for Islamic unity between all believers, and prohibits takfīr or excommunication.

2) A Common Word Between Us and You. This open letter, which was jointly composed by Muslim and Christian leaders, was released in October of 2007. It calls for peace between both major world religions and encourages them to work for common ground. A Common Word has been critical in fostering interfaith dialogue.

3) Shoulder to Shoulder. Since 2010, the Islamic Society of North America has joined with 27 national faith-based interfaith organizations to address anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States.

4) The Fatwa against Terrorism and Suicide Bombing. It was issued by Dr. Muhammad Tahir al-Qadri in 2010. It states that “Terrorism is terrorism, violence is violence and it has no place in Islamic teaching and no justification can be provided for it.”

5) The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of the World. This book, which was published in 2013, consists of a study of the treaties that the Messenger of Allah made with the People of the Book. It features long-forgotten documents, some of which were rediscovered in ancient monasteries and archives, and which were translated from Arabic into English.

The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad prove that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him and his household, was committed to creating an inclusive, pluralistic, community of believers. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, explicitly stated that Muslims are required to protect religious sites and institutions; not destroy them.

As the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him and his household, commands in his covenants: wa lā tughayyir usquf ‘an usqufiyyah, wa lā rāhib min rahbāniyyah, wa lā naṣrānī min naṣrāniyyah, wa lā rāhib  min ṣawma‘atihi, wa lā sā’iḥ min siyāḥatihi, wa lā yuhdamu bayt min buyūti kanā’isahim wa baya‘ihim, wa la yadkhulu shay’in min manāzilihim fī shay’in min al-masājid wa lā manāzil al-mu’minīn al-muslimīn, fa man fa‘ala dhalika faqad nakatha ‘ahd Allāh wa khalafa Rasūl Allāh wa khā’in dhimmat Allāh.

It is not permitted to remove a bishop from his bishopric or a Christian from his Christianity, a monk from his monastic life or a pilgrim from his pilgrimage or a hermit monk from his tower. Nor is it permitted to destroy any part of their churches, to take parts of their buildings to construct mosques or the homes of Muslims. Whoever does such a thing will have violated the covenant of Allah, disobeyed the Messenger of Allah, and deviated from His Divine Alliance.

The covenants date from the second year of the establishment of the Muslim Community in Medina to the final years of his life, demonstrating that they represented permanent policy. The documents state that they are binding upon Muslims until the End of Times and some include a stern warning: Wa man ẓalama ba‘da dhalika dhimmiyyan wa naqaḍa al-‘ahd wa rafaḍuhu kuntu khaṣmahu yawm al-qiyyamah min jami‘ al-muslimīn kāfatan /Whoever is unjust after this towards a [Christian] subject [dhimmi], breaks the covenant and rejects it, I will be his enemy on the Day of Judgment among all the Muslims.

6) The Covenants Initiative. Inspired by The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of the World, Charles Upton, known also as Sidi Akram, created the Covenants Initiative, an international movement committed to protecting persecuted Jews, Christians, and Muslims.

The Covenants Initiative, which calls upon Muslims to renew their oath to the Prophet Muhammad and abide by the treaties that he concluded with the People of the Book, has been signed by several hundred leading Sunni, Shii, and Sufi scholars, academics, and activists.

7) Bin Bayyah’s fatwa. In September of 2014, Shaykh Abdallah Bin Bayyah, one of the most influential scholars in Sunni Islam, passed a lengthy fatwa condemning ISIS.

8) The letter to Baghdadi. The Letter to Baghdadi, released in September of 2014, is a meticulously detailed refutation of ISIS. It was signed by over one hundred of Islam’s leading scholars and personally directed to the leader of the pseudo-Islamic State.

9) The Amman Message. Issued in November 2014, and signed by 200 Islamic scholars from over 50 countries, this call for tolerance and unity in the Muslim world provides an inclusive definition of what it means to be Muslim and denounces the practice of takfir or excommunication.

10) The statement from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Released in 2014, it declares that the Islamic State has “nothing to do with Islam” and has committed crimes “that cannot be tolerated.”

11) The fatwa from al-Azhar. Issued in 2014, it states that ISIS is “a danger to Islam.”

12) The Statement from the Arab League. Released in 2014, it denounces the “crimes against humanity” carried out by ISIS.

13) The fatwa that was passed by Turkey’s top cleric, Mufti Mehmet Gormez. Issued in 2014, it states that ISIS is “hugely damaging” to Islam and Muslims.

14) The condemnations made against ISIS by CAIR. Since 2014, they have repeatedly condemned ISIS as “Un-Islamic and morally repugnant.”

15) The declaration made by the Muslim Council of Great Britain. Released in 2014, it affirms that “violence has no place in religion.”

16) The fatwa published by the Fiqh Council of the Islamic Society of North America. Issued in 2014, and signed by 126 leading Muslim scholars, it asserts that the actions of ISIS are in no way representative of what Islam actually teaches.

17) The Joint Sunni-Shiite Fatwa issued by 100 U.K. Imams. Released in 2014, it describes ISIS as an “illegitimate” and “vicious group.”

18) The statement issued by the Muslim Public Affairs Council. Published in 2014, it condemns ISIS and calls upon Muslims to “stand against extremism.”

19) The campaign by the Nahdlatul-Ulama. The NU is the largest Islamic organization in the world, representing 50 million Indonesian Muslims. In 2014, it launched a global campaign against extremism and Wahhabism.

20) The statements of Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqubi. In an interview conducted in 2014, he asserted that “ISIS has no nationality. Its nationality is terror, savagery, and hatred.” Furthermore, he asserted that “Baghdadi is going to hell.”

In 2015, Shaykh al-Yaqubi published a lecture titled Refuting ISIS: A Rebuttal of its Religious and Ideological Foundations. In his booklet, he states that ISIS constitutes the most serious threat that Islam has ever faced. Consequently, he has provided a counter-narrative that elucidates the reality of Islam and its commitment to tolerance. In short, he demonstrates that the actions of ISIS are not representative of Islam.

21) The jihad that was declared by the Muslim Youth Group in the UK. In 2015, a group of young Muslims declared an ideological holy war against extremists and terrorists who hijack Islam, asserting, in no uncertain terms, that groups like ISIS have “no link with Islam or the Muslim community.”

22) The Historic Islamic Edict or Fatwa on Joining ISIS/ISIL that was passed by the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada in March of 2015. Signing by dozens of traditional Muslim scholars, it states, quite explicitly, that anyone who joins Daesh leaves the Ummah of Islam.

23) The condemnation against ISIS that I issued in November of 2015. The statement in question was disseminated to over one million Muslims and directly inspired numerous other edicts.

24) The mass fatwa against ISIS. In December of 2015, 70,000 Muslim clerics from India signed a joint fatwa against ISIS that was subsequently endorsed by 1.5 million Muslims.

24) Dr. Muhammad Tahir al-Qadri’s denunciations of Daesh. In a statement he made in 2016, he stated that: “The ISIS ideology is Kufr (disbelief in Islam). It is anti-Islam; against the teachings of the prophet of Islam.”

25) The Marrakesh Declaration. The Marrakesh Declaration was the product of a global conference that brought together hundreds of major Muslim leaders, both religious and political.

Muslims leaders from around the world, Sunnis, Shiis, and Sufis, gathered in Morocco to express their collective commitment to the cause of human, civil, religious, and minority rights in Muslim countries.

The Marrakesh Declaration reasserts the rights of non-Muslim minorities. The manifesto is rooted in the Constitution of Medina, the first political charter in the history of humanity, produced by the Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century, which recognized all the members of the Muslim Ummah and Monotheistic Movement of Believers as citizens, regardless of their religion.

According to Dr. Sayyid Syeed, the National Director for the Office for Interfaith & Community Alliances for the Islamic Society of North America, the Marrakesh Declaration was inspired by the Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad and the Covenants Initiative. In fact, ISNA has officially endorsed the Covenants Initiative and adopted the Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad.

While many Americans are aware that the Government of the United States has recognized ISIS as culpable of genocide, few know that Muslim activists were intimately involved at every single step that led to this decision.

As a result of the success of the Covenants Initiative, the Genocide Initiative was created in August of 2015. While the Covenants Initiative focused on interfaith community building, the Genocide Initiative had a concrete political aim, namely to accuse ISIS of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

The Genocide Initiative, along with many similar efforts spearheaded by our Jewish and Christian partners, led to the passage of the Fortenberry Resolution in the House of Representatives in March of 2016. The resolution defined the actions of ISIS as genocide, a declaration that was immediately echoed by Secretary of State John Kerry.

While certain political sectors wish to present the war in Syria and Iraq as a Sunni/Shia conflict, the scholarly centers of both Sunnism and Shiism, are united in their condemnation of ISIS. Whether it is the University of al-Azhar in Egypt or the Hawzah ‘Ilmiyyah in Najaf and Qum, Sunni and Shii scholars have all repudiated ISIS.

At international, national, local, and community level, Muslims have vociferously denounced ISIS and disassociated themselves from their evil ideology and deeds. From Shaykh al-Habib ‘Ali al-Jifri’s efforts emanating from the United Arab Emirates to the creation of an anti-ISIS community guide by Daisy Khan of WISE Muslim Women, Muslims are actively involved in counter-radicalization. In fact, there are over 300 anti-ISIS and anti-extremist initiatives being led by Muslims. I only gave you a brief summary of 25 of them. If I compiled them all, they would easily fill a 500-page book.

Get involved. Read The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of the World and spread the word. Sign the Covenants Initiative and the Genocide Initiative. If you are a scholar of Islam, sign A Common Word, The Amman Declaration, The Letter to Baghdadi, and the various edicts against ISIS. Engage in interfaith work and intrafaith work. Build bonds between Muslims, Christians, and Jews. Build bonds between Sunnis, Shiites, and Sufis. Build bonds as human beings first and foremost. Ṣalawāt ‘alā Muḥammad wa āli Muḥammad.

SHAFAQNA – (Delivered at The House of Islamic Wisdom in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, USA, on Sunday, May 1^st, 2016)A‘udhu billahi min al-Shaytan al-rajim. Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim. Alhamdulillahi rabb al-‘alamin. Wa salatu wa salam ‘ala  ashraf al-mursalin, Muhammad al-Amin, sayyidina wa habibina wa nabiyyina, wa ‘ala alihi, al-ṭayyibin wa al-ṭahirin, ila yawm al-din.

I take refuge in Allah from Satan, the Rejected. In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. May peace and blessings be upon the best of the messengers of Allah, Muhammad, the Truthful and Trustworthy, our beloved lord and prophet, and upon his family, the good, the pure, until the Day of Judgment.  

I send you greetings of peace: al-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. May the peace and blessings of God be upon you.

President Obama asserts that, in the war on ISIS, “Our most important partners are American Muslims.” But with no proof provided, his opponents can easily dismiss his claims. Rather than rectify misconceptions about U.S. Muslims, his lack of data reinforces it. In the absence of evidence, the President merely appears to be making excuses for Muslims, leading some to suspect his motives.

A search of mainstream media sources in the USA indicates an appalling apathy among Muslims as regards terrorism. But is this the reality? While it may be news to most Americans, Muslims have been at the forefront of an intellectual and spiritual war against ISIS, extremism, and terrorism, domestically and on a global scale.

How many people have heard of ISNA’s Muslim Code of Honor? Signed in September, 2007, it denounces extremism and violence, calls for Islamic unity between all believers, and prohibits takfir or excommunication.

How many people have heard of A Common Word Between Us and You. This open letter, which was jointly composed by Muslim and Christian leaders, was released in October of 2007. It calls for peace between both major world religions and encourages them to work for common ground. A Common Word has been critical in fostering interfaith dialogue.

How many people have heard of Shoulder to Shoulder? Since 2010, the Islamic Society of North America has joined with 27 national faith-based interfaith organizations to address anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States.

How many people have heard of the Fatwa against Terrorism and Suicide Bombing? It was issued by Dr. Muhammad Tahir al-Qadri in 2010. It states that “Terrorism is terrorism, violence is violence and it has no place in Islamic teaching and no justification can be provided for it.”

How many people have heard of The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of the World? This book, which I published in 2013, consists of a study of the treaties that the Messenger of Allah made with the People of the Book. It features long-forgotten documents, some of which I rediscovered in ancient monasteries and archives and which I translated from Arabic into English

The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad prove that he was committed to creating an inclusive, pluralistic, community of believers. The Prophet explicitly stated that Muslims are required to protect religious sites and institutions. As the Messenger of Allah commands in his covenants: “A bishop shall not be removed from his bishopric, nor a monk from his monastery, nor a hermit from his tower, nor shall a pilgrim be hindered from his pilgrimage.”

The covenants date from the second year of the establishment of the Muslim Community in Medina to the final years of his life, demonstrating that they represented permanent policy. The documents state that they are binding upon Muslims until the End of Times and some include a stern warning. “If anyone oppresses the People of the Book, I will testify against him on the Day of Judgment.”

How many people have heard of the Covenants Initiative? Inspired by The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of the World, Charles Upton, known also as Sidi Akram, created the Covenants Initiative, an international movement committed to protecting persecuted Jews, Christians, and Muslims.

The Covenants Initiative, which calls upon Muslims to renew their oath to the Prophet Muhammad and abide by the treaties that he concluded with the People of the Book, has been signed by several hundred leading Sunni, Shii, and Sufi scholars, academics, and activists.

How many people have heard of Bin Bayyah’s fatwa? In September of 2014, Shaykh Abdallah Bin Bayyah, one of the most influential scholars in Sunni Islam, passed a lengthy fatwa condemning ISIS.

How many people have heard of the Letter to Baghdadi? The Letter to Baghdadi, released in September of 2014, is a meticulously detailed refutation of ISIS. It was signed by over one hundred of Islam’s leading scholars and personally directed to the leader of the pseudo-Islamic State.

How many people have heard of the Amman Message, a statement calling for tolerance and unity in the Muslim world? Issued in November 2014, and signed by 200 Islamic scholars from over 50 countries, it provides an inclusive definition of what it means to be Muslim and denounces the practice of takfir or excommunication.

How many people have heard the statement from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation? Released in 2014, it declares that the Islamic State has “nothing to do with Islam” and has committed crimes “that cannot be tolerated.”

How many people have heard of the fatwa from al-Azhar? Issued in 2014, it states that ISIS is “a danger to Islam.”

How many people have heard of the Statement from the Arab League? Released in 2014, it denounces the “crimes against humanity” carried out by ISIS.

How many people have heard of the fatwa that was passed by Turkey’s top cleric, Mufti Mehmet Gormez? Issued in 2014, it states that ISIS is “hugely damaging” to Islam and Muslims.

How many people have heard of the condemnations made against ISIS by CAIR? Since 2014, they have repeatedly condemned ISIS as “Un-Islamic and morally repugnant.”

How many people have heard of the declaration made by the Muslim Council of Great Britain? Released in 2014, it affirms that “violence has no place in religion.”

How many people have heard of the fatwa published by the Fiqh Council of the Islamic Society of North America? Issued in 2014, and signed by 126 leading Muslim scholars, it asserts that the actions of ISIS are in no way representative of what Islam actually teaches.

How many people have heard of the Joint Sunni-Shiite Fatwa issued by 100 U.K. Imams? Released in 2014, it describes ISIS as an “illegitimate” and “vicious group.”

How many people have heard of the statement issued by the Muslim Public Affairs Council? Published in 2014, it condemns ISIS and calls upon Muslim to “stand against extremism.”

How many people have heard of Nahdlatul Ulama? It is the largest Islamic organization in the world, representing 50 million Indonesian Muslims. In 2014, the NU launched a global campaign against extremism and Wahhabism.

How many people have heard of Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqubi thoughts on ISIS? In an interview conducted in 2014, he asserted that “ISIS has no nationality. Its nationality is terror, savagery, and hatred.” Furthermore, he asserted that “Baghdadi is going to hell.”

In 2015, Shaykh al-Yaqubi published a lecture titled Refuting ISIS: A Rebuttal of its Religious and Ideological Foundations? In his booklet, he states that ISIS constitutes the most serious threat that Islam has ever faced. Consequently, he has provided a counter-narrative that elucidates the reality of Islam and its commitment to tolerance. In short, he demonstrates that the actions of ISIS are not representative of Islam.

How many people have heard of the jihad that was declared by the Muslim Youth Group in the UK? In 2015, a group of young Muslims declared an ideological holy war against extremists and terrorists who hijack Islam, asserting, in no uncertain terms, that groups like ISIS have “no link with Islam or the Muslim community.”

How many people have heard of the condemnation of ISIS that I released in November of 2015 and which was disseminated to over one million Muslims?

How many people have heard of the mass fatwa against ISIS? In December of 2015, 70,000 Muslim clerics from India signed a joint fatwa against ISIS that was subsequently endorsed by 1.5 million Muslims.

How many people have heard what Dr. Muhammad Tahir al-Qadri has to say about ISIS? In a statement he made in 2016, he stated that: “The ISIS ideology is Kufr (disbelief in Islam). It is anti-Islam; against the teachings of the prophet of Islam.”

How many people have heard of the Marrakesh Declaration? The Marrakesh Declaration was the product of a global conference that brought together hundreds of major Muslim leaders, both religious and political.

Muslims leaders from around the world, Sunnis, Shiis, and Sufis, gathered in Morocco to express their collective commitment to the cause of human, civil, religious, and minority rights in Muslim countries.

The Marrakesh Declaration reasserts the rights of non-Muslim minorities. The manifesto is rooted on the Constitution of Medina, the first political charter in the history of humanity, produced by the Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century, which recognized all the members of the Muslim Ummah and Monotheistic Movement of Believers as citizens, regardless of their religion.

“They are one community” said the Prophet Muhammad. “To the Jew…belongs help and equality. He shall not be wronged nor shall his enemies be aided.” As the Prophet said, “The Jews…are one community with the believers.” This suggests that the Prophet was not a proponent of syncretism.

Acutely aware of differences between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, yet understanding that unity does not require uniformity, he encouraged all parties to focus on the elements of truth shared by each tradition and to concentrate on commonality.

As he stated in the Treaty of Maqnah, a covenant he concluded with the Jews of northwestern Arabia shortly before his death: “Peace be with you… You shall be safe and you have the assurance of security from God and His Messenger. Verily, the Messenger of God has forgiven you… There shall be no oppression on you or hostility against you. The Prophet of God will protect you against whatever he protects himself.”

According to Dr. Sayyid Syeed, the National Director for the Office for Interfaith & Community Alliances for the Islamic Society of North America, the Marrakesh Declaration was inspired by the Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad and the Covenants Initiative. In fact, ISNA has officially endorsed the Covenants Initiative and adopted the Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad.

While many Americans are aware that the Government of the United States has recognized ISIS as culpable of genocide, few know that Muslim activists were intimately involved at every single step that led to this decision.

As a result of the success of the Covenants Initiative, the Genocide Initiative was created in August of 2015. While the Covenants Initiative focused on interfaith community building, the Genocide Initiative had a concrete political aim, namely to accuse ISIS of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

The Genocide Initiative, along with many similar efforts spearheaded by our Jewish and Christian partners, led to the passage of the Fortenberry Resolution in the House of Representatives in March of 2016. The resolution defined the actions of ISIS as genocide, a declaration that was immediately echoed by Secretary of State John Kerry.

While certain political sectors wish to present the war in Syria and Iraq as a Sunni/Shia conflict, the scholarly centers of both Sunnism and Shiism, are united in their condemnation of ISIS. Whether it is the University of al-Azhar in Egypt or the Hawzah ‘Ilmiyyah in Najaf and Qum, Sunni and Shii scholars have all repudiated ISIS.

At international, national, local, and community level, Muslims have vociferously denounced ISIS and disassociated themselves from their evil ideology and deeds. From Shaykh al-Habib ‘Ali al-Jifri’s efforts emanating from the United Arab Emirates to the creation of an anti-ISIS community guide by Daisy Khan of WISE Muslim Women, Muslims are actively involved in counter-radicalization.

Since most Americans rely on the media to obtain information to understand developments in the world, they expect, and are entitled to, comprehensive coverage and impartial analysis. Rather than provide the facts, and allow Americans to come to their own informed conclusions, they are fed a steady diet of one-sided, pre-digested, neatly packaged sound bites. This is not to infer that all the news in this country is propaganda; however, the imposition of strict editorial lines by certain news outlets has stifled freedom of expression and complete coverage of critical issues.

Enough! Americans want an independent news media with real content as opposed to gossip and sensationalism. They want the whole story as opposed to an oversimplified segment. They want coverage of important matters as opposed to celebrity “news.” They demand objectivity instead of subjectivity.

The media blackout of Muslim news and views does enormous damage, giving the false image that Muslims are silent supporters of so-called “Radical Islamists” who are, in reality, nothing but Wahhabi terrorists whose connection to Islam is as tenuous as the connection of the KKK to Christianity.

This media silence does not stem from Islam and Muslims. It stems from corporate and political interests, the direct result of profit-seeking having supplanted information-seeking and sharing.

Islam may or may not be our cup of tea. However, we have the right to hear Muslim voices and concerns without an endless parade of ideologically-motivated spin.

There are 1.5 billion Muslims in the world today, only 100,000 pseudo-Islamic terrorists. Islam is not at war with the West. On the contrary, ISIS is at war with Islam. Suppressing reports of Muslim opposition to ISIS aids the recruitment efforts of ISIS, playing into the hands of sworn enemies of the United States. It is nothing less than unpatriotic malingering in time of war. If we are to reclaim this great nation, we must reclaim our national media, and an important step in doing so is by reporting Muslim opposition to ISIS.

Imam Elahi and I recently returned from a trip to Washington, DC. Imam Elahi is one of the most active Muslim scholars in the field of interfaith work. We participated in a press conference at the National Press Building on the 14^th of April. Every single major Sunni, Shiite, Christian, and Jewish leader was present. I spoke of The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of the World and the Covenants Initiative. The ISNA Fiqh Council reissued their fatwa against ISIS. This edict was endorsed, not only by Muslim scholars, but also by Christian and Jewish leaders. Catholic cardinals, Jewish rabbis, and Greek orthodox priests all stood united, as believers and brothers, against ISIS. The room was jam-packed with interfaith leaders.

Who showed up? Only two media outlets. C-SPAN. Who on earth watches C-SPAN? And some US-funded Arabic-language Iraqi television station. Where was CNN? Where was Fox? Where was MSNBC? Where was the BBC? Where was Russia Today? Where was al-Jazeera? Where was al-Arabiyya? And where was Press TV? Nowhere to be found. Why? Because it is in the interest of the corporate elite; it is in the interest of the globalists; it is in the interest of the one-percenters to convey the image that Muslims are passive supporters of extremists and terrorists. It is a conspiracy of silence: a media blackout of Muslim opposition to ISIS.

God gave you a voice. Use it in the path of God. This is the real meaning of ‘amr bi al-ma‘ruf wa nahy an al-munkar namely, promoting good and forbidding evil. If God gave you money, use it in the path of God. Have you heard Ted Cruz? Have you heard Donald Trump? Muslims are paying a terrible price for their inability to influence culture, media, political discourse and policies.

Read The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of the World and spread the word. Sign the Covenants Initiative and the Genocide Initiative. If you are a scholar of Islam, sign A Common Word, The Amman Declaration, The Letter to Baghdadi, and the various edicts against ISIS. Engage in interfaith work and intrafaith work. Build bonds between Muslims, Christians, and Jews. Build bonds between Sunnis, Shiites, and Sufis. Build bonds as human beings first and foremost.

I have some very bad news for you. I am going to die. Yes, my doctor says I am going to die. According to him, I have thirty or forty years at most. Apparently, all human beings die. We have a 100% mortality rate. Whether it is today or seventy years from now, you will pass away, be buried, be resurrected, and be judged. So, work to improve this world as if you would live forever and work for the Hereafter as if you are going to die tomorrow. Salawat ‘ala Muhammad wa ali Muhammad.

By Dr John Andrew Morrow

SHAFAQNA – Earlier this April French Minister Laurence Rossignol made a series of rather controversial comments when she likened women wearing the headscarf to slave embracing tyranny -using racist and defaming adjectives when referring to Muslims, Islam and foreigners in general.

While she claimed that her outburst was misconstrued, arguing that her intentions were not to belittle or insult but instead empower women to take charge of their own life, Minister Rossignol’s logic vis a vis Islam, her position vis a vis Muslim women in particular, has been symptomatic of France’s rising Islamophobic narrative.

And though France continues to hide behind its Republican values to better rationalize its ethno-centrism, and disdain of Islam – a faith state officials have labelled as foreign, and antagonistic to Western values; it has become painfully clear that the French Republic is suffering from an acute case of fascism.

Keen to understand the rationale behind Islamophobia in France Shafaqna talked to Minister Laurence Rossignol.

If tolerance should always be frowned upon, it is important to also remember that only through dialogue can we hope to foster positive change. Muslims today suffer misrepresentation and oppression, and it is up to us, as a community to work to change that.

It is only by living up to Islam’s purest tradition and tenets that we can hope to oppose, and defeat radicalism, and violence. Education and dialogue of course stand core to any such efforts.

SHAFAQNA – Minister Rossignol, your recent remarks labelling women who wear headscarves as “negroes who support slavery” caused real frustration and anger among Muslim women who wear the headscarf as a requirement of their religious beliefs.

I would like to draw your attention to the danger of such stigmatizing remarks in a society like France, which has the largest Muslim population in Europe. As far as I know, there are 6 million Muslims in your country.

MINISTER ROSSIGNOL – My comments were really taken out of context here. The point I was trying to make is that France is facing a rise in radicalism. France Muslim community has systematically refused to abide by our Republican principles: laicity, which provision that state and religion remains strictly separate. Religion in France is a private matter which should not enter the public sphere.

France has been grappling with radicalism for years and we can no longer afford to tip toe around the issue. Women should not be denied their rights”

SHAFAQNA – You keep likening the headscarf to a tool of oppression! Is it difficult to fathom that Muslim women make their own choices, and that modesty is actually a form of emancipation?

MINISTER ROSSIGNOL – Women in Islamic countries have been systematically denied their rights: Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan … women and girls are kept out of school, and denied work opportunities. France has seen a rise on honour killing and other violence against women, all in the name of Islam. I’m not saying that all Muslims are radicals but there are issues which need addressing.

SHAFAQNA – All the examples you are citing relate to countries which have espoused Wahhabism – a radical expression of Islam, which many scholars, including Dr John Andrew Morrow, have actually accused of standing outside Islam. More importantly your government continues to entertain friendships with such countries. Don’t you think it is a little bit hypocritical for you to decry Muslims while opening yourself up to Wahhabism in exchange for lucrative contracts?

Do you deny that Riyadh has invested billions upon billions of dollars in promoting and exporting Wahhabism – the very Wahhabism you are now blaming for France’s radicalization problem. Is it true therefore that it is Wahhabism and not Islam which should warrant your wrath?

MINISTER ROSSIGNOL – I don’t see how France foreign policy has anything to do with Muslim communities in France. It is important for France to defend its values and ensure that our traditions are respected. We will not tolerate for our republican values to be challenged. France is a republic.

SHAFAQNA – Dr. John Andrew Morrow, the Director of the Covenants Initiative, and the author of the ground-breaking Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of the World, participated in a Sunni-Shiite Summit on April 15, 2016.

Organized by ISNA, participants also included Dr. Sayyid Syeed, the National Director for the Office for Interfaith & Community Alliances; Sayyid Mohammad Baqir Kashmiri, the representative of Ayatullah Sistani in the United States; M.J. Khan, the President of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston; and Imam Mohammad Elahi, the spiritual leader of the Islamic House of Wisdom (IHW) in Dearborn Heights, among many others.

Dr. John Andrew Morrow related some of the traumatic experiences he faced when he entered Islam in the mid-1980s and how he was confronted with Takfiri Wahhabis who taught him their three pillars: haram, bid‘ah, and takfir, namely, prohibition, innovation, and excommunication.

An account of his initiation into pseudo-Islamic extremism, titled “Nightmares in Takfiristan: A Cautionary Tale,” can be found in his new book titled Restoring the Balance: Using the Qur’an and Sunnah to Guide a Return to the Prophet’s Islam.

Morrow was quick to point out that although such Salafi gangs used to openly recruit fighters in mosques in the 1980s and 1990s, they were forced out of Islamic centers after 9/11, and now limit themselves primarily to cyber-radicalization.

In the comments he addressed to the participants in the intrafaith summit, Morrow expounded upon the importance of identifying the origin of extremist ideology and those who are responsible for spreading this plague across the planet.

He spoke of the importance of selecting imams carefully. As he explained, “We should select scholars who were trained in traditional centers of Islamic scholarship; namely, Tarim, Yemen; al-Azhar in Egypt; and al-Qarawiyyin in Morocco.”

“When I go to a Sunni mosque,” said Morrow, “I want to be attended by a Sunni Imam; not by a Salafi-Wahhabi-Takfiri Jihadi.”

He also insisted that mainstream Muslims should produce their own literature that accurately reflects the traditional teachings of Islam as opposed to rely upon the sectarian propaganda produced in places such as Saudi Arabia.

Morrow also voiced his concern that intrafaith efforts were not necessarily trickling down to common Muslims who attend mosques.

“We may meet once a month, share tea and crumpets, and express how much we appreciate one another; however, we are all educated, cultured, and generally affluent people. How much of this message is reaching our congregations?”

Moving forward, Morrow proposed that the Muslim Community should be independent, indigenous, and centrist. “We should be independent,” he explained, “namely, we should neither be agents of Saudi Arabia nor of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

“As Muslims,” argued Morrow, “we should be loyal to our nations.” However, as he explained in an important caveat, “loving one’s nation does not necessarily imply loving one’s government or its policies.”

Not only should Muslims be loyal to their nations, explained Morrow, they should be indigenous, namely, they should represent their own interests as American, Canadian or Western Muslims. Otherwise, he stressed, they would remain subjected to what he described as religious or reverse colonialism.

Finally, he emphasized that Muslims should be centrists. Acknowledging that there are extremists on both the Sunni and the Shiite sides, he called upon believers to move towards the center and to focus on commonality.

Stressing that importance of studying the full spectrum of Islam and appreciating the blessings that are inherent in diversity of opinion, he insisted that Western Muslims should promote traditional, civilizational Islam.

“There are those who speak of American Islam,” pointed out Morrow, “however, that could be misconstrued as meaning an Islam at the service of the American Empire. I am speaking of Universal Islam.”

SHAFAQNA – Dr. John Andrew Morrow, the Director of the Covenants Initiative, and the author of the ground-breaking Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of the World, participated in a Sunni-Shiite Summit on April 15, 2016.

Organized by ISNA, participants also included Dr. Sayyid Syeed, the National Director for the Office for Interfaith & Community Alliances; Sayyid Mohammad Baqir Kashmiri, the representative of Ayatullah Sistani in the United States; M.J. Khan, the President of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston; and Imam Mohammad Elahi, the spiritual leader of the Islamic House of Wisdom (IHW) in Dearborn Heights, among many others.

Dr. John Andrew Morrow related some of the traumatic experiences he faced when he entered Islam in the mid-1980s and how he was confronted with Takfiri Wahhabis who taught him their three pillars: haram, bid‘ah, and takfir, namely, prohibition, innovation, and excommunication.

An account of his initiation into pseudo-Islamic extremism, titled “Nightmares in Takfiristan: A Cautionary Tale,” can be found in his new book titled Restoring the Balance: Using the Qur’an and Sunnah to Guide a Return to the Prophet’s Islam.

Morrow was quick to point out that although such Salafi gangs used to openly recruit fighters in mosques in the 1980s and 1990s, they were forced out of Islamic centers after 9/11, and now limit themselves primarily to cyber-radicalization.

In the comments he addressed to the participants in the intrafaith summit, Morrow expounded upon the importance of identifying the origin of extremist ideology and those who are responsible for spreading this plague across the planet.

He spoke of the importance of selecting imams carefully. As he explained, “We should select scholars who were trained in traditional centers of Islamic scholarship; namely, Tarim, Yemen; al-Azhar in Egypt; and al-Qarawiyyin in Morocco.”

“When I go to a Sunni mosque,” said Morrow, “I want to be attended by a Sunni Imam; not by a Salafi-Wahhabi-Takfiri Jihadi.”

He also insisted that mainstream Muslims should produce their own literature that accurately reflects the traditional teachings of Islam as opposed to rely upon the sectarian propaganda produced in places such as Saudi Arabia.

Morrow also voiced his concern that intrafaith efforts were not necessarily trickling down to common Muslims who attend mosques.

“We may meet once a month, share tea and crumpets, and express how much we appreciate one another; however, we are all educated, cultured, and generally affluent people. How much of this message is reaching our congregations?”

Moving forward, Morrow proposed that the Muslim Community should be independent, indigenous, and centrist. “We should be independent,” he explained, “namely, we should neither be agents of Saudi Arabia nor of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

“As Muslims,” argued Morrow, “we should be loyal to our nations.” However, as he explained in an important caveat, “loving one’s nation does not necessarily imply loving one’s government or its policies.”

Not only should Muslims be loyal to their nations, explained Morrow, they should be indigenous, namely, they should represent their own interests as American, Canadian or Western Muslims. Otherwise, he stressed, they would remain subjected to what he described as religious or reverse colonialism.

Finally, he emphasized that Muslims should be centrists. Acknowledging that there are extremists on both the Sunni and the Shiite sides, he called upon believers to move towards the center and to focus on commonality.

Stressing that importance of studying the full spectrum of Islam and appreciating the blessings that are inherent in diversity of opinion, he insisted that Western Muslims should promote traditional, civilizational Islam.

“There are those who speak of American Islam,” pointed out Morrow, “however, that could be misconstrued as meaning an Islam at the service of the American Empire. I am speaking of Universal Islam.”

SHAFAQNA – Dr. John Andrew Morrow, the world-renowned academic and international peace activist, was recently awarded an Interfaith Service Award by the Islamic Society of North America in recognition of his outstanding contributions to interfaith dialogue and initiatives.

The ceremony, which took place in Washington, DC, on Friday April 15^th, equally honored Dr. Jim Winkler, the President and General Secretary of the National Council of Churches.

Morrow, a full professor of foreign languages and a senior scholar of Islam, rose to international prominence after the publication of The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of the World in 2013 and Six Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of His Time in 2016.

As a result of his game-changing research, Morrow brought to light many of the treaties—some largely forgotten, some untranslated, others entirely new—that the Prophet Muhammad concluded with over a dozen Jewish, Christian, and Zoroastrian communities.

These newly-revealed covenants prove that the Prophet Muhammad was committed to creating a tolerant, inclusive, and pluralistic state, in which the rights of all citizens were protected.

As legions of scholars have confirmed, the Covenants of the Prophet are completely consistent with the Covenant of Medina, the first political constitution, which was produced by the Messenger of God after he established a government in the year 622 CE.

These Muhammadan Covenants, unknown to many contemporary Muslims, inspired Charles Upton to create the Covenants Initiative, an international movement of Muslims devoted to defending persecuted religious minorities. The Initiative was first directed to Christians, (in line with The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of the World), but was later expanded to include Jews, Shiites, Sufis, traditional Sunnis, and Yezidis.

Upon the request of Christian leaders, the Covenants Initiative produced the Genocide Initiative, a political campaign aimed at accusing ISIS of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

Working in conjunction with a large number of partners, the Genocide Initiative was instrumental in convincing the US Government to pass the Fortenberry Resolution, in March of 2016, decrying genocide against Christians and other religious minorities in Iraq and Syria.

According to Dr. Sayyid Syeed, the National Director for the Office for Interfaith & Community Alliances for the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), the Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad helped inspire the Marrakesh Declaration.

Issued in January 2016, and signed by more than 250 Muslim religious leaders, heads of states, and scholars, the Marrakesh Declaration reiterated the rights of religious minorities in predominantly Muslim countries.

Since its publication in 2013, over 350 articles have been written about The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of the World. The work is also being used by many groups to counter radicalization.

In his acceptance speech, which he delivered after the screening of a video highlighting his journey to Islam and scholarly accomplishments, Morrow redirected all accolades to Allah and the Messenger of Allah:

“I humbly accept this award in the name of Allah, to whom all praise is due, and on behalf of Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah, may peace and blessings be upon him, who deserves all credit and recognition. This is his work. These are his words. Although most of us only became aware of the Covenants of the Prophet over the past few years, they have a long, venerable, and well-documented history. They were well known to the Caliphs, Sultans, and Shahs of Islam until the fall of the Ottoman Empire. My role has been one of rediscovery, analysis, and advocacy. I am merely the medium. The one being honored here today is not me but the Messenger of Allah.”

Commenting upon the significance of the long-lost documents that resurfaced as a result of his scholarship, the Aboriginal Canadian/American professor made the following observations:

“The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, represent a revolution in our understanding of Islam. They grant Muslims, and non-Muslims, all the rights offered by secular, liberal, democracies, but under the auspices of God rather than Man. More than Human Rights given by human beings, we are dealing with Divine Rights granted to humanity by the Divinity. The Covenants reveal how Islam, from within its own tradition, offers a viable socio-political and economic alternative to Secularism, Capitalism, and Modernism. Consequently, I call Muslims to the Qur’an; I call Muslims to the Sunnah; and I call Muslims to the Covenants of Rasul Allah, may God bless him and grant him peace.”

He concluded his comments by thanking everyone at ISNA for supporting his scholarship.

SHAFAQNA – An intrafaith leadership summit was held in Washington, DC, on April 15, 2016. Organized by the Islamic Society of North America, the gathering included Dr. Sayyid Syeed from ISNA, Dr. John Andrew Morrow from the Covenants Initiative, Sayyid Mohammad Baqir Kashmiri from IMAM, M.J. Khan from the Islamic Society of Greater Houston, and Imam Mohammad Elahi from the Islamic House of Wisdom, among various other Sunni and Shiite community leaders.

The summit, which was witnessed by prominent Jewish and Christian leaders, was scheduled to last only two hours. However, with the exception of congregational Friday prayers held in the Capitol Building, the group spent the entire day in fruitful discussion and dialogue.

Dr. Sayyid Syeed, ISNA’s National Director for the Office for Interfaith & Community Alliances for the Islamic Society of North America, reiterated his organization’s commitment to Islamic unity. He observed that ISNA has included Shiites in top leadership positions in the past.

Syeed also stipulated that ISNA has never asked its members what kind of Muslims they were and that the organization has always been open to Sunnis and Shiites, Sushis, a comical combination of both, and those who simply identify as non-sectarian Muslims. He even joked that ISNA should now change its name to ISNA ASHARI, to acknowledge the presence of Twelver Shiites in its ranks.

The National Director for the Office for Interfaith & Community Alliances shared ISNA’s “Muslim Code of Honor” with all participants. Issued in 2007, and signed by Asma Mirza, Jamal Badawi, AbolFazl Nahidian, Parvez I. Shah, Amir Mukhtar Faezi, Muzammil H. Siddiqi Ingrid Mattson, Mostafa Al-Qazwini, Khurshid Khan, Sheikh Muhammad Nur Abdullah, Sayyid M. Syeed, and Mohamed Magid, it reads:

Preamble

Reports of sectarian tension overseas, particularly in the aftermath of the American invasion of Iraq, have prompted the Muslim American leadership to speak out against communal divisions and all sectarian violence. Such expressions of sectarianism, if unchecked, may add fuel to the fire, engulfing the Community in historical grievances that magnify theological differences and minimize the common “Pillars of Faith” on which all Muslims agree, irrespective of their schools of thought (madhhab).

 As Muslim Americans who live and struggle for a dignified existence for Islam and Muslims in a spirit of peaceful coexistence and respect for all, we believe that the practical challenges of the future supersede the ideological differences of the past.  Moreover, in recognition of our communal duty to promote goodness and peace, we remain eager to offer any help we can and to join hands with all those who wish well for the Family of Believers (Ummah) in stopping the senseless, inhumane violence in Iraq and elsewhere in the world.

 In our view, we must begin by preventing such tragic sectarianism from spilling over into our Muslim communities in the United States.  As a first step toward this goal, we agree to live in peace and respect each other in accordance with a “Muslim Code of Honor.” We remain committed to this Muslim Code of Honor not only during times of agreement and ease but, more importantly, when faced with contentious issues and in times of mutual disagreement.

Muslim Code of Honor

No group or individual shall use, spread or tolerate the rhetoric of branding others as nonbelievers (takfir) against anyone who believes in the oneness and supremacy of God, the prophethood of Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah, peace be upon him, as the last of God’s messengers, and in the reality of the Last Day, agreeing on the authenticity of the Holy Qur’an and facing Makkah (qibla) in daily prayers. Muslims should respect one another and the people, places and events that any Muslim group or individual holds in esteem, even when they disagree about the relative importance of such people and events. Such disagreements, moreover, should only be expressed in a respectful manner, avoiding inflammatory language and insulting verbiage.

 As to differences in the performance of worship (ibadat), we agree to respect the rules in effect and the authority of the leadership that endorses them in a particular mosque or religious institution where they are the norm.

 We agree that steps should be taken to protect the general Muslim population in America from the distribution of divisive, inflammatory or irrelevant literature, primarily from overseas, in order to maintain the integrity and protect the future of Islam in America and curb the spread of harmful and misleading propaganda.

 As a gesture of its commitment to taqrib or rapprochement between the various schools of thought and law in Islam, Dr. Sayyid mentioned that ISNA would demand that all of its mosques place a sign in a prominent place stipulating that the places of prayer in question were inclusive and welcoming of all Muslims: Sunni, Shiite, and Sufi.

Dr. Sayyid Syeed closed the summit with assurances that such Sunni-Shiite meetings will continue to be held regularly and that intrafaith dialogue should be perpetual.

By Dr John Andrew Morrow – Exclusive to Shafaqna

SHAFAQNA – Dr. John Andrew Morrow recently returned from Washington, DC, where he participated in the Islamic Society of North America’s Annual Government and Interfaith Forum.

Morrow, a Muslim scholar, author, and activist, was the first to address at a Press Conference held at the National Press Club on April 14, 2016.

Called upon to launch the interfaith conference by Dr. Sayyid Syeed, the National Director for the Office for Interfaith & Community Alliances for the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Morrow commented upon the Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad and the Covenants Initiative.

Described by Catherine Shakdam as “the book of our generation,” The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of the World is a scholarly study of the treaties that the Messenger of Allah concluded with the People of the Book.

Thanks to the vision of Charles Upton, the book morphed into the Covenants Initiative, an international movement of Muslims to protect persecuted Christians which later expanded to include Jews, Shiites, traditional Sunnis, and Yezidis.

The Press conference featured prominent Muslims leaders such as Azhar Azeez, the President of ISNA; Imam Mohamed Magid from the Adams Center; Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, Chairman of the Fiqh Council of North America, and ISNA executive Fatima Salman.

Interfaith leaders who attended the event included Rev. Ron Stief, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Rabbi Jonah Pesner, Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley, Rabbi Marc Schneier, Rev. Richard Cizik, and Rev. Fr. Dimitrios J. Antokas.

ISNA leaders reissued the 2005 fatwa against terrorism, reaffirmed the rights of religious minorities in Muslim-majority nations by means of the recent Marrakesh Declaration, and committed themselves to working closely with administrations to help prevent radicalization.

While the press conference was well-attended by Muslim, Christian, and Jewish leaders, only two media outlets were observed: CSPAN and a US-funded Iraqi television station. The visible absence of Fox, CNN, MSNBC, al-Arabiya, al-Jazeera, Press TV, and Russia Today, suggest that mass media has little to no interest in broadcasting Muslim efforts to oppose extremism and terrorism.

When asked if they had any questions, the few reporters who bothered to show up to the press conference simply shook their heads. As Morrow commented, “There is a conspiracy of silence when it comes to reporting on Muslim opposition to ISIS. The goal is clear: to convey the impression that Muslims are passive terrorist supporters.”

SHAFAQNA – ISIL, or Daesh as we should learn to use, is in the midst of adding another chapter to its spiralling violence and ideological cleansing of the Middle East.  Both a military plague and a dogmatic cancer onto the world, Daesh militants understand of faith and religion only violence, bloodshed, repression and utmost villainy.

And though the terror outfit has anchored its legitimacy within Islam, arguing only its clerics carry the true tradition of the last Prophet of God, Daesh is but a forgery, a negation many scholars have argued, of the very principles which define the Islamic faith.

Islam’s creed while pluralist cannot be claimed by those who stand in opposition to its core principles.

Key to understanding (and combatting) Daesh is an examination of its ideological underpinning: takfirism, the foundation upon which Wahhabism was risen into existence.

The definition of Takfir goes as follow: Pronouncement that someone is an unbeliever (kafir) and no longer Muslim. Takfir is used in the modern era for sanctioning violence against leaders of Islamic states who are deemed insufficiently religious. It has become a central ideology of militant groups such as those in Egypt, which reflect the ideas of Ibn Taymiyyah and Mohammad Ibn Abdelwahhab, the forefather of Wahhabism.

The principle of Takfi has long been rejected by both Shia and Sunni scholars on account it is based on bigotry.

Takfirism is a centuries-old practice of judging someone to be an unbeliever and rendering them an apostate or hypocrite through the most dogmatic of lenses. Those thirsty for power use it to legitimize inequities and de-legitimize anyone who disagrees with their authority.

“ISIS/TAKFIRIS ARE FRIENDS OF SATAN, THE ENEMIES OF ALLAH AND HIS MESSENGER, FOREMOST IN SHIRK, HYPOCRISY AND APOSTASY AND NO MUSLIM MUST SUPPORT THEM IN ANY FORM OR FASHION”, said Dr John Andrew Morrow, a prominent Islamic scholar, and author.

In an article posted in November 2015 Dr Morrow noted: ““My Mercy prevails over My Wrath,” says Almighty Allah in a sacred saying (narrated by Bukhari, Muslim, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah). For Takfiri terrorists like IS, the so-called “Islamic” State, it is wrath that prevails over mercy. When asked to curse the polytheists, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, responded that “I was sent as a mercy” (Muslim). If anything, the rapists, torturers, and mass murderers who have infiltrated Syria, Iraq, Libya, Egypt, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Nigeria, and other parts of the world, can only be seen as a curse, the likes of which have not been seen since the Mongol invasion of Genghis Khan in the 13th century.

While Islam does indeed permit Jihad, in the form of armed struggle, to combat certain oppressive conditions, it is highly regulated by a detailed code of norms and conduct. The killing of non-combatants, civilians, women, children, imams, priests, monks, nuns, and other members of religious orders, is categorically prohibited in Islam. Torture, rape, and the trafficking of women are all crimes which merit capital punishment under Islamic law. The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade Muslims from sacking sacred sites and places of worship, stating that anyone who destroyed a church or a monastery would receive the curse of Almighty Allah.

IS, ISIS, ISIL or Daesh is a terrorist, mercenary, army at the service of imperial forces. They do not speak for Islam or represent Islam in any shape or form. To describe such psychopaths as Sunnis is to insult the Sunnah. To describe Da‘ish as “Islamic” is an insult to Islam. The only terms that adequately describes the ideology of these demons is Takfiri, Wahhabi, Khariji, and Nasibi, Excommunicators, Wahhabis, Separatists, and Haters of the Household of the Prophet. While they call themselves Jihadists, they pervert the term jihad or sacred struggle. While they call themselves Salafi, followers of the pious predecessors, they are an offense to the true Salaf, the righteous Companions and their Followers.

As Almighty Allah, glorified and exalted be He, warns in the Holy Qur’an, “Do not exaggerate in your religion” (4:171), a verse that can also be translated as “Do not be fanatical in your faith.” The Qur’an also warns believers to “Beware of extremism in your religion” (5:77). In short, Muslims are supposed to be “a justly balanced nation” (2:143). Although some scholars may argue that the reproach against extremism contained in the Qur’an applies only to the People of Book, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, explained that it was equally applicable to Muslims. In fact, he warned his followers to “Beware of extremism in your religion for it is that which destroyed the nations which came before you” (Nasai and Ibn Majah). In another tradition, he stated that “The religious extremists are destroyed” (Muslim and Abu Dawud). The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, also warned: “There are two groups of people from my Ummah who will not receive my intercession: oppressive rulers, and religious extremists” (Tabarani)

It should be noted, however, that Takfiri combatants are not committed Muslims. In reality, they are all mercenaries. Large numbers of them are non-Muslim soldiers of fortune and guns-for-hire, and many are drawn from the criminal class. “Allah is Beautiful and loves beauty,” says the Prophet Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace (Muslim). Takfiri terrorists, however, are hideously ugly. “Allah is good and only accepts that which is good,” said the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him (Muslim). Takfiri terrorists, however, are devoid of good. Since “Allah is Just and loves justice,” and “Allah is Loving and loves love,” the true representatives of Islam are Ahl al-Hub and Ahl al-‘Adl, the People of Love and the People of Justice. As Almighty Allah warns in the Holy Qur’an: “Do not commit evil in the land for God does not love the evil-doers” (28:77)

Takfiri terrorists, such as ISIS/ISIL/IS, as well as al-Qa’edah, al-Shabab, the Taliban, al-Nusrah, Boko Haram, and other criminal organizations, do not speak for Islam or represent Islam. Not only are they not Ahl al-Sunnah (Sunnis), they are not members of the Ummah (Community) of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, as a result of their own beliefs and actions. The Takfiriyyin, (those who believe that all Muslims, save themselves, are infidels), the Khawarij (those who broke away from the community in the early days of Islam, accusing both the Sunnis and the Shi‘ites of apostasy) and the Nawasib (those who hate the Household of the Prophet and their followers) are agents of the enemies of Islam.

We do not condemn the Takfiris as “infidels who may be legally killed” as they do in the case of traditional Sunnis, Shi‘ites, and Sufis. The traditional Muslim Shari’ah does not grant carte blanche to kill someone simply because he or she is an atheist, an agnostic, a Jew, a Christian, a Hindu, a Bahai or a Salafi-Jihadi. As Almighty Allah warns in the Qur’an:“Whosoever kills a human being unless it be for manslaughter or for mischief in the land, it shall be as if he had killed all of humanity” (5:32).

Although people cannot be condemned to death on the basis of their beliefs, they can be killed in combat or receive the death penalty on the basis of their actions. Consequently, any and all terrorists who have committed crimes against humanity and the Divinity should be brought to justice. And while Shimr may have murdered Imam Husayn, the grandson of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, the true culprit was Yazid, his Commander in Chief, may the curse of God be upon him. Likewise, while Takfiri terrorists should be held accountable for their crimes, those who founded them, funded them, armed them, trained them, and supported them, in any form or fashion, should be exposed and face the sword of justice.

The so-called “Islamic State” should be known as the “Satanic State” as it does nothing but spread corruption on earth (Fasad fi al-Ard). Territory under the control of Takfiri terrorists is the abode of unbelief (Kufr), falsehood (Ifk), heresy (Ilhad), and immorality (Fawahish). They represent the path of error (Sirat Al-Dalala), the pulpit of discord (Minbar Al-Khilaf), the den of iniquity (‘Arin Al-Ghawayyah), and the land of criminals (Dawlat Al-Mujrimin). The Takfiris are the enemies of Allah and His Messenger (‘Adu Allah wa Rasulihi). As such, it is categorically prohibited to support them in any form or fashion. Moreover, it is the obligation of all Muslims from Ahl al-Sunnah, Ahl al-Tasawwuf, and Ahl al-Bayt (the Sunnis, the Sufis, and the Shi‘ites), to oppose the polytheism (Shirk), hypocrisy (Nifaq), apostasy (Irtidad), and schism (Shiqaq) that the Takfiris are spreading throughout the lands of Islam.

The only people authorized to establish the Government of God on Earth are the Mahdi and Jesus, the Son of Mary, peace be upon them both. As we anxiously await their rise, we must stand for peace and justice, uphold Islamic ethical values, defend human dignity, and respect and preserve human life. Do not be deceived during these times of trials and tribulations (Fitan). People, who rape, torture, mutilate and murder civilians, non-combatants, hostages and prisoners of war are not Friends of Allah (‘Auliya’ Allah). People who destroy places of worship and sacred sites, who burn churches and blow up mosques with copies of the Holy Qur’an still in them, are not Friends of Allah. People who violate the teachings of the Qur’an, the Sunnah, the Shari‘ah, and the Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, are not the Friends of Allah. If anything, they are the Friends of Satan (‘Auliya’ al-Shaytan). As Muslims, our response towards terrorists can only be one: “Fight the friends of Satan” (Qur’an 4:76); “And slay them wherever you may come upon them, and drive them away from wherever they drove you away for tumult and oppression is even worse than slaughter” (Qur’an 2:191).

In light of the non-Islamic character of the Takfiris and their role as agents of western and globalist imperialism against Islam, Muslims should find it easy to see through their absurd claim to be “defenders of Islam!””

Under the framework of takfirism, Daesh justifies an ideological cleansing of Kurds, Yazidis, Shia, Sufis, and anyone else who does not conform to its religious tyranny. Daesh is using takfirism to accomplish its goal of ridding the region of “impure” elements — like Christianity — and symbols — like the shrine of Jonah.

Takfirism turned violent in the late seventh century with the Kharijites, an early extremist group that rejected Muslims who did not accept their political and religious views. Known for their puritanism and fanaticism, this group engaged in campaigns of harassment and terror. The Kharijites’ violent extremism didn’t last long, as it was quickly dismissed as antithetical to Islam by the independent and authoritative ulema (religious leaders and scholars) of the time.

Today, takfirism has found new life within the structures of contemporary Gulf monarchies. The Gulf states used takfirism to eliminate political opponents and vulnerable populations, including religious minorities and women. They legitimized their modern takfirism by co-opting religious authority, fabricating religious texts, and spreading selective interpretations and applications of Islam by establishing schools and funding those that would teach their literal and absolutist Islamic narrative.

The diverse and principled interpretations of the Qur’an, hadith, and millions of other volumes written on theology, philosophy, and jurisprudence were eventually reduced to a whisper. The heart of the Qur’an — justice, equity, and compassion — became an inconvenient footnote because it was contrary to their agenda. Instead, the austere doctrine of takfirism was promoted as both a means to solidify power and create a duplicitous strand of anti-Western rhetoric while serving Western powers.

Now, these governments wield unanimous political and religious control. The result is an unholy alliance of clergy and state along with the disintegration of an independently authoritative ulema, consequently leading to the proliferation of groups like Daesh.

Also adding to their perceived legitimacy is the use of the term “jihadist” to classify these violent extremist groups. This misnomer serves the interest of groups like Daesh as they rely on framing themselves within fundamental Islamic concepts to recruit members. Jihad is translated as “struggle,” which can be taken to mean anything from an internal struggle against one’s desires to outright resisting oppression.

When groups like ISIL dress themselves in the pietistic robes of a righteous jihad, vulnerable and ostracized Muslims will see them as legitimate. Their violent ideology, while not grounded in Islamic jurisprudence or political thought, is effective propaganda nonetheless.

Education as always, as well as the promotion of Islam’s true tradition would go a long way in opposing the rise of terror, as without arms Takfirism cannot advance.

By Catherine Shakdam for Shafaqna

SHAFAQNA – Earlier this November 2015, Dr John Andrew Morrow delivered a powerful lecture on radicalism, its ideology and how it absolutely does not align with Islam’s teachings, philosophy and tenets at the Ivy Tech Community College in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Following is a transcript of his lecture:

“Ladies and gentlemen. Brothers and sisters. Children of Adam.

It is a blessing to be in your presence this afternoon at Ivy Tech Community College in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

I commence by thanking Almighty God for this opportunity at the same time that I thank Professor Daniel Hall and all the administration here at Ivy Tech for making this event possible. For verily, as the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “He who does not thank people does not thank God” (Tirmidhi, Ibn Hibban).

I would also like to thank our audience and all of our guests for taking the time to attend this event which, I hope and pray, will open minds and hearts, and succeed, not only in the theoretical sphere but also in the practical sphere.

Islam vs. ISIS. ISIS vs. Islam. The topic is timely. It is very much a matter of life or death.

If, God forbid, we listen to right-wing radio headed by hate-mongers who follow in the footsteps of Paul Joseph Goebells, or read the writings of political pundits who pretend to be experts on Islam; you know, people like Robert Spencer and Pamela Geller, we will have inevitably come to the conclusion that Islam is the mother of all evil and that ISIS is the embodiment of Islam. To be fair, you will come to same conclusion, namely, that Islam is inherently evil, even if you listen to the liberal media. Just ask Bill Maher.

For educated individuals, however, with a capacity for critical thinking this conclusion is unwarranted, ignorant, and ill-informed. There is a great deal of anti-Jewish propaganda yet I have never accepted it blindly. There is a great deal of racist propaganda yet I have never accepted it blindly.

As intelligent adults we have an obligation to investigate matters, to question claims, to seek verification, and to examine counter-arguments. We need to see all sides of a story. We need to draw our information from credible sources. We must come to a balanced and informed conclusion concerning any topic.

When I see Western powers invade, occupy, and colonize the Americas, leading to the death of 80 million indigenous people, my people, I do not blame the Cross despite the fact that the perpetrators of this physical and cultural genocide claimed to act in its name.

When I see 100 million Africans enslaved by self-professed Christians, I do not blame the Gospels.

When I see the suffering caused by Western imperialism and colonialism all around the world, I do not condemn the Christian faith.

When I see self-professed Christian fundamentalists and Dominionists spewing hatred like volcano spews lava, I do not blame Jesus.

When I see images of the Ku Klux Klan castrating and killing Irish Catholics and African Americans, I do not blame Christianity.

When I see so-called German Christians exterminate Jews, Muslims, gypsies, homosexuals, and the disabled, I do not blame Christ.

When I see nuclear bombs dropped on civilian populations in Hiroshima and Nagasaki—Nagasaki, which was then the most Christian city in Japan, whose cathedral towers were used by the B-29 crew to mark ground zero—in two of the greatest acts of terrorism the world has ever seen, I do not blame the Bible.

When I see millions of Vietnamese civilians massacred by the US army, I do not blame the Church.

When I see the Israeli Defense Forces bomb schools and hospitals and kill civilians by the thousands, I do not blame the Torah; I do not disrespect Judaism.

When I see over one million Iraqi civilians murdered in the course of two illegal invasions, I do not blame Christianity.

When I see the brutal government in Burma strip its indigenous Muslim population of its citizenship, confine them to concentration camps, engage in pogroms, and expel them from their country in a campaign of ethnic, linguistic and religious cleansing, I do not blame Buddha.

Likewise, when we see the likes of the Taliban, al-Qaedah, al-Nusrah, and ISIS committing war crimes and acts of genocide, we should not be so quick to condemn the Prophet Muhammad, the Qur’an, and Islam.

My intention is not to offend. My intention is to clear the table. Set things straight. Get God out of the picture. Get religion out of the picture. Get the prophets of God out of the picture. And put the blame where the blame belongs: on human beings regardless of their race, ethnicity, nationality, culture or religion.

I will admit that things are not always clear, particularly when the criminals in question commit atrocities in the name of Allah, in the name of Muhammad, in the name of Islam, in the name of the Qur’an, and in the name of the Shari‘ah.

Yes, even generally well informed people; good, kind, generous and tolerant people, can get confused; and can entertain doubts about the true nature of Islam. This is why I am here. This is why you are here. We are all here to learn or at least to remind ourselves of what Islam really is and what Islam really teaches.

MURDER

Islam prohibits murder. ISIS murders indiscriminately.

As we read in the Qur’an: “Whosoever kills a human being for other than murder or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all humankind, and whoever saves a human life, it is as if he has saved all of humankind” (5:32).

KILLING CIVILIANS

Islam prohibits the killing of civilians. ISIS encourages the killing of civilians.

KILLING THE ELDERY,THE SICK, AND THE BLIND

Islam prohibits killing the elderly, the sick, and the blind in times of military conflict. ISIS encourages such cowardly crimes.

The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Do not kill old men” (Muslim, Bayhaqi).

Abdullah Azzam, the godfather of terrorism, wrote that: “Those who can be useful to the unbelievers and to others must be killed, whether they are old people, priests or invalids.”

It’s the exact opposite of what Islam teaches.

KILLING WOMEN

Islam prohibits the killing of women during times of war. ISIS not only kills women, they make sure to rape them, degrade them and humiliate them before doing so.

KILLING CHILDREN

Islam prohibits the killing of children. ISIS encourages the killing of children.

In fact, Islam prohibits the use of child combatants. However, ISIS is eager to use child combatants and even go to schools, with a handy apostate or infidel in hand, to show children, hands on, how to behead a so-called unbeliever.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Do not kill children” (Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Muslim, Bayhaqi)

KILLING PRISONERS

Islam prohibits the killing of prisoners. The only exception is made for those who have committed war crimes. ISIS, however, routinely executes prisoners.

RAPE

Islam prohibits rape. ISIS encourages rape.

ISIS terrorists go door to door in search for girls to sexually assault. If they resist, they are gang-raped, crucified or decapitated. Tens of thousands of girls have been sold into prostitution by ISIS, some, for as little as a pack of cigarettes. ISIS encourages its fighters to enslave Yazidi women, Christian women, and Apostate women. By Apostate, they mean Muslim women who are not Wahhabis. They allow a single girl or woman to be owned collectively by a group of men, all of whom have the right to rape her even if she has not reached the age of puberty.

DISREPECTING CHRISTIANS

Islam commands Muslims to respect Christians. ISIS has nothing but contempt for them.

As Almighty God says in the Qur’an: “You will find the nearest in love to those who believe to be those who say: Verily, we are Christians. That is because there are among them priests and monks, and they are not proud” (5:82).

For ISIS, however, all Christians are infidels whose blood is legal to shed.

This is not to say that there are no bad Christians. That would be like saying there are no bad Muslims.

The world, however, is not black and white. Islam’s view of the Other is nuanced. As Almighty God says in the Holy Qur’an: “They are not all alike. Among the People of Book is an upright community, who recite the verses of God in the watches of the night, and who prostrate [to Him]; they believe in God and the Last Day, enjoin the good and forbid the evil, and hasten unto good works; they are among the righteous” (3:13).

Early Muslims distinguished between Christians who were friends and allies and Christians who were enemies. Muslims never described Western colonizers, and imperialists, as Christians. They described them as crusaders and infidels. The Christians of the Middle East, those who had been granted covenants of protection by the Prophet, and who had harbored and protected him when his own people, the Arab pagans, persecuted him, were described as “our Christian brothers.” In the Middle East, Muslims, Christians, and Jews, fought together against their common foes.

KILLING CHRISTIANS

Islam prohibits the killing of Christians. ISIS encourages it.

As the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever kills a Christian shall not smell the fragrance of Paradise though its fragrance can be smelled at a distance of forty years [of traveling]” (Bukhari).

As Abu Bakr, the first Caliph, said: “Beware not to kill those who benefit from the protection of Allah for Allah will ask you about His protection and will cast you into the Fire face-first” (Hajjar).

KILLING MONKS

Islam prohibits the killing of monks. ISIS encourages it.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Do not kill monks” (Abu Dawud, Ahmad, Tirmidhi).

Abdullah Azzam, the forefather of al-Qaedah, al-Nusrah, and ISIS, said: “Monks living in society must be killed.” He wrote this in his ironically titled Morals and Jurisprudence of Jihad; written by a man devoid of morals and values.

OPPRESSING CHRISTIANS

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “If anyone wrongs a man or a woman with whom a covenant has been made, or curtails any right of his, or imposes on him more than he can bear, or takes anything from him without ready agreement, I shall be his adversary on the Day of Resurrection” (Abu Dawud, Abu Yusuf).

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “He who robs a Christian or imposes on him more than he can bear will have me as his opponent [on the Day of Judgment]” (Abu Yusuf).

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever oppresses a Christian, I will testify against him on the Day of Judgment” (Bukhari and Abu Dawud).

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “He who causes damage to a Muslim or non-Muslim is to be cursed!” (Abu Yusuf).

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Observe scrupulously the protection accorded by me to non-Muslim subjects. Whoever oppresses non-Muslim subjects, shall find me to be their advocate on the day of Resurrection (against the oppressor)” (Muslim and Mawardi).

‘Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second Caliph, was even more explicit: “I warn you concerning those who have been placed under the protection of Allah for the protection of your Prophet covers them” (Hajjar).

DESTROYING CHURCHES AND MONASTERIES

Islam prohibits the destruction of churches and monasteries. Not only does ISIS destroy churches and monasteries, they take particular pleasure in blowing up mosques, without bothering to remove the Qur’ans that were inside, of course, showing how much they really respect the Word of God. They take pleasure in blowing up the graves of prophets, messengers, companions of the Prophet, and other saintly figures. How much respect to you have for these figures if you desecrate their graves and scatter their remains?

CONVERTING PEOPLE BY FORCE

Islam prohibits converting people to Islam by force. ISIS encourages it.

As Almighty Allah says in the Holy Qur’an: “There is no compulsion in religion” (2:256). As Almighty Allah says in the Holy Qur’an: “To you your religion and to me mine” (109:6).

ISIS routinely offers people the choice of conversion or death. Recently, they crucified a Christian boy because his father refused to convert to Islam.

TORTURING PEOPLE

Islam prohibits torture. ISIS tortures people for pleasure. They torture prisoners routinely and they torture the populations under their control.

As the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him said: “The punishment by fire does not behoove anyone except the Master of the Fire (God Himself)” (Abu Dawud). Who the hell is ISIS to burn prisoners alive?

The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, is also reported to have said that “He who tortures people will be tortured by God” and “Those who torture people in this world will be tortured in the other world” (Abu Yusuf 86).

And yet we find ISIS gouging out people’s eyes, throwing people of building, crucifying them, drowning them, dousing them with gasoline, and burning them alive. We see them make a mockery of shari‘ah punishments, which are supposed to be swift, hacking away at a man’s hand or neck with a dull knife.

CANNIBALISM

Islam prohibits cannibalism. The terrorists from al-Nusrah, however, cannibalize corpses and ISIS terrorists have forced prisoners to eat their dead relatives.

Do you seek how ridiculous this gets?

It’s like asking Christians to prove that Christianity is opposed to fornication, adultery, murder, pornography, pedophilia… If Christians engage in these activities, then Christianity is to blame…

We, as Muslims, should not be forced to apologize for crimes committed by Muslims anymore than Jews, Christians, Buddhists or Hindus should be forced to apologize every time a person who claims to profess their faith commits a sin or a crime.

ISLAM VS. ANTI-ISLAM

Although we speak of Islam vs. ISIS or ISIS vs. Islam, it is clear that we are speaking of Islam vs. Anti-Islam.

When we are talking about ISIS, al-Nusrah, al-Qa’idah, and the Taliban, these modern-day Kharijites and Nawasib, we are not talking about misinterpretations of Islam.

When we are talking about Takfiri/Wahhabi/Islamist/Jihadists, we are not talking about aberrations of Islam.

THE ISLAMIC STATE IS NOT ISLAMIC: IT IS SATANIC.

ISIS IS NOT SUNNI

ISIS IS AN EXISTENCIAL THREAT TO SUNNI ISLAM

To put things into a Christian framework, it is like comparing Christianity to the Klan or Christianity to Apartheid, or Christianity to White Supremacy.

You insult Christianity by considering such people to be Christians.

Let us take some of the Ten Commandments for example, something Jews, Christians, and Muslims all agree upon.

God says: “You shall have no other gods but Me and You shall not make idols.”

And then you have someone who usurps divine authority, acts as God, arrogantly believing that he can judge a person’s faith; and that he can act as judge, jury, and executioner.

God says: “You shall not take the name of the Lord God in vain.”

And then you have these people who invoke the name of God, blasphemously, while they rape, torture, mutilate, and murder, soiling the name of God and spitting on the name of God.

God says: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

While there is no Sabbath in Islam, there are plenty of holy days, days that have been desecrated; and sacred celebrations like ‘Id al-Adha that have been outlawed.

God says: “Honor your father and your mother.”

And then you have someone who disrespects his mother, his father, his family, and his community, by accusing them of being apostates whose blood is permissible to shed. You don’t honor your Muslim mother by calling her an infidel. You don’t honor your Muslim father by calling him an unbeliever.

God says: “You shall not murder.”

And then you have someone who murders and promotes murder.

God says: “You shall not commit adultery.”

And then you have someone who rapes, gang-rapes, traffics women, and forces them into sexual slavery.

God says: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

And then you have someone who bears false witness against his neighbors, accusing them of infidelity, heresy, and apostasy in order to get them executed and to steal their homes.

God says: “You shall not covet.”

And then you have someone who robs, steals, and pillages, and who profits from the sale of archeological and historical treasures.

If Judaism has a certain set of beliefs and practices, and a person, who professes to be Jewish, violates them all, not just as a sinner, but with conviction, can he be considered Jewish?

If Christianity has a set of beliefs and laws, and a person, who professes to be Christian, does the complete and total opposite and holds beliefs that are diametrically opposed and contradictory, can that person truly be considered a Christian?

Certainly there are different interpretations of Judaism, Christianity and Islam; there is a spectrum. Some people are in the center. Some people are center right. Some people are center left. Some people are on the periphery of both sides. And then, there are people who are outside of the religious tradition completely and totally.

There are different interpretations of Islam. There are different schools of thought, law, and theology in Islam: but they all form part of the Islamic Tradition. Takfiri terrorists, however, people like the Pseudo-Islamic-State systematically violate the teachings of the Qur’an and the teachings of the Prophet. Consequently, they cannot be remotely connected to Islam.

As al-Shaykh al-Habib ‘Ali al-Jifri said to me, “We must make a clear break between Muslims and Takfiris.” They are not Sunnis. They do not belong to Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama‘at. It is not even an issue of them having left the Jama‘at. Wa Allahi, they were never part of it to begin with! In fact, they have declared war against Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama‘at. They have destroyed hundreds of Sunni mosques and they have executed hundreds of Sunni Imams.

Islam is a religion; a world religion, founded by a man of sublime character, Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.

ISIS, on the other hand, is a diabolical death cult that serves imperial interests.

So, what can we do? What can be done?

We do not have private armies

But we have our voices.

And our voices need to be heard.

And to make sure that this important gathering doesn’t turn out to have been a flash in the pan, I want to leave you with a set a concrete steps that you can take as a Muslim, as a Christian, as a Jewish person, or simply as a decent human being.

Interfaith Work

Engage in Interfaith Work. Get to know your neighbor. Christians! You will be surprised. Most Muslim are perfectly normal human beings. Muslims! You will be surprised: Most Jewish people are perfectly normal human beings.

I know some people think interfaith work is pointless. Some think that it is counterproductive. Some think that it weakens and dilutes different traditions. No; on the contrary; unity does not mean uniformity. What is more, interfaith work has shown its power.

Dozens upon dozens of violent, armed, anti-Muslim protests have been organized around this country. It could easily have gotten ugly. Do you think we aren’t willing and able to respond to threats of force with some serious force of our own? God have mercy on anyone who dares aim a gun at our women and children. It’s called an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth and a life for a life.

But we didn’t respond to threats of violence with more threats and more violence. Why? Because the Qur’an does not teach us to fight fire with fire. Because the Qur’an teaches us to fight evil with good; to fight wrong with what is better. So, we greeted violent, ignorant bigots, racists, and hate-mongers with hugs, with tea and crumpets, and with hospitality. And we won many of them over. We brought them into our mosques. We gave them tours. And they saw, that we are university professors, lawyers, engineers, medical doctors, business owner, entrepreneurs, and hard-working loyal Americans who love this country and would not hesitate to fight anyone who tries to harm it.

How ironic it is, that many of those people who came to protest Islam actually ended up embracing Islam or, at the very least, realizing that what was being falsely presented as Islam by certain sectors in the mass media and political establishment was not, and is not, Islam.

Interfaith work begins with the recognition of our mutual humanity; the next step is the recognition of our common enemy—ISIS, for example, along with its outside supporters whose names and agendas we should learn. The third step is to begin to talk about concrete plans for our mutual defense.

The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad

Spread the Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad. I encourage all of you to read The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of the World, available through Amazon.com, and available right here right now, to share it with friends and family, and to ask your public and university libraries to acquire it for their collections.

The work provides an overview of Christian-Muslim relations from the time of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to the present, focusing on the treaties, and covenants that he concluded with the Christian, Jewish, and Zoroastrian communities of his time.

The full study, which is available in English, Spanish, Italian, and Arabic, is nearly 500 pages long. There is also a shorter booklet, titled Six Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of His Time, which is available in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, Portuguese, and a half a dozen other languages.

ISIS does not speak for Islam. ISIS does not represent Islam. It is the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, who speaks for Islam. See for yourself the rights, privileges, and protections that he granted non-Muslim minorities, Jews, Christians, and others.

The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, granted covenants of protection to the Jews, to Zoroastrians, to Greek Orthodox Christians, to Assyrian Christians, to Syriac Orthodox Christians, to the Coptic Christians, to Armenian Orthodox Christians, to the Christians of Persia, and to the Christians of the world.

He granted them freedom of religion; freedom of belief; and freedom of religious practice. He protected churches, monasteries, and synagogues. He protected monks, priests, and rabbis. He granted them religious autonomy. He protected pilgrims. He prohibited forced conversions. He prohibited excessive taxation. He prohibited Muslim men from taking non-Muslim women by force or coercing them into marriage. In the event a Muslim man married a Jewish or Christian woman, he was obliged to respect her religion and take her to church or to the synagogue. He commanded Muslims to help Jews and Christians maintain and rebuild their places of worship in order to help keep them loyal to their alliance. He exempted clerics from military service. He commanded Muslims to treat non-Muslim with love and care. He prohibited Muslims from oppressing them. In the case of conflict, he commanded dialogue and urged reconciliation. He commanded Muslims to protect Jews and Christians from their enemies. Finally, he made these covenants binding upon all parties until the end of times and prohibited Muslims from changing them.

The Covenants of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, are found in Jewish sources; they are found in Christian sources; and they are found in Muslim sources. They all confirm each other.

If you want Arabic and Muslim names, I will give you names: Waqidi, Ibn Ishaq, Ibn Hisham, Tabari, Mas‘udi, Abu Yusuf, Yahya ibn Adam, Abu ‘Ubaydah, Abu Dawud, Baladhuri, Ya‘qubi, Ibn al-‘Athir, Shaykh al-Mufid, Fakhr al-Din al-Razi, Qalqashandi, Ibn Kathir and Ibn Hawqal… These are only some of the early Arab and Muslim sources that support the Muhammadan Covenants.

If you want Christian names, I will give you names: Latin names, Greek names, Assyrian names, and Armenian names: Sebeos, Sahak, Yohanes, Samuel, Kirakos, Grigor, Ahmad ibn Yusuf, Abu al-Fidah, Ibn al-‘Amid, Habib, Bar Hebraeus, Mari ibn Sulayman, Nektarios of Sinai, Amrus, Assemani, Scaliger and Sionita… These are only some of the early Christian sources that support the Muhammadan Covenants…

The Covenants of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, were respected by the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs and by all the righteous rulers that followed them.

I am not saying that all the Caliphs abided by them. Just like we have good presidents and bad presidents, we have had good Muslim rulers and bad Muslim rulers. However, if one looks at Islamic history as a whole, we find that most of the Ummayads, ‘Abbasids, Ayyubids, Fatimids, Safavids, and Ottomans respected the Covenants of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.

The Muhammadan Covenants were well known throughout most of Islamic history; and were renewed until the end of the Ottoman Empire. However, after the collapse of Islam as a political power, a mere century ago, the Covenants of the Prophet have been forgotten and have fallen into oblivion.

It is therefore our duty, as Muslims, and as non-Muslims, to resurrect these covenants of protection as they represent a solution to many of the problems we face today in the Muslim world.

The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, are ancient equivalents of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms or the Bill of Rights. As Muslims, we have the solution to all our problems in our own religious tradition. We just need to follow it.

The Covenants Initiative

If you are a Muslim, I encourage you to sign the Covenants Initiative available on covenantsoftheprophet.com. Simply put, the signatories agree to abide by the letter and spirit of the Covenants of the Prophet in their dealing with the People of the Book. The Covenants Initiative, available at covenantsoftheprophet.com has been signed by over one hundred and fifty leading Muslim scholars, academics, and activists.

The Genocide Initiative

Finally, we call upon all parties, regardless of their religion or lack thereof, to sign the Genocide Initiative which is available onchange.org (https://www.change.org/p/all-political-players-the-genocide-initiative). It reads:

We, the undersigned, call upon all political powers: beyond all questions of political affiliation, and in the true spirit of human solidarity and decency, to categorize the crimes being committed by ISIS and other Takfiri terrorists against Christians, Twelver Shiites, Ismailis, Alawis, Sufis, traditional Sunnis, and others, as acts of religious, cultural, and ethnic genocide.

Before ISIS, all religious denominations stand in the line of fire. Christians and Muslims know only too well the bitterness and despair of a life spent under the ominous flag of Takfirism—a heretical perversion of Islam, also known as Wahhabism, which reared its hideous head a mere two centuries ago.  Evil has a new face and it is Takfirism! Doing nothing while millions of lives are at risk is tantamount to murder. We owe it to our children to carry on this fight so as to prevent the shadow of our shameful inaction from falling on future generations.

Before the threat of Wahhabi-inspired radicalism the world can no longer afford to stand on the sidelines—the enemy needs to be engaged on all fronts: ideologically through the denunciation of its nefarious dogma, religiously through the coming together of people of all faiths, politically, militarily, financially … everything conceivable must be done and no effort should be spared.

We demand that local, regional, and international powers act decisively to neutralize ISIS and other Takfiri terrorists by cutting off their legs from under them—systematically dismantling their networks, whether financial, political or religious.

While we remain committed to peace, local populations have the right to defend themselves; and we have a duty of care towards them. Therefore, concerted efforts, in keeping with international and territorial sovereignty, should be made to combat this evil by all means necessary.

We urge political and economic powers to freeze all bank accounts of ISIS and other Takfiri terrorists; to seize their assets; and to prosecute any and all who provide material support to genocidalist war criminals.

We further urge these powers to do all they can to determine how the black market trade in oil, drugs, arms, art treasures and enslaved human beings that ISIS and other Takfiri groups rely upon to fund their efforts can be interrupted and brought to a halt, and how anyone involved in any aspect of this trade, as either seller or buyer, can be prosecuted under existing laws.

We challenge all international organizations, human rights groups, intelligence agencies, national security agencies, law enforcement agencies, and military forces to coordinate their efforts to locate, arrest, indict, try, and convict any and all parties responsible for supporting ISIS and other Takfiri terrorists in any form or fashion, including, but not limited to, financial, military, strategic, political or ideological assistance. We call upon members of the legal profession to determine how the perpetrators of these crimes can be indicted under existing laws, including but not limited to those against criminal conspiracy, hate speech, and providing aid to the enemy in time of war.

Finally, we demand that any and all parties who have supported ISIS and other Takfiri groups, in any form or fashion, be labeled as war criminals guilty of genocide.

Google: Genocide Initiative and Change.org and sign the petition

What’s the point? You may ask. What difference will it make? It has already made a difference. The Genocide Initiative has been picked up by media sources all around the world. Thanks to our efforts and those of our partners, a resolution was introduced in Congress in September.

The resolution, introduced in part by our change.org petition, is “House Congressional Resolution 75.” It reads:

H.Con.Res.75 – Expressing the sense of Congress that those who commit or support atrocities against Christians and other ethnic and religious minorities, including Yezidis, Turkmen, Sabea-Mandeans, Kaka’e, and Kurds, and who target them specifically for ethnic or religious reasons, are committing, and are hereby declared to be committing, “war crimes,” “crimes against humanity,” and “genocide.”

Introduced in House (09/09/2015)

Declares that:

• the atrocities committed against Christians and other ethnic and religious minorities targeted specifically for religious reasons are crimes against humanity and genocide;
• each of the Contracting Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and other international agreements forbidding war crimes and crimes against humanity, particularly the governments of countries and their nationals who are in any way supporting these crimes, are reminded of their legal obligations under the Convention and these international agreements;
• the United Nations (U.N.) and the Secretary-General are called upon to assert leadership by calling the atrocities war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide;
• the member states of the U.N., with an appeal to the Arab States that wish to uphold religious freedom and justice, should collaborate on measures to prevent further war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, and collaborate on the establishment of tribunals to punish those responsible for the ongoing crimes;
• the governments of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Lebanese Republic, and other countries are commended for having undertaken to shelter and protect those fleeing extremist violence;
• those who force the migration of religious communities from their ancestral homelands, including specifically the Nineveh Plain and Mount Sinjar, should be prosecuted in accordance with the laws of the place where their crimes were committed and under applicable international criminal statutes and conventions.

We need you to pressure policy makers and politicians. We need you to pressure your elected representatives to support this resolution. We need to get it passed in the House and passed in the Senate. You can help make this happen.

There is no more time or space in the Interfaith Movement for smiles, cordial handshakes and expressions of undying friendship on the part of those who still choose to ignore the crimes and attacks of our common enemies. If we do not band together to defend ourselves against these enemies, then all our expressions of interfaith amity are worse than irrelevant: they are hypocritical. Actions speak louder than words – or, in the words of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, “when you pray, pray with your hands.”

ISLAM VS. ISIS, WHAT WOULD THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD DO?

HE WOULD ACT.

HENCE, I CALL UPON YOU TO ACT.

This is our country. This is our home. We are not leaving.

We all share the same planet.

We must do unto others as we would have them do unto us.

We need to unite, as believers, as Jews, Christians, and Muslims–as fellow human beings–against the plague of extremism and hatred that threatens us all.

To injustice and hatred with respond with justice and love.

I leave you in peace: Salam and Shalom!

SHAFAQNA – The following is a statement by Dr John Andrew Morrow, also know as Imam Ilyas Islam. A scholar of Islam, an Imam and a man of letters, Dr Morrow has been a voice of reason amid a torrent of bigotry and misplaced sectarian hatred.

A student of Islam and a follower of Ahlul Bayt, Dr Morrow stands for Islam in the universality of its message, such as it was conveyed by the Prophet Muhammad and his progeny.

Dr Morrow’s work and efforts have been spent in the service of Islam and others. Following is his rejection of radicalism and Wahhabism.

We join him in our absolute denunciation of terror, hatred, sectarianism and ignorance. We remain the people of the middle, we remain the people of Ghadeer Khumm, and we will remain true to the oath given.

“…men may have no argument against you except those of them that are wrong-doers, so fear them not, but fear Me!” Quran

Dr John Andrew Morrow:

“My Mercy prevails over My Wrath,” says Almighty Allah in a sacred saying (narrated by Bukhari, Muslim, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah). For Takfiri terrorists like IS, the so-called “Islamic” State, it is wrath that prevails over mercy. When asked to curse the polytheists, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, responded that “I was sent as a mercy” (Muslim). If anything, the rapists, torturers, and mass murderers who have infiltrated Syria, Iraq, Libya, Egypt, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Nigeria, and other parts of the world, can only be seen as a curse, the likes of which have not been seen since the Mongol invasion of Genghis Khan in the 13^th century.

While Islam does indeed permit jihad, in the form of armed struggle, to combat certain oppressive conditions, it is highly regulated by a detailed code of norms and conduct. The killing of non-combatants, civilians, women, children, imams, priests, monks, nuns, and other members of religious orders, is categorically prohibited in Islam. Torture, rape, and the trafficking of women are all crimes which merit capital punishment under Islamic law. The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade Muslims from sacking sacred sites and places of worship, stating that anyone who destroyed a church or a monastery would receive the curse of Almighty Allah.

IS, ISIS, ISIL or Daesh is a terrorist, mercenary, army at the service of imperial forces. They do not speak for Islam or represent Islam in any shape or form. To describe such psychopaths as Sunnis is to insult the Sunnah. To describe Da‘ish as “Islamic” is an insult to Islam. The only terms that adequately describes the ideology of these demons is Takfiri, Wahhabi, Khariji, and Nasibi,Excommunicators, Wahhabis, Separatists, and Haters of the Household of the Prophet. While they call themselves Jihadists, they pervert the term jihad or sacred struggle. While they call themselves Salafi, followers of the pious predecessors, they are an offense to the true Salaf, the righteous Companions and their Followers.

As Almighty Allah, glorified and exalted be He, warns in the Holy Qur’an, “Do not exaggerate in your religion” (4:171), a verse that can also be translated as “Do not be fanatical in your faith.” The Qur’an also warns believers to “Beware of extremism in your religion” (5:77). In short, Muslims are supposed to be “a justly balanced nation” (2:143). Although some scholars may argue that the reproach against extremism contained in the Qur’an applies only to the People of Book, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, explained that it was equally applicable to Muslims. In fact, he warned his followers to “Beware of extremism in your religion for it is that which destroyed the nations which came before you” (Nasai and Ibn Majah). In another tradition, he stated that “The religious extremists are destroyed” (Muslim and Abu Dawud). The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, also warned: “There are two groups of people from my Ummah who will not receive my intercession: oppressive rulers, and religious extremists” (Tabarani).

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was confronted with extremists during his lifetime, fanatics that he himself rejected and excommunicated saying that they did not belong to his Ummah or Community. As the Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The Kharijites are the dogs of Hell” (Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and al-Hakim). He also warned his future followers that the Horn of Satan would rise in the Najd, the very region in Arabia where the Wahhabi heresy took hold a mere two hundred years ago (Bukhari). As Imam ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, advised in Nu‘aym ibn Hammad’sKitab al-Fitan or Book of Tribulations,

When you see the black flags, remain where you are and do not move your hands or your feet (namely, “Stay put and do not get involved in the fighting”). Thereafter there shall appear a feeble folk to whom no concern is given. Their hearts will be like fragments of iron. They are the representatives of the State (Ashab al-Dawlah). They will fulfill neither covenant nor agreement. They will invite to the truth, though they are not from its people. Their names will be agnomens (i.e., Abu So-and-so), and their ascriptions will be to villages. Their hair will be long like that of women. (They shall remain so) till they differ among themselves, and then Allah will bring forth the truth from whomever He wills.

It should be noted, however, that Takfiri combatants are not committed Muslims. In reality, they are all mercenaries. Large numbers of them are non-Muslim soldiers of fortune and guns-for-hire, and many are drawn from the criminal class. “Allah is Beautiful and loves beauty,” says the Prophet Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace (Muslim). Takfiri terrorists, however, are hideously ugly. “Allah is good and only accepts that which is good,” said the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him (Muslim). Takfiri terrorists, however, are devoid of good. Since “Allah is Just and loves justice,” and “Allah is Loving and loves love,” the true representatives of Islam are Ahl al-Hub and Ahl al-‘Adl, the People of Love and the People of Justice. As Almighty Allah warns in the Holy Qur’an: “Do not commit evil in the land for God does not love the evil-doers” (28:77).

Takfiri terrorists, such as ISIS/ISIL/IS, as well as al-Qa’edah, al-Shabab, the Taliban, al-Nusrah, Boko Haram, and other criminal organizations, do not speak for Islam or represent Islam. Not only are they not Ahl al-Sunnah (Sunnis), they are not members of the Ummah (Community) of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, as a result of their own beliefs and actions. TheTakfiriyyin, (those who believe that all Muslims, save themselves, are infidels), the Khawarij (those who broke away from the community in the early days of Islam, accusing both the Sunnis and the Shi‘ites of apostasy) and the Nawasib (those who hate the Household of the Prophet and their followers) are agents of the enemies of Islam.

We do not condemn the Takfiris as “infidels who may be legally killed” as they do in the case of traditional Sunnis, Shi‘ites, and Sufis. The traditional Muslim shari‘ah does not grant carte blanche to kill someone simply because he or she is an atheist, an agnostic, a Jew, a Christian, a Hindu, a Bahai or a Salafi-Jihadi. As Almighty Allah warns in the Qur’an: “Whosoever kills a human being unless it be for manslaughter or for mischief in the land, it shall be as if he had killed all of humanity” (5:32).

Although people cannot be condemned to death on the basis of their beliefs, they can be killed in combat or receive the death penalty on the basis of their actions. Consequently, any and all terrorists who have committed crimes against humanity and the Divinity should be brought to justice. And while Shimr may have murdered Imam Husayn, the grandson of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, the true culprit was Yazid, his Commander in Chief, may the curse of God be upon him. Likewise, while Takfiri terrorists should be held accountable for their crimes, those who founded them, funded them, armed them, trained them, and supported them, in any form or fashion, should be exposed and face the sword of justice.

The so-called “Islamic State” should be known as the “Satanic State” as it does nothing but spread corruption on earth (fasad fi al-ard). Territory under the control of Takfiri terrorists is the abode of unbelief (kufr), falsehood (ifk), heresy (ilhad), and immorality (fawahish). They represent the path of error (sirat al-dalala), the pulpit of discord (minbar al-khilaf), the den of iniquity (‘arin al-ghawayyah), and the land of criminals (dawlat al-mujrimin). The Takfiris are the enemies of Allah and His Messenger (‘adu Allah wa rasulihi). As such, it is categorically prohibited to support them in any form or fashion. Moreover, it is the obligation of all Muslims from Ahl al-Sunnah, Ahl al-Tasawwuf, and Ahl al-Bayt (the Sunnis, the Sufis, and the Shi‘ites), to oppose the polytheism (shirk), hypocrisy (nifaq), apostasy (irtidad), and schism (shiqaq) that the Takfiris are spreading throughout the lands of Islam.

The only people authorized to establish the Government of God on Earth are the Mahdi and Jesus, the Son of Mary, peace be upon them both. As we anxiously await their rise, we must stand for peace and justice, uphold Islamic ethical values, defend human dignity, and respect and preserve human life. Do not be deceived during these times of trials and tribulations (fitan). People who rape, torture, mutilate and murder civilians, non-combatants, hostages and prisoners of war are not Friends of Allah (‘awliyya’ Allah). People who destroy places of worship and sacred sites, who burn churches and blow up mosques with copies of the Holy Qur’an still in them, are not Friends of Allah. People who violate the teachings of the Qur’an, the Sunnah, the shari‘ah, and the Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, are not the Friends of Allah. If anything, they are the Friends of Satan (‘awliyya’ al-Shaytan). As Muslims, our response towards terrorists can only be one: “Fight the friends of Satan” (Qur’an 4:76); “And slay them wherever you may come upon them, and drive them away from wherever they drove you away for tumult and oppression is even worse than slaughter” (Qur’an 2:191).

In light of the non-Islamic character of the Takfiris and their role as agents of western and globalist imperialism against Islam, Muslims should find it easy to see through their absurd claim to be “defenders of Islam!” In light of the great deceptions of these times, lets us pray – in the words of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him – “O Lord, show me things as they really are.”

SHAFAQNA – The following is the transcript of a lecture Dr John Andrew Morrow, a prominent cleric and acclaimed author, delivered at the International Museum of Muslim Cultures in Jackson, Mississippi, on Thursday, November 12th, 2015.

A‘udhu billāhi min al-Shayṭān al-rajīm.
Bismillāh al-Rahmān al-Rahīm. Alḥamdulillāhi Rabb al-alamīn

Ṣalawātu wa salām ‘alā Muḥammad al-Amīn ashraf al-mursalīn wa khātim al-nabiyyīn.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Sisters and brothers, Supporters and skeptics, Friends and foes

Or should I say

Foes whom we hope to make friends; people who are misinformed due to erroneous information that is spread incessantly by a multitude of means. Welcome.

I thank you all for attending this lecture on “Early Christian Muslim Encounters: The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of the World.”

And I thank Sidi Emad al-Turk, and everyone at the International Museum of Muslim Cultures here in Jackson, Mississippi, for making this presentation possible.

Tonight I take you on a journey.

I take you from the present to the past to show you that the horrors of the present are not rooted in the past, and that the past can serve as a model for creating a more positive present.

This is not to say that there have not been past horrors. Wrongdoings have been committed by the followers of all major religions. However, these mistakes from the past should serve as lessons for the present. We should not be condemned to repeat the mistakes of the past. We should take steps to ensure they never occur again.

I invite you, I urge you, and I implore you to put aside your preconceived notions for a time; set aside your prejudices for a moment; and cast aside your value judgments for the duration of this presentation.

I admit: this is no easy task. We are very much the product of our environment, upbringing, and culture. We have been bombarded with certain beliefs, some true and some false. We need, to try, at the very least, to clear the clutter from our minds and our hearts in order to be receptive to truth.

As difficult as it may be, as a scholar, I have been trained to do it. To assume ignorance. To clean the table. To purge the mind. To commence with a blank slate. Let us all take a deep breath and begin…

A child is born in Mecca in the sixth century. His childhood is filled with miraculous signs. Priests, monks, and mystics predict that he will be a great prophet. Twice orphaned, his life is endangered by unbelievers. Monks approach his mother, and later his uncle, offering to take him into their protective custody; to guard and protect him in the safety of their isolated monasteries. Guarded by angels, he is kept safe. He works as a shepherd, contemplation the beauty of God’s creation. He joins the caravans of his uncle and travels throughout all of Arabia and the Middle East, reaching what is now modern day Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Turkey, and Armenia… and, according to some sources, as far as North Africa and Spain, as well as Abyssinia.

According to ancient accounts, he supplied the monks from the Monastery of St. Catherine’s at Mount Sinai where he discussed matters of theology and philosophy with the monks; where he visited to sacred sites associated with the prophets of the Old Testament; and where he used to mediate in the cave of Moses, on the top of Mount Sinai, emulating his prophetic predecessor.

One day, while resting in front of the monastery, an eagle appeared, and circled around the young Muhammad, much like that cloud that had followed him on his journeys to Syria, where he was recognized as a prophet by Bahira the Monk and Nestor the Monk.

The Abbot from St. Catherine’s Monastery perceived the sign. He foretold that Muhammad would become a mighty leader. He invited him into the monastery; treated him with utmost hospitality; and asked him to grant the monastery a patent of protection, a covenant, writ, a letter of protection… Muhammad, in all humility, said that he was not in a position to do so… after all, he was but a poor orphan…

Nonetheless, the Abbot was adamant. He brought a piece of parchment, papyrus or paper, along with a bowl of ink. Muhammad dipped his hand in the ink and stamped the paper symbolizing his promise of protection.

The years pass and Muhammad receives revelation. He is persecuted for a decade. Finally, he established a State in Medina. Shortly after his arrival in Medina, he creates the Constitution of Medina; it was a social contract between the State and the citizens of that State. It established, first and foremost, equality between all parties: Jews, Muslims, and pagans, regardless of race, gender, or religion. It provided for the protection of all parties, including women and the poor. It eradicated racism, social superiority, and gender privilege. It created a multilingual, multicultural, multiethnic, multireligious, and multiracial society: a tolerant, cosmopolitan, society; an island of social, economic, and political justice in an ocean of racism, sexism, elitism, hedonism, violence, oppression and exploitation.

Word of Muhammad’s success, and the creation of a new social system spreads throughout Arabia and beyond.

Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians, all of whom were oppressed by the Byzantine and Persian Empires are exposed to an entirely new idea: freedom of religion, participative democracy, and justice for all.

In the second year of hijrah, the monks from St. Catherine’s monastery send a delegation to Medina and remind him of his promise. It was then and there, in his mosque in Medina, in the presence of his companions, that he dictated to Ali a set of rights and privileges that he was granting, not only to the monks from Mount Sinai, but to all the Christians of the World who would be his friends and allies. The document, known in Turkish and Persian as the ashtiname or in Arabic as the ‘ahd nabawi, would remain on display in the Monastery of St. Catherine’s until 1517 when Sultan Selim had the original placed in the Treasury of the Ottoman Empire for safe-keeping, granting the monks certified copies and translations of the original.

Attacked by the pagans from southern Arabia, the Prophet makes peace with the Christians of southern Arabia. Betrayed by a few Jewish tribes surrounding Medina, he makes peace with the Jews of southern Arabia and the Jews of northern Arabia.

Persecuted by the Byzantine Empire, many Christian denominations were branded as heterodox and heretical. The Prophet Muhammad reached out to them, promising them freedom of faith and protection. Soon, Muhammad had created a buffer of allies, consisting of Jewish and Christian communities, to the south and the north, effectively protecting him from his pagan Arab enemies from the south, and the two superpowers of the time, the Byzantine and Persian Empires.

Fortunately, the Prophet had friends; friends he had made during decades of leading caravans throughout the Middle East. Known as al-Amin, or the Trustworthy One, his reputation for righteousness extended far beyond Arabia.

His friends, both Jewish and Christians, serves as his eyes and ears throughout Arabia and on the hinterlands of the Byzantine and Persian empires. They notified him of any troop movements.

During the final four years of his life, Muhammad corresponded with Jewish, Christian, and Zoroastrian leaders. He received a regular stream of delegations from around the Middle East. He granted covenants of protection to old friends and allies and made new supporters in the process.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, also reached out to the Byzantine and Persian Empires, offering them treaties of peace and alliance. Not only did they arrogantly refuse his advances; they deployed their troops to attack the Muslims.

How different the world we be today had the European Christians made peace with the Prophet. There would have been no Crusades. There would have been no Colonialism. There would have been no Imperialism. Christians, Muslims, and Jews, could have co-existed, as fellow monotheists, as the Family of Abraham.

By the time the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, passed away, he had granted covenants of protection to Greek Orthodox Christians, to Syriac Orthodox Christians, to Assyrian Christians, to Armenian Christians, to Coptic Christians, to the Christians of Persia and the Christians of the World. He also granted covenants of protection to the Jews of the Hijaz, to the Jews of the Yemen, and to the Jews of northern Arabia. What is more, he granted covenants of protection to several Zoroastrian communities.
The Covenants of the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, were once widely known in the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim world. During the time of the Prophet, and the early Caliphs, the Ummah or Motherland, included all monotheists. It was only later, when relations between the various communities started to break down, that the People of the Book were excluded from the Community of Believers.  They were still protected communities; however, they no longer fit into the new, increasingly narrow, definition of Islam. Why did relations break down? I blame Muslims. But I also blame Christians and Jews. I blame them all. Some Muslims violated the Covenants of the Prophet. There can be no doubt. At the same time, some Jews and Christians also violated the Covenants of the Prophet. There can be no doubt.  This was not, however, the will of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, who was intent on creating a monotheistic movement that embraced all people of faith under the cover of Islam.

Although the protections granted by the Covenants of the Prophet were respected by most Muslim dynasties, the spirit of solidarity and unity envisioned by the Prophet was lost. After the Ottoman Empire collapsed, approximately one hundred years ago, the Covenants of the Prophet fell into oblivion. They no longer formed a part of the collective consciousness of Muslims. The Christians of the Middle East, however, never forgot them, nor did a small segment of Muslim scholars.

Covenants of the Prophet can be found at the Monastery of St. Catherine in the Sinai; at the Monastery of St. George in Syria; at the Monastery of Simonopetra in Greece; in the archives of the King of France; and in the national archives in Germany. Covenants of the Prophet were found in Istanbul, Seert, Mardin, and Aghtamar in Turkey as well as in New Julfa, in Isfahan, in Persia. Covenants of the Prophet have also been found as far away as Surat, in India. There was a time when most churches, monasteries, and synagogues displayed Covenants of the Prophet, charters of rights and freedom that were granted to them by Muslim Caliphs and Sultans. There are those who argue that the Covenants of the Prophet are forgeries produced by Christians, for self-protection, or by Muslims, in order to improve the image of Islam. These arguments have been thoroughly and systematically refuted.

The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad, may God grant him peace and blessings, have been transmitted through solid chains of historical transmission from the early days of Islam to the present. They are mentioned, in part or in whole, in Muslim and Christian sources from the early years of Islam to the present. The language and terminology they employ is ancient and comparable to that found in the earliest authenticated Islamic source, the Constitution of Medina. While some critics have alleged that the Covenants of the Prophet are spurious, the overwhelming majority of scholars and academics, both Christian and Muslim, have asserted that they are genuine. In short, there is scholarly consensus concerning their reliability.

I therefore invite you to read the booklet titled Six Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of His Time which is available in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Arabic, and which will soon be printed in Dutch, Persian, Turkish, Russian, and Azeri, among other languages.

If you wish an in-depth scholarly study of the Muhammadan Covenants, then I urge you to read The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of the World in English, Spanish, Italian or Arabic.

If, after this 450 page work, you still have questions, you will certainly find the answers in Critical Studies on the Covenants of the Prophet, a thousand page academic work, featuring twelve studies by yours truly and twelve studies by leading specialists from around the world.

I would also invite you to visit the International Museum of Muslim Cultures which will be hosting an exhibit on the Covenants of the Prophet commencing in September of 2016.

The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad are radical and revolutionary in the best sense of these terms. They grant freedom of religion. They grant freedom of religious practice. They provide for protection of churches, monasteries, synagogues, and temples. They prohibit compulsion in religion. They forbid forced conversions. In the event a Jewish or Christian woman marries a Muslim man, out of her free will, the Covenants command that the husband to respect his wife’s religion, to allow her to attend services at the church or synagogue; and to obey the rules of her religion. Religious rights and women’s rights: this is truly unprecedented.  The Muhammadan Covenants outlaw excessive taxation. They free monks and priests from military service. They oblige Muslims leaders to provide for the material well-being of monks and clerics. They instruct Muslims to help maintain and repair churches and monasteries. They also compel Muslims to defend theAhl al-Kitab, the People of the Book, from their enemies.

Reading the Covenants of the Prophet is comparable to reading the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Charter of Rights of Freedom or the Bill of Rights, only that the Muhammadan Covenants were written 1400 years ago. This is something truly remarkable.

Many have wondered why the Islamic World declined, degenerated and eventually collapsed. The causes were many; however, one of the major causes was the fact that both Muslims and the People of the Book violated, neglected and ignored the Muhammadan Covenants, a social, spiritual, political, and economic contract that ensured congenial relations, respect, equality, justice, safety, diversity, and prosperity.

Muslims have many shortcomings. Christians have many shortcomings. Jews have many shortcomings.

While we are all guilty of wronging each other, can we agree to keep God out of the picture?

Can we agree to put Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad out of the picture?

Can we agree not to blame Judaism, Christianity or Islam for all of our sins?

Although we cannot, will not, and should not agree on everything:

Can we agree that God is One?

Can we agree that God is good and that God is Just?

Can we, as Jews, Christians, and Muslims, agree to follow in the footsteps of Abraham: namely, to believe in God and to do good?

Can we agree on the Golden Rule?

Do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you?

If Moses, peace be upon him, were to see the slaughter of civilians in Palestine, he would not be pleased.

If Jesus, peace be upon him, saw millions of human beings murdered in his name, he would not be pleased.

So, rest assured, if Muhammad, peace be upon him, saw the horrors being committed by al-Qaedah, the Taliban, al-Nusrah, and ISIS, he would not be pleased.

The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, prophesized that “The time will come when the only thing that remains of Islam is its name and the only thing that remains of the Qur’an is its writing” (Mishkat).

I regret to inform you:

That day has come. In fact, it came a long, long time ago…

Were Muhammad, the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, to return to Earth today, and were he to witness the crimes and atrocities being perpetrated in his name, he would, without a shadow of a doubt, disown, reject, repudiate, and excommunicate all parties that falsely profess to follow in his footsteps.

It is like day and night and night and day.

We are taking polar opposites.

Right versus wrong.

Good versus evil.

As Nu‘aym b. Hammad records in hisKitab al-Fitan (The Book of Tribulations):

“It is related on the authority of ‘Ali (may Allah ennoble his countenance): “When you see the black flags, remain where you are and do not move your hands or your feet (namely, “Stay put and don’t get involved in the fighting”). Thereafter there shall appear a feeble folk to whom no concern is given. Their hearts will be like fragments of iron. They are the representatives of the State (Ashāb al-Dawlah). They will fulfill neither covenant nor agreement. They will invite to the truth, though they are not from its people. Their names will be agnomens [namely, Abu So-and-so], and their ascriptions will be to villages. Their hair will be long like that of women. [They shall remain so] till they differ among themselves, and then Allah will bring forth the truth from whomever He wills.”

As one can imagine, supporters of ISIS say this hadith is weak and that there is a defect in its chain. The fact of the matter is that Imam ‘Ali foretold the rise of ISIS 1400 years ago. If the content is correct; if the prophecy comes true; then the tradition is clearly genuine.

ISIS flies black flags.

They are a feeble people who do nothing but follow their whims and vices.

ISIS terrorists have hearts of iron; namely, their hearts are hard; they have no compassion or mercy.

The name of ISIS in Arabic is al-Dawlah, the State: Dawlat ul-Islam; Dawlat ul-Islam, they keep crying.

Imam ‘Ali, may God be pleased with him, identified these devils by name.

ISIS claims to call to truth but they are not from the People of Truth; namely, they are not Muslims; they are Khawarij; they have broken away from Islam; they are the infidels that they accuse others of being.

Their names will be agnomens; in other words, Abu So-and-So, the Father of So-and-So. And so, we find that all of their terrorist mercenaries use such names: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and Abu ‘Umar al-Shishani.

Their hair will be long like that of women. That speaks for itself and has no bearing whatsoever on my current hairstyle.

How will this ISIS crisis end?

“[They shall remain so] till they differ among themselves, and then Allah will bring forth the truth from whomever He wills.”

In other words, they will turn against each other, like the rabid dogs that they are. In fact, that have been at it for some time.

These Takfiri/Wahhabi terrorists spend more time killing each other than fighting the Syrian army.

Do not despair: ISIS will be annihilated and the Truth of God will prevail.

The problem is that many of these terrorist mercenaries, who number in the tens of thousands, will return home; here, to the Western world.

If ISIS is defeated militarily in Syria and Iraq, it merely means victory in a battle. The war, however, will continue.

While we must confront Wahhabi terrorists militarily, we must also wage war against them intellectually.

We are not dealing with a war between Islam and the West.

We are dealing with a war between real Islam and fake Islam, between the followers of Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah, the Messenger of God, who lived 1400 years ago, and Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab, the creator of a death cult called Salafism and Wahhabism, that was spawned a mere two hundred years ago.

It is our obligation, as Muslims, to spearhead the war against Wahhabism.

We need to identity the origin of this ideology.

We need to identity the parties that fund the propagation of this ideology.

We need to identity the parties that use these pit-bulls for geo-political purposes.

And we need to hold all of them accountable at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Let there be no rest for the wicked!

Let us hunt-down every murderous mercenary, every rapist of Yazidi girls, every crucifier of Christians, and every destroyer of churches, monasteries and mosques.

You will not escape the justice of God!

If you combat so-called Radical Islam with anti-Islam, you simply reinforce the narrative of the radicals. You add fuel to the fire. You justify their ideology. You push people into their camp.

We are faced with two forms of Islam; true, traditional Islam, as espoused by Ahl al-Sunnah, Ahl al-Tasawwuf and Ahl al-Bayt; by traditional Sunnis, traditional Sufis, and traditional Shiites, and a fraudulent form of Islam known as Salafism, Wahhabism, Jihadism, and Takfirism.

If you are given an option between an Islam that is just, peaceful, compassionate, caring, and liberating, and an Islam that is unjust, heartless, merciless, brutal, despotic and psychotic, should you not side with the former?

Islam is not going away.

There are over 1.5 billion Muslims in the world today.

93% of Muslims are peaceful, law-abiding citizens

7% sympathize with extremists

Yet only 0.001% of them are actual terrorists

In your opposition to that 0.001%, do not alienate the 93%.

Do not help radicalize and mobilize that 7%.

Work with us; not against us.

Let us make common cause.

Let us call Muslims back to the Qur’an and the Sunnah

Let us call Muslims back to true, traditional, civilizational Islam

Let us call Muslims back to the Covenants of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him

Let us unite as Muslims, Christians, and Jews

Let us come together as the Family of Abraham

Let us see one another as brothers and sisters, children of Adam, and fellow human beings.

I commend efforts on the part of the Catholic Church to promote “Interreligious Dialogue.”

However, for this movement to have any real impact, Christian religious leaders need to acknowledge the importance of the Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of the World so that we can put in place similar policies and practices. Otherwise, efforts on the part of the Catholic Church, and other Christian denominations, will amount to nothing more than “good intentions.”

The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad represent a bridge between Christianity and Islam; between Judaism and Islam; between Islam and other world religions.

They can ensure the protection of non-Muslims in the Muslim world. They can also help ensure the protection of Muslim minorities in both East and West.

The government of Myanmar needs lessons on how to treat its indigenous Muslim minority.

In light of all the rabid anti-Muslim and anti-Islamic sentiments being openly expressed in this country, not only on the part of ignorant hatemongers but on the part of people who wish to govern these United States, it is evident that many Americans can learn something from the pluralistic and tolerant spirit of the Covenants of the Prophet.

Adolf Hitler came to power on a racist, anti-Jewish, platform. That did not turn out so well for Jewish people or for the world as a whole.

We have politicians in this country who, instead of appealing to what is the best in people, appeal to what is the worst in people: rallying people around hatred, racism, and sexism.

Our politicians should be the best of us; not the worst of us.

Are these presidential candidates the best that this country has to offer?

One is a buffoon and a bigot while the other is a brain surgeon without a brain when it comes to socio-political and economic maters. And finally, we have a

chameleon who assumes the colors of her corporate sponsors.

If these people are the cream of the crop; the candidates we have to choose from, then there is little hope for this country.

We are headed to hell in a hurry.

Reclaim this country.

Reclaim the foundations on which it was based: freedom, justice, and liberty.

Our Founding Fathers were tolerant, open-minded, intellectuals.

Many of them were not only bilingual; they were trilingual and multilingual.

What is more, they respected Islam; they respected the Qur’an; and they had good relations with the Muslim world.

The Kingdom of Morocco was the first nation to recognize the United States as an independent nation.

The United States signed a Covenant with the Ottoman Empire; a treaty that was modeled on the Covenant of the Prophet with the Christians.

We were once a constructive force in the world but, for far too long, we have become a destructive force.

The United States is no longer a democracy. It is a Corpora-tocracy; and oligarchy at the service of the one-percenters.

Money does not make you masters.

Might does not make right: morals and ethics do.

I appeal to what is the best in people: love, kindness, justice, tolerance, compassionate.

I call people to the Golden Rule: do unto your brother or sister as you would have them do unto you.

I call people to the center, to the middle ground, and to moderation.

Extremism produces more extremism.

Only moderation can serve as a moderating factor.

Do not fan the flames of hatred, bigotry, stereotypes, and discrimination.

Those who incite hatred are inciting violence.

You cannot demonize a community and then claim that your hands are clean when people put your words into action.

You are fully and completely justified to hate terrorists.

You are not fully and completely justified to hate all Muslims.

You will find nobody who hates terrorists more than Muslims.

Why?

Muslims are the most killed people on the planet.

Muslims are the single greatest victims of terrorism.

You should side with the Muslim majority against the terrorist minority.

Current conditions are untenable.

Christians, Shi‘ites, Sufis, and traditional Sunnis are being systematically exterminated in Syria and Iraq.

If we fail to act, then the oldest Christian communities in the world, the Christians of the East, will be wiped off the face of the Earth as will the Shi‘ites, Sufis, and traditional Sunnis.

We need to fight fake Islam with true Islam.

We need to combat terrorists with the Qur’an, the Sunnah, and the Covenants of the Prophet.

The Prophet Muhammad was at the forefront of a monotheistic movement of believers composed of Muslims, Jews, and Christians.

Let us reconstitute that alliance and join forces against our common enemies for verily the enemy of one religion is the enemy of all religions.

Believers of the world unite!

I leave with prayers of peace.

Peace be with you.

Salaamu ‘alaykum

Shalom aleichum