03/19/1995
IWDM Study Library
How To Establish Ourselves In America

By Imam W. Deen Mohammed
Speaker 1:
March 19th, 1995, at the University of Detroit's Mercy College in Detroit, Michigan, Imam W. Deen Mohammed, Muslim American Spokesman for Human Salvation delivered a major public address on Islam, How To Establish Ourselves In America. Following that lecture, that was a very informative question and answer period that we now present in its entirety.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Yes. If you would quickly ask your question and try to be right to the point, and I'll try to myself also answer right to the point.
Audience Member:
Thank you. Asalaam Alaikum.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Wa Alaikum Asalaam.
Audience Member:
You touched on a very important topic regarding the Comforter, which is a topic that has caused many to be confused, including myself for a few years. When you said that the reference was made regarding the Prophet Muhammad in previous scriptures, you said something along the lines of that Prophet Jesus, he said was that he would leave in order that Comforter shall come.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Yes,
Audience Member:
I heard it interpreted by the Christians as the Comforter being the Holy Ghost.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Yes.
Audience Member:
And I heard interpreted by the Muslims as reference to the Prophet himself. Would you elaborate some more please.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Yes. Well, yes. Let me give you two references. One, I've already given. Two references from the Qur'an. One says of Prophet Muhammad that the light came down from heaven and with him, some say with it, but I understand it to mean with him. Because actually what he is saying, that G-d lifts His servant up to heaven and fills him with the light and then sends him back down to earth for the needs of the people on earth. So the light and the person descend together down, you see? Now that's one reference I want to give you right here in replying to you. The other reference I've already given says the Night of power. That's the night of Revelation the Qur'an came to Muhammad. In which descends the Holy Spirit or Ruh. That is the Holy Spirit.
So the Holy Spirit did come, that's the Holy Spirit. Came, descends the Holy Spirit and the angels obeying every command. Now the Holy Spirit did descend, did come down and Muhammad the Prophet was gifted with the Holy Spirit. He's received the gift of the Holy Spirit, Prophet Muhammad. And he became a Messenger to the people. Now Jesus, in his essence as a Prophet, as a sign, is two things mainly. First of all, he is the inspiration and something of the spirit of G-d. He himself is spirit. Prophet Jesus, he himself is spirit. And G-d says in Qur'an, He has given every creature something of His spirit, you see. Jesus Christ then being the spirit, inspired, gifted with the spirit. And he being gifted with the spirit, he came into the world with the light and he says, "As long as I'm in the world, I am the light," meaning that I will not be the light always in the world. As long as I'm in the world. This is Bible. I am the light, meaning that I will not always be in the world. And when I'm gone, I'm not the light.
And he said, as you just said, it is expedient that I go away. But nevertheless, the Comforter will come unto you. And he says that if I go not away, he will not come unto you. And he also says, but if I go away, I will send him.
Audience Member:
Yes sir.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Now how is he going to send him? Holy men, Saintly men, Sufis. You're familiar with the term Sufi. They speak like this. When they speak, they're not talking about themselves. If they say, I will judge the world, they are speaking with G-d, with G-d's word, that's not their word. That's G-d words. So G-d speaks through them. So when Jesus said I will send him to you, he was speaking in the first person as G-d, but he's not G-d. He was speaking as G-d in the first person, through G-d speaking through him, but using him as the first person. You understand? So he said, I will send him to you. No, Jesus the Prophet won't. G-d will send him to you and the Holy Ghost will come first. The Holy Spirit will come first. Then the human Messenger comes with the Holy Spirit in him and he gives the light of revelation to the world.
Yes, another Comforter. Jesus Christ was a Comforter, but he had to go away. It was expedient, meaning it had to happen in order for the next one to come. Now I'm going to do something that I am condemned for on high. Those that live in the sky, they tell me this ain't proper. Jesus represents as a sign in this particular connection, the intuitive urge.
Audience Member:
Yes sir.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
But not just any intuition. The intuition that G-d inspires in the servant. All right. Intuition operates to help us find the way, but it can't continue always. Intuition gives a way for rational thought and logic. Prophet Muhammad does not represent intuition, the urge of intuition in us. Divine inspiration working through human intuition. Prophet Muhammad represents rational urge, the rational urge and the movement of reason and logic in us. One comes to prepare a way for the second. The first is the first Comforter. The second is the second Comforter. And of the second one it says, know you the truth and the truth will make you free. When the truth is come, it will take you into all truth. And that that was said as babies will be done away with by men.
Audience Member:
The question is how should you a deal with a leader who talks over the people, and who allow confusion to linger in the minds of the people?
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
I didn't get that last part.
Audience Member:
You allow confusion.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Confusion.
Audience Member:
Confusion.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
And who allows confusion? It's okay. No, it wasn't. The mic is okay. When he puts his head down to read his mouth goes away from the mic. Now, okay, again. And who allows confusion?
Audience Member:
Yes. To linger in the minds of the people.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Is that the end of it?
Audience Member:
That's the question. Yes sir.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Yeah. The question is what?
Audience Member:
How should we view...
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
How should he be viewed?
Audience Member:
Yes sir.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Yeah. Well you already viewed him. I got his description right there from you. That's the only way I can view it. If it's true, you've given us a description.
Audience Member:
Imam Clyde Rahman is a brother that I trust and I have faith in. And they demonstrated over the years they have community concern at heart.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Alright. If I can be of any help, I would love to assist you. Yeah. So they hear me? Yes. All right.
Audience Member:
Asalaam Alaikum.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Wa Alaikum As Salaam.
Audience Member:
I dunno if this question related to the brothers previous question, but should we view the works that the Minister Louis Farrakhan is doing as a step towards improvement?
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Yes. All right. Now we don't know G-d's judgment. We don't know G-d's judgment. So I can't myself speak for the Nation of Islam under Minister Louis Farrakhan. I can't speak for it. I myself thought that the only way for us to succeed would be not to go backwards in the Nation of Islam's history, but to go forward in the Nation of Islam's history. And where the Honorable Elijah Muhammad was in 1972, 73 and 74 is ahead of where The Nation of Islam under Louis Farrakhan is presently. So I can't myself speak for them because I don't agree with that. But at the same time, I'm telling you that who knows what is the judgment of G-d. Maybe in their own way they're serving a purpose. So I have I would say patience with them because I was once exactly wher they are. Maybe exactly where they are. Almost exactly where they are. My situation was just a little bit better in my own opinion, but I was almost exactly where they are. So we don't want to be their enemies. We want to have patience with them. And we believe that eventually they're going to have, of necessity, of expedience. They're going to have to come this road, on this road that we are on.
Audience:
Allahu Akbar.
Audience Member:
I have trusted in you as a leader for many years. And I remember several things that you taught. I can quote you on so many things because I love and trust your teaching. G-d did so much in my life because your way of teaching the Qur'an and my following that wisdom has made a huge difference in my life. So I just wanted to say that prior to saying this. I had four sons and two daughters that I raised.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Thank you, thank you.
Audience Member:
And they were all born Muslim under your leadership. And I teach them what you teach us.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
All Praise be to Allah. Congratulations to you.
Audience Member:
And I pray that we can have a better Islamic educational system in the future.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Praise be to Allah. Well, we have this on tape and we are going to see that it gets circulated, wide circulation.
Audience Member:
And I guarantee you I'll be watchful and be of some cause of protecting and standing up for what you teach.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Praise be to Allah. Thank you. Allahu Akbar. Praise be to Allah. That's the kind of help we need to go all the way to the finish line.
Audience Member:
Yes sir. I remember when you told us to work in our places, I said I can do that. I didn't even know what you were talking about.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Allahu Akbar.
Audience Member:
I didn't even know I kept on striving, putting in the work. And Allah showed me where to put my energy.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
I'm sure. Yes.
Audience Member:
So I am very grateful for your encouraging words of wisdom.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
That is wonderful. Praise be to Allah.
Audience Member:
I have made a complete about face.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Yes. Yes.
Audience Member:
And I am a success.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Yes. You were with us during the days of my father, our leader, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Yes, I know. I recall your face. Yes. I'm going to say something to you. I've said on several occasions that our Prophet, he was informed by G-d that the people who were the best or the excellent ones in the times of ignorance, they were also the best ones in the times of the enlightenment, in the times of the Prophets rise with his Ummah. And you say you did a about face. Well you did do a about face. But I don't see the real person ever changing. You the same wonderful person you were back then.
Yes. And just before the brother speaks, if there are any person here who's not Muslim. I know we're addressing Muslim and Muslim interest, don't think we are ignoring you. We don't have secret meetings here. We want you to know us. And we believe that if you know us better, then you can trust us. We want to be trusted by our Christian neighbors. If you really know us, you can trust us. But we want to be trusted by our Christian neighbors. And any of you who are interested in knowing more about Islam, you are welcome here. No one will ask you to get up and declare yourself Muslim. In fact, our religion is a very different religion. The tradition in Islam is that anyone can actually experience this religion and practice this religion for themselves. And at the time when they feel ready, they can declare themselves a believer. You can fast Ramadan with us, you could pray with us. You could do everything with us and not be one of us. And anytime you feel that this is the way of life you like, you on your own, make the decision. Yes.
Audience Member:
Asalaam Alaikum.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Wa Alaikum Asalaam.
Audience Member:
I don't believe I spoke to you about the issue of the whole Virgin birth scenario.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
No, no. You did not.
Audience Member:
What you think about that?
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Yes. The G-d that created Adam has the power to create a man from a woman.
Audience Member:
Asalaam Alaikum I have a two part question Brother Imam. First part being I remember you teaching us that the Bible itself was, you used the term, a Book that is a minefield. My question is does that just apply to the English translation or would that be the original language of scripture that was revealed?
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Yes. Yes. We believe that the original language does not exist. And this is also Biblical history, that the original language does not exist. What we have is altered forms of the original. And much of it was guesswork. Much of it was guesswork. But after studying the Bible myself very diligently over and over, more than one time, I'm convinced that the wise were overseeing the work. And even though I would say those who did not know divine purpose in all of its scriptural descriptions, they were protected by others who were wise and did know. So they arranged things that were really improper. And they put them in a kind of order that when you read it with a certain perception, they read correctly. Even though they appear on the surface to be ridiculous. This is what I have discovered. So the Bible for the average reader is dangerous. Dangerous. Yes.
Audience Member:
The second part, the teaching of the Christian people in our neighborhoods around us. Do you support us somewhat going back to the way we used to call people not using the Islamic terminologies that we use to. They don't understand. Come in, sit down. We can talk to them basically in the language that they understand and try bring them in like that.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Alright, I get your point. I get your point. Yes. We have to use both. And I would say for the new person, the curious person, or the person who hasn't been introduced to Islamic teachings, it is best to handle it as you were suggesting. We are to talk to them in the language that they understand and not to bring terms that burden their mind and confuse them. That's the way the Prophet did. In fact, when he began to speak to the people, he would speak through their own experiences and knowledge and he would point to things that they were aware of to guide them to things that they weren't aware of. And I believe that's what you were saying. Yes. That is the best way.
Audience Member:
Thank you, sir.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
You are welcome.
Audience Member:
In the beginning, so shall it be in the end. There are a lot of communities that for whatever reason, have not come to accept your leadership honestly without any doubt. But if they came from, let's say the first experience...
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Yes.
Audience Member:
How could with me, myself, and those individuals who have the same experience go about better work with those people or better yet, change that fit of the lack of confidence in that community, in those communities.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Yes. Well, I believe that each person should be free to act upon their own better judgment. And I believe that Allah works through all of us.
Audience Member:
Yes sir.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Yes. So I wouldn't want to hinder any person who is interested in pulling their brothers back from Rome. Only thing I would say is again, use the wisdom that we just expressed with the question that was just before you. Attempt to reach them through that that they understand to bring them to that that is better, that they don't right now understand. And have patience with them. But as for me, I see a better audience, a more ready audience. And I won't go over there to try to teach them.
Audience Member:
What about me?
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
But that's me. That's my own opinion, my own judgment. And I'm speaking in my own situation. That's why I say in your situation, and each person in his own situation should be free to act upon his own better judgement.
Audience Member:
Asalaam Alaikum.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Wa Alaikum Asalaam sister.
Audience Member:
I wanted to come here and become a Muslim today because I have been listeining to you and I know this is the truth.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Praise be to Allah. Yes. Sometimes, sometime we make it a little difficult. But really the way people declared their faith in Islam and became Muslims or became recognized by the Muslim community as Muslims members of the Muslim community, was simply to say, I witness that there is no G-d except the G-d. Except the one G-d. And I witness that Muhammad is His Messenger. That's it. So if you'll say that, that's all it takes to formally include you in the membership of Muslims with us being your witnesses. And before you told us G-d already knew you were Muslim.
Audience Member:
I just repeat after you?
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Yes. Yes. I witness that there is no G-d except the G-d, the One G-d.
Audience Member:
I witness that there is no G-d except the One G-d.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
And I witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of G-d.
Audience Member:
And I witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of G-d.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
And that's Muhammad who received the Qur'an about 1400 and some years ago. You aware of that? Congratulations. Yes, sister.
Audience Member:
Asalaam Alaikum. I want to take my shahada too.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
You want to take your shahada? Praise be to Allah, yes. Repeat. I witness that there is no G-d except the one G-d.
Audience Member:
I witness that there is no G-d except the One G-d.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
And I witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of G-d.
Audience Member:
And I witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of G-d.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
And that's the Muhammad who received the Qur'an about 1400 and some years ago. Congratulations sister. So we have to move on and try to catch a plane to get back to Midway Airport. It's been wonderful. And Inshallah, we hope to see all of you all within about a month. Come. Yes. Come forward please. Yes. Are you familiar with the language, what you have to say, what you should say to declare your faith? Yes. I witness there is no G-d but the One G-d.
Audience Member:
I witness that there is no G-d but the one G-d.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
And I witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of G-d.
Audience Member:
That Muhammad is the Messenger of G-d.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Yes. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. Congratulations. Allah be with you always. And bless you all. We never know what blessing Allah may be bringing into the Muslim Ummah, the International community of Muslims. And these young people you're seeing here, young women. Yes. Yes, sister. Congratulations. And may Allah be with you always, sister. You want to ask a question? Oh, you going take your shahadah too? Wonderful. Yes. Yes. I witness that there is no G-d except the one G-d.
Audience Member:
i witness that there is no G-d except the One G-d.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
And I witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of G-d.
Audience Member:
And I witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of G-d.
Imam W. Deen Mohammed:
Yes. And you understand that to be Muhammad who was on Earth 1400 and some years ago, who received the Qur'an, our Holy Book. Thank you very much. And G-d bless you always. Congratulations.
Audience Member:
Thank you.


