02/13/2004
IWDM Study Library
IWDM at Duke University

By Imam W. Deen Mohammed
IWDM:
Allah almighty for our presence here today. Please begin. We invited, to address the habits of the day. Institution. Faith learning. Institution of higher learning as duties universities we're addressing spirituality and how spirituality plays a role, a great role. In fact I think the main role in our life, to make our lives better, more productive for individuals and for families and communities. The focus for Muslim community is the sacred house in Mecca called [Kaaba 00:01:00]. Kaaba. Cubical house called Kaaba.
IWDM:
If there's a symbol of the unity of all mankind, regardless to nationality or anything other than our own spiritual orientation, we are the same, we are the same, we are one light. We believe in the one common light of humanity. And that light is spiritual. That's the spiritual light. We are to be united by that spiritual light. That spiritual light is the evolution of our consciousness. From small things and unimportant things to bigger things and more important things in the life of society.
IWDM:
The soul of man, the soul of man, it reaches everything that our five senses can reach, and even what our five senses can't reach. Our imagination goes beyond what our five senses can reach. And taking in, teaching our minds to know what is life, what is the role of life, what purpose have I been created for? Etc. That questions opens up the mind. It also expands the soul. And if we are sincere and truthful, our consciousness will be elevated to the Heaven of our soul, to the Heaven of our soul. As high as the human mind and spirit can go. Unlimited ascension for the soul of mankind.
IWDM:
Most important is purity. Mohammad the prophet was sent to guide us into purity. This is referring to the purity of intentions, intent to be right, intent to be decent, intent to be truthful. Having righteous intentions is all that G-d asks of us. And those righteous intentions elevate the soul. It elevates the soul, expands the mind. Getting back to our common bond, the common bond of life for us is the spiritual life. We differ physically in color, size, shape, etc. But in terms of the soul, we don't differ. The soul of every human being was the same. We change our own souls by our choices in the world, our souls change. But we all are born with the same soul. We may be born with different features. The features of Japanese or Asian features, features of an Englishman. We're born with all these different features. But when it comes to the soul, we are essentially one, one.
IWDM:
[foreign language 00:04:38], is an expression in Arabic and in the [Qur'an 00:04:42]. One single soul. From one single soul. From one single soul, G-d created us. All are made of all. And when we come into the, what I would call, they come into the history of all people. And become honorary citizens of all nations. We have become one soul again. We're universal. But as long as you shut out some people, and you don't like them, some races, not because you've had any personal experience with them that made you reject them, but you reject them because they belong to a particular group. That kind of idea in thinking will never permit us to come into that one soul where we are at peace with ourselves, at peace with others who have good intentions, even if they don't have good intentions. We want good for them. When we come into that state, we have become aware, we have been awakened in our consciousness that G-d wants for us.
IWDM:
[foreign language 00:05:54] Consciousness. Consciousness. Religious consciousness for Muslims is [foreign language 00:06:01], is respect first for G-d. The belief that we didn't come here by ourselves or of our own. We couldn't have created ourselves. Something has done this for us. And we are owing something to that cause that brought all of us into existence. And the more we think about it, the more we see that we owe everything. We owe our life, because we accept that the world is made by that same one, and us, too, made by the same one. Then all the possibilities for us to grow better have become more valuable and more productive is owing to the G-d that made the world and made us, made the world for us and made us for the world.
IWDM:
The productive people of this planet Earth, they have accepted to be citizens of the humanity. Citizens of humanity. And that citizenship is before our national citizenship. It's more important than our national citizenship, if we understand it. And all other identities that we build upon that identity, I should see my race supported by my identity as a human person, as a person of human decency, common life with all other people. I should see that identity as a support for other identities. If I want to build upon my nationality, I should build upon my nationality with appreciation for my life, for my human life, in its excellence. And more than my appreciation for my political persuasion, or even for my racial ambitions, the aspirations of my race. Nothing is more important than the light of the original soul created by G-d, and the religion we call Adam in its present state.
IWDM:
Nothing is more important for us to identify in than that. All of us identify in that, we could have peace, we can develop our consciousness better, and we can realize a much more richer spirituality. When Islam was preached in Arabia by our prophet Muhammad, forever peace be upon him, he began by showing the people the central focus. Our center, the Kaaba. The Kaaba is a symbol of peace, the symbol of the unity of mankind. And he once said that some people were planning to build a house of worship, a mosque, a Masjid inaudible. And they didn't have the right intentions. So the prophet told him that the... whoever was building that... that the only house fit to pray in or to worship G-d in is that one built upon the foundation of [foreign language 00:09:31], which is the foundation of that consciousness that we are addressing right now. That innocent consciousness that resides in us to want to live a life that is honorable, decent, truthful. And it begins with respect of consciousness for G-d.
IWDM:
And then for everything else, G-d says, "And live with G-d. And it works as you've [foreign language 00:10:02], its references are, but also the family ties. The family ties, we have to reference the family ties. So it looks like the religions of Judaism, of Christianity, Islam is. It wants us to have faith and respect for family ties, to honor our mothers and fathers, our parents. And this is the light that if we accept it and grow in it, seek G-d more and more, seek truth more and more. Seek to know what your purpose is on this planet. Why you're existing. Seek such answers, and you will become closer and closer to the truth, and closer and closer to your own reality. And when we come face to face with our own reality, we have really seen G-d.
IWDM:
This is the teachings of the mystics, also the teachings of our prophet. When we come face to face with our own reality, we have seen G-d. Because when you know what you are not, then you know yourself. When you know what you are and what you are not. And if we come face to face with our own reality, we will know that we are not G-d. We are no G-d. We are human beings. But we are a special creation because of our free will and our intellect that can question things and then question our own habits of life. Question our own nature. And we can reject our own nature. Other creatures can't do that. They can't question their own nature and reject their own nature. They live the life that was designed for them by creation, by G-d with creation, and that's it. They can't make any other choice. They have to live that life.
IWDM:
But we don't want to live the life of a human being, we don't have to. We don't want to live that life, then live some other life, the life of a dog. The life of a wolf or ape or something. We can imitate whatever we want to imitate. We can come out of the human form. But we choose to stay in the human form and seek the excellence of the human form, and want to grow more excellent, more and more excellent. We eventually come to know ourselves and our excellence, and we come to know our limitations, and we come to really give credit to the one that caused all things to be. The world and us. And when we have that spirituality, we are in good situation then to survive all kinds of trouble for the individual, for the family, for the community.
IWDM:
G-d has made this life that I'm addressing now. It's a consciousness. It's the elevation of our moral life, the morals get better and better. Better quality for the moral life. And when we accept that life, then we have an equality, too. We have an equality that is good for us. Equality with all good people. We are all equal. Not in intellect. Some of us superior, some inferior. But in this consciousness, we all can ascend to the highest division in the world of human consciousness or the circle of human consciousness, we can ascend to the highest position. We don't have to be formally educated in this world to do that. You only have to accept your good moral nature, respect it and build upon it. And trust it. Trust your good moral nature, and you grow and grow and grow.
IWDM:
And it is that growth that best situates us to grow in all other ways. We have this as the religion, in both religions.] Heavenly religions, we call them Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. And the story of Joseph. Joseph was rejected by his brothers. His brothers tried to put him away from them. And they did. He ended up in Egypt. But the pharaoh, the Egyptian leader, they discovered in Joseph something that was priceless. His moral excellence. And they gave him the highest position over the store houses. They trusted him to be over the store houses. And Egypt at that time was the richest, most productive, the richest of all the nations. So everybody was coming to Egypt for health, and especially for food.
IWDM:
So one day, Joseph's brothers came to Egypt for help. And they had forgot about him. He had to remind them that he was their brother. He didn't turn them down. They had sold him into slavery, rejected him, lied to their father about his circumstances, to state what happened to him, they said some animals. Here is his shirt, it's got animal blood on it. To make his father think that he was killed by some animals, devoured by animals. They had done all of those things, but Joseph didn't reject them, refuse to give them rations or food, crucify them but supply their needs with food. He gave them food. He gave them food. He asked about his brother Benjamin, and he gave them food.
IWDM:
So here is a nation welcoming a moral person, because of his moral excellence, into the government in a high position, where he was trusted to be over the store houses. Distribution of food, or whatever I guess. I guess it has more meaning than just food. Much more meaning than just food. So that is to tell us that the most valuable achievement for a human person is moral excellence. And we know no matter how much education you have, and I'm not mocking education, because education really permits you to do all the wonderful things. But without the moral nature, you making Hell for yourself and Hell for others. You may end up bringing your life down. I have known people that have gone to school, achieved degrees, and little things, just the little things. A couple of them, and they just fell down, couldn't stand up anymore. Became habitual drunks.
IWDM:
Lost their respect for life, for their own life. That can happen. But if your moral life is saved, then everything else will be saved. Your moral life is saved, your intellect is saved. You're saved for your protection, you're saved for your work in this world. So ultimately, it is the moral factor that determines the faith of individuals, families, and the world. If we were having more quality moral lives in our families, our families would be in good condition. We wouldn't have so many families in the condition that they're in now, the pitiful states that they're in now. And so it is when you're [inaudible 00:18:31] this for community.
IWDM:
If we would purify our spirits and seek more quality for our moral lives, as a race. African Americans, now I'm talking about. As a people, African Americans, how communities will get a new light. Our communities would come into a new light. We will become productive. This big production the United States have, is owing to our scientists and to our great industrialists, etc. No, it's owing to the excellence in this society that have opened up the minds of people. Made them more respectful of things that's due respect, that's been given respect, and the cost of this higher appreciation of human life and the many things that benefit human life, we have this great production. The cost of loyalty to moral principles. The cost of appreciation for human life in its excellence. That seems industrious when others are working to serve man, serve American citizens with a better environment, a better life.
IWDM:
And when they don't care, they bringing Hell for themselves and for us. So those that care about human life, they give us environments that take the burden off of us and free us to have a virtual Heaven almost on Earth. And we can have that. I do believe that we can have a Heaven on Earth if we would just all agree on the life that is most important for us. And that is the spiritual light that G-d wants us to be one in, to be one people in. One. One accord, one people. In one spiritual life. A life of moral excellence.
IWDM:
Again, I go back to the prophet, that G-d said that He had sent him, to us, to purify us. And to lead us out of darkness into the light. Through the darkness of ignorance, the darkness of moral corruption, into the light. Into the light. But first, we must purify ourselves. If [inaudible 00:21:02] exercise, it just means intending to be good, intending to be truthful, intending to be a decent human being. And working at it. And realizing that that life law will cause you to lose everything eventually. The role of that spirituality is to have us to appreciate the best moral standards of mankind.
IWDM:
Best moral standards of mankind. The people can be judged not by individuals but by their collective performance. And as a people, we perform excellently. We perform very well. We have individuals that make trouble. Sometimes we have small groups that make trouble. But as a national body, we perform very well. That condition, that spirituality in us, I believe is what has moved us to go against racism, go against mistreatment of the little fellow of the minorities by the majority until we've come to what we have now in this country, protection for minority, minority rights, inclusion, a dignity, a new dignity we all have in this country, as human beings.
IWDM:
In spite of the culture that is wayward, astray from that purity that we should have. That's a test. And we want progress if we don't have a test. We welcome challenges. The more the soul is challenged, the more the good potential in the soul is brought out. So I believe this is a testing ground, the land of opportunity, and a land of challenge. And I wouldn't change it myself, I wouldn't change a thing. It's good for us. I love it. I love a challenge. In fact, if the devil want to come in my house, he can live with me. I done got tough enough to go to sleep while he's in my house. And believe me, he might be in your house tonight.
IWDM:
So we have to follow universal standards of decency. The words in Arabic is [foreign language 00:24:06]. And guide your life, all of your life, by the highest known standard of mankind. So we should always aim for the best. And then we will grow in excellence and not fall. So the moral sense of origin is the human being's excellence. We human beings evolved from inferior species, despicable creatures. This is told to us in scriptures. But the aim in the human nature, the human life, is for excellence. Just like it is in everything else. The aim in matter is for excellence. That's why it has evolved to more and more excellence and beauty. And honor.
IWDM:
So to identify in that original life is what's promoting this spirituality will do. It will bring more of us to identify in that light and be comfortable with one another and care for each other as members of the same family, because that's what we are. All of us are members of one human family. The Muslims are members in the Muslim family. But the Muslims were not guided by the prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, to identify spiritually as Muslims. And the human family, pardon me, Muslims in some particular religious sense, but he wanted us to identify as Muslims in the universal sense, that we are Muslim by nature, he said.
IWDM:
Muslim by nature. We are born, every child is created a Muslim. So this Muslim has to be understood in two definitions. The first definition, the most important definition. Is to be Muslim, is to be in your best condition as a human person created by G-d. Like baby comes here with no evil design for the world. They re-learned that from us. So if we are in our original nature that G-d gave us, before it is fogged by the mistakes we make, we are in the true Muslim identity. Then we have the informed Muslim, the Muslim that educated in the religion, the Qur'an, in which the life of our prophet, be educated in the religion. Then we become learned Muslims. Muslims conscious of the discipline, the revealed disciplines for Muslim life.
IWDM:
But without the first condition, the other one will not stay good. It will also deteriorate and become a great trouble for us. And when you look at the world as a Muslim, and you see how we're so divided and how we're not pursuing human excellence, and most of the world are not pursuing human excellence, then you can understand why now, if you accept what I've just said. It is because we have lost the first light. The first light is excellent human life that G-d created for us. We've lost the first light, and we have ended this light, and we are disconnected, not attached anymore, to the lifeline that G-d originally created for us.
IWDM:
So, yes. And this light, this spirituality, it is through us production more than anything else. If you want to produce materially, African American people, the African American community, if you want to become a people producing materials, having flourishing business in your neighborhoods, in your community. Grow in moral excellence. And grow in appreciation for the common human excellence that we find all over the world. All people have it. All people have it. And you will see that G-d will be with you, and your own good nature will be supporting you. And you'll become much more productive.
IWDM:
This is not given for African American people, but I can't help but mention that we are failing as a community. We fail our neighborhoods. We leave our neighborhoods to others, to supply our neighborhoods, the residents of the neighborhood, with everything. And we just go our own separate ways, not caring. We are satisfied just to have a residency somewhere, but we don't want responsibility to serve the residents. Other people are not like that. The Mexicans. I go through their neighborhoods. I see so many businesses run by Mexicans. I see Mexican business life. Spanish business life. Mexican business life. It's alive! But when I come through my neighborhood, I can hardly find any signs that the business life of African American people is alive. It seems to be dead.
IWDM:
It's dead because we are not really in touch with our human excellence. And we're not building quality moral life. Thank you very much. Peace, As Salaam Alaikum.
Speaker 2:
Thank you. Imam Mohammed has agreed to entertain questions. If you have questions, we invite you to come to the microphone to your left, my right. And he will address them.
IWDM:
I might need some help to hear the questions. If you stand, the sound carries better. If you have a mic, please go to the mic with you questions. I don't see one, but there might... Okay, there. Now I see it. Yes. There's a mic here. And there's a mic over here. I see it now. So if you come to the mic, and I hope I can hear you. On the plane, I had a head cold. My ears stop up. And the hearing is not the best anyway. Now I have that condition from the plane, too. It's still there a little bit. So I hope I can hear your questions. If not, the Imam is here to help me understand your questions, and to tell me exactly what you said, what your question is.
Speaker 3:
Imam Mohammed. I actually have a request. I've talked with my Imam about it, but I [inaudible 00:31:12]. And when I [inaudible 00:31:26], I would like to know if you have any suggestions [inaudible 00:31:56]. And if there's any way possible you can tell me that.
IWDM:
I can give you an answer but I need more time. If you leave a mailing address with the Imam here, Imam Wahid, I'm sure I can find the words that actually says exactly what you were looking for. [inaudible 00:32:46]. And I'll mail it to you.
Speaker 3:
Thank you very much
IWDM:
Most welcome. Wa Alaikum As Salaam.
Speaker 4:
As Salaam Alaikum. You spoke a lot about African American communities, and [inaudible 00:32:53] moral character. [inaudible 00:32:53] I want to know [inaudible 00:33:12] African American communities [inaudible 00:33:27].
IWDM:
Our prophet, he said, "Help your brother whether he's in the wrong light or the right." And the question was asked, they said how are you going to help our brother when he's in the wrong? And the prophet said, "Help him by holding him back from wrong." So we are one brotherhood. Muslims are one family. And it doesn't matter whether you're a Pakistani or Egyptian or whatever. If you see your brother having serious problems with their life, and you can help them, you should help them. And I'd rather be rejected by my brother than to pretend to not see his faults that's bringing him down and keeping him down.
Speaker 4:
As Salaam Alaikum.
IWDM:
Wa Alaikam As Salaam.
Speaker 5:
[inaudible 00:34:37] I have two questions. You were talking about [inaudible 00:34:57]. You want me to ask the second question now?
IWDM:
In scripture, food is food for the body. And also food for the mind. Food for the body, food for the mind. Joseph was not only giving food for the body, for the material body is our blood. But he was put in position also to give food for the mind. That is to teach and expand the mind of the people. To assist the mind of the people so that they grow wiser, more intelligently, and become more productive. So the more important understanding I think would be that. That Joseph, that the Egyptians put him in charge of a store house, meaning that he was in charge of assisting people with their mental needs. Mental needs.
Speaker 5:
[inaudible 00:35:56] All living creatures, you said it says in the scriptures, what do you think [inaudible 00:36:25]?
IWDM:
[inaudible 00:36:25]
Speaker 5:
[inaudible 00:36:25] scriptures?
IWDM:
It refers to the evolution of man. The evolution of man. Man in the beginning of his life as a life form was much like animals. Man did not have a human intelligence. He had a human body, but he had to grow into human intelligence. From an animal, he became a man. A human being. And some of us are animals right now. The evidence of that is still around.
IWDM:
I didn't quite hear.
Speaker 5:
[inaudible 00:37:26]
IWDM:
Yes. It has several references. He evolved from a fluid despised, he evolved from a fluid despised. A fluid despised is something to despise, it's despicable at least in the opinion of the one that despises him. Yes, there are other references to the inferior beginning of human life. We begin from inferiority, and we grow in excellence. But we begin as inferior creatures. This is science, and this is religion, both.
Speaker 5:
As Salaam Alaikum Imam Muhammad.
IWDM:
Wa Alaikum As Salaam.
Speaker 6:
Alhamdulillah, One of the challenges that we see is [inaudible 00:38:50]. And number two, [inaudible 00:39:34].
IWDM:
Yeah, I said, what's the most important for a model, a Muslim light in society. What's most important for it is that the people be community minded. Community minded. The Muslims are a community. That's what G-d says of us in the Qur'an. We are a community. And we are to think community, we're not to think individualism. We don't support individualism. That's most important. We have to have a spirit for community life. To want to see community life, family life, community life grow better and better, better and better. And we have to understand that everything comes out of the ground, out of the Earth. Human life evolves from the Earth. Our needs are in the Earth, as the holy light of Muhammad's there. We need land. Then land provide us with food, clothing, shelter. And a place to have our family, our honor, our family, and our community.
IWDM:
So land is very important. And we shouldn't go after money for money's sake. But we should want to become good business people. A community has to have strong business. If you don't have strong business life, you don't have much of a community at all. And we don't want to be begging and depending on others. For what others are providing for themselves. Muhammad the prophet says, "A hand that's giving is better than a had that's begging." The hand that is giving is better than the hand that's begging. Higher above, the hand that's begging.
IWDM:
This is what the prophet Muhammad said, "We're obligated to give in charity to the beggars, to the poor, to those who ask for things. But the Muhammad, peace and blessings be on him, he didn't leave us to think that person in that state, in that condition, to think that that's an honorable life. No. That's not an honorable life, begging. The prophet wants to see us all producing. Having income, lawful income. Producing, not begging. And we have to have communities that are not looking for other communities to give us money or to donate to us, to develop it. No, we don't want any charity to develop our community. We want to develop our community with our own ingenuity, industry, and intelligence. We want to develop our community.
IWDM:
And so the first thing is to see our needs and to see our honor. G-d says that he has created every human being with honor. He made us noble creatures. Honorable creatures. But we have to awaken to that nobility and respect it. And the first thing we should do is not accept that others produce in that neighborhood and we produce nothing. Just live in our neighborhood. You should want to have a mosque. But having a place to pray is not... Muhammad the prophet didn't build expensive mosques. The mosques were very simple buildings for the believers to pray in. He didn't waste a lot of money, like they came to do later. Putting gold all up in the ceilings and everywhere.
IWDM:
And the masses, the majority of the people all around everywhere in the city, poor and begging, and gold all up in the ceilings and everywhere. Inside as decorations. Muhammad the prophet didn't start that. He didn't do that. So we shouldn't do that. We shouldn't put a lot of money in building a place for us to do nothing but pray, go there and pray and not put money in the buildings so we can have an elementary school or preschool to give Muslim children good life and good education and good environment for their learning. We should put that first. We can pray on the ground outside of the school. But it's easier to have a little space in the school, isn't it? Build a school building and have a room in the school to make prayer.
IWDM:
If you start off on having a Eastern-style mosque building, then make the school look like a mosque. Put a minaret on the corner of the school. First things first. Take care of the most important things first. And we know education is sacred for Muslims. Getting an education is sacred duty for all Muslims. I've said a little bit on that. And there's much more I'd like to say. But eventually we would like to have a place for social activities, for weddings, childbirth, celebrate childbirth, for banquets, to socialize. We'd like to have some place for our youngsters to enjoy themselves. Skating, games, et cetera.] Tennis and all that. We should think of these things that help life. These things that help make life good, healthy, and pleasant, and not leave out any of those things that are necessary for health and pleasant life for our youngsters and also for our senior citizens. We need to give them an environment that will be good.
IWDM:
So we have to have a model plan. And we can do it. I don't have to do it for you. I'm not the one who can do it alone. I have ideas and some knowledge and some skills, too. I'm a welder. I can do a lot of welding for you. If you need me, just call me. I'll come to your city if I can find some time. You can't pay me. You won't need to pay me.

IWDM:
... the more money I get, the more responsibility I accept. I do a lot with my money, I do a lot of good with my money, but my salary would have to be like a $1,000 an hour. You can't pay me that.
IWDM:
But I love to weld, I really... I just might come and weld for nothing. That's what I like to do. Come and do some welding for nothing. I'm a combination welder, very good welder. I worked for big companies. Bethlehem Steel, got my first job, the job with them, Bethlehem Steel. And I started in a small job shop. They gave me a lot of good experience. I was trained to do all phases, all phases of welding. And I liked that. You could tell the way I'm mentioning it to you, that I like it. A man, real masculinity allows to do man's work, it requires man work. You enjoy your man nature and your man's nature when you're doing a man's job. I like to do a man's job. Okay. The next question, yes we have another question.
Audience:
Yes. Good evening.
IWDM:
Good evening.
Audience:
[foreign language 00:01:30].
IWDM:
[foreign language 00:01:29]
Audience:
I would like to first of all just thank you for your tireless efforts and continuous work.
IWDM:
Thank you. Thank you.
Audience:
My question is, in society I'm sure many in the public would agree that there has been a serious decline in morality, in American society. What role do you see in the future for the Muslims down the road? [As you see it in the future.
IWDM:
Yes. In the Quran documents, it shows us, it gives us a parable and the parable goes like this. It says, you see a town with its buildings neglected, the roofs caving in, and that town is renewed, says it is like a resurrection. So they give us the parable of our own resurrection by showing us the resurrection of a town that was neglected. And people came and they will accept it and ask to stay in that space. And they renewed that town. They build this buildings up, made it beautiful. And it is a parable of our resurrection, the resurrection of the dead. Yeah. So, trying to address your question. The second part of your question?
Audience:
My question is what role?
IWDM:
What role can we play?
Audience:
Yeah, Muslim can play to stem the tide of moral decline and decadence in our society.
IWDM:
I think, if we just work on our own lives and if we can change the state of Black America, African Americans in this country and bring us to be more productive, more productive in our neighborhoods and more responsible. I think that would have more influence, more power for changing the moral climate in America than anything else. I think whenever nationalities hear about that, they'll say, "Wow, are those Blacks, have they changed that much?" Are they really changed that much. They'd be coming to us, they'll look at us, coming to our community just to look at us. I think we can change America for the better, more than anything else that can happen. I think it's the right thing happened in the Black people's life, it'll go on and benefit everybody in this country. Maybe in the whole world.
IWDM:
[foreign language 00:05:18]
Audience:
[inaudible 00:05:26].
IWDM:
Yes.
Audience:
I work as a volunteer in the] department of correction prison system.
IWDM:
Yes.
Audience:
And I can attest on Sunday a young fellow came up and ask questions. The young brother...there are about 65 brothers that he got in the correction facility, and his question was what is his role received a message that he delivered. He's 25 years old and he had 70 years to live. And out of the 65 that he lives with, I would say there's not 10 that's over 30 years old. My observation is based on what you said today is the fact that our communities are in chaos and lack of morality, therefore we do as we please and we get the results that we get. What message could you help me with in delivering to some of these brothers. The only thing I can suggest is that they have a lot of time to write their neighbors, brothers, sisters, advise them not to do what got them in prison. So, what message would you help me with tonight to take back to prison?
IWDM:
He's a Muslim right?
Audience:
Yes, sir.
IWDM:
He's accepted Islam?
Audience:
Yes, sir.
IWDM:
Did he accept the religion after he was convicted or before? Was he a Muslim when he was convicted?
Audience:
[inaudible 00:00:07:23].
IWDM:
While, incarcerated. Okay. That's what I thought too. I kind of felt that from what you was saying, I thought he has accepted the religion while incarcerated. Since he has a chaplain like yourself, to help him with his religious growth, tell him that he should... Since he can't do with his body what he wants to do, tell him to do with his mind, what he can do with it. Devote his mind to improving upon his personal life. So when he get out, he will be more useful to the Muslim society and to the society at large. Tell him if he really concentrated on doing that, building up his life as a good Muslim, and learning whatever he can learn, that will be useful for him and others when he come out of prison. The time will go fast. The time will pass fast and we will be waiting on him to come out and be a positive factor in our community.
Audience:
Second question. We build bridges with the Muslims live abroad, and just recently one of my close associates wife return to Allah. The question I have is that his daughter, put a picture, his daughter is a senior here at Chapel Field, of her mother on the front of the eulogy and decided to [make an issue of it] coming from the African American community. On the other hand [this person] has a store selling Halal products and right next to them he is selling liquor, wine, pork.
IWDM:
I see.
Audience:
At that point I just wanted to say that it says in the Quran how do you enjoin right conduct on others when you don't practice it yourself, and at the same time we are trying to build bridges with them. How would you advise we deal with this?
Audience:
Good evening.
IWDM:
I think you can handle that yourself.
Audience:
[inaudible 00:10:13] It's kind of funny that I'm speaking behind this brother because I'm [inaudible 00:10:17] many laws disproportionally effect the African American community. And you spoke about [inaudible 00:10:22] Thank you for bringing us down here, but we spoke a lot about community. The African American community is very [inaudible 00:10:33]. So I guess this question to you is, you spoke a lot about the Muslim society, but if we want to attack the problem, we have to compare the community as a whole [inaudible 00:10:50] African American community, not just one section [crosstalk 00:10:58] and I'm probably sure that's what your community, which works together, African American Muslim, African American Christian, African American non-believers who are all [inaudible 00:11:08] I appreciate what your saying so [inaudible 00:11:18] in our community [inaudible 00:11:18] because we had [inaudible 00:11:26]. But this is a real [inaudible 00:11:33] and it's going to take all of us to correct this problem.
Audience:
Yes, but [inaudible 00:11:54] Christians, Jews and whoever [inaudible 00:11:54]
IWDM:
Yes. And certainly with the Christians, most of us in the neighborhood are Christian. My neighbors are Christians and they're very good neighbors too. I love them very much.
Audience:
[inaudible 00:12:12], [crosstalk 00:12:36].
IWDM:
Yes, sister. I think [inaudible 00:13:07] are coming back here.
Audience:
How do you feel about, [inaudible 00:13:16].
IWDM:
And I know Mr Farrakhan very well. We were friends in the Nation of Islam, close friends, in Nation of Islam and that friendship is still there. We love each other, we respect each other. We love each other, but we differ. We do have serious differences, how we are to promote progress in the African American community. We have some serious differences, but I must say this, as a leader of the Nation of Islam, Minister Farrakhan, in my opinion, have made great progress for the Nation of Islam. And when I speak of great progress, I don't mean only what he does to help youngsters, young men, get their lives in order, become productive. I'm talking also about the image of the Nation of Islam, he has really softened the image of the position of the Nation of Islam regarding race consciousness, and also attitude towards government.
IWDM:
But the newspaper to me is still anti-government. And that's what I'm not comfortable with. It seems to be anti-government. And I feel as a citizen of these United States, if we want our citizenship, if we criticize our government, we should criticize our government in the interest of seeing our government become better, not to put our government down. That's what I don't like. But I think Farrakhan has good intentions. And I know many of his people, they have come a long ways and made a lot of progress as Muslims.
IWDM:
Yes, sister. I am sorry. No.
Audience:
It's an honor for me to [inaudible 00:15:31], [crosstalk 00:15:31]. [inaudible 00:15:41]. [crosstalk 00:16:47]
IWDM:
So some of that texts that you just delete, [inaudible 00:16:55] us all. You're a very good person and sensitive person and you want to help people and G-d will bless you if know how to do your job. And you're, I think you're doing an excellent job. Just from what you're saying to me and your sensitivity. I think you a excellent person to be working with them. Maybe you'll be a doctor or nurse or something. Maybe you would be a community leader one day, who knows.
Audience:
Thank you.
IWDM:
Thank you.
Audience:
[foreign language 00:17:34].
IWDM:
[foreign language 00:17:34].
Audience:
[inaudible 00:17:38] question that [inaudible 00:17:45] it is something that you would encourage or, rather encourage than support, a lot of times, people of scripture [inaudible 00:18:25], but they have to go back to [inaudible 00:18:44] and the answer is yes they may have to [inaudible 00:18:49]
IWDM:
Until we can ourselves, provide facilities for them, there's nothing more we can do than just to give them our friendship, our loving, encourage them as our brothers, spend as much time as you can with them and also visit the facility where they are. You don't know, maybe you can reach the people who hold the facility and win their friendship. They don't know what, maybe you're Muslim, maybe they don't know the kind of Muslim he is, you know, but maybe if you have them know more about true Muslims, maybe they respect his religion. And won't insist that he do things that he shouldn't do. That'd be against his religion. I don't know. We have had Muslims in our area taken into shelters and they haven't tried to make it difficult for them to practice their religion or to be Muslims, you know, but I know there's some facilities that would want them to change their life, to change their religion.
IWDM:
So maybe we can reach them and talk to them and show them that we don't want Christians, good Christians to change their religion. We want them to be comfortable in their religion. If they are Christians, we don't want to make them uncomfortable. We won't force our religion on anybody. That'll be against Islam to do that. So if they know us better, maybe they won't be afraid of the Muslim coming among them. You never can tell, what's bothering them, it could be moved by fear of the Muslim. And they don't trust the Muslim. They may think that his religion is bad for him, you know? And they want to convert him to Christianity. I don't know, but I think we should try to make friends with those people, if we can and stay with the brother and every day just have somebody talk to him everyday to see how he's doing in the facility. Yes, sir. You're welcome.
Audience:
[inaudible 00:21:22].
IWDM:
Yes, sir, Okay, that's fine.
Audience:
[foreign language 00:21:26].
IWDM:
[foreign language 00:21:26].
Audience:
[inaudible 00:21:39] development of spirituality.
IWDM:
Well, the pious people, the saintly people, they develop their spirituality. They concentrate on wealth and spirituality. And I see that as half the religion and the other half is accepting responsibility for family life and community life. That's the other half you know, that's the other half of the religion. So to marry, the prophet said "peace be on him that's half of our religion," it means to accept responsibility for family life, accept responsibility for community life, share that responsibility for its businesses, et cetera, you know, and marrying is a protection. Say that marrying is a protection for us. The female is protected when married lawfully, from being seen as an indecent woman and we're protected from being seen as an indecent man, when you're married. So married life also protects the society, keeps it decent. When you marry and be faithful, and lawful, it keeps a society decent. So we should understand it that way, I think.
Audience:
Thank you.
IWDM:
You're welcome.
Audience:
[foreign language 00:23:09].
IWDM:
[foreign language 00:23:09].
Audience:
[inaudible 00:23:14].
IWDM:
Yes.
Audience:
[inaudible 00:23:05] there seems to be in certain areas of the country, [inaudible 00:00:23:27]. What do you feel is something that [inaudible 00:23:35] perhaps the African Americans can help and learning the African American [inaudible 00:23:40] those conflicts between the two [inaudible 00:23:52]
IWDM:
In my experience with Muslim organizations and African American Muslim organizations, I represent African American Muslim organization, but I also have ties with Pakistani Imams in Chicago. We should seek to improve our opportunities to work with each other, with the leaders, by using our leaders. We should have our leaders meet with each other and discuss our relationship and discuss ways of improving our relationship. That should come from the top. But for all of us, we must accept that we are one family, Muslims are one family, and we love a brother for his Islam, and we don't care what color he is. He become more beloved in our eyes than an African Black brother like us. If the African Black brother is not as beautiful in his Muslim picture as the brother who's not African American.
IWDM:
And this is just being true to our own human nature. If you are true to your own human nature, you don't see a brother as a natural picture, or ethnic picture. When you come to know him as a good Muslim, you see nothing but another good Muslim. So I say to all of us, let us accept our brothers and don't be so quick to find fault with each other. This is against any religion, any religion will tell us not to be fault finders. Don't seek to find fault, to criticize each other, but look for good and build upon good. That's what we should do. We should be looking for good in each other, build upon the good.
IWDM:
All right. I believe that's it. I'll come to you now. I don't know what to do at this point, but sit down.
IWDM:
... big responsibilities too. The more money I get, the more responsibility I accept. I do a lot with my money, I do a lot of good with my money, but my salary would have to be like a $1,000 an hour. You can't pay me that.
IWDM:
But I love to weld, I really. I just might come and weld for nothing. That's what I like to do. Come and do some welding for nothing. I'm a combination welder, very good welder. I worked for big companies. Bethlehem Steel, got my first job, the job with them, Bethlehem Steel. And I started in a small job shop. They gave me a lot of good experience. I was trained to do all phases, all phases of welding. And I liked that. You could tell the way I'm mentioning it to you, that I like it. A man, real masculinity allows to do man's work, it requires man work. You enjoy your man nature and your man's nature when you're doing a man's job. I like to do a man's job. 


