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Politics
Khutbah Outline: Muslim Community and the American Political Process—Part 3
By Parvez Ahmed
1. Living as a justly balanced Ummah
In Surah Baqarah verse 143 Allah (SWT) says: “Thus we have made you an Ummah justly balanced that ye might be witness over mankind and the Apostle a witness over yourselves.” To attain this objective in Surah Baqarah 2: Ayah 208 Allah (SWT) says: “O you who believe! Enter
perfectly and completely into Islâm and follow not the footsteps of Shaitân (Satan). Verily! He is to you a plain enemy.” Udhkuhulu Fi Silmi Kaffatan – Enter into Islam Completely.
2. Witnessing to the Truth
Our Ummah is charged with the same mission as our beloved Prophet was. Our mission is the same as his - witnessing the Truth. If we as an Ummah properly fulfill our duty of witnessing the Truth, yet the people around us do not pay heed, we as an Ummah will be rewarded by Allah because we tried our utmost best. However, if we as an Ummah neglect our duties or give false witness, we will deserve to be punished more severely than others. We as an Ummah shall be accountable not only for our own misdeeds, but also for the misdeeds of those who went astray… because the testimony given to them by us was misleading or false.
3. The need for a social ethic
Religious consciousness is not possible without a social ethic. To be a person of faith requires that we be immersed to working for social justice and social good. Prophet Muhammad did not just immerse himself in “dhikr.” To the contrary he served Allah by serving his fellow human beings.
4. No justice without being just
The Prophet exemplified that one cannot practice justice and dispense equity if one is unable to respect the dignity of others. Not being able to stand up or not being willing to stand up to defend the rights of others when they are violated only brings danger to our survival. Listen to a poem written by a Christian pastor at the time of Nazi Germany: "First they came for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up, because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speakup for me" (Pastor Niemoller).
5. The Prophet's mission and ours: justice for all
The Prophet's call was for the religious, social and political liberation for all people not just Muslims, not just people of his own tribe, not just for rich and powerful but for all people. The Prophet said, "The best among you is the best toward people." When we remain silent in the face of justice, we are far removed from the one who is The Just (Al-Adl) – i.e. Allah.
6. Speaking out in political arena is example of speaking for justice
If we perceive that our faith, our way of life, our ability to worship freely or gather without any fear is under threat then we have the right, rather the obligation to raise our voices and explore peaceful means of overcoming this difficulty. If these problems are the result of government policies, then also we have the right, rather the obligation, to go out and engage ourselves in the process to address the situation.
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