Assalamu Alaikum

In the past they used to wear hoods. Today, white supremacists wear no hoods. They seem to be encouraged by our President, who has difficulty condemning them.

But they gave America a gift of love: Heather Heyer. She is our hero. She is our martyr.

She always stood up for diversity. At times, co-workers found her at the office crying because of injustices she had heard or read about. She was a passionate advocate for the disenfranchised. She would even let desperate people stay at her home.

She was like the two heroes of Portland, Oregon, who sacrificed their lives as they stood up to save two teenagers, both black and one a Hijab-wearing Muslim, from another white racist.

But where are the Muslims in this struggle for justice?

God says that He sent all of the Prophets to help people establish Qist, which means peace, justice, equity and fairness in Arabic (Quran 57:25).

I could not locate a single national Muslim leader in Charlottesville standing for justice.

If Br. Malik Shabazz, Malcolm X, was alive, he would have been there.

Prophet Muhammad, God’s peace and blessings be upon him, always stood up against injustices no matter who the victim was, friend or stranger, Muslim or not.

Action Items

Next Khutba

Dedicate this Friday’s Khutba to talking about the primacy of justice in Islam. Educate people about racism in America. Invite people to dwell on racism among ourselves as well. Invite Muslims to follow the Prophetic path of standing up for justice. Since it is Hajj season, Khutbas may be focused on that. In that case, take the first Khutba about the universal values of Islamic egalitarianism. And then transition to talking about Malcolm X’s Hajj experience and dedicate the second part of the Khutba to focusing on the current struggle against racism in America today and how Muslims can be a part of it.

Speak up

Find every opportunity to talk:

• Radio talk shows
• Letter to the editor
• Family Shura
• Colleagues at work
• Interfaith event
• Weekend Islamic center program
• Your representatives, whether Republicans or Democrats

Stand up

There are rallies and protests being held across the country. Click here to find a program near you. Or enter your event here if you are organizing one.

War-terror-Islamophobia is a cycle. Become a part of the anti-war movement. A major anti-war conference is taking place in Washington, DC in September. Four  million Muslims have been killed in this cycle.

Learn about civic engagement. A training is taking place August 20 in Chicago  and on Sept 8-10 in Kansas City, MO. (I have taken this last training by Wellstone).

Ask Hajjis to make Dua

Muslims are leaving for Hajj. Give them a written sheet to make Duas for our country, for justice, for fairness, and for the Ummah.

Talking Points

• Applaud Republicans who were the first to condemn what happened
• Charlottesville’s racist march is neither isolated, nor did it suddenly just happen. There is a long history of deadly racism and hate behind it
• Racists were marching toward a black neighborhood with arms when anti-fascist counter protestors tried to block their way
• Racism is being advanced through three means:
  • Drumming up racism on the street
  • Executive orders and legislative actions like the Muslim Ban and other anti-minority and anti-science agendas
  • Stealth memos by the White House to different government departments, which are creating problems
• Top White House staff includes three prominent Islamophobes: Stephen Bannon, Stephen Miller, and  Sebastian Gorka. They are on record for demonizing not just Muslims, but African-Americans, Latinos, and other non-white groups.
• The US needs to create a judicial process to ensure electoral confidence an inclusion of all by disbanding the “voter fraud” commission, which only exists to curtail our right to vote
• The Department of Justice must reverse its decision to stop investigating police misconduct and expand private prisons.

Thinking Points

• Building alliance and coalitions with other communities was one of the main empowerment strategies of the Prophet. How much of your personal time and money, and how much of your community resources are going in this direction?
• Justice, the right of neighbors, and the duty toward the poor are three major categories in which Islam does not differentiate between a believer in God or a non-believer. How do your personal and community resources take this in consideration in their plans?
• Relations with Jewish Americans: One of the racist slogans raised in this rally was specific to Jews. It said “Jews will not replace us!” We know that most militia are anti-Muslim, and anti-black, but their anti-Semitism has not been this loud before. The Jewish community knows racism and has fought successfully against it. Muslim communities must request their Jewish leadership to become stronger allies against Islamophobia to prevent the hatred of anti-Semitism becoming stronger. Jewish communities need to condemn Islamophobia by name as Muslim community condemns anti-Semitism by its name. We must stand together against hate. Jewish communities also need to confront Jews who are leading Islamophobes. The Muslim community also must watch those who preach anti-Semitism

Salam

Abdul Malik Mujahid

Calling American Muslim Volunteers!

Sound Vision is planning to launch a 24/7 Crisis Line, Insha Allah.

Several trained volunteers are already in place. However, to operate a 24/7 crisis line we need more volunteers. We need to build a pool of trained volunteers in the US.

This Crisis Line can save lives in times of stress, anxiety, or depression.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old.  Qualified professionals will be training the volunteers in methods of saving lives.

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