KHUTBAS

Khutbah/Sermon by Imam Kasim Kopuz At Islamic Organization of the Southern Tier, 09-14-2001

Dear Muslim Brothers and Sisters.

We are living under very difficult condition, it is one of those worst calamities fallen upon us. We ask only Allah (S) to help save us from this museebah/calamaity. We are extremely horrified and saddened by the tragedy in New York and Washington D.C. Our hearts and prayers are with the families of the victims of this horrible and despicable crime. We condemn this heinous act, it is totally against Islam. Islam does not permit such unjust actions. Muslims are not terrorists and we condemn any terrorist attack against all people. Perpetrators should be punished, and brought to justice. We appreciate and thank President Bush for acknowledging that American Muslims and Arab American are also saddened by this terrorist attack and by making it clear that any hate crime against Muslims will not be tolerated. Our hearts are with those who have lost their beloved ones in this terrible tragedy. We Muslims of Broome County are joined with other national Islamic organizations in condemnation of this un-Islamic act of barbarism.

Some of those national organizations that we joined are as follows:

• Shari’a Scholars (Muslim Scholars of Islamic Law) Association of North America (SSANA)
• American Muslim Alliance (AMA)
• American Muslim Council (AMC)
• American Muslims Political Coordination Council (AMCC)
• Association of Muslim Scientists and Engineers (AMSE)
• Association of Muslim Social Scientists (AMSS)
• Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
• Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA)
• Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA)
• Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)
• Ministry of Imam W. Deen Mohammed
• Muslim American Society (MAS)
• Muslim Public Affairs Council(MPA)

Our respected brother Dr. Muzzammil Siddiqui, President of National Islamic Organization, ISNA, and respected scholars of Islam in North America, was in National Cathedral to represent national Muslim community at the national gathering of all sections of society, all faith communities of America, he prayed there to Allah to give us strength and save us against evils. We are all behind our national Islamic leaders; we endorse what they say in public forums.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters, This attack was against Muslims and non-Muslims civilian people, against innocent people, against men and women, against adults and small babies. In short, this attack was against me and you. There were several hundred Muslims working in the World Trade Center. And, a large number of Muslims used to offer Friday congregational prayer in the World Trade Center. There are many Muslims, who are still among the missing. We are sad, brothers and sister, and we have deep grief in our heart. In fact we are double sad, we have double grief.

1-Firstly: We are sad; we have very deep grief because there is attack against civilians. It is our religious belief and human nature that Muslims get sad whenever civilians are injured; wherever that happened, to whomever that happened, Muslims or non-Muslims does not matter. We love human being, because human beings are creation of our beloved God/Allah. Religious base for this principle is clear to us in Qur’an, our holy book, and practice of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It is our belief that Allah/God has revealed Islam to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as mercy to all mankind.

1- Allah/God (S) is merciful to Muslims and non-Muslims together in this world. One of the names and attributes of Allah is al-RAHMAN, the most merciful one. We say, before starting any works to do on the face of the earth: “In the name of Allah, the most Merciful (the RAHMAN), the most kind (the RAHEEM).” It is our belief that Allah/God is merciful/RAHMAN to all of us on the face of the earth, Muslims and Non-Muslims, together. We say this all the times during the days, and we remind ourselves about Allah/God’s being merciful upon us. With his name Rahman Allah (S) is merciful to all humanity, he gives bounties of this world and cares about people of this world Muslims and non-Muslims together, because he his just God, he is ‘adeel, he is al-RAHMAN.

2-Allah/God (S) has sent his last prophet Muhammad (PUH) as mercy to all mankind. Qur’an says: “Wema ersalnake illa rahmeten lilalemeen” (Qur’an, 21/107). O Muhammad, We have not sent you but as mercy to all worlds. These are clear words of Allah (S) that He informs us that His last prophet is sent as mercy to all-mankind. Now, we can NOT turn prophet to be presented to mankind as prophet of horrific act of terrorism. This is grave distortion of the message of Allah (S) to humanity; this is grave disrespect to the most merciful prophet of Allah. Therefore, we totally reject what those terrorist did, no matter what their names are.

3-Prophet Muhammad (PUH) always prayed to Allah for the guidance of all mankind, even for the guidance of his wickedest enemies, such as Abu Jahil. Prophet Muhammad (PUH) always prayed for the guidance of humanity, Muslims and non-Muslims all together. We know when Prophet Muhammad (PUH) was attacked at Taif by his enemies who stormed him with stones. His blessed feet and legs got bleeding. He saved himself by seeking refuge in vineyard. Our tradition says it that there at vineyard, angel Gabriel came to Prophet Muhammad and said to him that if you want Allah punish and destroy these people He will grant this for you. Our beloved Prophet of Mercy said to angel Gabriel that NO, I only ask Allah guide this people to his path. He prayed for those non-Muslims who attacked him, he prayed for their guidance. He did not say, take my revenge from these people who attacked me. Think about this: Prophet Muhammad (PUH)’s body is more blessed than body of any one us; his personality is most honored in the site of Allah. His body was attacked, his personality was attacked, but he never asked revenge, he always prayed for disbelievers of the city of Makkah to gain guidance from Allah.

4-In the city Madinah, Prophet Muhammad (PUH) always visited his neighbors, Jews and Christians, when they were sick, or when they were in need. This shows that our prophet cared for his neighbors, for all humanity. Therefore we Muslims care about for all humanity, care for civilians, care for our neighbors, Muslims or non-Muslims. Therefore I’m saying we are sad, we are deeply grieved, we are sorrowed, and we are deeply distressed that civilians got killed. We are hurt; religiously we are hurt, as well as, as human being we are hurt. 2-Secondly: The second sadness we have is, un-fortunately those who conducted this act of barbarism seem to be, or claiming to be one of the followers of Islam. So far the names we are hearing from the US authorities shows that those terrorists have names that most of the Muslims of the world have. It is very unfortunate that Muslim names are associated with this act of mischief on the face of the earth. This makes us very sad, and extremely deepens our grief as Muslims, because last form of monotheistic religion on the face of the earth, the message of the most merciful prophet of Islam on the face of the earth is being associated with wildest act on the face of the earth, with those who carry Islamic names. We, Muslims, totally reject this association, and we consider this has nothing to do with the most peaceful religion of Allah, Islam. Islam means peace. Where is peace and justice in these acts?

It is clear to us that Islam orders us as Muslim we are not allowed to harm civilians during actual battle, let alone during the peace time. During actual battle, while we would defend ourselves in the battlefield, Islamic law does not allow us to harm civilians, men and women, elderly and children. We are not allowed to harm even nature, we are not allowed to burn greenery. What is the sin of those civilian human beings who went to their offices to carry out their daily works. Like you brothers and sisters, they went to their daily works without knowing what would come upon them. What is the sin of those Muslims and non-Muslims who are lost or injured in these attacks? Qur’an asks the disbelievers of Makkah who used to kill innocent baby girls: “Bieyyi zanbin qutilat: for what sin she was killed (Qur’an, 81/9). Now, we are asking, what is the sin of those innocent civilian who were killed, injured, left under rubbles hours and hours, even days.

Islam is deen/religion of peace and justice. We stand for justice, even it may be against our brothers. Allah says to us very clearly: “O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor.” (Chapter Women: 4; Verse:134)

We have to keep our sabr/patient and perform our supplication to Allah, pray to Allah (S) to give us strength against this calamity. O Allah protect and preserve the strength of our people, keep us united, muslims and non-muslims against evils, against any form of terrorism. We believe and say that, terrorism has no religion, has no holy book, has no prophet of god. No prophet on the face of the earth ever taught his followers to go and kill civilians. Those terrorist who attacked the civilians acted against Islam, against teachings of prophet Muhammad (A).

Prophet participated in an organization called hilfulfudul. It was an organization of justice and peace in the city of Makkah. Members of this organization took oath of solidarity against injustices in their city. Prophet Mohammad took part in this organization at the time before his prophethood, and after prophethood he said that I would participate in similar organization if there would be another one. This says to us, we muslim have our role model in Prophet (A) that we should stand side by side with non-Muslims against any form of injustices. If the brothers who are in authority ask you to involve in any communal activity in connection with recent tragedy, please be responsive. Give your blood, donate your money, and donate your skills. If you are able to help in any other way help, help, and help. Please participate in public help efforts wherever you can be part of it. This is our religious as well as human responsibility. I just said to you that, Prophet Muhammad cared about his neighbor, Muslims and non-Muslims. We live together, we work together, we get happy together, and we grieve together with our neighbors, Muslims or non-Muslims. Our neighboring Americans have their right upon us to help them, share same grief as they feel. We are also injured, our Muslim brothers and sisters got lost or got injured in these attacks. In deed, we Muslims are still suffering from this tragedy because of prejudicial, abnormal behavior of very minority, a few people here and there.

We know, and you heard that there are threats, or physical attack to Muslims or attack to some of the mosques. But these are very minority words of hatred, or act of hatred. We in this Mosque also received a few words of hatred. Police was very responsive and cooperative with us. Johnson City police increased the patrolling in the area. As oppose to a few words of hatred, we have received, and still are receiving lot of words of solidarity from non-Muslims, from various faith communities, Christians and Jews, and from various politicians. We are all appreciative of those supportive calls.

I assure you, brothers and sisters, all over the America, we Muslims received many words and act of support. This shows that, spirit of solidarity between Muslims and Non-Muslims are much, much higher, and much, much stronger than words of hatred. I believe that, our solidarity between all faith groups, are religious duty, as well as human responsibility. Through our solidarity, we show to all humanity that, whatever big and huge destructive is act of evils on the face of the earth, the spirit and the act of solidarity against evils are much, much stronger, and much more enduring.

I ask my brothers and sisters that, we have to obey law of the lands we are living on. We eat, we gain our livelihood, we sustain our life in this land. We must be appreciative of what this land provides for us, and we must behave responsibly that we care about our lands, we care about our neighbors. My Muslims Brothers and sisters, stay firm and strong against any injustices, even it may be against your brothers. Islam teaches us that “Goodness and evil can not be same, evil will be punished.”

My Muslim brothers and Siters, stay firm, keep yourself, your mind and heart, united against killing of innocent people. We have to behave in disciplined way. There will be media statement outside the masjid. Show yourselves there, but let only those who are responsible speak to media. Don’t argue with each other about how we are doing things, or how should we do the things. There are responsible brothers, those who are given authority, obey them, follow the discipline of Islam. Qur’an says to us very clearly, “O you who believe, obey Allah, obey Prophet of Allah, and Obey those who are given authority over you”.

We pray for those who are lost, and pray Allah Subhanehu weteala to give strength and patient to the families of those who are lost. We trust the justice of Allah subhanehu weteala that those who caused mischief on the face of the earth will be punished. Today, our heart turned to Allah today, and we sincerely pray Allah (S) that give us strong spirit of confidence against evils of terrorist attacks, we ask Almighty Allah, make this earth for us a place of safety and justice. Ameen.