Comments on: Louisville, Kentucky Imams’ Meeting

By: A. Talut El-Amin

A. Talut El-Amin — Mon, 11 May 2009 20:26:18 +0000

I sent this Letter to Imam Rashad Sharif about this matter on the date below:
May 11, 2009
With the Name Allah (swt) Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
It is Allah’s (swt) love that propels the believers, raise them to great highs, and He nourishes them with His inspiration. Allah (swt) gives direction to whomever He pleases and no one can refute this.
My Dearest Brother Imam Sharif;
I feel special and active having received a copy of your correspondence by email on May 11, 2009. As many of us have, I too have witness a great deal throughout the years, the ways and means as to how we operate as Muslims, in our businesses and efforts. Of course you know that everything that Imam Mohammed did and said were lessons for us to go by. He also was very careful about how he arraigned language and his leadership. Nothing was seemingly left out. While reading your correspondence, that of Imam Vernon, and others I’m compel to write to you about my position.
I have resolved that our national leadership effects are not in line with the WILL of Imam Mohammed. For those whom are unknowledgeable, Imam Mohammed’s WILL could be derived by what he did or did not do AND what he said or did not say, during his life with us. I understood Imam Mohammed’s rationale about disbanding our national organization thereby, establishing each masjid as a liberated operating entity.
Actually there is no need to have a national spokesman; Imam Mohammed hardly ever gave national positions on anything. He really wanted us to grow up and learn to be on our own, as part of our perspective communities. If you remember, we failed in our national committee structure, as we did in so many other national things. Imam Mohammed was a wise man, he broke down all those national things then, he established his own organizations, and afterward he asked us to support them.
The best example of how a decentralized organization works happened during the 9/11 crisis. Several Imams made public statements in many cases their statements were right and in line with the Sunna of Prophet Muhammad (saw) and in line with the teachings of Imam Mohammed. But, there were no national public statements made by Imam Mohammed until much later after 9/11.
Considering the world impact of 9/11, our communities handle themselves very well. Imam Mohammed gave to us our position about world events long before 9/11. We should be very proud of the way that we withstood the impact of 9/11.
Imam Mohammed kept power away from many Imams and brothers, in that, he knew for a fact that these people were not capable of handling any amount of power or influence. Now, some of these people are working like slaves to bring about a national entity, in what they believe are, in the absence of Imam Mohammed. They should know that Imam Mohammed’s teachings are alive and well.
While they all know or should know that the correct way is the Sunna as taught to us by Imam Mohammed. The Sunna of Prophet Muhammad (saw) was established for this very reason, so that we will have his path to rely on during critical times like now. Trust me, there is no confusion among those who are established in the Sunna and who have followed the teaching of Imam Mohammed in any length of time. These Muslims will win through, as they did during 9/11 and other critical periods of times in our American Islamic life. This organizing and building reminds me of Musa’s (saw) people building the Golden Calf.
I would like to take time to clarify my support for you and your effort on this matter. As I said in my last letter, I support you forcefully. It is clear to me, that you possess the leadership in this matter. You possess the wisdom, courage, and vision needed to propel our communities and societies into the 21st century. Your foundation on this matter is solid based on Sunna of Prophet Muhammad (saw) and the wisdom of Imam Mohammad. Every Imam that accepted the teaching and directions of Imam Mohammed must now stomach up and accept that you are correct and that your vision is superior to theirs’.
As long as you have the believers, our community, and the region of leaders behind you we are unified in our position to express the WILL of Imam Mohammed.
In that, you must assume the leadership for all of us.
Talut El-Amin
P.S. overlook my errors!

By: brother khalid

brother khalid — Fri, 08 May 2009 08:01:21 +0000

Sahih Bukhari Volume 3, Book 33, Number 254:
Narrated ‘Ali bin Al-Husain (from Safiya, the Prophet’s wife):
The wives of the Prophet were with him in the mosque (while he was in Itikaf) and then they departed and the Prophet said to Safiya bint Huyai, “Don’t hurry up, for I shall accompany you,” (and her dwelling was in the house of Usama). The Prophet went out and in the meantime two Ansari men met him and they looked at the Prophet and passed by. The Prophet said to them, “Come here. She is (my wife) Safiya bint Huyai.” They replied, “Subhan Allah, (How dare we think of evil) O Allah’s Apostle! (we never expect anything bad from you).” The Prophet replied, “Satan circulates in the human being as blood circulates in the body, and I was afraid lest Satan might insert an evil thought in your minds.”
This simple act on the part of our beloved Prophet, peace and prayers upon him, shows the critical importance of clearing any possibility that one’s character be put into question. The insidious behaviour displayed on the ‘Shirley Mohammad and friends show’ demonstrates absolutely NO concern for Imam Muhammad’s honor. That is why dear brother Siddeeq you are absolutely, positively 100% correct to say that this is a MAJOR concern and MUST be reconciled because it is concerning our Imams honor and reputation. Instead of meeting in Louisville, these kentucky chicken Imams should be waging Jihad to defend Imam Mohammad’s honor by coming out and giving their PUBLIC support to the Imams “LEGAL” wife Khadijah!!!
How would it look in the future when people say that this was never challenged by The Imams???
What would be the story surrounding Imam Mohammad’s “Mystery woman” he lived and traveled with. Astaghfirullah!! How can we expect these people to uphold truth when they fail to deal with something so simple as to speak a word against this Blatant LIE! You have to make a strong effort to ignore that. How do you have the courage to be silent on such a matter?
You may not say it but I will. Muslim Journal is a sheepish paper until it deals with it’s silence and censorship of those who voice concern.
“Kentucky Chicken Imams” (to whom the shoe fits)
“buk buk raark” And I’m not Laughing at all

By: Hatim Hamidullah

Hatim Hamidullah — Tue, 05 May 2009 05:20:08 +0000

ASA,
Imam Siddeeq, your words of clarity and couragousness are welcomed by all who loves and adheres to theleadership and language of Imam WD Mohammed.Please attend the next nat’l Imams meeting to be announced.Your presence obviously is needed to help clarify family matters, but also criticly for charting the course for our future. Remember ” The Hand of Allah is on the Group ”
Truthfully ASA,
Much respect
Your brother
Hatim Hamidullah – Orlando

By: Imma Marshall Musa Muslim Abuwi

Imma Marshall Musa Muslim Abuwi — Mon, 04 May 2009 20:36:45 +0000

Dear Brother Muhammad Siddeeq,
I am currently a somewhat financially-strapped doctoral student on a very fixed income, as a military and social security retiree. At the same time, I can assure you that I will do everything that I can to contribute to the fund that has been established to help pay the legal bills in Sister Khadijah Siddeeq-Mohammed’s struggle to receive her lawful rights as the widow of Imam W. Deen Mohammed.
New subject:
I read with interest your presentation concerning what transpired at the recent “National Imams Meeting” in Louisville, which I was unable to attend.
I suppose my biggest question at this point is:
“Why did this group not meet while Imam W. Deen Mohammed was alive among us?” In other words, why has his passing warranted these Imams doing something that did not seem to be needed during his lifetime?
Perhaps one plausible answer might be that some of the Imams feel that some structure, or some body of leaders needs to be put in place to replace the leadership of Imam W. Deen Mohammed, as though that exemplary leadership has been lost with his physical passing.
I question whether the followers of Imam W. Deen Mohammed need any more than what he established, over thirty-three arduous years of hard, diligent work, for us.
It seems that, as a community, we have not yet implemented what “The Imam” has already got on the table for us to do. It seems that, as autonomous self-governing masajid and Muslim community centers, the agenda should be for us all to review his teaching and directions and then put into practice what he – not some group organized after his physical passing takes upon themselves to direct us to do.
On the other hand, if there are those among us who sincerely feel that Imam W. Deen Mohammed’s leadership of our Muslim community ended with his physical death in September, 2008; then they should “come clean” and let us know that that is how they feel.
My position is that, just as Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) does not have be physically alive and present to lead the universal community of Muslims from now on,Imam W. Deen Mohammed does not have to be physically present to lead our community. All we have to do is follow what he taught us. If he, in fact, directed us to view our local masajid and Muslim community centers as the units of our Muslim government and structure, and that our relationship to each other in larger circles should not require a national leadership body, then what is the purpose of moving in that direction today?
Imam Marshall Musa Muslim Abuwi
Senior great-grandson of The Honorable Booker T. Washington