Is THEM Guilty of Shirk? - Dr. Wesley Muhammad
Is THEM Guilty of Shirk? - Dr. Wesley Muhammad
Is THEM Guilty of Shirk? - Dr. Wesley Muhammad
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14.] <strong>Dr</strong> <strong>Wesley</strong> <strong>Muhammad</strong> Response<br />
As-salaam Alaikum Family.<br />
Thank you Bro Kyle for your thoughtful comments. I share your sentiment that the process <strong>of</strong> dialogue is<br />
more valuable than any prospective outcome, except that outcome is increased mutual respect and<br />
positive steps toward a unified community. This is the goal. For the record, I did not invest the time in this<br />
wonderful exchange hoping to "convert" anyone. I respect Bro Imam Salim's right to, as his dear mother<br />
admonished, hold on to that which he has in his brilliant head. If this dialogue changed not a single<br />
person's theology but helps to generate a new-found mutual respect among we followers <strong>of</strong> the Imam and<br />
followers <strong>of</strong> the Minister, then the time and effort was more than worth it. The Imam did a great service<br />
to <strong>Is</strong>lam in America in general (as everyone in this group already knows), but he also did a great service to<br />
the reconstituted NOI (as I heard the Minister himself say). He forced us to reckon with the Qur'an and<br />
Sunna in a way and to such a degree that, without his work, I do not think we would have felt compelled<br />
to do. This has generated in those <strong>of</strong> us who have submitted to this compulsion, if you will, a love and<br />
appreciation for the Holy Prophet that was generally absent in the past. Allow me to <strong>of</strong>fer a personal<br />
testimony. It was the way the Imam and his followers clung to the Qur‘an, the Prophet and his Sunna –<br />
and the way some <strong>of</strong> them frequently bludgeoned us in the NOI with these sources - that inspired my<br />
immersion into the study <strong>of</strong> these sources. And it was this immersion that has engendered in me a sincere<br />
and pr<strong>of</strong>ound love for the Qur‘an, the Prophet and his Sunna. Having discovered through this study the<br />
harmony <strong>of</strong> the Supreme Wisdom with the Qur‘an and Sunna was/is a tremendous blessing from Allah<br />
Ta‘ala; I sincerely believe that it has forever freed us sons and daughters <strong>of</strong> the Honorable Elijah<br />
<strong>Muhammad</strong> from the anguish <strong>of</strong> having to ―choose‖ the one or the other. I deeply love the Honorable<br />
Elijah <strong>Muhammad</strong> and the Supreme Wisdom, and I deeply love the Holy Prophet <strong>Muhammad</strong> and the<br />
Qur‘an and Sunna. I am delighted today to know that I can legitimately – not schizophrenically – include<br />
myself in both the NOI and the Ahl al-Sunna! I claim the latter as passionately as I claim the former. I<br />
believe that this is a basis upon which the followers <strong>of</strong> the Imam and the followers <strong>of</strong> the Minister can<br />
grow in mutual respect and, ultimately, mutual love, for we both love the Honorable Elijah <strong>Muhammad</strong><br />
and we both acknowledge the Qur‘an as the criterion <strong>of</strong> truth and the Prophet <strong>Muhammad</strong> as the Seal <strong>of</strong><br />
the Prophets; we can both acknowledge the beauty <strong>of</strong> his character and <strong>of</strong> his Sunna. It should matter<br />
little that we interpret these great sources differently. It seems to me that our mutual acknowledgment <strong>of</strong><br />
and love for these sources is the adequate basis upon which to build unity and brotherhood/sisterhood.<br />
Am I overly optimistic? Dear Brother Nazim Abdul-Latif, I regret that you feel that accepting my ―logic‖<br />
will set this community back 35 years. My ―logic‖ is that we no longer have to choose EITHER the<br />
Honorable Elijah <strong>Muhammad</strong> OR the Holy Prophet <strong>Muhammad</strong>. My ―logic‖ is that we no longer have<br />
to choose EITHER the Supreme Wisdom that had the unparalleled impact on the lives <strong>of</strong> Black people in<br />
America, literally resurrecting us psychologically, intellectually, socially, economically and, yes, spiritually,<br />
OR the Qur‘an and Sunna that had the unparalleled impact on the lives <strong>of</strong> Black people in Arabia<br />
(Arabs), literally resurrecting them psychologically, intellectually, socially, economically and, yes,<br />
spiritually. My ―logic‖ is that we can actually cling to both WITHOUT being social schizophreniacs. This<br />
is a logic that will set the community back 35 years? I certainly hope not. Bro <strong>Muhammad</strong> Abdur-<br />
Rahman, I love you too in the path <strong>of</strong> Allah! I promise you, I am playing no word-games Beloved. I<br />
sincerely seek and appreciate honest, non-dogmatic investigation and discussion about OUR religion,<br />
<strong>Is</strong>lam, and OUR book <strong>of</strong> guidance, the Qur‘an. I would never waste mine or the people‘s time with any<br />
intellectual games. I believe <strong>Is</strong>lam is THE healing for our desperately sick people. Every minute I spend in<br />
this work is inspired by this conviction. You and I simply have different understandings <strong>of</strong> the muhkamat<br />
and the mutashabihat in the Qur‘an. But that‘s ok. Does this have to prevent our embracing each other as<br />
Brothers in the Faith? I hope not Beloved.<br />
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