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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true and authentic <strong>Is</strong>lamic idea <strong>of</strong> G-d. During the course <strong>of</strong> this reply, which will be multipart, I intend to<br />
respond to these characterizations.<br />
I hereby acknowledge and thank <strong>Dr</strong>. <strong>Wesley</strong> for caring enough to make clear that he did not intend his<br />
use <strong>of</strong> the word misrepresentation to imply that I was doing so with ill-intentions. I would like him to<br />
know that I did not perceive its use in this way, but rather that he believes I have erred and thereby<br />
misrepresented what he believes is the correct representation.<br />
While my response will be multipart, I hope not to prolong it and "beat a dead horse," as the metaphor<br />
goes. <strong>Dr</strong>. <strong>Wesley</strong> presented his lecture to us. I responded to his lecture. He replied to my response. I am<br />
now replying to his reply. Hence, we have both taken two turns at making our views as clear as we can at<br />
this time. So, I hope to minimize redundancy and at the conclusion <strong>of</strong> my reply, I'll consider the "formal"<br />
part <strong>of</strong> this debate done for the time being. Of course dialog on other and related topics will continue for<br />
all <strong>of</strong> us.<br />
As I have just become aware <strong>of</strong> <strong>Dr</strong>. <strong>Wesley</strong> when I saw his lecture, I have learned more about his views<br />
upon reading his responses during this dialog and by reading through parts <strong>of</strong> his dissertation. Having<br />
what I believe is a better understanding <strong>of</strong> <strong>Dr</strong>. <strong>Wesley</strong>'s viewpoint, I feel even more confirmed in my<br />
views, although he argues his point <strong>of</strong> view very well. Therefore, in addition to responding to some <strong>of</strong> his<br />
specific comments, I may reference small parts <strong>of</strong> his dissertation in making some general observations.<br />
HOPE FOR UNITY BETWEEN COMMUNITIES OF IWDM AND NOI<br />
<strong>Dr</strong>. <strong>Wesley</strong> made the following comment, "This past July I was among those fortunate enough to join<br />
Brother Minister Farrakhan for dinner at the National House in Chicago, during which he shared with his<br />
guests, among other things, his desire to see his followers and the followers <strong>of</strong> Im?m W?rrithudd?n come<br />
together as a unified community descendant from the spiritual loins <strong>of</strong> the Honorable Elijah <strong>Muhammad</strong><br />
(hereafter <strong>THEM</strong>). The Minister acknowledged that our claim that God is a man is the obstacle to this<br />
unity." (Response to Mubaashir Part 1)<br />
While the NOI merging with the community <strong>of</strong> IWDM as one community is an unlikely scenario for<br />
several reasons, including the one you've mentioned, I can understand and appreciate the desire to build a<br />
bridge that allows our two communities to cooperate in ways that benefit humanity in general and African<br />
people in particular. This desire exists among many <strong>of</strong> us as well and I believe there is room for us to find<br />
ways to cooperate.<br />
While the followers <strong>of</strong> Imam Mohammed differ with many people theologically, the Imam urged us to<br />
look for and connect with right-minded people everywhere who respect each other and where we must<br />
differ, do so respectfully. Allah tells us in Qur'an 2:62<br />
"Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the<br />
Christians and the Sabians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work<br />
righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they<br />
grieve." (Qur'an 2:62 Yusuf Ali translation)<br />
While at the same time we are told in Sura 4:171:<br />
"O People <strong>of</strong> the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: Nor say <strong>of</strong> Allah aught but the<br />
truth. Christ Jesus the son <strong>of</strong> Mary was (no more than) an apostle <strong>of</strong> Allah, and His Word,<br />
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