living islam _ Islamic tradition

Sheikh Sa'id Ramadan Al-Bouti:

The Islamic Position Concerning The Recent Criminal Act That Occurred In America

O slaves of God! Just as the body needs nourishment for its life, and for
its growth, so is the case of man's humanity. It as well needs its
nourishment for its life, sustenance, and growth. The nutrition of the body
is the food that God causes to grow from the Earth, and is the meat and
milk of the creatures that He has subjected to us, whereas the nourishment
of man's humanity is Islam. For it is Islam that nourishes man's humanity,
and causes it to develop and grow stronger so that it may fulfill its task.

This humane aspect of man, O brothers, has always flourished in the shade
of Islam. Humanness is a whole, and cannot be divided. Therefore, it
applies to all people, and not just a particular group. Anyone who has been
nurtured in the shade of Islam, and has taken his guidance and teachings
from his Creator, realizes this.

Humanness necessitates that the scales of justice apply equally to all
under one common principle. Race or ethnicity does not qualify this
humanness that we see in Islam. It is not limited to any particular group,
and does not disparage between those who are close and those who are far.
All praise be to Allah that we Muslims, when we feel sorrow for the
injustices that we see occurring here or there, we feel sorrow simply
because of our humanness. We pay no regard to racial considerations, and
are not affected by nationalism, or anything that limits the wide
boundaries of our humane feelings. When we feel sorrow for the injustice
that has befallen our neighbors, who have lost their nation, and have lost
their rights, and whose homes are being destroyed, and whose families are
being torn apart, and whose children are being made orphans, we feel this
sorrow because God has honored man, and has raised man so that he may not
fall prey to the oppressors and wrongdoers of this world. Indeed, we have
been nurtured in the shade of the words of God, {Do not let the hatred for
other people lead you to injustice. Deal justily because this is nearer to
piety} [5:8]. We have been raised in the shade of the words of God, {for
this We decreed for the Children of Israel that anybody kills a human
being, if it is not in retaliation or corruption on earth, he will be as if
he killed all mankind, And if saves a human life, he will be as if he saved
all mankind,} [5:32]. We must reflect here on the word 'person' (or in
Arabic nafs), in the previous verse. I have not found in all the book of
Allah a word as all encompassing and broad as this word. The murder of any
person in an unjust manner is something that Islam violently rejects.

These feelings of sorrow that we feel day and night due to the injustices
that have befallen our brothers in Palestine, we also feel due to that
which occurred yesterday in America. Humanness is a whole, O brothers, and
cannot be divided. What is the sin of those thousands of innocent men and
women who were simply adhering to the routine of their daily lives? What is
the sin of those innocent men and women, which these large buildings, that
house so many workers and employees, become in less than a minute their
grave? What is the sin that they have committed? What is the injustice that
they have done that makes them deserving of a similar injustice?

If for instance we said that the people in those buildings had unjustly
occupied them, without permission of their owners, then we could say that
humanness justifies that the owners of these buildings take action and
avenge this wrongdoing. This example is analogous to the current situation
in Palestine. If these tall buildings had been owned by certain
individuals, and then were forcibly taken from them and those thousands of
men and women inhabited them, we could say that they are occupying
buildings that do not belong to them, which is a blatant injustice. And we
could say that humanness condemns injustice, thus the owners of these
buildings are entitled to defend their rights. But this is not the case
here, for these people dwell in these buildings rightfully. So what is the
justification for acts such as these? This is the difference, O brothers,
between the humanness of a nation that derived its humanness in the shade
of Islam, and the oppressive nations whose 'humanness' succumbs to the
dictates of racism, discrimination, and personal gain. Thus we call upon
these countries, especially America, to apply their humanness in a
consistent, rather than two-faced fashion, which unfortunately is the case.
We find one face ascending to the highest and most idyllic manifestation of
humanness, whereas we find the other face in regards to other entities the
epitome of cruelty. How is it that one's humanness can be so contradictory
in nature? Indeed, we have exhorted the aforementioned to let the command
of God be the scale by which humanness is measured. We have said to them
'Rise above mere personal gain, racism, and discrimination!' Indeed, just
as it said now, how is it that these people consider it to be 'harm' that
befalls the Jews who occupy an Islamic land and who expel its indigenous
inhabitants. How is it that these countries, that claim to be humane,
condemn these weak and oppressed peoples who are simply defending
themselves, and allow the occupying Israeli forces to kill and plunder with
impunity, without any regard for any international edicts of normalcy? This
being the case, why should we be taken aback when we see those oppressed
peoples who are defending themselves applauding this heinous act of terror
that occurred yesterday in America, or if not applauding, maintaining an
eerie silence.

So I say to those of you who speak so righteously about human rights, why
do you not speak out about those rights that are being trodden underfoot?
Why is it that your sensitivities are not roused by the atrocities that are
occurring in Palestine everyday? Why is it that the hand of the oppressor
is not slapped even if with just a verbal reproach? Why is it that you
remain silent in the face of the tragedies and misfortunes that are thrust
upon the oppressed? Why is it that your voices cried out yesterday for a
group of occupying forces that met its demise as a result of a 'security
operation'? Whereas today, your cries fall silent, perhaps even change to
voices of approval? Thus, no matter how high voices are raised calling upon
those of authority and power and the definitive word, nothing is said and
not even an eyebrow is raised. Why? Because of the uneven application of
humanness. Because it is not being applied as a consistent, congruous
whole. And this is the difference between the Islamic view of human rights
and the view of the unjust countries.

Those of us who have been nurtured in the shade of Islam - and I say this
on behalf of every sincere Muslim on the face the earth - unequivocally
condemn oppression and injustice wherever they may exist, whether it be
thrust upon those in neighboring areas, or those in distant lands. It is
not permitted for us to differentiate between one people and another. God
Almighty says: {Do not let the hatred for some people who debarred you from
the Sacred House lead you to aggression} [5:2]. Or in other words are there
not people who stopped you from entering the Sacred Mosque? Beware! Do not
take this as a justification to wrong those who stopped you. Let this not
cause you to transgress. This is how our Islam has taught us. These words
apply to all that are sincere with God Almighty in their acquiescence to
His command.

We Muslims subject our personal interests to the service of our humanness,
whereas they subject their humanness to the needs of their personal
interests. Every time the humanness of these countries contradicts a
certain personal interest, they excuse themselves by saying that it is not
in the nation's best interest. Personal interest is the thermometer or that
sacred scale that should never be breached in their eyes. It is as if they
are saying, 'Our personal interest dictates that innocent men and women
should be killed and that we turn a blind eye to opprthat afflicts
thousands in the Orient and in the Occident, whether in Palestine or not in
Palestine.'

Personal interest to them is the decisive factor. Their humanness is
regularly sacrificed in the name of their own personal interests. This is
their standard. As for us, under all circumstances, our personal interest
is second to our humanness. The Ruler of the heavens and the earth shapes
our humanity. And the Ruler of the heavens and the earth commands His
subjects to act justly and fairly. God Almighty says, {He has raised up the
sky and set up the balance (of Justice), so do not transgress the (due)
balance, and establish weight with justice and do not decrease the balance}
[55:7 ; 9].

O brothers! Our Islam that is exemplified by Muslims all over the world
condemns this misfortune, and has taught us to feel heartache and sorrow
for those innocent people who have been buried both dead and alive beneath
those large buildings. And under no circumstances should we feel any lesser
degree of remorse then the remorse of those who are closest to the
deceased. This is how our religion, our Islam has taught us.

Therefore, I say to you with certainty, that it is inconceivable that the
hands of a sincere Muslim could have committed this action. It is not
possible that this could have originated from individuals who have
sincerely submitted themselves to God Almighty.

However, there is the possibility of agents, no doubt from the countries of
injustice, who have put on the face of Islam and thereafter committed
actions that no human being would ever consent to. This is occurring right
now in Algeria, and perhaps in other areas as well. This indeed is very
possible. Therefore it is incumbent upon us to recognize that those
individuals are the furthest people from Islam. Their sole reason for doing
this is to destroy Islam from within. This is because America right now is
witnessing the spread of Islam within her own borders at an incredible
pace. The question is being asked among the Zionists, and other
organizations that show animosity to Islam, what are we to expect after
twenty years if the current spread of Islam is left unchecked? How can we,
at this moment, stop this phenomenon? The answer: cause an incident of such
a catastrophic nature, that all that hears of it are shaken. Then follow it
up by using all forms of media, to tie a connection in the minds of the
people between this calamity, and Islam. The result: all who had harbored
any sympathies for Islam among the non-Muslims, all who had entertained the
thought of learning more about Islam, will be completely soured on Islam
and the Muslims.

O brothers, it is crucial that we become aware of what is happening. It is
crucial that this awareness leads us Muslims to some form of genuine
solidarity. If we do not unite, then the demise of our Umma (nation) is
eminent. If this incident does not awaken the rulers of our lands, and
cause them to unite and join forces, and make them realize the plotting
against Islam, then the days of this Umma are numbered. I pray to God
Almighty that I am mistaken, and that He guide this Umma to the right, as
well as to unity.