Action Alert: Dedicate this Friday to Charlottesville
We encourage masajid to dedicate and focus this Friday’s khutbah (sermon) on the events in Charlottesville.
Please share our suggested talking points below with your community leaders.
Khutbah Talking Points
- The rally and subsequent violence and terror attack we witnessed over the weekend was deeply rooted in racism and executed by White Supremacists. Although we are seeing a rise in events promoting racism and hate crimes, racism and bigotry are not new phenomena. There is a long history of it in America and we have recently been seeing a revival of White Supremacy groups.
- We fully support the first amendment, freedom of speech, and the right to peacefully assemble, however, that does not extend to those who incite or take part in violence. The acts carried out over the weekend were ill-intentioned to fuel bigotry and incite violence.
- An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. It is important the Muslim community to engage and organize around efforts to combat all forms of racism and bigotry. Muslims are encouraged to take part in the various rallies across the nation promoting love and denouncing hate.
- Striving for justice for all people regardless of creed, color or race is a prophetic teaching and commandment of God. This is a form of dawah. What attracted people to Islam during the Prophet’s time was the benefit he brought to them and to the community.
- We are preparing for the holy pilgrimage, hajj. This is not only an opportunity for a transformational spiritual experience, but also an opportunity for the Muslim community to reflect on the racism that exists within our communities and how we can open our masajid to embrace the diversity of our communities.
Suggested Sacred Texts
- Verily, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and He forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded. Surah An-Nahl 16:90
- O you who believe, be persistently standing firm for Allah as witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just, for that is nearer to righteousness. Fear Allah, for verily, Allah is aware of what you do. Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:8
- Allah the Exalted has made clear in his law (sharia) that the objective is the establishment of justice between His servants and fairness among the people, so whichever path leads to justice and fairness is part of the religion and can never oppose it. Reported by Ibn al Qayyim
- There is no virtue of an Arab over a foreigner, nor a foreigner over an Arab, and neither white over black nor black over white, except by righteousness. Farewell Sermon
- Among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your languages and your colors. Verily, in that are signs for people of knowledge. Surat Ar-Rum 30:22
The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) is the largest and oldest Islamic umbrella organization in North America. Its mission is to foster the development of the Muslim community, interfaith relations, civic engagement, and better understanding of Islam.
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CONTACT:
Faryal M. Khatri, ISNA Communications Department