QUESTION: What is your position on the brewing conflict between the US and Iran?
IMAM EARL ABDULMALIK MOHAMMED: Our position, or better, our stance is always what Allah asks of us, and what Muhammed the Prophet demonstrated, and an informed, committed respect to address all of our obligations as Believers and as citizens of our country. Allah says in our Holy Book that He requires justice and correct behavior, and that He rejects shameful behavior and notorious behavior and rebellious behavior. Our democratic order invites the best contributions from its citizens that serve the stability of American structures and in the best interests of all of its People. The American People are not of the perpetual war-stance, and neither are Muslims in their correct disposition. Muslim life says peace.
American life in correct conscience also says peace. We do not take political positions on any issue facing human communities, seeking a political interest or so-called politically correct position for the purpose of expedience to advance a political point of view or the favor of political considerations. People of faith in good conscience have no blind commitments. We are not asked to, nor do we close our eyes and guess in our worship of our Lord-Creator. Our eyes are open. In Islam, there are no accepted prayers for the unconscious.
Political positioning is void before the demand of clear, wide-awake conscience based on our Muslim obligation to promote justice and a universal morality. Universal morality is correct behavior that satisfies the highest standards of decency and civility. It is behavior acknowledged in all systems of justice as correct. It is not only a simple moral reasoning. It is in the heart of man that is seeking the Attention and Mercy of G'd, Almighty for His Help and Guidance. We are thinking of innocence and the protection of innocence. We are thinking of soldiers and their families. I can tell you with the support of the Qur'an teaching that armed conflicts do not earn G'd's Pleasure just on their face and the claims of governments. They must be just, and even then G'd's Mercy is withdrawn until the burdened and oppressed reveal the truth of their affair. In other words, the standard of a just war is not satisfied by a pursuit of political expedience and national pride.
The atmosphere of aggression and an unjust tension in the world between big and small powers is a Sign. No government or its leaders in any nation are given the authority to dominate the life of man on this earth. Small nations have their dignity and their sense of destiny, and they are entitled to it and to have it respected in the spirit of justice and universal morality of correct behavior in the face of the big and mighty. It is only a darkness in the world that would permit the mighty to disregard the dignity of the small. Allah says that a day is at hand in which the earth will behave as though it is receiving Revelation. It will convulse and tremble within the reality of those who were asleep and have now been awakened, and those who were awake and have since fallen asleep to their commitments.
With half of the continent-country of Australia suffering a seemingly uncontainable, uncontrollable fire that is threatening to destroy more than 12 million acres of land and its man-built structures and habitations, we are also reminded that human lives are in a convulsed, tense state under circumstances where even mighty governments are weak and vulnerable, rendered incapable and at the mercy of its power. The Australian government is struggling against an immense and growing force of nature. It is the power of the earth's might itself waking to what is being revealed to it.
We take the position of the peace-makers, the bringers of mercy. We are asking that our American leaders think carefully, and not only in the interest of national pride. We are asking that our brothers in the Muslim world remember the rule of 'taqwa' and more of the Qur'an teaching and Prophet Muhammed's commitments to relieve the suffering in the world.