Taped on: 1998

Title: Exploring Our History Through the Lessons of         Immigration

Speaker: Imam Yahia Abdul Rahman Ph.D.

Location:

     This 1998 sermon (khutba) by Dr. Yahia Abdul Rahman explores the subject of immigration and its meaning for the development of human societies. His observations include numerous insights on how this has impacted the growth and spread of Islam, from the first community in Medina 1400 years ago, to now, and the over one billion believers worldwide. This recording covers some of the following topics:

• In praise of the One God (Allah); the great giver life and the One who takes it away, that is God. And God (Allah) is our Lord (Rabb).

• Those with sincere faith seek assistance from God (Allah) in all hardships before turning to God’s creation. In this way, the believer places all hopes and aspirations in the care of God (Allah) while working hard to avoid incurring God’s censure and displeasure.

• Reflect on the greatness of the phenomenon, commonly called nature, which God (Allah) has fashioned as a sign for mankind- a proof that our sustenance is solely in hands of the unseen, yet all-encompassing power of God (Allah).

• From time immemorial, human civilizations have arisen from immigration. That most of these migrations were in response to oppression is significant. The Holy Qur’an teaches us that mankind need not suffer injustice for we have been made custodians of this vast earth and may reestablish ourselves in the comfort and security of new lands.

• Remember the extraordinary community that arose in the deserts of Arabia, in Medina- a product of a mass migration, so significant that it begins the Islamic calendar. This community, under the leadership of the Prophet Muhammad, may God’s peace and prayers be upon him, created the first constitution in human history, a contract that secured the rights of all races, all citizens- Muslim or non-Muslim- not to mention, guaranteeing rights to women 1300 years before similar enactments took place in the “advanced” societies.

• Though the command came from God (Allah) ordering that the Muslims turn their faces away from Jerusalem and rather, toward Mecca in prayer, Jerusalem remains a great spiritual center for the Muslims. And in the great history of Islam, Jerusalem has figured prominently. Recall the story of the rightly guided leader (Caliph) Umar, may God be pleased with him, who upon conquering Jerusalem, declared the other religious traditions absolutely inviolable. Although Umar was offered by the Archbishop of the Church of Jerusalem the opportunity to pray in the church after his entering this holy city, Umar respectfully declined, stating that no precedent must be set for converting churches or synagogues to mosques. Such religious tolerance is a central Islamic practice, and anything less being completely in violation of the principles upon which Islam was founded.

• Have those of us in the Muslim community seriously considered the meaning of the loss of Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem? Can we deny that our own neglect is not at the heart of it having been taken away?