We Are The 1

smilla rahmanir rahim al hamdu Lillahi Rabbil alameen wa chawan La ilaha illallah wa de Sala in Russia to Anam Mohammed Abu hora Zulu kata Milan via even more saline Allahumma salli wa sallam up decoder zuleika Muhammad wa ala alihi wa sahbihi edge my way back up praise to do to Allah, Lord of the worlds and surely Allah is the friend and protector of the righteous.

I bear witness that Allah is one

and that Muhammad

is His servant in his last messenger. And may Allah always and constantly send peace and blessings to Mohammed, to his family, to his companions, to all those who call to his way

establishes sooner, to the Day of Judgment. As to what follows my beloved brothers and sisters Assalamu alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh

Alhamdulillah It is a great privilege to be with you here.

And I can only pray that Allah azza wa jal would bless this conference would empower the activists in our community and would give us success in this work and our struggle against poverty.

And this subject is of such importance to me. as an individual. I reflect on the words of Allah azza wa jal, and we all should as we talk about the issue of poverty. Allah tells us our Billahi min ash shaytani regime, yeah, you have levena Armando Taka la wa kulu. Poland's de de de use left la comme Malecon while you're a locum do know back home woman UT la la vida Sula, faqad phazzer fosun alima, Allah tells us, oh, you who believe, have the consciousness of Allah and speak a straightforward word. He would repair your deeds, forgive you of your sins, and whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, has surely gained a mighty triumph. And so I speak to you with this spirit of Colin

sadita.

coming here to Connecticut, for me is a homecoming.

And what I'm about to say is, in a sense, like a report back because, contrary to what people may think, I was not born in the West Indies. I was not born in Canada. I was born in Massachusetts, in the Boston area, and Cambridge, Massachusetts. And I grew up in a housing project in Cambridge, in between two prestigious institutions. In between MIT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard University. There, there was an island there a working class neighborhood

where people

were living in an area that supposed to be prestigious, but yet they were not feeling the benefits of the wealth that was around them.

And from a young age, I sensed the dichotomy, I accent, I could sense the haves and the have nots.

And we should never forget, we should never forget, as we are thinking about the 1%, the 99% Where do we stand as Muslims? What is happening in this country,

we should never forget the trends we should never forget what is going on outside of the walls of the masjid, and our Islamic centers. And we need to be very sincere with each other very straightforward, make practical resolutions and make the intention to do work in the field.

In the 60s,

as a young African American, I spoke out with many people for civil rights. We wanted voting rights, we wanted education, we wanted integration, we want it to be part of the society. But our cries were met with repression.

People were jailed.

people were killed, and many was sent into exile.

And when the 70s came, a war on drugs began in America. Our communities were flooded with drugs crack cocaine. It did not come from inside the community. It originated

originated outside and then flooded our communities and a war on drugs came. And now we see the result of this, we see that in America, recent studies have been done to show that there's a larger percentage of the black population in prison in America than in apartheid South Africa, at the height of apartheid.

The studies are also showing us that in the major cities, 80% of young African Americans have something to do have some kind of criminal record some relationship with the criminal justice system.

And so we find that the prisons are filled with black and brown people.

And we should never forget this. And as a recent writer, Michelle Alexander has written in her book, The New Jim Crow, that we are living in an age of mass incarceration.

In an era of colorblindness, because our president is a person of color. People were told to be colorblind, but what is happening behind this, on the ground is mass incarceration.

And we should never forget this. When we are looking at the lens projecting toward the future, we should also never forget the first nation population, the native people of these lands. Recently, I went on a journey north in Canada, to a city called Iqaluit, Iqaluit, which is in the northern province of none of that. It is right near the Arctic circle next to Greenland, and Darryl hamdulillah. There is a thriving Muslim community. We are putting up an Islamic center near the Arctic Circle amongst the Inuit people. And by the mercy of Allah azza wa jal

in us an educated in you it man came and said, I want to put the words of Allah subhanaw taala into my language, enough to talk.

This language was spoken in the Americas over 10,000 years ago,

not 300 years, not 600 years 10,000 years ago.

These are the lands that we are living in.

And According to estimates, even made by American scholars, one scholar in 1840. His name was George Catlin. He estimated that the Aboriginal population at the time of European contact was about 14 million.

But by his time by 1880, he estimated there's only 250,000 left.

And people knew about this.

Another writer from the early times, his name was William Bradford. He described how the Dutch who were the rivals of the people of Plymouth. They traveled to an Indian village in Connecticut.

They traveled to an Indian village in Connecticut, to do trade.

And this is what he wrote in his journal. He said, but

their enterprises failed. For it is pleasing to God to afflict the Indians with such a deadly disease and sickness that out of every 1950 a debt.

And they described here in New England, going into villages and finding bodies piled up and you go into the village, and you are the crops are outside corn, which is an American product, cranberries, squash, American products, turkeys, and American bird and they go inside, then all the population has been decimated. And they think they are thanking God making up Thanksgiving and thanking God for clearing the land.

But someone would say, well, that's the past and the past is gone. It's not gone. Recent studies have been done to show that the Aboriginal people the native population, and again, if you're talking about 1% 99%, you have to we have to understand where we are the Lakota people in Pine Ridge, South Dakota.

It is reported that on the reservation, the life expectancy for a male is 48 years.

It has also been treated

Very clearly, this is the worst. This is the this is the worst life expectancy in the whole of the Western Hemisphere, except for Haiti.

And this is in the United States, the Lakota also in South Dakota, in their reservation, 60% of the houses have no running water, and no electricity.

So we should never forget about the Aboriginal people in these lands. And the Latino people also who make up part of the Aboriginal population of this country that we are in, and how the Latino population suffered, came into these lands, not as economic immigrants trying to steal and gain a part of the American dream,

how they came here, sometimes being forced to come

and working in the factories in the agriculture, prostitution, drugs, suffering on the borders, we should never forget the Latino population, when we are talking about the Americas, and the lands that we are living in. But with this in mind, with a background that I had thinking about these lands, I was not prepared for what I would see in southern Africa 10 years in the frontline states, and I report back to you that what is going on there, there is a horrendous relationship between the rich and the poor. South Africa is considered to be the most unjust place on Earth.

The frontline states Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, as we traveled through these lands, and lived with the people and experience what they were experiencing, I cannot even describe to you I have not seen it here in America, I never went to a reservation. But when I saw the Aboriginal people in southern Africa, it is obscene. To think that there are people living in beautiful luxury homes and there are others who are suffering from poverty, poverty will drive a person to do the strangest things. And then living in that environment. We also saw the beauty of of Islam, the beauty that when Islam is given to an individual properly, when the real son

of the prophet SAW seldom when his example is given when the dignity of taharah is given to an individual, then we see how a person is raised from the horrible conditions of poverty, even though the material life still may continue to be destructive. And so we need practical solutions.

And they're in South Africa. We began a set of projects. We called it Massa County, community center. And masa Kenny is not from Arabic, you might think it's Massa keen, like the poor people center no Massa county in posa. In South African, one of the South African languages means building community. It means cooperation, cooperative projects were begun, a holistic approach was begun with the people there.

This included not just feeding people, but teaching a person how to fish. Because we need to empower people, we need to realize that the food we are giving is just the beginning. It has to continue. And there has to be a process that the people go through. And we have a precedent for this. We have a precedent as Muslims, the amount of system and Islamic amount of system that we have. You know, we should study this very deeply. I saw it in practice in southern Africa. And if we study the amount of system of the Ottoman Turks that they put into practice between the 14th and the 19th century, then we can get practical guide, a practical guide and solutions to maybe what we can do to deal

with this problem here. The amount of system was based on a cough. It was based on workup that Muslims naturally gives a cat we give sadaqa we also put work of a trust. So the trust system was set up and pieces of land were designated by Rich individuals or maybe it could be derelict land, unused land, and this land was populated by complex abilities.

The buildings included a Masjid madressa, hospital,

restaurants

that have house, a number of things could happen in this Mr. But what is interesting about the system that was developed is that they were able to bring together welfare, education, prayer, housing, and, and commerce. And so on this land, business, people were encouraged to come in and run their businesses on the land, and the businesses help to pay for the project. So the project becomes sustainable. Because we need to have sustainability when we are dealing with this. And so in a modern sense, in the short term, I want to propose to this conference, that we begin to re analyze and look at our centers and ourselves that we need to start giving back. We need to give back not

just with money, but with our skills. If you if you if you know engineering, if you know math, give back to the community, you can do it in the masjid, we can do it in the Islamic centers, we can begin to have tutorials, we can begin to empower the people who need who need to come out of this devastation. We are about to go into an apocalypse. Many, many economists say that this country will either be law, if there is still inertia in the government. If we can't solve this economic crisis, then we may be like one of the third world countries by the year 2020 1000s of homeless people around the major cities. Muslims are in a unique position. We have rich people, we have skilled

people, we have poor people, we're all in the same community. The model system encourages the rich that they should give their wealth and make what off, make a trust. Buy a building. The business people come in run your business that be sustainable. What do we do with the building, we have a Masjid, we have a madressa. But also we have education, skills, development skills training.

And we have a food bank, we can have free medical clinic, each area needs to do an assessment, a needs assessment needs to be done around your Islamic Center to see what are the problems that the people are facing in your area. What also happens in the amount of system when it starts to develop and this is the long term is that they would even connect the imara buildings, they would connect it with a bizarre with a marketplace. And in this marketplace, you don't trade it with dollars and cents. You trade with tangible objects, you do bartering, it's the Islamic system. And so the time will come and Alon knows best when the US dollar is going to fall. This has happened all over the

world. I saw it in the country of Zimbabwe, which used to be the crown of the British Empire. The Zimbabwean currency was the strongest in the whole of Africa. But when it was devalued when crisis hit them,

I wanted to spend $100, and I gave them $100. And they said they brought me back a bag full of money. And they said brother Abdullah, you're now a millionaire.

Because their currency was useless, not even worth the paper that it's printed on. And so a barter system can also be developed, we are in a very unique position. And we need to take advantages of this. Take advantage. We will seem strange when we do this. We will seem strange when we start teaching our young people how to grow crops, how to grow food,

bring ourselves together with collective systems, credit unions together,

unite ourselves as a community, put the walk up towards for Allah subhanaw taala and enable the community that we can really enable the poor people in this land. We will see very strange when we are doing this because we're not taking interest and usually we're praying. We're fasting. We're reaching out, but I give you glad tidings for being strange. The Prophet Sal seldom said inauthentic IDs in Islam are better or even worse if you do that even for toolbar little hurrah. Verily Islam began strange, and it will return to being strange, so glad tidings to the strangers. And they asked him a messenger of Allah Who are the strangers and he told them Allah Xena use Luna and deficit

illness. They are

Those who repair themselves. They repair their community when the people have become corrupted sadaqa Rasulullah sallallahu sallam, the time is here. And don't fear about the name of the Prophet Sal Sal. Don't be afraid for his name, his honor and dignity is protected by Allah subhanho wa Taala. When we say Lima, the False Prophet sent a message to the prophet SAW Selim saying Min musei Lima Rasulullah Illa Muhammad Rasulullah imagine this. You take half of Arabia, I'll take the other half. How did he respond? He didn't kill the messenger. He didn't kill the ambassador. How did he respond? He wrote back min Mohammed rasulillah mo Salima, I'll cover that.

And then with dignity, quoting from Allah subhanaw taala the prophet SAW Selim answered with taqwa and patience in now out of de la he UD through harmony Yasha. Abadi, while RT Bachelet Mata Ki, this earth belongs to Allah, and He will give it to whom he pleases from his slave servants and the best reward. The ultimate success is for those who have Taqwa, those who have the consciousness of Allah. And so I pray that Allah azza wa jal would enable us to put our thoughts into action. I pray that Allah subhanaw taala would enable us to develop a system to empower the people, the poor people in this land. I pray that Allah subhanaw taala would unite our ranks, break down the differences

between us, may Allah purify our hearts of all the bad thoughts and bad concepts that is holding us back from uniting ourselves and dealing with our mission in this world. And that is to be the Khalifa that is to be the Vice President, the one who represents Allah subhanaw taala on this earth, I leave you with these thoughts. And I ask Allah azza wa jal to have mercy on me and you akula Cali howdah while stock for lolly walakum wa salaamu alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh

post unjust place on Earth.

The frontline states Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho as we traveled through these lands, and lived with the people and experience what they were experiencing, I cannot even describe to you I have not seen it here in America, I never went to a reservation. But when I saw the Aboriginal people in southern Africa, it is obscene. To think that there are people living in beautiful luxury homes and there are others who are suffering from poverty. Poverty will drive a person to do the strangest things. And then living in that environment. We also saw the beauty of of Islam, the beauty that when Islam is given to an individual properly, when the real son

of the prophet SAW seldom when his example is given when the dignity of taharah is given to an individual. Then we see how a person is raised from the horrible conditions of poverty, even though the material life still may continue to be destructive. And so we need practical solutions.

And they're in South Africa. We began a set of projects. We called it Massa County Community Center. And Massa Kelly is not from Arabic, you might think it's mess at Keene. Like the poor people sent a no mess at county in Tulsa, in the South African, one of the South African languages means building community. It means cooperation. Cooperative projects were begun, a holistic approach was begun with the people there.

This included not just feeding people, but teaching a person how to fish. Because we need to empower people, we need to realize that the food we are giving is just the beginning. It has to continue. And there has to be a process that the people go through. And we have a precedent for this. We have a precedent as Muslims, the amount of system and Islamic amount of system that we have. You know, we should study this very deeply. I saw it in practice in southern Africa. And if we study the amount of system of the Ottoman Turks that they put into practice between the 14th and the 19th century, then

We can get practical guide, a practical guide and solutions to maybe what we can do to deal with this problem here. The amount of system was based on a cough. It was based on workup that Muslims naturally gives a cat, we give sadaqa, we also put up a trust. So the trust system was set up, and pieces of land were designated by Rich individuals, or maybe it could be derelict land, unused land, and this land was populated by complex of buildings. The buildings included a Masjid madressa, hospital,

restaurants,

bath house, a number of things could happen in this Mr. But what is interesting about the system that was developed is that they were able to bring together welfare, education, prayer, housing, and, and commerce. And so on this land, business people were encouraged to come in and run their businesses on the land, and the businesses help to pay for the project. So the project becomes sustainable. Because we need to have sustainability when we are dealing with this. And so in a modern sense, in the short term, I want to propose to this conference, that we begin to re analyze and look at our centers and ourselves that we need to start giving back. We need to give back not

just with money, but with our skills. If you if you if you know engineering, if you know math, give back to the community. You can do it in the masjid, we can do it in the Islamic centers, we can begin to have tutorials, we can begin to empower the people who need who need to come out of this devastation. We are about to go into an apocalypse. Many, many economists say that this country will also be law, if there is still inertia in the government. If we can't solve this economic crisis, then we may be like one of the third world countries by the year 2020 1000s of homeless people around the major cities. Muslims are in a unique position. We have rich people, we have skilled

people. We have poor people, we're all in the same community. The model system encourages the rich that they should give their wealth and make what off, make a trust. Buy a building. The business people come in run your business that be sustainable. What do we do with the building, we have a Masjid, we have a madressa. But also we have education, skills, development skills training.

And we have a food bank, we can have free medical clinic, each area needs to do an assessment. a needs assessment needs to be done around your Islamic Center to see what are the problems that the people are facing in your area. What also happens in the amount of system when it starts to develop and this is the long term is that they would even connect the imata buildings, they would connect it with a bazaar with a marketplace. And in this marketplace, you don't trade it with dollars and cents. You trade with tangible objects. You do bartering, it's the Islamic system. And so the time will come and alarm knows best when the US dollar is going to fall. This has happened all over the

world. I saw it in the country of Zimbabwe, which used to be the crown of the British Empire. The Zimbabwean currency was the strongest in the whole of Africa. But when it was devalued when crisis hit them,

I wanted to spend $100 and I gave them $100. And they said they brought me back a bag full of money. And they said brother Abdullah, you're now a millionaire.

Because their currency was useless, not even worth the paper that it's printed on. And so a barter system can also be developed. We are in a very unique position. And we need to take advantages of this. Take advantage. We will seem strange when we do this. We will seem strange when we start teaching our young people how to grow crops, how to grow food,

bring ourselves together with collective systems, credit unions together,

unite ourselves as a community, put the work off towards for Allah subhanaw taala and enable the community that we can really enable the poor people in this land. We will see various

Strange when we are doing this, because we're not taking interest and usually we're praying. We're fasting. We're reaching out, but I give you glad tidings for being strange. The prophet SAW Selim set inauthentic IDs in Islam I better have an even worse idea Uber even for toolbar little hurrah.

Verily Islam began strange, and it will return to being strange, so glad tidings to the strangers. And they asked him a messenger of Allah Who are the strangers and he told them, Allah Lena use lunar and the facades are nice. They are those who repair themselves. They repair their community, when the people have become corrupted. sadaqa Rasulullah Sato Salaam, the time is here, and don't fear about the name of the prophet SAW Salah Don't be afraid for his name, his honor and dignity is protected by Allah subhanaw taala when we say Lima, the False Prophet sent a message to the prophet SAW Selim saying Min musei Lima Rasulullah Illa Muhammad Rasool Allah, imagine this. You take half

of Arabia, I'll take the other half. How did he respond? He didn't kill the messenger. He didn't kill the ambassador. How did he respond? He wrote back min Mohammed rasulillah. lm o se Lima, Al Kazakh.

And then with dignity, quoting from Allah subhanaw taala the prophet SAW Selim answered with taqwa and patience in the Dalai Lama, he UD Swami Yasha Omen Abadi, while RT Bachelet Mata Ki, this earth belongs to Allah, and He will give it to whom he pleases from his slave servants and the best reward. The ultimate success is for those who have Taqwa, those who have the consciousness of Allah. And so I pray that Allah azza wa jal would enable us to put our thoughts into action. I pray that Allah subhanaw taala would enable us to develop a system to empower the people, the poor people in this land. I pray that Allah subhanaw taala would unite our ranks, break down the differences

between us. May Allah purify our hearts of all the bad thoughts and bad concepts that is holding us back from uniting ourselves and dealing with our mission in this world. And that is to be the Khalifa that is to be the Vice President, the one who represents a loss of Potala on this earth. I leave you with these thoughts. And I asked Allah azzawajal to have mercy on me and you akula Kali howdah Rostock, Folau Li walakum wa salaamu alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh