Malcom X

Hola, so I don't even have to

spell out all sorts of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi salam, I just realized that I chose the I mean, we're talking tonight about this.

It's not even a topic. I mean,

the occasion today is the 21st of February

and 55 years ago.

Novel, yeah, a good man, a nobleman

of charismatic leader, someone that I consider to be legendary though I don't like to use that word. That word

is always, you know, abused. But Malcolm X was,

was different.

This man was, was

killed, assassinated

in front of

an audience, or a full auditorium full of people with his wife and his Ford, his five daughters present in the front row.

He was gunned down. What was extraordinary about

this

event was the fact that Malcolm had a feeling and he pretty much knew that he was

going to be killed. But that did not stop him. From speaking for the truth and speaking against what he believed to be

injustice and wrongdoing. It did not stop him from

working for the for the cause that he believed in. Right. There is that famous

statement when someone

told he's I'm already dead man, he was still alive. But so.

So that didn't stop him.

I'm told to speak as loud as I can, but I don't think I can be as loud as Malcolm used to be. And I used to say they couldn't, you know, they silenced him. But what they didn't realize is by killing him that they didn't actually silence him. Right. Okay. You can't silence the truth. Right? And instead,

his voice, his lectures, his words, echoed through the decades. 55 years later, here we are, we are talking about him today. Many hotspots were dedicated

to talk about the legacy of Malcolm X Rahim Allah Who to Allah. And I personally like to call him and Hajj Malik Shabazz because that's, that's the name that he changed to last before he was killed him a whole lot of data. So who was this man? Where did he come from? This is just a very brief, I'm not gonna do him justice. I'm not even the most qualified person to speak about this, to be honest with you. But

But I felt compelled to, to actually talk about him. I personally, you know, have been in love with Malcolm X for the past almost 25 years, ever since I heard about him from one of my teachers, you know, from Sudan, Dr. Jaffa, Chef Idris, who met Malcolm in person when he was a PhD student at the University of London. And Malcolm went to

this is 1964, I believe, about one year a few months before his assassination, Rahim Allah. So Jaffa was a student, a PhD candidate at the time at the University of London.

And Malcolm was there or hash Malik Rahim Allah was there on a tour in the UK. That's when he actually also, you know, engaged in that

in a debate and spoke at Oxford University.

So the Malaysian Student Association or something to that effect, I don't, don't quote me on the name of the association but the Malaysian student body in London, organized an event for him and they invited him and Jeff Jaco was also one of the people that was invited and he had access. He was sitting actually, next to him. And there's this moment that seems younger always used to tell us about he actually told us more than once. He said, We were shocked. We thought this was going to be just a, you know, a gathering of Muslim students who came to finally meet this charismatic, North American black leader, right? This is Muslim leader. So he said the room was very small and it was

jam packed with people that came but then all of a sudden the media was there. Journalists was were there. photographers were there and they some of them were like right in his face taking pictures.

shoes. And they were just, you know, the the flashlight was just going off the whole time. So he said, he said, Malcolm turned to me, he said, you know why they're taking all these pictures of me? It's not because they liked me. It's because they're looking for that one picture in which I look like a monster. So they can post it. And

so she always talks about this and he laughs whenever he mentions it, you know? And he spoke highly of him, and he confirmed what we had all, you know, thought

was the case that Malcolm was a sincere,

you know, man, someone who had had at that point finally found true Islam and was was upon the mainstream, it was upon to hate.

He had reformed and was in the process in pursuit of, of true teachings of the book of Allah and the tradition of His Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. So that's, that's what we know of him. So we know of him to be a Muslim upon inshallah to Allah. Upon good faith, Rahim Allah hooter, Allah we consider him to be, inshallah Jota Allah, someone that died for a good cause we ask Allah azza wa jal to accept him as a martyr. So February to 20, February 21 1965.

Malcolm X is extraordinary, short with extraordinary life came to an end he was born on May 1919 25.

He

his family also had a very interesting history. Malcolm X, his parents were harassed into moving, you know, by racist

groups and bigots multiple times. His father and his mother were both

devoted devotees of a pan Africanist and universal Negro Improvement Association, that was founded by a man known as Marcus Garvey, who was I just found out today that he was actually deported.

But his father, he was a he was a Baptist preacher.

His father basically took leadership of that movement

in Omaha, Nebraska, then they kept moving from one place to another anyways, I want to just fast forward when Malcolm was only six, his father was killed, mysteriously killed, many believed that his father was actually

you know, lured to, to, to his,

to his death, and that he was killed intentionally by either the kk k or some white supremacist group that found him to be very threatening.

Now, his mother devastated,

you know, overwhelmed with single mother had to take care of her children by herself.

She,

and they had, at this point, they were in Michigan.

His mother had,

what I would say a nervous breakdown,

when he was only 13. And she was eventually admitted to a state hospital.

And she stayed there for 26 years, till she died. So now this family was devastated, separated, father was killed, mother was Institute institutionalized, and the family was broken, he went into foster care.

And in spite of all of that Malcolm was, was a top student, straight A student, and he was elected.

Still student body president, right.

And he let his English teacher know that his dream is to become a lawyer one day, but this teacher of his discouraged him and told him that you need to be realistic. You need to prepare. You know, you can't have these unrealistic dreams and goals. You're a negro. You need to be very realistic. I don't want you to be disappointed. Maybe you should just prepare to Becoming You know, the best janitor you can be or something like that. But you can't be a lawyer. This was devastating. It was traumatizing. And by the way, I mean, it's not the same, but I remember some halala when I was 13

Um,

my family made a move my father made made a move from the southern part of the city to the northern part.

Right. From from, from the ghettos to the most, you know, prestigious, you know areas.

And in our old neighborhood when I was in sixth grade, or when I was in fifth grade and fifth grade, I thought I had beautiful voice, but I didn't have properties read, I remember that there was this kid by the name of Abdul Malik,

who got better grades I, you know, then me I got to be in for an he got like an A.

And that when I when I looked into it, it turned out that he knew something called Tajweed, which is proper rulings of of recitation of the Quran. And I had never heard of Tajweed before that he you know, like or never like, registered when I was in fifth grade. So I told him and where do you learn this? He's like, Well, I go to this to this masjid, where there was a young, high school, like a senior in high school, young teacher teaching students, and it was a volunteer student. His name was recently.

It was from Yemen.

So I said, How can I sign up, he's like, You need to go talk to him and then start coming three days a week.

And that Masjid was at least? Well, I can't tell you the distance. But the walk felt like 25 minutes to to like 30 minutes, walk.

So I talked to him, he's like, Yeah, but once you sign up, or once you join, you have to be committed. So I said, Okay, I was self motivated. And I was determined to the Shaolin master this thing called the G Suite. So I used to walk three days a week, from our house, to the masjid, to learn from chef Asa.

For for a whole year, right. And he helped me memorize my first three, just like, you know, chunk. So when I moved to this new area of it, I lost that. So, you know, I looked for the nearest masjid, that had a to field program, they had a teacher, and there was a teacher there that I went to, and I said, I would like to join your halacha.

And he said, I'm sorry. I mean, we're just, you know, we have way too many students, I can't take you. So I said, By the way, I'm not going to give you a hard time I already have three years and memorize, you know, listen to my camera. Then, you know, some of my classmates in middle school, where some of his top students, so they, you know, I told him, just give me some recommendation. So he's like, Okay, I'll listen to you. He listened to me. And he was impressed. He's like,

you know, I was perhaps better than his, like most of his students. So he's like, but sorry, I can't take you I have way too many students. It's like, please, it's like, so I used to go to that machine. It's called Mrs. Taco. I still remember. I used to go to that masjid, and sit there

and just read in the corner while they're in their habitat.

And I did that, until one day, someone who was a big supporter of the masjid, right.

neighbor of image came with three of his

either sons or nephews, three, not one. And they did not seem to be motivated whatsoever. They were, it was very obvious that they were forced to be there. And he spoke to the Imam and the Imam welcomed them. He's like, Yeah, and I went walked home that day crying.

I remember that.

So when someone just crushes your dreams, especially as a young as a young kid, that stays with you forever.

And that day, I was going to just give up on the message altogether. Right? And I went home and I talked to my dad and I said, you know, talk to my uncle talk to anyone so they can talk to him. He's like, Okay, we'll see. And then I said forget it.

And I just made dua I said, Oh Allah I'm not just gonna give up on this. So I made a dua there was a masjid walking distance it was like two minute walk from from our part of our apartment building. That was under construction. I thought that much it was gonna take another year. But while he was still under construction, they actually held their first Salah so often also, I think, within a week of that incident,

and when we when I heard the event, I was like, it was an amazing Egyptian event like how much it affects style. It's still echoes in my ear until this day. I was like, Oh my God, this Masjid opened up. I mean, I didn't think it was gonna be ready until the following Ramadan. I was like, okay, then McGraw prayer. I remember the time that the then and the timer, and then a young young Imam walks to leave the salah. It was 1986

Ramadan for that year, he wants to leave the salah. And I still remember what he recited. He recited Allah who in order somehow it will

write the most beautiful voice I've ever heard. I was I was just I was shocked. I was like, this is going to be my homeless youth, Carlos.

That Friday, this was on Wednesday, that Friday, this young Imam announced that they're going to start a program program, their first 200 Students will be welcomed. I was one of the first to sign up.

And that Imam later became my chef. And his name was Abdullah Ali Abbas for those of Hala. So all of this has stayed with me because of that just incident that happened, that traumatizing event that happened. So when someone crushes your dream, at that age, it's very painful, especially if it's a teacher or a care provider, or someone who is supposed to motivate you're looking after you. And the reason I mentioned this story is because I know and Hamdulillah we have a lot of teachers here, whether it's from our culinary school here, or from PVS, we have a lot of youth mentors and leaders. Just keep this in mind, the person that you're talking to, right? May May may be who knows what that

person might turn into in the future.

Right, provide the best care be very compassionate, be very understanding, go the extra mile to make a difference in that individual's life. You never know where that person is going to end up. Right? Don't turn anyone down anyone that comes to you, you know, with a dream or to seek knowledge, motivate them, encourage them, inspire them. Right? This is what the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam used to do, baby who me so, so Michael, Malcolm dropped out of school after this. They said, this is the end of his dream. So he drops out of school. And then Malcolm of course becomes

Detroit little or Detroit Red

here joins

he joins a friend of his red fox, and

he leaves a very, you know, criminal life.

Eventually, I'm gonna fast forward through this Malcolm gets arrested. And he gets a very harsh sentence.

And, and it's believed that the sentence was due to the fact that him and his black friend were joined by

white girls that testified against them to get themselves of the hook. Right.

And this, this reminded me of an ayah in the Quran, Allah Subhana Allah says, Allah, Allah Oh, yo, Maven, bubblegum Lee Belden, I don't want Elon Musk Turkey and when, when, when friends are put on trial.

And the ultimate trial and the toughest of all is the Day of Judgment.

When people are put on trial, the integrity of their relationship, will will be put to the test.

If the relationship is founded upon fear of Allah, but upon taqwa, then

it will survive the test, not only will will it survive the test, but actually it will help them pass the test.

If the relationship is not built on that

it's not built on top of Allah subhanaw taala. Or if it's built upon any other factor, then it's going to fall apart.

Right? So they testified against them, they turned against them. Allah Subhana Allah says on the Day of Judgment, close friends will become enemies and turn against each other. And that's why, you know, a great lesson that we learned from the Quran is choose your friends carefully.

And when you choose your friends, make sure that you choose someone that will inspire you in this life bring the best out of you in this life and whose friendship is going to benefit you in the hereafter.

Imam Shafi Rahim Allah used to say oh hey Posada Hina Wallace to me who I love to hang out with the righteous, though I don't consider myself to be one of them. He was he was being humble. Ly Lee Anna Anala became Shiva with the hope that they will intercede for me on the day of judgment.

Right well I complimented yella Tomasi, when couldn't so we will be there are some people that being in their company, being close to them, you know, investing going out of your way to be around them and to connect with them is going to benefit you. So do whatever it takes to be in the company and to earn or to achieve to attain the friendship of such people.

Even if you have to go the extra mile, because their friendship will benefit you insha Allah to Allah in the Hereafter. And be beware of those people whose friendship is going to be a liability one day, either in this life or in the Hereafter.

But Subhanallah going to prison was the best thing that ever happened to Malcolm.

You know, as most Musa alayhis salam, you know, and I'm not comparing, obviously the two, but I'm just saying that there's always a lesson, when something bad happens, happens, that leads someone towards a potential or a fate, or, you know, some Destiny that Allah subhanaw taala has written for them. So sometimes we think it's like the worst thing ever. And it turns out to be with the best thing ever. Look at what happened with use of Prophet Joseph De Sena. Right, thrown in the well and all of that his brothers Subhan Allah all of this was to bring him to, to where Allah subhanho wa Taala promised to take him Musa they said the same thing so much to Allah. He killed him and

he was a fugitive, right? And then he comes back. And Allah subhana wa, tada speaks to him. So Malcolm goes to prison. And it was there. When, by the way in prison, at some point, the chaplain used to call him Satan.

Right, he earned that that was his nickname, because he was anti religious people, anti religion. But it was imprisoned that Malcolm was introduced to

a

version of Islam that was not mainstream. That was it was it was a distorted version of Islam. Right? Nonetheless, that distorted version is was meant to bring him what?

To the real, to the real deal. Alright, so how it's all but nonetheless, Malcolm was resistant in the beginning, because I believe that he had the type of personality that

would not accept something unless he sees that it's what

is unless he believes he believes is authentic.

And it takes an honest man, someone with high moral, you know, conscious and integrity. That could be sometimes it could be.

It could be masked, with with with aspects of, of the individuals, habits or bad habits and

lifestyle. So so when you look at someone's lifestyle, don't don't rush to judge them. Because sometimes what the person is doing may not really be

who they are. Right? So I'm out all day long. I know, for instance, that Omar was someone who had great level of commitment to the truth.

Right, whatever he believed to be the truth, he was, he was a committed person to what he believed to be the truth. Right. So at some point, Omar was an enemy of Islam, and he was an enemy of the prophesies. And he was actually according to some reports, he was on his way to kill the prophesy Salam, when he found about Islam. But up until that point, he did not realize that Islam was the truth. But when finally when he when he, when ALLAH SubhanA, Allah obviously opened his heart. And he gave himself the opportunity to, to examine the truth, examine Islam.

He embraced it wholeheartedly, right. And he was a changed man, and instantaneously, but but he was someone who had high level of commitment, right? He was committed to the truth wherever it may be. Right? So when I read one of the reason I'm saying this is because my favorites,

my favorite

quote, well, we'll come to that of Malcolm X has to do with the truth, being with the truth wherever it may be,

regardless of who's speaking the truth to be with it, right.

So, Malcolm, took some time to examine what was presented to him the information that was presented to him. In the meanwhile, he actually memorized what he started working on.

Reading, by the way, he used to read even before he went to prison, and something I also I came to learn recently that he used to read whatever, you know, he he was able to get a hold of any book, even when he was you know, committing crimes and was partying at night and, you know, hustling during the day time. Right? He would stay overnight and read, read books about philosophy about politics, sociology, you name it, psychology, anything that he can get a hold of, he would do

Read.

So,

when he was in prison, he memorized the

now the cramp the dictionary,

the entire dictionary. Right?

And

in his.

And then at some point he embraced

or joined the Nation of Islam. One of his brothers actually, most of his siblings had had joined, or a good number of his siblings had joined the Nation of Islam, and one of them in particular, was the one you know, telling him to, to consider it. And he fell in love with the founder of Nation of Islam,

Elijah Muhammad, who had, you know, an encounter or had met, you know, I mysterious figure by the name of fraud

for Rod Mohammed, right, yeah. And he,

he believed

that he was a messenger from God.

So he came out and obviously he embraced the Nation of Islam. When he came out of prison.

The Nation of Islam had about 400 members.

Right.

Malcolm within a couple of years, was was able to go around preach and propagate and spread the message of Elijah Muhammad and the number went from few hundreds to a few 1000s.

So much so that that Elijah Muhammad was very impressed by Malcolm's ability, he was a very charismatic speaker, and individual captivating figure, people fell in love with him in person when they had an interaction with and on stage, you know, how there are some people when they are on the stage, or when they are on the member, they impress you. Amazing. As soon as you interact with him, what happens, you get disappointed. This is unfortunately very common. Right? And then there are some people who are good, you can relate to them, you love them, you fall in love with them, but when they speak, they can't. They don't have the ability to motivate to motivate, you know, motivate

anyone. They you know, Malcolm possess both qualities. He was a great motivational speaker. And at the same time, he was authentic. He cared, he was a genuine person. So people fell in love with him left and right. And the joint the Nation of Islam.

Eventually, I'm going to fast forward I don't want this to take all night long Inshallah, we're going to have maybe a seminar in the near future, about the legacy of Malcolm X. Maybe I'll we'll bring our dear brother.

I want to say a man who has done extensive research.

But I think

this man's life

and what he went through, needs to be analyzed in the study carefully there are a lot of lessons that can be learned from this. Eventually, Malcolm X had to part ways with the Nation of Islam. He just discovered some discrepancies and,

and inconsistencies immoral behavior on the part of

Elijah Muhammad

Malcolm had found out on his own few things, you can say accidentally, but we will say that was the color of Allah. Right? When he went to Wallace Muhammad, who, whom we have to, you know, we came to know as we are today, Mohammed, WD Mohammed, may Allah subhana, Allah grant him mercy.

The son of Elijah Muhammad, he confirmed, confirmed to him some of his suspicions. Of course, Elijah Muhammad tried to give explanation that this is, you know, what he's doing is what messenger has before have done and all of that. Malcolm didn't say much about it, but for two years, it just didn't sit well with him. There were a lot of tensions between him and Elijah Muhammad and the other ministers.

There was also Malcolm was, was became more of an activist than a religious leader. Right. And his his focus became more political or, or geopolitical. And he started to focus on social issues, and he started to

be attracted to the civil rights movement. And and and he

He wouldn't, he wouldn't listen to what

Elijah Muhammad would tell him at times, because he didn't agree with with some of the strategies that the Nation of Islam was following at that time, he thought that we need to tackle these issues head on. And we cannot be apologetic. Right. That was the message of a nation of Islam throughout. He said, one of the things that that you have to give it to the Nation of Islam is that they were, unlike the other, you know, black leaders of the civil rights movement, they were unapologetic about what they believed in.

Right. And I think, and I could be totally wrong, that the civil rights movement or the leader of civil rights movement made a big mistake, but by not joining or embracing the black Muslims of that time, and using Malcolm's strategy, as a leverage, as a matter of fact, you know, I came upon evidence that Malcolm actually told them to do that. He told them, Listen, I don't want to be in the forefront. I don't believe you know,

like, I don't believe in your dream.

Like your dream is my nightmare.

Right? And, you know, we've had 10 years where I think nothing changed. You can't beg someone for your rights.

Right. So this was his his his conviction. But he said, you know, your, he said, feel free to use me as, as a leverage to get to get more for our people, because at the end of the day, it's just going to benefit us. And this is something that a lot of people were very skeptical about, and they did not take advantage of it. And they didn't realize who Malcolm was really truly and they did not appreciate him until,

until it was too late. till after his death, they realized that they were dealing with it, you know, that they had an opportunity to really embrace a sincere man who could and to me, by the way, he was one of the greatest, if not the greatest public speaker of the public speaker of the century. You know, hands down, never seen anyone you know, that I came alongside. The biggest change happened when Malcolm went to Hajj.

He came back, a changed man came back change his name, and it didn't take long after that. Malcolm X. Rahim Allah to Allah Wa, Hajj Malik Shabazz, was assassinated again on February 21 1965, in a ballroom in the city that

he had a lot of love for, and was devoted to serve its people.

And the world America, the world, the black Muslim community.

The Civil Rights Movement lost a great leader on that day Rahmatullah highly he was

he would have been now 90 If he was alive, he would have been 9590 No. Yeah, about 9095 96 I met a lady such an extraordinary person

if you have any question or comment, please feel free inshallah to share

Well, I forgot to say that him it was him and Elijah Muhammad were under FBI surveillance, you know,

for a long time, as a matter of fact, J. Edgar Hoover, the founder and the director of the FBI at the time

was very personally interested and

and one of the reasons that NATO is so I'm actually

came under the radar was because of Malcolm's activities, right?

Yeah.

Rahim Allah Tala. Yes. So by the way, there is now a documentary that came out I don't know much about it. Shall I'm going to watch it

but I think my understanding is it's going to

people are saying that that the

the assassination of Malcolm X needs to be reinvestigated or something right because of that.

Because it was very, very strange. That a man who was like there were no armed bodyguards. Right.

NYPD personnel were there present around the premise, but they did not you know?

But it was a matter of Allah Rahim Allah Tala.

Have any any comments or questions?

Okay.

Just want to share a couple of lessons

in sha Allah Allah

Allah Allah Allahu Anhu used to say, which of my

two days or

am I going to escape

death.

The day

death is not written upon me or the day when death is written upon me.

For if it's the day that has not written upon me, no matter what happens,

I'm going to survive.

But if it's the day that was written upon me, no matter what I do, I'm going to die.

So,

we have to,

we have to

cultivate and we have to

increase our yapping in the fact that nothing is going to happen to us, except by the will of Allah Subhana

Allah you will see BANA Illa microtube. Hola. Hola.

And we need to get rid of that fear that sometimes can be crippling.

Right.

And we should, as Allah subhanaw taala told us in the Quran, fear no one except ALLAH SubhanA dad.

And we should always stand up for what is right. Speak the truth, obviously wisely. Right. And remember that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam has said that because what's the worst that could happen?

What's the worst that could happen?

The province has said I've said.

So you just show her that the master of the martyrs is Hamza bin Abdullah.

And the person that speaks truth to power is a person who says the truth who goes to a unjust and unjust ruler and admonishes that ruler wisely, obviously, right, and enjoys what is good and forbids what is evil and that ruler gets upset at him and killed him.

That person is at the same rank of Hamza Ali Alon, Master, Imam and Hakim collected this in his in his collection of Hadith.

So we have to stand up for what is right, let's speak Malcolm X, not only did he speak to a particular ruler, but Malcolm X actually spoke with

to an entire system,

an entire system.

And I am convinced that it wasn't until he decided and he was he had very strong ties with world leaders and he decided to actually take the matter to the United Nation, that Malcolm that the decision was was made to, to get rid of him.

But even the ones that were just dreaming, and were all about peaceful resistance and all of that, right, they were not spared, where they didn't take long, right for Dr. King, to be killed. So if it's meant to happen, it's meant to happen. Be true to your beliefs, do everything by the book, follow the law, don't break the law, be ethical, be moral, but be unapologetic about your principles and about the truth.

Number two, second lesson that I personally learned.

The the

we cannot achieve much if we don't unite.

Because the immigrant community I mean, it was it was very weak and little and small, but it was oblivious to all of this. Right. Where was the immigrant community? Muslims, where were they? At the time?

Right. Malcolm was almost almost buried

in a in a you know,

without proper Islamic,

you know, process or burial? Almost right. It wasn't until you know, so it was it was embarrassing.

It would have been a big huge you know, it's still embarrassing as it is

that the the the immigrant Muslims were not what not connected. Right. And this has to come to an end. It has been a long time has been like more than five decades and it's still the same issues that Malcolm was, was really upset about and was trying

To,

to work to eliminate or still exists, things have improved, but not much. And Malcolm has this analogy that I find very fascinating if someone sticks a knife in your back,

a nine inch knife, right? pulls it out three inches and six inches still in there, right or something like that. If someone sticks a knife in your back, and then they pull it, not all the way out, but halfway, they haven't done your favor. Right?

They shouldn't expect you to be thankful and grateful.

And I'll tell you, if they pull it out, but they let you bleed to death. They haven't done you a favor.

Right?

Right. If they don't, if they don't rescue you, if you if they don't provide any.

And even if they rescue you, and they stop the bleeding. They don't pay for what they have done for you, then they haven't done you a favor.

So and and there is a principle and I will conclude with this and Ebola Iacono Kutiman.

Right. If there is wrong that was done, there is no statute of limitation on it. if time passes, that doesn't make it right.

If someone took something from you a property that belongs to you, that property belongs to you. Now, it belongs to you. 10 years from now 20 years from now, 30 years, 50 years from now. And if you're not around to collect it, right, it belongs to your heirs.

And if you your heirs couldn't get it. It belongs to those who can't, you know, come after them so long. The property is still there, it's yours and it belongs to your heirs. So there's help that was lost, it needs to be restored. And until that happens restored. We can't be silent.

Allah Allah Allah Allah Allah knows best so Allah Allah say, you know how much while Allah He also have your settlements aseema cathedra