Suleiman Hani – Religious Pluralism

			Salam aleikum wa rahmatullah.
		

			Smilla Alhamdulillah. Wa Salatu was Salam ala Rasulillah, who are other early he was asked me he
woman Wala.
		

			doctor just said, may Allah Subhana Allah preserve him eloquently covered the gist of the topic, I
will try inshallah with the remaining time to cover two points. The first is the question, How can
we live together while having differences. And this is important in our times as believers to know,
and even be able to respond when you hear things being discussed content contemporarily in society.
The second is how can we fit into this picture of religious freedom or pluralism. And again, as was
elaborated and elucidated, we're referring to pluralism and living amongst one another, not
theologically, because that is not the issue of today's subject. Now, you and I know from
		

			experience, that we tend as human beings, and it is natural to kind of isolate ourselves or be
amongst groups that are similar to us to use our time and to socialize with these groups. It is
natural.
		

			And there are some advantages and disadvantages. And we're not referring to isolation and activism.
Rather, in the general context of everyday situations, think of your friends, the people whose time
you enjoy and company you enjoy, generally speaking, generally, but not always, we tend to stick to
certain types of groups. And we see from the various studies in the last 2030 years, that children
at a very young age, they say up to the age of four, they begin to recognize some differences in
language and ethnicity and hair color and eye color and things like this. By the age of six. Some
studies have shown that children who are constantly being bombarded with negative messages about
		

			their group as marginalized people, what happens to this child is they begin to have all types of
mental health problems, they begin to to embrace and exemplify something called internalized
oppression, where they begin to hate their own ethnicity, their own language, and so on and so
forth. Because of the negative messages they're hearing, either from society or from other groups
that are marginalizing them in society. So these are not things that are minor in any way
whatsoever. Rather, the stereotypes that are very prevalent and common, even amongst Muslim
communities. These are not things we can undermine or brushed aside, we need to address these things
		

			head on, because they do exist. Even here in this room. Perhaps there are some types of stereotypes
that you do have, based on what they say that everything that you perceive in this world is based on
your experience and information. You receiving this information time and time again, you hearing and
experiencing certain things with certain groups will affect the way that you perceive them, whether
you are publicly and externally dealing with them that way or not. So when we talk about stereotypes
and addressing stereotypes, we have to realize that Islamically speaking, our way of life as Muslims
is extensive. It is wide ranging Islam encompasses all types of issues in life, addresses the minor
		

			things and the major things as well. And that is because its roots are divine. It originates from
the One who created this universe, the one who knows what is best for society, how society can
function most efficiently, how human beings can live amongst one another, despite their differences,
differences, many of which Allah subhanaw taala created us with. And so when we talk about Islam as
a way of life, and when we talk about Islam historically, and when we talk about coexistence and
harmony, the first thing that we have to address is that any issue that affects people that is in
any way oppressive or unjust or unfair is an Islamic issue, as has been said, all of these things do
		

			affect us. And if you do not think that this was the way of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam,
then I assure you you have been misinformed about the Sunnah. Because the Sunnah of the Prophet
sallallahu alayhi wa sallam every time you hear his name sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, the Sunnah of
the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam was not just to defend Muslims when they were oppressed. The
Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was always a rights activist for all types of people. And this
is why most of the followers of the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam in the early days were those
who are oppressed, because he was giving them the rights that society was oppressing, and refusing
		

			and resisting
		

			And so the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa salam shows us through his beautiful example, that Islam is
truly a religion of justice and peace. Because when you talk about justice in the theological sense,
Allah created us, therefore he has a right upon us. It is a matter of justice for you to worship
your Lord, a matter of servitude and submission and humility, and justice between the creation,
dealing with each other, interacting with others in society, addressing issues of injustice, whether
you think they relate to you or not. So when we talk about issues such as Black Lives Matter, there
is no doubt whatsoever that we should be on the forefront supporting these movements. And it's not
		

			just one movement, it's not just one idea. It's not just one ethnicity. Rather, when you look at
society, here in this country and all around the world, we see we have many problems we need to
address over here, as American Muslims, we need to stop looking at other places around the world and
saying they need to be changed. They need our standards, they need our way of life when we have many
societal ills here in the United States. And so we address these issues by being at the forefront by
trying to raise awareness for justice for all types of issues of oppression. And again, they spat
outside of just religion, but ultimately in the sight of Allah subhanho wa taala, you are fulfilling
		

			your religious duties by doing so by integrating by communicating by reaching out by being active by
volunteering. Justice is the core of Islam.
		

			And so Allah subhanho wa Taala tells us in a very powerful verse, verse 135, of swords and knees up
a verse that is so beautiful and addressing the concept of justice that Harvard Law School has it
engraved in their entrance. Why? Because it is one of the most powerful verses addressing justice in
all of mankind's history, in which Allah subhanaw taala says, Oh, you who have believed Yeah, you
are lucky enough to be witnesses for justice, establish justice for ALLAH SubhanA wa Tada firmly,
even if you are witnesses against yourselves, even if you're a witness against yourself, or your
parents or your kin, your relatives, and if they are poor or rich, ALLAH SubhanA wa Tada will take
		

			care of or protect both. And the verse continues, do not follow your desires, meaning your personal
reasonings. Rather do not swerve for Allah subhanho wa Taala if you distort or declined to do
justice is aware of all that you do? Know Allah subhanaw taala reminds us in a verse that we should
be hearing every Friday in Allah Hi yah, Moodle, beloved in Allaha, Moodle builiding, Allah commands
Justice in Allah, He will be laden with sun and good conduct when he died in Cordoba and giving to
those who are close to you. While you're in her annual fascia you will mourn carry one belly, and He
forbids from all types of a morality and all types of oppression and all types of wrongdoing. Why
		

			are you LUCAM? Now Hannah come to the karoun he reminds you, he admonishes you, so that you can take
this remembrance, this addresses our religion completely and wholeheartedly. It encompasses
everything that society is trying to figure out. And this issue is an issue also of meta ethics. And
that society is constantly evolving, developing, who decides what is right or wrong oppression or in
oppression, justice and justice, good and evil. As Muslims, we have a moral reference code, we have
a moral reference point in moral epistemology, your study, where does the definition of good and
evil come from? And how can you defend that? And for us, as believers justice and everything that
		

			solves every societal ill, that we see and perceive and experience is addressed by ALLAH SubhanA wa
Tada. And so we have to take pride in our faith, and that it covers all of these issues. Now, there
are many people who would love to incite hatred and division amongst Muslims and others, between
Muslims and externally in society, claiming that there is no such thing as coexistence, living with
me having my own religious identity without any compromise without an inferiority complex amongst
others who hold different views with mutual self respect. And we see throughout history time and
again, from the time of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam. This has been very clear during the
		

			lifetime of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam. We have dozens of examples of coexistence, and
everyone here is aware, there were treaties and alliances made. People lived amongst each other with
no issues. Rather, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam even established what could arguably be
the first religious Political Constitution in history. The Medina charter and the issue has its own
session tomorrow. The Medina charter gave people rights and established
		

			These issues between Muslims and non Muslims living with one another. So there's no doubt the
harmony did exist by noon are drawn the tribe of baboons, Iran who came to Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam. Again salAllahu alayhi wasallam.
		

			They asked about Islam, what do you believe about Jesus and he recited recite it to them from the
verses of Surah Demetria. Did they all believe in Islam immediately? No. Many of them refused. And
yeah, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had one of the scribes write out a constitution, a
treaty to protect the rights, do not attack them, leave them in their houses of worship, let them
worship as they want let them deal with matters of justice and dispute as they desire. This is what
Islam is lived was lived through practically. And so when you ask where is the Sunnah of the Prophet
sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, what is it say to address this issue? Look at the life of Rasulullah
		

			sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and then Abu Bakr Radi Allahu Han, despite only being a Khalifa for two
years, despite the strife that he went through during his times, Abu Bakr throughout the long run,
tried to encourage the Muslims to hold and uphold the rights of the Christians of Tiberius. During
the time of aroma Radi Allahu anhu, the OMA expanded massively. Omar will be along well established
many cases and exemplified many situations of coexistence, protection of one another, the aroma
agreement that is alive in prison to this day, the agreement with the conquest of Jerusalem, that
preserve the church that is still today preserved for the Christians. So Omar Roddy along run an Abu
		

			Bekir and early and others followed in the footsteps of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam in
their understanding of coexistence, there is no theological compromise. Rather, when we say that
Islam throughout history, when it was practiced properly, actually gave the solutions to society's
problems. We see this with facts. And even in modern history, if you look at the Ottoman Empire,
during the era of the Ottomans, over 100,000 Jews escaped from Spain from persecution, and came to
the Ottoman dynasty War era. And what happened, they were not just given protection, they were given
roles and rights they integrated into society at the highest of levels. And they found no problem
		

			doing this. Rather, I wanted to share with you a quote of a famous professor, a Jewish professor,
Zachary carrabelle. He wrote in one of his books about this topic of Jewish and Islamic history, he
wrote, The Jews enjoyed more freedom, and affluence, wealth, and more social standing under Muslim
or in Muslim communities than any other time and history. Furthermore, he wrote for over a
millennium and a half, 1500 years, at least, until the end of World War Two Jews under Muslim rule
enjoyed more safety and freedom and autonomy than they did ever under any other rule, including
Christian rule. He said, Muslim states over the course of 14 centuries have allowed for religious
		

			diversity, and not insisted on converting people to their own creed. Meaning what we might have
examples of Muslims or governments who do not establish these principles properly. They are not
representing Islam as a system. They're representing themselves. And they are small places in
history. Unfortunately, they are also the contemporary and modern history. But you look throughout
the past, and you find what you find that there is coexistence. And there is no problem with it.
Islamically theologically, there is no issue of living side by side, there is no compromise in you
worshiping in your faith, you're not forced to remove your hijab, you're not forced to stop praying,
		

			you're not forced to cook, consume, something you cannot consume. And so when you look through our
history, you see that this is very possible. So to answer the question, yes, not only is it
possible, but Islam as one of the religions gives the solution to this issue, and gives the solution
to a lot of societal issues. And so I want to mention some points, action points that we can take.
These are things that need to be done, and they have been done to an extent, and they will continue
to be addressed. The first is increased integration,
		

			increased integration into society. A lot of people think of integration as a negative thing. A lot
of people think integration means you have to give up your beliefs or compromise on your religion,
or have some kind of inferiority complex. Whereas the reality is, you look around you in this very
country. And you see people from all walks of life are proud of their identities. And so we too,
should have some kind of integration in every area politically as well, which we are lacking. And we
need to continue addressing these issues by integrating completely again without any theological
compromise. The second is building bridges, working on common goals and campaigns together, of 100
		

			of the vast majority
		

			of major cities in the US already doing this. They're reaching out to their neighbors. They're
reaching out to the local churches, the mosques, the synagogues, and others. And so you have a lot
of alliances and trees that are working in addressing common issues of society, common issues that
are taking place, and we find that some people will criticize this. Why? Because they look at it as
interfaith where you're giving up your beliefs or something along these lines. But once again, we
are not talking about theological compromise. We're talking about building bridges. How do you
expect other people to know about Islam? If you're not willing to open the door? How do you expect
		

			people to know the real teachings of Islam if you refuse and you remain in isolation as a community,
obviously, we are already aware of this, and we are doing this to an extent, but again, there's
always room for improvement. Furthermore, the communities that have already excelled in this area,
we need to start deriving resources, any one of us take the initiative, don't wait for someone to do
it. Come up with resources that can be used across the country across the world. And don't wait once
again, for someone to take this initiative, someone to take this role. Rather you volunteer your
time and effort, address a community or come up to your mosque will come up to a local conference
		

			such as this one and show them what ideas you have work towards something, don't think that you do
not have value because every single person in this room, rather everyone in this conference has a
role to play. This is not a an issue or a role for community leaders for organizers for Imams. This
is something that all of us collectively are working towards. The third point, we need to raise the
standards of knowledge, we are living in a time of constant distractions, a lot of entertainment and
leisure, a lot of ways to avoid truly seeking knowledge, traditional powerful life changing
enlightening knowledge. And when we look at the past, we see that Muslims were at the forefront of
		

			society when it came to knowledge. Look at the Islamic Golden Ages, you see that Muslims were
productive, not just in the religious sense, but rather every worldly or scientific knowledge as
well. We need to try to address this issue by raising the standards of knowledge for every single
one of us, individually as a family as a community as he measured and across the country as well.
Raise your bar for knowledge by asking yourself what do you do consistently to learn and grow? How
much do you truly give a priority to learning about your own faith or other faiths as well. And
another issue that's related to knowledge is that of stereotypes. We all know deep down the
		

			stereotypes that we hold prejudices, discrimination. And if you find that something like this does
exist, even at a minor level in your heart, then you need to address this stereotype. Now, some
things are backed by facts, some things are not stereotypes are not something positive. Because we
as Muslims are always on the receiving end of stereotypes, we should know more than any other group
that this is not okay. And this causes more problems. This causes burning of bridges rather not
building of bridges. The fourth point, we need to be very frank here. We need to as a community, as
Muslims and with our alliances, call out and refute those who are trying to cause division in
		

			society. Those who basically use their entire campaigns, their entire reputation to create divisions
and hatred in society, whether it's Fox News, or Donald Duck or any Donald Trump or anybody, I'm
just kidding. Anybody that tries to create division, is has to be called out. And we know this. And
I want to be very frank here. You look at examples of Richard Dawkins, the famous self labeled
atheist agnostic. He writes in his book, The God Delusion, that religion is the cause of problems
and wars in the world. And not only is this untrue, because most of those wars, the vast majority
were politically motivated. But you look at society and you look at history, when it comes to people
		

			with his ideology of rejecting God, and he's free to do what he wants. But look at the statistics of
the past 150 years. World War One and Two. How many people died in World War One? Does anyone know
the estimate?
		

			World War One.
		

			Does anyone know anybody remember American history from school?
		

			This is awkward.
		

			About 20 25 million there are different estimates World War Two, does anyone know?
		

			It could be 50 to 85 million. Now you tell me in the last 150 years, actually, in the last 2000
years, the greatest death toll for any war that took place was World War Two. And let's say the
average the median is 75 million human beings killed. Was it a religious war? Absolutely not. So
people who are trying to create divisions by claim
		

			Neither religion is the source of problems. What are they doing by saying this, they are creating
more problems. Because more than 5.9 billion people in this world have a religious ideology. To
claim that religion as the cause of problems is not only a lie in a fabrication, it causes more
problems and divisions, it causes people to have more conflict and tension and enmity. And this is
not encouraged by anyone who truly and sincerely and objectively wants coexistence in this world.
The fifth point
		

			is we need to start exemplifying a proud identity. And again, we need to say this very frankly,
		

			we are living in a time in which you cannot be you cannot afford to be embarrassed to be Muslim. You
have with you a treasure, a gift. Allah subhanaw taala has given you this gift. Don't be embarrassed
that you have it. There is a difference between fear for your life and a certain context and
embarrassment. Because when you have pride, it is not the pride of arrogance. It is the pride of
knowing that you are attributed to this faith that you have with you what you truly believe with
conviction in your heart is the truth that you saw. And so when you talk about Islam and embracing
Islam, we have an issue that is related to Islamophobia, and coexistence, and that there are many
		

			people with an inferiority complex. They think there's something better out there, their standards
are better than mine. Their moral conduct is better than mine. Let me ask you a question. If
somebody else's moral conduct is better, but there's no reference point for it? What are the limits?
What are the boundaries of morality, because as Muslims, we have limits, we know based on what Allah
told us what is permissible and good for society and what is not. And if other people want to live
differently, that's fine. But don't ever allow yourself to be fooled. And to think that what you
have morally is not superior, because it comes from Allah subhanho wa taala. This is not an issue of
		

			arrogance. It's an issue of conviction in what you have. And we have and should have conviction in
all that we do. And unfortunately, we see around us the recent incidents with with people taking
advantage of this false attacks and false claims of attacks and false reports of being kicked off on
planes and so on and so forth. You all know what I'm referring to, we can't afford that. And we
cannot afford that. Why? Because when there are real attacks, and there are many hundreds, what
starts to happen as they start to diminish in their value, they start to be overlooked. They start
to be undermined in their importance and not addressed properly.
		

			I'll give you a funny example of coexistence based on us being visible. And this is my second last
point.
		

			I was I'd usually traveled to the US and I connect in Paris. I like their lounge, and I always
stopped there for a few hours. So I was flying back, I believe, six or seven months ago, and I
stopped in Paris. And it was February time.
		

			So I'm sitting in the lounge and there's nowhere private to pray. So I looked for the cable on my
phone and I started praying fidget.
		

			I finished, got back on my laptop, I'm doing work. And the guy right across from me to my right on
his laptop as well. He was staring at me was praying. And I assumed he had a problem. I was waiting
for him to say something waiting for that lawsuit. What happened? He closed his laptop after a while
he faced a different direction. He took out his hat skullcap and he started praying. He was Jewish.
He started praying in a different direction. And I thought to myself, Wow, this is very interesting.
And there were people walking by who had seen me pray there in the lounge. And they saw this man
praying after I finished and they thought this was very interesting. After he finished, there was an
		

			African American or French from I don't know where with a Christian ideology, and he had a Bible in
his hand. And he started chanting and praying really loudly. I don't know what he was saying. And he
wasn't facing one direction. He had no Qibla. But he started chanting loudly. And now people were
freaking out. Because they passed by this area where it's just a lounge and there's like an
interfaith masala. Like we had this little prayer hall. So I got my stuff I packed up I went to the
other side.
		

			But Subhanallah I thought to myself, I wonder if that man over there would have been embarrassed to
pray had not somebody prayed before him. And you think to yourself, you don't realize the effects of
your actions on other people, whether they say it or not. Everyone here is aware that many times
people come to the masjid or they want to become Muslim. You ask them where did you learn about
Islam? They might say I saw Muslim woman praying, I saw Muslim woman wearing a hijab, I asked what
it was about or I read about it, I saw a guy praying somewhere so on and so forth. They see things
and not everyone will address you. Not everyone will approach you. But it might cause someone to go
		

			and search for something that they find to be truthful. And so don't be embarrassed of your faith.
rather give it its value and give it it's right in your life. Number six, we need to be the best
role models in society and Alhamdulillah
		

			In many areas we are when it comes to education. For example, you found a recent study that showed
that Muslims are at the forefront of education in the country. Many people are studying and
graduating continuing with their studies to higher levels. This is something that is encouraged. But
we need to take our moral standards as well to the highest of levels, which levels are they they are
our levels Islamically we need to be the best of neighbors, everyone who lives around you should
know that you are the best of neighbors, the best of classmates, this person does not cheat the best
of co workers, the best of employers and employees. We need to show people through our actions as
		

			well, not just through Dawa, not just through calling people not just through building bridges, not
just through addressing oppression and injustice, ask yourself, what role are you playing with your
manners and morality in society? And really ask yourself, what can you do to take it to the next
level? Number seven, we need to increase in our volunteering and teamwork internally as well.
Oftentimes, people take things to the next level and they reinvent the wheel, there are so many
things we need to pull together as resources to have a stronger community collective voice. And we
see the power and effects of this, especially with the recent elections, and more people started
		

			addressing the so called Muslim voice. And I want to give you just a practical example. Imagine just
10% of us in this country, let's say there are 6 million Muslims, if only 10% of us started
volunteering an extra one hour a week, two hours a week for any cause that is good, does not have to
be specific to something that you don't like, rather any valuable cause one to two hours. Imagine
the change that will come about through society, not just for Muslims, but for all oppressed people.
We need to individually ask ourselves, Am I doing anything outside of my work? My life, my
achievements? Don't ask how can the world serve me? What can I get from the world? Ask yourself how
		

			you can serve the world? What can you do to fall in the footsteps of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi
wa sallam, in giving servitude to humanity. And the last point, we need to as much as possible
continue raising awareness on these issues for the up and coming generations. Because the youth
should be learning from us paving the path constantly. And every generation thereafter is learning
from our mistakes and the things that benefited us. And as long as we are connecting the
generations, work, working with one another, and working for good causes and not having inner strife
and conflict and drama and politics. We'll start to see that the effect that we have on society,
		

			again, is not just limited to us as a community, but rather embraces all of those who seek any kind
of justice and any kind of peace. We ask Allah subhana wa Taala to make us of those who are the best
of role models in society. We ask Allah subhana wa Taala to reward all of those who are known and
unknown in serving humanity. And we ask Allah subhana wa Tada to forgive us for shortcomings to
increase us and motivation and to raise us to the highest levels does Akuma Clayton was something to
hold on and Muhammad while he was off manage money in wa Salam o alaikum wa Rahmatullah.
		

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