Shaykh Muqbil Ibn Haadee’s Advice to the Salafis of America: Beware of Racism!
Imaam Muqbil Ibn Haadee al-Waadi’ee (rahimahullaah) said,
“Beware of the propaganda that is [designed] to sow [the seeds of] dissension between whites and blacks…You are a Muslim and your brother is a Muslim, regardless of whether he is white or black.”
I remember sitting in front of our Shaykh, the Imaam Muqbil Ibn Haadee al-Wādi’ee (rahimahullaah) when he articulated this heartfelt advice to the brothers and sisters in America. It was relevant then and it is even more significant now, at a time when individuals who claim to be from Ahlus-Sunnah are retweeting Louis Farrakhan, uniting on racial lines whilst overlooking creedal issues and using similar rhetoric to that of the NOI and other racists.
By Allāh, any movement founded upon nationalism or tribalism is a vulgar call, and it will collapse and eventually perish. History has shown us that these movements give no importance to the correctness of Islamic creed, but rather strive for unification based upon the supremacy of one race over another.
Allāh said,
“O mankind, indeed We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allāh is the most pious of you. Verily, Allāh is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” [Sooratul-Hujuraat 49:13]
The uplifting of any community lies in clinging to the Book of Allāh and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allāh (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) upon the understanding of the Salaf. If rectification is pursued through man-made theories or concepts such as psychology, sociology, humanism, philosophy and the like, then it only leads to further humiliation.
’Umar (radiyallaahu ’anhu) said,
“We were the lowest of people and Allāh gave us honor and ascendency through Islām. Whenever we seek honor through anything else, other than that which Allāh honored us with, then Allāh will humiliate us.” [1]
Imaam Muqbil Ibn Haadee al-Waadi’ee (rahimahullaah) said, advising the brothers and sisters in America,
“We also advise them to endeavor to speak the Arabic language. The Arabic language is the language of our Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and it is the language of the Qur‘ān. We advise them to exert themselves and strive to acquire beneficial knowledge and to learn the Arabic language.
Similarly, we advise them to persevere with their children and to focus on educating them.
[Beware of] the false propaganda that is present in America, and other than America, like that which is designed to sow [the seeds of] dissention between whites and blacks. This is propaganda from the period of pre-Islamic ignorance. You are a Muslim and your brother is a Muslim, regardless of whether he is white or black. Yes.
Our Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said,
“A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He does not oppress him nor humiliate him nor look down upon him. Piety is here, [and he pointed towards his chest]. It is a serious evil for a Muslim that he should look down upon his Muslim brother. Everything of the Muslim is inviolable for his brother: his blood, his wealth and his honor.” [2]
If they are able to travel to the scholars, [then they should do so] because strangeness assists in the attainment of knowledge. I ask Allāh that he preserves us and them and that He protects us and them from every evil and harm. I ask Allah the Glorified and Exalted to give us and them understanding in the religion. And all praise is due to Allāh, the Lord of all of the creation.” End of Imam Muqbil’s words.
Abu ’Abdullah Hasan al-Somali
Philadelphia, PA, USA
6/9/2014 [11th Dhu al-Qi’dah 1435H]
Endnotes:
[1]: Collected by al-Haakim (1/61-62) and others. Refer to as-Saheehah (no. 51) of al-Albaanee.
[2]: Collected by Muslim (no. 2564).