October 22nd 1995
IWDM Study Library

Montgomery AL Address: Part 3
By Imam W. Deen Mohammed


IWDM:
The interest of this nation, not just the interest of Muslims, but the interest of this nation. With the little that they have, they're going to be planning to make a contribution to America that will make it a better America for us all. They'll be working to see America healthier and more productive, not just for the Muslim people but for all the people of the country.



[00:00:50]
G-d gave us a religion that our prophet presented as a religion that is established upon five essentials or five structures. The fifth of these structures is what we call the , pilgrimage or visit to the ancient house, the sacred precincts in Mecca. The house built by Abraham and his son, peace be upon them. This [Hajj 00:01:04] is a sign. The future of Muslim Americans will be well served when we serve the future of humanity. That's what G-d evolved us for. That's what G-d has brought us out of the world of darkness for.


When we go to Hajj we see that attraction there under G-d, drawing us all together, bringing us all together at nation. Nations differing ideologically or politically, but agreeing in the worship of G-d. We see colors different. See people of all colors, of all racial and national origins gathering there with their racial distinctions, with their national distinctions, with their cultural distinctions, but agreeing as worshipers of the one creator, the Lord of the heavens and earth.


Coming there upon faith, honesty, decency, industry, yet business is an interest of the heart. Wealth is an interest of the heart. We depend on those of better means and more means or greater means to share with those of less means. We see there industry, we expect their fairness and we expect peace, don't we? Isn't that a sign of what Allah wants the world to be? A world where all people live in one big living room called Earth. All as equal dependence of G-d, the Lord creator who formed us all, made it possible for us all. All supporting the finest ideas, the noblest ideas, the purest intentions that man can have. Striving to be man at his best under G-d. That's the world Allah wants for us. The Hajj is a sign of it.


We know we're all Muslims that go there, though we are not all of the same race, we're not all of the same nationality, we're not all of the same sex. When we go there, we get a respect. We have to recognize the respect that we're due there that many of us don't recognize when we come back home, or didn't recognize while we were at home. Is that not true?


There, you cannot tell a black man to get behind you if you're white. You cannot say to a black man, "black man, hey black fella, wait for me and my family to go and then you come." You can't do that even though it be in your heart to say that to him. You can't do it. The man can't say to sister, "sister, you're not supposed to step in front of me in the Hajj rituals" though he probably wants to say it to her. You can't say it. She has her rights in the Hajj and he has his rights in the Hajj. If she wants to come there and put her baggage in his space area, as long as space is there, he can't say a thing. He can't say, "you're too close to me with your baggage, can you move them over there a little bit?" He can't say that. He's got no authority there to say that. If he gets an authority, she gives it up to him. She's says, "okay, you want this space, I'll give it to you." I give it to you. She'll have to him. No law that'll give it to him.


That is the beautiful picture that G-d wants for all the earth. Where we can go to sleep at night and leave our Rolex watch on the stand and go to sleep. Some of you might think you can't do that, you can do that. I took my watch over there. I'm kind of absent-minded when it comes to certain things. I get my mind on the rituals and I forget my own belonging. I lost my watch over there once, got it back. I lost my wallet over there once, got it back. Everything back. I had a book that I prided, a special book for me. I didn't want to lose it. It got out of my hand, I didn't know where it was, before I left there, somebody brought it to me, this yours, brother Mohammed. They gave it back to me. I have never lost anything on Hajj.


They told there was scorpions in the sand on the desert where I slept overnight with nothing over me, nothing to protect me. I slept peacefully. They told me that in one of these hotels in the United States or if I went to one of these parks in Chicago and they told me before I got there, you know there's scorpions out here, I would've got right back up. No, no into the car I would've gone and then watching to see if one was jumping in the door before I closed it. Close that door and I would've been gone from that area.


When people give their hearts and their souls and their trust to G-d and they're sincere, G-d will do the rest. Don't ever underestimate the presence, the reality, the presence and might of G-d. Don't ever underestimate it. He's more here today in this room than anything else is here. G-d, I know that. Wherever you go, he's as much there as anything you can think of. He's more present than anything else you can think of. That's G-d. Knows everything before it occurs, I'm a witness. G-d knows everything before it occurs. G-d is G-d.


I'm getting ready to close now because I know they're ready now, they warmed up real good. I think this is what G-d means in the Quran, when he says to the prophet and to us to he is closer to you than your own juggler vein. Closer to you than the juggler vain in your neck. That's G-d. I talked to some Muslims who think they're Muslim theologians or scholars. They brush aside, even with disgust on their face, the idea that Allah is with me personally. They think that sounds Christian that I say Allah is with me personally. With me while I talk, with me while I walk, with me while I sleep and will be with me when I die and when I'm dead. That's G-d.


This lack of faith is addressed. Allah says if you want to know how I am, I'm as my true worshipers see me. G-d didn't say I'm as the scholars. G-d didn't say you know the wise man who led Moses, I'm as he saw me. Or do you know Moses as he went up to the mount, I'm as Moses saw me when he was up in the mount. G-d didn't say that. I'm as Abraham saw me when he was finally satisfied in his soul. He said I'm as my common worshipers see me. Because they are innocent. When you get so much knowledge, you can't believe that G-d is G-d alone. You think you're G-d with him.


We get so much power, we can't believe that G-d has all the power. We think we have some of it too. If some of us down here with the masses ask that person, describe G-d to me, they're not going to give you a true report because they don't want you to have that access to the power. I thank G-d that no one blocked my access. I refuse to accept anyone getting in the way of me and my G-d. Our prophet said that the one who [runs 00:11:15] and wants to plead to G-d, wants to bring his case to G-d, not even as much as a [sin 00:11:21] petition is between that person and his G-d. G-d doesn't accept that. Even a [inaudible 00:11:27] be separation between that innocent person and G-d.


If my servants ask about me, tell them I'm always near. Maybe there are people and many of them in the white race, that would laugh at what I've said today and say, he's dreamy. They'll never have a share in the power and future of this country. I'm claiming truthful are your lying fathers, promise me, I'm claiming it. I think they were truthful, but if you want to say they're liars, that's up to you. Mr. White man and Mr. Black man, but I'm permanent. Thank you very much. I pray to G-d for guidance and a bigger share of the world and me.

Speaker 2:
Last night we stated that we have faith and trust in Allah, and this is the proof. I have an announcement, very important, a BMW Mississippi license plate, that's where I'm claiming my faith, that's the state I'm from, Mississippi. They're going to tow your car away because you're blocking someone. HWH371, you better run because you're blocking someone. BMW Mississippi, they used to say Miss Mississippi, but now it's Mississippi. Please move your car. We have 15 minutes for questions to anyone who wants to ask IWDM some questions.


Before we jumped up, we're going to have order. You ask your questions, no statements, questions, no statements. When he answer your questions, no rebuttals, give somebody else a chance. That's the proper way you do it. Yes sis?

IWDM:
let me say this brother [inaudible 00:14:17]. A questions sometimes can be in the form of a statement. That questions may be a statement. They may be addressing something I said and they may state something the way they want to say it in opposition to what I said. That's perfectly alright with me.


Yes sir? Who's first there? Yes, sir. I want everybody to hear you. Is there a mic he can get?

Speaker 3:
Brother [inaudible 00:15:07] when it says in the holy Koran obey those in authority over you, would that refer to your position?

IWDM:
Yes. It says obey God and his apostle and those you trust, you entrusted with authority. That means your leaders that you accepted to be your leaders. Yes, that would include me, yes.

Speaker 4:
I just want to ask you is it too soon for us to make [inaudible 00:15:54] to Allah that he bless you to be the first Khalifa?

IWDM:
I got the question ... when I see what happens to the Khalifas immediately ... believe me, it may sound humorous, but this is not intended to behumor you. When I look at what happens to the khalifas immediately after our holy ... prophet and leader left us. When I looked and see what happened to them, I think it must been a big ... misunderstanding in the idea or perception of Khalifah.


I think the Muslim world had a misperception when it comes to the idea of Khalifa. If you want to say that do I accept that you promote me being a leader for all Muslims of the world? Go ahead with full force. I think I can fill the bill and that's no joke. I'm not asking people to do that, but anyone who wants to do that, you have my approval and my prayers.

Speaker 5:
I have a question about the issue of polygamy in country. A lot of communities say a lot of brothers were thinking on second wives, but what they're really doing is committing adultery and destroying a lot of innocent families. There's disagreement in the community. Some believers say that we should shun them and other believers say that we should embrace them as believers and that's between them and Allah. How do you [present 00:17:59] the community handle that?

IWDM:
There's no way to have a sister for our sexual pleasure without having her as a wife. That's my knowledge in Islam. We cannot have her sexually unless she is our wife according to the law of the teachings of the Koran. She has to be our wife. To have more than one, there are qualifications that you have to meet. If you read the Quran, you'll see those qualifications. It's no mystery. The qualifications are there. If any sister accepts an involvement with a brother knowing he already has another sister as a wife, that burden is on her before it's on us. We're supposed to come to her rescue, not go looking for her to tell her she has a problem. She's supposed to know herself she has a problem. Sisters who give themselves to such relationships, I don't think that we should be hunting the brother down.


In my opinion, if you don't marry according to the Quran, every woman that you say you're with sexually and give each one of them the respect that they're due according to the teaching of the Quran, the protection and the honor that they are due according to the teaching of the Quran. If you don't do that and you have them just as girlfriends and you are not their protector, you are not their maintainer, you don't provide for their needs, then my opinion, such brother and such sister that tolerates that should be ostracized. I said in my opinion. I wouldn't sit by them. If they were over there, I'd sit over here somewhere.


Yes? The next one?

Speaker 6:
I don't have a question ... but I do want to let you know how much I love you. I know what you're talking about and I got what you got, Allah. I ain't got no doubt about Allah being God, no doubt what I read in the Quran because I know it's the truth. I love you for your wisdom. Mohammed from [Birmingham 00:21:08] [inaudible 00:21:10] he sits and he want you to pray for her. He was unable to make it. He can't get around like he used to do. She loves you and told me to give you this [inaudible 00:21:23].

IWDM:
What's her name again?

Speaker 6:
I don't have it here. As Salaam Alaikum.

IWDM:
The sister ... [Tallaha 00:21:44], Sister Tallaha.

Speaker 6:
She used to ride with me. Sis [Tallaha 00:21:51] [El mene 00:21:51]. She and I usually sitting here in the audience.

IWDM:
I do remember seeing the two of you together. You be sure and return the greetings.

Speaker 6:
Praying for her.

IWDM:
I will. I most certainly will. Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.

Speaker 7:
I know you wrote a book on marriage in community, the poor, but I'm from the St. Louis community. Just remodeled [mass j 00:22:31] and we just got it together. We have a lot of single brothers in the community and we've been working on trying to get a lot of the other [inaudible 00:22:40] brothers married. I was dealing with a priest said next time at some of your previous presentations, if you would speak on the importance of marriage in the community. We can get single brothers and sisters.


One of the sisters from Oklahoma was trying to get [inaudible 00:23:02] myself and another sister way from Dallas, Texas respond. If you could speak on the urgency on marriage and the family life.

IWDM:
Thank you. I thank you for that. I will make a note of that. I will be speaking on the importance of marriage for the Muslim community in the very near future. Yes?

Speaker 8:
My name's [She-id 00:23:31]. My question is I've been told that it's [crucial 00:23:38] for me to be like situations in the Quran like Allah said that he commanded Moses to strike the sea and the [inaudible 00:23:47] and that Jesus he spoke in [cradles 00:23:51]. Allah said this in the Quran. I know they're signs in [being 00:23:57] that Allah says, but I believe the base of it. The question is is this a wrong understanding of the Quran and is it [inaudible 00:24:08] thinking for me to believe this?

IWDM:
Everything in the Quran is pure and perfect. Whatever it says is pure and perfect. It says that Jesus spoke peace be upon him while he was in the cradle. He did that. It says that God ordered Moses to take his staff and to strike the water, the waters parted. He did that. Pure and perfect. God will bless us with insight. Whoever he chooses to bless with insight, he will bless them with insight and more understanding of that. We are not to say anything in the Quran is incorrect the way it is given. It is correct exactly how it is given. Allahu Akbar.

Speaker 9:
I wanted to ask you a question more along a personal nature. I work in a public school, I'm a teacher by trade. In keeping with the Quran, the Quran tells us do not take part in [interest 00:25:16] and do not [inaudible 00:25:17]. In the school system, they take money from people and call that teacher retirement. They pay us [interest 00:25:27] on that and don't have [inaudible 00:25:29]. I want to know what is the correct thing to do?

IWDM:
The first thing, we should understand an obligation. We should understand an obligation and our circumstances. Allah says also do not eat pork, pig, flesh of the swine. Allah says too in the Quran, unless it is to save your life. If my life is threatened, maybe in those days, maybe it could happen you fall in the wrong circumstances in America today. Some person who hates your religion so much that they will kidnap you, lock you up, starve you and say, you will die sucker, if you don't eat this pork. You don't get nothing else, die then. Allah permits us to eat the pork.


If we start eating the pork and enjoying it and tell them to bring us a second helping ... then the punishment comes. As long as it is to save our life it's not. If you have no desire to take interest, I say to you, get your money and get whatever your money has earned. Take it, it's yours. You have committed no crime. You're welcome.

Speaker 10:
Good evening. I do not have a question but I'm a Christian. I was invited by [Rashia 00:27:07] Mohammed and I'm from Union Springs, Alabama and my name is Jeffrey Williams.

IWDM:
We're happy to here today.

Speaker 10:
Me and her have become friends. We talk, I go in her store and I shop and we'll get to talk about the word of God. We get to thinking about the things that make for peace. We talk about our unity in the faith. I hope that all Muslims grasp that in their heart and not just in the mind.

IWDM:
I hope so too.

Speaker 10:
Not only Muslims, but Christians also. If we focus on God with the [inaudible 00:27:44] sense of pride and we focus on him and not on each other as far as pointing the finger. Become servants of God and not just witnessing with our mouths. In my bible it says, with your mouth you worship me, but with your heart is far from me. I think about that scripture that says love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, mind, soul, and strength. How do you love your brother?

IWDM:
As yourself.

Speaker 10:
How could a man say that he love God whom he has not seen and hate his brother whom he have seen. Love not in word, but in deed and in truth. Those are the things that you talked about. I hope we go back to our community and where we came from and let's just do what the word says. Do what your Quran's say. I do what my bible say and we'll walk in peace and love. I think that's what God is [inaudible 00:28:41].

IWDM:
God sends us help. His presence here today is help to us. That's the way I see your presence here today, brother. That's help to us. This will be the last one though.

Speaker 11:
It was a great honor to work security for you in Detroit and be security for your personal family in Detroit. I consider that a great honor. [inaudible 00:29:29] H.H. [inaudible 00:29:32] and everyone here, that was a great honor. I've been in the community since 1973. When you took leadership in '75, Allah blessed me to make the transition [inaudible 00:29:45] Ali. I would just like for you to comment on how people will be sitting through the communities who hold down good brothers and sisters. You refer to them as the [Jahcubite 00:29:58] at one time ...

