September 14, 2001 Khutba
On the occasion of the funeral prayer offered for Muhammad Shahjahan al-Jerrahi, father of four, and the other Muslims slain in the disaster.
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Muslim Peace Fellowship September 14, 2001 Khutba On the occasion of the funeral prayer offered for Muhammad Shahjahan al-Jerrahi, father of four, and the other Muslims slain in the disaster.
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In the name of God Most Merciful, Most Compassionate We believe and cherish that all human beings in this world, regardless of gender, race, nation, or religion, are blessed with three beautiful lights. The first light is the light of intelligence placed in our heads so that we can tell right from wrong. The second light is the light of consciousness placed in our eyes so that we can take lessons from what we see. The third light is the light of compassion placed in our hearts so that we love God's creation, and through this love we learn how to love Him. How could anyone love God without loving His creation? On Tuesday September 11th, in front of our eyes, thousands of innocent fathers, mothers, children, sisters, brothers, friends, loved ones, who went to work to bring sustenance to their families, were killed indiscriminately, regardless of age, gender, race, nation or religion. How could this villainous act be the work of a human being who is honored with these three lights, intelligence, compassion, and consciousness? We fear that this villainous act has another target beyond the innocent lives of the lost, a hidden target: the hearts of the millions. We fear that with the suffering, grief, sadness, and anger inflicted upon our hearts, we will be ready to trade in the light of compassion, one of the most beautiful gifts of God, for the darkness of hatred. If the darkness of hatred drives compassion from the heart, neither the light of intelligence nor the light of consciousness survives. When there is no intelligence, there is no reasoning, there is no religion, there is no humanity.When the darkness of hatred enters the heart, anyone can be a terrorist. The place of the lost ones is the beautiful Garden of Paradise. Those who sacrificed their own lives for the lives of others are the true martyrs. For us who were left behind, I pray, "O Lord, increase our strength so that in your Name we can fight the darkness of hatred with the light of compassion. Help us to eliminate the separation of 'you' and 'I,' 'your religion' and 'my religion.' Unite us as one nation, the nation of the human race." Amin. Yurdaer Doganata is khalifa of the Jerrahi Order of the Americas. This khutba was delivered on September 14, 2001, on the occasion of the funeral prayer offered at the Jerrahi Mosque in Chestnut Ridge, New York, for Muhammad Shahjahan al-Jerrahi, father of four,and the other Muslims slain in the disaster. |