Islam, or Submission, practiced by the Quran alone is presented as a religion of peace, justice, and freedom, with Quranic conditions for fighting only in self defense and for amicable relations with disbelievers. A group of incarcerated Muslims at Avenal State Prison describes persecution by a traditionalist chaplain for rejecting hadith. The issue closes by defining a Submitter and the minimum criteria from Quran 2:62.
The Western world perceives the religion of
Islam as a very barbaric and primitive religion. But anyone who reads
the Quran will realize that Islam (Submission) is quite different than
this perception, and has almost nothing to do with what is being presented
and practiced by the so-called Muslim countries. In fact, Islam is a beautiful,
compassionate, and very progressive religion with no non-sense. So, why
is this gem of truth concealed, abandoned, or misrepresented? Who is responsible?
Who is to blame, the Western world or ourselves?
Muslims should look in the mirror, and reflect on themselves. Are they
really following the word of God in the Quran,
or the innovations that have nothing to do with the religion? The problem
is that the Muslim masses don’t even know what is in the Quran to
make that judgment. Thanks to their bearded, turbaned, and close-minded
scholars who constantly refer to sources other than the Quran to conduct
their affairs and to delegate their opinions. Because of their misguidance,
the majority of Muslims today are divided and confused. In general, they
are under achievers, under civilized, under developed, under nourished—under
too many undesirable conditions to list.
The consequence of abandoning the Quran in
favor of innovations, man-made rules and regulations is clear throughout
history. Therefore, if there is misconception of our religion in the West
as well as within the Islamic community, we can’t blame anybody
but ourselves.
In the Name of Religion
When people refer to the sources other than the Quran, they can justify
almost anything in the name of religion. The killing of innocent people
through terrorist acts is an example. There is no justification whatsoever
in any scripture of God for such terrorism. As a matter of fact, such
unjust acts are prohibited.
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True Islam
Say, “My Lord prohibits only evil deeds, be
they obvious or hidden, and sins, and unjustifiable aggression,
and to set up beside God powerless idols, and to say about God what
you do not know.” 7:33
O you who believe, do not prohibit good things that
are made lawful by God, and do not aggress; God dislikes the aggressors.
5:87
Conditions for Fighting
A true Muslim will never initiate an aggressive act. God allows
fighting strictly in self-defense, and under certain conditions:
To defend ourselves when we are faced with oppression and aggression.
You may fight in the cause of God against those
who attack you, but do not aggress. God does not love the aggressors.
2:190
For religious freedom and to eliminate oppression.
You may also fight them to eliminate oppression,
and to worship God freely. If they refrain, you shall not aggress;
aggression is permitted only against the aggressors. 2:193
To protect our rights.
Certainly, those who stand up for their rights,
when injustice befalls them, are not committing any error.
The wrong ones are those who treat the people unjustly, and resort
to aggression without provocation. These have incurred a painful
retribution. 42:41-42
If we retaliate against people because of injustice, we are supposed
to be equitable and just in inflicting punishment. But if we resort
to patience and forgiveness, it is better for us even though it
is not a very easy thing to do.
Although the just requital for an injustice is an
equivalent retribution, those who pardon and maintain righteousness
are rewarded by God. He does not love the unjust. 42:40
Resorting to patience and forgiveness reflects a
true strength of character. 42:43
And if you punish, you shall inflict an equivalent
punishment. But if you resort to patience (instead of revenge),
it would be better for the patient ones.
You shall resort to patience—and your patience is attainable
only with God’s help. Do not grieve over them, and do not
be annoyed by their schemes. 16:126-127
Relations with Disbelievers
We are encouraged to have amicable relations with those who do
not believe as we do unless they fight us because of our religion.
God does not enjoin you from befriending those who
do not fight you because of religion, and do not evict you from
your homes. You may befriend them and be equitable towards them.
God loves the equitable.
God enjoins you only from befriending those who fight
you because of religion, evict you from your homes, and band together
with others to banish you. You shall not befriend them. Those who
befriend them are the transgressors 60:8-9
We have the right to practice our religion freely, but we must
also give the same right to others as long as they don’t transgress.
We should remember that there is no compulsion in religion (2:256).
God does not love the aggressors, and He reminds us that oppression
is worse than murder (2:191). Therefore, the religion of Islam (Submission),
when practiced in accordance with the Quran, is the religion of
peace, justice, and freedom for all.
Abdullah Arik
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A Voice from Incarcerated
In The Name Of God, Most Gracious, Most
Merciful
We pray to Allah that you will receive our present concern as Muslims
striving on the foundation of Allah’s universal law and the
revelation Al-Kareem, Al-Quran.
We are Muslims; we place no title before or after. We are simply
Muslims. However, as a body of believers we stand as the El Tawheed
Nation. We have no formal school of thought. We follow the sunnah
of Allah and the ways of the prophets from the first to the last
and we make no distinction between one or another.
We stand firmly on the culture of the Prophet Abraham and we strive
in the likeness of his manner as Allah commanded the Prophet Muhammad.
And we submit to Allah in His universal order of divine truth.
By the grace and mercy of Allah, we have been blessed to understand
that the traditional hadith (written two hundred to three hundred
years after the death of the Prophet Muhammad) has been the cause
of wide spread division, inter-conflict, aggression, oppression,
outright assassination and bloody wars. We have come to understand
that these traditions have been like a cancer eating their way at
the Quranic fabric of the Muslim Ulemah, Muslim brotherhood and
the Muslims faith and trust in Allah and His supreme guidance and
universal application of the Quran.
We have come to understand that the traditions of the hadith barriers
is not the resolution to the multi-division of the Muslim Ulemah
and was never intended to be so.
We understand the tremendous courage
it took for Rashad Khalifa to bring forth the truth and stand unshakably
upon that truth for which he deserves respect and honor as a worthy
believer and servant of Allah. We pray to Allah that His grace and
His mercy, peace and blessing will be extended on the Day of Judgment
to our beloved brother, Rashad Khalifa.
El Tawheed nation is now being faced with the same task and difficulties
as our brother Rashad Khalifa. For we stand unshakable upon Allah’s
divine law. And as our brother, we too bring the truth about the
traditional hadith. We will not compromise the truth. For we understand
that the truth will prevail and that falsehood is bound to perish.
But there must be faith and trust in Allah and no fear in those
who would have us compromise the truth.
We have been attacked in prison by the traditionalist orthodox
sunni Muslims, slandered, and denied facilitation in the place of
worship to teach the “pure” teachings of the Quran and
Allah’s universal law. But we refused to be hindered. For
we realize that with every difficulty there comes relief.
We are reaching out to you our dear brother; for we have been
denied the means of the least available time to come together among
ourselves and to teach among ourselves. The chaplain (imam), A.S.
Muhammad, here at Avenal State Prison has used every available means
to block and hinder us in teaching the truth among ourselves, and
to those at the facility who wish to come and learn from the Quran.
This is only because we tell
truth about the traditional hadith and
its shady history. They will not even allow us to utilize rooms
in the chapel, which are not occupied. They say it will be sunni
teaching of hadith or nothing at all. We view such action as oppression,
compulsion and flagrant injustice.
We have been threatened directly and indirectly with multiple drastic
consequences if we continue to teach against the traditional hadith.
We have been vehemently warned that we will be placed in the “hole”
if we don’t cease our ways.
The chaplain/imam has boldly and erroneously accused me of being
an innovator and against the Prophet Muhammad because of the truth
that we bring forward against the traditional hadith and our unyielding
position in calling our Muslim brothers to the foundation of the
Quran.
We have requested that the chaplain/imam allow us to respond to
the false allegations he has launched against us before the brotherhood.
He adamantly refuses to do so, yet continues to levy every despicable
and discreditable accusation against us without any Quranic basis.
We strongly believe it is incorrect and completely unjust under
the Quranic law to accuse anyone and not permit the individual or
the group of people associated with the individual to defend against
the charges. We trust in Allah in every conviction of our faith
that chaplain/imam A.S. Muhammad’s tyrannical leadership will
not triumph over truth and justice. Therefore,
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A Voice
Therefore, we are reaching out to our brother Muslims for whatever assistance
or advice you can offer.
We are attempting to open a more formal dialogue with our brothers of
Submitters Perspective, for we of the El Tawheed Nation are committed
and devoted to bringing forth the truth. It is only the truth that can
cure and heal the great wounds of the Muslim Ulemah. We have loyal and
dedicated brothers throughout the entire prison system and several brothers
in society who have been paroled from the prison system. We are building,
although our task is difficult.
We await your response. Until then, may Allah bless you and reward you.
Your brother in faith and brotherhood, the El Tawheed Nation.
Imam Sultan Salahuddin
Mujadid Saad El Amin
Submitters: Who are they?
A Submitter can be defined as a person who submits to the will
of God. The state of Submission, which can only take place between
the person and God Almighty, is considered to be the only acceptable
form of worship by God. Therefore, Submission is not just a name
of a religion, rather it describes one’s devotion to God alone.
Submission is a religion whereby one recognizes God’s absolute
authority, and reaches a conviction that God alone possesses all
power; no other entity possesses any power that is independent of
Him. The natural result of such a realization is to devote one’s
life and one’s worship absolutely to God alone. This is the
First Commandment in all the scriptures, including the Old Testament,
the New Testament and the Final Testament (Deuteronomy 6:4-5,
Mark 12:29-30, Quran 3:18).
How can we know if we might qualify to be called a Submitter? The
minimum criteria to be a Submitter are given in the following verses.
Surely, those who believe,
those who are Jewish, the Christians,
and the converts; anyone who
(1) believes in God, and
(2) believes in the Last Day, and
(3) leads a righteous life,
will receive their recompense from their Lord.
They have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve. (Quran 2:62, 5:69)
About this work
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Author
International Community of Submitters
Publisher
International Community of Submitters / Masjid Tucson