By Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin
From: Allah’s Slave, Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin
To: The Imams of Allah’s Ummah
As-salaamu’alaikum: Labbaik wa sa’daik (I respond to your call and I am obedient to your orders).
Ya Imam; Istaqaamu (Stand firm);
“When comes the help of Allah, and Victory, and you do see the people (masses) enter Allah’s religion in crowds, celebrate the praises of thy Lord, and pray, for His forgiveness: For He is oft-returning (in Grace and Mercy).” (Qur’an: 110) “How often, by Allah’s Will, has a small force vanquished a large one.” (Qur’an: 2:249)
The Prophet (pbuh) said, “A good Muslim is like a good ride’n camel, you find one in every hundred.” Ya Imam, be not dismayed, for men won’t believe you…but it’s never the many, but often the few. Allah has structured His deen to develop believers with strong character; our concern is fisa-bilil-lah, not numbers, for He is Al-Jaami. Islam is consciousness of the Will and plan of Allah and joyful submission to that Will and plan—conscious struggle.
Umar bin Khattah (R.A.A.) reported: The Prophet (pbuh) said, “That intention (Niyaat) determines the worth of a person’s actions and he will attain what he intends. If by immigration his aim is to please Allah and His Messenger (SAW), then his migration is for this purpose; and if he migrates seeking the attainment of some worldly object, or for the sake of marrying a woman and as such his migration will be reckoned for that particular object.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
(1) Niyaat expresses consciousness; every thought and action by a Muslim should be framed by intention. In teaching the basic, as Imams, this is fundamental. This is the difference between struggle (kabad) and conscious struggle (jihad).
(2) Salah (prayer): Every instruction must proceed from and return to this pillar. It always should be emphasized and encouraged. Fard and sunnah are the Imam’s discipline, and his advice to those who would like to increase their remembrance of Allah. In every khutbah, and every dawah effort, this is the point of your remembrance, never relax this. It is based upon this that Allah allows us to give naseeha. Abu Ruqaiya Tamim bin Aus-ad-Dari reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “The basis of Iman (faith) is sincerity. We ask: “O Prophet of Allah! For whom? He said: To Allah, the Qur’an, His Prophet and the Muslims—both leaders and masses.” (Muslim)
(3) Fasting: In addition to the fast of Ramadan, the Prophet would do voluntary fasting. He fasted on Mondays and Thursdays; for the Imam, this should be a discipline, and a good advice to those who would like to increase their remembrance.
(4) Charity: “If you choose to spread love among the Brotherhood, train men to give little things, if no more than the greeting.” (Qur’an 3:92) Therefore, compete with each other in doing good. Anas (R.A.A.) said that the Prophet said, “A person cannot be a good Muslim unless he desires for his brother (in faith) that which he desired for himself.” (Bukhari and Muslim).
The Imam’s mandate for leadership is based upon his practice. The role of the leader is to lead, but you can’t lead something that will not move. To develop movement, the leader must be active, and he must teach by example. His strength is his kindness. He understands that Ibaadah (worship) is just for Allah alone, not himself. So, he is patient and understanding with his brothers as he teaches. His teaching never strays from the basics, no matter how much he knows or thinks he knows, i.e., shahadah, prayers, fasting, zakat, hajj. Everyone will not and cannot learn or practice it to the same degree. All worship is for Allah…Qur’an and Hadith are the source of ilm (knowledge) for the Ummah. Fard Allah bi-li ibaadah (worshipping Allah alone), ijmaa and ijtihaad (consensus and informed reasoning) must be rooted in Shariah (Islamic law).
Based upon our collective niyaat, we are the Ummah (community) of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). He never named the community, so we don’t name it. We are the Ummah, and this is sufficient. Imams and jamaats may name masajids and jamaats, but Allah and His Messenger has named the community, Ummah.
The Imam must be prepared to do most of the work without thanks from those who benefit, and without compensation. Your reward is with Allah. Stay away from making up and giving out offices of authority…amir of this and minister of that, etc. The Prophet only appointed authority, as he needed it. Men were tested in their practice before being given authority. Allah will raise from the ranks those who are fit to lead. If you doubt me, then name the positions of authority before the year of deputation.
Suggestions for the Imams
(1) Review with every Muslim in the Jamaat, prayer in English and Arabic. Take your time and be kind, and according to each Muslim’s ability go over this until they learn it. Do not set time limits because this is an ongoing program. Sabr. Teach and review the rules of purification (wuduu, ghusl, istinjaa). Stress the importance of praying in congregation.
(2) Hold yourself and your teachings to Qur’an and Hadith. Any other information must be verifiable and based on Qur’an and Hadith.
(3) Bayt al Maal: Encourage Muslims to give sadaqa for this purpose. Those who meet the criterion for zakat should be encouraged to pay it. This sadaqa should be given to those who ask and those who ask not. Make sure that those who have no means are provided for. Those on lockdown, hospital, and any who ask should not be turned away or forgotten. Encourage all who go to commissary to purchase an item for this purpose every week.
(4) Establish a Suk: (Islamic business, Qur’an 4:29). This should be a private enterprise; a business for the Imam or some Muslim who is able to purchase items (commissary items as well as Islamic arts and crafts, and anything lawful) to be resold at a profit. Arts and crafts items include Islamic cards, Eid cards, calligraphy, dhkir beads. Learn to make kufis and train Muslims and non-Muslims to make these items for you. We may be able to develop a market outside of prison or in other prisons.
(5) Islamic Theater: Train Muslims to write and act to make this effort a learning and dawah tool.
(6) Islamic Athletic Teams: Encourage Muslims to come together to compete in athletics as Muslim teams; a means to put your way of life on exhibit—win or lose, good behavior, teamwork, remembrance of Allah in action.
(7) Community Meals: Time set aside when the community comes together to eat and relax with each other. Guests can and should be invited.
(8) Sahaabah System: The Prophet paired the Ansaar and the Muhajaruun with each other. The Imam may want to establish brothers in pairs, based upon strong and weak, ilm, age, or by the Imam’s discretion.
And know O Muslims, anything that I have said that was wrong, this was from myself and the shaytan! And anything that I may have said that will be of benefit to you, it was from Allah (Ta’Ala). I ask Allah to give us the guidance to see that we must accept to work with all who say Kalima La ilaha illa-llah, Muhammadan Rasulullah (SAW). Ya Allah, give us the desire for community life; give us the wisdom to make Islam relevant to all that we come into contact with. O Allah, remove the poison of malice and hatred for other Muslims that consumes the good that we do. O Allah, give us the vision to see what we need for community life; put love and confidence, trust and faith into our hearts; Ya Allah, increase our love for what has come to us from our Prophet (SAW), the Qur’an and his Sunnah.
Ya Allah, grant victory to Islam and the Muslims. Wa salaam.Ibadillah! Yar-ha-ku-Mullah!
Allah’s Slave: In Peace Strong!In Battle Strongest!!!
http://www.mana-net.org/index.php
AA,
May Allah protect and bless Imam Jamil. He is without a doubt one of the most powerful and sincere persons i have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I still remember vividly, the first time i saw him was at ISNA convention in 1995. What got to me was how humble he was and at the end of his speech he said, “And know O Muslims, anything that I have said that was wrong, this was from myself and the shaytan! And anything that I may have said that will be of benefit to you, it was from Allah (Ta’Ala).”
This advice is so beautiful that its not only for Imams but all Islamic Workers and students of knowledge. I taste the hint of Imam Mawdudi in his style: simple, direct, and short.
May Allah always protect and preserve him. We should all make duaa for him and his release inshaAllah. salaam.
As-Salaamu ‘Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuhu!
Dear Readers,
Imam Jamil is a slave of Allah and a brother to mankind. His history is replete with examples of standing for the rights of the oppressed. He is a humble man, but his words resonate loudly and clearly. He has always enjoined righteousness and forbidden oppression. I concur with Brother Wasif, his style was and has always been “simple, direct, and short.” He would always say, “If you don’t fight, you can’t win.” It was related to me by Imam Nadim ‘Ali that following a ceremony in Whitehall, Alabama for which a street was re-named in his honor, the Imam thanked the people and gave due praise to Allah for their gesture. Then what he said next was so profound and very definitive as to the nature of his character. He calmly and with certainty exorted the mayor and the city council members, “Don’t pave it, keep it rough!”
Imam Jamil is a sincere follower of the sunnah and member of the human race. His deeds have always inspired and motivated. He risked his life for the multitudes of the oppressed during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. He established a community in Atlanta, Georgia and ultimately was able to rid that segment of the West End of open-air drug activity and prostitution. His efforts, along with the presence of the muslims in the West End, ultimately afforded safety for children, the elderly and families in the surrounding community. His work with negotiating and maintaining truces between rival gangs is well-known around the country, not so in the mainstream media. Verily, a man is known well by his deeds.
His reputation as an upright man and believer has always preceded him. I once took a non-muslim co-worker to jumu’ah. Unbeknownst to him the speaker was Imam Jamil (the former H. Rap Brown). My co-worker listened attentatively and was captivated by the message of the khutbah, as well as by his realization of who the speaker turned out to be. He astounded after the prayer and khutbah was over, “Brother Ja’far, that’s Rap Brown!” I responded, “Yes. Let’s go over and meet him.” As we approached, the Imam ended a conversation and extended his hand. I introduced him to my co-worker. The Imam shook his hand, extended an open visitation, and then in his usual fashion asked if there was anything my co-worker needed. Suffice it to say, my co-worker was blown away. He later expressed to me that the words the Imam spoke and his demeanor toward him was something that he would never forget.
Alhamdulillah for the Imam and for those like him. May Allah protect him and give him the physical freedom to match his spiritual freedom. Ameen. May Allah allow us to always be motivated by truth, righteousness, and the good examples He has placed in our midst, insha’allah.
Free Imam Jamil and all political prisoners!!!!!
“If you don’t fight, you can’t win!”
Hasbunallah!
Salam alaykum!
Please check out the Islamic Human Rights Commission’s (IHRC) Imam Jamil campaign page for updates, sample campaign letters and reports, at:
http://ihrc.org.uk/show.php?id=3063