Page 9 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 15 A: I approach it by keeping it within the realm of what they know. What they accept. One thing I mention is that Jesus prayed. It shows that Jesus could not be God, because God has no need to pray. If Jesus said “My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me?” it seems to me proof that he wasn’t God. In the Bible it says that Jesus asked, “Who do thou say I am?” And the response is “Good Master”. He said, “No, there is none that is a good master, but One, and it’s He that is in heaven.” So he denied being a “good master”. If he didn’t accept being called “good master” how would he have accepted being called God? ‘Good master’ is a whole lot less than being called God. There are people who master certain things. We call teachers “master”. They master subjects or they master a trade, or they master a craft. Additionally, in the Bible, David is also referred to as the only begotten son. How can there be two “only begotten sons”? Q: Is there a difference in Christian doctrine between the Creator and the son? Sometimes they say he is the same and sometimes they say it’s not him, there is three in one and one in three. A: In Christian doctrine it says there are three concepts that you can not question, you just have to accept on faith. These three things don’t make rational sense. One is the Trinitarian doctrine, the second is the idea of original sin, and the third is the divinity of Jesus. As far as the idea of original sin, one has to accept that Jesus was born of human parents, therefore, because of ancestry he would have to have been touched with original sin. It just doesn’t make sense. There are too many contradictions. Many Christians can’t have a rational discussion about these things. They get very emotional unless Allah has blessed their hearts. In most cases of Christians having converted to Islam, the individuals’ own questioning Christian doctrine has led them to the logic of the Qur’an and Islam. Q: How do address the question of the divinity of Jesus and how Christians say youwill not be saved unless you are a Christian?How do you respond to that within the context of your Islamic beliefs? A: I refer to what ImamMohammed from La Grange, Georgia said to a Christian woman who approached him and told him that he would not be saved unless he accepted Jesus as his lord and savior. He said, “Mam, I respect your desire to see me with salvation, but if we can talk for a minute I would like to get your opinion. What do you think about Abraham?” To which she responded, “He was the best man, etc.” He then asked her, “Do you believe he had salvation?” She answered, “Of course he had salvation.” “What about Noah?” She responded, “Of course he had salvation.” He then pointed out that they were living before Jesus. They didn’t know about Jesus. He could have gone on to mention Moses, etc., but he merely let his point be taken. I don’t argue with anyone. I merely point out the inconsistencies in their beliefs. Sometimes just our presence is a form of dawa (invitation to Islam). Make them think and consider their positions. Q:What impressed youmost when you first read the HolyQur’an? A: The Holy Qur’an impacted me on many levels. Primarily it satisfied a need in my soul and my intellect. Intellectually it provided essential guidance and logic. I find it gives the seeker information of the highest caliber. Allahwill grant us knowledge as we seek it. It is a great equalizer and allows a person to lift himself or herself to the highest degree. It offers the possibility for personal growth as long as we live. It is like a seed that once nourished can become the most beautiful of Allah’s gifts. It allows us as humans to realize our highest destiny. It offers dignity, self-respect, and self-realization. It is all there for the taking. As an African American man, I felt with other doctrines I was forced to compromise toomuch of my personal dignity. With theQur’an I found that I could learn things fromAllah’s word that gaveme an advantage to master myself, self-regulate myself. It gave me information and insights into life that enabledme tomake progress and become a better person. The relevance of the information to my own personal circumstances was invaluable. I didn’t feel obligated to anyone for this information. It was just all there in the Qur’an…free for the taking. All it required was the courage to turn the pages. That was really impressive to me. When I started using the teachings of the Qur’an in conducting my life I could see the respect from others. That was something that had been denied me. It restored something in me and no one could challenge that. They couldn’t find any fault in what I said to them from the Book. It couldn’t be disproved. That meant a great deal to me. Q: Do you think Islamcan influencemodern civilization in anyway? A: Certainly, I feel Muslims can influence this society on many levels. Currently there is much work going on to address issues in the academic community, business, trade, banking, political environments, and peace processes. We would like to bring about changes in the oppressed communities of the world and aid the needy among us on a global level. By following the commands of Allah in the Holy Qur’an there would be justice, charity and a sense of brotherhood among all the peoples of the world. We would like to provide more of an outreach program and offer help to those in need in our own community as we are commanded to do as Muslims. Q: What advice would you give to Muslim youth in this society that you see as most threatening to them and their Islamic beliefs? A: Not to diminish their Islamic life, but to continue to practice it and to be confident in what it can deliver to them. Do not be ashamed of it and do not follow, but take the lead. Muslims are not to follow non-Muslims. Take the lead in establishing and following examples of the successful behavior of some of the young Muslims in history. I’m referencing some of the great historical figures that made significant contributions to Islamic development. I encourage them to be more than Muslim in name, and not to assimilate into the popular culture. Q: What message would you like to relay to Muslims and non-Muslims? A: For Muslims and non-Muslims alike, I would like to say that in our book, the Holy Qur’an, are mentioned “the peoples of the book” with respect. We live in a country with people of the book, in that we share the same religious history, and we identify with the same prophets as the prophets of the Jews and Christians. We are taught to respect the people of the book and there is enough room for them to respect us. We would like to see them respect and accept the prophet that was sent as a universal prophet for all mankind. This was the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). We are not at variance with anyone; we are just trying to be obedient to Allah. Q: Do you ever feel that the path you have taken to finally reach Islam was all part of a plan? A: Certainly. A couple of Hadith come to mind on that subject. The hadith that talks about people that behave a certain way until that which is written overcomes them. Then they enter paradise or hell depending upon which they choose. Some people will behave as though they are righteous until that which is written for themovercomes them. Then they behave as people of hell and thus they enter it. Some people behave as though they are destined for hell until that which is written for them overcomes them and then they behave as the people of paradise and thus they enter it. That is one Hadith that helps me understand my circumstances. I believe in Allah’s plan for my life. I believe that Allah’s justice will prevail. I believe that the large number of African Americans entering Islam today is a part of Allah’s mercy and justice. The injustice of our ancestors having their Islamic way of life forcibly taken away from them and forced to become Christians. The great majority of our ancestors who were enslaved came fromMuslim lands. So perhaps it is Allah’s mercy to the descendents of thoseMuslim slaves that is returning them to their rightful heritage. Editor’s Note: It was a pleasure interviewing Imam Abu Kadr Al-Amin. Iman AbuKadr has a beautiful way of giving the Friday talk. When I attend Jumma prayers, I, like hundreds of others, are touched by his powerful message. One can tell it comes from the heart and that Allah has given him Hikma (wisdom). May Allah continue to shower His blessings on Imam Abu and his family. “He granteth wisdom to whom He pleaseth; And he to whom wisdom is granted receiveth indeed a benefit overflowing.” (Quran 2:269)
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