Activism Should Mirror Prophetic Etiquettes: Part 2

http://almadinainstitute.org/blog/activism-should-mirror-prophetic-etiquettes-part-2/

By Dawud Walid on 25 July 2016

Let there be among you a group that calls towards excellence, enjoins right, and forbids wrong; those who do this are the successful. (Surah Aali ‘Imran 3:104)

Numerous Islamic scholars have stated that spreading goodness and preventing evil in whatever societies Muslims reside are both an individual obligation (fard al-‘ayn) as well as community obligation (fard al-kifyah). Planning and working to add to existing goodness and transforming our societies away from vileness are activities that draw us nearer to Divine love, for the Prophet (prayers & peace be upon him and his family) stated, “The most beloved of people to Allah benefits them” (at-Tabarani). Within this framework of seeking to bring benefit to people, all of the prophets were activists in the sense of striving towards social justice.

As seeking to change societies for the better is a noble endeavor especially when done with the intention of pleasing Allah (Mighty & Sublime), the form in which activism is undertaken is also extremely important, not just the substance of issues being worked on. This holds true not only for the demeanor which Muslim activists should hold with other community members and allies who are not Muslims but also with those who are adversarial.

Populism is the current socio-political wave in America. Many people are scared that the America which they imagined is disappearing while others are tired of the entrenched status quo. The surge in populism which has been fueled in part by emotional appeals has led to shut downs of oppositions’ political events, shouting matches, name calling and personal attacks to even physical violence. Progressive and conservative activists and acolytes of political candidates continue to exhibit such tactics in the name of how each defines the greater good.

American Muslim activists must be extremely careful not to get swept away in the current sea of populism which has produced unsavory actions. Constant re-anchoring in what is and what is not Prophetic character is a means of safety from being washed away.

Most certainly you have in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful example for whoever believes in Allah, the Last Day and remembers Allah often. (Surah al-Ahzab 33:21)

When the Prophet’s (prayers & peace be upon him & his family) views were in opposition to others’ on a number of fronts, he never shouted at people, slurred opponents, attempted to shut down gatherings whether in a position of political weakness in Makkah or in al-Madinah while having political strength, nor assaulted people for mere political disputes. To the contrary, he taught his family, wives and companions not to do so. In a widely narrated tradition for instance, he openly corrected the Mother of the Believers A’ishah for replying back harshly to some of his political opponents in al-Madinah who told him “Death be upon you, Oh Father of al-Qasim.”

Do not be people without minds saying if people do good, we will do good, and if people do wrong, we will wrong. But accustom yourselves that if people do good to you, you do good to them, but if people do evil to you, you do not return with wrong. (at-Tirmidhi)

The Prophetic model of activism is to address issues that bring positive change and to avoid uncivil behavior when doing so. Cultivating sustainable goodness cannot be achieved through improper means. As organizing and joining others around issues such as greater police accountability, immigration reform, environmental justice, Palestinian rights to the upcoming elections are highly important, the form and etiquettes which are used in these endeavors are also important as these are matters that have the potential to change hearts, bring sustainable change in societies and bring us honor in front of our Prophet (prayers & peace be upon him and his family).

DawudWalid

Dawud Walid is currently the Executive Director of the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), which is a chapter of America's largest advocacy and civil liberties organization for American Muslims and is a member of the Michigan Muslim Community Council (MMCC) Imams Committee. Walid has been interviewed and quoted in approximately 150 media outlets ranging from the New York Times, Wall St Journal, National Public Radio, CNN, BBC, FOX News and Al-Jazeera. Furthermore, Walid was a political blogger for the Detroit News from January 2014 to January 2016, has had essays published in the 2012 book All-American: 45 American Men on Being Muslim, the 2014 book Qur'an in Conversation and was quoted as an expert in 13 additional books and academic dissertations. He was also a featured character in the 2013 HBO documentary "The Education of Mohammad Hussein." Walid has lectured at over 50 institutions of higher learning about Islam, interfaith dialogue and social justice including at Harvard University, DePaul University and the University of the Virgin Islands - St. Thomas and St. Croix campuses as well as spoken at the 2008 and 2011 Congressional Black Caucus Conventions alongside prominent speakers such as the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Congressman Keith Ellison. In 2008, Walid delivered the closing benediction at the historic 52nd Michigan Electoral College in the Michigan State Senate chambers and gave the Baccalaureate speech for graduates of the prestigious Cranbrook-Kingswood Academy located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Walid was also a featured speaker at the 2009 and 2010 Malian Peace and Tolerance Conferences at the University of Bamako in Mali, West Africa. He has also given testimony at hearings and briefings in front of Michigan state legislators and U.S. congressional representatives, including speaking before members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in Washington, D.C. Walid has studied under qualified scholars the disciplines of Arabic grammar and morphology, foundations of Islamic jurisprudence, sciences of the exegesis of the Qur’an, and Islamic history during the era of Prophet Muhammad through the governments of the first 5 caliphs. He previously served as an imam at Masjid Wali Muhammad in Detroit and the Bosnian American Islamic Center in Hamtramck, Michigan, and continues to deliver sermons and lectures at Islamic centers across the United States and Canada. Walid was a 2011 - 2012 fellow of the University of Southern California (USC) American Muslim Civil Leadership Institute (AMCLI) and a 2014 - 2015 fellow of the Wayne State Law School Detroit Action Equity Lab (DEAL). Walid served in the United States Navy under honorable conditions earning two United States Navy & Marine Corp Achievement medals while deployed abroad. He has also received awards of recognition from the city councils of Detroit and Hamtramck and from the Mayor of Lansing as well as a number of other religious and community organizations.

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