What I Wrote From My Heart – Malcolm X
Posted: January 29, 2012 Filed under: Islam 33 Comments »
- Malcolm X
Never have I witnessed such sincere hospitality and overwhelming spirit of true brotherhood as is practiced by people of all colors and races here in this ancient Holy Land, the home of Abraham, Muhammad and all the other Prophets of the Holy Scriptures. For the past week, I have been utterly speechless and spellbound by the graciousness I see displayed all around me by people of all colors.
I have been blessed to visit the Holy City of Makkah, I have made my seven circuits around the ka’bah, led by a young religious guide (mutawaf) named Muhammad, I drank water from the well of the Zam-Zam. I ran seven times back and forth between the hills of Mt. as-Safa and al-Marwah. I have prayed in the ancient city of Mina, and I have prayed on Mt. Arafat.
There were tens of thousands of pilgrims, from all over the world. They were of all colors, from blue-eyed blondes to black-skinned Africans. But we were all participating in the same ritual, displaying a spirit of unity and brotherhood that my experiences in America had led me to believe never could exist between the white and non-white.
America needs to understand Islam, because this is the one religion that erases from its society the race problem. Throughout my travels in the Muslim world, I have met, talked to, and even eaten with people who in America would have been considered white – but the white attitude was removed from their minds by the religion of Islam. I have never before seen sincere and true brotherhood practiced by all colors together, irrespective of their color.
You may be shocked by these words coming from me. But on this pilgrimage, what I have seen, and experienced, has forced me to rearrange much of my thought-patterns previously held, and to toss aside some of my previous conclusions. This was not too difficult for me. Despite my firm convictions, I have always been a man who tries to face facts, and to accept the reality of life as new experience and new knowledge unfolds it. I have always kept an open mind, which is necessary to the flexibility that must go hand in hand with every form of intelligent search for truth.
During the past eleven days here in the Muslim world, I have eaten from the same plate, drunk from the same glass, and slept on the same rug – while praying to the same God – with fellow Muslims, whose eyes were the bluest of blue, whose hair was the blondest of blond, and whose skin was the whitest of white. And in the words and in the deeds of the white Muslims, I felt the same sincerity that I felt among the black African Muslims of Nigeria, Sudan and Ghana.
We were truly all the same (brothers) – because their belief in one God had removed the white from their minds, the white from their behaviour, and the white from their attitude.
I could see from this, that perhaps if white Americans could accept the Oneness of God, then perhaps, too, they could accept in reality the Oneness of Man – and cease to measure, and hinder, and harm others in terms of their ‘differences’ in color.
With racism plaguing America like an incurable cancer, the so-called ‘Christian’ white American heart should be more receptive to a proven solution to such a destructive problem. Perhaps it could be in time to save America from imminent disaster – the same destruction brought upon Germany by racism that eventually destroyed the Germans themselves.
Each hour here in the Holy Land enables me to have greater spiritual insights into what is happening in America between black and white. The American Negro never can be blamed for his racial animosities – he is only reacting to four hundred years of the conscious racism of the American whites. But as racism leads America up the suicide path, I do believe, from the experiences that I have had with them, that the whites of the younger generation, in the colleges and universities, will see the handwriting on the walls and many of them will turn to the spiritual path of truth – the only way left to America to ward off the disaster that racism inevitably must lead to.
Never have I been so highly honored. Never have I been made to feel more humble and unworthy. Who would believe the blessings that have been heaped upon an American Negro? A few nights ago, a man who would be called in America a white man, a United Nations diplomat, an ambassador, a companion of kings, gave me his hotel suite, his bed. Never would I have even thought of dreaming that I would ever be a recipient of such honors – honors that in America would be bestowed upon a King – not a Negro.
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all the Worlds.
Sincerely,
Al-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X)
*
A Letter by Malcolm X, (may Allah have mercy upon him). Quoted from The Autobiography of Malcolm X printed by Penguin Classics
‘the one religion that eradicates from its society the race problem’. This is demonstrably untrue, and has always been. I hope it is superfluous to give examples.
“I hope it is superfluous to give examples.” mere assertions do not an argument make…
You’re quite right Paul- try these for starters:
1. The Ottoman Empire actively engaged in slavery throughout its existence and the race of the captured determined the type of slave they would become. Women sold into sexual slavery were priced according to their race (with black africans being the cheapest and slavics being the most expensive). The same was true of eunuchs: there were designated roles for black eunuchs and white eunuchs, (the approach to castration was carried out in the same way regardless of race- no charge of discrimination there!).
2. Saudi Arabian treatment of Desi and Black (‘abeed’) guest workers, attitudes towards Bedouin and mixed-race
3. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/17/us-libya-displaced-idUSTRE79G2CY20111017
4. Sudan!!!
5. Treatment of Mesapotamian Yazidi and Kurds
6. See Ibn Qutayba, Ibn Sina, Ibn al Fariq, Ibn Battutah, Ibn Khaldun etc etc
Responding in advance to your forthcoming ‘references please!’ rejoinder, I point you towards the search engine Google
Any examples of racism being ‘eradicated’ by Islam?
Racism is everywhere unfortunately.
Tom I think you missed the point in Malcolm X letter: in Mecca he experienced something unparalleled back home the the Christian USA: the brotherhood of man based on their common devotion to one God.
“Never have I witnessed such sincere hospitality and overwhelming spirit of true brotherhood as is practiced by people of all colors and races here in this ancient Holy Land.”
Why not rejoice that Malcolm X found this non-racial brotherhood rather than giving examples of unIslamic racism?
Hi Paul
I get the point of the letter, don’t worry. It is certainly a moving personal testimony, but I won’t rejoice in Malcolm X’s or anyone else’s misguided assertions that Islam and only Islam eradicates racism. It is simply not true- there are many who find themselves struggling at the margins of your ‘non-racial brotherhood’.
As for the Christian USA of the 50s and 60s, you won’t find a defender here. I hope I’ve demonstrated across my posts on this site that I am not of the ‘Christian/Western Good, Muslim BAD!!’ school. Somewhat unavoidably I am of the ‘Christianity followed properly is best for humanity!’ school, but I wouldn’t be so unwise as to suggest that Christianity has ever eradicated racism from societies where it predominates.
The problem is I don’t think Malcolm X had ever seen a religion practice a truly non-racial fellowship till he became a Muslim. So his statement about Islam should be seen in that light.
To be controversial for a second (what – moi?) many have argued and I think with considerable justification, that the New Testament is anti-Semitic in parts and has fueled anti-jewish hatred over the millennia…
Many have argued that the Quran is anti-semitic also. I think the millennia of persecution stems from other factors rather than an inherently racist holy book. The blood libel didn’t originate from the NT for example, and nor did Nazism- I hope you wouldn’t make such a claim.
‘millennia of persecution *stem* fro other factors’
Many do make such a claim: Antisemitism and the New Testament
(Can’t seem to reply to your reply)
I don’t doubt that many make such claims- what do you think?
Greetings In Jesus Name
I think there should be open & honest comparison between Quran (plus Hadiths) vs Bible, and so everyone can determine which one is really the antisemitic book!
(Surah 5:82)Strongest among men in enmity to the Believers wilt thou find the Jews and Pagans;
(Surah 98:6) Lo! those who disbelieve, among the People of the Scripture and the idolaters, will abide in fire of hell. They are the worst of created beings
==========
Btw does the saying “Freedom for Everybody or Freedom for Nobody” can be applied to:
- Coptics people in Egypt?
- Sudanese Christians in Sudan?
- Christians in Pakistan, Iran and UEA?
or EVEN Sudanese non-arab descendant Muslims ?or MUSLIM KURDS in their own homeland? Yemenite Shia’s in their homeland? Sunni’s in Iran ? Ahmadiyyah in Indonesia ? or Musimahs in Afghanistan and Pakistan concerning value of women’s testimony in court ?
Peace ..
there is nothing antisemitic about the 2 quotes you cite. Islam guarantees the rights of Christians and Jews in an Islamic state.
Peace
It guarantees some rights, bound to certain humiliating conditions and hardships. It doesn’t guarantee equal rights, which is what I’m interested in.
“It guarantees some rights, bound to certain humiliating conditions and hardships.”
Such as?
Well- not being granted equal rights is humiliating and difficult enough; it is sad that in the early years of the 21st Century British citizens are calling for a system of government that considers discrimination on the basis of religious belief to be an immutable imperative. And in a discussion issuing from a Malcolm X letter! Like I said, the notion of equal rights is not even entertained, let alone guaranteed in an islamic state- however much you couch dhimmitude in terms of affectionate protection, accusations of inequality simply cannot be surmounted.
Statements such as ‘Islam guarantees *the* rights of Christians and Jews in an Islamic state’ are Glib with a font-size 88 Capital G Paul- it speaks volumes that you refrain from unpicking that three letter word. It is a common Islamist propagandist device to present the status of minorities in positive terms, ie the rights that are granted, and skirt over the rights that are denied.
If you want specifics, let’s start with the Jizya (I await headpatting assurances that the Jizya is just a small tax in lieu of other taxes from which non-muslims are exempt, and nothing to worry about etc).
I must stress that I absolutely don’t think that all muslims are antisemitic or racist, or that the Quran demands that they are so. Rather I think that the literalist Islamist paradigm demands that non-muslims are discriminated against- it actively invigorates the race question that Malcolm X claims it eradicates. All of the muslims I know believe in equality and fairness, and don’t want to live under an Islamic state of the kind proposed by certain MDI members.
Another rambling from RJhon
The copts Christianity was the majority religion of Egypt remains so for hundreds of year after muslims liberates them from Byzantines opression. They becomes muslims gradually over long period of time.
The fact that they are still a significant minority population (10%) is a proof that there is no opression like the muslims suffered in Iberia where the muslims and jews were wiped out of the area compeletely after the brutal conquest by christain kings and queens.
Sudan conflict and secession was fueled by foreign elements mostly missionaries Christian evangelists of the bible belt in the US deep south churches in the pretext of opression. The rebel troops were once kitted out and trained by Israel, harboured by Uganda and aided by the United States.
Even now until the south gain independence the conflicts continue among the christians and animists tribes.
what about Christians in Pakistan, Iran and UEA?
Those government guarantees the recognised Christian minorities rights .
In Iran for example they even enjoy guaranteed representation in parliament.
“I don’t doubt that many make such claims- what do you think?”
I think many verses in John’s gospel are borderline anti-Semitic, and have certainly been interpreted by Christians as justifying hatred of Jews, just read the many prominent early Christian theologians who uttered unspeakable filth against the Jews.
Mr Williams said :” Islam guarantees the rights of Christians and Jews in an Islamic state.”
RJ: Naively spoken from a westerner who lives in liberal society , on contrary the fact of discrimination in Shariah state is too obvious (speaking from my own personal experience).
My country applies Shariah only in one province, in that province it’s forbidden to proselytize other than islam , until now permission to build a place of worship for non-muslim in that province is still impossible , however even for the non-shariah provinces it’s also hard to build place of worship for non-muslim . Recently an atheist was arrested by local authorities only because his statement in facebook that he didn’t believe in God, but now after being threatened 5 years imprisonment he’s now willing to recite Shahada http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/alexander-aan-to-renounce-atheism-embrace-islam-indonesia-police/494637
There are many other atrocities like that in my country, such as slaughtering of ahmadiyah minority, closing of couple of churches and also recently the burning of Shia’s mosque and their houses by Sunnis majority.
About those verse that I gave you, I often hear it LITERALLY pronounce when muslim condemning the west & Israel along with their non-sense talk about Jewish conspiracy.
A “Jew” is a stereotype of bad person and it’s often used to mock if someone considers you bad eg. If some indonesian muslim behave badly they will be mocked by their friend by saying: “you certainly a Jew if you behaving this bad!” or “Such a jew you are by being bad like this!”
In my country The Jews also has been branded as Dajjal (AntiChrist)folllowers, it’s a common everyday language actually , so please don’t tell me those lies of yours by denying it in very pathetic way.
Sorry for any inconvenient
Regards
“Sorry for any inconvenient” – apology accepted.
You are confusing the correct application of shari’ah law with the crimes perpetuated in your own particular country. I am surprised you make such an elementary mistake. Could it be that you are motivated by anti-Muslim sentiment?
What this superb lecture entitled Shariah Solution for Mankind by MDI’s Abdullah al Andalusi
watch and learn!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31YsgcjKjyM
In The Name of God the creator of Muhammad rasulullah and Isa Al-Masih nabiullah ,The One and only All-Merciful, The All-Gracious
Regular Jhon is lying and exaggerating the case for religious minority in “his” country.
You cited selective cases for making Islam a bad name. Shame on you.
Indonesia is remarlable in religious freedom. The state and its Muslims population respects religious freedom.
Indonesian society is tolerant of religious pluralism even if 90 percent of its population is Muslim
Proselytization by evangelical church in Indonesia is big business here in Indonesia. People like you can employ money and bribery tactics for proselytization with ease in Indonesia.
How is that possible if the Muslims are not following the example given by our prophet?
Otherwise you can not live and thrive until now can you “Rjhon”??. Think before you write pal.
Also
Christian can occupy important positions in both the public and private sectors. There arre many catholics and protestant become ministers in the cabinets since the independence.
The christians representation in the goverment posistions exceed beyond propportionality.
Can you imagine this can happen in a christian country such as Italy, the UK or the USA??
I wonder where he lives but the case for religious back lash for ahmadiyya member is rare. I live near to an Ahmadiyya mosque for decades and the worshipper can live in peace.
Muslims here voice their disagreement through dialogue mostly not violence. If there were conflicts its nuance more to a territorial and aggresive church planting tactics but only small element of the muslims orgaanization take a radical stance, the majority, the NU dan Muhammaddiyah and the majority others never condone such methods.
The biggest mosque in Jakarta was desgned by a protestant architect. How wonderful case of coexistence.
People leave christianity for Islam is common here also, like many of my family and my forefathers (We are of Chinese descent). It was due to anything but forced conversions
So you are spreading lies.
So much for like your bible which were writen by no-one-knows or anyone who are not they are …so your book is based on LIES isn’t it.
Peace be unto those who follow the truth
Hi Paul,
I’m Indonesian and live in Jakarta, Believe me those “shariah crimes perpetuated in his country” is myth. He is without shame giving selective cases and then exaggerating the case.
Even Christians fight among themselves but does this make a claim that Christians oppressed other christian groups?
http://bit.ly/w01wFc
http://bit.ly/yrpmUI
There is no oppression here, yes there were instance of *conflicts* but Christian is the aggressive side in most of the conflicts involving church plantings. The missionary seems insensitive to local Muslims population when building a church and mostly resorting in money and humanitarian aid tactics preying to unsuspecting poor uneducated Muslims.
But most of the matters were settled through legal means not as RJ dishonestly want to portray it as “butchering”
In general Christianity enjoy freedom even far beyond their number. RJhon is a fine example of how a christian can live and thrive well.
Salam
‘You are confusing the correct application of shari’ah law with the crimes perpetuated in your own particular country.’
Therein lies the problem Paul. Even if the Shari’ah was divine law, interpretation and implementation of that law could only occur via a matrix of human factors. Thus there are inevitably many different Shari’ahs-in-use, all held to be correct by the ulemas responsible for formulating them. It is of little comfort that you are quick to identify behaviours as ‘crimes’ or as ‘unislamic’, because elsewhere they are considered to be quite the opposite. Moreover, from a credentialist perspective, the people responsible for these shari’ahs-in-use are far more qualified than you to make claims to a correct interpretation of Shari’ah.
In summary, you make the mistake of assuming that an unambiguously correct interpretation of Shari’ah is achievable. I wish I was surprised by this elementary mistake Paul, but it’s entirely consistent with the MDI house brand of islamist utopianism. Still less surprising is the link you post- Abdullah al Andalusi, ‘Thinker’ (excuse me a moment while I chew my knuckles) being the chief proponent of the latter.
‘Could it be that you are motivated by anti-Muslim sentiment?’
What does this even mean?
You haven’t addressed the points I made above Paul, or indeed explained why RJ’s examples do not reflect a ‘correct application of the Shari’ah.’ It would be great if you could do so. (Incidentally Abdullah hasn’t addressed my points in an earlier thread concerning freedom of speech in Muslim countries with legal systems based (at least in part) on Shari’ah. He seems to think that the situation in Pakistan, Bahrain and elsewhere is hunky dory).
In the UK, four babies born to Muslim, Christian, Hindu and Jewish parents have EXACTLY the same rights and protection. Their parents are subject to the same taxations, and, should they wish, can refrain from declaring their faith. They can actively invite others to join their faith, and if they wish can change to another faith. Notwithstanding the doctrines of their respective faiths and the punishments they believe may be brought upon them by God, they are free to marry, cohabit outside of marriage, cohabit with members of other faiths and genders, dress how they wish and enter the same professions without fear of punishment by the ruling government. Regardless of their behaviour in respect to the law, they will never be whipped, stoned, beheaded, or subjected to any other fetishised 7th century violences. They can actively take part in selecting their government, and can express their disatisfactions freely. All in all, they need not bear the humiliation of knowing they are discriminated against on the basis of their faith.
What would their corresponding rights be under an Islamic state Paul? Or am I peddling the kind of ‘misconceptions’ that Abdullah identifies?
Tom
some of what you say is just silly (“the MDI house brand of islamist utopianism” lol), and some is based on classic Western ignorance of the basics of Islamic law.
Perhaps this may come as a surprise to you Tom, but I’m not here to reply to every issue you raise. So in the interests of saving time I refer you to the link below to the Islamic political party Hizb Ut-Tahrir. Though I support this party in its legitimate campaign to reestablish the Caliphate, my recommendation of HT is mine and does not necessarily reflect the official policy of the Muslim Debate Initiative. So, Tom, read, learn about real Islam (not what passes for news on Fox)
An in-depth Q&A on the Khiafah and it’s plan for the Muslim World
What is happening in Muslim countries which is not according to Islam cannot be used to defame Islam.
And talking about the ‘Jizya’ collected from non Muslim citizens of Islamic state.
Let us analyze a few things objectively
1.”Jizya” is derived from the root “Jaza” or “compensate”. Arabs usually say the phrase “Jaza, yajzi” which means “compensate” or ‘reward” if a person rewards another for the service rendered by the latter. “Jizya” is a derived term in the form of “ficla” from “Mujazã” which is the noun “compensation”, meaning “a sum of money given in return for protection”.
2.Islam lends its own civilized features to the nations that come under its rule.by elevating the Jizya to become not merely a poll-tax paid by the conquered to the victorious but as a binding covenant made between the Muslim nation and the peoples who eventually came under Islamic rule.
3.
The Prophet(P) says warning against being unjust to the People of Dhimma(one who pays Jiziya) or impairing their rights:
“The one who wrongs a covenanter(one who pays jizya) or impairs his right or overworks him or forcibly takes Something from him, I will be his prosecutor on the Day of Judgment”[ Narrated by Abu Dawood in his Sunan (3052) in (170/3), verified by Al-Albani (2626). The same is mentioned in Sunan an-Nasa'i (2749) in (25/8)]
He also says: “The one who kills a covenanter((one who pays jizya)) will never smell the scent of heaven and its scent is found at the distance of forty years.”[ Narrated by Bukhari (2295)]
As predicted.
Etymological arguments of this kind are of limited value. Take one in ten English words and unpick them and you’ll find some surprising and interesting routes through linguistic history, but it will rarely undermine the normative meaning the term has accrued.
To reiterate, however much you dress up the status of Dhimmis as one of protection, the fact remains that the arrangement is STILL DISCRIMINATORY. Paternalism of this kind is inescapably humiliating. The colonies of European empires were rationalised in the same way remember.
‘Islam lends its own civilized features to the nations that come under its rule’
See previous.
“The one who wrongs a covenanter(one who pays jizya) or impairs his right or overworks him or forcibly takes Something from him, I will be his prosecutor on the Day of Judgment”
This is all very nice and cuddly, but notice how the servitude of the non-Muslim is implicit in the very arrangement described; the non-muslim is the worker and the Muslim the authority.
Look, no one has doubted or denied that non Muslims have some rights under an islamic state. But as I said to Paul, to speak of their rights without stopping to consider what those rights are is glib in the extreme. We need to look at it comparatively- how do rights of non-muslims correspond to those of muslims? Will the disparity induce feelings of resentment and humiliation in the non-muslim population, or precipitate unwelcome behaviors in one or other of the parties? Who is charged with identifying the rights of non-muslims? Do the non-muslims have any role in electing those under whom they are to be governed? ARE THE RIGHTS OF NON MUSLIMS EQUAL TO THOSE OF MUSLIMS? ARE THE RIGHTS OF NON MUSLIMS EQUAL TO THOSE THEY ARE GRANTED UNDER A SECULAR DEMOCRACY LIKE WE HAVE IN THE UK?
Unless the answer is to these last two is YES, then I’m simply not interested, and nor should Paul be.
Tom – read the Q&A to HT above then comment…
Tom
Equal rights doesn’t mean same rights.
Rights are given to both Muslim and non Muslim so as to assist them in their development.
A Muslim and a non Muslim is different due to their beliefs, their life style etc.
If given more rights mean more responsibilities, they are more answerable.
For eg., According to Islamic Shariah, a man and woman doesn’t get equal share in inheritance. why?
A man has the responsibility to bear his and his family’s financial burden.
A woman has no responsibility to bear either her’s or her family’s financial burden.
The money inherited by a man should be spent on him, his family i.e., wife, children and parents also.
Whereas a woman has the inherited money all to herself, she doesn’t even have to spend on her day to day expenses but as per her liking.
So if you see, the money distributed is as per their responsibilities. It is justified.
Firstly, Jizya is taken from non Muslims, because they don’t have to pay Zakat nor do they have to give military service for an Islamic state.
Secondly, A Muslim has to pay Zakat and give military service as and when required.
Poor, weak, old, etc are exempted from paying Jizya.
Omar (r.a) gave pensions to Non Muslim who were old and had no source of Income.
Read the Biographies of our First four Caliphs who were real Islamic Caliphs, who ruled according to shariah.
Non Muslim were never forced to live in Ghettos or they were executed or exiled (under a truly Islamic state, not talking about any ‘Muslim state’ here ) as has happened with many Muslims living in a Christian countries. Nor do non Muslims faced any type of racist attacks.
If a Muslim Ruler wronged a non Muslim subject, he would have to face the court and was punished if found guilty.
Perhaps this may come as a surprise to you Tom, but I’m not here to reply to every issue you raise.
No surprise Paul, I wasn’t suggesting that you were obliged to comment- it is of course your choice. I simply thought you might like to respond to my points.
I’ll read the HT faq now, though I know plenty about them already. I wasn’t aware until now that they are afflicted by the same chronic apostrophe-itis as the MDI. I have the cure- just ask
I’ve also never even seen Fox news, though i am aware of their conception of Islam; my views on the matter are clearly a million miles from that, as well you know. It is idiotic and unfounded to suggest I hold that kind of position.
I’m glad you have read the Q&A. So you are clearer now about the Islamic position?
You boasted that you know plenty about HT already. That is interesting. How come you do? Its not the sort of thing the average Christian apologist is going to know anything about.
btw my comment about you and Fox News was tongue in cheek
also what is your cure for chronic apostrophe-itis? “I have the cure- just ask” I’m asking!
I know HT because I’m a fan of Tariq Ramadan (I heard that gasp!) and saw Taji Mustapha on his show once. I also admire Maajid Nawaaz, a former HT member.
I must say the FAQs are vague and obscurantist. A would-be reader would be no clearer on most of the issues I have raised, for example. And as for equality, they give very little in the way of specifics. Electing the authority- can non-muslims take part in these elections? Jizya? Building new churches? Prosletysing? Interfaith marriage? It also differs from others’ ideas of Shari’ah, proving my earlier point. Their analysis of secular democracies is somewhat sixth form.
I too once suffered under that infuriating affliction! Here’s the cure:
http://www.cgl.uwaterloo.ca/~csk/its.html
Take once, then as needed
So Tom you are a Muslim?
Also, thanks for the cure
Agree with bro Paul
Haha of course I’m not! Is there a contradiction in being a non-Muslim and admiring certain Muslims?