February 21, 1992

Muslim Journal

"Steps to Success": Part 2

Imam W. Deen Mohammed

(Imam W. Deen Mohammed made Ms public address in Poughkeepsie, New York oo December 29,1991. From it he has now prepared this article for Muslim Journal's readers.)

The Example Image of Prophet Muhammed

In concluding this brief look at Muhammed, himself, I want to say to you something in my own personal nature. Whatever we do in following Prophet Muhammed, it must be acceptable in light of Qur'an and the tradition of our Prophet, or his life example. What I am pointing to is this. Prophet Muhammed was not always seen as the Imam of Islam, and he is the number one Imam. He is the first Imam. Every Imam in this religion is Imam after Muhammed and in the office of Imam as established by Muhammed. Your Imam is Muhammed the Prophet, and you Imams are supposed to be following Muhammed the Prophet as your Imam.

Prophet Muhammed was also seen as a man building friendships with non-Muslims. The Crusades and the centuries of fighting between the symbols of the cross and crescent put Muslims of the [example] image of Prophet Muhammed out of sight. And it takes this good time that we are having now in America — this is the beginning of a good time in America — with an atmosphere of mutual respect for Christians and Muslims and a desire to work for the common good. To relax us, it takes an atmosphere like this, where the religion now is receiving a better press with more recognition on television and in the newspapers and all of the media. So we will put down the swords and the weapons of the Crusades and look at Muhammed [through the eyes of] just decent people.

Prophet Muhammed, The Builder of Alliances

When we see Muhammed then, we see a man working on building alliances, an alliance of people committed to human decency, justice and peace. They are working all together for that common good. Even the idolaters who were his enemies, the Prophet made treaties with them. They broke them, but still he made treaties with them. He was a rational man. Many of us would call our Imam an infidel or "kafir" if he would go to a known enemy of Islam to try and negotiate some better behavior. But the Prophet did that.

I am speaking of Muslims generally, of Muslims in the international world, of the Muslim ummah and not just to you here. Many of us would call one of our leaders a kafir or unbeliever if that leader would say, "Let us forgive these enemies of Islam who have worked against our religion to discredit our Prophet and our Holy Book and our religion. Let us take steps to bring them over as friends. Let us forgive them their past of mistreatment and lies against us."

Right away one will say, "That brother is a hypocrite. He has joined the conspirators. " But the Prophet did that. When he gained victory, he forgave people. He said, "What has occurred in the past is forgiven. Let there be no more bloodshed." That was the Prophet. This is a quick look at the Prophet.

The Most Successful Muslim Is Prophet Muhammed

Now what does this have to do with "Steps to Success"? We are Muslims. The most successful Muslim is Muhammed the Prophet. If we want to be successful, we should always question what we are doing in light of what he did. And we should try to develop the strength to do the great things that he did to bring people all together for the common cause of human life on this earth. That is we cannot always be seen in the position as someone just preaching our religion or inviting others to our religion.

I hope the day will come when people of America and of the world will not expect that every time a Muslim has something to say he is going to be asking for converts to Islam. I hope the day will come when they [non-Muslims] will just think of us as people in the general public. That when we come before them we will address the concern at hand and contribute the best that we have from our resources without trying to stamp our label on anything. We will just let our good speak for itself and then help the common good in solving the common problems.

I stand on solid ground and believe that is what the Qur'an invites us to, and that is what Muhammed's life invites us to.

(To be continued)