1984-June-1

A.M. Journal

Muhammad Speaks

Imam W. Deen Muhammad

AMJ: In case of serious misconduct, can the members call for a vote of confidence at that point?

WDM: Yes. Any serious misconduct on the part of a Muslim leader cannot wait for any calendar date. It should be taken care of right away.

I'm talking Muslim community generally, now, not just the American Muslim Mission — that's in Saudi Arabia; that goes for wherever Muslims are. If Muslims find — like Omar the Calipha (may God be pleased with him) said --if you find me speaking to the Muslim gathering and you find me wrong, correct me. One Muslim man in the audience said, yes — if we find you wrong we will correct you with the sword. And Omar said, thank God that the community of Muhammad has produced somebody that can correct Omar with the sword.

So we have an example in the great men who supported Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), his companions, and we have an example in him. I think we should try to measure up to the high stature of those people.

If anyone would tell me — or say if I do you wrong -- well, I would speak to the people and say "Well Muslims, if I betray your trust, correct me." If some Muslim would say, "Yes, Brother Imam, we'll correct you with a sword" — I would tell them the same thing; well, I'll be deserving of it.

I think that was what Omar was saying with his reply. I would be deserving of it if I betray the trust of this Muslim community.
Now we're not under a Muslim government -- nobody is supposed to go get his sword now and come chop off heads. The way to use the sword is just deprive that person of their power or authority -- the power of the office.