—FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—
JAMAICA, New York (September 8, 2011) – The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) today issued a statement on the 10th anniversary of 9/11.
“As the 10th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, we stand with our fellow Americans in remembering the innocent lives lost on that fateful day and condemn such acts. These attacks were a heinous crime—an assault on our nation and the values of the American people.
ICNA Declares Friday, September 14, 2001, a Day of Mourning and Prayer
JAMAICA, New York – The Islamic Circle of North America is extremely horrified and saddened by the tragedy in New York and Washington D.C. Our hearts and prayers are with the families of the victims of this horrible and despicable crime. We condemn these heinous acts and call upon our political leaders and the media to act responsibly when speculating about the perpetrators. Islam does not permit such unjust actions.
Muslims are not terrorists and we condemn any terrorist attack against any people. Read more…
American Muslims are twice the victims of 9/11. We lost our friends and colleagues on the morning our nation was attacked, including ICNA New Jersey’s active member Tariq Amanullah in Tower 2 of the World Trade Center, and lost our liberties in the months and years following that day. The rise of Islamophobia in the United States drastically changed public perception of Muslims, and favorable opinion of Muslims dropped to an all time low of 38%* in the past decade. Yet our community has shown resilience in the face of fear mongering, and worked tirelessly to build bridges and promote tolerance in the United States.
ICNA was the first organization to establish a fund for the victims of 9/11, and provided services in identifying these victims and helping their families cope with their loss. ICNA also provided legal and financial assistance to 9/11 detainees and their families, who were unfairly arrested and detained in the months after the attacks and suffered greatly in the name of “national security.”
ICNA is one of many Muslim organizations that are committed to working toward a better America, and has taken extraordinary steps in outreach and service in the past 10 years.
A decade after the September 11 attacks, we believe it is time for America to rethink the global “war on terror.” This 1.25 trillion dollar war has claimed the lives of nearly 6,000 Americans and hundreds of thousands of civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia. As a result of the post-9/11 wars and drone attacks anti-American sentiment has increased across the globe**; it is time for our country to end the cycle of violence that came of that day.
As our nation moves forward in remembrance, we must also remain vigilant of all kinds of extremism. Recent events in Norway remind us once again that terror knows no religious limits. They also point to the rise of bigotry and Islamophobia, and the devastating effects of this hatred. We must stand together as we did after 9/11 and combat all forms of extremism and radicalization.
On Sunday, September 11, 2011, the Islamic Circle of North America and American Muslims across the country will remember those who lost their lives on that tragic day 10 years ago. We join our nation in honoring their memory.”
*http://pewforum.org/Muslim/Public-Remains-Conflicted-Over-Islam.aspx
**http://pewglobal.org/2008/12/18/global-public-opinion-in-the-bush-years-2001-2008/
It is needed to put out a statement like this at this occasion.
The brothers in ICNA should of also mentioned that one of the root causes of the 9/11 attacks were because of the fact that the U.S. government invades Muslims country’s pre and post 9/11 and kill millions and thousands of Muslim civilians and installs & props up oppressive brutal dictators and exploits the natural resources of Muslim lands for generations
Great statement! It really is necessary to occasionally remind Islamaphobics about the Muslim point of view on this.
I have questions about Islam; can you explain them to me? Is it permissible for a Muslim to be a sincere friend to a person who is not Muslim?.
Praise be to Allaah.
It is not permissible for a Muslim to make friends with a mushrik or to take him as a close friend, because Islam calls on us to forsake the kaafirs and to disavow them, because they worship someone other than Allaah. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“O you who believe! Take not as friends the people who incurred the Wrath of Allaah (i.e. the Jews). Surely, they have despaired of (receiving any good in) the Hereafter, just as the disbelievers have despaired of those (buried) in graves (that they will not be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection)”
[al-Mumtahanah 60:13]
This was also the teaching of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
1 – It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) that he heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say, “Do not keep company with anyone but a believer and do not let anyone eat your food but one who is pious.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2395; Abu Dawood, 4832. Abu ‘Eesa al-Tirmidhi said: this hadeeth is hasan. It was also classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 2519).
Abu ‘Eesa al-Khattaabi said: Rather he warned against keeping company with anyone who is not pious and against mixing with them or eating with them, because eating with a person instills friendship and love in the heart.
He said: do not make friends with anyone who is not pious; do not take him as a companion with whom you eat and chat.
(Ma’aalim al-Sunan, Haamish Mukhtasar Sunan Abi Dawood, 7/185, 186).
2 – It was narrated from Samurah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Do not live among the mushrikeen and do not mix with them, for whoever lives among them or mixes with them is not one of us.” (Narrated by al-Bayhaqi, 9/142; al-Haakim, 2/154. He said, it is saheeh according to the conditions of al-Bukhaari. The hadeeth was also classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilat al-Saheehah, 2/229 with its corroborating reports).
But it is permissible to deal with them in a kind manner in the hope that they might become Muslim.
It was narrated that Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: There was a Jewish boy who used to serve the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and he fell sick. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came to visit him. He sat by his head and said, “Become Muslim.” (The boy) looked at his father who was with him, and he (the father) said, “Obey Abu’l-Qaasim (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).” So he became Muslim, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) went out, saying, “Praise be to Allaah Who has saved him from the Fire” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1290).
And Allaah knows best.