Think Peace – Live Peace

By Imam Abdullah El-Amin

As we all know, the bloody senseless war in Iraq and Afghanistan has been a toll on the minds, hearts, and pocketbooks of too many people the world over, not just the people in the United States. Countless lives have been sacrificed because of the lies and greed of our government, particularly its president. However, this month September, 2007, there were fewer deaths in Iraq than there has been since the start of the conflict. I heard some of the news commentators comment that this may be because of the start of Ramadan, when most Muslims go into a more spiritually enhanced existence. If they are right, it adds more credence to the magnificence of this glorious month.

In this month of Ramadan, it is said the Devil or Shaitan, is chained up. This makes it an excellent time for us to think and live the peace process laid out for us in the Holy Qur’an. As said in Qur’an, we are all human beings regardless of our nationality or gender. As descendants of our first father, Adam, our primary job is helping maintain balance and stability in the creation by following the rules of ALLAH (swt) and copying the example of Prophet Muhammad (s).

The creation of this country had Islamic influence as the founding fathers studied Moorish history and the Islamic religion. One of the founders and signers of our constitution, Thomas Jefferson, even had his personal Qur’an, which is still in existence today. (Our first Muslim Congressman, Keith Ellison, had the distinct honor of taking his oath of office on the Qur’an that belonged to Thomas Jefferson.)

This is why there leaves little doubt that the preamble to the United States Constitution is so explicit in its reference to Quranic concepts. “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. Among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Although these words were written while millions of Africans were enslaved; and today the “life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness” is being denied to whole nations of people (particularly Iraqis and the Afghanistan people) they nevertheless are true. The people saying it are liars.

Imam W. Deen Mohammed, in a recent address in Chicago, explained this “pursuit of happiness” as the right to live a peaceful life, with special emphasis on “endowed by their Creator.” All we have to do is believe in and see ourselves in the equality we are seen in by ALLAH, and it will not only enhance us, it will enhance and influence those around us. In Detroit, we have a very effective Interfaith Council that respects the diversity of all members which includes Christians, Jews, Muslims, and others. We achieve this by emphasizing the concept of One G’d, regardless of what you call Him. When it gets down to it, most religions say the same thing. All the prophets agreed.

Our job is to think peace then live the peace we flood our minds with. It will never happen unless we make it a constant action. Do not allow negative aggression to stay in your mind. That is the work of the devil. Make yourself successful by thinking to do good deeds and then doing it. You will receive 10 times the blessing of that one deed. But if you happen to slip up and think something evil, and don’t do it, ALLAH blesses you with the performance a one good deed. And if you happen to really mess up and think evil and then do it, ALLAH only chastises you with one bad deed. That’s the way to real peace.

As Salaam Alaikum
(Al Hajj) Abdullah Bey El-Amin

9-41