To: Someone who had complained about his first email
Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 3:09 AM
Subject: May Allah forgive our mistakes, ameen. re: Article on Hamza Yousef
Bismillah Rahman Raheem
Salam Alaykum dear brother in Islam:
First, I begin by saying thank you for taking the time to write to me directly. I am amazed that someone criticized me to another
person behind my back, for having criticized someone else, even though it was according to the teachings of Islam.
Also, up front we must say that no one is calling anyone else a nonbeliever (kafr). This all came about as an effort to clarify
the correct teachings of Islam to many, including Muslims, who are very confused and concerned about what Islam does actually
teach.
Before I begin, there is something that I should mention in all candidness. The organizations that I represent are not behind me
in making these statements, at least they are not going to admit it publicly.
Additionally, the critique that was emailed out did not originate with me. Someone else with more knowledge and courage did a very
thorough job on it and then forwarded it out and put in on the Internet. I did not take permission to reveal their identity, nor
do I feel that it is necessary to disclose that information. If people want to be angry with me, so be it. At least it will not
tear down years of work of a hard working scholar of Islam. By showing the identity what would be the benefit? Then the two
scholars [Hamza & the other] may start to be against each other and divide the people up even further. If the whole matter
stops at me, then there is actually very little loss. Right?
After all, who am I? I am just a brother who came to Islam some years ago, that goes around trying to bring others to Islam. I am
merely a concerned Muslim who wants to do what Allah has ordered and what has been established by our righteous predecessors in
Islam. If I am wrong, then I need to be shown proof from Quran and Sunnah regarding the matter in order to correct my mistakes and
also to be able to go back to Allah in humility and beg for His Forgiveness.
Now to begin, inshallah. I love you for the sake of Allah. I pray that Allah Guide us both to truth and forgive any mistakes,
ameen. I have been criticized for the way the brother treated the subject of Hamza Yusuf's comments on television as being "fitnah."
But there is a lot of truth in what he said. He definitely used the right word: "fitnah." -- This word is particularly
used in Islam to mean the things which could take someone out of Islam. It is the same word that Allah used when He told us that
our wives, children, property and so on would all be "fitnah" [hard trials] for us.
The predictions of our beloved prophet, peace be upon him, are coming true faster than pearls fallen from a broken neckless.
Consider that he told us in the Last Days that the true scholars would be taken away and ignorance would be everywhere and the
people without knowledge would be perceived as people with knowledge.
All of this is of course a test for all of us. Consider the recent events and how Muslims around the world are responding:
Afghanis blew up Buddhist statues -- what was our response?
Suicide bombers went into gatherings of Jews in Palestine -- what did we say?
Attacks came against America -- the blame went to Muslims immediately -- what did we do?
America is now destroying Muslim property, Muslim lives and thousands are homeless and dying as a result -- what are we doing?
And certain individuals are promoting their distorted views of Islam, while raising themselves to be close to those who are doing
these things. What would you like me to say?
I will not apologize for being a Muslim. Nor will I apologize for what Muslims have NOT DONE. Additionally I refuse to back down
from the fact that Islam is the only valid answer to the problems facing our world today. We must stand up now before it is too
late. Mark my words. This is not a time to play and think that things are going to go back to "normal" for the Muslims
in this or any other country. Allah has made it clear for us. Now we must carry this message or suffer the real consequences.
I have fallen under criticism for more than one year because I have not spoken out about what I know on this issue. I was trying
to use the time to do exactly what you have said. Many others have expressed concerns over these same matters. I delayed for more
than one year saying anything publicly.
I regret only that we did not move earlier on this subject. You see this has been well known to a number of us here in the states
as well as abroad. Hamza has totally disregarded our efforts to speak to him on these or any subjects. He immediately begins to
give lectures in the middle of discussions and goes off on definitions of words that have no meaning whatsoever to the
conversation. (and they are incorrect in meaning as well).
I met with him a year ago in July at his place in California. [he ignored me]
I sat next to him in a very important meeting of imams for America in Chicago last year at ISNA. [he talked over me - and everyone
else]
And then again I spoke with him at the ISNA Conference in Chicago. [he had his own agenda -- which included publicly attacking the
belief of the Salaf as Saleeh (The companions and rightly guided early generations of Muslims) in the form of saying something twisted about "Wahabees" in his main lecture to
thousands.]
I have referred new Muslims to his "Zaytunna Institute" only to find that they were not being taught Islam at all, they
were being forced into doing "Sufi Thikr." One lady complained to me over the phone and then when I went out there she
told me that the shayton were punishing her for not obeying the head "Shaikh" at Zaytunna. (This was Muhammad Yaqubi
from Syria - who happens to be one of the muftis of the Shazaleyah Tareeqah). I personally went in and found his followers sitting
on the floor reciting the word "Allah" over and over again for hours without stopping. Their eyes were closed and they
were swaying back and forth as in a trance. This is not the proper way to introduce people to Islam.
When people begin learning "Islam" from these types it is very difficult for them to simply break away. Some are afraid
that the jinn will bother them. Others think that the dead shaikhs have some mystical powers. The list goes on.
We have only produced exactly what he has said on the most important occasion of trying to bring about a better understanding of
what Islam is all about. I realize that all of us, especially me make mistakes in our presentations. Sometimes, like last Sunday,
I put things in the wrong order and loose valuable time and even the attention of some of the listeners. I ask Allah to forgive me
for that. But when it comes to the material that is presented, if it is not in conjunction with what the Quran and the Sunnah
teach, what would you suggest?
Would you accept that someone says something to a non-Muslim about the Quran that can open doors to huge attacks against Islam for
no reason?
Is it right to sit silent while someone is making our Deen appear to have mistakes in it?
In fact, that is why I have been criticized so heavily in the recent weeks. I had received admonition during the summer just
before leaving for Egypt from some of our brothers who study at one of our Islamic institutes in Virginia. They insisted that we
begin exposing Hamza's institute before he did his last big nationwide drive for enrollment. But I thought I should wait a little
longer. Now look what has happened.
There are others involved in this "Sufi" movement as well. I have not sat with them personally nor have they
corresponded with me. However, I can assure you that the teachings coming from their sources have serious errors in them and could
even be considered leading out of Islam completely.
All this time, this groups such as "suffuse" And "Shiites" and "Nation of Islam" and "Ahmadiyyans"
and "Rastafarians" and "Moorish Science Temple" and "Ansar Allah" and "Five Percenters"
and "Submitters International" are actually doing the thing that you are complaining against me:
They are dividing up the Muslims through their various cults and tareeqahs. We ask everyone to come together and unify according
to what Allah has ordered us in the first place, and that is to unify under the Quran and the Sunnah.
Thank you again for coming straight to me with this subject. If I chose to reveal the topic, I will conceal your identity,
inshallah.
Salam Alaykum wa Rahmatulah,
Your brother in Islam,
Yusuf
