Open Letter to Boko Haram from Muslim Leaders May 20, 2014 In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful Abubakar Shekau: We urge you to immediately release the young children you have unconscionably taken. Your actions have shocked Muslims across the world and have disrespected Islam and the teachings of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him). Your justification for stealing these children – that education for girls goes against Islam – has no basis whatsoever in our faith. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) wisely emphasized that every Muslim man and woman has a duty to seek education. You have truly strayed from Islam when your actions betray its first command: “Iqra!” You do not represent Islam or what Muslims know to be the teachings of Islam. Your attempt to transform a central tenet of Islam into a vile lie used to kill and maim innocent Nigerians of all faiths is transparent. You treat children like cattle. It is abhorrent and sinful to pretend to be a Prophet to whom Allah has spoken. A faithful reading of the teachings of Islam compels you to immediately return these children to their families. The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) instructs us to set an example of justice and mercy. In Surat Fussilat, Ayah 34, we are told that “the good deed and the evil deed are not alike,” and we are instructed to “repel the evil deed with one that is better.” If you would like to follow the teachings of Islam, listen to the global chorus of voices that are enjoining you to do what is right: return these children to their families and replace the evil in your heart with peace and learning. Sincerely, Keith Ellison U.S. House of Representatives Minneapolis, MN André Carson U.S. House of Representatives Indianapolis, IN Imam Mohamed Magid ADAMS Center Sterling, VA Imam Abdullah T. Antepli Duke University Durham, NC Oussama Jammal U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations Washington, DC Sheikh Hamza Yusuf Zaytuna College Berkeley, CA Imam Sheikh Jamal Said The Mosque Foundation Bridgeview, IL Imam Sheikh Kifah Mustapha The Mosque Foundation Brigeview, IL Dr. Hatem Bazian American Muslims for Palestine Palos Hills, IL Mazen Mokhtar Muslim American Society Washington, DC Nihad Awad Council on American-Islamic Relations Washington, DC Naeem Baig Islamic Circle of North America Queens, NY Khalil Meek Muslim Legal Fund of America Dallas, TX W. Deen Mohammed II The Mosque Cares Chicago, IL Mahtabuddin Ahmed Muslim Ummah of North America New York, NY Hussein Ata The Mosque Foundation Bridgeview, IL Shakeel Syed Shura Council of Southern California Orange Grove, CA Imam Talib Shareef The Mosque Cares Washington, DC Imam Mohamad Bashar Arafat Islamic Affairs Council of Maryland Baltimore, MD Shaykh Yasir Qadhi Al-Maghrib Institute Memphis, TN Imam William Suhaib Webb The Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center Boston, MA Imam Sohaib Sultan Princeton University Princeton, NJ Imam Omer Bajwa Yale University New Haven, CT Imam Yahya Hendi Georgetown University Washington, DC Imam Dr. Salahuddin M. Muhammad President, Association of Muslim Chaplains Garner, NC Imam Beau Latif Scurich Northeastern University Boston, MA Imam Jihad Turk Bayan Claremont Islamic Graduate School Claremont, CA Naila Scurich Baloch Tufts University Medford, MA Imam Tarif Shraim University of Maryland College Park, MD Shaykha Tahera Ahmed Northwestern University Chicago, IL Chaplain Ailya Vajid Swarthmore College Swarthmore, PA Imam Adeel Zeeb Wesleyan University Midldetown, CT
Posted on: Tue, 03 Jun 2014 14:38:58 +0000
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