1 00:00:09,665 --> 00:00:12,195 [Hassan Ilyas] In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. 2 00:00:12,195 --> 00:00:14,495 Assalamu alaikum I am Mohammad Hassan Ilyas and right now 3 00:00:14,495 --> 00:00:16,975 we are in Dallas at the Ghamdi Centre of Islamic Learning. 4 00:00:16,975 --> 00:00:20,735 ISNA which is the oldest organization of Muslims in America. 5 00:00:21,610 --> 00:00:25,301 ISNA is having its annual convocation but physical participation 6 00:00:25,301 --> 00:00:26,891 was hampered due to Covid-19. 7 00:00:26,891 --> 00:00:30,201 The organizers requested that we should record 8 00:00:30,201 --> 00:00:34,171 some conversations with Ghamidi Sahab. 9 00:00:34,171 --> 00:00:36,751 for the participants of this convocation and 10 00:00:36,751 --> 00:00:40,751 that these conversations are related to the socio-religious challenges 11 00:00:40,751 --> 00:00:42,821 facing Muslims within the United States. 12 00:00:42,821 --> 00:00:45,701 Today we are here for this purpose we are having with us 13 00:00:45,701 --> 00:00:47,961 Mr. Javed Ahmad Ghamdi Sahab Asalamu alaikum. 14 00:00:47,961 --> 00:00:49,411 [Javed Ahmad Ghamidi] Walikum Asalam 15 00:00:49,411 --> 00:00:51,661 [Ilyas] Ghamidi Sahab, thank you very much for your time. 16 00:00:51,661 --> 00:00:54,971 At this time, you are being heard by people associated with ISNA all over the world 17 00:00:54,971 --> 00:00:57,301 and especially the Muslim community in America. 18 00:00:57,301 --> 00:01:01,301 I would like to ask you first, that 57 years ago today, 19 00:01:01,301 --> 00:01:03,951 the foundation of this organization was laid 20 00:01:03,951 --> 00:01:05,965 as "The Islamic Society of North America”, 21 00:01:05,965 --> 00:01:09,445 which is a group of Muslims who settled in Western countries 22 00:01:09,445 --> 00:01:13,125 and then became part of the community and through the systematic efforts 23 00:01:13,125 --> 00:01:16,695 of their organization, they tried to advance their mission and vision 24 00:01:16,695 --> 00:01:19,525 by way of helping the people to develop social capital and education. 25 00:01:19,525 --> 00:01:22,595 How do you see this whole idea and please help us with your 26 00:01:22,595 --> 00:01:24,195 personal opinion about ISNA? 27 00:01:24,195 --> 00:01:27,463 [Ghamidi] This is an extraordinary achievement, and 28 00:01:27,463 --> 00:01:29,413 it should be greatly appreciated. 29 00:01:29,413 --> 00:01:34,933 Wherever we go, the needs of human society come to the fore. 30 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:39,680 When we move to a foreign place or a foreign society 31 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:46,280 or a place where our culture, tradition, civilization is not being followed, 32 00:01:46,656 --> 00:01:48,694 we will face difficulties there. 33 00:01:48,694 --> 00:01:54,737 These problems can be social, cultural and sometimes psychological. 34 00:01:55,373 --> 00:02:01,413 The best way out of all these problems for a Muslim or any other nation, 35 00:02:01,413 --> 00:02:04,203 is to organize its own community. 36 00:02:05,190 --> 00:02:09,190 People who are associated with it, who belong to the same tradition, 37 00:02:09,554 --> 00:02:14,704 who come from the same background, not only understand their issues, 38 00:02:15,370 --> 00:02:19,370 but also have a special background which aids them in resolving them. 39 00:02:19,370 --> 00:02:23,273 With all these things in mind, creating such organizations and 40 00:02:23,273 --> 00:02:28,743 creating a bond between them, even if it is more than one, it does not matter. 41 00:02:28,743 --> 00:02:34,133 However, the ideal situation is that wherever Muslims go, 42 00:02:34,133 --> 00:02:39,473 only one organization should come into existence because such organizations 43 00:02:39,473 --> 00:02:41,930 have no ideological aspect. 44 00:02:41,930 --> 00:02:45,148 The reason for establishing these organizations is to check, 45 00:02:45,148 --> 00:02:48,251 if Muslims are in some sort of problems as a community? 46 00:02:48,251 --> 00:02:51,753 Such organizations are formed keeping in view the aforementioned objectives. 47 00:02:51,753 --> 00:02:57,153 So in my opinion it is difficult to create unity in the organizations that are 48 00:02:57,153 --> 00:03:01,710 formed on the basis of Ideology or in which there are ideological discussions 49 00:03:01,710 --> 00:03:04,223 and perhaps there is no need for it as well. 50 00:03:04,223 --> 00:03:05,183 [Ilyas] okay 51 00:03:05,183 --> 00:03:09,183 [Ghamidi] Their goal is that they address your mind and in this respect, 52 00:03:09,183 --> 00:03:13,183 for example, there are different groups, sects among Muslims, 53 00:03:13,183 --> 00:03:18,392 there is a difference in thinking, which leads to formation of an organisation, 54 00:03:18,392 --> 00:03:20,734 as well as institutions. 55 00:03:20,734 --> 00:03:26,623 but as a community, Muslim too face some challenges. 56 00:03:27,227 --> 00:03:31,227 For instance to help Muslims in managing their mosques, guiding them in matters 57 00:03:31,227 --> 00:03:36,300 of fasting and prayers, and meeting their needs in regard to Hajj and ‘Umrah. 58 00:03:36,419 --> 00:03:38,721 As in the case of funeral arrangements, 59 00:03:38,721 --> 00:03:42,721 if all these needs are put in front of them and their general education 60 00:03:42,721 --> 00:03:46,721 is made the goal, that is, something on which there is no disagreement. 61 00:03:46,721 --> 00:03:51,978 As we usually say, elementary education is broad-based. 62 00:03:51,978 --> 00:03:56,716 If an organization is formed, I think it if of paramount importance. 63 00:03:57,381 --> 00:04:01,381 You may be aware, we in India once had reputed scholars 64 00:04:01,381 --> 00:04:07,211 who put forward the view that now that Muslims' political system has collapsed 65 00:04:07,660 --> 00:04:12,600 so, there should be a collective system for Muslims of the subcontinent. 66 00:04:13,570 --> 00:04:15,807 This dream could not be achieved, 67 00:04:15,807 --> 00:04:19,807 but when the Muslims have come out of one place and they have started residing 68 00:04:19,807 --> 00:04:23,807 in different countries, I think that such organizations 69 00:04:23,807 --> 00:04:29,397 must exist and in my opinion they should try to transcend themselves 70 00:04:29,397 --> 00:04:31,807 from differences of opinion as regards ideologies, 71 00:04:31,807 --> 00:04:35,537 whether there are intellectual differences, juristic differences or 72 00:04:35,537 --> 00:04:38,174 differences of any kind. 73 00:04:38,174 --> 00:04:43,154 The topics that should be discussed here are those that the whole community needs, 74 00:04:43,154 --> 00:04:46,204 what the Muslim society as a whole needs. 75 00:04:46,619 --> 00:04:51,669 what their cultural traditions need, what they need regarding agree-upon festivals. 76 00:04:51,669 --> 00:04:54,889 Keeping all these things in view that are agreed upon, 77 00:04:54,889 --> 00:04:58,919 establishing such a system is a necessity to me as air and water are needed. 78 00:04:58,919 --> 00:05:00,549 [Ilyas] So we will continue this topic. 79 00:05:00,549 --> 00:05:03,819 I will state that most of your listeners are Muslims 80 00:05:03,819 --> 00:05:05,519 in the United States at this time. 81 00:05:05,519 --> 00:05:09,919 I will also ask you a few questions which we have received from them 82 00:05:09,919 --> 00:05:13,399 so that you can put forward your point of view about those who immigrated 83 00:05:13,399 --> 00:05:15,962 to the United States in large number during 1960 -1970’s. 84 00:05:15,962 --> 00:05:19,962 They brought their religious and cultural traditions here, but for the new generation 85 00:05:19,962 --> 00:05:25,292 we see that their is a crisis about religious tendencies, cultural aspects, 86 00:05:25,292 --> 00:05:27,962 cultural backgrounds, clothing, everything. 87 00:05:28,203 --> 00:05:34,173 Please, tell me that how parents should persuade their children in these issues, 88 00:05:34,173 --> 00:05:37,263 so that they should stick to the same ideas and principles. 89 00:05:37,525 --> 00:05:42,295 I'll offer an example: we know in western countries the dress code is different 90 00:05:42,295 --> 00:05:45,525 and our Muslim cultural backgrounds have different dress codes. 91 00:05:45,933 --> 00:05:49,623 So how will the Muslim parents who have settled here, convince their children 92 00:05:49,623 --> 00:05:54,923 wear simple and decent clothes as was the traditions back home? 93 00:05:54,923 --> 00:05:58,923 [Ghamidi] The first thing is that wherever the parents come from, 94 00:05:58,923 --> 00:06:02,923 they have brought their tradition with them, their way of life, 95 00:06:02,923 --> 00:06:05,793 their way of conversing and how they live. 96 00:06:05,793 --> 00:06:07,883 The child observes this same manner. 97 00:06:07,883 --> 00:06:13,392 In the first stage, I always say that the way parents want children to become 98 00:06:13,865 --> 00:06:19,675 they should become an example of the same in their home and their society, 99 00:06:19,675 --> 00:06:23,675 because children will see their parents and when they will see them, 100 00:06:23,675 --> 00:06:26,975 after that the first thing they do when they see them, 101 00:06:26,975 --> 00:06:30,305 and what they may not feel the need to do in their home countries, 102 00:06:30,305 --> 00:06:33,135 is to create awareness of their own cultural traditions. 103 00:06:33,135 --> 00:06:38,135 One thing is for sure, whether you were born in Morocco, or 104 00:06:38,135 --> 00:06:42,935 in the subcontinent or somewhere in the Arab world, and 105 00:06:42,935 --> 00:06:46,795 you have lived in the traditions that were there and we automatically tend 106 00:06:46,795 --> 00:06:50,045 to adopt these traditions and there is not much hesitation about accepting 107 00:06:50,045 --> 00:06:52,855 the things that are going on in a society or its surrounding. 108 00:06:52,855 --> 00:06:54,963 But every time you go to another society, 109 00:06:54,963 --> 00:07:01,359 whatever you choose or insist on, requires a reasoning and an argument behind it, 110 00:07:01,890 --> 00:07:05,890 so everyone should know when he is going to another country. 111 00:07:06,465 --> 00:07:09,595 If it has a religious tradition, what is the reason behind it? 112 00:07:09,783 --> 00:07:13,353 If he’s following certain ethics, what is the reason behind it? 113 00:07:13,564 --> 00:07:18,774 The way one dresses, engages with people, and blends in, it should be known 114 00:07:18,774 --> 00:07:21,094 what are the foundations of that? 115 00:07:21,094 --> 00:07:25,094 The first thing is that the parents themselves should create 116 00:07:25,094 --> 00:07:26,254 awareness about it. 117 00:07:26,254 --> 00:07:29,414 In other words, they should educate themselves. 118 00:07:29,414 --> 00:07:31,596 They should arrange for their education in these matters. 119 00:07:31,596 --> 00:07:35,596 In our case, I have submitted to you that these things are usually adopted 120 00:07:35,596 --> 00:07:39,596 by observing the society, hearing from the parents, which is not 121 00:07:39,596 --> 00:07:44,366 a conscious decision, so it should be turned into a conscious activity. 122 00:07:44,785 --> 00:07:49,645 Once upon a time, some of our scholars used the term that Muslims need not to be 123 00:07:49,645 --> 00:07:54,505 just Muslim but a conscious Muslim, that is, if he renews his faith, 124 00:07:54,691 --> 00:07:57,431 then the renewal of faith has not been said here in 125 00:07:57,431 --> 00:07:58,991 any jurisprudential sense. 126 00:07:58,991 --> 00:08:02,241 Rather, it is being said in the sense that you have to know yourself, 127 00:08:02,241 --> 00:08:05,115 you have to develop self-knowledge and self-identity. 128 00:08:05,115 --> 00:08:06,715 If you are a Muslim, Why you are a Muslim? 129 00:08:06,715 --> 00:08:09,816 If you have a cultural background, then what is the state of it? 130 00:08:09,816 --> 00:08:12,681 What arguments do you have for accepting those cultural conditions? 131 00:08:12,681 --> 00:08:15,811 You should have knowledge pertaining to these things. 132 00:08:16,074 --> 00:08:20,074 Obviously, not all people have the same aptitude for knowledge, 133 00:08:20,074 --> 00:08:25,254 so they should try to understand as much as they can. 134 00:08:25,254 --> 00:08:30,233 They should try to educate their children about the same and they should rationally present these things to their children. 135 00:08:30,611 --> 00:08:33,931 To suggest that they will forcefully convince their children may not be possible today. 136 00:08:33,931 --> 00:08:36,020 Perhaps those times have passed. 137 00:08:36,020 --> 00:08:40,760 These things are no longer possible in our own countries or even globally. 138 00:08:41,588 --> 00:08:46,468 We have entered a world in which each and every culture 139 00:08:46,468 --> 00:08:52,308 is becoming part of a global civilization in spite of their differing identities. 140 00:08:52,308 --> 00:08:59,205 And when such a situation arises, then you have to explain 141 00:08:59,205 --> 00:09:02,395 why you have adopted all those things that you have. 142 00:09:02,395 --> 00:09:04,895 In this scenario, you can no longer rely on parental authority. 143 00:09:04,895 --> 00:09:09,017 Then you should try to find out what background you are from. 144 00:09:09,447 --> 00:09:14,257 You may be from a non-Arab background or you may be from an Arab background, 145 00:09:14,257 --> 00:09:16,433 you may be from the subcontinent. 146 00:09:16,433 --> 00:09:21,603 Wherever you are from, your Islamic language... however you would wonder how a language 147 00:09:21,603 --> 00:09:23,543 can be divided into Islamic and non-Islamic. 148 00:09:23,543 --> 00:09:25,073 Of course it is.. 149 00:09:25,073 --> 00:09:26,423 How is it so? 150 00:09:26,423 --> 00:09:30,423 Just as we urge people in our own countries to learn the English langue 151 00:09:30,423 --> 00:09:33,153 What is the reason behind that? 152 00:09:34,773 --> 00:09:37,697 The reason is that it has become the language of modern science. 153 00:09:37,697 --> 00:09:41,697 There are other languages of modern knowledge too but we are referring to that language 154 00:09:41,697 --> 00:09:45,697 through which many new sciences are now reaching us 155 00:09:45,697 --> 00:09:49,697 and we If we want access those sciences, then we too must master that language. 156 00:09:49,697 --> 00:09:56,657 In the same way, our religion came to Arabia, that is, 157 00:09:56,657 --> 00:10:00,657 I mean the form of Islam that we have received through 158 00:10:00,657 --> 00:10:02,467 Muhammad, the Messenger of God (pbuh) 159 00:10:02,467 --> 00:10:06,467 It is the religion of all the Prophets, and it has always been Islam. 160 00:10:06,467 --> 00:10:10,467 But when it was renewed by the Prophet (pbuh) and then it was 161 00:10:10,467 --> 00:10:14,427 given to the world and The Quran was revealed in Arabic, 162 00:10:14,427 --> 00:10:20,456 the Prophet (pbuh) himself addressed us in this language. Hence, all our sciences began in this language. Then came the second period 163 00:10:20,456 --> 00:10:24,568 of Persian language and then after that Urdu language got this status. 164 00:10:25,095 --> 00:10:28,245 It is also a case with some other languages that they have their 165 00:10:28,245 --> 00:10:32,245 own religious background but if you look carefully whatever knowledge 166 00:10:32,245 --> 00:10:36,245 has come about with respect to religion those great people have 167 00:10:36,245 --> 00:10:40,245 written in these languages only and it has come into existence through them. 168 00:10:40,650 --> 00:10:44,650 So, at least, one of the languages must be taught to children. 169 00:10:44,650 --> 00:10:50,300 It is also important because you want to explain your religion, because 170 00:10:50,300 --> 00:10:52,920 you also want to transmit your culture, 171 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:56,920 and you want to keep them connected to your traditions. 172 00:10:56,920 --> 00:11:02,240 It is also important because a person’s memory is shaped by his past 173 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:05,830 and you don’t want to see them alienated from the past. 174 00:11:05,830 --> 00:11:09,830 These things have their respective background and 175 00:11:09,830 --> 00:11:12,370 they embody themselves in the fabric of language. 176 00:11:12,761 --> 00:11:16,761 In other words, language is not just a means of communication. 177 00:11:16,761 --> 00:11:21,071 It is a big mistake of people to think that there are such-and-such facts 178 00:11:21,071 --> 00:11:24,081 and If you translate them into such-and- such language, the issue will be resolved. 179 00:11:24,081 --> 00:11:28,554 It doesn't end there. It means that when an advanced level of knowledge is created, 180 00:11:28,554 --> 00:11:32,554 it is expressed via the pens and mouths of highly intellectual people. 181 00:11:33,136 --> 00:11:37,136 And unless and until people are in a position to benefit from them directly, 182 00:11:37,501 --> 00:11:42,681 after reaching a certain level of knowledge, an individual is not influenced by their thought. 183 00:11:42,681 --> 00:11:47,021 Parents will play a role in teaching their children, People will learn from their surroundings, 184 00:11:47,021 --> 00:11:51,811 People will learn from thier teachers. Then once thosse big questions arise, 185 00:11:51,811 --> 00:11:56,657 then it is important that they are aware of the intellectual heritage of Muslims. 186 00:11:57,170 --> 00:12:05,370 and get to know its great people so that they can benefit from the intelligentsia. 187 00:12:05,370 --> 00:12:10,960 It is the intelligentsia that keeps you connected to it's customs, religious traditions and to it's 188 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:15,830 ideology, if it has one. I always give my own example that when 189 00:12:15,830 --> 00:12:21,190 I was trained by my parents, I understood some things and observed other things. 190 00:12:21,190 --> 00:12:26,930 Right from the beginning I got acquainted with Abul Kalam Azad, Iqbal, Syed Abul A’al Sahab Maududi 191 00:12:26,930 --> 00:12:30,930 and Shibli Nomani. These were the elders with whom I got acquainted, 192 00:12:31,283 --> 00:12:36,899 whose writings came to light and I had access to their for writings. 193 00:12:36,899 --> 00:12:43,313 As a result, there was no need for me to fall back on may parents for my doubts. 194 00:12:43,919 --> 00:12:47,919 We must also realize this need and provide educational opportunities 195 00:12:47,919 --> 00:12:50,109 to our children accordingly. 196 00:12:50,392 --> 00:12:52,536 [Ilyas] Totally, I would like to conclude with last two questions. 197 00:12:52,536 --> 00:12:56,536 The children nowadays studying in High school Universities and College; 198 00:12:56,536 --> 00:13:00,536 they have a common question to which parents have no answer which 199 00:13:00,536 --> 00:13:07,446 is that if they are choosing a partner for marriage, they argue that there are non-Muslims just as 200 00:13:07,446 --> 00:13:11,446 there are Muslims, in that they have good morals , they are also doing good deeds, 201 00:13:11,446 --> 00:13:15,446 they are also doing charity work, so what is the reason that a Muslim boy 202 00:13:15,446 --> 00:13:20,266 or girl at the time of getting married, should choose a muslim partner 203 00:13:20,266 --> 00:13:22,516 as religion has made it obligatory for them to choose only from the Muslims. 204 00:13:22,728 --> 00:13:26,728 Is their any rational explanation to it which the parents can present? 205 00:13:26,893 --> 00:13:30,893 [Ghamidi] You said that they have good morals and good training. 206 00:13:31,077 --> 00:13:33,047 Why do they need these things? 207 00:13:33,358 --> 00:13:42,890 Because these are some values on which you are not ready to compromise. 208 00:13:42,890 --> 00:13:48,040 Which means that a functional home would be possible only with good etiquettes. 209 00:13:48,323 --> 00:13:52,323 It means that morality is a an issue for you. 210 00:13:52,323 --> 00:13:56,323 You value it. You want to find it. 211 00:13:56,323 --> 00:13:58,713 You call it a necessity of life. 212 00:13:58,713 --> 00:14:00,793 Same is the case with religion. 213 00:14:00,793 --> 00:14:04,793 If you think that the decision is to be based on religion and this decision 214 00:14:04,793 --> 00:14:11,113 is to be made on the Day of Judgment and my children have to adhere 215 00:14:11,113 --> 00:14:15,113 to a religion and my society has to be molded by a religion 216 00:14:15,113 --> 00:14:18,233 then that means that religion is an issue for you. 217 00:14:18,496 --> 00:14:22,496 If religion matters to you, then it should matter to you 218 00:14:22,496 --> 00:14:28,106 in marriage as well. It is a very simple intellectual issue. And should be looked at like that. 219 00:14:28,215 --> 00:14:35,005 There are those things that I consider important, those that I consider to be a cause for concern, 220 00:14:35,231 --> 00:14:41,051 are the sort of things that I analyse. I will analyse the values of the other person whom I have to marry 221 00:14:41,051 --> 00:14:42,551 I have to marry. I want to build a home. 222 00:14:42,551 --> 00:14:44,081 It’s a lifelong decision. 223 00:14:44,081 --> 00:14:45,381 I will have children. 224 00:14:45,381 --> 00:14:46,806 They have to learn. 225 00:14:46,806 --> 00:14:51,726 So the real issue is that religion is no longer relevant for children. 226 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:58,220 Religion is no longer a part of their intellect, their thoughts and their life. 227 00:14:58,481 --> 00:15:02,481 They see that the parents want to force them to adhere to their religion 228 00:15:02,481 --> 00:15:08,221 and this again raises the question in front of them as to why religion 229 00:15:08,221 --> 00:15:11,031 should become an obstacle in the way of what they like and what they love. 230 00:15:11,825 --> 00:15:15,825 This question will continue to come up until we present religion to our children 231 00:15:15,825 --> 00:15:22,325 in such a way that it does becomes constitutive in a moral way 232 00:15:22,325 --> 00:15:24,555 of their intellectual and cultural being. 233 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:27,739 When that happens, they will stop posing such questions. 234 00:15:27,739 --> 00:15:31,739 [Hassan] Please will you also shed light on whether Muslims 235 00:15:31,739 --> 00:15:34,419 should be involved in the local or national politics of the United States, 236 00:15:35,919 --> 00:15:39,919 It is often suggested that there are a few major parties that have their own 237 00:15:39,919 --> 00:15:46,639 manifestos and there are things in those manifesto that are also against Islam, 238 00:15:46,639 --> 00:15:49,631 so if a person becomes a part of these parties and 239 00:15:49,631 --> 00:15:51,261 becomes active in local politics, 240 00:15:51,261 --> 00:15:53,511 then is that an issue from a religious point of view? 241 00:15:54,385 --> 00:15:58,385 [Ghamidi] Of course, that should be the case. I ask you to consider the countries you visit 242 00:15:58,385 --> 00:16:02,385 as your own country when you have acquired their citizenship. 243 00:16:02,385 --> 00:16:04,775 You should be associated with that land. 244 00:16:04,775 --> 00:16:07,515 You should be loyal to that land. 245 00:16:07,515 --> 00:16:12,505 You should think about the development of that country and when you have all theses things in mind, 246 00:16:12,505 --> 00:16:16,505 then if you have a political acumen in you, then you will definitely 247 00:16:16,505 --> 00:16:20,505 participate in politics. In our culture, most people are still associated 248 00:16:20,505 --> 00:16:23,335 with the politics of their former countriesand mentally 249 00:16:23,335 --> 00:16:24,385 they are still living in the countries of their birth. 250 00:16:24,385 --> 00:16:28,385 They should know everything in terms of the land they have chosen. 251 00:16:28,385 --> 00:16:32,775 They must understand the politics of the land they belong to and 252 00:16:32,775 --> 00:16:34,085 participate in parties. 253 00:16:34,085 --> 00:16:39,535 If there’s democracy and It is known that you can live with differences of opinion. 254 00:16:40,127 --> 00:16:44,127 Explain your differences of opinion and if you have a large number, 255 00:16:44,127 --> 00:16:48,127 then it will start to affect this manifesto as well. 256 00:16:48,380 --> 00:16:50,870 It will also affect its cultural outcome. 257 00:16:50,870 --> 00:16:56,000 If you will remain unrelated, then you will only suffer the consequences. 258 00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:57,910 You will have no share in it. 259 00:16:57,910 --> 00:17:01,530 That’s why in my opinion if people are having a taste for politics, 260 00:17:01,530 --> 00:17:02,970 they must participate. 261 00:17:03,193 --> 00:17:06,853 [Hassan] Yes, at the end of the day I would like to ask you for a message 262 00:17:06,853 --> 00:17:08,444 and we will end with the same message. 263 00:17:08,444 --> 00:17:12,444 As we know Muslims have come a long way. 264 00:17:12,444 --> 00:17:15,634 The Muslims that come from western culture. 265 00:17:15,634 --> 00:17:21,324 Do you think that Muslims should learn something from them and if so, what is it? 266 00:17:21,643 --> 00:17:25,643 [Ghamidi] They have come because there is some attraction for them here, 267 00:17:25,856 --> 00:17:29,856 that is, how these societies have made their journey, 268 00:17:30,552 --> 00:17:34,552 how they have gone through different stages, how they got rid of whatever 269 00:17:34,552 --> 00:17:38,552 was their past. What happened to them when the Renaissance 270 00:17:38,552 --> 00:17:42,552 took place and a situation of revival of science arose in it? 271 00:17:42,963 --> 00:17:50,993 What are the consequences of modern science in the same way? 272 00:17:50,993 --> 00:18:00,113 They have to learn how to reach our societies. They have a lot to learn. 273 00:18:00,113 --> 00:18:08,443 The fact is that it’s not just inventions, it’s not only airplane,the Internet,radio, 274 00:18:08,443 --> 00:18:14,933 and television. Extraordinary work has also been done 275 00:18:14,933 --> 00:18:17,423 in the social sciences or sociology. 276 00:18:17,423 --> 00:18:21,103 similarly, how should the organization of the society be? 277 00:18:21,103 --> 00:18:24,793 How should the political system be established from the bottom to the top? 278 00:18:24,793 --> 00:18:29,413 The institutes that are constituted for running a political system like 279 00:18:29,413 --> 00:18:32,823 legislature, judiciary and what will be the possible mutual aspects. 280 00:18:32,823 --> 00:18:34,892 There is a lot to learn from these things. 281 00:18:34,892 --> 00:18:37,732 A believer pious person should always be willing to learn. 282 00:18:37,732 --> 00:18:41,022 Knowledge cannot be divided into West or East. 283 00:18:41,351 --> 00:18:45,351 The correct rule is that the Al hikmatu zalatul moomin, 284 00:18:45,571 --> 00:18:50,997 The job of a believer is to understand everything in the light of his religion, 285 00:18:50,997 --> 00:18:56,914 to understand it in terms of his cultural values, 286 00:18:56,914 --> 00:18:59,919 and take whatever is right in it as his legacy. 287 00:18:59,919 --> 00:19:07,424 And if there is something wrong, it is out moral duty 288 00:19:07,424 --> 00:19:09,031 to point out the shortcomings. 289 00:19:09,031 --> 00:19:12,153 Same is the case here in our society, 290 00:19:12,153 --> 00:19:20,273 We call things wrong, even if we understand the right and 291 00:19:20,273 --> 00:19:26,079 stand with it and explain the mistake, then this society and 292 00:19:26,079 --> 00:19:29,059 its future generations will also be grateful to us. 293 00:19:29,059 --> 00:19:31,389 [Hassan] We are out of time. 294 00:19:31,389 --> 00:19:36,858 We tried to include Ghamidi sahab via distant online mode in the annual convocation 295 00:19:36,858 --> 00:19:40,568 of Islamic Society of North America ISNA, and presented his view to the participants. 296 00:19:40,568 --> 00:19:44,118 We’re thankful on behalf of the organization as well, 297 00:19:44,118 --> 00:19:46,108 for enlightening us with your views. 298 00:19:46,108 --> 00:19:49,978 Insha’Allah, if we ever get a chance, we will listen directly to this convocation 299 00:19:49,978 --> 00:19:51,558 of Ghamdi Sahib. Thank you very much for your time. 300 00:19:51,558 --> 00:19:52,988 [Ghamidi] Thank u so much.