His Majesty King Abdullah II
Message from His Majesty
King Abdullah II
2005 Annual Convention
Islamic Society of North America
September 2, 2005
Chicago, USA
Bismillah
ar-Rahman ar-Rahim; In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
Al-Salaamu `alaykum, brothers and sisters:
I am honored to have this opportunity to address the 42nd Annual Convention of
the Islamic Society of North America.
You meet at a crucial moment in history; a crossroads for the entire
international Islamic community. Together, we face serious choices. Together we
must find the right path. Be we Arab, American, Persian, Turkish, from the
subcontinent, Indonesian, Malaysian, African, European, Chinese, or of any other
land, it is time for us to return to the traditional teachings of Islam; time to
apply the principles espoused by God and His blessed Messenger—‘alayhi as-salaatu
wa-s-salam—to the issues of our day.
The American Muslim community provides a unique example of how Muslims
throughout the world can join together. Among you are Muslims from every nation.
Indeed, perhaps the only other place to see such diversity of the Muslim
community is at the annual Hajj in Makka al-mukarrama. This is a sign upon which
we must all reflect, for as God says in the Holy Quran:
We have made you peoples and tribes that you may come to know one another
In Jordan we have been working with the international Islamic community in the
struggle to oppose extremist interpretations of Islam. The greatest enemies of
Islam are those who distort the teachings bestowed upon us by God and His
Messenger, `alayhi as-salaatu wa-s-salaam. It is time for us to stand
together, to reaffirm what the greatest scholars of our tradition have said: no
Muslim can call another Muslim a non-believer. Whichever of the eight great
schools of jurisprudence you follow—Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, Hanbali, Ja’fari,
Zaydi, Ibadi, or Zhahiri—you are a Muslim. Your life, honor and property cannot
be violated.
In Jordan last July, these principles were confirmed by over 180 top scholars
from around the world. They came from 45 countries, representing all the
Madhahib of Sunni, Shi’ite and Ibadi Islam—and all Islam’s currents,
including Sufism. They also took an important step by reaffirming the
traditional qualifications for issuing a fatwa. We have all heard extremists try
to justify their political agendas, by issuing pseudo-fatwas. These distort
Islam. It is our responsibility, before God, before His Messenger, and before
our fellow human beings, to denounce those who betray the Islamic tradition. If
we remain silent, we are complicit in their guilt.
No matter what insults or offenses Muslims may have suffered, nothing justifies
taking innocent lives, no matter what religion or nationality they may be. Our
way is to follow the Holy Quran and the sunna of the Prophet Muhammad—‘alayhi
as-salaatu wa-s-salaam. Even if we are offended or wronged, we must remember
that God Himself has commanded us:
Let not the hatred of the people—because they hindered you from the Sacred
Mosque—incite you to transgress. Help one another in goodness and reverence, and
do not help one another in sin and aggression.
And:
O ye who believe, be upright for God, witnesses in justice; and let not the
hatred of a people cause you to be unjust. Be just — that is closer to piety.
To bring this message of forgiveness and reconciliation is part of our role in
the world, not only among Muslims, but among all humankind. Only in this way can
true justice, and the peace that derives from justice, be achieved.
The Prophet—`alayhi as-salaatu wa-s-salaam—has told us: “None of you
truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” I hope
that you all will continue to work with your fellow Americans, using the
channels available to you, in a free and open society—a society where all
Muslims are legally free to openly practice their religion—to bring to fruition
these teachings of the Prophet --alayhi as-salaatu wa-s-salaam —so that
all may benefit from them.
May Allah bless you all. Our whole Umma has high hopes in Allah and in
you.
Thank you. Was-Salaamu alaykum.