Masjid Al-Mu'minun ~ Capitol Avenue,
Atlanta, GA.
After Jumu`ah Prayer, December 13, 1993
After praising Allah and sending salutations and blessings upon the Noble
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) Shaykh Hassan Cisse said:
"My brothers and sisters in Islam, As-Salaamu Alaykum wa Rahmatu-llah
Ta`ala wa Barakatuhu,"
"I am very pleased to be here with you today. First of all, I apologize
because we came late. We couldn't find the way easily, that is why we came
late. But Al Hamdu li-llah! Our brother has done a very good job. May Allah
accept our prayers! May Allah accept all of our dua's (supplications), and all
of our worship, Ameen! My advice to the community and to myself is that we are
Muslims and we should fear Allah. That is the key to all good things in this
life and in the hereafter. Allah says in the Qur`an that if you are asking for
knowledge, fear Allah and Allah will teach you, for surely Allah knows
everything. This religion of Islam is based on knowledge. All of it is
addressing the intellect of the human being. The first word in it is the word
'READ!' I always say, that a Muslim has no excuse to be ignorant. It is an
obligation upon every Muslim to seek for knowledge, male or female. From the
time he or she is born until the time he or she enters the grave. Not only
Islamic knowledge, but all types of knowledge. Seek Islamic knowledge together
with worldly knowledge, because the Prophet pbuh) said that you should seek
knowledge even if you have to go to China for it. And we know that at the time
that the Prophet (pbuh) said this, he was not directing people to go to China
for Islamic knowledge, but still he said these words. I am very pleased, once
again to hear that you people are doing your best in making an effort to study
Qur`an, and in trying to understand the meaning of this Book This Book is our
Message. It is the last Message from Allah to all of mankind, and to every
individual person. In it HE has said what HE likes, and what HE does not like.
What HE likes; whoever does it, what will be the reward? And what HE does not
like; whoever commits it, what will be the punishment on the Day of Judgment?
Today in this life we have choices. If Atlanta is not suitable to you, you can move to Washington, to New York, to Africa, to Asia, wherever you like. But on the Day of Judgment there is no choosing. You can only go to Paradise or to Hellfire, and you have to work for Paradise in this life. This is the way, and here, is the place to work for reward in the Hereafter. After making effort to understand the Book, you have to work. We have to apply the message of the Book in ourselves, in our daily activities, and in our relationships, because Allah has mentioned all of these things in this Book. And also because the Prophet (pbuh) has said 'I left with you what, if you hold fast onto it, you will never be led astray after me; that is the Book of Allah and my path.' The Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh), wherever mentioned, is what he said or did or has been said or done in front of him, and he accepted it. Elsewhere the Prophet (pbuh) said: 'All of mankind are going to Paradise except him who refused.' They asked him: 'Who would refuse to go to Paradise?' He said: 'Whoever obeys me, he has accepted to go to Paradise, and whoever disobeys me has refused to go to Paradise.'
Once again, we should tighten our relationships and our brotherhood as Muslims and act according to Islam. We are Muslims. Being a Muslim means you should be acting like a Muslim. You cannot claim to be a Muslim and be busy acting like someone else. If any person is doing that, he is fooling no one but himself. You can fool people, but no one can fool Allah. The Prophet (pbuh) has shown us the character of a Muslim, the character of a Believer and the character of a Migrator. He said: 'A Muslim is he whom, all Muslims are safe from both his tongue and his hand. He or she never uses his or her hand to harm any Muslims.' Muslims are our brothers and our sisters throughout the world. There are one billion Muslims (more or less), throughout the world. Whoever said 'La ilaha illa-llah, Muhammadar Rasulu-llah', he or she is considered as one of our large family. We should be nice to him or her. If you can help any Muslims, then you should do it. But if not; then at least don't harm any of the Muslims. A Mu'min (a Believer of the One God) is he from whom the Muslims are safe. They are safe in their lives, their property, and their wealth. They can trust him or her with their person, with their life, and with their wealth and nothing will happen to it. That is a Believer. Elsewhere, the Prophet (pbuh) said: 'Belief is what you have established in your heart, and your actions prove it.'
Migration has not ended with the migration of the Prophet (pbuh), from Mecca to Medina with his companions. He said: 'Still, whoever migrated away from what Allah has forbidden, he is considered a Muhajjir (Migrator).' May Allah help us! May Allah guide us to the right path! The right path is His Book, and in this Book, we have proof that all of it is truth from Allah. It is enough for us to read one ayat (verse) in Qur`an. Allah says: 'If We read it to you, follow the reading, and to explain it is up to Us.' When Allah said this the Qur`an was only in the Arabic language, and where? In Arabia. Today, the Qur`an has been translated into more than 70 languages. It is the most famous book in the world today. Despite the enemies of Islam and the fight against Islam, and against Muslims throughout the history of Islam, still the Qur`an is the most famous Book. Allah also promised: 'We are the One who revealed Qur`an and We are the One who will protect it.' Other Books, there is something added to them or something taken from them, but that does not happen to Qur`an. Wherever you read it (in Arabic), as soon as you make a mistake, a little boy will even correct you. That is one of the signs that this Book is well protected by Allah. Once again, I thank you and I am praying for you and I am very glad and pleased to be with you. As-Salaamu Alaykum, wa Rahmatu-llahi, wa Barakatuhu!"
The Imam of Masjid Al-Muminun, Imam William Abdur Raheem, extended cordiality to the Shaykh and asked him to give Kalimah Shahadah to a young brother. The Shaykh said to him: "Make your finger like this (holding up the index finger of his right hand). Repeat the words that I am saying. Say: 'Ashhadu an la ilaha illa-llah (he repeated them), wa ashhadu anna Muhammadar Rasulu-llah (he repeated them).' Say: 'I bear witness that there is no god but the One God (he repeated them), and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God (he repeated them).' Do you believe that in your heart? (The answer is yes) Everyday you should pray 5 times: the morning prayers, noon, afternoon, sunset, and the night prayers. In every year you have to fast one month, that is the month of Ramadan. If you have wealth you have to give Zakat. That is the Poor Tax. It is 2.5 per cent of your wealth, after your necessary expenses, to be given to the poor people in every year. And also, if you have the means and ability to go to perform the pilgrimage of Islam (Hajj), you must go once in your lifetime to perform the pilgrimage to the Holy City Mecca. Do you accept all that? (The answer is yes) Say Al Hamdu li-llah." (He said Al Hamdu li-llah!) (The people said loudly:) TAKBIR! (Allah is Great), TAKBIR! TAKBIR!
Another young man wanted to accept Islam also. The Shaykh said: "Say 'Ashhadu an la ilaha illa-llah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadar Rasulu-llah'. Do you believe that? (The responses were the same as above.) Everyday you have to pray 5 times: in the morning, noon, afternoon, sunset, and the night prayers. In every year you have to fast one month, that is the month of Ramadan. If you have wealth, you have to pay Zakat. That is Alms, 2.5 %, to be given to the poor people. If you have the means and ability to go to Mecca for the pilgrimage of Islam, you must go once in your lifetime to perform the pilgrimage of Islam. Do you accept that? Say 'Al-Hamdu li-llah'. Praise be to Allah!
Okay. From now on you are Muslims. Our obligations are now yours. The
Muslims are your brothers and your sisters. If you can help Muslims anywhere in
the world, please do help them. If not, at least do not harm a Muslim, either
with your tongue, or with your hand. That is Islam. Whoever has lived after the
Prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and died without saying the words 'La
ilaha illa-llah, wa Muhammadar Rasulu-llah', Allah created him but He does not
like him.
You have said it (The Words of The Witness). Be sure that Allah loves you. Try
your best from now on to increase your knowledge of Islam. Try to read the
Book, to understand its meaning, and to answer the call. Pray with them (the
Muslims), and fast with them, and if you have wealth to support the cause of
Islam, please go ahead and support Islam. What was your name (to the first
one)? Kent Johnson? Okay. (We give you the name) Tajj-ud-deen. Muhammad
Tajj-ud-deen." (The people say loudly:) TAKBIR! TAKBIR! TAKBIR!
Shaykh Hassan Cisse named the other brother Muhammad Abdus-Sami, and said:
"Salaams, Salaams ... Farewell to Muslims at Capital Avenue."
Compiled by Abdullah Abdul-Malik ibn Daud.
Edited by A. H. Halim.
Noor Ala Noor Home Page
http://home.earthlink.net/~halimcisse/
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