Q: You are an insult to Muslims. You are disgusting as an imaam. It is obvious you are lacking any if not all intellect and a board lacky. A flyer shows you stand with Israel. I did not come for your khutba after seeing the flyer. My son had this to say, let him respond before we make judgment. Olse clarify how a board member shares a post on Husam Aylush then a flier talk about you guys with Israel and none [of the] board members on the chat room says anything. This is a contradictory message. Shukran Run!
A: Asalamualikum, Br Run:
Since yesterday, I have received a significant number of inquiries regarding the flyer in question and the decision to allocate only 60 to 70% of the khutba to this topic. Your message is forthright and I appreciate your desire for a direct response.
1) Muslims are encouraged to empathize in collective sufferings, guided by the hadith that reminds us, ‘We are brothers and sisters to each other, and we do not oppress or abandon one another.’ To neglect this aspect is to lack mercy, which goes against the core principles of our religion.
2) The flyer mentions both “Imam” and “Rabbi” without specifying any particular Imam or Rabbi, while also (ironically) naming the police chief. Notably, Mr. Gorell has visited our Musjid, which has led some to associate the flyer as a sponsorship of the ICCV and its spiritual leadership, consequently extending to all Musaleen (congregational members) and, in turn, to a segment of our entire community. The statement pledges the safety of various faith-based communities, we should be glad law enforcement is taking our safety into consideration, and we wish the same kindness was extended to Palestinian brothers and sisters.
3) It’s crucial to emphasize that anyone who supports Mr. Jeff Gorell and his ideas should not perceive this message as an attack on anyone; it serves as a gentle reminder that, in times of heightened tensions, we must be mindful of the implications of our words and actions. It’s important to reiterate that not all Jews stand with Israel on this matter, just as not all Muslims do. Anticipating unanimous support in either case is unrealistic.
4) Considering that not all Rabbis support the actions perpetrated by Israel, it would be naive to assume full Muslim support during this ongoing current crisis. Based on the Harvard letter that questions the practices of Israel, we now know that many student groups are also reserved in sharing unconditional support towards an internationally sponsored military machine.
5)We should note that the statement indicates that the Ventura County officials are working for the safety of Americans who are trapped in Gaza. While we wish that this statement would go further to have included the safety of all Palestinians, we are appreciative to the gesture towards our locals that are abroad.
6) With further scrutiny of the flier, I think it was the first sentence of: I stand with Israel’ that has created the negative reaction within readers. However, please note that the flier is in accordance with United States national planning strategy and foreign policy relations. Thus, I request that you take further questions directly to Mr Gorell for any further discussions as it relates to this matter.
You can find my previous responses to these concerns below, which were provided well before the release of this flyer in question. Lastly, please note that my role here is to address matters concerning myself. I am not accountable for the board’s actions or responses. I hope you will revisit the issue and engage with me personally for a more informed conversation after reviewing my earlier responses on this blog. Your engagement is valued. From one Muslim to another, I appreciate your family’s decision to seek clarity directly from me, rather than relying on mere hearsay.
May Allah (SWT) bless you and your loved ones.
Allah Certainly Knows Best.