Faith, the People of Afghanistan, and the Passing of General Colin Powell

20 October 2021

By Imam Earl Abdulmalik Mohammed

We seek G’d’s Help and His Guidance in all matters. We have the expectation of Guidance from G’d, that G’d Guides us, and that human society cannot be what G’d intends without His Guidance. This is a component of our faith, that we believe and trust in what G’d gives us in His Word and in those He has sent to demonstrate His Word. The international Muslim community is one global community of faith above any other characterization. G’d says that the Muslim identity is built upon faith in our hearts and also built upon our minds recognizing and consciously answering the call to faith:

رَبَّنَاۤ اِنَّنَا سَمِعۡنَا مُنَادِيًا يُّنَادِىۡ لِلۡاِيۡمَانِ اَنۡ اٰمِنُوۡا بِرَبِّكُمۡ فَاٰمَنَّا

“Our Lord, we have heard a caller, calling to Faith: Believe you in your Lord. And therefore, we have believed.”

With this faith in our hearts we register the concerns of all Muslims, and ultimately a universal concern of the condition or state of the soul for the human family. Islam’s actual appeal is to the whole human family. This faith gives us perspective on those matters which trouble human populations. A proper victory for Islamic society should also a be victory for human progress.

The Muslim conscience is not at ease if human society is troubled. The Muslim conscience is not eased when Islam and the societies of Islam are portrayed as anything that sends a message opposed to the invitation to faith. Islam can’t tolerate that Muslims be portrayed as oppressors. If we fight or make war, it cannot be for any dominance. It must be for justice. And it cannot be a misdirected, cloudy perception of justice at the foundation of that conflict. The Islamic struggle must be universally recognized as in the cause of a true justice.

I am a Muslim and an American. That is an important recognition. That is a revealing relationship. Not all Muslims in America identify as Americans. They want the opportunities that are available to them in America -economic, educational, etc., but they do not want the responsibility to hold up the American idea of society. They do not want the all of the obligations of a dutiful citizen. If you accept to be in America and you are a conscious Muslim, then the teachings of Islamic faith obligate you to honor your contract. Allah says:

يٰۤـاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اَوۡفُوۡا بِالۡعُقُوۡدِ

“O you who believe, fulfill all obligations.”

The African-American people, in the time of the first builder of this community that I represent now -the father of Imam W. Deen Mohammed, the Honorable Elijah Mohammed, were a people brutalized and mistreated as humans in this country. The laws at that time in this country were not respecting them as human beings, not even to mention acknowledging and treating them as citizens. In that time it was America in general -its systems, and more specifically white America in its disposition that had violated its contract with the African-American population.

These comments are not focusing that problem right now, but I am mentioning these things only to give some historical facts so that I may comment on the issue of the Muslims in Afghanistan and also the passing of General Colin Powell. The Honorable Elijah Mohammed had a strategy to deal with that problem in America. Imam W. Deen Mohammed took the best of what his father left, and continued a strategy to deal with that problem. In this time, I am continuing to work Imam W. Deen Mohammed’s strategy without deviating. I am working it even as I address this specific concern.

I cannot feel comfortable knowing that the country I am a citizen of is at war or has been in a long war with another country that identifies itself as a Muslim country. I can look at that Muslim country and I may see some corrupt types in positions of influence, but I also know that there are individuals and families in that country that are devoting themselves to G’d in faith. There are fathers and mothers and children who identify in the same understanding that I and my family have of what is a proper relationship with our G’d and all human beings. I know this because we are following the same Guidance. We are following the same Prophet Muhammed.

I am not saying that all of us have exactly the same appreciation for these things. But, I am saying that we are informed and influenced by the call and answer to Faith. That means we have a strong and informed notion of justice and just causes. We have a strong and informed notion of decency. We have a strong sense for what is correct morality, correct attitudes, correct reasoning for upholding decency before G’d as a rule or order for society.

I don’t know that I can say comfortably that I could support the government of Afghanistan as it existed during the American military presence there. Nor, can I say that I feel comfortable with the Taliban government’s view on many issues. Their name says ‘Students’, and by that they mean to suggest that they are students of Muhammed the Prophet. I don’t think they are the best examples of students of the Prophet. I think they can learn something from the students of Imam W. Deen Mohammed as students of Muhammed the Prophet. I would like to think some among them are open to that. Prophet Muhammed would not support the dishonoring of the dignity of any Believer, male or female. He made a way for females to be honored in traditional roles and leadership roles. This is a hint to the wise and honest.

I believe in the Afghan Determination. I believe that the people of Afghanistan are a believing people. I support them and will fight alongside them against any and all oppressors in this world. I mean this very seriously. The Afghan people have my brotherhood, my resources, and my voice in support of them.

I feel certain that General Colin Powell, our sincere sympathy and condolences are extended to his wife and children and grandchildren, would express support for the Afghan people, though he was the top military leader in America during much of the time of the conflict in Afghanistan. As Secretary of State he expressed support for the cause of the Palestinian people acknowledging that he himself had come from an oppressed people in America, and that all oppressed peoples or those who have prevailed in spite of their oppression should acknowledge each other and find ways to support each other.

I met him once by chance at a shoe store in the Washington DC area and introduced myself to him as Imam W. Deen Mohammed’s Representative. He was genuinely delighted to meet me and know of my role at that time, to my surprise. We talked for a short while and he assured me of his knowledge of and affection for Imam Mohammed. I was very happy to report that to the Imam, and the Imam was equally happy to hear it. In that conversation with General Powell, I mentioned to him that the Imam had told me and many others that he would support him if he had the interest to run for President of the United States. He told me that he had not made a decision on that but if he decided to do it he would welcome and value Imam W. Deen Mohammed’s support.

This man was not saying this to me for any shallow flattery or meaningless small talk. We had each other’s attention for those moments and he wanted to convey to me his sincere respect for the history of our community and our leadership in America, and this world. Whatever deserved recognition General Colin Powell receives as an American soldier and statesman do not tell his story completely. America honors him as well it should. He was a great human being and a great American in many ways. But also, Muslim African-Americans should pray to Allah for the best for him and his family in this time. Again, a hint to the wise and informed.