Imams and Fighting Radicalism in North America

Abstract

Indeed God enjoins justice and doing of good (virtue) and giving to kinsfolk,and He forbids all that is shameful (lewdness), and abomination(evil), and aggression (wickedness): He admonishes you so that youmight remember. (Qur’an 16:90)More than 90 percent of practicing Sunni Muslims are likely to hear thisverse recited to signal the end of Friday khutbah. Rightly identified asembodying God’s specific admonition to Muslims, and as one that isworth constant pondering, this verse is cited regardless of the khutbah’stopic partly to imprint its message on the attendees’ minds. In this editorial,however, I use it specifically within the context of religious radicalism asregards both its message and historical application.This very comprehensive verse is loaded with interpersonal values aswell as communal principles. Ibn Mas`ud, the young Companion famous forhis knowledge of the Qur’an, describes it as “the most encompassing verse,in the entire Qur’an, pertaining to good and evil” (ajma` ayatin fi al-Qur’anli khayr wa sharr).1 It is as categorical in its admonition of justice and fairness,kindness and generosity, attention and offerings to relatives as it isclear in its prohibition of shameful acts and lewdness, abomination and evil,and aggression and wickedness. According to Ibn Ashur, these are specificto the Shari`ah’s general principles (usul) of enjoining good and forbiddingevil.2 Were people to lead their entire lives not only cognizant of these elementsbut also according to each admonition, they would create a perfectlyharmonious society ...