| A Prayer
In the name of God Most Merciful, Most
Compassionate
We believe and cherish that all human
beings in this world, regardless of gender, race, nation, or religion, are
blessed with three beautiful lights.
The first light is the light of
intelligence placed in our heads so that we can tell right from
wrong.
The second light is the light of
consciousness placed in our eyes so that we can take lessons from what we
see.
The third light is the light of compassion
placed in our hearts so that we love God's creation, and through this love
we learn how to love Him. How could anyone love God without loving His
creation?
On Tuesday September 11th, in front of our
eyes, thousands of innocent fathers, mothers, children, sisters, brothers,
friends, loved ones, who went to work to bring sustenance to their
families, were killed indiscriminately, regardless of age, gender, race,
nation or religion. How could this villainous act be the work of a human
being who is honored with these three lights, intelligence, compassion,
and consciousness? We fear that this villainous act has another target
beyond the innocent lives of the lost, a hidden target: the hearts of the
millions.
We fear that with the suffering, grief,
sadness, and anger inflicted upon our hearts, we will be ready to trade in
the light of compassion, one of the most beautiful gifts of God, for the
darkness of hatred. If the darkness of hatred drives compassion from the
heart, neither the light of intelligence nor the light of consciousness
survives. When there is no intelligence, there is no reasoning, there is
no religion, there is no humanity. When the darkness of hatred enters the
heart, anyone can be a terrorist.
The place of the lost ones is the beautiful
Garden of Paradise. Those who sacrificed their own lives for the lives of
others are the true martyrs. For us who were left behind, I pray, "O
Lord, increase our strength so that in your Name we can fight the darkness
of hatred with the light of compassion. Help us to eliminate the
separation of 'you' and 'I,' 'your religion' and 'my religion.' Unite us
as one nation, the nation of the human race." Amin.
-Yurdaer
al-Jerrahi. This khutba was delivered on September 14, 2001, on the
occasion of the funeral prayer offered at the Jerrahi Mosque in Chestnut
Ridge, New York, for Muhammad Shahjahan al-Jerrahi, father of four, and
the other Muslims slain in the disaster.
Halveti-Jerrahi Order
http://www.jerrahi.org/911/yurdaer_aljerrahi.htm |