REMEMBERING AL-HAJJ MALIK ASH-SHABAZZ

REMEMBERING AL-HAJJ MALIK ASH-SHABAZZ

THE VANGUARD - THE HERO - THE BELIEVER

On February 21rst, 1965 Al-Hajj Malik ash-Shabazz raheema’Allah ta’alaa, more commonly known simply as Malcolm X, was assassinated in front of his wife, children, friends, and students. After the reign of gunfire and pandemonium that left Shaykh ash-Shabazz raheema’Allah ta’alaa riddled with bullet holes, the room grew silent. The only thing that could be heard were was the weeping of Shaykh ash-Shabazz’s family and friends and the screams of anger and vengeance outside where one of the assassins had been dragged out and beaten. On that day America lost of a hero, students of freedom and justice lost a teacher, a wife lost a husband, children lost a father, warriors lost a comrade, and the growing Muslim American community lost a voice. Despite these great losses, the Muslim American community also gained something that day. Shaykh Al-Hajj Malik ash-Shabazz gained his martyrdom on that day insha’Allah ta’alaa and the Muslim American community gained a legacy. A legacy of being at the forefront of the fight for freedom, justice, equality, and all that which is good. The people of America witnessed this work and sacrifice of Shaykh ash-Shabazz who once said,

"We declare our right on this earth...to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary."

By any means necessary, these words were the bricks that were used to pave the path of the Muslim in America, but what have we done with it? I could write another article remembering the life of Shaykh ash-Shabazz, I could tell you what kind of man he was, I could tell you what kind of husband he was, I could tell you what kind of father he was, I could tell you what kind of friend he was, I could tell you what kind of speaker he was, I could tell you many things about the man Shaykh Al-Hajj Malik ash-Shabazz. However these are things most of you already know and if not can easily find a way to learn. These are things that have not been forgotten, rather what people have seem to forgotten is NOT THE MAN but what the man CAME WITH. Ya Muslimeen of America, we remember the man who we lost, but have forgotten the legacy he left us! We have forgotten the obligations he reminded us of if in fact we want the honor of calling ourselves Muslims! For the time that Shaykh ash-Shabazz lived as the man he died as the people of America saw not just a man calling and working for justice and peace, but they saw a Muslim man calling and working for justice and peace. What do they see today? What is the image of the Muslim in America today? Have we fulfilled the legacy left to us by Shaykh ash-Shabazz? Have we carried the torch he lit, or have we just let it die out? My dear brothers and sisters, guests and curious onlookers, and friends and enemies I call you to remember not the man, but what the man taught you. Do you remember when Shaykh ash-Shabazz told you,

"Our objective is complete freedom, justice and equality by any means necessary."

Yet the objectives of the Muslim American today is not complete freedom but complete conformity, not complete justice but silence and denial, and not equality but just takes whatever their so-called leaders give them. I guess we forgot about this. Well how about when Shaykh ash-Shabazz told us,

"Without education, you're not going anywhere in this world."

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"Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today."

Yet let’s look at our youth, how many of them are going somewhere in this world or have a passport to the future? How many of our children can name you the titles of the newest albums and movies, but barely remember a single Surah of Al-Qur’an or a single Hadith with its isnad? How many of our sons have shaven the beards and instead of calling themselves names like Muhammad instead call themselves Moe? How of our daughters have taken of their Hijabs and have chosen to free mix and fornicate? Most importantly how many of these youth’s parents are there to tell them what they are doing is wrong and teach them what is right? I can only assume we have forgotten these words of our Shaykh, but how about when he said,

"When a person places the proper value on freedom, there is nothing under the sun that he will not do to acquire that freedom. Whenever you hear a man saying he wants freedom, but in the next breath he is going to tell you what he won't do to get it, or what he doesn't believe in doing in order to get it, he doesn't believe in freedom. A man who believes in freedom will do anything under the sun to acquire...or preserve his freedom."

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"Power in defense of freedom is greater than power in behalf of tyranny and oppression."

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"You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom."

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"You don't have to be a man to fight for freedom. All you have to do is to be an intelligent human being."

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"If you're not ready to die for it, put the word 'freedom' out of your vocabulary."

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"The price of freedom is death."

Muslim Americans today represent everything that these words are not. Muslims cry for freedom, but the minute they realize that freedom costs something whether it is speaking, action, or death they run for the hills. Many may talk about freedom and it may be the most used word in their vocabulary, but how many of us are honestly ready to work for it, to fight for it, and to die for it? Muslims may talk about peace, but lack the understanding that sometimes in order to get peace you have to first put it aside in order to get justice, because without actual freedom and equality there is not actual peace and actual freedom and equality can only be delivered through actual justice.

My Muslim American brothers and sisters you may remember the man, but you have forgotten what he has taught you and you have forgotten the legacy he left you. It is time for us to remember Shaykh Al-Hajj Malik ash-Shabazz ash-Shaheed raheema’Allah ta’alaa, but this time let’s remember him by remembering what our role is. Let us fulfill the legacy insha'Allah ta'alaa!

"Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islam), enjoining all that which is good and forbidding all that which is evil. And it is they who are the successful."

(Al-Qur’an; Surah 3:104)

- Abdullah al-Amin Jones