Sat Sri Akaal, Assalaamu Alaykum, and welcome to everyone here! As Executive Director of KARAMAH, a Muslim women lawyer s organization that works for the human rights of all people, it is inspiring to see Muslim leaders and institutions come together with our brothers and sisters from the Sikh community. We, all of us in this room, are joined by our common humanity, but we are also joined by ignorance and violence, and so we stand together through this adversity. The Sikh community stood by our side in our hour of need after 9/11, and we will never forget that. We, now and always, stand by you as you stood by us and we look forward to advancing a vibrant interfaith community to stand together against all injustices. While it is heartening that we stand in solidarity tonight, our hearts are attuned to the fact that we are also here in shared sadness over the recent murder of six Americans in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. While all of us have expressed grief over tragedy, I want all members of the Sikh community here tonight to know that the Muslim community is also in pain, and we look forward to rebuilding with you in the coming months and beyond.
I have learned from personal experience how beautiful it can be when communities come together. I am from a small town in East Tennessee, and my parents still tell me the story of when the day they moved from New Jersey. At first they were a little afraid, being the only Muslims and the first Desis or as I call us Brown Folk to move into this town of a little over 3,000 souls. My parents left early in the morning and the moving truck was to follow behind them. Unfortunately, a huge snowstorm came through and the truck couldn t make it over the hills and valleys that we are so proud of in East Tennessee. So my parents arrived safely but came to an empty house, a newborn baby, with no crib, and no food in the dead of winter. They were completely alone until their neighbors realized what was going on. My parents didn t need to wait long to start feeling the small town warmth that Southerners are famous for. In only a few hours, people from across their neighborhood were dropping by to help out. Some brought a bed, others brought a crib, and all of them brought a warm casserole or dessert to welcome the new family to town.
This story of communities coming together to take care of their neighbors is the greatest American tradition. It is also a tradition we carry on tonight. Tonight is a special reminder of our common concern for our neighbors and brothers and sisters in faith. However, even though events like tonight are special, they are far from unique. From the beginning of our Ummah, Muslims have enjoyed and benefitted friendships with other faith communities. When early Muslims were persecuted in Mecca, it was a Christian king that gave us protection. After the hijrah (when the Prophet Muhammad left Mecca to go to settle in Medina), a nascent Muslim Ummah was welcomed and again offered protection by Jewish and pagan tribes. After coming to Medina, one of the Prophet s (SAW) first actions was to create the Charter of Medina, a document that joined the Muslims and non Muslims of Medina into a single Ummah a single community.
Muslims also realize that interfaith appreciation is a blessing. While in Mednia, Surat Hujurat was revealed to the Prophet (SAW). Among other things, this surah tells us O people! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other. This is a beautiful verse that reminds Muslims that God created humans with diversity, and that it should be appreciated. In modern times, Muslims should remember the story of Medina and the Surat Hujurat, and explore what it means. On the one hand, God tells us through the Qur an that diversity is intentional. Our Prophet Muhammad (SAW), who interpreted the Qur an for us through his actions created an exemplary interfaith community where people of different faiths were bound through treaty and honor to protect each other. These serve as clear signals to Muslims for interfaith cooperation and appreciation. We are following these signals by events like tonight, and all of us deserve credit for taking this stand.
When we stand here tonight, we are not only standing with the Sikh community, but we are also making a stand for universal religious tolerance and care. We are championing peaceful responses to hateful speech and actions. When people ask what American Muslims are doing to denounce terrorism and oppression across the world we can proudly respond that we are standing in firm opposition to all terrorist ideologies that disrespect the sanctity of human life regardless of whether they are justified by a perverse interpretation of our faith or by a perverse form of American patriotism. So tonight we should contemplate ways to advance our inclusiveness and empathize with one another. But before Muslims feel too good about ourselves, we should realize that this is an easy thing to do. It is easy for us to join together when the nation stands so firmly behind us. So tonight let us not be too quick to celebrate our inclusiveness and compassion for our Sikh friends. It does not take great courage to stand with the overwhelming majority against obvious prejudice. It is also not difficult to denounce ignorant and murderous hatred in the company of friends. While we should
recognize we have a shared enemy in ignorance, and that we face real danger from misguided citizens in our community, we must also realize that our most dangerous enemy is our own apathy. Attacks like what happened in Oak Creek motivate us to stand together and realize our highest ideals. But why are we not doing this on a more consistently and more actively? It might be because when we are asked Will you stand with the nation against this religious intolerance? it is easy to answer with an emphatic Yes! These are big injustices that gather a lot of attention. However, it is much more difficult, but much more important, for us to seek out the small injustices, that sap the energy of our community, and stand against those without being asked even when the cost is high, and the political reward is small. It is hardest for us to stand with our brothers and sisters of other faiths when no one is watching, and there is no cost for abandoning them. The real work will begin as soon as tonight ends. The real challenge will come a week from now, or a month from now, when the nation has
forgotten this tragedy and moves onto another. Will we spend our limited resources and time to stand for justice for all Americans? This is not a small question. Fighting on the side of justice takes real sacrifice. If we are interested in standing with the Sikh community, it means that the next time we lobby the government for greater recognition of hate crimes against Muslims, we also tell them not to forget the hate crimes against Sikhs, Jews, Christians, Hindus, or those of any other faith community. Take for example the fact that Sikh Americans have been unable to report hate crimes against them as Sikhs because there is not a spot on the form for their community. We should view this as a slight to all religious communities in America. Again, this kind of support is not easy and it is not cheap. But what does our religion call on us to do? Muslims are not asked to defend the strong. In Medina, the Prophet (SAW) did not ignore the injustices done to non Muslims. No. Islam stands for justice and dignity for all the children of Adam, and when the Prophet (SAW) saw injustice in his
community, he ensured that it was addressed. As Muslims we are called to promote justice, especially when it is difficult. And we are up to the task. During partition in South Asia, there are many stories of Muslims and Sikhs protecting each other. During the Civil Rights movement, Muslims stood with Christians to fight for equality of all people despite their race. During 9/11 Muslims joined by Sikhs and those of other faiths risked and lost their lives to save their countrymen at ground zero. And in the past few weeks, I have seen many Muslims stand with the Sikh community to denounce hate in all its forms, and call for a country that celebrates its diversity. So tonight let us celebrate our re commitment to standing in solidarity with the Sikh community. Let us realize the difficulties that lie ahead, but also realize the benefits it can bring. Let us understand that when we pool our resources and work to build a community that cares for people of all faith communities, it benefits us more than going it alone. And let us lose the fear that comes with putting others before ourselves, and give into the belief that when people unite in the cause of justice, they always win.
Let me say one final time to my Sikh friends, I look forward to building a stronger community with your help. And to my Muslim brothers and sisters, I challenge you to find new ways to defend and promote justice for all Americans. And, all of us should strive to live up to the inspiring legacies of our traditions whether they are Muslim or Sikh or American. The just path is not always easy, but if we travel it together we will always have good company.