We Are Mohammedans

Ahmed Hulusi, translated by Ahmed Baki

You know, we are Mohammedans...

It may be asked, what does Mohammedan mean?..

Mohammed is a Servant of ALLAH. Likewise the rahmat (grace) of ALLAH be upon the entire creation, being Servant of ALLAH is about being kind to all people without considering any discrimination or any disunion among them. It means trying the most in giving people unconditionally.

Being Mohammedan means refraining from blaming, condemning or scorning any person for matters which are not of their choices. It means Affection; it means Love; Grace and Mercy. Being Mohammedan is to be generous!..

We love whether Shia or Sunni. We love whether Kurd or Turk or Arab. We love all servants of ALLAH. We do our best to serve all servants of ALLAH. We are not bound by any sets of preconditioning that people invent for their personal benefits.

You might be descending from a Kurdish family or from a Turkish one. You may have been raised in a Shia community or in a Sunni one. Some external factors may have preconditioned you to attach on various judgments. But, we do not mind them, at all. The only significant criteria for us is that you be a servant of ALLAH... Regardless of our places of birth, whether it is Turkey, Africa or America, each one of us is a servant of the same One, ALLAH.

Being Mohammedan means recognizing all people regardless of their differences. It means to love people; it means to have tolerance. Because, a Mohammedan sees "ALLAH" in hearts, in the essence of people and in their consciousness... How could you explain then, if you do not perform your sajda (prostrate yourself) before ALLAH Whom you face?..

People perform sajda by standing in a circle around Kaba... If you remove the walls of Kaba from between, which is in the midst of people, you will see that sajda is fulfilled toward ALLAH Who is the Reality already within people...

ALLAH is not a god standing up-somewhere. ALLAH IS present within all of our hearts, within our consciousness and within every atom of ours... Do you realize then, who is the One we ever dislike, we get annoyed, we disgrace or we do not tolerate and hate?..

My friends... Some people are aware, but some are not! None is capable of knowing everything. No one has the same opportunities of research and learning. Therefore, we should not accuse people who are not informed or misinformed on certain matters. We should not disgrace anyone! We should not look down on anyone...

The creation of ALLAH is infinite. Each unit of creation has its different perspective and beauty. We should try to love them all despite their mistakes, errors and deficiencies...

Sooner or later, everyone of us will pass away. Speaking on my part, I have already leaned the ladder of ages onto my fifties. I do not know if I will live three or five more years. We would be happy if there is someone who recites and sends a few "Kulhuwallah" (Sura Ikhlas) and an Alhamdu (Sura Fatiha) from behind and who says "May ALLAH be glad (radhi) of him!.." What a loss if we could not even attain that!

Infinite number of wealthy people, sultans or statesmen have all passed away in spite of all their achievements, leaving every possession behind. If they were able to make themselves remembered in charity, this is simply their gain. If they are not remembered in benevolence, they are there at loss, also.

People must not be accused of matters which are not results of their own decisions. This fact is common sense. Why do we still dare to charge people based on odd judgments that they are Turks or Kurds or Arabs or Gypsies or others? How humane is this?

We are beings of limitlessness, created within the Science of Allah. We take part for short temporal periods in this world. Maybe tomorrow in an unexpected moment we will depart from this world. What kind of a reasoning can we have if we have turned life into darkness, caused it to be unendurable and full of grief for each other, and if we destroyed each other in a world we stay for such temporal periods?..

If you want to understand Islam, look at Mewlana Jelaluddin, look at Yunus Emre, look at Hadji Baktash Wali! Look at Ahmed Yasewi! There are so many people of insight, spiritual understanding and mystery to pay attention to. They are representatives of Islam and they represent what being Mohammedan is... Those who watch out and criticize the physical position of your body during your prayers, who question your style of dressing or your shirts with short sleeves or your not wearing nightcap in a mosque and who accuse you of such reasons, are quite unaware of Islam.

Consider and understand those great people who share the same insight, if you want to learn Islam and understand the thought system of Islam.

When I say "I am Mohammedan," I mean, I am one of those who meet people with grace regardless of their belief, religious order or path they follow.

Prophet Ibrahim is the ancestor of Mohammed Mustafa. Let me tell you a story about him to conclude my remarks...

As might be known, Prophet Ibrahim is well-known for his generosity (karam). He would not ever eat alone without someone sharing his meal. One evening after he prepared his dinner as usual, he noticed that there was nobody to eat with him. He was all alone and he prayed his lord, saying "Oh Rabbi! Please, send me a guest to share my meal as I haven't got anyone to join me in my meal.."

And Prophet Ibrahim's prayer was accepted at the sight of Truth (by Janab Haqk). Before long, he heard someone calling from outside: "Is there someone inside?"

Jumping out of his place, Ibrahim opened his door: "Welcome," he said upon seeing an old man outside. "Come in, please! Sit down for some food!"

The old man stepped in and then they sat to eat together. Saying "Bismillah," (in the name of Allah) Prophet Ibrahim took a slice off bread. And the man too reached to the bread and cut off a piece.

"Oh, no," said Prophet Ibrahim. "Don't you say 'Bismillah' before you begin eating! You should mention the name of Allah! Mention the name of Allah who gave all this food for us!.."

The man, so old with a beard down to his belly, said "But, I do not know your lord. Who is he?"

Prophet Ibrahim said, "This is unacceptable! How can I share my food with someone who does not recognize ALLAH, and denies Hu!"

Those words broke the old man's heart. "OK then," he said. He stood up and walked out...

After the old man had left, Prophet Ibrahim received a revelation (wahy) by ALLAH, right away:

Ibrahim jumped out of his place all at once and rushed to the man, saying "O! Come! Even if you do not know Hu! Come back! I was warned by my Lord because of my attitude toward you. "

The man asked "What happened that you changed your mind?" Ibrahim repeated what he had been informed, and begged the man "Please, for Allah's sake, come on, sat with me and share my meal." The old man said, "Is this what your Lord talked to you?" Ibrahim said, "Yes, my Lord said so." Then the old man said, "Your Lord is really a great and an exalted Lord. Then I believe in your Lord..." They then sat at the meal and ate together...

We are descendants of Prophet Ibrahim. We are descendants of Mohammed Mustafa. We are Mohammedans. So, let us love people and welcome them warmly despite any naming they bear in the eyes of people...

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