Assallamu Alaikom and May Peace and Blessings Be Upon You!
On this day, we thankfully commemorate one of the greatest figures in our great nation’s history.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an inspirational leader, and we are all truly blessed for the great strides that he made in the realm of civil rights. He saw injustice and chose to stand up and speak out. He faced the strong currents opposing him in order to motivate others and to ensure that the vital rights of human equality were acknowledged and implemented.
However, this struggle did not end with him. We can still see an unfortunate rise in the mistreatment of others driven by ignorance, fear, and misrepresentation; we are all searching for an effective means to confront injustice and preserve the right for Muslim Americans to live harmoniously within our great nation. We gain strength and a means of guidance in how to do so when we remember and honor the peaceful and bold efforts made by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
In Islam, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us “Whosoever of you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then [let him change it] with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart — and that is the weakest of faith.” [Muslim].
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. knew what was right in his heart, and he used that passion to speak about it with his eloquent words, and to act upon it by mobilizing others through groundbreaking forms of civic engagement.
CAIR Pittsburgh sends out its thanks to all hardworking civil rights leaders, and expresses hope and determination to champion the cause of civil liberties in this great city of ours.
Sincerely,
Alia Schindler
(Program Director)
