Hussam Ayloush updated his status.
When the emperor has no clothes, please don't hand him a towel.
On the decision of our dear and respected Imam Magid to chant the Azhaan (Muslim call to prayer) at the Interfaith Presidential Inauguration Prayer.
In the face of unreluctant and unrepentant defamation and animosity toward Islam and Muslims (and many other communities) by this Trump team, a symbolic participation that does not involve any opportunity to preach or make a statement does not qualify as engaging or correcting the wrongdoers, but rather enabling them and providing them with a token cover for their bigotry. Such participation also undermines the courageous and principled activism of so many Muslims and allies who chose to openly challenge this president's bigotry and his promised unjust policies.
Think about the message such a token passive participation sends to the millions of fellow Americans who are standing in solidarity with American Muslims, refugees, undocumented immigrants, Latinos, African-Americans, women, and many other minorities and communities, today.
A good advice is that when the emperor's injustice and bigotry are being exposed, when the emperor has no clothes, please don't hand him a towel, at least not for free.
Today, without a doubt, Linda Sarsour and Zahra Billoo (and the hundreds of thousands of brave women) who chose to protest President Trump and his dangerous agenda lead me and represent me. Our community and our country are blessed to have such principled, brave, and dedicated young leaders. May Allah bless them and protect them and their families. And may Allah guide and forgive all of our leaders and activists.
