Anti-Muslim Bigotry

Yasir Qadhi’s GPU 2008 Speech

Published

November 19, 2008

Dr. Yasir Qadhi

This is the speech referred to in the earlier post: Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism at GPU 2008

[google -5566399027897178411]

0 Shares

Keep supporting MuslimMatters for the sake of Allah

Alhamdulillah, we're at over 850 supporters. Help us get to 900 supporters this month. All it takes is a small gift from a reader like you to keep us going, for just $2 / month.

The Prophet (SAW) has taught us the best of deeds are those that done consistently, even if they are small. Click here to support MuslimMatters with a monthly donation of $2 per month. Set it and collect blessings from Allah (swt) for the khayr you're supporting without thinking about it.

Related Topics:Anti-Muslim Bigotry anti-semitism GPU Yasir Qadhi

Up Next

Potential Fallout of the Holy Land Verdict

Don't Miss

GPU ’08 with Yasir Qadhi: When Islamophobia Meets Perceived Anti-Semitism

Dr. Yasir Qadhi

Sh. Dr. Yasir Qadhi is someone that believes that one's life should be judged by more than just academic degrees and scholastic accomplishments. Friends and foe alike acknowledge that one of his main weaknesses is ice-cream, which he seems to enjoy with a rather sinister passion. The highlight of his day is twirling his little girl (a.k.a. "my little princess") round and round in the air and watching her squeal with joy. A few tid-bits from his mundane life: Sh. Yasir has a Bachelors in Hadith and a Masters in Theology from Islamic University of Madinah, and a PhD in Islamic Studies from Yale University. He is an instructor and Dean of Academic Affairs at AlMaghrib, and the Resident Scholar of the Memphis Islamic Center.

40 Comments

ibnabeeomar

November 19, 2008 at 5:42 PM

that’s it. im bringing a light-saber to all your talks at texas dawah

Reply
AnonyMouse

November 19, 2008 at 6:37 PM

What’s up with the introductory music? :/

Sheikh YQ, am loving your style here masha’Allah… now how soon before they start accusing you of provoking radicalism in your audience? :)

Reply
Yasir Qadhi

November 19, 2008 at 6:45 PM

Light saber?! That bad…!!

BTW I had no idea about the music, in fact I didn’t even hear it since I was backstage and then walking on while it was dying down.

I lost my voice somewhere after the first ten minutes…plus now that I see it myself (for the first time) I spot quite a few mistakes. When you’re speaking onstage in front of such a large audience you have other things to concentrate on then like, say, delivering a lecture…

Reply
ibnabeeomar

November 19, 2008 at 6:51 PM

i was referencing all the ppl in the audience waving light sabers during the talk

Reply
MR

November 19, 2008 at 6:59 PM

LOL @ the light sabers.

See you soon Sh. YQ!

Reply
Sahaba_Soldier

November 19, 2008 at 7:45 PM

great speech sheikh,
I was sad when I saw some of the audiences are not taking the speech seriously,
But I hope that the majority does in sha’ Allah.

Jazak Allah Khair

Reply
Nihal Khan

November 19, 2008 at 8:02 PM

“France! And France! And what will make you realize what France is?”

Wa maa adraaka mal France :P

Reply
Ipswichian by Name...

November 19, 2008 at 8:26 PM

SalaamAlaykum

Shaykh Yasir, may I just say… MashaaAllah, looking very dapper ! ! :)
Was-Salaam – o and great speech!

Reply
Faiez

November 19, 2008 at 9:14 PM

Indeed the heart speaks a different language

Reply
AsimG

November 19, 2008 at 10:08 PM

When I clicked on the video I was thinking this can’t be right.
Seemed like it was a concert entrance or something.

And yes, insha’Allah I’m coming to Tennesse with light sabers.

YESSS ZABIHA YESSS!!!!! WOOOOOOOTTT

Ok i’m done, masha’Allah good job on the lecture shaykh.

Reply
Hidaya

November 19, 2008 at 10:09 PM

^^ MashaAllah at your very productive and intellectual comment.

The lecture was just off the hook but u can clearly telll that Sheikh lost his voice.

Reply
AbuZakariyya

November 19, 2008 at 10:11 PM

nice Sherwani Yasir Bhai mashaAllah! Shaadi ki hai? :)

Reply
OsmanK

November 19, 2008 at 10:38 PM

mashallah great speech. Hypocrisy is indeed taken over the west when it comes to Islam. If a Muslim says something offensive, the whole Ummah has to apologize for it and it is publicly criticized. If a non-Muslim says something equally offensive, he is probably congratulated for “freedom of speech”.

Reply
aboo saleem pheku

November 19, 2008 at 10:56 PM

amazing sherwani

Reply
Amad

November 19, 2008 at 10:58 PM

Seriously, that was quite awesome.

Reply
ibnabeeomar

November 20, 2008 at 12:08 AM

this was really an inspiring speech mashallah, i enjoyed listening to it. i think it touches upon some excellent strategies of combating islamophobia, especially in terms of how to draw comparison to other “faith based” groups.

Reply
ibnabeeomar

November 20, 2008 at 12:09 AM

btw the sherwani was nice – but the beard looks like it was professionally done ;)

Reply
abu abdAllah, the Houstonian

November 20, 2008 at 1:43 AM

innalhamdolillah.

:) “give it up for Shaykh Yasir Qadhi!!!!” :)
and the crowd goes wild!

yup, the shaykh has left the building… man if we could have showed that clip at the end of class on Sunday… alhamdolillah :P

Reply
Ron Ibn Abi Paul Al-Anti-Illuminati

November 20, 2008 at 2:36 AM

Ma shaa’ Allah, excellent speech Sheikh. Totally owned the media. I call this speech: حكم الإعدام في الرد على وسائل الإعلام

Reply
Gohar

November 20, 2008 at 11:44 AM

It was a good speech. Unfortunately, the hall is so big that without the big screen showing the face and emotions of the speaker, people are always going to get distracted.

Reply
fulanah1

November 20, 2008 at 2:55 PM

I am so inspired/overjoyed/eman-filled after hearing this speech, subhanAllah.

may Allah SWT protect dear Yasir Qadhi and raise his rank. ameen

Reply
Rabiya

November 20, 2008 at 3:14 PM

Amazing speech masha’Allaah.

:)

Reply
ibn alHyderabadee

November 20, 2008 at 3:19 PM

cool…yo omar……

if u get a light saber…..i’ll get one too…..

maybe they know Yasir’s a Star Wars fan…..

Reply
ibn alHyderabadee

November 20, 2008 at 3:20 PM

thats some nasty entrance music….lool

Reply
Abu Rumaysah

November 20, 2008 at 3:37 PM

Masha`Allah TabarakAllah..this speech reminded me of the sahaba’s speech to the persian king…this is how guidance, knowledge and faith of Islaam illuminates its adherents and distinguishes the truth from ambiguity, freedom from oppression, justice from bigotry/hatred…barak Allahu feek akhoonal faadhil..

Reply
Siraaj

November 20, 2008 at 4:03 PM

Dude, that entrance music was hilarious. I thought it was like a WWE wrestler intro, and then what followed was, in pitch and tone, was the equivalent of cutting a promo. If only Shaykh Yasir had ended with…

“WHATCHA GONNA DO BROTHER, WHATCHA GONNA DO?!!!!! WHEN YASIRMANIA RUNS WILD! ON! YOUUUU!!!!!”

Reply
Abu Umar

November 20, 2008 at 4:07 PM

A very excellent presentation by Yasir Qadhi. I hope in the future he is able to be more outspoken on political issues, insha’Allah.

Reply
Komal

November 20, 2008 at 4:56 PM

Assalamu Alaikum,

Does anyone have the video of Shaykh Yasir giving shahadah to the sister at GPU…it was really an amazing moment. Im going to try and upload it to youtube soon iA.

Great story at the beginning…it was pretty cool how there were rabbis at the conference…Anti zionism Rabbis…they had their own booth at the conference…really neat.

Reply
Komal

November 20, 2008 at 5:00 PM

Yeah, the light sabers were everywhere. I didnt really get it but oh well. It must be another weird London thing…

Reply
Ibrahim

November 20, 2008 at 6:33 PM

MashaAllah, very well said. May Allah give us the courage to follow the advice given by Yasir Qadhi.

Reply
Jawaad A. Khan

November 20, 2008 at 11:03 PM

“There’s a word in the English language for this, and it’s called HYPOCRISY!” MashaAllah brother, I had a smile throughout…and now I’m hyped up to do some Da’wah and I’d like to make an intention of giving Da’wah to my high school class of what Islam really teaches…
Lailaha Illallah (There’s a word for that in English, it’s called monotheism and is shared by many religions!)

Alhamdulillah Wa Salaamu Alaikum

(p.s. just a side note, bring Al-Maghrib to Banu Noor! (Miami/South FL))!!!!

Reply
usman

November 21, 2008 at 12:39 AM

shaykh yasir just tore it down…excellent speech

Reply
AsimG

November 21, 2008 at 1:59 AM

My only fear is that our shaykhs will spend too much time on politics.

Every speech Shaykh Hamza Yusuf makes at ISNA’s final speech is about politics….it’s get old.

I want an imaan rush when I listen to Islamic speakers or at least some knowledge.

If I’m not getting either then why did I come?

Reply
Abu Umar

November 21, 2008 at 2:21 AM

My only fear is that our shaykhs will spend too much time on politics.

On the contrary, they need to speak more time on politics. They are the ones that should be setting an example on the political front.

Every speech Shaykh Hamza Yusuf makes at ISNA’s final speech is about politics….it’s get old.

I think that is the best time for a figure of Hamza Yusuf’s stature to make political comments.

Reply
MBloggerer

November 21, 2008 at 5:56 PM

SubhanAllah, That was an amazing (and rather fiery/passionate) speech Sh. Yasir! A very dignified response in itself to islamophobia …<>.

We have no reason to ever feel ashamed to practice our religion peacefully in public!

Subhan Allah, an excellent reminder (& so many gems!!). Jazak Allahu khayran Sh. Yasir!

Reply
ibnabeeomar

November 21, 2008 at 7:52 PM

http://www.muzzlewatch.com/?p=418

Reply
Al Madrasi Al Hindee

November 22, 2008 at 12:07 PM

Subhanallah.

‘We are a people who do not fear men because we put our trust in the creator of men’.

Mashallah a brilliant talk.

Reply
fastaqim.blogspot.com

November 25, 2008 at 5:41 PM

Here the video on youtube without the music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0kqmaxWQ_8

Reply
Shibli Zaman

November 26, 2008 at 4:54 PM

as-salamu `alaykum,

The “Khalifa” (Engl. “Caliph”) in Alp Arsalan’s time was al-Qa’im. Alp Arsalan never took the title of “Khalifa” in his life. There were periods in Seljuq history where they removed the `Abbasi Khalifa’s name from their mints and khutub. In their later history, the `Abbasids were relegated to mere titular rulers. This was extremely important in order to counter the Shi`ite propaganda of the Fatimids who actively pursued titular and liturgical authority over the Muslim world. Yet, at no time did the `Abbasi Khalifa cease to represent the Sunni Khilafa until their demise at the hands of Hulagu, the grandson of Tumejin (Genghis Khan). No Sunni ruler or conqueror would have empowered the Fatimids by completely invalidating the `Abbasi Khalifa. It would have been strategically damaging. Allah knows best.

Shakh Yasir, I’ve read the dialog between Alp Arsalan and Diogenes several times, but never read any quoting of Jesus. Where can this be found?

Jazakumullahu khayran, was-salam.

Reply
Shibli Zaman

November 26, 2008 at 5:18 PM

In our times, I would consider it Fard upon the `Ulama’ to make “political statements” to enjoin the good and forbid the evil. If the scholars sit and talk only about Tahara and Asma’ wa-Siffat all the time we’ll be rendered very clean and tidy theologians who are inept to remedy and rectify our present condition.

Shaykh Yasir’s “political statements” probably fall just below the rank of Ibn Taymiyyah’s (rahimahullah) chiding of Mahmud Ghazan which was an act of the best Jihad as designated in the Prophet’s (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) famous Hadith of speaking truth to a tyrant ruler. Allah knows best.

May Allah reward Shaykh Yasir for his important speech. Amin.

Reply