September 25, 2024 • 54 mins
In this episode of The Family Ties, co-hosts rank Abdul Shaheed &
Faridah Abdul-Tawwab Brown explore the vital role of family and faith in securing human dignity and a thriving community. They share personal stories, historical references, and spiritual perspectives on how individual responsibility, the pursuit of knowledge, and a strong familial foundation can transform society. The conversation delves into the importance of enlightened cities, the symbolism of light, and the power of community-driven efforts to create a beacon of hope and security. With references to influential figures and scripture, the episode calls for a collective movement towards excellence and a deeper connection to our inherent purpose.
00:00 Welcome to The Family Ties
00:47 Reflecting on Family Moments
03:07 The Spiritual Aspect of Family
05:21 American Exceptionalism and Scriptural Guidance
07:06 Transforming Cities into Cities of Light
09:13 The Light of Knowledge
20:30 The Responsibility of Standing
27:07 Healing and Awakening
29:35 A Call to Action
31:08 The Importance of Urban Settings
32:44 The Enlightened City: Medina Al Munawwara
33:34 Human Dignity in Modern Society
35:25 Cultural Symbols and Abundant Life
37:37 Historical Struggles and Civil Rights
41:52 The Role of Family and Community
44:54 The Orphaned People and Their Guidance
51:10 A Call to Action for a Better Future
53:24 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Copyright 2024
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Frank (00:16):
Peace be upon the family, as we welcome you to another
experience of The Family Ties, aprescription for society.
I am your co host, Frank AbdulShaheed.
Faridah (00:27):
And I am your co host, Farida Abdul Tawab Brown.
Before we get started, don'tforget to subscribe, So you can
stay up to date and get all thelatest episodes.
So I am thrilled to be back herefor another conversation,
another journey towardsexcellence and the destiny for
humanity with you.
So how, how's your week, yourweekend been?
Frank (00:49):
Oh, well, first of all, I'm going to say thank you.
And it's a pleasure for me to beback with you as well.
And also being able to have aconversation with our wonderful
audience.
My week was a very busy week,but in the busyness of the week,
I got a chance to see my son,who is living currently out of
(01:12):
state.
And he flew in to see his dad.
Ultimately, to see his brother,so him and his brother can have
that little week in tryst, ifI'm going to use that term.
But being able to see him andinteract with him and interact
with both of my sons reallyprovided for us a great
(01:32):
atmosphere of conversation.
I got a chance to see theirmaturity level.
Develop more, and they also hada chance to see another side of
me, another intimate side of methat they never really got a
chance to see.
And part of that was, wasn'treally sure if they were old
enough or mature enough to seethat side, but they got it.
(01:55):
And then when I gave it to them,they got it.
So I really had a wonderfulweek.
How was your one?
Faridah (02:01):
That's wonderful.
My week has been eventful.
I too got to see my eldestdaughter.
She does live in the area, butyou know, she came by to have
dinner with us and with thefamily and they were excited
about dinner, but you know, she,she loves soup.
So we were, we were havingchicken soup, a nice, you know,
kind of healing, healthy bowlof, of deliciousness, you know,
(02:24):
but we got to enjoy it with,with our, our eldest daughter.
And so it's, it's been just aweek of preparation.
And I think, reallyacknowledging the, the the
blessings and the privilege ofbeing able to conduct our family
(02:46):
life, the ups and downs, thesuccesses and the You know, and
the failures where we get backup and pull ourselves up again,
but to experience that theblessing of being able to
experience that together withina womb of faith, I think I'm
extremely grateful for that.
And this week has helped me toreflect on that in a very
(03:06):
meaningful way.
Frank (03:07):
I would totally agree with you on that, and I believe
that the faith aspect of thatadds another layer of
insulation, another layer offeeding, another layer of
healing, another and anotherlayer of revelation as guidance
to help.
The family move forward wherenaturally we were created to be
(03:30):
with each other anyway.
So with that, we already have abond that's already there.
That is just a common bond forus.
But the spiritual side of itjust adds another, another level
to it.
And also, you know, listen to mysons who No, their sons.
You know, my sons are in there.
One is in his mid twenties.
The other one is in his uppertwenties and to hear them
(03:53):
wanting to position themselvesas men ready for all
responsibilities and to thepoint where they're second
guessing.
My perspectives as an older manis Always makes for a
entertaining conversation.
I love having the banter withthem, too.
I don't want to hurt theirspirit too much.
(04:15):
So I, I sometimes acquiesce.
In a way to kind of give them alittle bit of to keep the air
under their wings, but it'ssomehow another in my old man
wisdom, I always circle back andgive them something to let them
know that this look, buddy, youstill have a long way to go,
pal, but, but, Hey, you're onyour way.
So, and I'm very proud of themfor that.
(04:35):
So, once again, a blessing tohave family and to have it in a
spiritual way that everyone ison the same page.
And we all.
Relate in that same flow ofenergy,
Faridah (04:48):
you know, I, I, I really thank you for sharing
that with us, you know, with meand with the, the listening
audience, I think it's soimportant, you know, to
understand, like you said, youeven use the word healing, you
know, to have the, the the womb,that extra layer of support and
strength that comes from a, afaithful perspective, a
perspective that is informed andinformed.
(05:09):
by the wisdom, the loving,caring guidance of our creator
is, is it's, it's wonderful andit's healing and it gives us a
perspective.
It gives us a clarity.
And so in, in light of that, I,you know, that we have a
history, you know, as Americansthat, you know, sometimes it's
(05:31):
called American exceptionalism.
But it really is rooted in, Ibelieve, a scriptural idea or
concept, and in particular, inthe American context, a biblical
concept of the city upon thehill, right?
And for, for all of my historybuffs and everyone who had an
(05:52):
eighth grade civics course orninth grade U.
S.
history, you know, you'llremember that John Winthrop, the
One of the Puritans in 1630, hewas, of course, the governor of
the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
And he had written a sermon thatwas entitled, Christian Charity,
A Model Thereof.
And in this sermon, hereferenced that, that, that we
(06:15):
shall be, quote, we shall be asa city upon a hill, the eyes of
all people are upon us.
And so this idea that isingrained in the American ethos,
but that comes out of a veryspecific reading of scripture
that has us look at ourselves ina way that to whom much is
(06:35):
given, much is, is expected,right?
That when you have the clarityof guidance that you're expected
to then lead mankind.
with a life well lived, asociety well constructed, a
family well situated, based uponthat guidance.
So I wanted to ask you, you knowwe, we live in cities and cities
(06:56):
are sometimes representative.
They come, the word city itselfcomes from the Latin, which
means a Latin root meaningcivilians, like a community of
civilians.
And so I wanted to ask you whattransform a city into a city of
light, you know, this idea thatwe would be a beacon in any way,
even this conversation, thispodcast, what, what transforms a
(07:21):
city into that city of lightthat's referenced in scripture.
Frank (07:28):
Interesting.
That's a very, very bigquestion, but it's a question
that's our nature is asking.
Our intellect is, are trying tofind ways to make that happen,
but our nature is already askingthat same question.
So as I'm having conversationswith my sons and we're talking,
(07:52):
and now I just want to say this,that I didn't have a
conversation with both of themat the same time.
I had times with both of themindividually, but in what was
common with our conversationswere a Genesis.
An origin a process of movingforward and also a destination.
(08:14):
So as we were talking about lifeand wanting to get better
understandings of ourexperiences and getting
feedback, it helped the soul.
Feel a certain strength tounderstand that we're going in
the right direction.
Now, we may not have known thiswas the direction to go.
We're making decisions.
And I'm telling him as a parent,I'm trying to be three, four,
(08:37):
five steps ahead of you.
I'm trying to be able toidentify things in you to unlock
these possibilities to give youan environment for those things
to naturally grow and reachtheir potential, their
fulfillment.
But I want to ask you, as I'mtelling my, my children, my
sons, What do you think?
(08:57):
And if you had children, wouldyou follow the same process?
So we just had generalconversations.
But at the end of the, at theconclusion or the end of the
conversation, we both said, weused this term that.
The light of knowledgeilluminates.
(09:18):
So when someone says, Hey, Ijust figured it out, the eyes
light up.
And I told my son, I said, I cansee that light bulb above your
head.
It finally turned on.
Finally, your light bulb turnedon.
And then he responded to me withthat, you know, knowledge is, is
light.
So.
If everyone can see our light,and if the light being turned on
(09:40):
is the, is the goal forknowledge and the goal for
communication and the goal forgood establishments, aren't
every group of people, aren'tevery citizen, isn't every
family required to have on thatlight, to turn on that light?
And if they all turn on thelight, then I believe that
(10:02):
becomes the city of light.
That's how a city gets turned onto become a city of light.
Now, there are other things thathave to come into that
particular city to support thosegood establishments, but the
genesis of it all isunderstanding the development of
the individual and having themhave their best life and as an
(10:24):
individual, but also as acommunity, as a family,
specifically, and each familyare represents a light.
So turn on your porch light.
And if everyone turns on thatporch light.
The necessity of light.
Faridah (10:38):
So when you say, I love that this came up in connection
with your, your sons, you know,in this conversation and that
light, even that, that idea ofthe light bulb moment is
connected.
I think to that light ofknowledge is connected to the
guidance from our creator.
Because even that the lightbulb, when you see that in a
(10:59):
cartoon or just the imagery,when it forms its picture in
your mind, it's, that'sinspiration, you know and
inspiration is what comes when aconnection is made that is not
connection is made that comesfrom the source.
you know, the source of allknowledge, the creator of the
world.
And this connection is made foryou in a way that you can't
(11:20):
necessarily put your finger onit.
But now the knowledge thatyou've worked for and that you
can experience empirically withyour senses is somehow, is, is
somehow elevated and connectionsare made by the guidance of, of
your creator.
And so when I, when I thinkabout light, as you said, every
individual being turned on tome, We said turn the light on
(11:44):
and that automatically, in mymind, gives me a picture of the
human being being turned on,being awakened to his or her
purpose, and that cannot be donewithout knowledge, and of course
that awakening happens as aprocess.
Right?
There's a, there's a processthat happens where the spirit is
awakened almost before the mindis, right?
(12:07):
So there's, there's thisconnection.
There's something in yourspirit, like you said, and you
spoke about this a little bitearlier.
You said there's a processhappening in the, in the
individual.
It's a natural process.
There's a seeking there's in thehuman being as part of the
inherent design.
And so, in the process ofseeking that when a message a
(12:29):
revelation is brought to thatspirit by the material or
natural world around it throughor through a conversation,
there's something awakened inthat human being that says, aha,
right?
I am this, this is what myspirit and my soul is responding
to.
And then you marry that withknowledge.
And now you have a pathwaythat's open to you, and that
(12:52):
light is shown upon the pathway,not only for you, but as you
just said, now that I haveimbued this, this true
understanding of who I am, whyI'm on this earth, and then the
light shining and making thepicture clear.
Now I can shine for others.
And that city is now awakenedand enlightened.
Frank (13:13):
Yes.
So I, I referenced the, theimagery of turning your, your
porch light on growing up as ayoungster.
I don't know if I see it as muchnow because I don't know if I'm
as aware, but as my curiosity asa youngster growing up and
trying to understand my place inthe world, I could remember
neighborhoods Well, the lightswere on and that represented
(13:37):
that someone was home.
Faridah (13:39):
Yes.
Frank (13:40):
So they left there.
They left their lights on toidentify with one another to
say, I'm home.
I'm not only at my home in myfour walls of my house, but I'm
home as a person who's managingthe responsibility of home of a
developmental womb for myfamily, for them to be able to
(14:02):
understand what their private.
Interest are and having them goout into the public and making
sure that their public image ortheir public interests are
similar.
We're developing the privateinterest at home, but we want to
manifest them in the public forour public image, ultimately to
(14:23):
be a service to humanity and tobe a service to our
neighborhoods, to be service tomy neighbor.
So I can have a good, strongfoundation for a neighborhood.
So the light.
And the porch is a symbol aswell for knowing that I'm home,
which means you can come, yousee that porch light on, come
on, knock on my door and I'mgoing to invite you in and I'm
(14:45):
going to give you all of thewarmth and love that the
neighbors should give eachother.
And then that type of spirit andthat type of circumstance, we're
able to build our life.
And we are the first builders ofthat life in order to establish
ourselves as the light as anenlightened city or a light on
(15:05):
the hill.
Faridah (15:06):
That imagery is so powerful.
You know, the, the light leavingthe light on it, it also brings
to mind.
So like you said to me that it'sevoking this memory of, of Gigi,
my great grandmother.
You know, she'd be sitting onthe porch with that front light,
you know, that front porch lighton waiting for us to arrive from
(15:27):
Boston, you know, driving up thesix of us in, in our station
wagon.
And she would be there no matterthe time of night.
And as you said, it was bothwelcoming and it signaled that,
that someone was home, thatthere was someone was awake.
There was a presence that, thatwas emitted, you know, light can
(15:49):
give heat sometimes.
And it, it it, it shows the way,right.
It illuminates.
So one of the things that I wasthinking about, sometimes, you
know, there's, there are sayingsthat we have in, in colloquial
sayings that we have.
And sometimes one of them islike, is the light on, you know,
if someone doesn't look.
As if they are quite aware ofwhat's happening in the
(16:13):
conversation.
And you know, are you followingthis line of logic?
Are you paying attention?
And oftentimes, you know,there's an, you know, is the
light on in there?
And I think that's what ourattention must be drawn to.
As particularly in thisconversation in this movement
that we are trying to build withthis podcast, this podcast is a
(16:35):
communication not, not, not justfrom Frank and Farida, but it's
the communication of a, ascripture based tradition of
freedom, justice, and equalitythat has come through the
particular experience of Of theAfrican American ethnic.
(16:57):
origin story, and then thehistory that came along with
that.
And then the particular the giftof guidance and scripture that
was given to us first throughour experience as a largely
Christian population.
And then for a particularcommunity of us who responded to
(17:17):
a call to to scripture, to thebook of the Quran that came
through the experience of thenation of Islam and was
enlightened that light thatyou're speaking of that was
sparked during the nation ofIslam being turned on fully
under the leadership of ImamMartha Deen Muhammad.
And that is a particularexperience that I think helps to
(17:40):
give us a clarity about where weare in the world and how the
light that all of us need.
have been endowed withinherently in our makeup, in our
design as human beings, thatthat light can be it's, it's
contagious, right?
That we, that once one personhas been awakened, then they,
(18:03):
their responsibility,particularly in this context is
to share that light with others,you know, similar to taking a
candle, right?
You take the candle, you lightit, and then you can light the
candle next to you as, and thenbefore you know it, the entire
circle.
is illuminated and everybody'scandle has been lit because of
the first one.
(18:24):
And so I'm looking at ourcommunities.
Like you said, if the porchlight is on, you know, someone
is home.
If the porch light is on, youknow, that there's a welcoming
presence that wants to sharewith you.
If we take a look today.
And this is why thisconversation is so important.
If we take a look today,honestly, at our communities, at
(18:44):
our family life, we're lookingat a lot of homes and the light
isn't on.
And so what is ourresponsibility if we are holding
this candle?
What are we called to do forthose of us who do have a light?
who have been awakened to ourpurpose.
(19:06):
And I think that is the reasonthat we are here today, that
we've been blessed by thecreator of all the worlds to
come.
in conversation with each otherand with you all today because
there is some responsibility toour community and to the
community, the family of mankindthat we have now that we have
(19:28):
been awakened to our purpose.
Frank (19:30):
Yes, ma'am.
So very well spoken.
So very well articulated.
And our soul naturallygravitates to that and will
accept what you just said in theclimate that we're currently in,
you know, we're in a veryinteresting political climate.
(19:51):
As we are working our way intoour next election that's coming
up very shortly, many times wehave been led to believe that
someone else is going to takecare of us, someone else is
going to give us benefit,someone else is going to make
the, they're going to band aidour boo boo, for lack of better
(20:15):
terms.
Yes, yes.
Someone else is going to make usfeel good about.
Our either good situation or ourbad situation, either one,
someone's going to make us feelokay about it.
But that's not what the humanwas designed to do.
The human was designed to standon their own.
The first standing is the of thehuman individual standing
(20:37):
themselves to make toacknowledge to the world that I
am responsible and i'm takingresponsibility for my life and
i'm also Wanting for the worldto understand that I am with you
in this work of handling thislevel of responsibility.
So ultimately it comes from mefirst, but if I'm not standing,
(20:59):
if I don't, if the world doesn'tsee me standing, then the people
who claim to have our bestinterest at heart when they get
resources and they getopportunities and pathways are
open to us.
In many cases, when we receivethese benefits, we can't manage
them because we haven't, wehaven't stood yet.
We're not standing.
We're not a people standing.
(21:22):
So standing once again is aconviction is something in your
soul that says, Hey, listen,I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm ready.
And my standing is a spiritualmovement.
Standing is a spiritual movementfor man himself.
So when we think back to theclimate that we're in and
wanting to attain this image ofthe city, enlightened city.
(21:47):
The responsibility is on, it'son me, it's on my wife, it's on
my children, it's on my neighborbefore it's on the city council,
before it's on the president,before it's on Congress, before
it's on any of those people, weare the ones who legitimately.
Are to direct them benefit us,not the other way around and not
(22:12):
this ideal that we have, like wehave a country where the
government is for the people bythe people of the people that's,
that's just political language,but we don't often see that in
real life.
We've already given up ourability to manage our own
because we're under thisinfluence that they're going to
manage our life for us.
And if that's the case, then theinnocence of the people in
(22:37):
community life gets slaughteredfor an image that only is a
expedient.
Political or business orfinancial image, it ultimately
dims the light, if notextinguishes it.
So we have to take that stepfirst, and we have to
acknowledge each other firstthat we are standing and ready
(23:00):
for the task of responsibilityto manage our life and our
cities.
Faridah (23:05):
This is a call.
You have just laid down agauntlet, a gauntlet, if you
will.
You're calling us.
back to the clarity and theexcellence of our design.
Yes.
You pointed us to the fact thatthis is something that is, is,
(23:27):
is inscribed upon our very soulsand our spirit.
And that is evidenced by thestanding of the child.
Frank (23:35):
Yes.
Faridah (23:35):
Right.
So we, we are for those of uswho are believers, we understand
that we have guidance inscripture itself and that the
creator of the heavens and earthalso guides us through the
creation.
He gives us signs and some ofthose signs are even in, in our
cells.
(23:56):
as parts of that creation.
And so in pointing to thestanding of the child, that
innocence that you said, thechild is striving for something.
It is in their nature to stand,to observe around them.
And if they see the others intheir environment, mother,
father, older siblings, cousins,others who are, who are
ambulatory, they are standing,they are walking.
(24:19):
The child naturally wants toestablish for him or herself.
And so, like you said, if youkill that drive, Then you're
killing what is innocent inyour, in the nature of the human
being.
If you kill the drive to standon one's own and by standing on
(24:40):
one's own, it doesn't mean thatwe're not interdependent for the
child.
The child only learns how tostand based on watching those in
his or her environment.
So it's already aninterdependent activity.
You need the other humans aroundyou to be able to learn how to
do what needs to be done.
But the spirit, the drive, thepersistence and the conviction
(25:04):
that's necessary.
to become a walking person,erect human being that has to
come from within and it has tobe supported by everyone around
that, that child, that innocent.
And so I guess at this point,given that you know, I had posed
the question, you know, we'relooking at our communities,
we're looking at our familiesand we are seeing that the light
(25:28):
is, is not on for many of us.
And you are pointing us to ourown responsibility to turn that
light on in order for one to beawakened to one's purpose.
You have to recognize that thereare, that there is something
inherent in you, that yourmakeup is excellent, that there
is a pattern.
And even if you don't have theresources around you, right at
(25:51):
that moment, you can get thoseresources from other human
beings, other people in yourcommunity who recognize and have
come alive to the fact that thePeace that we are all seeking
the security that comes fromhealthy families and healthy
communities that that is anobligation on each of us and
that once we have secured somesemblance of peace and
(26:13):
establishment for ourselves thatour true success only comes when
we share that with others.
Frank (26:20):
Yes,
Faridah (26:20):
we're not successful on our own.
And so I just, I, I, I guesswhen I say the light is is not
on right now and you're pointingus back to responsibility.
I also look at scripture in theQuran where God points us to the
alternation of day or night.
So he says in the alternation ofday and night, there are signs
(26:45):
for people of understanding.
And so I think that points us tothis reality that yes, sometimes
we fall down.
Sometimes there is darkness.
Sometimes there's a period wherewe need to gather gather our
strength again.
And right now we find that weare ill.
We do need salvation as acommunity.
We do need a direction and aclarity.
(27:07):
But you know when the body healsitself?
Is when it's sleeping and thetime for rest and sleep is at
night So when the body is illand there's something that needs
to be addressed Sleep isnecessary The night time the
darkness is necessary for thebody to to do what it does in
order to prepare itself forhealing and so then when the
(27:29):
light is turned back on again inthe day You're prepared to take
that light and move with it
Frank (27:36):
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
I want to reference a book Thisbook is, was written by Imam
Earl Abdul Malik Muhammad.
This particular book is calledOn Nations, On Nature and
Nations is the name of the book.
On Nature.
And nations is the MuslimAmerican message for humanity in
(27:59):
the day of religion.
Wonderful book.
It's a must read for anybody whohas any, any connection to the
goodness of their own soul.
And as a week to that, this is ahelp.
This is the help, but the thingI want to reference is on the
cover of, of this particularbook, it shows a family, a
(28:23):
mother, a father, and childrentogether as a family, not, not
individuals.
They are a family, but they'restanding behind a gate and
behind this gate, they'relooking over into the city.
What they see in this picture istrees that are barren and they
(28:45):
see a city.
That is the picture is blurred.
It's a blurred picture of thecity.
The flag that they have, whichis the American flag is blurred
as well.
There is a moon, a blood moon,and it is cloudy and the
picture, it looks very obscure.
And this family is looking atthe establishment, looking at
(29:06):
the establishment and wanting tobe part of this establishment,
but they are locked out of theestablishment through this fence
there, they can't get throughthe fence.
So for our life, for our life.
We are currently looking at thatpicture currently now, when we
look at America and even most ofthe world, that's the image that
we see that our good life isbeing locked out or prohibited
(29:31):
from having our goodestablishments in the places
that we live.
So this book addresses a lot ofthe issues that we're going
through and how we can come backinto an idea or come back into a
method of getting back thelight, being able to get over
the fence and be able to bringlife back to a an environment
(29:54):
that looks bleak and lookscompletely dead and barren.
And it addresses many aspects ofwhat city life is many aspects
of just what community life is.
It just so happens to show acity, a metropolis, but it's
community life, no matter whereit is, whether it's in the rural
part or in the city, but I wouldsuggest.
(30:16):
This listening audience, if youdon't have had this book, that
this is definitely a must read.
And as you referenced beforeabout us coming through this
experience of the nation ofIslam and having that language
and coming in and having a groupof people represent the
redemption of man, man'sredemption to come back into his
(30:39):
best self, to be able to be abeacon of light.
As we, I mentioned before aboutlight to be a beacon of light
for those to see and to be drawnto for us to come back to our
best life.
And that's what the AfricanAmerican has been coming through
this form of chattel slaveryhere in America, but
specifically through the Avenueand through the vein of the lost
(31:03):
found nation of Islam to thenation of Islam.
And to that particular.
Avenue or that particular veinof experience has led us to have
the voice to talk to the worldand call the world back to the
good life, call the world backto that life of good community,
good establishments and to be afunctional entity to help
(31:27):
society at large be the city oflight
Faridah (31:31):
that I agree with you.
That book is a must read.
It, it is very important interms of even the, the imagery.
You know, that's on, on thatfront cover that you, you
remarked upon.
And like you said, that thefamily is viewing the city from
behind a gate or a fence.
As you said, it's a unitedfamily, a family unit together.
(31:55):
And I think it's interestingthat a city was chosen because
as you said, it's discussingideas that.
address humanity in all of itssituations.
But it is interesting that themajority of the world's
population today lives in urban,in an urban setting, 55%.
I think it's 55 or 56%,according to the United Nations
(32:17):
live in an urban setting.
And it's predicted that by theyear 2050, which is about just
about a quarter of a centuryfrom now about 26 years that
They're estimating that about62.
5%.
So that number is onlyincreasing, you know, in terms
of the urban setting.
So I think it is important toaddress the circumstance where
(32:41):
humanity is largely situated.
Because you referenced a term,you said, The enlightened city,
and that is a general reference,I think, that all of humanity
can understand.
There's also a very specificreference to the city of the,
that is associated with theProphet Muhammad, prayers and
(33:03):
peace be upon him.
And that is Medina Al Munawwara,or the enlightened city, the
illuminated city, the city oflight.
And it is so determined becauseof many things, but one of which
is how the city was establishedso that the structure of society
(33:25):
supports it.
the development of human life inits best picture.
And so, and that it supportshuman dignity.
So I think this is what is infocus here in 2024 for the
entire world in a way that I'mnot sure that it's been in focus
for so much of humanity at onetime.
(33:46):
And that is the securing ofhuman dignity.
What forces.
are present in a, in city life,in the structures and in both
the geographical and thematerial structures, as well as
the communication and the waythat families and, and people
are situated and relationshipsare supported.
(34:09):
What is, what is the makeup ofthat?
What are the, what makes up therelationships and the rules and
regulations that are supportiveof the establishment of human
dignity?
And I think that is the picturethat we're looking at when we're
looking at being a beacon oflight, a city upon a hill, or
even the community that is thebalanced community that has been
(34:33):
evolved as a witness for allmankind.
It's a very similar message tobe a witness for mankind means
that your actions, the way youinteract, the, the, the example
that you set are models of lightand clarity for the world.
The rest of humanity.
And I think that is what we arecalling.
(34:53):
Like you said, we now have avoice.
Well, this is what we're usingour voice for.
There could not be anything moreimportant than the human family
and its dignity at this momentin time.
And the most fundamental unit ofthe human family is the family
unit itself.
And this is why we're focusingthe family because it serves the
(35:17):
ultimate picture of the family.
Acknowledging, supporting, andencouraging the good life.
That supports human dignity.
Frank (35:25):
You referenced the Medina El, the enlightened city.
Just as for those who may not befamiliar with, with Muhammad,
the prophet made the praise inpeace be upon him, or even Islam
in general.
He has a mosque there that's,that's they call the prophets
mosque and there's a green dome.
(35:46):
On the on the mosque and thecolor green has been associated
with with Mohammed the prophetand you would say, well, they're
in a desert.
There's nothing green in thedesert, but but green in a sense
symbolizes abundance.
It symbolizes lush life.
It symbolizes life in spring.
Everything turns green.
So that's a a projection of lifeand you're coming into a place
(36:08):
with no life and you're creatinglife.
And this life is now abundant.
It's abundant life.
It's not regular life.
It's abundant life.
And that's what we want for our,our neighborhoods and everything
like that.
But, but it also draws a pictureto me about the movie, the
wizard of Oz and they, Dorothywas trying to get to the Emerald
city.
(36:29):
Which is green.
And when you see the image ofthe Emerald city, it's
illuminated.
It's an luminous city.
So they're going, they'reattracted to the light of the
illumination of the city.
And the city just happens to beEmerald, which is green.
So I just wanted to kind ofthrow those two in there.
I am not the the science guy ofmovies to be breaking stuff down
(36:52):
and interpreting all the otherstuff, but some things are just
very obvious when you look atthem.
So.
But I wanted to make, make thatpicture, put that picture in our
mind, that the city itselfguarantees us security.
The Qur'an says you are a freeman in the city.
As a reference in the Koran aswell, but it gives us that that
(37:15):
I want to give that picture.
So the lush and abundance.
So when we go back to a standingstanding upon our good nature
upon our nature first and inwanting the best for our life.
And then when we don't havethat, we are acknowledging that
we are being, there's a level ofdeficiency.
(37:37):
So which brought me to anotherexample, the great Steven
Morris, Steven Morris, a.
k.
a.
Stevie Wonder with his songliving for the city.
Faridah (37:51):
Yeah.
Frank (37:52):
So when I think about that song is talking about how a
child is born in a hardcoreMississippi, you know, but it's,
it's, it's not having resources.
And you're realizing what do Ihave to do when I don't have
these resources and no oneshould ever live in a society
where you don't have theresources and you either have to
(38:12):
go without or you have to dosomething that your soul, your
good soul would, would reject.
Just in order to have anotherday or another form of
expression.
And I'm thinking about how ourcities aren't illuminated for
Stevie to even have this songliving for the city.
But, but, but in our history,specifically African Americans,
(38:35):
but specifically, and we'll tiethis with the civil rights
movements, you know, there weresongs that we would sing to let
the world know that we arestanding.
And as the young folks saytoday, standing on business,
we're standing, meaning thatwe're ready for this
responsibility, but, but we arebeing denied in some way.
(38:57):
But as long as we keep standingand have our faith connected to
the, the, the, our creator, ourevolver, the one who creates the
night and day and creates allof, The universe, we're standing
on our conviction of who we areas a people.
And we're standing on the factthat we are a creation of God
(39:17):
himself, the Lord himself thecreator himself, that we would
project songs.
And one of those songs was gotell it on the mountain.
By the great, and I want toemphasize this term, great, the
great Fannie Lou Hamer, who hername alone invokes strength,
(39:42):
standing.
Yes.
So go tell it on the mountain,because ultimately it's the
mountaintop that we want to beon.
We want to be the city on ahill.
We want to be on the top.
Ultimately, that's, that's thepicture.
So I just wanted to throw those,those images in there just to
say that it is in our history tostand.
Faridah (40:01):
It is.
Yes, it is.
And I just have to throw inthere that you said, you know,
that you're talking about themountain and it is our nature to
be on top.
And I just thought I'd throw inanother interesting fact that,
that roughly 90 percent of theworld's population lives in the
Northern Hemisphere.
you know, on top.
(40:21):
I mean, there's, there's,
Frank (40:22):
that's amazing.
There's, there are signs in, in
Faridah (40:25):
everything for those who pay attention, you know?
And so the Southern hemispherehas a lot more biodiversity and
there's wisdom and sign in that.
But the, the Northernhemisphere, so Southern, we're
talking Australia and, you know,New Zealand Antarctica, South
America.
But the North, the, theNorthern, most of the world's
(40:46):
Land is in the NorthernHemisphere.
It's also.
It's also more connected.
So the migration routes and theability of human beings to, to
benefit from one another.
So I just thought that wasinteresting.
You know, you're talking aboutbeing on top and we're talking
about city on a hill or beingthis well balanced population
who has been designated by thecreator of the, the worlds to,
(41:10):
to serve as a witness for men,for mankind.
you know, all of these thingsevoke being in a position of
elevation so that one can, canbe seen.
And so I, I go back to this, youknow, this, go tell it on the
mountain, looking at our, ourhistory a history of standing.
And I'm going back to the ideabecause I want you in our, our
(41:35):
listening audience you know, toreally think about the idea as
you said earlier, Frank, thatthis is a call, you know, this
is not an idle conversation.
This is not neither one of us ishere to hear ourselves speak.
We are here because we are here.
We are called to be here andwe're called to use our voices
(41:58):
to call this community, thislistening community together to
respond to the call in yoursoul, to the purpose in you that
has been awakened to see withclarity what the role of the
family is in directing oursociety back to recognition,
support, honor, and Secure itsecurity of human dignity
(42:24):
because we're living in a dayand age where where human
dignity is under attack on everylevel.
It's under attack in our homeswhere our Children's are not
dignified.
Mothers are not dignified.
Fathers are not dignified.
We're living in undignifiedsituations and environments in
our community life.
Our nation is is in turmoilright now.
(42:47):
There's no dignity in the publicdiscourse.
There's no dignity amongpoliticians.
There's no dignity in, in justcitizens, the civility that
we're looking for, just thebasic manners where neighbors,
as you said, take care of oneanother, secure the interests of
your neighbors.
That's not being done on aregular basis.
And then we look at the worldaround us.
(43:08):
And then we We look at Sudan, welook at Palestine, we look at
Bangladesh, we look at all theseplaces in the world where
humanity's dignity is underattack.
And we have to go back to thefundamentals to say, what is it
that secures human dignity?
And this, and I'm glad that youreferenced you know, we were
(43:31):
speaking of the, the specificexperience or this vein that
came through the nation ofIslam.
But you also referenced Mrs.
The Mighty, Mrs.
Fannie Lou Hamer and this richcivil rights tradition that we
have.
And I would say, you know, Iknow it's, it's, it's commonly
called the civil rights movementand we did secure civil rights
(43:51):
for all Americans.
Not just for African Americans,but we secured civil rights for
all Americans and forgenerations of immigrants who
came after these, you know, theCivil Rights Act of 1964.
We, we secured that, but it was,I think while civil rights were
secured, it was a movement forhuman rights.
(44:12):
Yes.
It was a movement for humandignity.
Yes.
Our dignity had been underattack.
And as African Americans whoare.
And orphan people, we were, wewere stripped from any
connection to our mother andfatherland to the, the, the,
(44:32):
the, the property.
of every human being, of everyhuman family, of every human
people that is culture andlanguage and traditions and
religion and, and all of thesethings that are property of, of
every human family, they were,they were stripped from us.
And so we are an orphan people.
(44:54):
And when an orphan is created,as the prophet Mohammed prayers
and peace be upon him said hesaid, I and the orphan are like
this.
And he held up the two fingersof his hand and those fingers
are together.
And he's, you know, it'switnessing to mankind as an
example for even those who arenot Muslim, but you see how
important the affair of theorphan is throughout scripture.
(45:17):
In the Bible, in the Quran, inthe example of the prophets and
the messengers, and in theexample of the prophet Muhammad
that I just cited, praise andpeace be upon him, and that is
that when an orphan orphans havea special recognition in the
eyes of God, because he comesin, he He exhorts and commands
(45:39):
humanity, communities, I mean,to, to care for the orphan,
right?
It's a very special cause, theorphan and the widow, but he
says, take care of the orphanand we're supposed to pay
special attention to that.
But in addition, there's achapter in the Quran that it's,
it's, it's, again, the light,duha, the glorious morning
(46:02):
light.
And God references in that howhe took.
The, the prophet prayers andpeace be upon him.
And for you know, some in ourlistening audience who may not
be familiar with his story youknow, he was orphaned at a very
young age.
His father died before hisbirth, and his mother died when
he was a young boy about the ageof six.
(46:23):
And then his grandfather, whocared for him, died at, when he
was eight.
And so he had a series of lossesthat left him orphaned in a
society that had placed a highvalue on family and fatherhood
and lineage.
These, these were very importantconcepts.
So within that society he hadbeen orphaned and, and God tells
(46:43):
him in this chapter, he said,didn't I find you an orphan and
like, and guide Yes.
You know?
And so there's a specialguidance.
that comes to the orphan.
And so as an orphaned people,our choice, is our decision, I
would say, is what are we goingto do with that guidance?
(47:07):
Are we going to accept thatguidance and step into the role
that guidance requires?
Because once you've been givenguidance, which is a light,
which is a knowledge, you'reresponsible for sharing that.
We're talking about this beingon the hill, right?
So we as a people areresponsible now for calling
ourselves and the rest ofhumanity.
(47:28):
to secure freedom, justice, andequality for the dignified human
soul.
That is our job.
That is what we're exhorting youand me and all of you to awaken
to purpose.
Take that awakened purpose andlive it in the most excellent
(47:49):
manner so that we can secure thewell being of society.
Frank (47:52):
Absolutely.
So you use the term securing,and that's, that's what's
missing.
That's what makes an orphan anorphan, no security.
So, although through theexperience of chattel slavery,
You know, parents were able tokeep their children, but they,
the children never had thebenefit of the security of the
(48:13):
parent because of the volatileand the inhumane circumstances
that was around them.
Although they may have been ableto be with mom, but they didn't
have the security of mom anddad.
Yes.
So for those who want to say.
Well, you know, more familieswere torn up after slavery than
there was during slavery.
Well, that could be as well, butduring slavery, they didn't have
(48:36):
the security there either.
So I'm using that as an example.
But when I think of children,innocence, that's innocence you
know, you see a child and youjust start blushing and you
just, you just go Google, it'sjust all types of stuff.
These just make you feel goodabout life.
But there's one song that, and Iwas talking to my son about it.
About when he was in pre K, butI didn't reference the song, but
(48:58):
I was just referencing his pre Kstarted his scholastic journey.
They used to sing a song calledthis little light of mine.
I'm going to let it shine.
Like that's the first song a preK child even learns and they
sing this song.
So yes, you have the light.
If you're now obligated to letthe light shine, you got to let
(49:20):
it shine.
You can't cover the light.
You've been blessed with thelight
Faridah (49:23):
everywhere.
Frank (49:24):
That's right.
You know, as you mentionedearlier, it's inviting.
It's warmth.
Light means warmth and peopleare drawn to the warmth.
You mentioned Mr.
Winthrop earlier coming overhere from, from another part of
the world.
You know, the lighthouse wassomething that invited them to
know that this is thedestination.
It was always the light.
So in the light.
(49:46):
So I too agree that we have tosecure our future.
We have to secure it, we have todo all we can, and we are
promised that the city itself isa place for security for the
person to have their best lifeand their best establishments.
(50:06):
And upon that, every otherfunction of the city supports
that life and supports thoseestablishments.
So ultimately, this picture onthe front of this book.
Well, ultimately, at some point,come back into focus and be
vibrant with color and vibrantwith life teeming, as they say,
teeming with life, teeming withindustry, teeming with
(50:29):
developments and everything thatthe human soul wants for itself,
it could see the fulfillment ofthat.
That is the obligation.
So if you, if we're not engagingfor that outcome.
Then we are cheating ourselvesand we're cheating our future.
Faridah (50:47):
Well said.
That's
Frank (50:48):
the
Faridah (50:48):
goal.
That is the, that's the goal.
Yes.
That's the only way.
Yes.
And it's possible.
Like you said, we are, not onlyare we capable of it, we've been
promised, like you said, thecity is the city of security.
We have been promisedexcellence.
and a success, an ultimatesuccess if we commit ourselves
(51:10):
to this.
And so we are asking you to joinus in this.
We are asking for all of us,Muslim, Christian, Jew, people
of faith, people who understandthat there is a vision and a way
and a picture that is clear thathas been given.
We want to form a mighty Army anethical army.
(51:33):
Yes to turn this city Theserealities that are so dark and
gloomy right now We want to turnthis into a city of a million
households with their frontporch light on Calling our
brothers our sisters ourneighbors to excellence.
Frank (51:51):
That's the call.
That's the that's the prayerThat's the hope yes, and that's
the promise i'll conclude withthis when I was younger my dad
Used to travel a lot to just goplaces and see the Imam, as we
call him, Imam W.
D.
Muhammad, W.
D.
Muhammad speak.
And as a child, I was alwayswith my father because I just
(52:11):
didn't want to stay home.
And he would be playing hismusic and Man, that was some
good music.
But he would, one of hisfavorite groups were the
impressions.
And one of their songs was, yes,people Get Ready, there's a
trainer coming.
(52:32):
I don't know.
The next line don't need notickets.
Oh yeah, just get on.
I was just gonna hum the secondpart.
But anyway.
But, but, but that was a arecognition of, of the soul
wanting its best establishment.
And that the people were ready,like, like, Hey, it's coming.
Like you just need to be ready.
(52:53):
So get yourself ready becausehere it comes here.
The promise is on its way.
You just need to get ready.
And when it comes, you can justget right on board because
you've qualified yourself to bea part of this good
establishment.
Faridah (53:04):
Yes.
Frank (53:05):
The great impressions.
Yeah.
Thanks dad.
I'll tell you.
Amazing.
See fathers, mothers, fathers,they, they do wonderful things
for their children and theirchildren grow up to, to extend
their good works.
And that's what it's supposed tobe.
Faridah (53:17):
Yes.
Yes, absolutely.
Frank (53:20):
So Farda, we have moved one step closer.
To destination excellence.
Faridah (53:27):
The praise is for God alone until next time.
Let us remain conscious of ourcreator of the sacred
relationship of parent and childand of the family ties that bind
us subscribe to the podcast andcome back next time for a new
episode of the family ties
Frank (53:45):
from Frank Abdul Shahid
Faridah (53:48):
and Farida Abdul Tawad Brown.
Frank (53:51):
Peace
Faridah (53:54):
be upon the family.
Transcripts provided byTranscription Outsourcing, LLC.
Peace be upon the family, as we welcome you to another
experience of The Family Ties, aprescription for society.
I am your co host, Frank AbdulShaheed.
Faridah (00:27):
And I am your co host, Farida Abdul Tawab Brown.
Before we get started, don'tforget to subscribe, So you can
stay up to date and get all thelatest episodes.
So I am thrilled to be back herefor another conversation,
another journey towardsexcellence and the destiny for
humanity with you.
So how, how's your week, yourweekend been?
Frank (00:49):
Oh, well, first of all, I'm going to say thank you.
And it's a pleasure for me to beback with you as well.
And also being able to have aconversation with our wonderful
audience.
My week was a very busy week,but in the busyness of the week,
I got a chance to see my son,who is living currently out of
(01:12):
state.
And he flew in to see his dad.
Ultimately, to see his brother,so him and his brother can have
that little week in tryst, ifI'm going to use that term.
But being able to see him andinteract with him and interact
with both of my sons reallyprovided for us a great
(01:32):
atmosphere of conversation.
I got a chance to see theirmaturity level.
Develop more, and they also hada chance to see another side of
me, another intimate side of methat they never really got a
chance to see.
And part of that was, wasn'treally sure if they were old
enough or mature enough to seethat side, but they got it.
(01:55):
And then when I gave it to them,they got it.
So I really had a wonderfulweek.
How was your one?
Faridah (02:01):
That's wonderful.
My week has been eventful.
I too got to see my eldestdaughter.
She does live in the area, butyou know, she came by to have
dinner with us and with thefamily and they were excited
about dinner, but you know, she,she loves soup.
So we were, we were havingchicken soup, a nice, you know,
kind of healing, healthy bowlof, of deliciousness, you know,
(02:24):
but we got to enjoy it with,with our, our eldest daughter.
And so it's, it's been just aweek of preparation.
And I think, reallyacknowledging the, the the
blessings and the privilege ofbeing able to conduct our family
(02:46):
life, the ups and downs, thesuccesses and the You know, and
the failures where we get backup and pull ourselves up again,
but to experience that theblessing of being able to
experience that together withina womb of faith, I think I'm
extremely grateful for that.
And this week has helped me toreflect on that in a very
(03:06):
meaningful way.
Frank (03:07):
I would totally agree with you on that, and I believe
that the faith aspect of thatadds another layer of
insulation, another layer offeeding, another layer of
healing, another and anotherlayer of revelation as guidance
to help.
The family move forward wherenaturally we were created to be
(03:30):
with each other anyway.
So with that, we already have abond that's already there.
That is just a common bond forus.
But the spiritual side of itjust adds another, another level
to it.
And also, you know, listen to mysons who No, their sons.
You know, my sons are in there.
One is in his mid twenties.
The other one is in his uppertwenties and to hear them
(03:53):
wanting to position themselvesas men ready for all
responsibilities and to thepoint where they're second
guessing.
My perspectives as an older manis Always makes for a
entertaining conversation.
I love having the banter withthem, too.
I don't want to hurt theirspirit too much.
(04:15):
So I, I sometimes acquiesce.
In a way to kind of give them alittle bit of to keep the air
under their wings, but it'ssomehow another in my old man
wisdom, I always circle back andgive them something to let them
know that this look, buddy, youstill have a long way to go,
pal, but, but, Hey, you're onyour way.
So, and I'm very proud of themfor that.
(04:35):
So, once again, a blessing tohave family and to have it in a
spiritual way that everyone ison the same page.
And we all.
Relate in that same flow ofenergy,
Faridah (04:48):
you know, I, I, I really thank you for sharing
that with us, you know, with meand with the, the listening
audience, I think it's soimportant, you know, to
understand, like you said, youeven use the word healing, you
know, to have the, the the womb,that extra layer of support and
strength that comes from a, afaithful perspective, a
perspective that is informed andinformed.
(05:09):
by the wisdom, the loving,caring guidance of our creator
is, is it's, it's wonderful andit's healing and it gives us a
perspective.
It gives us a clarity.
And so in, in light of that, I,you know, that we have a
history, you know, as Americansthat, you know, sometimes it's
(05:31):
called American exceptionalism.
But it really is rooted in, Ibelieve, a scriptural idea or
concept, and in particular, inthe American context, a biblical
concept of the city upon thehill, right?
And for, for all of my historybuffs and everyone who had an
(05:52):
eighth grade civics course orninth grade U.
S.
history, you know, you'llremember that John Winthrop, the
One of the Puritans in 1630, hewas, of course, the governor of
the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
And he had written a sermon thatwas entitled, Christian Charity,
A Model Thereof.
And in this sermon, hereferenced that, that, that we
(06:15):
shall be, quote, we shall be asa city upon a hill, the eyes of
all people are upon us.
And so this idea that isingrained in the American ethos,
but that comes out of a veryspecific reading of scripture
that has us look at ourselves ina way that to whom much is
(06:35):
given, much is, is expected,right?
That when you have the clarityof guidance that you're expected
to then lead mankind.
with a life well lived, asociety well constructed, a
family well situated, based uponthat guidance.
So I wanted to ask you, you knowwe, we live in cities and cities
(06:56):
are sometimes representative.
They come, the word city itselfcomes from the Latin, which
means a Latin root meaningcivilians, like a community of
civilians.
And so I wanted to ask you whattransform a city into a city of
light, you know, this idea thatwe would be a beacon in any way,
even this conversation, thispodcast, what, what transforms a
(07:21):
city into that city of lightthat's referenced in scripture.
Frank (07:28):
Interesting.
That's a very, very bigquestion, but it's a question
that's our nature is asking.
Our intellect is, are trying tofind ways to make that happen,
but our nature is already askingthat same question.
So as I'm having conversationswith my sons and we're talking,
(07:52):
and now I just want to say this,that I didn't have a
conversation with both of themat the same time.
I had times with both of themindividually, but in what was
common with our conversationswere a Genesis.
An origin a process of movingforward and also a destination.
(08:14):
So as we were talking about lifeand wanting to get better
understandings of ourexperiences and getting
feedback, it helped the soul.
Feel a certain strength tounderstand that we're going in
the right direction.
Now, we may not have known thiswas the direction to go.
We're making decisions.
And I'm telling him as a parent,I'm trying to be three, four,
(08:37):
five steps ahead of you.
I'm trying to be able toidentify things in you to unlock
these possibilities to give youan environment for those things
to naturally grow and reachtheir potential, their
fulfillment.
But I want to ask you, as I'mtelling my, my children, my
sons, What do you think?
(08:57):
And if you had children, wouldyou follow the same process?
So we just had generalconversations.
But at the end of the, at theconclusion or the end of the
conversation, we both said, weused this term that.
The light of knowledgeilluminates.
(09:18):
So when someone says, Hey, Ijust figured it out, the eyes
light up.
And I told my son, I said, I cansee that light bulb above your
head.
It finally turned on.
Finally, your light bulb turnedon.
And then he responded to me withthat, you know, knowledge is, is
light.
So.
If everyone can see our light,and if the light being turned on
(09:40):
is the, is the goal forknowledge and the goal for
communication and the goal forgood establishments, aren't
every group of people, aren'tevery citizen, isn't every
family required to have on thatlight, to turn on that light?
And if they all turn on thelight, then I believe that
(10:02):
becomes the city of light.
That's how a city gets turned onto become a city of light.
Now, there are other things thathave to come into that
particular city to support thosegood establishments, but the
genesis of it all isunderstanding the development of
the individual and having themhave their best life and as an
(10:24):
individual, but also as acommunity, as a family,
specifically, and each familyare represents a light.
So turn on your porch light.
And if everyone turns on thatporch light.
The necessity of light.
Faridah (10:38):
So when you say, I love that this came up in connection
with your, your sons, you know,in this conversation and that
light, even that, that idea ofthe light bulb moment is
connected.
I think to that light ofknowledge is connected to the
guidance from our creator.
Because even that the lightbulb, when you see that in a
(10:59):
cartoon or just the imagery,when it forms its picture in
your mind, it's, that'sinspiration, you know and
inspiration is what comes when aconnection is made that is not
connection is made that comesfrom the source.
you know, the source of allknowledge, the creator of the
world.
And this connection is made foryou in a way that you can't
(11:20):
necessarily put your finger onit.
But now the knowledge thatyou've worked for and that you
can experience empirically withyour senses is somehow, is, is
somehow elevated and connectionsare made by the guidance of, of
your creator.
And so when I, when I thinkabout light, as you said, every
individual being turned on tome, We said turn the light on
(11:44):
and that automatically, in mymind, gives me a picture of the
human being being turned on,being awakened to his or her
purpose, and that cannot be donewithout knowledge, and of course
that awakening happens as aprocess.
Right?
There's a, there's a processthat happens where the spirit is
awakened almost before the mindis, right?
(12:07):
So there's, there's thisconnection.
There's something in yourspirit, like you said, and you
spoke about this a little bitearlier.
You said there's a processhappening in the, in the
individual.
It's a natural process.
There's a seeking there's in thehuman being as part of the
inherent design.
And so, in the process ofseeking that when a message a
(12:29):
revelation is brought to thatspirit by the material or
natural world around it throughor through a conversation,
there's something awakened inthat human being that says, aha,
right?
I am this, this is what myspirit and my soul is responding
to.
And then you marry that withknowledge.
And now you have a pathwaythat's open to you, and that
(12:52):
light is shown upon the pathway,not only for you, but as you
just said, now that I haveimbued this, this true
understanding of who I am, whyI'm on this earth, and then the
light shining and making thepicture clear.
Now I can shine for others.
And that city is now awakenedand enlightened.
Frank (13:13):
Yes.
So I, I referenced the, theimagery of turning your, your
porch light on growing up as ayoungster.
I don't know if I see it as muchnow because I don't know if I'm
as aware, but as my curiosity asa youngster growing up and
trying to understand my place inthe world, I could remember
neighborhoods Well, the lightswere on and that represented
(13:37):
that someone was home.
Faridah (13:39):
Yes.
Frank (13:40):
So they left there.
They left their lights on toidentify with one another to
say, I'm home.
I'm not only at my home in myfour walls of my house, but I'm
home as a person who's managingthe responsibility of home of a
developmental womb for myfamily, for them to be able to
(14:02):
understand what their private.
Interest are and having them goout into the public and making
sure that their public image ortheir public interests are
similar.
We're developing the privateinterest at home, but we want to
manifest them in the public forour public image, ultimately to
(14:23):
be a service to humanity and tobe a service to our
neighborhoods, to be service tomy neighbor.
So I can have a good, strongfoundation for a neighborhood.
So the light.
And the porch is a symbol aswell for knowing that I'm home,
which means you can come, yousee that porch light on, come
on, knock on my door and I'mgoing to invite you in and I'm
(14:45):
going to give you all of thewarmth and love that the
neighbors should give eachother.
And then that type of spirit andthat type of circumstance, we're
able to build our life.
And we are the first builders ofthat life in order to establish
ourselves as the light as anenlightened city or a light on
(15:05):
the hill.
Faridah (15:06):
That imagery is so powerful.
You know, the, the light leavingthe light on it, it also brings
to mind.
So like you said to me that it'sevoking this memory of, of Gigi,
my great grandmother.
You know, she'd be sitting onthe porch with that front light,
you know, that front porch lighton waiting for us to arrive from
(15:27):
Boston, you know, driving up thesix of us in, in our station
wagon.
And she would be there no matterthe time of night.
And as you said, it was bothwelcoming and it signaled that,
that someone was home, thatthere was someone was awake.
There was a presence that, thatwas emitted, you know, light can
(15:49):
give heat sometimes.
And it, it it, it shows the way,right.
It illuminates.
So one of the things that I wasthinking about, sometimes, you
know, there's, there are sayingsthat we have in, in colloquial
sayings that we have.
And sometimes one of them islike, is the light on, you know,
if someone doesn't look.
As if they are quite aware ofwhat's happening in the
(16:13):
conversation.
And you know, are you followingthis line of logic?
Are you paying attention?
And oftentimes, you know,there's an, you know, is the
light on in there?
And I think that's what ourattention must be drawn to.
As particularly in thisconversation in this movement
that we are trying to build withthis podcast, this podcast is a
(16:35):
communication not, not, not justfrom Frank and Farida, but it's
the communication of a, ascripture based tradition of
freedom, justice, and equalitythat has come through the
particular experience of Of theAfrican American ethnic.
(16:57):
origin story, and then thehistory that came along with
that.
And then the particular the giftof guidance and scripture that
was given to us first throughour experience as a largely
Christian population.
And then for a particularcommunity of us who responded to
(17:17):
a call to to scripture, to thebook of the Quran that came
through the experience of thenation of Islam and was
enlightened that light thatyou're speaking of that was
sparked during the nation ofIslam being turned on fully
under the leadership of ImamMartha Deen Muhammad.
And that is a particularexperience that I think helps to
(17:40):
give us a clarity about where weare in the world and how the
light that all of us need.
have been endowed withinherently in our makeup, in our
design as human beings, thatthat light can be it's, it's
contagious, right?
That we, that once one personhas been awakened, then they,
(18:03):
their responsibility,particularly in this context is
to share that light with others,you know, similar to taking a
candle, right?
You take the candle, you lightit, and then you can light the
candle next to you as, and thenbefore you know it, the entire
circle.
is illuminated and everybody'scandle has been lit because of
the first one.
(18:24):
And so I'm looking at ourcommunities.
Like you said, if the porchlight is on, you know, someone
is home.
If the porch light is on, youknow, that there's a welcoming
presence that wants to sharewith you.
If we take a look today.
And this is why thisconversation is so important.
If we take a look today,honestly, at our communities, at
(18:44):
our family life, we're lookingat a lot of homes and the light
isn't on.
And so what is ourresponsibility if we are holding
this candle?
What are we called to do forthose of us who do have a light?
who have been awakened to ourpurpose.
(19:06):
And I think that is the reasonthat we are here today, that
we've been blessed by thecreator of all the worlds to
come.
in conversation with each otherand with you all today because
there is some responsibility toour community and to the
community, the family of mankindthat we have now that we have
(19:28):
been awakened to our purpose.
Frank (19:30):
Yes, ma'am.
So very well spoken.
So very well articulated.
And our soul naturallygravitates to that and will
accept what you just said in theclimate that we're currently in,
you know, we're in a veryinteresting political climate.
(19:51):
As we are working our way intoour next election that's coming
up very shortly, many times wehave been led to believe that
someone else is going to takecare of us, someone else is
going to give us benefit,someone else is going to make
the, they're going to band aidour boo boo, for lack of better
(20:15):
terms.
Yes, yes.
Someone else is going to make usfeel good about.
Our either good situation or ourbad situation, either one,
someone's going to make us feelokay about it.
But that's not what the humanwas designed to do.
The human was designed to standon their own.
The first standing is the of thehuman individual standing
(20:37):
themselves to make toacknowledge to the world that I
am responsible and i'm takingresponsibility for my life and
i'm also Wanting for the worldto understand that I am with you
in this work of handling thislevel of responsibility.
So ultimately it comes from mefirst, but if I'm not standing,
(20:59):
if I don't, if the world doesn'tsee me standing, then the people
who claim to have our bestinterest at heart when they get
resources and they getopportunities and pathways are
open to us.
In many cases, when we receivethese benefits, we can't manage
them because we haven't, wehaven't stood yet.
We're not standing.
We're not a people standing.
(21:22):
So standing once again is aconviction is something in your
soul that says, Hey, listen,I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm ready.
And my standing is a spiritualmovement.
Standing is a spiritual movementfor man himself.
So when we think back to theclimate that we're in and
wanting to attain this image ofthe city, enlightened city.
(21:47):
The responsibility is on, it'son me, it's on my wife, it's on
my children, it's on my neighborbefore it's on the city council,
before it's on the president,before it's on Congress, before
it's on any of those people, weare the ones who legitimately.
Are to direct them benefit us,not the other way around and not
(22:12):
this ideal that we have, like wehave a country where the
government is for the people bythe people of the people that's,
that's just political language,but we don't often see that in
real life.
We've already given up ourability to manage our own
because we're under thisinfluence that they're going to
manage our life for us.
And if that's the case, then theinnocence of the people in
(22:37):
community life gets slaughteredfor an image that only is a
expedient.
Political or business orfinancial image, it ultimately
dims the light, if notextinguishes it.
So we have to take that stepfirst, and we have to
acknowledge each other firstthat we are standing and ready
(23:00):
for the task of responsibilityto manage our life and our
cities.
Faridah (23:05):
This is a call.
You have just laid down agauntlet, a gauntlet, if you
will.
You're calling us.
back to the clarity and theexcellence of our design.
Yes.
You pointed us to the fact thatthis is something that is, is,
(23:27):
is inscribed upon our very soulsand our spirit.
And that is evidenced by thestanding of the child.
Frank (23:35):
Yes.
Faridah (23:35):
Right.
So we, we are for those of uswho are believers, we understand
that we have guidance inscripture itself and that the
creator of the heavens and earthalso guides us through the
creation.
He gives us signs and some ofthose signs are even in, in our
cells.
(23:56):
as parts of that creation.
And so in pointing to thestanding of the child, that
innocence that you said, thechild is striving for something.
It is in their nature to stand,to observe around them.
And if they see the others intheir environment, mother,
father, older siblings, cousins,others who are, who are
ambulatory, they are standing,they are walking.
(24:19):
The child naturally wants toestablish for him or herself.
And so, like you said, if youkill that drive, Then you're
killing what is innocent inyour, in the nature of the human
being.
If you kill the drive to standon one's own and by standing on
(24:40):
one's own, it doesn't mean thatwe're not interdependent for the
child.
The child only learns how tostand based on watching those in
his or her environment.
So it's already aninterdependent activity.
You need the other humans aroundyou to be able to learn how to
do what needs to be done.
But the spirit, the drive, thepersistence and the conviction
(25:04):
that's necessary.
to become a walking person,erect human being that has to
come from within and it has tobe supported by everyone around
that, that child, that innocent.
And so I guess at this point,given that you know, I had posed
the question, you know, we'relooking at our communities,
we're looking at our familiesand we are seeing that the light
(25:28):
is, is not on for many of us.
And you are pointing us to ourown responsibility to turn that
light on in order for one to beawakened to one's purpose.
You have to recognize that thereare, that there is something
inherent in you, that yourmakeup is excellent, that there
is a pattern.
And even if you don't have theresources around you, right at
(25:51):
that moment, you can get thoseresources from other human
beings, other people in yourcommunity who recognize and have
come alive to the fact that thePeace that we are all seeking
the security that comes fromhealthy families and healthy
communities that that is anobligation on each of us and
that once we have secured somesemblance of peace and
(26:13):
establishment for ourselves thatour true success only comes when
we share that with others.
Frank (26:20):
Yes,
Faridah (26:20):
we're not successful on our own.
And so I just, I, I, I guesswhen I say the light is is not
on right now and you're pointingus back to responsibility.
I also look at scripture in theQuran where God points us to the
alternation of day or night.
So he says in the alternation ofday and night, there are signs
(26:45):
for people of understanding.
And so I think that points us tothis reality that yes, sometimes
we fall down.
Sometimes there is darkness.
Sometimes there's a period wherewe need to gather gather our
strength again.
And right now we find that weare ill.
We do need salvation as acommunity.
We do need a direction and aclarity.
(27:07):
But you know when the body healsitself?
Is when it's sleeping and thetime for rest and sleep is at
night So when the body is illand there's something that needs
to be addressed Sleep isnecessary The night time the
darkness is necessary for thebody to to do what it does in
order to prepare itself forhealing and so then when the
(27:29):
light is turned back on again inthe day You're prepared to take
that light and move with it
Frank (27:36):
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
I want to reference a book Thisbook is, was written by Imam
Earl Abdul Malik Muhammad.
This particular book is calledOn Nations, On Nature and
Nations is the name of the book.
On Nature.
And nations is the MuslimAmerican message for humanity in
(27:59):
the day of religion.
Wonderful book.
It's a must read for anybody whohas any, any connection to the
goodness of their own soul.
And as a week to that, this is ahelp.
This is the help, but the thingI want to reference is on the
cover of, of this particularbook, it shows a family, a
(28:23):
mother, a father, and childrentogether as a family, not, not
individuals.
They are a family, but they'restanding behind a gate and
behind this gate, they'relooking over into the city.
What they see in this picture istrees that are barren and they
(28:45):
see a city.
That is the picture is blurred.
It's a blurred picture of thecity.
The flag that they have, whichis the American flag is blurred
as well.
There is a moon, a blood moon,and it is cloudy and the
picture, it looks very obscure.
And this family is looking atthe establishment, looking at
(29:06):
the establishment and wanting tobe part of this establishment,
but they are locked out of theestablishment through this fence
there, they can't get throughthe fence.
So for our life, for our life.
We are currently looking at thatpicture currently now, when we
look at America and even most ofthe world, that's the image that
we see that our good life isbeing locked out or prohibited
(29:31):
from having our goodestablishments in the places
that we live.
So this book addresses a lot ofthe issues that we're going
through and how we can come backinto an idea or come back into a
method of getting back thelight, being able to get over
the fence and be able to bringlife back to a an environment
(29:54):
that looks bleak and lookscompletely dead and barren.
And it addresses many aspects ofwhat city life is many aspects
of just what community life is.
It just so happens to show acity, a metropolis, but it's
community life, no matter whereit is, whether it's in the rural
part or in the city, but I wouldsuggest.
(30:16):
This listening audience, if youdon't have had this book, that
this is definitely a must read.
And as you referenced beforeabout us coming through this
experience of the nation ofIslam and having that language
and coming in and having a groupof people represent the
redemption of man, man'sredemption to come back into his
(30:39):
best self, to be able to be abeacon of light.
As we, I mentioned before aboutlight to be a beacon of light
for those to see and to be drawnto for us to come back to our
best life.
And that's what the AfricanAmerican has been coming through
this form of chattel slaveryhere in America, but
specifically through the Avenueand through the vein of the lost
(31:03):
found nation of Islam to thenation of Islam.
And to that particular.
Avenue or that particular veinof experience has led us to have
the voice to talk to the worldand call the world back to the
good life, call the world backto that life of good community,
good establishments and to be afunctional entity to help
(31:27):
society at large be the city oflight
Faridah (31:31):
that I agree with you.
That book is a must read.
It, it is very important interms of even the, the imagery.
You know, that's on, on thatfront cover that you, you
remarked upon.
And like you said, that thefamily is viewing the city from
behind a gate or a fence.
As you said, it's a unitedfamily, a family unit together.
(31:55):
And I think it's interestingthat a city was chosen because
as you said, it's discussingideas that.
address humanity in all of itssituations.
But it is interesting that themajority of the world's
population today lives in urban,in an urban setting, 55%.
I think it's 55 or 56%,according to the United Nations
(32:17):
live in an urban setting.
And it's predicted that by theyear 2050, which is about just
about a quarter of a centuryfrom now about 26 years that
They're estimating that about62.
5%.
So that number is onlyincreasing, you know, in terms
of the urban setting.
So I think it is important toaddress the circumstance where
(32:41):
humanity is largely situated.
Because you referenced a term,you said, The enlightened city,
and that is a general reference,I think, that all of humanity
can understand.
There's also a very specificreference to the city of the,
that is associated with theProphet Muhammad, prayers and
(33:03):
peace be upon him.
And that is Medina Al Munawwara,or the enlightened city, the
illuminated city, the city oflight.
And it is so determined becauseof many things, but one of which
is how the city was establishedso that the structure of society
(33:25):
supports it.
the development of human life inits best picture.
And so, and that it supportshuman dignity.
So I think this is what is infocus here in 2024 for the
entire world in a way that I'mnot sure that it's been in focus
for so much of humanity at onetime.
(33:46):
And that is the securing ofhuman dignity.
What forces.
are present in a, in city life,in the structures and in both
the geographical and thematerial structures, as well as
the communication and the waythat families and, and people
are situated and relationshipsare supported.
(34:09):
What is, what is the makeup ofthat?
What are the, what makes up therelationships and the rules and
regulations that are supportiveof the establishment of human
dignity?
And I think that is the picturethat we're looking at when we're
looking at being a beacon oflight, a city upon a hill, or
even the community that is thebalanced community that has been
(34:33):
evolved as a witness for allmankind.
It's a very similar message tobe a witness for mankind means
that your actions, the way youinteract, the, the, the example
that you set are models of lightand clarity for the world.
The rest of humanity.
And I think that is what we arecalling.
(34:53):
Like you said, we now have avoice.
Well, this is what we're usingour voice for.
There could not be anything moreimportant than the human family
and its dignity at this momentin time.
And the most fundamental unit ofthe human family is the family
unit itself.
And this is why we're focusingthe family because it serves the
(35:17):
ultimate picture of the family.
Acknowledging, supporting, andencouraging the good life.
That supports human dignity.
Frank (35:25):
You referenced the Medina El, the enlightened city.
Just as for those who may not befamiliar with, with Muhammad,
the prophet made the praise inpeace be upon him, or even Islam
in general.
He has a mosque there that's,that's they call the prophets
mosque and there's a green dome.
(35:46):
On the on the mosque and thecolor green has been associated
with with Mohammed the prophetand you would say, well, they're
in a desert.
There's nothing green in thedesert, but but green in a sense
symbolizes abundance.
It symbolizes lush life.
It symbolizes life in spring.
Everything turns green.
So that's a a projection of lifeand you're coming into a place
(36:08):
with no life and you're creatinglife.
And this life is now abundant.
It's abundant life.
It's not regular life.
It's abundant life.
And that's what we want for our,our neighborhoods and everything
like that.
But, but it also draws a pictureto me about the movie, the
wizard of Oz and they, Dorothywas trying to get to the Emerald
city.
(36:29):
Which is green.
And when you see the image ofthe Emerald city, it's
illuminated.
It's an luminous city.
So they're going, they'reattracted to the light of the
illumination of the city.
And the city just happens to beEmerald, which is green.
So I just wanted to kind ofthrow those two in there.
I am not the the science guy ofmovies to be breaking stuff down
(36:52):
and interpreting all the otherstuff, but some things are just
very obvious when you look atthem.
So.
But I wanted to make, make thatpicture, put that picture in our
mind, that the city itselfguarantees us security.
The Qur'an says you are a freeman in the city.
As a reference in the Koran aswell, but it gives us that that
(37:15):
I want to give that picture.
So the lush and abundance.
So when we go back to a standingstanding upon our good nature
upon our nature first and inwanting the best for our life.
And then when we don't havethat, we are acknowledging that
we are being, there's a level ofdeficiency.
(37:37):
So which brought me to anotherexample, the great Steven
Morris, Steven Morris, a.
k.
a.
Stevie Wonder with his songliving for the city.
Faridah (37:51):
Yeah.
Frank (37:52):
So when I think about that song is talking about how a
child is born in a hardcoreMississippi, you know, but it's,
it's, it's not having resources.
And you're realizing what do Ihave to do when I don't have
these resources and no oneshould ever live in a society
where you don't have theresources and you either have to
(38:12):
go without or you have to dosomething that your soul, your
good soul would, would reject.
Just in order to have anotherday or another form of
expression.
And I'm thinking about how ourcities aren't illuminated for
Stevie to even have this songliving for the city.
But, but, but in our history,specifically African Americans,
(38:35):
but specifically, and we'll tiethis with the civil rights
movements, you know, there weresongs that we would sing to let
the world know that we arestanding.
And as the young folks saytoday, standing on business,
we're standing, meaning thatwe're ready for this
responsibility, but, but we arebeing denied in some way.
(38:57):
But as long as we keep standingand have our faith connected to
the, the, the, our creator, ourevolver, the one who creates the
night and day and creates allof, The universe, we're standing
on our conviction of who we areas a people.
And we're standing on the factthat we are a creation of God
(39:17):
himself, the Lord himself thecreator himself, that we would
project songs.
And one of those songs was gotell it on the mountain.
By the great, and I want toemphasize this term, great, the
great Fannie Lou Hamer, who hername alone invokes strength,
(39:42):
standing.
Yes.
So go tell it on the mountain,because ultimately it's the
mountaintop that we want to beon.
We want to be the city on ahill.
We want to be on the top.
Ultimately, that's, that's thepicture.
So I just wanted to throw those,those images in there just to
say that it is in our history tostand.
Faridah (40:01):
It is.
Yes, it is.
And I just have to throw inthere that you said, you know,
that you're talking about themountain and it is our nature to
be on top.
And I just thought I'd throw inanother interesting fact that,
that roughly 90 percent of theworld's population lives in the
Northern Hemisphere.
you know, on top.
(40:21):
I mean, there's, there's,
Frank (40:22):
that's amazing.
There's, there are signs in, in
Faridah (40:25):
everything for those who pay attention, you know?
And so the Southern hemispherehas a lot more biodiversity and
there's wisdom and sign in that.
But the, the Northernhemisphere, so Southern, we're
talking Australia and, you know,New Zealand Antarctica, South
America.
But the North, the, theNorthern, most of the world's
(40:46):
Land is in the NorthernHemisphere.
It's also.
It's also more connected.
So the migration routes and theability of human beings to, to
benefit from one another.
So I just thought that wasinteresting.
You know, you're talking aboutbeing on top and we're talking
about city on a hill or beingthis well balanced population
who has been designated by thecreator of the, the worlds to,
(41:10):
to serve as a witness for men,for mankind.
you know, all of these thingsevoke being in a position of
elevation so that one can, canbe seen.
And so I, I go back to this, youknow, this, go tell it on the
mountain, looking at our, ourhistory a history of standing.
And I'm going back to the ideabecause I want you in our, our
(41:35):
listening audience you know, toreally think about the idea as
you said earlier, Frank, thatthis is a call, you know, this
is not an idle conversation.
This is not neither one of us ishere to hear ourselves speak.
We are here because we are here.
We are called to be here andwe're called to use our voices
(41:58):
to call this community, thislistening community together to
respond to the call in yoursoul, to the purpose in you that
has been awakened to see withclarity what the role of the
family is in directing oursociety back to recognition,
support, honor, and Secure itsecurity of human dignity
(42:24):
because we're living in a dayand age where where human
dignity is under attack on everylevel.
It's under attack in our homeswhere our Children's are not
dignified.
Mothers are not dignified.
Fathers are not dignified.
We're living in undignifiedsituations and environments in
our community life.
Our nation is is in turmoilright now.
(42:47):
There's no dignity in the publicdiscourse.
There's no dignity amongpoliticians.
There's no dignity in, in justcitizens, the civility that
we're looking for, just thebasic manners where neighbors,
as you said, take care of oneanother, secure the interests of
your neighbors.
That's not being done on aregular basis.
And then we look at the worldaround us.
(43:08):
And then we We look at Sudan, welook at Palestine, we look at
Bangladesh, we look at all theseplaces in the world where
humanity's dignity is underattack.
And we have to go back to thefundamentals to say, what is it
that secures human dignity?
And this, and I'm glad that youreferenced you know, we were
(43:31):
speaking of the, the specificexperience or this vein that
came through the nation ofIslam.
But you also referenced Mrs.
The Mighty, Mrs.
Fannie Lou Hamer and this richcivil rights tradition that we
have.
And I would say, you know, Iknow it's, it's, it's commonly
called the civil rights movementand we did secure civil rights
(43:51):
for all Americans.
Not just for African Americans,but we secured civil rights for
all Americans and forgenerations of immigrants who
came after these, you know, theCivil Rights Act of 1964.
We, we secured that, but it was,I think while civil rights were
secured, it was a movement forhuman rights.
(44:12):
Yes.
It was a movement for humandignity.
Yes.
Our dignity had been underattack.
And as African Americans whoare.
And orphan people, we were, wewere stripped from any
connection to our mother andfatherland to the, the, the,
(44:32):
the, the property.
of every human being, of everyhuman family, of every human
people that is culture andlanguage and traditions and
religion and, and all of thesethings that are property of, of
every human family, they were,they were stripped from us.
And so we are an orphan people.
(44:54):
And when an orphan is created,as the prophet Mohammed prayers
and peace be upon him said hesaid, I and the orphan are like
this.
And he held up the two fingersof his hand and those fingers
are together.
And he's, you know, it'switnessing to mankind as an
example for even those who arenot Muslim, but you see how
important the affair of theorphan is throughout scripture.
(45:17):
In the Bible, in the Quran, inthe example of the prophets and
the messengers, and in theexample of the prophet Muhammad
that I just cited, praise andpeace be upon him, and that is
that when an orphan orphans havea special recognition in the
eyes of God, because he comesin, he He exhorts and commands
(45:39):
humanity, communities, I mean,to, to care for the orphan,
right?
It's a very special cause, theorphan and the widow, but he
says, take care of the orphanand we're supposed to pay
special attention to that.
But in addition, there's achapter in the Quran that it's,
it's, it's, again, the light,duha, the glorious morning
(46:02):
light.
And God references in that howhe took.
The, the prophet prayers andpeace be upon him.
And for you know, some in ourlistening audience who may not
be familiar with his story youknow, he was orphaned at a very
young age.
His father died before hisbirth, and his mother died when
he was a young boy about the ageof six.
(46:23):
And then his grandfather, whocared for him, died at, when he
was eight.
And so he had a series of lossesthat left him orphaned in a
society that had placed a highvalue on family and fatherhood
and lineage.
These, these were very importantconcepts.
So within that society he hadbeen orphaned and, and God tells
(46:43):
him in this chapter, he said,didn't I find you an orphan and
like, and guide Yes.
You know?
And so there's a specialguidance.
that comes to the orphan.
And so as an orphaned people,our choice, is our decision, I
would say, is what are we goingto do with that guidance?
(47:07):
Are we going to accept thatguidance and step into the role
that guidance requires?
Because once you've been givenguidance, which is a light,
which is a knowledge, you'reresponsible for sharing that.
We're talking about this beingon the hill, right?
So we as a people areresponsible now for calling
ourselves and the rest ofhumanity.
(47:28):
to secure freedom, justice, andequality for the dignified human
soul.
That is our job.
That is what we're exhorting youand me and all of you to awaken
to purpose.
Take that awakened purpose andlive it in the most excellent
(47:49):
manner so that we can secure thewell being of society.
Frank (47:52):
Absolutely.
So you use the term securing,and that's, that's what's
missing.
That's what makes an orphan anorphan, no security.
So, although through theexperience of chattel slavery,
You know, parents were able tokeep their children, but they,
the children never had thebenefit of the security of the
(48:13):
parent because of the volatileand the inhumane circumstances
that was around them.
Although they may have been ableto be with mom, but they didn't
have the security of mom anddad.
Yes.
So for those who want to say.
Well, you know, more familieswere torn up after slavery than
there was during slavery.
Well, that could be as well, butduring slavery, they didn't have
(48:36):
the security there either.
So I'm using that as an example.
But when I think of children,innocence, that's innocence you
know, you see a child and youjust start blushing and you
just, you just go Google, it'sjust all types of stuff.
These just make you feel goodabout life.
But there's one song that, and Iwas talking to my son about it.
About when he was in pre K, butI didn't reference the song, but
(48:58):
I was just referencing his pre Kstarted his scholastic journey.
They used to sing a song calledthis little light of mine.
I'm going to let it shine.
Like that's the first song a preK child even learns and they
sing this song.
So yes, you have the light.
If you're now obligated to letthe light shine, you got to let
(49:20):
it shine.
You can't cover the light.
You've been blessed with thelight
Faridah (49:23):
everywhere.
Frank (49:24):
That's right.
You know, as you mentionedearlier, it's inviting.
It's warmth.
Light means warmth and peopleare drawn to the warmth.
You mentioned Mr.
Winthrop earlier coming overhere from, from another part of
the world.
You know, the lighthouse wassomething that invited them to
know that this is thedestination.
It was always the light.
So in the light.
(49:46):
So I too agree that we have tosecure our future.
We have to secure it, we have todo all we can, and we are
promised that the city itself isa place for security for the
person to have their best lifeand their best establishments.
(50:06):
And upon that, every otherfunction of the city supports
that life and supports thoseestablishments.
So ultimately, this picture onthe front of this book.
Well, ultimately, at some point,come back into focus and be
vibrant with color and vibrantwith life teeming, as they say,
teeming with life, teeming withindustry, teeming with
(50:29):
developments and everything thatthe human soul wants for itself,
it could see the fulfillment ofthat.
That is the obligation.
So if you, if we're not engagingfor that outcome.
Then we are cheating ourselvesand we're cheating our future.
Faridah (50:47):
Well said.
That's
Frank (50:48):
the
Faridah (50:48):
goal.
That is the, that's the goal.
Yes.
That's the only way.
Yes.
And it's possible.
Like you said, we are, not onlyare we capable of it, we've been
promised, like you said, thecity is the city of security.
We have been promisedexcellence.
and a success, an ultimatesuccess if we commit ourselves
(51:10):
to this.
And so we are asking you to joinus in this.
We are asking for all of us,Muslim, Christian, Jew, people
of faith, people who understandthat there is a vision and a way
and a picture that is clear thathas been given.
We want to form a mighty Army anethical army.
(51:33):
Yes to turn this city Theserealities that are so dark and
gloomy right now We want to turnthis into a city of a million
households with their frontporch light on Calling our
brothers our sisters ourneighbors to excellence.
Frank (51:51):
That's the call.
That's the that's the prayerThat's the hope yes, and that's
the promise i'll conclude withthis when I was younger my dad
Used to travel a lot to just goplaces and see the Imam, as we
call him, Imam W.
D.
Muhammad, W.
D.
Muhammad speak.
And as a child, I was alwayswith my father because I just
(52:11):
didn't want to stay home.
And he would be playing hismusic and Man, that was some
good music.
But he would, one of hisfavorite groups were the
impressions.
And one of their songs was, yes,people Get Ready, there's a
trainer coming.
(52:32):
I don't know.
The next line don't need notickets.
Oh yeah, just get on.
I was just gonna hum the secondpart.
But anyway.
But, but, but that was a arecognition of, of the soul
wanting its best establishment.
And that the people were ready,like, like, Hey, it's coming.
Like you just need to be ready.
(52:53):
So get yourself ready becausehere it comes here.
The promise is on its way.
You just need to get ready.
And when it comes, you can justget right on board because
you've qualified yourself to bea part of this good
establishment.
Faridah (53:04):
Yes.
Frank (53:05):
The great impressions.
Yeah.
Thanks dad.
I'll tell you.
Amazing.
See fathers, mothers, fathers,they, they do wonderful things
for their children and theirchildren grow up to, to extend
their good works.
And that's what it's supposed tobe.
Faridah (53:17):
Yes.
Yes, absolutely.
Frank (53:20):
So Farda, we have moved one step closer.
To destination excellence.
Faridah (53:27):
The praise is for God alone until next time.
Let us remain conscious of ourcreator of the sacred
relationship of parent and childand of the family ties that bind
us subscribe to the podcast andcome back next time for a new
episode of the family ties
Frank (53:45):
from Frank Abdul Shahid
Faridah (53:48):
and Farida Abdul Tawad Brown.
Frank (53:51):
Peace
Faridah (53:54):
be upon the family.
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