Jihad Watch
Actually they were calling for "justice," by which they mean that the shooting of Luqman Abdullah was an act of injustice. They're trying to shift attention away from the jihadist violence allegedly being plotted at the Masjid al-Haqq, and onto the supposed excess of the FBI reaction. "Muslims call for justice at funeral for lslamic leader," by Niraj Warikoo for the Detroit Free Press, October 31 (thanks to James): Muslim leaders called for justice today at the funeral of Luqman Ameen Abdullah, the Islamic leader killed by FBI agents this week during a shootout in Dearborn.''We are looking for justice,'' said Imam Mohammed Elahi of the Islamic House of Wisdom to a packed crowd that spilled outside. ''The closest road to Allah is justice. May Allah bless his soul.'' Elahi said.
''Allah Akbar,'' God is great, the packed crowd said at times during the funeral.The casket of Abdullah is now on its way to a cemetery in Canton.
Ameen was the head of a separate mosque, Masjid Al-Haqq, which consisted primarily of African-American Muslims, say federal authorities. They maintain in a criminal complaint that Abduallh [sic] was a violent extremist who urged attacks on police and called for an offensive jihad that would overthrow the U.S. government and establish Islamic rule.
But family, friends, and Muslims cast doubts on the claims, saying that Abdullah was a generous, modest man who helped the poor, tried to better lives through Islam, and was a respected imam. Abdullah took part in local and national Muslim groups, including the Muslim Alliance in North America, MANA. He was on MANA's advisory board and was sometimes seen at meetings with local imams.
The funeral started inside the center’s prayer room about 10 a.m. with short talks by Muslim leaders — Sunni and Shi’ite — about Abdullah and what Islam teaches. In the front of the room, Abdullah’s body was laid inside a simple, white casket, per Islamic tradition. Wrapped around the casket was a black cloth with Islamic verses.
Some in the crowd wore traditional Muslim dress: white robes, worn just above the ankle and full beards with no mustaches, per Islamic custom. Like Abdullah was known for, some in the crowd also wore turbans.
As the mourners entered, they took off their shoes and sat on the carpet inside the prayer room: men in the front, women in the back. Some eyes welled up as the crowd heard stories about Abdullah, who was praised as a man who always remembered Allah, God, and helped needy people in the west side Detroit neighborhood around the mosque, Masjid Al-Haqq, that he led.
Federal authorities say Abdullah was a criminal and an extremist, bent on creating an Islamic nation in the United States through violence against law enforcement. But Imam Aly Lela of the Islamic Association of Greater Detroit in Rochester Hills said that Saturday’s large crowd proves how much Abdullah was respected in the community.
The size is “testimony of the good character of” Abdullah, he said. “That makes a strong statement that he was a very good person who used to help other people…not only Muslims, but non-Muslims who needed the help.”
The funeral concluded with a brief prayer in Arabic. Then, the body was taken in a hearse driven by Imam Abdullah El-Amin, the head of the Muslim Center and organizer of the funeral. The caravan’s cars had little orange flags on them with the Islamic crescent and star.
As cold winds and a drizzle blew across the Canton cemetery, the Muslims huddled together around the grave of Luqman Ameen Abdullah.
“La ilaha illa Allah,” a Muslim leader repeatedly intoned in a melodious voice. “There is no god, but God.”
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