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Imam Shaker Elsayed of the Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center spoke at an event of the Ethiopian-American Muslims of the Washington metropolitan area and said that the Muslims had three sources of power – faith, unity, and armaments – and that "the world only fears those who fight back." The event was held on January 26, 2013 at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia, to mark the "year long anniversary of the peaceful Ethiopian Muslims movement for religious freedom, equality and justice in Ethiopia." In his address, Imam Elsayed further said: "[Muslim men] are last if anything is being distributed – except if it is arms for Jihad. We are the first ones to rush and run to defend our community and defend ourselves." Addressing those who are "afraid to line up against [the enemies of Allah] because they may call us terrorists," Elsayed said that they consider Muslims to be terrorists anyway. "Well, give them a run for their money... Make this title worth it. And be a good Muslim," he exhorted his listeners. The event was billed to "show our support to the peaceful struggle of the Muslims in Ethiopia as well as a condemnation of the violent government repression against them." Following his address, one of the organizers made a "disclaimer" that "Imam Shaker is not advocating for armed struggle in Ethiopia." Elsayed's address was posted on the YouTube account of the First Hijrah, a community of Ethiopian Muslims in Washington, DC, on February 13 of that year.
Imam Shaker Elsayed: "It is not us who are violent. It is the enemies of humanity who are using violence, weapons, and militarization to control world resources, world ideas, world markets, world consumers for the benefit of the few elites. Even in Western countries it is not fair. How could we then expect them to be fair to us? Allah told us: 'Prepare whatever means of power' – not weakness... Power requires knowledge.
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"The world today only acknowledges the powerful. We have three sources of power. We Muslims, in particular, cannot live, survive, or gain victory unless and until we master the three sources of power. The first one is the power of our faith.
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"The second source of power is the power of our unity as Muslims.
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"The third power is the power of armament. You cannot defend yourself by wishful thinking. Could you? Could you get colonial powers out of our nations by telling them: 'Would you please leave tomorrow morning?' Would you?"
Audience: "No!"
Imam Shaker Elsayed: "Brothers, that's why the Quran says: 'Prepare...'
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"The world only hears those who speak. The world only respects those who push back. The world only fears those who fight back."
Audience member: "Say: 'Allah Akbar!'"
Audience: "Allah Akbar!"
Audience member: "Say: 'Allah Akbar!'"
Audience: "Allah Akbar!"
Audience member: "Say: 'Allah Akbar!'"
Audience: "Allah Akbar!"
Imam Shaker Elsayed: "Brothers and sisters, in a post-9/11 atmosphere, many Muslims, including a lot of Muslim leaders – including world leaders, national leaders, presidents, kings, and emirs – have bowed down to the Western pressure. We, the Muslim masses, would never and should never bow down except to Allah."
Audience: "Allah Akbar!"
Imam Shaker Elsayed: "Bow to no one but Allah, and this will give us our dignity back. Our dignity is not a gift that we seek from a human being. It is our right that we push back for, we fight for, we live by, and die for. This is our dignity. This is our identity as Muslims. We do not let anybody ride over our back, and just accept it. We don't!
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"Muslim men – when there is a price to pay, they are first in line. When there is a gain to make, they are last to seek anything from anyone other than Allah. So they are the first in the prayer line, they are the first in the zakat line, they are the first in the hajj line, they are the first in the clean-up line, they are the first in the community service line, they are the first in the Jihad line, they are the first in the da'wa line, but they are last if anything is being distributed – except if it is arms for Jihad. We are the first ones to rush and run to defend our community and defend ourselves. The enemies of Allah are lining up. The question is for us – are we lining up, or are we afraid because they may call us terrorists? Let me give you the good news: They are already calling us terrorists anyway. Whether you are sitting at home, watching TV, drinking coffee, sleeping, or playing with your kids – you are a terrorist because you are a Muslim. Well, give them a run for their money. Make it worth it. Make this title worth it. And be a good Muslim."
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Organizer: "Just a disclaimer: Imam Shaker is not advocating for armed struggle in Ethiopia. He is just simply giving us a lesson."
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