"DO NOT TURN THE PULPIT INTO A POLITICAL PODIUM"

Testimony presented by the Islamic Supreme Council of America (ISCA) to the
House Subcommittee on Oversight,
HEARING ON REQUIREMENTS FOR RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2002

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Chairman Houghton and distinguished Members of the Subcommittee:

The Islamic Supreme Council of America (ISCA) is a religious organization dedicated to providing practical solutions for American Muslims, based on the rulings of classical Islamic jurisprudence. We work proactively with government and civil institutions, both domestically and abroad, to present the ideological standpoint of traditional Muslims throughout the world.

We respectfully express to you today our opposition to HR 2357 and HR 2931, which would amend the Internal Revenue Service Code of 1986 to permit churches and other houses of worship to engage in political campaigns.

In restricting the political participation of religious organizations, the current tax codes embody the will of our Founding Fathers and reflect their wise and sound judgment not to converge religious institutions and the political system of this nation.

As traditional Muslims, we know that classical Islamic doctrine is in harmony with the views articulated by the framers of our Constitution in this matter.

According to Islamic tradition, our houses of worship are for God and for God alone. Though this makes mosques the central focus of public life in Islam, it also places them outside the sphere of worldly discourse. Emphasizing the purely spiritual nature of the mosque in Islam, the Prophet Muhammad (s) said, "And a prayer followed by a prayer with no worldly talk during the gap between them will be recorded in the good deeds of believers."

The sanctity of the mosque as a place for remembrance of God and His worship is emphasized time and again in the Holy Quran. In one place it was revealed, "When the call is made for prayer on Friday, then hasten to the remembrance of God and leave off trading; that is better for you, if you know" (62:9). Trade here refers to all that involves the worldly life - not just buying and selling but the business of power-seeking and politics. Thus the emphasis is that, in responding to the call for prayer, worldly concerns are set aside as one enters the mosque. Once prayers are completed, the affairs of this world may be picked up again outside the mosque as the next verse stresses: "And when the prayer is finished, then may ye disperse through the land, and seek of the Bounty of God..." (62:10).

For this reason, the 2nd Caliph of the Prophet, Umar ibn al-Khattab, set aside an area near the mosque and said, "Whoever wishes to talk of this world… or raise his voice should go to that area."

Throughout the ages, the leading thinkers of the Islamic world have warned against turning the mosque into a political forum. These men and women valued the sanctity of the mosque and knew that allowing it to become a political venue would diminish its holy status. They also knew that doing so would divide the members of a congregation along political lines, turning a house of worship into an arena for political wrangling, in-fighting, and all manner of intrigues.

We believe the same holds true for churches and synagogues, too. What sincere believer would like to see the pulpit of his church or the bima of her temple turned into a stump for political lobbying, fundraising or vote seeking? Who would like to see their pulpit turned into the floor of Congress?

While there are surely members of every faith community that would, in their short-sighted pursuit of greater political influence, welcome the increased lenience proposed by the authors of these two bills, we believe that the problems created thereby far outweigh any possible benefits.

The tragic events of September 11 are a grim reminder of the ultimate consequences of transforming religion into a political tool. It is an extreme example, but one which should not be forgotten in the present debate.

As Muslims, we are all too aware of the perils posed by politicizing religion. As Americans, we are also well aware of the prudent provisions our Founding Fathers instituted to prevent the marriage of politics and religion. As people of faith, we urge the Subcommittee to leave those barriers intact, to leave that door closed and to ensure that America's mosques, synagogues, chapels and churches remain places of worship, not of politics.

Thank you.