EP20 - What Makes a City of Light

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 They share personal stories, historical references, and spiritual perspectives on how individual responsibility, the pursuit of knowledge, and a strong familial foundation can transform society.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

Transcript

Frank: 0:16

Peace be upon the family, as we welcome you to another experience of The Family Ties, a prescription for society. I am your co host, Frank Abdul Shaheed.

Faridah: 0:27

And I am your co host, Farida Abdul Tawab Brown. Before we get started, don't forget to subscribe, So you can stay up to date and get all the latest episodes. So I am thrilled to be back here for another conversation, another journey towards excellence and the destiny for humanity with you. So how, how's your week, your weekend been?

Frank: 0:49

Oh, well, first of all, I'm going to say thank you. And it's a pleasure for me to be back with you as well. And also being able to have a conversation 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 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, if I'm going to use that term. But being able to see him and interact with him and interact with both of my sons really provided for us a great atmosphere of conversation. I got a chance to see their maturity level. Develop more, and they also had a chance to see another side of me, another intimate side of me that they never really got a chance to see. And part of that was, wasn't really sure if they were old enough or mature enough to see that side, but they got it. And then when I gave it to them, they got it. So I really had a wonderful week. How was your one?

Faridah: 2:01

That's wonderful. My week has been eventful. I too got to see my eldest daughter. She does live in the area, but you know, she came by to have dinner with us and with the family and they were excited about dinner, but you know, she, she loves soup. So we were, we were having chicken soup, a nice, you know, kind of healing, healthy bowl of, of deliciousness, you know, but we got to enjoy it with, with our, our eldest daughter. And so it's, it's been just a week of preparation. And I think, really acknowledging the, the the blessings and the privilege of being able to conduct our family life, the ups and downs, the successes and the You know, and the failures where we get back up and pull ourselves up again, but to experience that the blessing of being able to experience that together within a womb of faith, I think I'm extremely grateful for that. And this week has helped me to reflect on that in a very meaningful way.

Frank: 3:07

I would totally agree with you on that, and I believe that the faith aspect of that adds another layer of insulation, another layer of feeding, another layer of healing, another and another layer of revelation as guidance to help. The family move forward where naturally we were created to be with each other anyway. So with that, we already have a bond that's already there. That is just a common bond for us. But the spiritual side of it just adds another, another level to it. And also, you know, listen to my sons who No, their sons. You know, my sons are in there. One is in his mid twenties. The other one is in his upper twenties and to hear them wanting to position themselves as men ready for all responsibilities and to the point where they're second guessing. My perspectives as an older man is Always makes for a entertaining conversation. I love having the banter with them, too. I don't want to hurt their spirit too much. So I, I sometimes acquiesce. In a way to kind of give them a little bit of to keep the air under their wings, but it's somehow another in my old man wisdom, I always circle back and give them something to let them know that this look, buddy, you still have a long way to go, pal, but, but, Hey, you're on your way. So, and I'm very proud of them for that. So, once again, a blessing to have family and to have it in a spiritual way that everyone is on the same page. And we all. Relate in that same flow of energy,

Faridah: 4:48

you know, I, I, I really thank you for sharing that with us, you know, with me and with the, the listening audience, I think it's so important, you know, to understand, like you said, you even use the word healing, you know, to have the, the the womb, that extra layer of support and strength that comes from a, a faithful perspective, a perspective that is informed and informed. by the wisdom, the loving, caring guidance of our creator is, is it's, it's wonderful and it'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 Americans that, you know, sometimes it's called American exceptionalism. But it really is rooted in, I believe, a scriptural idea or concept, and in particular, in the American context, a biblical concept of the city upon the hill, right? And for, for all of my history buffs and everyone who had an eighth grade civics course or ninth grade U. S. history, you know, you'll remember that John Winthrop, the One of the Puritans in 1630, he was, of course, the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. And he had written a sermon that was entitled, Christian Charity, A Model Thereof. And in this sermon, he referenced that, that, that we shall be, quote, we shall be as a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon us. And so this idea that is ingrained in the American ethos, but that comes out of a very specific reading of scripture that has us look at ourselves in a way that to whom much is given, much is, is expected, right? That when you have the clarity of guidance that you're expected to then lead mankind. with a life well lived, a society well constructed, a family well situated, based upon that guidance. So I wanted to ask you, you know we, we live in cities and cities are sometimes representative. They come, the word city itself comes from the Latin, which means a Latin root meaning civilians, like a community of civilians. And so I wanted to ask you what transform a city into a city of light, you know, this idea that we would be a beacon in any way, even this conversation, this podcast, what, what transforms a city into that city of light that's referenced in scripture.

Frank: 7:28

Interesting. That's a very, very big question, but it's a question that's our nature is asking. Our intellect is, are trying to find ways to make that happen, but our nature is already asking that same question. So as I'm having conversations with my sons and we're talking, and now I just want to say this, that I didn't have a conversation with both of them at the same time. I had times with both of them individually, but in what was common with our conversations were a Genesis. An origin a process of moving forward and also a destination. So as we were talking about life and wanting to get better understandings of our experiences and getting feedback, it helped the soul. Feel a certain strength to understand that we're going in the right direction. Now, we may not have known this was the direction to go. We're making decisions. And I'm telling him as a parent, I'm trying to be three, four, five steps ahead of you. I'm trying to be able to identify things in you to unlock these possibilities to give you an environment for those things to naturally grow and reach their potential, their fulfillment. But I want to ask you, as I'm telling my, my children, my sons, What do you think? And if you had children, would you follow the same process? So we just had general conversations. But at the end of the, at the conclusion or the end of the conversation, we both said, we used this term that. The light of knowledge illuminates. So when someone says, Hey, I just figured it out, the eyes light up. And I told my son, I said, I can see that light bulb above your head. It finally turned on. Finally, your light bulb turned on. And then he responded to me with that, you know, knowledge is, is light. So. If everyone can see our light, and if the light being turned on is the, is the goal for knowledge and the goal for communication and the goal for good establishments, aren't every group of people, aren't every citizen, isn't every family required to have on that light, to turn on that light? And if they all turn on the light, then I believe that becomes the city of light. That's how a city gets turned on to become a city of light. Now, there are other things that have to come into that particular city to support those good establishments, but the genesis of it all is understanding the development of the individual and having them have their best life and as an individual, but also as a community, as a family, specifically, and each family are represents a light. So turn on your porch light. And if everyone turns on that porch 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 of the light bulb moment is connected. I think to that light of knowledge is connected to the guidance from our creator. Because even that the light bulb, when you see that in a cartoon or just the imagery, when it forms its picture in your mind, it's, that's inspiration, you know and inspiration is what comes when a connection is made that is not connection is made that comes from the source. you know, the source of all knowledge, the creator of the world. And this connection is made for you in a way that you can't necessarily put your finger on it. But now the knowledge that you've worked for and that you can experience empirically with your senses is somehow, is, is somehow elevated and connections are made by the guidance of, of your creator. And so when I, when I think about light, as you said, every individual being turned on to me, We said turn the light on and that automatically, in my mind, gives me a picture of the human being being turned on, being awakened to his or her purpose, and that cannot be done without knowledge, and of course that awakening happens as a process. Right? There's a, there's a process that happens where the spirit is awakened almost before the mind is, right? So there's, there's this connection. There's something in your spirit, like you said, and you spoke about this a little bit earlier. You said there's a process happening in the, in the individual. It's a natural process. There's a seeking there's in the human being as part of the inherent design. And so, in the process of seeking that when a message a revelation is brought to that spirit by the material or natural world around it through or through a conversation, there's something awakened in that human being that says, aha, right? I am this, this is what my spirit and my soul is responding to. And then you marry that with knowledge. And now you have a pathway that's open to you, and that light is shown upon the pathway, not only for you, but as you just said, now that I have imbued this, this true understanding of who I am, why I'm on this earth, and then the light shining and making the picture clear. Now I can shine for others. And that city is now awakened and enlightened.

Frank: 13:13

Yes. So I, I referenced the, the imagery of turning your, your porch light on growing up as a youngster. I don't know if I see it as much now because I don't know if I'm as aware, but as my curiosity as a youngster growing up and trying to understand my place in the world, I could remember neighborhoods Well, the lights were on and that represented that someone was home.

Faridah: 13:39

Yes.

Frank: 13:40

So they left there. They left their lights on to identify with one another to say, I'm home. I'm not only at my home in my four walls of my house, but I'm home as a person who's managing the responsibility of home of a developmental womb for my family, for them to be able to understand what their private. Interest are and having them go out into the public and making sure that their public image or their public interests are similar. We're developing the private interest at home, but we want to manifest them in the public for our public image, ultimately to be a service to humanity and to be a service to our neighborhoods, to be service to my neighbor. So I can have a good, strong foundation for a neighborhood. So the light. And the porch is a symbol as well for knowing that I'm home, which means you can come, you see that porch light on, come on, knock on my door and I'm going to invite you in and I'm going to give you all of the warmth and love that the neighbors should give each other. And then that type of spirit and that type of circumstance, we're able to build our life. And we are the first builders of that life in order to establish ourselves as the light as an enlightened city or a light on the hill.

Faridah: 15:06

That imagery is so powerful. You know, the, the light leaving the light on it, it also brings to mind. So like you said to me that it's evoking this memory of, of Gigi, my great grandmother. You know, she'd be sitting on the porch with that front light, you know, that front porch light on waiting for us to arrive from Boston, you know, driving up the six of us in, in our station wagon. And she would be there no matter the time of night. And as you said, it was both welcoming and it signaled that, that someone was home, that there was someone was awake. There was a presence that, that was emitted, you know, light can give heat sometimes. And it, it it, it shows the way, right. It illuminates. So one of the things that I was thinking about, sometimes, you know, there's, there are sayings that we have in, in colloquial sayings that we have. And sometimes one of them is like, is the light on, you know, if someone doesn't look. As if they are quite aware of what's happening in the conversation. And you know, are you following this 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 our attention must be drawn to. As particularly in this conversation in this movement that we are trying to build with this podcast, this podcast is a communication not, not, not just from Frank and Farida, but it's the communication of a, a scripture based tradition of freedom, justice, and equality that has come through the particular experience of Of the African American ethnic. origin story, and then the history that came along with that. And then the particular the gift of guidance and scripture that was given to us first through our experience as a largely Christian population. And then for a particular community of us who responded to a call to to scripture, to the book of the Quran that came through the experience of the nation of Islam and was enlightened that light that you're speaking of that was sparked during the nation of Islam being turned on fully under the leadership of Imam Martha Deen Muhammad. And that is a particular experience that I think helps to give us a clarity about where we are in the world and how the light that all of us need. have been endowed with inherently in our makeup, in our design as human beings, that that light can be it's, it's contagious, right? That we, that once one person has been awakened, then they, 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 light it, and then you can light the candle next to you as, and then before you know it, the entire circle. is illuminated and everybody's candle has been lit because of the first one. And so I'm looking at our communities. Like you said, if the porch light is on, you know, someone is home. If the porch light is on, you know, that there's a welcoming presence that wants to share with you. If we take a look today. And this is why this conversation is so important. If we take a look today, honestly, at our communities, at our family life, we're looking at a lot of homes and the light isn't on. And so what is our responsibility if we are holding this candle? What are we called to do for those of us who do have a light? who have been awakened to our purpose. And I think that is the reason that we are here today, that we've been blessed by the creator of all the worlds to come. in conversation with each other and with you all today because there is some responsibility to our community and to the community, the family of mankind that we have now that we have been awakened to our purpose.

Frank: 19:30

Yes, ma'am. So very well spoken. So very well articulated. And our soul naturally gravitates to that and will accept what you just said in the climate that we're currently in, you know, we're in a very interesting political climate. As we are working our way into our next election that's coming up very shortly, many times we have been led to believe that someone else is going to take care of us, someone else is going to give us benefit, someone else is going to make the, they're going to band aid our boo boo, for lack of better terms. Yes, yes. Someone else is going to make us feel good about. Our either good situation or our bad situation, either one, someone's going to make us feel okay about it. But that's not what the human was designed to do. The human was designed to stand on their own. The first standing is the of the human individual standing themselves to make to acknowledge to the world that I am responsible and i'm taking responsibility for my life and i'm also Wanting for the world to understand that I am with you in this work of handling this level of responsibility. So ultimately it comes from me first, but if I'm not standing, if I don't, if the world doesn't see me standing, then the people who claim to have our best interest at heart when they get resources and they get opportunities and pathways are open to us. In many cases, when we receive these benefits, we can't manage them because we haven't, we haven't stood yet. We're not standing. We're not a people standing. So standing once again is a conviction is something in your soul that says, Hey, listen, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm ready. And my standing is a spiritual movement. Standing is a spiritual movement for man himself. So when we think back to the climate that we're in and wanting to attain this image of the city, enlightened city. The responsibility is on, it's on me, it's on my wife, it's on my children, it's on my neighbor before 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, we are the ones who legitimately. Are to direct them benefit us, not the other way around and not this ideal that we have, like we have a country where the government is for the people by the 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 our ability to manage our own because we're under this influence that they're going to manage our life for us. And if that's the case, then the innocence of the people in community life gets slaughtered for an image that only is a expedient. Political or business or financial image, it ultimately dims the light, if not extinguishes it. So we have to take that step first, and we have to acknowledge each other first that we are standing and ready for the task of responsibility to manage our life and our cities.

Faridah: 23:05

This is a call. You have just laid down a gauntlet, a gauntlet, if you will. You're calling us. back to the clarity and the excellence of our design. Yes. You pointed us to the fact that this is something that is, is, is inscribed upon our very souls and our spirit. And that is evidenced by the standing of the child.

Frank: 23:35

Yes.

Faridah: 23:35

Right. So we, we are for those of us who are believers, we understand that we have guidance in scripture itself and that the creator of the heavens and earth also guides us through the creation. He gives us signs and some of those signs are even in, in our cells. as parts of that creation. And so in pointing to the standing of the child, that innocence that you said, the child is striving for something. It is in their nature to stand, to observe around them. And if they see the others in their environment, mother, father, older siblings, cousins, others who are, who are ambulatory, they are standing, they are walking. The child naturally wants to establish for him or herself. And so, like you said, if you kill that drive, Then you're killing what is innocent in your, in the nature of the human being. If you kill the drive to stand on one's own and by standing on one's own, it doesn't mean that we're not interdependent for the child. The child only learns how to stand based on watching those in his or her environment. So it's already an interdependent activity. You need the other humans around you to be able to learn how to do what needs to be done. But the spirit, the drive, the persistence and the conviction that's necessary. to become a walking person, erect human being that has to come from within and it has to be 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're looking at our communities, we're looking at our families and we are seeing that the light is, is not on for many of us. And you are pointing us to our own responsibility to turn that light on in order for one to be awakened to one's purpose. You have to recognize that there are, that there is something inherent in you, that your makeup is excellent, that there is a pattern. And even if you don't have the resources around you, right at that moment, you can get those resources from other human beings, other people in your community who recognize and have come alive to the fact that the Peace that we are all seeking the security that comes from healthy families and healthy communities that that is an obligation on each of us and that once we have secured some semblance of peace and establishment for ourselves that our 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 guess when I say the light is is not on right now and you're pointing us back to responsibility. I also look at scripture in the Quran where God points us to the alternation of day or night. So he says in the alternation of day and night, there are signs for people of understanding. And so I think that points us to this reality that yes, sometimes we fall down. Sometimes there is darkness. Sometimes there's a period where we need to gather gather our strength again. And right now we find that we are ill. We do need salvation as a community. We do need a direction and a clarity. But you know when the body heals itself? Is when it's sleeping and the time for rest and sleep is at night So when the body is ill and there's something that needs to be addressed Sleep is necessary The night time the darkness is necessary for the body to to do what it does in order to prepare itself for healing and so then when the light is turned back on again in the day You're prepared to take that light and move with it

Frank: 27:36

Absolutely. Absolutely. I want to reference a book This book is, was written by Imam Earl Abdul Malik Muhammad. This particular book is called On Nations, On Nature and Nations is the name of the book. On Nature. And nations is the Muslim American message for humanity in the day of religion. Wonderful book. It's a must read for anybody who has any, any connection to the goodness of their own soul. And as a week to that, this is a help. This is the help, but the thing I want to reference is on the cover of, of this particular book, it shows a family, a mother, a father, and children together as a family, not, not individuals. They are a family, but they're standing behind a gate and behind this gate, they're looking over into the city. What they see in this picture is trees that are barren and they see a city. That is the picture is blurred. It's a blurred picture of the city. The flag that they have, which is 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 at the establishment, looking at the establishment and wanting to be part of this establishment, but they are locked out of the establishment through this fence there, they can't get through the fence. So for our life, for our life. We are currently looking at that picture currently now, when we look at America and even most of the world, that's the image that we see that our good life is being locked out or prohibited from having our good establishments in the places that we live. So this book addresses a lot of the issues that we're going through and how we can come back into an idea or come back into a method of getting back the light, being able to get over the fence and be able to bring life back to a an environment that looks bleak and looks completely dead and barren. And it addresses many aspects of what city life is many aspects of just what community life is. It just so happens to show a city, a metropolis, but it's community life, no matter where it is, whether it's in the rural part or in the city, but I would suggest. This listening audience, if you don't have had this book, that this is definitely a must read. And as you referenced before about us coming through this experience of the nation of Islam and having that language and coming in and having a group of people represent the redemption of man, man's redemption to come back into his best self, to be able to be a beacon of light. As we, I mentioned before about light to be a beacon of light for those to see and to be drawn to for us to come back to our best life. And that's what the African American has been coming through this form of chattel slavery here in America, but specifically through the Avenue and through the vein of the lost found nation of Islam to the nation of Islam. And to that particular. Avenue or that particular vein of experience has led us to have the voice to talk to the world and call the world back to the good life, call the world back to that life of good community, good establishments and to be a functional entity to help society at large be the city of light

Faridah: 31:31

that I agree with you. That book is a must read. It, it is very important in terms of even the, the imagery. You know, that's on, on that front cover that you, you remarked upon. And like you said, that the family is viewing the city from behind a gate or a fence. As you said, it's a united family, a family unit together. And I think it's interesting that a city was chosen because as you said, it's discussing ideas that. address humanity in all of its situations. But it is interesting that the majority 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 live in an urban setting. And it's predicted that by the year 2050, which is about just about a quarter of a century from now about 26 years that They're estimating that about 62. 5%. So that number is only increasing, you know, in terms of the urban setting. So I think it is important to address the circumstance where 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 specific reference to the city of the, that is associated with the Prophet Muhammad, prayers and peace be upon him. And that is Medina Al Munawwara, or the enlightened city, the illuminated city, the city of light. And it is so determined because of many things, but one of which is how the city was established so that the structure of society supports it. the development of human life in its best picture. And so, and that it supports human dignity. So I think this is what is in focus here in 2024 for the entire world in a way that I'm not sure that it's been in focus for so much of humanity at one time. And that is the securing of human dignity. What forces. are present in a, in city life, in the structures and in both the geographical and the material structures, as well as the communication and the way that families and, and people are situated and relationships are supported. What is, what is the makeup of that? What are the, what makes up the relationships and the rules and regulations that are supportive of the establishment of human dignity? And I think that is the picture that we're looking at when we're looking at being a beacon of light, a city upon a hill, or even the community that is the balanced community that has been evolved as a witness for all mankind. It's a very similar message to be a witness for mankind means that your actions, the way you interact, the, the, the example that you set are models of light and clarity for the world. The rest of humanity. And I think that is what we are calling. Like you said, we now have a voice. Well, this is what we're using our voice for. There could not be anything more important than the human family and its dignity at this moment in time. And the most fundamental unit of the human family is the family unit itself. And this is why we're focusing the family because it serves the ultimate picture of the family. Acknowledging, supporting, and encouraging 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 be familiar with, with Muhammad, the prophet made the praise in peace 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. On the on the mosque and the color green has been associated with with Mohammed the prophet and you would say, well, they're in a desert. There's nothing green in the desert, 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 life and you're coming into a place with no life and you're creating life. 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 picture to me about the movie, the wizard of Oz and they, Dorothy was trying to get to the Emerald city. Which is green. And when you see the image of the Emerald city, it's illuminated. It's an luminous city. So they're going, they're attracted to the light of the illumination of the city. And the city just happens to be Emerald, which is green. So I just wanted to kind of throw those two in there. I am not the the science guy of movies to be breaking stuff down and interpreting all the other stuff, but some things are just very obvious when you look at them. So. But I wanted to make, make that picture, put that picture in our mind, that the city itself guarantees us security. The Qur'an says you are a free man in the city. As a reference in the Koran as well, but it gives us that that I want to give that picture. So the lush and abundance. So when we go back to a standing standing upon our good nature upon our nature first and in wanting the best for our life. And then when we don't have that, we are acknowledging that we are being, there's a level of deficiency. So which brought me to another example, the great Steven Morris, Steven Morris, a. k. a. Stevie Wonder with his song living 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 hardcore Mississippi, you know, but it's, it's, it's not having resources. And you're realizing what do I have to do when I don't have these resources and no one should ever live in a society where you don't have the resources and you either have to go without or you have to do something that your soul, your good soul would, would reject. Just in order to have another day or another form of expression. And I'm thinking about how our cities aren't illuminated for Stevie to even have this song living for the city. But, but, but in our history, specifically African Americans, but specifically, and we'll tie this with the civil rights movements, you know, there were songs that we would sing to let the world know that we are standing. And as the young folks say today, standing on business, we're standing, meaning that we're ready for this responsibility, but, but we are being denied in some way. But as long as we keep standing and have our faith connected to the, the, the, our creator, our evolver, the one who creates the night and day and creates all of, The universe, we're standing on our conviction of who we are as a people. And we're standing on the fact that we are a creation of God himself, the Lord himself the creator himself, that we would project songs. And one of those songs was go tell it on the mountain. By the great, and I want to emphasize this term, great, the great Fannie Lou Hamer, who her name alone invokes strength, standing. Yes. So go tell it on the mountain, because ultimately it's the mountaintop that we want to be on. We want to be the city on a hill. We want to be on the top. Ultimately, that's, that's the picture. So I just wanted to throw those, those images in there just to say that it is in our history to stand.

Faridah: 40:01

It is. Yes, it is. And I just have to throw in there that you said, you know, that you're talking about the mountain and it is our nature to be on top. And I just thought I'd throw in another interesting fact that, that roughly 90 percent of the world's population lives in the Northern Hemisphere. you know, on top. 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 hemisphere has a lot more biodiversity and there's wisdom and sign in that. But the, the Northern hemisphere, so Southern, we're talking Australia and, you know, New Zealand Antarctica, South America. But the North, the, the Northern, most of the world's Land is in the Northern Hemisphere. It's also. It's also more connected. So the migration routes and the ability of human beings to, to benefit from one another. So I just thought that was interesting. You know, you're talking about being on top and we're talking about city on a hill or being this well balanced population who has been designated by the creator of the, the worlds to, to serve as a witness for men, for mankind. you know, all of these things evoke being in a position of elevation so that one can, can be seen. And so I, I go back to this, you know, this, go tell it on the mountain, looking at our, our history a history of standing. And I'm going back to the idea because I want you in our, our listening audience you know, to really think about the idea as you said earlier, Frank, that this is a call, you know, this is not an idle conversation. This is not neither one of us is here to hear ourselves speak. We are here because we are here. We are called to be here and we're called to use our voices to call this community, this listening community together to respond to the call in your soul, to the purpose in you that has been awakened to see with clarity what the role of the family is in directing our society back to recognition, support, honor, and Secure it security of human dignity because we're living in a day and age where where human dignity is under attack on every level. It's under attack in our homes where our Children's are not dignified. Mothers are not dignified. Fathers are not dignified. We're living in undignified situations and environments in our community life. Our nation is is in turmoil right now. There's no dignity in the public discourse. There's no dignity among politicians. There's no dignity in, in just citizens, the civility that we're looking for, just the basic manners where neighbors, as you said, take care of one another, secure the interests of your neighbors. That's not being done on a regular basis. And then we look at the world around us. And then we We look at Sudan, we look at Palestine, we look at Bangladesh, we look at all these places in the world where humanity's dignity is under attack. And we have to go back to the fundamentals to say, what is it that secures human dignity? And this, and I'm glad that you referenced you know, we were speaking of the, the specific experience or this vein that came through the nation of Islam. But you also referenced Mrs. The Mighty, Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer and this rich civil rights tradition that we have. And I would say, you know, I know it's, it's, it's commonly called the civil rights movement and we did secure civil rights for all Americans. Not just for African Americans, but we secured civil rights for all Americans and for generations of immigrants who came after these, you know, the Civil Rights Act of 1964. We, we secured that, but it was, I think while civil rights were secured, it was a movement for human rights. Yes. It was a movement for human dignity. Yes. Our dignity had been under attack. And as African Americans who are. And orphan people, we were, we were stripped from any connection to our mother and fatherland to the, the, the, the, the property. of every human being, of every human family, of every human people that is culture and language and traditions and religion and, and all of these things that are property of, of every human family, they were, they were stripped from us. And so we are an orphan people. And when an orphan is created, as the prophet Mohammed prayers and peace be upon him said he said, I and the orphan are like this. And he held up the two fingers of his hand and those fingers are together. And he's, you know, it's witnessing to mankind as an example for even those who are not Muslim, but you see how important the affair of the orphan is throughout scripture. In the Bible, in the Quran, in the example of the prophets and the messengers, and in the example of the prophet Muhammad that I just cited, praise and peace be upon him, and that is that when an orphan orphans have a special recognition in the eyes of God, because he comes in, he He exhorts and commands humanity, communities, I mean, to, to care for the orphan, right? It's a very special cause, the orphan and the widow, but he says, take care of the orphan and we're supposed to pay special attention to that. But in addition, there's a chapter in the Quran that it's, it's, it's, again, the light, duha, the glorious morning light. And God references in that how he took. The, the prophet prayers and peace be upon him. And for you know, some in our listening audience who may not be familiar with his story you know, he was orphaned at a very young age. His father died before his birth, and his mother died when he was a young boy about the age of six. And then his grandfather, who cared for him, died at, when he was eight. And so he had a series of losses that left him orphaned in a society that had placed a high value on family and fatherhood and lineage. These, these were very important concepts. So within that society he had been orphaned and, and God tells 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 special guidance. that comes to the orphan. And so as an orphaned people, our choice, is our decision, I would say, is what are we going to do with that guidance? Are we going to accept that guidance and step into the role that guidance requires? Because once you've been given guidance, which is a light, which is a knowledge, you're responsible for sharing that. We're talking about this being on the hill, right? So we as a people are responsible now for calling ourselves and the rest of humanity. to secure freedom, justice, and equality for the dignified human soul. That is our job. That is what we're exhorting you and me and all of you to awaken to purpose. Take that awakened purpose and live it in the most excellent manner so that we can secure the well 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 an orphan, no security. So, although through the experience of chattel slavery, You know, parents were able to keep their children, but they, the children never had the benefit of the security of the parent because of the volatile and the inhumane circumstances that was around them. Although they may have been able to be with mom, but they didn't have the security of mom and dad. Yes. So for those who want to say. Well, you know, more families were torn up after slavery than there was during slavery. Well, that could be as well, but during slavery, they didn't have 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 you just start blushing and you just, you just go Google, it's just all types of stuff. These just make you feel good about life. But there's one song that, and I was talking to my son about it. About when he was in pre K, but I didn't reference the song, but I was just referencing his pre K started his scholastic journey. They used to sing a song called this little light of mine. I'm going to let it shine. Like that's the first song a pre K child even learns and they sing this song. So yes, you have the light. If you're now obligated to let the light shine, you got to let it shine. You can't cover the light. You've been blessed with the light

Faridah: 49:23

everywhere.

Frank: 49:24

That's right. You know, as you mentioned earlier, it's inviting. It's warmth. Light means warmth and people are drawn to the warmth. You mentioned Mr. Winthrop earlier coming over here from, from another part of the world. You know, the lighthouse was something that invited them to know that this is the destination. It was always the light. So in the light. So I too agree that we have to secure our future. We have to secure it, we have to do all we can, and we are promised that the city itself is a place for security for the person to have their best life and their best establishments. And upon that, every other function of the city supports that life and supports those establishments. So ultimately, this picture on the front of this book. Well, ultimately, at some point, come back into focus and be vibrant with color and vibrant with life teeming, as they say, teeming with life, teeming with industry, teeming with developments and everything that the human soul wants for itself, it could see the fulfillment of that. That is the obligation. So if you, if we're not engaging for that outcome. Then we are cheating ourselves and 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 only are we capable of it, we've been promised, like you said, the city is the city of security. We have been promised excellence. and a success, an ultimate success if we commit ourselves to this. And so we are asking you to join us in this. We are asking for all of us, Muslim, Christian, Jew, people of faith, people who understand that there is a vision and a way and a picture that is clear that has been given. We want to form a mighty Army an ethical army. Yes to turn this city These realities that are so dark and gloomy right now We want to turn this into a city of a million households with their front porch light on Calling our brothers our sisters our neighbors to excellence.

Frank: 51:51

That's the call. That's the that's the prayer That's the hope yes, and that's the promise i'll conclude with this when I was younger my dad Used to travel a lot to just go places and see the Imam, as we call him, Imam W. D. Muhammad, W. D. Muhammad speak. And as a child, I was always with my father because I just didn't want to stay home. And he would be playing his music and Man, that was some good music. But he would, one of his favorite groups were the impressions. And one of their songs was, yes, people Get Ready, there's a trainer coming. I don't know. The next line don't need no tickets. Oh yeah, just get on. I was just gonna hum the second part. But anyway. But, but, but that was a a recognition 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. So get yourself ready because here it comes here. The promise is on its way. You just need to get ready. And when it comes, you can just get right on board because you've qualified yourself to be a 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 their children grow up to, to extend their good works. And that's what it's supposed to be.

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 our creator of the sacred relationship of parent and child and of the family ties that bind us subscribe to the podcast and come 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.

53:57

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