Muhammad (Peace be upon them) stated: “Always speak Truth, even if it’s bitter (even if it rubs People the Wrong-Way).”.
(ibn-Hibbān, al-Bayhaqī)
I don’t pontificate/claim to be a “Person of the Sunnah/Prophetic-Tradition”, by any Means. However, when it comes to this Aforementioned-Hadīth/Narration rite here: I make it my Personal-Business, to follow This-Hadīth to the utmost. Now, obviously, there’s Certain-Things which I could/should convey better. But, Fuck-It…I say it how I say it. There’s Persons whom complain all the Time, referring to what my Post-Wording is. Well…guess what?!!! I exist to make the Uncomfortable comfortable. Most-People whom’re in Opposition to what I post: it’s a lot more to do with them opposing what I’ve actually mentioned, instead of the Wording itself. It’s really not the Message, but rather the Messenger. 9/10 Most-Persons whom reject whatever we convey: it’s not what’s being conveyed that’s being rejected, but us as the Conveyor.
I’ve come to the Clear-Conclusion, that the Way which I’ve fashioned my Persona bothers Lots of People. It bothers them, simply because I’m not shy to express/verbalized what’s truly upon the Minds&Hearts of Others. And, in All-Reality: I’ve often been afraid of the Pushback, the Backlash, the Consequences, etc. of projecting what I have/still do. Yet, also, what I always tell People: Courage isn’t the Absence-Of-Fear, rather it’s the Willingness&Ability to confront Fear. This Courage of mine has yielded both Positive&Negative-Results. Especially, since being a Muslim-Male Chaplain, which professionally has been classified as being at the Same-Level of being an Imām (Religio-Spiritual Leader): my Chaplaincy-Position has been used by Countless-Persons (as Pseudo-Justifications) to complain, attack, criticize, etc. anything which I’ve publicly posted via Online, Social-Media, my Writing-Blog, etc.
For the Record, by the way: I’m only a “Chaplain” while I’m at Work and/or professionally functioning as a “Chaplain”. And, the Only-Reason how/why Muslim-Male Chaplains are automatically-classified as “Imāms” is exclusively due to Professional-Respect/Courtesy via the Chaplaincy-Profession. External of my Actual-Job…once I’m not on the Clock, etc. I’m not the “Imām” of anyone. Furthermore, I’m grateful that I’m not an “Imām”, or a “Shaykh”, or an “Ustādh”, or an “`Ālim”, etc. or any other Religio-Labels/Titles which’re pontificated/claimed by People and/or imposed upon People which represents “Religio-Academic/Scholar”, “Religio-Spiritual Leader”, etc. Not having to deal with any of Those-Labels/Titles actually grants me Freedom: my Matā`/Enjoyment to remain my Authentic-Self. It’s easy to move how one wants to move, when they’re not responsible for/to anyone. But, if/once one is responsible to/for Others then they’re obligated to operate differently. Just as Muhammad (Peace be upon them) mentioned: “Whomever self-imposes Judgment/Rule, or is made a Judge/Ruler between has been slaughtered without even a Weapon.”.
(Abū-Dāwud)
In fact, that’s literally what’s been constantly/consistently mentioned as per any of my Critics: “You’re supposed to be a ‘Chaplain’.”…”You’re supposed to be an ‘Imām’.”…etc. Also, there’s Persons whom try to come at me from This-Angle: “You’re supposed to be a ‘Person-Of-Knowledge’, a ‘Learned-Person’ (Blah…Blah…Blah).”. Oh…now all of a sudden a Nigga is “Knowledgeable”, huh?!!! Now, all of a sudden I’m a “Somebody”?!!! Literally, ironically, this Kalām/Rhetoric stems from the Same-Persons whom would be bothered if I ever gave Khutub (Jumu`ah/Friday-Sermons), and/or Durūs (Islāmic-Classes/Lectures), at their Masājid/Mosques & Islāmic-Centers. Even that “You’re supposed to be This-Or-That/This&That.”: it’s exclusively due to a Sifah/Manifestation of Marginalization. And, this is the Direct-Result of Persons attempting to use my Chaplaincy-Profession or my Islāmic-Knowledge as “Leverage”…this is in fact their Way to attempt to apply “Pressure” on me, to “silence” me. And, it frustrates/intimidates them that it hasn’t worked, that I’ve never folded.
When you possess any Type/Kind of Potential, it makes Certain-People do 1 of 2-Things: either envy you or attempt to exploit you. So, in my Case: I’ve personally experienced both. There’s Persons whom wish they were in the Position which I’m in & there’re Persons whom want to manipulate me to their Liking. Well…I can’t actually prevent anyone from envying me, but I can & must prevent who manipulates me. And on That-Basis: I’ll never allow those whom oppose me anyway to control me. The Things which I choose to discuss/voice is something which I’ve had to confront, deal with, etc. for Years. This is very improbable to stop or change, because I’m improbable to allow myself to give Way to anyone’s Unrealistic-Expectations about me. Moreover, I’m completely uninterested in conforming to anyone trying to pigeonhole me into their Character/Behavior-Molds which they wish to force me into.
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