Hip Hop and Islam, Part 1

By Khalid Rabbani

Scarborough, Ontario

When you grow up in the East Side of Toronto, Scarborough, In lower middle class and low income neighborhoods, you may tend to gravitate towards an illegal lifestyle. Being from poor Caribbean immigrant families and feeling marginalized from society can push you in a negative direction. Being from the “ hood” my older brother was a respected guy in the streets. Like most younger brothers I looked up to my brother and although he wasn’t leading one of the most positive lives, he was an influence to me in many ways. I remember when he used to give me tapes and by tapes I mean the long fabled Hip Hop cassette tapes for my legendary Walkman (I remember the old ways).

One of my first and most favourite tapes to listen to that I got from my him was Capone and Noreaga 

The War Report (1)

Even now a lot of that Album still brings me back to the love I felt for rap music as a young teen. 

While this project wasn’t what you would call a conscious rap album it was my first experience with Rappers from New York saying Islamic phrases like “Allahu Akbar” and contradicting my religious beliefs at the time.

 At the time there was an East coast and West coast Rap Beef happening between rappers from New York and California. In response to a diss track from Tha Dogg Pound album titled “New York, New York” Ft Snoop Dogg  (2)

Queen’s rap duo Capone and Noreaga teamed up with The Infamous Mobb Deep and Tragedy Khadafi to strike back. Among some dark gritty lyrics, Tragedy Khadafi said “I remain calm study Islam read the Torah world going in flames like Sodom and Gomorrah“ he goes on then to say “La ilaha illallah” Which is an Islamic Arabic phrase meaning “There is No God except God”. I didn’t know what it meant but I was intrigued.

While describing a jail experience in his verse he says 

“my heads throbbing like a tumor it’s one o’clock,

make a salat I catch Jumua lay down my towel slide off my suede pumas.” Here he’s clearly describing a Muslim experience. (All quotes) (3)  

Another Song before my conversion that I remember Islam being referenced in was from a West Coast Rapper Ras Kass called “Nature of The Threat” off of his “Soul on Ice” album which is actually a seven minute plus thesis on how European colonialism is evil. He says “ In the eighth century Muslims conquered Spain, Portugal and France and controlled it for 700 years They never mention this in history class” referring to the Moorish African Muslim conquest of Alhambra and other parts of the south Mediterranean.

He goes on to say 

“Now listen, when you celebrate "Thanksgiving"

What you are actually celebratin'

Is the proclamation of the Pope of Rome

Who later, in league with Queen Isabella

Sent Cardinal Ximenos to Spain

To murder any blacks that resisted Christianity” (4) 

Songs like this would open my eyes to realizing that although I was catholic and descended partially from Spanish people I was more Indian and Afro Caribbean. The major religious kingdoms of west Africa at the time of the trans Atlantic slave trade were Muslims. Could it be that the African parts of us were only Christian because of slavery? Was this way of life forced on us? 

At a time when Muslims are portrayed as being terrorists or a joke (backwards people), it was interesting to see rappers mention Islam in a favourable light. And it went even deeper than that.

In 1968 a black revolutionary spoken word group formed known as “The Last Poets” which consisted of mostly  Muslim converts best known for their song “When the revolution Comes” which was said to be the forerunner of Rap and Hip Hop music. (5)

In those days many African Americans were turning back to their Islamic heritage replacing the names that slavery gave us with names similar to our ancestors like one of the most famous Muslims of our time Malcolm little who become Malcom X then changed his name to El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz on his return from Hajj in Makkah Saudi Arabia. (6)  

Many rappers, whether Muslim or Nation of Islam (yes, they’re different),  reference the religious  teachings and morals from the top to the underground. 

Rapper Q-Tip From the legendary rap group Tribe Called Quest who any Hip Hop Purist may reference as being Real Hip Hop said:

“I'mma take position and y'all best to take Shahada 

Cause the sh*% that I spit is hot as hellfire, hotter” (7)

While sometimes profane language is used and it’s not proper Islamic etiquette I remember the saying 

“Speak to people only according to their level of knowledge. Would you like for Allah and His Messenger to be denied?” (8)     

American hip-hop artist Busta Rhymes, born Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., is a proud Muslim and attributes much of his success to the way in which his faith has kept him grounded.

In a 2007 interview with Hollywood TV, Rhymes said, "I try to really just understand every aspect about the most high. For me, the most high is Allah... And I live my life by Islam. (9)   

Among today's youth you can hear Islamic language influence Toronto Hip Hop slang. Words like the Arabic words “Wallahi” meaning “By my God (I swear to God)” made popular by the Somalian community in the hood.

As heard in Drake’s lyrics on Draft Day  

“know some Somalis that say we got it wallahi” (10)

I always heard that Raekwon and Ghostface Killah were Muslim but recently I saw Rza and Cappadonna of the arguably greatest rap group ever “Wu Tang” doing Hajj after taking Shahada (11) 

With the recent headlines about Diddy I remember former Bad Boy artist “Loon” also converted to Islam and had an interview on Al Jazeera (12)  

Also from one of most deadly areas of Chicago we see Lil Durk getting more vocal and visual practicing Islam which is a blessing May Allah bring peace to them. Ameen.   

All in all let’s look at what Allah says in Surah Nasr 

“When Allah’s ultimate help comes and the victory is achieved

 and you see the people embracing Allah’s Way in multitudes, 

then glorify the praises of your Lord and seek His forgiveness, 

certainly He is ever Accepting of Repentance.” (13)

Allah is “The Guide” and “The Most Wise” and while some might view things as black and white from their human imperfection things are not always so simple as that. Regardless of music’s permissibility in Islam Allah can use anything He wants to inspire or guide people to the way of Truth.

May Allah guide us all and forgive our shortcomings. Ameen.

1 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK9R8P1ev0VLddbkcQn5ZTHUFl6i7WnaI&si=ytOfl74UMT0cAeO-

2 Tha Dogg Pound - New York, New York ft. Snoop Doggy Dogg (Lyrics)

3 https://genius.com/Capone-n-noreaga-la-la-lyrics

4 nature of the threat lyrics - Google Search

5 The Last Poets | Music, Poems, Songs, Hip-Hop, & When the Revolution Comes | Britannica

6 Timeline of Malcolm X's Life | American Experience | Official Site | PBS

7 https://genius.com/Q-tip-what-lies-beneath-lyrics

8 Ali on Hadith: Narrate to people only what they can understand

9 https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/famous-muslim-celebrities/

10 Drake – Draft Day Lyrics | Genius Lyrics

11 https://www.instagram.com/reel/C28fNDdubwM/?igsh=Z3Flajg2ajJ5cWRv

12 https://youtu.be/jZFueqQnops?si=8aYneMYpBaA6R-PU

13 Surah An-Nasr - 1-3 - Quran.com

Conspiracies and Eschatology: American Secularism, The Anti-Messiah and The Legacy of Rome

By Khalid Rabbani

Scarborough, Ontario

Since I was a teenager, I’ve been drawn to learning about the Illuminati and symbolism. Since I was raised Catholic in North America, learning about this stuff was a very important step in my journey to becoming Muslim along with my gangster up bringing because it created a sense of counterculture that would help me to accept a religion that was ultimately foreign to me at the time. I learned that things aren’t always as they seem and that political/religious groups are working behind the scenes towards a specific agenda. From what I can tell, and many of the eschatologically inclined will agree, many theories describe American liberty and secularism.

As a Muslim today, I like to see if I can find connections to what I’m learning about in the Quran and sayings of Muhammad (aka hadith). In my search, I found Quranic verses that instruct us to verify the claims of Islam by looking to the former messages sent to the religious scholars of Christianity and Judaism and other even older groups.

For example,

“And We did not send before you messengers except men whom We inspired with revelation. So, ask the people (having the knowledge) of the Message, if you do not know.” 1

And in a “hadith,” or saying of Muhammad:

"Allah did not send any prophet but that he warned his nation of the Anti-Messiah (Ad-Dajjal). He is one-eyed while your Lord is not one-eyed. The word 'Kafir' (unbeliever) is written between his two eyes." 2

It’s interesting to reflect on these words when you analyze the American one-dollar bill. There’s a 13-step pyramid above which is a shining eye illuminated with glory in a triangular capstone. Above the eye, written in Latin, are the words “Annuit Coeptis,” which can be translated as “He favours our undertakings,” and below the pyramid is written “Novus Ordo Seclorum,” which can be translated as “New Secular Order.”

In the old world, society was run by God's laws, whether Christian, Jewish, or Muslim, etc. The new world set the groundwork for a society made by man’s laws. For example, in 1848, the USA separated church and state. Through the advances in technology and successful war campaigns, America has become the leading example to the world, propagating their secular way of life through media, music, internet, television and force.

As for the pyramids, there are claims that the origins of the Freemasons and Shriners go back to ancient Egypt, where Pharaoh claimed himself to be God in contradiction to the Lord of Moses. So the law of man was the Pharaonic way of living, which was a big pyramid scheme where the rich stay rich and informed, and the poor stay poor and ignorant.

From the Quran:

> And Pharaoh said, "O eminent ones, I have not known you to have a God other than me. Then ignite for me, O Hāmān, [a fire] upon the clay and make for me a tower that I may look at the God of Moses. And indeed, I do think he is among the liars." 3

While the Qur’an never explicitly mentions Dajjal, the entire message of the Qur’an can be seen as the antithesis of Dajjal and his message. One major fact made clear is that Allah is not a human being and should not be compared in any way to one.

Hadith on Dajjal: False Messiah preceded by years of treachery. Anas ibn Malik reported:

> The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, preceding the False Messiah will be years of deception, in which the truthful are belied, the liars are believed, the trustworthy are discredited, the treacherous are trusted, and the disgraceful speak.” It was said, “Who are the disgraceful?” The Prophet said, “Little wicked men who speak about the affairs of common people.” 4

Sounds like politicians to me.

On May 1st, 1776, Adam Weishaupt, a professor of law at the University of Ingolstadt, founded the Order of the Illuminati, a secret organization formed to oppose religious influence on society and the abuse of power by the state by fostering a safe space for critique, debate, and free speech. Inspired by the Freemasons and French Enlightenment philosophers, Weishaupt believed that society should no longer be dictated by religious virtues; instead, he wanted to create a state of liberty and moral equality where knowledge was not restricted by religious prejudices. However, religious and political conservatism ruled in Ingolstadt at that time, and the subject matter taught at the Jesuit-controlled university where Weishaupt lectured was strictly monitored.

After initially handpicking his five most talented law students to join, the network rapidly expanded, its members disseminating Weishaupt’s goals of enlightenment with radical teachings, while at the same time creating an elaborate network of informants who reported on the behavior of state and religious figures in an effort to build up a wealth of information that the Illuminati could potentially exploit in their teachings. With the help of prominent German diplomat Baron Adolf Franz Friedrich, Freiherr von Knigge, who helped recruit Freemason lodges to the Illuminati cause, the clandestine group grew to more than 2,000 members throughout Bavaria, France, Hungary, Italy, and Poland, among other places. 5

This plan is what would eventually become what we know today as The United States of America

Now a lot of my initial study of Eschatology was from the Bible and one thing you have to understand is that Biblical verses are written in parables, so we need to break down the symbolism to fully understand. For that we need to go back to the vision of the biblical Prophet Daniel

In Daniel 7 verses 2-4, Daniel says to Belshazzar the King of Babylon 

 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.” 6

The first beast: The Chaldean or Babylonian Empire

As The Expositor’s Bible Commentary explains, “The lion symbol was characteristic of Babylon, especially in Nebuchadnezzar’s time, when the Ishtar Gate entrance was adorned on either side with a long procession of yellow lions on blue-glazed brick, fashioned in high relief” (1985, Vol. 7, pp. 85-86).

The second beast: the Medo-Persian Empire Daniel 7:5 says, “And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’” This beast was “raised up on one side,” representing the Persians being greater than the Medes in this federated empire. 

The third beast: the Greco-Macedonian Empire Daniel 7:6 says, “After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it.” As with the second beast, the third beast is clearly identified by the angel Gabriel. It was Greece, and the “first king” was Alexander the Great. After his untimely death in 323 B.C., 

The fourth beast, dreadful and terrible: the Roman Empire Next in Daniel 7:7 we read, “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.” The devouring teeth of iron and the trampling feet correspond with Nebuchadnezzar’s vision of the fourth kingdom being strong as iron, 7

 Also represented in Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream Statue (Daniel 2:31-43)

Revelation 12:9:

And the great dragon was cast out—that serpent of old called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world. He was cast out onto the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 8

Revelation 17:15:

Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. 9

So if we use the Bible to interpret the Bible, “Dragon” means Satan, Beast means Kingdom, empire, or world power, and waters or sea means peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. So out of the Roman Province of Britannia, we get the UK. Interestingly enough, the southwest UK country Wales uses the symbol of a Red Dragon on their flag.

The Book of Revelations 13 begins by telling us 

1 The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority

3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast. 4 People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?” 

And then it goes on to say in verse 7

 It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation. 

Revelation 13:14-15:

14 And he deceives them that dwell on the earth by means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast, saying to them that dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword and lived.

15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause to be killed as many as would not worship the image of the beast. 10

Ask yourself now what is the beast image and what is the image that can speak? Since America is an extension of Britain and Britain is was a colony of Rome, then the beast being Rome and the image being the American way of life is propagated through the image of the beast, known as television or media, because TV is a combination of images and words. And as we can see any nation that does not fall in line with America’s plan ends up getting war waged on them, i.e., if they don’t accept the beast image they’ll be killed or canceled.

If you look at the great seal, you will notice that the direction that the eagle is looking in is the same as the hand where he’s holding an olive branch with 13 leaves, signifying peace, but if your view is in the direction he’s not looking in the hand is holding a bundle of arrows, signifying war. So if you’re looking in his direction it’s peace, but if you’re not looking in his direction, it’s war.

Many believe the symbol of the Great City in The Book of Revelations is New York City of the Empire State but what empire you ask? Answer is Rome. Notice the language of law in North America is Latin the language of the Romans. Hitler tried to revive the empire with the  3rd reich like even the Nazi hand salute is the Roman salute but  America was truly successful.

The Whore of Babylon is introduced to us in

 Revelation 17 3-5 

3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

5 And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth.

More symbolism is revealed in verse 15-16 about the nations and Rome

15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

The Ten Horns being the ten kingdoms that emerged from a shattered Roman Empire and verse 18 tells us exactly what the whore of Babylon is

“18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.” 11

For a supposed Christian nation, it’s strange to have a big pagan idol as a national symbol of the greatest city in the USA representing American ideals. The Statue of Liberty is located near Ellis Island, where all the immigrants from the old world used to have to go and register when they entered America in New York.

She is by the waters, literally and figuratively, which we already established means the multitudes of nations, peoples, and languages. The inspiration of the Statue of Liberty is Libertas, the pagan goddess of freedom, particularly among the slaves of Rome. 12

In her right hand, she holds a torch, which is a symbol of Lucifer, a Latin word meaning light bearer or Prometheus. In her left hand, she holds a tablet like Moses, symbolizing law, with the date of America’s Declaration of Independence, again replacing the law of God with the laws of man.

 It was French Freemasons who sent the Statue of Liberty as a gift to their American brothers, and French Masonic sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi who designed the work of art. Many people say “new world order” like it’s a secret, but the truth is Democracy, Freedom from God’s law, and self-indulgence is the new religion. 

This is part one in a series of articles that is yet to be published. Please stay tuned, subscribe, and follow me online.

REFERENCES 

1.https://corpus.quran.com/translation.jsp?chapter=16&verse=43

2. https://sunnah.com/bukhari:7408

3. https://quran.com/28/38?translations=17,18,19,20,84,101

4. https://www.abuaminaelias.com/dailyhadithonline/2019/11/20/dajjal-false-messiah-years-deceit/

5. https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20171127-the-birthplace-of-the-illuminati

6. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%207&version=NIV

7. https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/understanding-the-book-of-daniel/daniel-7/

8. https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Revelation%2012%3A9

9. https://biblehub.com/revelation/17-15.htm

10. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2013&version=NIV

11. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2017&version=NIV

12. https://www.statueoflibertytour.com/blog/the-woman-behind-the-statue-of-liberty-who-is-lady-liberty/

Searching for Allah in Toronto

By Khalid Rabbani

Scarborough, Ontario

When I was around seven years old, I began pondering profound questions like, "Where did I come from? Where was I before I was conscious? Where am I going after this life?" Deep questions for a 7 year old, I know. These thoughts led me to understand that one day my parents would leave, and eventually, so would I. By the time I was 10-11 years old, I experienced involuntary astral projection, where I would feel myself float up to the ceiling and come back down. These experiences heightened my awareness of my spiritual self. Maybe it was a dream, maybe it wasn’t. It felt real and the outcomes regarding my spirituality were very real.

I developed an interest in learning about various spiritual traditions, from Hinduism to Mayan prophecies, despite being raised Catholic in an urban street lifestyle. My journey into esoteric teachings and symbolism began when my older brother gave me VHS conspiracy tapes featuring Anthony Hilder and Jordan Maxwell, which piqued my interest in Freemasonry and the Illuminati.

These videos breaking down religious symbolism proved useful later. Comparing the Old and New Testament of the Bible, I noticed contradictions in the core beliefs and teachings when interpreted literally. This led me back to the Ten Commandments, the foundation upon which the Bible is built. The first commandment, "Thou shall worship no gods except God," directed me towards pure monotheism. Despite the contradictions in the Bible's outward story, I felt a connection to my Catholic beliefs about Jesus as the Messiah, leading me towards Messianic Jewish beliefs, where I accepted both the Torah and Jesus.

Around this time, some local drug dealers and gangsters I looked up to converted to Islam, prompting debates about beliefs. I found it difficult to argue against monotheism. Eventually, at age 15-16, I said the Shahada (Muslim testimony of faith) and began learning and practicing Islam. Initially, I learned the outward religious laws and duties, which were fulfilling on their own. As the initial conversion high waned, I started to see my Ruh (soul/higher self) and my Nafs (spirit/lower self) more clearly.

After indulging in a worldly life, I felt out of place and returned to my spiritual studies. Revisiting Hebrew Kabbalah and Hermeticism, I found similarities with Sufism and Islamic traditions, reflecting on the quote, "A messenger was sent to each nation." Noticing the similarities in religious language and spiritual symbolism between Hebrew and Muslim traditions inspired me to connect different world traditions to gain understanding rather than debate who is right or wrong.

The more I learned, the more I realized how much I didn't know. Monotheism, simply put, is the belief that God is One, but different groups have varying interpretations. For instance, in the Quran's Surah Ikhlas, it says:

1. Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One,

2. Allah, the Eternal Refuge.

3. He neither begets nor is born,

4. Nor is there to Him any equivalent."

These simple words have profound meanings, emphasizing divine transcendence. The Creator is perfect and needs nothing, including the need to change. Being eternal, with no beginning or end, it's not befitting of divine perfection to be compared to anything. These teachings reminded me of the second commandment, "Thou shall not make any image of thy creator."

Understanding what the Creator is not helps us seek a connection to the divine through spiritual experiences. Daily rituals such as prayers, remembrance, and meditation (Muraqabah/Merkava) help in this connection. According to Sufis and Kabbalists, invoking God's names and revelation in their original language taps into a mystical energy. Everything, including thoughts, has a vibration. To interact in a higher vibrational plane, it must be accessed through the soul, which is incorporeal.

By following traditions like Salah (prayer), Khushu (focus on God), Wudhu (ritual ablution), Dhikr (remembrance of God), and Muraqabah (meditation), along with adhering to the Halal (permissible) and Haram (not permissible) as stated in the Quran, one can connect to higher realms. The Prophet Muhammad received his first revelation while isolated in a cave meditating.

When clean in physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health, the electromagnetic energy emitted attracts divine inspiration (Ruach Ha-Kodesh/Holy Spirit) and repels low vibrating negative energy. It's not about supernatural occurrences but feeling inspired and having visions during or after meditations. The feeling of Noor (light) fills you up, and contentment replaces anxiety, as we are both physical and spiritual beings needing attention.

I hope this provides a general idea of what to expect from my work and helps you begin the journey to find Allah with me.

More to come soon.