Khutbah: On the Prohibition of Torture in Islam, 12 Oct 2018

In an emotionally and powerfully moving khutbah, Dr. Abou El Fadl speaks directly and forcefully about the prohibition of humans torturing other human beings--an abomination in Islam--and further, about Muslims supporting or downplaying of the use of torture by governments around the world. He also clearly defines sexual assault, sexual abuse and sexual violence as torture, and addresses the ignorant assertion that was recently made in public that victims of sexual assault must bring forth four witnesses. This is patently false according to Islamic law. Rape and sexual assault is a crime of hiraba (terror); not a crime of zina (fornication). He calls on those who have NOT been trained in Shariah and Islamic law to refrain from speaking from a place of ignorance. He reminds Muslims that God commands upholding justice; that injustice leads to destruction; and that Muslims will each be held to account by a just God for their positions, statements, knowledge, ignorance, and actions. Delivered at the Islamic Center of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA on 12 October 2018.