Captain Khalid Shahbaz, the new chaplain of Camp Delta in Guantanamo Base in Cuba — that holds 680 Al-Qa'ida and Taliban prisoners — is proud of the moment when he embraced Islam in 1993 as a graduate student in the US Army's School of Islamic Studies and Social Sciences. He says that this moment changed the course of his life and "invalidated everything that preceded it". Although he is of African descent, he says that he was born a Muslim because, he adds, Islam is "an innate religion". Captain Khalid Shahbaz's answers came very quickly via electronic mail, thanks to the intercession of Colonel Pamela Hart, Public Affairs and International Relations Officer at the US naval base in Guantanamo. He was candid in his answers, especially those pertaining to the living conditions and religious rights of the prisoners. He disclosed that he refers to Sura No 29 (Al-Ankabut) in the holy Koran when he answers the questions of the detainees about their future, that no one knows, since they arrived in Guantanamo two years ago.
Captain Khalid demonstrated deep faith as he answered the questions posed by Al-Sharq al-Awsat. He started with the Muslim salutation of "In the name of Allah, the most merciful, the most compassionate" and with the Muslim oath of "there is no god but Allah, Allah has no partner, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah." After he finished answering the questions posed to him, Captain Khalid, in a separate paragraph, prayed that he was guided by God's reward in his candid answers and that he gave them to the best of his knowledge. He also prayed that Allah would reward the believers with His blessings and mercy. Amen. Captain Shahbaz does not use his former name of Captain Michael Barnes. In a first interview to an Arab or an international newspaper, he told Al-Sharq al-Awsat that he chose the name himself after he studied Arabic and Islamic sciences for two years in Amman, the capital of Jordan. Captain Khalid Shahbaz says he is not worried about his future. His predecessor, the Chinese chaplain Captain James Yee, also known as Imam Yusuf, was arrested four months ago accused of breaching security regulations in the US naval base.
Captain Khalid Shahbaz says that he knows he is doing a job that is unprecedented in the history of the United States, namely, preaching to the Taliban and Al-Qa'ida combatants. He told Al-Sharq al-Awsat that he relies on the meanings of the Surah of Al-Ankabut, Surah No 29 in the holy Koran. The topic of this "Meccan" (revealed in the late Middle Meccan period) Surah is the major tenets of belief (the oneness of God, the message of Islam, resurrection, and retribution). The Surah of Al-Ankabut begins with the frank words of "Alif, Lam, Mim: Do men think that they will be left alone on saying 'We believe' and that they will not be tested?" The focus of this Surah revolves around life's "trials and tribulations" because the Muslims in Mecca were then suffering from acute hardships. That is why the topics of sedition and life's tribulations were mentioned in detail and at length in this surah.
Other verses from Surah Al-Ankabut to which Captain Khalid Shahbaz resorts in dealing with the Al-Qa'ida prisoners, is "Do men think that they will be left alone on saying 'we believe' and that they will not be tested?" Captain Khalid says, "this surah means that a believer has to be tried and tested. He has to be patient and put his trust in God Almighty. He has to keep in mind the reward
he will receive from the One who safeguards the rights of everyone. A believer has to keep in mind the story of Yusuf, may God's peace be upon him, who was unjustly put in prison for several years". Following is the dialogue that we conducted with Captain Khalid Shahbaz:
(Al-Shafi'i) When did you embrace the True Faith? What is your race? What was your name before you embraced Islam?
(Captain Shahbaz) Let me start with in the name of Allah, the most merciful, the most compassionate. I testify that that there is no god but ever-living and most righteous Allah; Allah has no partner. I was innately born a Muslim in accordance with the holy Koran and the prophetic traditions. However, I am an African-American. I embraced Islam in 1993 after a long period of soul-searching during my service in the US Army. My name before I embraced Islam was Michael Barnes.
(Al-Shafi'i) Why did you embrace Islam? What did you find in your new faith? Would you tell us about your education in Islam?
(Captain Shahbaz) I found serenity in Islam. I studied Al-Fiqh (Muslim jurisprudence) and Muslim dogma. I graduated with a master's degree from the Army School of Islamic Studies and Social Sciences. After that, I went to Amman, the capital of Jordan, to study Arabic.
(Al-Shafi'i) How many times have you visited the Al-Qa'ida and Taliban prisoners in Camp Delta since your arrival in Guantanamo Base last December?
(Captain Shahbaz) I visit the detainees in Camp Delta whenever it is necessary but I supply the prisoners with their daily needs and with copies of the Koran, Islamic books, prayer rugs, prayer beads, and head covers. I also make the call to prayer five times a day on loudspeakers. I also offer religious advice to the administrators of the camp on matters dealing with Islam and on the religious needs of the prisoners.
(Al-Shafi'i) Can you recite the holy Koran or do you recite some of the verses in the Koran from memory?
(Captain Shahbaz) Of course, I am no different from any other Muslim. All of us can recite verses from the holy Koran, at least to use them during the performance of prayer. The Koran should be recited in Arabic, the language in which it was revealed.
(Al-Shafi'i) Who chose for you the name of Khalid Shahbaz after you embraced Islam?
(Captain Shahbaz) I chose the name of Khalid Shahbaz myself because I wanted to become a clear model after I converted to the True Faith. I wanted to be clearer to those around me. As far as I know, the name Khalid means giving advice and help to close ones, or Al-Khulud (immortality) or the eternal One who does not die. As for Shahbaz, it means "the close kinship".
(Al-Shafi'i) What advice do you give to the prisoners of Al-Qa'ida and the Taliban?
(Captain Shahbaz) Whenever they ask me about the future, I recite to them verses from Surah No 29 from the Koran, our holy Book. I recite the Surah of Al-Ankabut. Two verses in this surah say, "Do men think that they will be left alone on saying 'we believe', and that they will not be tested?" and "We did test those before them, and Allah will certainly know those who are true from those who are false". These two verses mean that the believer who claims to be a believer should not think that he would not be tested in life to prove his true mettle. Many nations have been tested in the past and showed their true mettle, that is, whether they are believers or unbelievers. These are strong verses that directly address and penetrate the heart and the mind. The two verses clarify that a believer is subject to life's trials and tribulations. If tested, a believer has to be patient and think until God Almighty brings him comfort and redemption. A believer should be confident that God Almighty will reward him best in the afterlife.
(Al-Shafi'i) Since your arrival in Guantanamo, what changes did you make with the administration of the camp where the prisoners of Al-Qa'ida and the Taliban are held? Were any restrictions imposed upon you after the arrest of your predecessor, Chaplain Captain James Yee, also known as Imam Yusuf?
(Captain Shahbaz) No restrictions were imposed. The task of preaching and giving religious advice and guidance has not changed in Guantanamo Base. I am totally free to do my duty and provide assistance to the detainees.
(Al-Shafi'i) Are you worried that what happened to your predecessor, Captain James Yee, alias Imam Yusuf, may affect the nature of your work in the US Naval Base (in Cuba)?
(Captain Shahbaz) God and his messenger know best. Many officers and soldiers had not seen a Muslim religious preacher. Many US military service personnel are adapting to our presence in the US Army. Therefore, when they learn more about the nature of my work in the US Naval Base, I am sure that there is a better chance to educate them on Islam and on the religious needs of Muslims.
(Al-Shafi'i) Have you performed salat al-Jama'ah (group prayer) with the detained Al-Qa'dah prisoners?
(Captain Shahbaz) No, I have not performed group prayer with the detainees. I am basically responsible for the Muslim soldiers based in Guantanamo; I am their imam (person who leads Muslims in prayer). However, I have to admit that some Al-Qa'ida prisoners are more knowledgeable than I am in the teachings of Islam. They do not need me to manage their religious affairs and lives.
(Al-Shafi'i) Regarding the hot political events that are happening in the world, did you tell the prisoners about, for instance, the American war on Iraq and the fall of deposed President Saddam Husayn?
(Captain Shahbaz) Of course, all these hot political issues about the war on Iraq and the international meetings are beyond the scope of the tasks and mission for which I went there.
(Al-Shafi'i) Can we classify all the prisoners as committed Muslims that perform their daily prayers regularly?
(Captain Shahbaz) Only God Almighty knows all and He decides. But I can tell you about myself only as a Muslim who is striving hard in a world full of psychological and social temptations. This is a hard and difficult task.
(Description of Source: London Al-Sharq al-Awsat in Arabic — Influential Saudi-owned London daily providing independent coverage of Arab and international issues; editorials reflect official Saudi views on foreign policy)
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