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A fight at Minnesota’s largest mosque is getting a lot of attention in the Somali community, with many saying it exposes a divide between those who want the mosque to take on a more political role while others want the mosque to stay out of politics altogether.


On Monday night, police responded to Abubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center, the state’s largest and most controversial mosque, after a fight broke out during a religious lecture led by Imam Sheik Abdirahman Omar.

The religious leader of the mosque was recently quoted as saying he doesn’t care what happens in Mogadishu, Somalia. Instead, he cares about what’s happening in Minnesota.

Multiple sources told FOX 9 News a young man stood up during the lecture and accused mosque leaders of turning their back on Somalia and the terrorist group al-Shabab.

According to the police report, he was told to submit his question in writing but instead started swinging, punching out the mosque’s executive director, Hassan Jama, and another man.

Officials said the 23-year-old suspect, Liban Haji, later showed up at the third precinct to say he was the one who had been assaulted. Haji has told others he was later questioned by the FBI.

The timing of the brawl is interesting because next week, the federal trial will begin for Omer Abdi Mohamed, one of dozen Minnesota Somali’s indicted for allegedly recruiting for the terror group al-Shabab. The trial is expected to shine a light on any role Abubankar played in the alleged recruiting.

The latest suicide bombing in Mogadishu has been attributed to Farah Beledi, a one-time volunteer for youth programs at Abubakar. Beledi even spoke at an open house at the Mosque in February 2009 that was prompted by the first Minnesotan suicide bomber, who also once attended Abubakar As-Saddique.

Many of the Somali youths indicted or missing on terrorism charges have had connections to the mosque, which has repeatedly denied any role in recruiting young men for jihad.

FOX 9 News made multiple attempts to contact the mosque, but leaders could not be reached for comment.

Those who behaved in such a manner Wallahi they have debated from islam. It teaches us good akhlaaq, eden iyo ixtiraam. Our Prophet used to even treat non muslims in a respectable fashion.

I made a thread about this, but some of the anti-hutu mods(suffering from high qabyaalad) removed it.

Anyways this shows how strong the shabaab is amongst MN somalis.

This center of terrorism has probably done more to damage the reputation of Islam in Minnesota and the rest of the United States than any other institution. It needs to be shut down.

Multiple sources told FOX 9 News a young man stood up during the lecture and accused mosque leaders of turning their back on Somalia and the terrorist group al-Shabab.

this nigga is a toast

Waxaa kasii daran. Sida loola dhaqmay masaajidka. Subxanallah......

grandpakhalif wrote:Those who behaved in such a manner Wallahi they have debated from islam. It teaches us good akhlaaq, eden iyo ixtiraam. Our Prophet used to even treat non muslims in a respectable fashion.

Wa sax Lakiin when we have a few individuals who want to hijack our Mosques which are our community center Iman or not action must be taken. The opinions of the general public can not and will not be sideline. The Somali community build the Mosque and raised the 5million dollars for it marka they will not be silience by some Mosque director who has his own agendas!!!

I am on the side of those that believe the mosque should stay out of politics and concentrate on its immediate community and those of its congregation. Politics has no place in the mosque unless it is politics that interferes with the community and the lives of its users. There are lots of hot headed brothers that would like to talk about everything that's been on the news regarding the Muslim world but if anything, the imam should be more concerned with his community and their connection to the mosque and how to get the youth off the street and into the mosque.

Kukri wrote:I am on the side of those that believe the mosque should stay out of politics and concentrate on its immediate community and those of its congregation. Politics has no place in the mosque unless it is politics that interferes with the community and the lives of its users. There are lots of hot headed brothers that would like to talk about everything that's been on the news regarding the Muslim world but if anything, the imam should be more concerned with his community and their connection to the mosque and how to get the youth off the street and into the mosque.

You don't think what's taking place in Mogadishu iyo Somalia in general is interfering with the community and the lives of Saddique Islamic Center users? Some 15 youth deported from Minneapolis and went to Mogadishu to fight along side Al Shabaab, why is the Mosque silient on those issues? Siliences my friend is not the answer as it leads to Punches been thrown.

Kukri wrote:I am on the side of those that believe the mosque should stay out of politics and concentrate on its immediate community and those of its congregation. Politics has no place in the mosque unless it is politics that interferes with the community and the lives of its users. There are lots of hot headed brothers that would like to talk about everything that's been on the news regarding the Muslim world but if anything, the imam should be more concerned with his community and their connection to the mosque and how to get the youth off the street and into the mosque.

What you mean politics? Culumada noloshee ka hadleen. Hada sheikh Idiris Muxaadaradiisa ma politics muu ahaa. Maya Walaahi. Xaqiiqda ayuu ka hadlay. Taariiq ayuu ka hadlay. Dhibaatada somali siyaasiyiinta isku sheegayaan ayuu ka hadlay. Wuxuu ka hadlay in lagu midoobo runta iyo xaqiiqda. That is it..

SirLuciousLeftFoot wrote:
You don't think what's taking place in Mogadishu iyo Somalia in general is interfering with the community and the lives of Saddique Islamic Center users? Some 15 youth deported from Minneapolis and went to Mogadishu to fight along side Al Shabaab, why is the Mosque silient on those issues? Siliences my friend is not the answer as it leads to Punches been thrown.

I don't live in the State but when i say politics that interfere with the lives of the community then what you just mentione does qualify, so yes. Not only should they talk about it but they should warn and educate the youth who are buying into that non existent jihad in Somalia.

HutuKing01 wrote:

A genocide is happening there as we speak right now.


Operation "Ramadan Hope" should be started by the somali communities around the world.

The above is what is taking place in Somalia, and the Somali Iman who runs the largest mosque in Minnesota
was recently quoted as saying he doesn’t care what happens in Mogadishu, Somalia. Instead, he cares about what’s happening in Minnesota.

"Kukri wrote:
I am on the side of those that believe the mosque should stay out of politics and concentrate on its immediate community and those of its congregation."


That would NEVER happen. White christian church have more compassion than muslim mosques. Muslims have a motto--to each be his own, total opposite of what Islam teaches us. Compassion and Unity is missing in the muslim culture. Every muslims chief concern is to beat their chest and brag to a fellow muslim who has more chances of entering paradise. Its self serving, and not a surprising human trait. Let them suicide eath other to oblivion, hell awaits them with open arms !

afisoone wrote:

Kukri wrote:I am on the side of those that believe the mosque should stay out of politics and concentrate on its immediate community and those of its congregation. Politics has no place in the mosque unless it is politics that interferes with the community and the lives of its users. There are lots of hot headed brothers that would like to talk about everything that's been on the news regarding the Muslim world but if anything, the imam should be more concerned with his community and their connection to the mosque and how to get the youth off the street and into the mosque.

What you mean politics? Culumada noloshee ka hadleen. Hada sheikh Idiris Muxaadaradiisa ma politics muu ahaa. Maya Walaahi. Xaqiiqda ayuu ka hadlay. Taariiq ayuu ka hadlay. Dhibaatada somali siyaasiyiinta isku sheegayaan ayuu ka hadlay. Wuxuu ka hadlay in lagu midoobo runta iyo xaqiiqda. That is it..

Who is sheikh Idiris?

The masjid should stay clear off of whats happening in Somalia and politics all together. Focus on the Somali/Muslim community and our image here in America.