A very interesting article. ALLAH SWT works in mysterious ways….as a British (white) teenager listening to The Last Poets all those years ago, strangely I could relate to their passion and anger. It sparked a flame which resulted in my reverting to the deen in 1993. My journey has been an evolutionary one, much like that journey undertaken by the Last Poets, theirs from (misguided) Black Nationalism to a sound understanding of Al- Islaam. A way of life for all colours of Mankind, though most will not believe. Yet whosoever ALLAH SWT guides, none can lead astray. I believe their work to be some truly great work of daw’aah. Listen to ‘IN SEARCH OF KNOWLEDGE’, ‘BE YOND DER’, ‘DELIGHTS OF THE GARDEN’, ‘WHAT WILL YOU DO?’, ‘O MY PEOPLE’, to name just a few poems. And listen to the genius of Jalal’s wordsmithery in ‘SKY SCREEN’, a deep understanding of Islaamic eschatology, or other later works such as ‘MANKIND’, ‘PAY DAY’, ‘WORD TO THE WISE’ and ‘IN THE SHADE OF THE LIGHT’.

Unfortunately I never met Suleiman El -Hadi …… Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un, though I have met Jalal on a couple of occasions. I love this man as a brother in Al-Islaam . As a Muslim, an English teacher and poet, my love and respect and du’aa goes out to him during this present difficult time.

Alan Marston 14/07/2017

I remember listening to the last poets as a child (I’m 43 now) and it was impressive. I remember when the rap and hip-hop of my generation picked up this so-called Street poetry, but, very little homage was given to the generation that came before, because, what they discussed was taboo and too rough for the White society. The Whites continued to call it “Jungle Music” and discredit the poetry and the poets themselves. That has been the way since the founding of this country and before it.

So, when it made it to white suburbia it had to be “dealt” with in a way to make it palatable to their society. How was this done? First by watering the poetry down, then by dumbing it down, and finally trying to kill its soul and social relevance.

I very much appreciate you putting this article on your site, Jazakhallah Khair, and I remember when the Poets put out an album either in the late 1980’s or early 1990’s trying to reclaim that which was given the generation before mine and it the popular press it was derided. Fortunately, groups like Public Enemy, Boogie Down Productions, Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five, Digable Planets, The Fugees, Common, the Locks, The Roots, and Nappy Roots to name a few have not forgotten the struggle nor have they forgotten their predecessors upon whose shoulders they stand as a foundation that keeps them strong.

Ma’ salaama

Not everyone gets a chance to be sponsored by community to go and study in al Azhar. Take example of India. Entire subcontinent had Islam spread through several channels majority being Sufi. Today look at a commoon Indian. He is a part sufi, part ashari and part Hanafi. There is nothing wrong in choosing a fiqh of their choice but those practices remain. One has to be very very careful about how we get our Islam from. As for music being controversial. Thank you for someone above at least appreciating that fact and we have a hadith to stay away from doubtful matters and there is no doubt in that hadith. None of the first three generation people went through spreading Islam with hip hop, but they went through lingo of people so they may understand. Hip hop music is not lingo of people. I admire the courage and resistance african american community has put to stay put on Islam amidst tides. may Allah accept from them. I do not find any roots for music or hip hop culture to be Islamic. I have my right to believe this.

Excellent! The Last Poets have a tremendous catalog that deserves more recognition. Thanks for drawing attention to their work and it’s Muslim contributors.

Peace,

True, but since he subscribes to the Maliki madhhab, for which music is deemed forbidden if I’m not mistaken (I very well could be mistaken though), I figured he might not necessarily put it out there as such. Perhaps I’m not giving the imam enough credit. 🙂

There’s nothing wrong with music free of lewdness as well. The issue is not as clear cut as one may think as the author correctly points out…it’s a controversial topic.