Chattanooga, TN Friday Sermon By Imam Hamaad El-Ameen: The Fourth Of July Has Nothing To Do With Us; It Is Not A Declaration Of Independence For Us; Our Allegiance Is To Allah

In his July 3, 2026 Friday sermon at the Islamic Center of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Islamic scholar Hamaad El-Ameen addressed community members who were considering spending the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence barbecuing with their families. He said that the Prophet Muhammad instructed Muslims to stay away from things that do not concern them, adding: "The Fourth of July has nothing to do with us. That is not a declaration of independence for us. […] Our allegiance is to Allah."

Imam Hamaad El-Ameen: "250 years after the Declaration of Independence. I know many of us have relatives that we want to sit with, but can we sit with our relatives when they are barbecuing and drinking beer? Can we do that? People barbecuing steaks, hamburgers, hotdogs, drinking alcohol – can we as Muslims sit with them, smoking weed, playing all kinds of foul music? Can we do that? I'm asking because we see it every year. 

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"The Prophet said to leave all the things that don't involve you, that have nothing to do with you, leave it alone. The Fourth of July has nothing to do with us. That is not a declaration of independence for us. That is not the allegiance for us. Our allegiance is to Allah, don't forget that."