TRANSCRIPT
Gissele: [00:00:00]
Gissele: hello and welcome to the Love and Compassion podcast with Gissele. We believe that love and compassion have the power to heal our lives and our world. Don’t forget to like and subscribe for more amazing content. Today we’re talking about extraordinary acts of forgiveness and love. Today’s guest is Abdul Munin.
Gissele: Sombat Jitmoud, an educator faith leader and father whose response to unimaginable loss stunned the world in a courtroom in Lexington, Kentucky. After his son was murdered, Dr. Jitmoud publicly forgave the man responsible, embracing him. In choosing mercy over vengeance, what could have been a moment of rage became a living testament to faith, courage, and radical compassion.
Gissele: Abdul Munin.
Gissele: Sombat Jitmoud, Was featured in the National Geographic documentary, the series, the Story of God with Morgan Freeman. Since then, he has traveled internationally speaking [00:01:00] across faith and cultures about forgiveness, healing, and the transformative power of love in the face of violence. Please join me in welcoming Sombat.
Gissele: Hello.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Good morning from Thailand Gissele.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: my make-believe daughter of the century, 21st century. Thank you. Thank God so much, Allah Almighty, to give us a daughter that have been waiting for 75 years.
Gissele: thank you so much. Thank you for being on the show and for the incredible message that your act has done.
Gissele: I was wondering if you could tell the audience a little bit about the loss of your son and how you came to be in the courtroom that day.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Yes. I like to go back to, when I marry righteous wife, her name Linda.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: her father from Greece and her mother [00:02:00] are from Germany, so she born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. I came from Thailand from further of my higher education and I earned all of my degree, bachelor degree, master degree, EDS degree and doctorate degree in one of the university. I met this young lady, she’s also the minister of the Christian Church and she feel sorry for me for, she said Sombat, you are so nice person.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: And you, talk so much about God because, at that time I was reading the Holy Quran is my friend, because as a foreign student, you don’t have many friend quickly. So the friend I have on my life is I, I read the holy [00:03:00] Quran, the word of God Almighty. And then she said that I feel sorry for you, that you are such a nice person.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: You are very kind and you’re very helpful to me as a college friend. But, I’m sorry to tell you that you will go to hell fire. She said, I said, Linda, why you said that? We just met and become good friend, college friend because you don’t believe in Jesus Christ our Savior. So as a Muslim from Thailand, Buddhist society, I start to share my faith for a few words because we just first met, we just met a few days.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: She said, Linda, actually as a Muslim, I believe in Jesus Christ, but not as God or Son of God. I believe Jesus Christ is one of the great prophet of Allah who came before Muhammad over [00:04:00] five, 500 years. She was stunned that I believe in Jesus Christ.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: After that, we didn’t see each other. for some time she went to the bookstore and start, reading the Holy, holy Book of Islam, quran in English. She, because she tried to find a mistake in holy, to come and convince me that you see,
Gissele: yeah,
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: your holy Quran has a lot of mistake.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: But she found none, finally one day, one 19 of Ramadan, actually, she came to us in the mosque near the campus, Truman State campus in northern Missouri. She said that I want to become Muslim. So my friend and I. Invite her and give her shahada that Morgan Freeman love this word shahada. All I [00:05:00] bear witness that no one will of worship except Allah Muhammad and Prophet Muhammad much is the servant and the messenger of Allah.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: If you can see I have this, in the background here. That’s what Ilan, so she became Muslim. So we thank God for that. And then she start to learn more Islam. And then a year later I asked her to marry me. So not marry right away because she is become my sister in faith, but I nurture her along the way.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: She ask question. And of course, I left to pursue my PhD in Indiana. And then sometime we keep on communicating. And finally we met again and I asked her to, to marry [00:06:00] me and with her righteous nature, God give us six son. And Salahudin was number five, who passed away, with a murder case as you introduced.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: And, go back. on the February 15,
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: three o’clock, I was in St. Louis City, to be the principal of biggest Islamic school. In the morning I was sleeping. The phone woke me up, so I grabbed the phone. And the message said that, are you Dr. Jitmoud? I say, yes. your son is dead. I was really shocked. First shock.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: I was this a dream or I has a nightmare. So I pinch myself pin the back of my hand. It’s hurt. I said, oh, I’m still alive. I awoke. So I said The word that the holy [00:07:00] register,
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: the meaning we all belong to Allah, the creator. And until Allah, we all return back to him. I, it is calm as the first shock of the news. Then I said, if this real happened, I said, oh, Sadahudine, my, our dear son, you belong to Allah now. Allah called you back to him. I have to accept this. It is calm me down.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Then I think of what the Prophet Muhammad peace and blessing me upon him do in the situation like this. In his life. We studied the life of mohamad. He, when he have a shock like this, he would pray. He didn’t go to the bar, he didn’t go crazy. He went and to make [00:08:00] abolition. And he start bowed out to Allah. Pray Lady.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: I said, oh, I have to do what Prophet Moham used to do. I went to the bathroom and make Ablution wash up lady, wash myself real good. That’s the most ablution, the hardest one in my life because my mind was, my son is dead, but I have to pray. I have to pray to God. So I finished and start bow down to to Allah almighty, as prophet we used to do.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Then I woke my son, Musa sitting with me right now. Let’s go to the mosque. We need to pray with the community. And we have to take seven hours to Lexington, Kentucky from St. Louis, to prepare for the funeral. And at that time, we didn’t know how he died. What? We learned that he’s dead. can I move on just a little [00:09:00] bit then?
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Of
Gissele: course. Yeah. That’s,
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: this how Allah Mercy, his mercy was hidden in my crisis life. Crisis. that’s one, one verse, in Quran appear into me, it was revealed to Prophet Muhammad 1400 years ago. But tonight, it’s like a reveal to me. May I decide in Arabic?
Gissele: Okay, of course,
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: this in, surah, in Surah nine.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: And, um, I verse verse number 51, before I move on, I just go like this amazingly, uh. I check the holy gra it, it’s miracle. After that, I said number nine and verse 51. You know what happened in my life? I’m number nine in birth ranking in my family. My mother, my [00:10:00] father in Thailand, in rural Thailand, they have 11 children.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: I happen to be number nine. And in my passport, it just, my birthday was 1951 and this was 51. So I was amazed. I thank God, wow, God reviewed these words. 1400 years ago applied to me in 21st century. So I bowed out to God again. Thank him for like a. Help me to calm myself down at the time of crisis. So that’s what, um, the, the God said that[00:11:00]
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: is really comfort me so much. He said, oh, Muhammad, tell all mankind nothing happened to us by accident. All happened by the decree of Allah. It had been written, has been ordained before. Anything to happen. Let the believer put trust in Allah and Allah is the best of friend and put trust in Allah and Allah.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: The most forgiving, the most merciful, forgiving at the time of shock there was of Allah at the end of verse said the most forgiving. At that [00:12:00] time, I don’t know what, our son died, how he died. There were forgiving and mercy came side by side, like a twin tower. Then we went to the mosque, we pray, and I called the school.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: My principle too, manage the school for me because I have to drive seven hours to Lexington to prepare the funeral. Then I asked the imam if I can say a few would about the death of our son, and then I didn’t know anything. I said, please pray for our son. He was dead last night.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: I have no idea what he, how he die. And then Musa, my son, a man, a good friend of mine, asked him what on my way out to put the shoe on in Islam. You know when you enter the moss, you take the shoe off, put the shell on the shell. So I went ru rushed [00:13:00] going out. This gentleman, he, I will mention his names, alio.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: He asked my son what happened with your brother? And then my son said he, he got. Murder. Why? delivering pizza, very innocent, uh, honest earning. Then he suddenly, he ran after me, Dr. Chimo, congratulation. I said, I just announced you to the community that my son just got killed. We just on our way to, to prepare for funeral possession.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Okay? I’d like to thank you for congratulating me. What for? he said, you are the father of the righteous death of your son. Comfort death. He said, because it fits what God said in Quran and what Prophet Muhammad [00:14:00] said in his teaching. That’s another the comfort Gissele. My dear daughter, Allah comfort me at the time.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: I don’t know what happened yet. So we drove off, to Lexington, Kentucky. Then I communicate with community in Lexington because I was the principal there for seven year. They communicate with me, we body. He said that Dr. Chen will at this time with, the ambulance took him to the Frankfort, the capital of Lexington, for the exam.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: So his body about 50 miles away from Lexington. So, okay. Thank you. And then we keep on driving. So I told my son live in different state. They all met. We gonna meet in Lexington for. So finally we met each other halfway. I said, we have to pass [00:15:00] Frankfurt. Let’s stop by to, to see the doctor where the body of Saudi is there.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: So I stopped by. The doctor asked me, are you the Saudi father? I say, yes. We just came from St. Louis City, my son in the bank. well, can you tell us about s She said, I have been practicing, this is my career over some year. He’s a very noble, doctor, and he start to, swallow, swallow his, saliva, compose himself from crying.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: he is a big man. Crying in front of the stranger is something, but he said, I feel so sorry for your son surrounding. I stop here sunshine. What happened? Because I didn’t know what happened. He said, uh,
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: somebody slit his throat. I said, oh, and then before anything he said this, [00:16:00] you know what? The knife that somebody used to slit your son throat is so sharp. I say, to praise God. I thank God that because Prophet Muhammad peace and blessing say in his teaching, before you slaughter animal, make sure you sharp the knife because when you slaughter the cow or goat and sheep or chicken so that the animal will not feel so much pain.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Then that’s what I say, Aham all praise and thank me to Allah. And he said, and then he followed it how Allah comfort me on this crisis harm. He said. However, your son probably have very few moment of pain because the knife is so sharp. I thank God and all our son in the back [00:17:00] a sigh of relief. This probably the beginning of forgiveness come to play in the role because number one, the man in Saint Louis where you are the father of the righteous son who have a noble death now.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: The doctor gave me all this and then asked, may I see his body? He said no. Um, the body has had been chief back, to Lexington for the Islamic funeral, tradition. I thank God again my daughter, Gissele, because I thought that the body gonna be, in the refrigerator, right? Because a murder case like this probably will exempt, the body cut the body and thing, but in Islam, not, uh, not permit to have anybody cut without [00:18:00] necessary without telling God already.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Tell the doctor that, this is enough for this young man, 22 years old who got killed. So the bodys already in Lexingtons. So we drove off, with comfort and the community in Lexington said, Dr. Jitmoud we cannot pray to Saudin in the mosque. because. Hundred upon, hundred people came to honor Saudin because, uh, people know me after seven year of principal in the, I know the mayor, I know the chief, the police, they all become my good friend during my service of community.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: So people came upon hundred or become thousand, uh, before I even arrive.
Gissele: Wow.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: then said, I want you to go to cemetery, because that’s what we are gonna, we gonna pray.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: So I went directly there when I ride the street into the [00:19:00] cemetery was packed. Cannot drive in, so we have to walk in. To get to, to the grave sign when I arrived there. Hundred upon hundred two. Lie of male and female male, one lie, female other lie they want to come to, to comfort me, but I arrived late.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: So I thank them and they were crying. I comfort them and tell them not to cry because this happen happened by the will of Allah. We all believe in Allah, right? They say yes, so don’t cry. And it’s not accident. God ordained this to happen. By the time I look up way, by the main street, I saw eight men carry the coffin of, Saudin I asked the, the guest who visit me, may I, excuse me, I have [00:20:00] to, receive my son.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Usually I. I carry the c oftentimes in, in Thailand and in America, because it is in Islam, it is rewarding to do the good deed of honoring the person who live this world. So when it came close to me, I went to the left side for, to support the coffin. Like this, it flew away. So I ran in the other side to grab on this side.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: It flew away. Again, it remind me of the teaching of Prophet Muhammad, that a righteous person see how Allah comfort me again. And our sons, the righteous person. He will request a. In Arabic. K. Hurry me. Hurry me to the grave. My knee bul [00:21:00] because he don’t care anymore about this world. So at the time I heard, four men in the back complain to the foreman in the front, why you pull so fast, so hard?
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: And the foreman in front said, no, you are the one who pushed so hard. I come to the teaching of prophet moment, the angel, he’ll carry the casket.
Gissele: Mm-hmm
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Hurry me, hurry me, hurry me. Finally, I was able to catch up. with the coffin they put down by the grave and the leaders said, open the face from the cloth, the white claw, that cover, because when they have, uh, they wash the body, they have to put, they come to the teaching of Islam, white claw to the whole body, including face.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: So they said [00:22:00] they carefully open the place and after to here, they don’t want me to see the neck that the doctor after to here, oh, Gissele, when I open, when they opened the face, I saw him smiling. a dead person got killed by the sharp knife, but smiling face. And like a happy dead person. So when then I, I saw something dark on his forehead, which is, is about the coin dark spot.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Uh, then I, remind me of the holy ground. God said
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: this dark spot is a mark of prayer. So he’s [00:23:00] 22 years old. His mother, Dr. Linda Jamila, she, she’s a new Muslim for 34 years before she die. She has spot two. She pray so hard because she thank God that, uh, she became Muslim and she has a wonderful. Family and she pray. Thank God the best way to thank God is to pray in Islam.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Now our Saudin has like his mom who passed away a year ago and they love each other. My wife love our six son so much, and then we saw, we found the dark spot
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: prostration and the forehead on the ground. I kiss him the last time I ever kissed my son in this world. I kiss on his dark spot and I said, oh my dear son, I love [00:24:00] you so much. I, I say it to you.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: I love you so much for the sake of Allah, me, Allah is a prayer. Now me, Allah reunite us with your mom and you and all of us in the high is paradise. Oh my son. We meet you soon in Shaah, God willing, then they start closing the cloth over his faith. That’s the last scene I saw of him
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: So the our four son, his big brother and young brother ine, went to the grave to receive his grave site to receive his coffin. And the community also came down to receive. They said that his body is very light. you believe in Angel? my daughter? [00:25:00] Yeah. Christian, Judah. We are these three about Abrahamic faith.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: We have very similar faith and we believe in the angel unseen, but God create the angel. They said as we carry and now we carry him to the resting place. His body was so light
Gissele: Mm-hmm.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: So make the people who do the service very, very comfortable that he is a good man. So after of course we pray the imam, of the community.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: I have to mention his name because he my best friend also, he, the Imam who lead our prayer and he the leader community for 30 some years in Lexington. And he used the lesson to, to teach. Hundred of people who came to pray. He said, and he cry. He said, look at this young man. He’s my friend [00:26:00] now. I miss him.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: I pray for him. But this a young man that I adore because I have been the imam and pray the funeral, pray for many years I knew. So people come to honor his departure from this world in the ude of the prayer, and he cry and he will, he say, live yourself in the righteous, life and you’ll face the happy ending of this world, just like this young.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: And he, and then we put the dirt over him. So I stop right here. You just a good listener.
Gissele: thank you for sharing that. if I heard you correctly, one of the things that I’ve gotten from your story was that you had received signs along the way of the need for forgiveness and mercy, even before you knew what had happened, and [00:27:00] also that your son had a righteous death.
Gissele: is that correct?
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: uh, he is a righteous son.
Gissele: Oh, okay. Well, the reason why I mentioned that is because, your son is a hero. He saved a woman’s life, right? Like there was somebody else who was supposed to go on that pizza delivery run who was afraid. is that accurate?
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Oh, yes.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: let me, cross right here.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Okay. all this information came later after after offender opposition. We bur him and everything and pray. Last time, so the community announced that Dr. Jitmoud and his family will be in an Islamic school, Lexington Universal Academy. That’s why I used to be the principal, to receive condolences, please come to the school, after evening prayer.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: So a lot of friends, hundred of them came to condo, me and my son. Then out of that, [00:28:00] a friend from Pizza Hut. Because they know the Saudi father work here So he came, he start, one of them start telling the story with Saudin delivered pizza not his order because he came back. Okay. He has a young brother named Nurodine, calling him at home about 10 o’clock.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Says it’s raining very hard. that night, the young brother said, Baba, is rain so hard? I worry about My brother Saudin So I called him. He answered right away. He said, uh, sa uh, um, it’s almost 10 o’clock. You’re supposed to be home by now. And it’s raining too. When you gonna come home? He said, I’m delivering the last pizza.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Then I will be home soon. So when he deliver little pizza, he went back to Pizza Hut. The young lady pulled [00:29:00] out the order slip and saw the address. That’s her turn, to go. And she said, no, I’m not going to this place. These are section eight. You know, section eight, a housing, complex. I’m not going.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: It’s raining and dangerous. So Saudin just walk in. He said to his coworker, he said, don’t worry, I’m on my way out. my brother just called. I’m gonna stop by and I will come back and give you a tip. tomorrow. So he went, see how Allah ordained that he gonna die. The lady will be safe.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: So the lady allow him to go. And when he went, it’s a fake address. He just look around to look for the receiver. I know, I’m sure, know for sure that he didn’t see who behind him. He’s a big tall man and s above my side.
Gissele: [00:30:00] Mm-hmm.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Probably he just lock him and then, finished the job and he took pizza, took Saudine`s purse and, then he even finished the pizza too. He must be very hungry. the murderer. And then that’s what it is, the story that the lady was saved. Now God want us to save the man who killed You want me to, uh,
Gissele: uh, yeah, you can, you can keep going on the story for sure if you want to.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Then what happened? next morning, the police team of the police above and detective came to our house. I still in have a house in Lexington. he said that, Dr Jitmoud, we’re gonna take you, to see the crime scene that your son got murdered yesterday.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: I was so happy. So we went, when we went through the Section eight complex, a lot of neighbor [00:31:00] came running is no more rain. Last night was raining, before I forget, Gissele my daughter in Islam. when the righteous soul passed away from this world, the nature will cry. When we, because missing a person who worship a lot day and night, that’s one of the side that will lead to forgiveness because start to evaluate already our son have the righteous soul.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: We so many signs. Then when we arrive to the complex, the police, says, this is the place. And we look at this is the, his body lean on the wall. when we came to investigate all the blood was, wash up a few spot, still there, but pretty much clean now. Can I take a little break on the rain and the blood?
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: So [00:32:00] what happened while during the night, the police knocked on the door off. Iraqi family who just moved in about a month ago on this first floor. And, I need to mention his name because I want God to reward him and his wife, his name sad, and his wife name Amina. When the police knock on the door started open the door, and Amina came along too because he know that, something going on in front of her house because that is, 10 o’clock or plus.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Why police asking her husband about witnessing Amina looked through the door she saw Saudin lean against the wall and has one finger stick up like this. And then he has, he wear a cap at the piece of delivery. [00:33:00] So he said, oh. This man got murdered and his hand got cut off. His finger got cut off except one.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Whoa, poor guy. So she’s know that he’s a Muslim. Yet Now this is God honor Amina to see the finger. You know what has a finger in Islam before you die. If you say with the finger up, as I told Mr. Morgan Freeman, there is no God worthy of worship except Allah. That person will enter paradise. Prophet Muhammad reassure then next miracle happened in front of Armina.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: the wife. Why police talking to her husband? She said that because of the rain, the rain water brought. The [00:34:00] blood to her door because she was the first floor. The blood was so red and clean. On top of that, she smelled perfume from the blood. Not ugly smell, but perfume. This other side of the righteous soul who passed away.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: I was being comfort after we bury him yesterday. I was comfort, so comfort of all the neighbor. The neighbor came crying apart, condolence. Sorry for the loss of your son, all the thing. But this family give me comfort and
Gissele: yeah,
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: so let me share with you this.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Two years and seven months later become the story of courtroom that we forgive the man because it’s stack up of righteous deed before death and after death. I share that with [00:35:00] you.
Gissele: Yeah. Thank you just one of the things I wanted to touch on is the fundamental teachings of Islam of humanity and love and compassion that are often not emphasized in Muse.
Gissele: AndI wanted to for you to talk a little bit about the fundamental beliefs, of Allah in terms of the unity of people, the oneness of people, and how you were able to see the perpetrator as somebody not separate from you. You talk a little bit about that.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Yes, yes. of course, as a Muslim, have to refer to the statement of God, Allah Almighty, himself in the holy Quran first of all, God say that whoever killed one innocent life he killed the whole humanity, then God follow Allah, follow his whole statement.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Whoever saved the life, saved the soul. One [00:36:00] soul, he saved the soul, the whole humanity. This is leading to forgiveness. After Saudin, we call about 15 righteous side. Within, uh, a short time after his death, he said, our son. People witness, we didn’t say it. The people who know us just said, um, Shahied, shahied, shahied.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Shahied means the righteous death, the word Arabic we just said in holy gra and the haddi of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing we are one he said. Then I think to myself, have not informed our son yet because they were angry because he loves Saudin. and people ask me, especially the student ask me, Dr. Jitmoud, is he the one who killed Saudin is your enemy?
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: He said, no. he’s my friend, but he just misguided guy friend. he’s my [00:37:00] nephew. he’s like my son and my nephew, but he have been misguided by satan chatan, okay?
Gissele: Mm-hmm.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: And then he asked. You have any enemy? I say, yes. Who? The devil. They said, whoa, the man who killed your son?
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: still you call him nephew? I said, yes. He just like us. Only that because of drug, because of he, he robbed by the misguided guy friend. So all taking drugs and the money ran out. So he and his team plan to kill someone. they didn’t know that they’re gonna kill Saudin.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: They want to kill someone that robbed the money and take Pizza too. Enjoy then. That’s what it is. So all this happened, that’s why I said it not accident, had been ordained by Allah. Allah love Saudin. Allah [00:38:00] want to know that soul to return to him in the righteousness. And another thing, Gissele, my daughter, as at that time in America, Islamic phobia was high hate Islam, afraid of Muslim terrorist, all these thing, God with his wisdom chose our son to show the world that not what Islam being portrayed on media.
Gissele: Mm.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Islam forgive. Then I go back to Prophet Muhammad. He was 13 years in Maka. People want to kill him. Then God said, I want you to migrate to Medina and you’ll establish the city Medina so that Islam will be spread.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Islam established in Medina, eight years later, he came back and conquered, maka his [00:39:00] birthplace without a single fight, without a single life being lost. On top of that, he forgave all of those who tried to kill him.
Gissele: Mm-hmm.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Who am I? I’m not a prophet, but I should learn from my prophet of Allah.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: I said, son. Allah say this. Can I say the statement that finally change the family, the history of the world
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: I seek refuse with Allah from the shaan said the curse, the Allah God.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: So have to [00:40:00] forgive the one who cause harm to you. Command from God while just and overlook his shortcoming. His shortcoming was drug friend. And
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: an environment that he was raised, not friendly to him. And then God said, don’t you love that? Allah shall forgive you? And Allah is the most forgiving, the most merciful. I told my son this a lifetime opportunity to be forgiven by Allah. No one can go to paradise when you have sin within us. Even one spot of sin you have to go to serve time in this like jail, right?
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: So in next year, you have to go to hell fire for some time to erase the sin. So they all forgive [00:41:00] except the youngest one. Ludin, because he’s the one who received bad news that night. And we have a few minutes already left. Let’s go back to Ludin about, three o’clock. Lexington time was ahead of Sunday time.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: One hour
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: after he called his brother, he wait and he slept on the sofa. he heard somebody knock on the door. he afraid to open right away. So the police, the one who knock on the side, uh, can you open the door? We are the police officer. So he opened the door. Slowly, he saw three police officer it, this resident, he say, yes, I’m his brother.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: And he, I’m waiting for him since 10 o’clock. And he’s not here yet. I dunno what happened with him. He’s 18 years old, so the, uh, Saudi not [00:42:00] coming home anymore. He’s got murdered. We just came to deliver the bad news for you and they left. Poor guy, home alone. Mother passed away. Older brother live far away.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Me musa live in in St. Louis, seven hour drive. So he was really,
Gissele: yeah,
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: shocked Yeah. then. When come to the courtroom he didn’t want to forgive. And the police, the chief of police chief will not ask him to stay in the hotel. They prepare everything fine. He said, you have to stay here because tomorrow it’s gonna be hard for him.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: So the morning come, he said, Baba, I want to go, uh, to the courtroom. He said, so we took him with police, one side and one side grab his hand because the murderer just walk in. The last one, everyone waiting for him. He’s [00:43:00] the very, or man, of course, only on his third, every eye poke focus on him.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: He walk in, we look. Then in the process of court testimony, he cry, right? I give the tissue to him and he came, walked to him. I walked halfway. And he grabbed the tissue right away. I grabbed his hand and pulled, and I hug him. Nolin said, Baba right in front of Nolin. Nolin said, Baba. He’s not a monster.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: He’s a human being like him. He’s the misguided guy. So I forgive him right away, Baba. I say all praise and thank you to Allah. I am my family. That is your family. 100%. Forgive the man who murder. That’s what it is. So come back to forgiveness, prophet moment. Forgive the one who tried to murder him [00:44:00] also. So who am I?
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Uh, not to forgive. Seen Aah. Offered opportunity to earn his blessing and mercy to go to paradise in the life he after.
Gissele: I just wanted to mention the fact that, you said so many fundamental things. One being that there, there really is no evil.
Gissele: Like most people are just misguided. Right? if they really truly understood how interconnected we are, if we really, truly understood that we are all made of the same God source energy, Allah or whatever God they believe in, they would understand that whatever they do impacts them as well.
Gissele: We’re so connected. but I think many people have a hard time with forgiveness. I think because of the way they view death. I think many people view death as final and they don’t see it as a return to God. They see it as this is the end, there’s nothing else. Mm-hmm. And so in those circumstances, I think it can be hard to forgive and people’s [00:45:00] fear of death is quite strong
Gissele: the fear can be overwhelming. did you have anyone that was. I didn’t really understand your ability to be able to forgive something. So monumentous, as a mother myself who has two children, being away from them, despite my connection to God would be really difficult. Which is why your behavior is so extraordinary.
Gissele: and your connection to God is so extraordinary because I think, maybe my listeners might have a hard time saying or understanding the importance of needing to forgive for ourselves. Right. And for each other.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Yeah. Because I’m a very personal person Gissele. So before we move on, I have grandchildren in Canada too.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: I pray now to Allah Almighty God. To, protect you from harm and to, and you. Amen. My [00:46:00] grandchildren and your, of course your son and your family from this trouble world, and I want you to be safe. And so live your life. with safety and security come back. I need to tell you also the teaching of Islam has three choice in term of the first degree murder, like this is mentioned in the holy Quran.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Also, one, if this man were to be seated in the electric chair, it’s okay for my family because life and life or life. Is okay because Islam allowed it. Second one say that the two family can negotiate blood money. Okay. Blood money. Uh, then [00:47:00] Allah and Prophet Muhammad peace and blessing be upon himself. The best is to forgive.
Gissele: Mm-hmm.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: So my family chose number three. Forgive because we feel that if the man have to be seat in electric chair with a few moment and die, we gonna feel guilty. We the cause of the man sitting electric air. Right. All in the life sentence in the dark room for forever.
Gissele: Mm-hmm.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: So we don’t want to cause that.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: To happen to him. We want to save this young man so that he can live. I told him that when you are in the prison, I want you to bow down to Allah of God Almighty. He’s created to you and he creates Saudin. So I want you to thank God that you able to breathe a few [00:48:00] more years, and I want you to grow up in righteousness.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Prison is a good place for you now to reflect upon your life. And I want you to think positively about your life. And I pray that may God keep your life safe in the prison. Prison is not always safe, right? Mm-hmm. So I pray for him. Yeah. And then I said that I am this age, and the judge. reduced his time from 36 years, through 31 years.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: And I am this age, I don’t know if conceived that long. When I told him before we hug each other in the private room now, I said, if God Allah gave me life longer, I will come to the prison door to with your parents so we [00:49:00] can welcome you to the free world. Okay? Because this last, when you say, wow, I have to go back.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Last January, the year before my family went to Lexington to visit Saudin. So we in communication with his father. Okay, so we contact him that we are gonna visit Saudi. Can you come and meet us? So we invite him to have lunch with us. So he came, his father, and they said, when I come back from Thailand and we gonna go visit your son together in the prison, he was so happy that, and you will talk about his son or you, his, your son.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: I blame nobody but satan the devil. That’s what I blame for. So that’s what in Islam, we choose the best choice for a human being and he have a good chance to live a good life. I say when you come out, be a good [00:50:00] citizen of our land and be productive citizen of the society because time for you to pay back to the community that raise you.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Even though put you in a tough time. Yeah. So this, I don’t know if I answered the question.
Gissele: Yeah, you did actually. Um, and you raised some important things in terms of, there’s a lot of trauma and there’s a lot of environmental things that people have been raised with and they carry that trauma and they hurt other people, which is really difficult.
Gissele: Do you know how he’s doing in prison?
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Okay. these are often asked question when I travel to give at talk. even his father have a hard time especially during, COVID-19. Father not able to go.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Mm-hmm. And also he had been moved from jail to jail, but, we cause, tight security. Mm-hmm. Because he’s, first degree murderer. But now that’s why when I met him during [00:51:00] invitation for lunchtime with my family in Lexington, he said, I’m able to visit him, but I have to, declare, my identification even as a father, but now able to visit maybe once a month, something like that, or once a week based upon my availability.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: That’s why I said, let’s go together so that we can help comfort your son and make sure that he has hope outside the prison. So this what, we need to tell the world that everyone. In your life being sent by God Almighty. A good person is for you to live and care and be thankful to God. A person who give you hard time is also the test from God.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: That you have to be patient and you have to understand everyone, not alike, but we have to work together. And we have to understand that [00:52:00] if I teach the thousand of students in America, along with our six son, you have if you see somebody not good to you, you pray to God, to guide you for to be righteous and to guide the man.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Woman to become righteous as God, to be good citizen of the world because God create everyone the same God who, create the animal and birds and everything in the universe. So be good to everyone, especially the one that cause you harm. This is the challenge because you pass the test that all pays upon you because life is a test.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Life is journey to the hereafter. And our destination is paradise. In our, in Quran cause it general to And can you say Janna?
Gissele: [00:53:00] Janna
Gissele: Sah, Allah. Sorry. Because.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: It’s like I pray for you and me to go to this. the highest has seven rank, need the highest rank with the righteous, with the prophets. Okay? So that’s why we pray for the one who harm you with the best of prayer. And the angel will say, may you receive the same, we come back to the angel again Gissele.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Uh, yeah,
Gissele: yeah, for sure. May you receive the same. we see right now the world that is so divided, and I know you travel a lot to give messages to people. my listeners are from all over the world, and some people are involved in war. Other people are, in different circumstances and seeing what’s happening.[00:54:00]
Gissele: What’s one thing that I think you would like our fellow human beings to know and understand, about your experience and how maybe what things we could do to come closer together to one another instead of be more divisive and more hurtful towards one another?
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Okay. Uh, my daughter Gissele. I have to go back to the words that I mentioned to you earlier in the program.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Yeah. Oh, Mankin. Along create all of you from the single and male and female, Adam and Eve. The purpose is for you to know each other, cooperate with one another in peace and harmony. the best among all of you, mankind that Allah create is the most righteous of you. My righteous wife.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Linda, she live righteous wife, righteous life, and our sonin live righteous life. And that’s why [00:55:00] in the criteria of Allah, the best of you, Allah want everyone, you and me and your two children to grow up in Righteous Way. And the best among you is the one who provides service to others. Right now you are performing, a program, podcast, right?
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: This gonna go to a few viewers and this is a service you are doing for the humanity who will listen to your program. And of course, everyone has, God creates the rationale to think, to evaluate a situation. What good and what not so good. Which one is toxic situation we able to identify? And your program, I hope and pray that people will understand, the usefulness of your program and always think of you in the positive possible [00:56:00] contribution that you from Canada have done to the humanity.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: So we together, and my thinking is that you as my make-believe, daughter have a joy reward from Allah Almighty because you spread good word, not violence, because God want us to be harmony, work together and know people are alike. But you have to overlook. Remember God said, you have to forgive the man who killed your son and overlook his shortcoming because everyone has strength and weakness.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: That’s why as wife and husband, when you look at your wife, look for her strength. And when she has weakness, overlook, don’t emphasize on the weakness because, you forgive her weakness. Okay, but strengthen. Oh, [00:57:00] Charla. Um, my dear darling, you are just a good mother. You’re just a good wife you are.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Cooking is so delicious. All the positive thing. If she didn’t wash the dishes, overlook her. You do too. Because I help my wife wash the dishes too, wash the clothes, do everything because how the Prophet Muhammad will do, be example for us, And of course the c Korean Indian is in Arabic in holy gra, Ana Africa
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: please us Bucket upon bucket of patience when you are a patient and Allah little patient. That’s why we don’t have enough patience. Somebody step on our toe. We just, just Right. We have to. Excuse me. Oh, no problem. Are you okay? [00:58:00] Be gentle, be quiet, be humble In Islam, whoever humble before God, I make you and humble before his.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: His creation. You are his creation and a lot will raise our rank very high because we live up to his test because life is a test right now. A lot test you and me because we are sometime don’t think alike, but we have to respect. You don’t have to agree, but you have to respect a person who you disagree with.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Then in Shaah, God willing, with the help of Allah, the world will be a better place to live. And my grandson, which is behind you, should be a better the world that we left behind. Am I correct? We should establish environment for our grandchildren, great-grandchildren, more than we are within moment right now in Shaah.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: That’s why the war [00:59:00] going on. I pray so much what’s going on in Middle East and how America react to the situation. Pray that, oh, Allah, God, by the please save the world. And, everything within it with your mercy because you are the most forgiving, and the most mercyful.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Oh, Allah, forgive the oppressor and then, and reward the oppressed because you know best in your wisdom. Who is best among your servant, the one who lived the righteous way. the one who live in the righteous life. That’s your criteria to judge who is the best. So we ask your kindness, your mercy, to judge your servant, with the best judgment in your wisdom.
Gissele: Thank you for that. your life is a testament of how love can transform, and forgiveness can transform not only the young man who was involved in your son’s murder, but also the [01:00:00] inspiration that other people have gotten from your story and their willingness to forgive and through those actions, thus bringing the world closer together.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: I love you. I love you too. I, I love you for the sake of Allah. May I say in Arabic one more time? I’m sure a lot Arab.
Gissele: Yeah, of course.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: My friend. I have a hundred of Arab friend too. Yeah. And I plan on going to, oh, I need to tell you the, I need, I will go to Pilgrimme, after the court case, I went to Maka, performed Pilgrimme by the Kaba, GABA, right?
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: the house of Allah that the Muslim pray every day face this house we pray for, the one who murder Saudin, to be guide, to be safe from all the harm may happen to him. Because, and we ask a lot to accept our [01:01:00] forgiveness. during this, hour, also with conversation.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: You know that I never mention his name. Yeah. Because I have to honor him.
Gissele: Yeah.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Because he’s not here to defend himself.
Gissele: Yeah.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Okay. So I went to, of course, when I went to gaba, I present his care to Allah. So I mentioned his name, but because the angel would write down the name
Gissele: mm-hmm.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: That, oh, Allah, please forgive him. And let him, grow up to be righteous. And we went to harsh this coming harsh season, which is in. May I will go to H again. So I will be praying for him to my righteous wife, Linda, and then, and I will pray for you too. and you are children.
Gissele: Thank you.[01:02:00]
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Please, hug them for me
Gissele: Well,
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: and convey my love to them for the sake of God.
Gissele: Thank you. Same.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Yeah.
Gissele: You extend to our family and thank you. thank you so much for sharing your story and your wisdom.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: Thank you.
Gissele: and your love and all the work that you do for humanity
Gissele: Helping us come closer together. So appreciate it, appreciate you. and thank you for those who tuned into another episode of Love and Compassion podcast, with Gissele
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: I pray that, uh, your program will be further of success in the future endeavor.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: And I pray again that may almighty God, give you a healthy, good long life and stay in this world, to serve God for his pleasure. And may God guide you. Grant you the most happiest life in the life [01:03:00] hereafter And may God look after you, after your family and your friends.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: The friend of your program here, may God also have mercy upon them all and has a happy life and good long life forever. Okay, lemme thanking to you, lemme pray in Arabic to close.
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: We ask God to forgive us in the word that we express you are to may not. Uh, please with each other, may God forgive us and everything. Forgiveness is the greatest gift of charity in Islam. My Islam. And in the,
Abdul-Munin Sombat Jitmoud: I know, good life [01:04:00] in Canada and good late morning in Thailand.