I recently discovered your blog, and appreciated your difficulty in remaining a Muslim after 9/11. I was wondering what you think of something they had at Hot Air recently about Zuhdi Jasser (link). He said the solution to Islamic terrorism is to bring the terrorists back to their faith, and that his Islamic faith has been what has solidified him in his position against terrorism. Hearing a Muslim say something like that was like a breath of fresh air to me, but I wonder how widespread it is, and how really Islamic such an attitude is.
This question requires a careful answer because we have to separate the means and the goals of the Islamic terrorists.
Let me put forth a few statements that I think are true. They range from one extreme to another:
A small number of Muslims -- the Jihadists -- are personally willing to use violence against non-Muslims to impose Islam.
A significant number of Muslims support the Jihadists -- morally and often financially.
A majority of Muslims do not support the means of the Jihadists. They do, however, support the goals of the Jihadists: to have an Islamic super-state where sharia rules.
A minority of Muslims think that religion is only a personal matter. (From what I've heard, Zuhdi Jasser seems to fit in this group.)
As one can see, terrorism is a small part of the problem. The major issue is the fusion of religion and politics in Islam. The global Muslim community (the umma) does wish for a grand theocracy
That's certainly not comforting. Most Muslims won't openly support Al Qaeda or its derivatives but then what about sharia? Sharia is made up of retrograde, superstitious and barbaric laws. It, by its very nature, requires force and coercion.
Just take a brief look at the heart of Sunni and Shia Islam.
Saudi Arabia:
Women must cover themselves from head to toe in public or else.
Non-Islamic religious teachings or places of worship are not allowed.
The possession of alcohol is punishable by death.
The hands of thieves are amputated.
Iran:
Do not take pictures of regime property or else.
Members of the Baha'i faith are openly discriminated against.
Adultery is punished by stoning to death.
Homosexuals are publicly hanged.
All these laws are considered legitimate because they're derived from Islam.
Though, one can say that Saudi Arabia and Iran are, somehow, twisting sharia. My response to that: Muslims went nuts over a few drawings in a once-obscure Danish newspaper. Over a hundred people died in the ensuing carnage across the world. One would think that hundreds of millions of Muslims would be shocked, horrified and disgusted by how their, supposedly, peaceful religion is being perverted in these two nations. Yet, do we even see one percent of the cartoon outrage on this matter?
What does that tell us about Islam and most Muslims?
- The Truth About "moderate Islam"
From Logan's Warning comes this information about mosque support of "moderate Islam": Zudhi Jasser’s Colleague Admits Their “Moderate Islam” Campaign has NO Mosque Support!...It is NOT happening, and one simple question proves that. In the past...
- A Message To Peaceful Muslims
On the Infidel Blogger's Alliance and other sites, I've seen many comments by Muslims trying to tell non-Muslims that Islam is really a peaceful religion and that the terrorists have it all wrong. A friend of mine I've known for years is an...
- Muslims Tell Christians: Make Peace With Us Or The Survival Of The World Is At Stake
How about not? See my post here on how I propose to settle our problems with the Muslims. Anyway, 138 "prominent Muslim scholars" are warning the Western world. This article is from the London Evening Standard: Prominent Muslim scholars are warning that...
- When Peaceful Muslims Defend Islam
Peaceful Muslims will argue that the Koran does not sanction violence, can't possibly justify suicide bombings, and is nothing but a peaceful religion. I've seen comments by these Muslims here on the IBA, and elsewhere on the internet. Listening...
- Warning To The West
We received an email from an ex-Muslim, and he gave us permission to reprint it. Here's what he wrote: I was born and raised as Muslim. My name is Abdul Rahman. My whole family is still Muslim. I know the Islamic brain very well. I have lived and...