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OPINION & EDITORIAL

Islamophobia can end by education

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by Guest Columnist
Thursday, November 29, 2007

"I think those Islams and those Muslims and those Iraqistanians, those Afghanistanians… They should all just go back to Africa."

This was an opinion I heard on the radio a few hours after the Sept.11, 2001, attacks. Although many of you find this statement humorous because of the speaker's ignorance on geography and Islam, it actually served as my wakeup call. As a Muslim, it fell on my shoulders to preach and clarify what I was practicing. I was quite possibly the only Muslim many of my colleagues knew. As much as I didn't want to be, I was responsible for the image of Islam in their minds. My experience wasn't unique: Many Muslims were being scrutinized by the American public on their ability to adapt and intermingle with other Americans.

Sept. 11 created a vacuum in the minds of many Americans about Islam. It was a vacuum that was going to be filled by either a Muslim voice or people opposing Islam. It has, therefore, become the responsibility of Muslims to speak up and educate non-Muslims about the misconceptions that exist about our religion.

While Muslims in America have come under intense scrutiny recently, Islam's roots in America date back to the era of slavery, but most slaveholders did not allow their slaves to practice their culture, religion or even their native language and, therefore, very few could pass it on to their children. It has been documented that the first Muslim immigrants arrived in America by way of ships as early as 1880 and were mostly from Lebanon, Syria and Palestine. There were waves of Muslim immigrants after World War I and World War II when the United States loosened its immigration policy.

Today there are more than a billion Muslims worldwide, making it the second-largest religion on earth. It is also the fastest-growing religion, which has led some to hypothesize that it will be the largest religion in less than 100 years. It is also the second largest and fastest growing religion in America itself.

These statistics may be a point of pride for Muslims, but they are a source of fear for many Americans. People have always feared or been skeptical of what they don't understand and what they see as being "outside influence." This has been compounded by Fox News and other conservative broadcasters who regularly engage in some form of "Islam bashing." This fear and mistrust can even be seen on this campus by the recent visits of David Horowitz and Robert Spencer, two individuals known for spreading false information about Islam, thereby creating "Islamophobia."

I am using the term Islamophobia because American's fear of Islam is based mainly on misconceptions about the religion. In no way does the religion itself discriminate against women or advocate killing innocent people as some claim. Americans need to understand the difference between cultural practices and Islam itself. People like Mr. Horowitz and Mr. Spencer serve to blur this distinction and generate Islamophobia.

Islamophobia has forced Muslims in America to further their own understandings of Islam. Because of the increased scrutiny that Islam is currently under, many Muslims constantly find themselves having to defend Islam. In fact, an argument could be made that the rise of Islamophobia in America has helped Muslims gain more attention and influence. This can be seen here on campus by the growth of the introductory Islam class from 40 students to more than 200. Also, when the College Republicans sponsored Mr. Horowitz to come speak as part of Islamofacism Awareness Week, they inadvertently gave the Muslim Students Association more publicity and coverage than they had ever received in the past. Because of Mr. Horowitz, the MSA had interviews on radio stations and made connections to other groups right here on campus.

As a MSA board member, I would like to invite everyone to come learn about Islam from Muslims themselves. You can learn about our events by going to www.uw-msa.org and signing up for the list serve. Also, keep your eyes and ears open for Islam Awareness Week next semester when the MSA will be hosting lectures and workshops open to the public. In the meantime, you can visit the campus mosque on 21 N. Orchard St. for Friday services that start at 12:30 p.m.

Dr. Cohen, a UW professor and director of the LUBAR Institute for the Study of Abrahamic Religions, recently spoke at a discussion panel regarding contemporary Muslims. He stated that the challenges faced by Muslims are not unlike those faced by other groups in the past and that over time, Muslims will be accepted and integrated into society.

Insha'Allah (God willing).

Ammar Ali (aali1@wisc.edu) is a senior majoring in genetics. He is also a member of the Muslim Students Association.


Anonymous (November 29, 2007 @ 7:39am):

What if there was no Islam?

Anonymous (November 29, 2007 @ 7:48am):

I am using the term Islamophobia because American's fear of Islam is based mainly on misconceptions about the religion. In no way does the religion itself discriminate against women or advocate killing innocent people as some claim.

Maybe not but a hell of a LOT OF CULTURES that advocate killing innocent people and discriminating against women (200 lashes for being raped?? as in Saudi Arabia) are inherently MUSLIM. Argue against these facts. Not the poor Muslim being discriminated against due to religion. Maybe it is not the Religion that needs changing will give you that, but the CULTURES THAT PRACTICE THE RELIGION sure as hell do.

Afterall not many Christians, Buddhists, Hindu's etc running around blowing themselves and others up, nor slicing the heads off innocents, rioting in major cities over cartoons, killing people cause one of their Holy Books was "mistreated" and other such nonsense.

The Muslim culture needs to be "understood" no we understand it all too well a bunch of 7th Century Savages who seem to have to be dragged kicking and screaming into the 20th Century.

One other issue of the Muslim Culture by the way is their overwhelming propensity to blame everyone but themselves for their problems and their victim mentality. Thanks for furthering that stereotype as well.

Anonymous (November 29, 2007 @ 8:32am):

Islamophobia can end by Muslims adapting and becoming part of society and not running around in their own little niche with their head wraps, as well as stopping the war against anyone who doesn't worship their Allah, and by stopping all terrorist activity.

Anonymous (November 29, 2007 @ 8:52am):

Did you ever stop to think that perhaps Americans understand Islam too well and we just don't like what it is we are told to understand.

Let's see a bunch of 21st century people wish to live like 9th century Barbarians and make others do the same. How else do explain a teacher arrested in Sudan for letting children name a teddy bear Muhammed and now faces jail time or the whip????

Once again totally understandable if we were living in the Middle Ages which we are not.

Anonymous (November 29, 2007 @ 8:53am):

"American's fear of Islam is based mainly on misconceptions about the religion."

Wrong. Whether you are willing to believe it or not the Quran is a book filled with violence. It can almost be read as a war guide written by Mohammed, a famous warrior. While this may be true of the Bible as well, Christians have evolved past taking every word as literal instead of allegorical.

I suggest you read the Quran, if you haven't, and you will be shocked at some of the things it says one must do in order to leave Islam as the only true religion.

Anonymous (November 29, 2007 @ 10:46am):

Islamophobia is a fact based condition. It will be gone when the facts change. Ignoring the facts through a spurious "re-education" mind washing will not change the facts.

It took a long time before non-Catholics had nothing to fear from the Inquisition. It may be a long time before a "Piss Mohamed" picture or a cartoon won't get someone killed.

It seems that a teddy bear Mohamed has the moderate Muslims ready to whip a harmless old lady, but at least they don't want to take her head. Well, most don't - some do.

Anonymous (November 29, 2007 @ 10:47am):

Wow.

It's not like the followers of Christianity have some sort of flawless record to stand behind. Without dwelling on the countless atrocities in Europe and the fact that pretty much every Southern slaveholder was a Bible-thumper, how many murderers and sex offenders in America claim to be Christian?

There are scores of despicable Muslim terrorists; this is obvious from reading the death counts of news headlines. However, any basic study tells there are countless factors that cause people to become sociopathic, more than simply what religion they choose to practice.

Anonymous (November 29, 2007 @ 10:50am):

Ammar, the rest of the world does not have to tolerate Islam. Islam is an intolerant religion itself. Go back to your Middle-East desert and stay there!

Anonymous (November 29, 2007 @ 11:05am):

Ammar, you are so full of shit! If Muslims are so concerned about the violent image westerners have of Islam, then why aren't they countering that misconception by speaking out more against Islamic extremists?

Also, I just read, from several news sources, that al-Qaeda is now training jihadists in Gaza. Now tell me those poor Palestinians are being persecuted. Try telling me that Muslims are not violent psychos hellbent on eradication all Jews and Christians.

Anonymous (November 29, 2007 @ 11:39am):

FBI hate crimes report for 2006: Jews suffer over 5 times more attacks than Muslims. Many of those attacks against Jews have been committed by Muslims.

Anonymous (November 29, 2007 @ 11:54am):

@Anonymous (November 29, 2007 @ 10:47am):

How many of those murderers and sex offenders claim that they committed their crime because God told them to?

Now compare that with the number of terrorists who blow things up because they claim Allah told them to.

Anonymous (November 29, 2007 @ 12:02pm):

"Islamophobia can end by education"

Should've read "Islamophobia can start with indoctrination"

I heard Mohammed had a secret gay lover. I also heard that Muslim men like to dress like women. I'm inclined to believe that it's true. dirty Muslim, dirty Muslim, hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo...I'm gonna dress up like an imam, hang out in the park, and when Muslim women walk by I'll pull open my robe, exposing my genitalia and yell "Allahu Ackbar!" Ha-ha-ha-hee-hee!!!

Anonymous (November 29, 2007 @ 12:39pm):

Wow.

It's not like the followers of Christianity have some sort of flawless record to stand behind. Without dwelling on the countless atrocities in Europe and the fact that pretty much every Southern slaveholder was a Bible-thumper, how many murderers and sex offenders in America claim to be Christian.

Your right Christianity is not a "blood free" religion either. However most seem to have outgrown their Inquisition periods of the 15th century. Muslims on the other hand HAVE NOT therein lies the difference. And yeah murderers and sex offenders may claim to be Christian, HOWEVER their actions are usually punished, not CELEBRATED AND CONDONED by the leadership of their respective countries as in the Muslim world. When Timothy McVeigh (thrown this in cause someone will try to play the American terrorist card) comitted his atrocity he was rightly abhorred, hunted down, tried, and put to death and the ACTION CONDEMNED BY MOST AMERICANS AND THEIR LEADERS. In the Muslim world such actions are celebrated by the people, encouraged by the governments, and even condoned by such governments.

PS a lot of those NORTHERN Slaveholders were bible thumpers too.

Comparing 13th century Christians to 21 century Muslims is a moot point cause it proves one of two things. The rest of the world has advanced degrees above their Muslim brethren, or their is some inherent flaw in Muslim culture that keeps them barely above the evolutionary scale of a Neanderthal society at best.

Anonymous (November 29, 2007 @ 3:24pm):

Wow, "Ammar, the rest of the world does not have to tolerate Islam. Islam is an intolerant religion itself. Go back to your Middle-East desert and stay there!" Talk about intolerance. Ammar isn't even from the Middle East, nor is his family. Oh, and Muslims don't wear head wraps, that would be Sikhs. Some women wear scarves on their and others don't if that is what you're referring to. To disagree with what Ammar is saying your right, but at least be accurate when you are trying to prove someone else is wrong in their argument.

Anonymous (November 29, 2007 @ 4:15pm):

12:39pm Where did folks conjure this specious notion that McVeigh was Christian? In contemporaneous accounts, McVeigh was never described as killing out of any religious motives. Nor was there any evidence McVeigh considered himself a Christian.

At his execution, Jesus Christ made no appearance in McVeigh's rhetoric. McVeigh's last public act before he was executed was to distribute copies of the 1875 poem "Invictus." It begins: "I thank whatever gods may be/ for my unconquerable soul," and ends "I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul" Those sentiments are blasphemous of Christianity.

Reporting on his execution, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution described McVeigh as "an avowed agnostic" whose sudden last-minute decision to see a Catholic priest just before his execution surprised everyone who knew him. Even Barbara Ehrenreich (writing in the Progressive) didn't portray McVeigh as having religious motives. She identified McVeigh as a "neo-Nazi mass murderer." Lest we forget, Nazis (national socialists) are atheistic Marxists who venomously reject Judeo-Christianity.

In contrast, the 9-11 murderers called themselves Muslims, often attended various mosques, functioned within the mainstream Muslim community and quoted from the Quran extensively so that it is only logical for the objective observer to call them Muslims.

Muslims need to reform the jihadist doctrines of their coreligionists, rather than slinging specious grievance theories and moral equivalence arguments.

Anonymous (November 29, 2007 @ 4:38pm):

Now it has been six years. The global jihad proceeds apace, with well over 10,000 deadly attacks carried out in the course of those six years by believers in the proposition that "Islam must dominate, and not be dominated."

10,000+ Deadly jihadist attacks since 9/11 don't lie
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/

Want to end Islamophobia? End violent attacks committed by Muslims in the name of Islam. I guarantee that Islamophobia will then vanish utterly.

Anonymous (November 29, 2007 @ 5:03pm):

To the guy at 10:47:

"Without dwelling on the countless atrocities in Europe and the fact that pretty much every Southern slaveholder was a Bible-thumper, how many murderers and sex offenders in America claim to be Christian?"

I don't think any sex offenders commits the crime because he thinks that's what his religion requires him to do.

Your point makes no sense.

Anonymous (November 29, 2007 @ 7:34pm):

To the person Anonymous (November 29, 2007 @ 8:53am), and basically every anonymous post-

It's awesome you have read the Qur'an. And your opinion of it being a war guide, is complete and utter nonsense. First of all, when one reads the Qur'an they are NOT going to understand it like it's some novel. A lot of you would go into it with some bias as it is, and of course many of the verses in there would seem outrageous. It's a HOLY book that was written at the time of the Prophet (PBUH) and of course many of those things you read were meant for those times. Today many of those translations must be taken into modern times. That is why many of us study the meanings of it.We (Muslims) all take a slightly different stance on the meanings in the Qur'an and in Islam. Yes, Some Muslims take the Qur'an literally as if we still lived like the Prophet(PBUH)had aka terrorists. BUT THEY DO NOT MAKE UP THE MAJORITY OF OUR GROUP. Ask EVERY Muslim on this campus, and you will see that we DO condemn many terror attacks, yet somehow when we try to educate people about how we do not accept terrorism, hardly anyone cares to listen and come- And it is people like all of you and all of these ignorant Anonymous posts that SHOULD be there, so you can stop complaining about our religion. But you choose to have made up your minds and close yourself off from actually being fair with us. If you TRULY understood our religion, you would be probably be Muslim.

-Sabrina

Anonymous (November 29, 2007 @ 8:00pm):

Just a note for you Ammar bhaiya:

Islam does not root back to the dates of which innocent slaves were being brutally imported in to America, but the very founding of this nation itself.

Spain, once, was ruled by Muslim caliphs and at the date on which their time in Spain was over and they had to hand over the nation to the Spanish government of the time (I believe it was King Ferdinand but you may want to check that)and along with the government they also handed over the treasury. And it was through the wealth in the treasury that the voyage of Christopher Columbus was financed. Moreover, Christopher Columbus also used maps by Muslim sailors and navigators in addition to the fact that his navigator was Muslim himself.
So you see Islam doesn't just date back to the age of slavery in this country but also the discovery of it, which needless to say was and is a high-ranking even for this nation for without this country may not even exist.

Anonymous (November 29, 2007 @ 8:55pm):

Every Nazi plane had a cross.

Anonymous (November 29, 2007 @ 9:04pm):

How did all of you enter this university with these ridiculous views on Islam and other religions that are not Christian? Stop hiding behind your ignorance and challenge yourself by speaking with someone on this campus that practices Islam. And the understanding of different backgrounds statement applies to peoples of all faiths, beliefs and cultures.

Anonymous (November 29, 2007 @ 10:34pm):

P. Ask EVERY Muslim on this campus, and you will see that we DO condemn many terror attacks, yet somehow when we try to educate people about how we do not accept terrorism, hardly anyone cares to listen and come- And it is people like all of you and all of these ignorant Anonymous

Seems to me that WE are not the ones you need to educate start with your brethren carrying out the terrorist attacks in the name of Islam for a start.

Anonymous (November 30, 2007 @ 12:30am):

Would you educate yourself in math from a psychology professor? Would you educate yourself in chemistry from a history professor? Would you educate yourself in [insert whatever subject] from [insert someone/something that has limited to no knowledge about the subject]. The problem is people are trying to educate themselves in Islam with this mentality. What is the news going to tell us about Islam, what is your neighbor going to tell you about islam, what is your professor going to tell you, what are your instincts going to tell you? People are turning to the wrong sources to learn about Islam. Islam is a religion, it's something complex, you can't understand it just by watching the news once a day, or reading 1 article about it, listening to 1 random dude talk about it, or reading 1 or 2 verses from the Qur'an. Why not come out of our homes, be a little open-minded, and educate ourselves about Islam from those whom are true representatives of the religion? Think about this for a second, there are 1.7 Billion Muslims in the world today and this number is growing rapidly, especially in America. Is Islam the fastest growing religion in the world today because people are attracted to violence, terrorism, and hatred? Really, are there truly 1.7 billion terrorists out there, or 1.7 billion people who are blindly following a religion that preaches terrorism? No, people are attracted to Islam because it is a beautiful thing. And if you don't see that beauty, then be open-minded and turn to those who do see the beauty and have them explain it to you. As student's, we should take in our knowledge from those who have the most knowledge. A muslim scholar, your Muslim Students' Association, or the local mosque; these are what we should be turning to if we want to find out what Islam is about.





Anonymous (November 30, 2007 @ 1:06am):

I know a lot of Muslims in America, being one myself. A white, American convert female who converted purely on the basis that the Quran is the most beautiful thing I have ever come across, praise be to God.

I have never heard a Muslim in America advocating doing any harm to any Christian, Jew, or otherwise or advocating hatred of them. From diverse groups, Pakistanis, Indians, Arabs, North Africans, Malaysians, Indonesians, etc., you will not find sentiments of hatred or violence, anywhere, period. I also have friends who live in the Middle East, and they similarly hold none of these views.

The Quran condemns murder and says that the murder of one innocent is like murdering all of humanity.

The Quran says that we have the right of self defense, and when those who fight us incline to peace, we should immediately do so as well. It says to never be aggressors. The Prophet (saws) forbade hurting woman or a child, even on the battlefield. Suicide is blatantly condemned as a surefire ticket to Hell.

We don't just condemn some "terror" attacks, we condemn all terror attacks. Like every other type of person, a Muslim has a right to defend his home, land, and family against aggressors, but within the guidelines of Islamic teachings, which are very stringently exact on what is allowed and what is not. Do bad things happen in Muslim lands? Yes. Most of the agitators of these types are poorly educated, especially in the subject of the Quran. Or they are obsessed with the material world to the extreme, as is the case with Osama bin Laden, despite his claims to the contrary.

My beliefs are not radical or extreme or outside the norm. This is Islam in America. This is Islam.

Now compare and contrast that with the comments we have here. My own Christian mother believes that all Muslims should be deported, and I suppose in my case she would favor forced conversion to Christianity, if she could have her druthers.

Islam is a tolerant religion. We believe in the rights of others to live their own religions, and this is a CLEAR Quranic command, as well as a practice of the most righteous of Muslims of the last 1400 years, and they are many, and they are the majority.

Religious tolerance is an American ideal and if we abandon it out of fear, it will have disastrous consequences on our own souls, as I see in my rabid compatriots' remarks.

Resist this fake clash of the civilizations that has been set up to harm all of us. The more we talk, the more we will find in common, and not vice versa, if we leave hatred behind us:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDJVUnX0rwQ


From The American Muslim
http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/quranic_verses_against_extremism/0013622
QUR'AN

The following verses from the Qur'an may help clear up some of the misconceptions about the Islamic view of extremism, terrorism, war, jihad, and justice.

Confound not truth with falsehood, nor knowingly conceal the truth. Qur'an 2:42

"We made you to be a community of the middle way, so that (with the example of your lives) you might bear witness to the truth before all mankind." (Qur'an, 2:143)

To each [religious community] we have given a direction which it follows, so compete [all together] in [the performance of] good deeds. Whosesoever you may be, God shall certainly gather you all [for Divine Judgment]. God certainly has power over all things. (2:148)


True piety (or righteousness) does not consist in turning your faces towards the cast or west but truly pious is he who believes in God and the last day and the angels and revelation, and the prophets; and spends his substance upon his near of kin, and the orphans, and the needy, and the wayfarer, and the beggar, and for the freeing of human beings from bondage; and is constant in prayer, and renders the purifying dues; and truly pious are they who keep their promises whenever they promise, and are patient in misfortune and hardship and in time of peril, it is they that have proved themselves true, and it is they, they who are conscious of God. Qur'an 2:177

Fight in the path of God those who fight you, but do not aggress. Surely God does not love the aggressors. And fight them where you come upon them, and send them out from where they have sent you out, for persecution is a worse thing than fighting. And do not fight them at the Sacred Mosque (in Mecca) unless they fight you there, but if they fight you, then fight them back. That is the reward of the rejectors. Then if they cease, so God is All-Forgiving, Gentle. And fight them until there is no more persecution and the religion is for God. But if they cease, so let there be no hostility except against wrongdoers. - Qur'an 2:190-193

They will ask you what they should give away. Say: "Whatever is surplus to your needs." (Qur'an, 2:219)

Let there be no compulsion (or coercion) in the religion (Islam). The right direction is distinctly clear from error. (2:256)

O you who believe! Do not nullify your charity by demands for gratitude or insulting words, like him who spends his wealth, showing off to people and not believing in God and the Last Day... (Qur'an, 2:264)

Say: We believe in God, and in what has been revealed to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the tribes, and in [the books] given to Moses, Jesus and the prophets from their Lord: We make no distinction between one and another among them, and to God de we submit in Islam. (3:84)

You will not attain true goodness until you give of what you love. Whatever you give away, God knows it. (Qur'an, 3:92)

"Let there arise from among you a band of people who invite to righteousness, and enjoin good and forbid evil." (Qur'an, 3:104)

Be quick in the race for forgiveness from your Lord, and in the race for a garden wide as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the righteous- (the righteous are) those who spend whether in prosperity or adversity, who restrain anger and who pardon all people. For God loves those who do good. (3:133 --134)

O you who believe! Do not eat up your wealth in vanities among yourselves. But let there be among yourselves trade conducted in mutual good will. Nor kill or destroy yourselves, for God has been most merciful to you. If any do that in rancor and injustice, soon shall we cast them into the fire, and that is easy for God. If you but avoid the most heinous of the things which are forbidden to do, we shall expel out of you all the evil in you and admit you to a gate of great honor. (4:29-31)

"O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do." [Quran, 4:35]

"We ordained therein for them: "Life for life, eye for eye, Nose for nose, ear of ear, Tooth for tooth, and wounds Equal for equal." But if any one remits the retaliation By way of charity, it is an act of atonement for himself." Qur'an 4:45

And what is with you that you do not fight in the path of God and (in the path) of the oppressed of men and women and children, those who say "Our Sustainer, take us out from this city, its people are wrongdoers, and decree for us a protector, and decree for us a helper". Qur'an 4:75

Do not fight those who join a folk with whom you have a treaty, or they come to you with their breasts constricted against fighting you or fighting their own folk. And if only God had willed, He could have given them an authority over you so they would have fought you. So if they stand aloof and do not fight you, and they speak a word of peace, then God has not given you a way against them. - Qur'an 4:90

O you, those who have faith, when you go out to fight in the path of God, make things clear and do not say to someone who gives you peace, "You are not a believer," - you coveting the pleasures of the life of the world, and with God is abundant reward. You were the same as that before, then God was gracious to you. So make it clear. Surely God is aware of what you do. - Qur'an 4:94

Who can be better in religion than one who submits his whole self to God, does good, and follows the way of Abraham the true in faith? For God did take Abraham as a friend. And to God belong all things in the heavens and the earth. And it is he that encompasses all things. (4:122-126)

O You who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be against rich or poor, for God can best protect both. Follow not the cravings of your hearts, lest you swerve, and if you distort justice or decline to do justice, verily God is well acquainted with all that you do. (4:135)

"O ye who believe! Remain steadfast for Allah, bearing witness to justice. Do not allow your hatred for others make you swerve to wrongdoing and turn you away from justice. Be just; that is closer to true piety." (5:8)

Whosoever kills an innocent human being, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind, and whosoever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind. (5:32)

Unto every one of you have We appointed a different law and way of life. And if God had so willed, He could surely have made you all one single community: but He willed it otherwise in order to test you by means of what He has revealed to you. Compete then with one another in doing good works! Unto God you all must return and then He will make you truly understand all that on which you were wont to differ. Qur'an 5:44-48

"Surely they that believe, and those of Jewry, and the Christians, and those Sabeaans, whoso believes in God and the Last Day, and works righteousness--their wage waits them with their Lord, and no fear shall be on them, neither shall they sorrow." Qur'an 5:69

" . . . and you will find the nearest in love to the believers (Muslims) those who say: 'We are Christians.' That is because amongst them are priests and monks, and they are not proud." Qur'an 5:82

"Say, come, I will recite what God has made a sacred duty for you: Ascribe nothing as equal with God; Be good to your parents; You shall not kill your children on a plea of want; we provide sustenance for you and for them; You shall not approach lewd behavior whether open or in secret, You shall not take life, which God has made sacred, except by way of justice and law. Thus does God command you, that you may learn wisdom. And you shall not approach the property of the orphan, except to improve it, until he attains the age of maturity. Give full measure and weight, in justice; no burden should be placed on any soul but that which it can bear. And if you give your word, do it justice, even if a near relative is concerned; and fulfill your obligations before God. Thus does God command you, that you may remember. Verily, this is my straight path: follow it, and do not follow other paths which will separate you from God's path. Thus does God command you, that you may be righteous." Qur'an 6:151-153

And if they incline to peace, so you must incline to it. And trust in God, for He hears and knows all. - Qur'an 8:61

Surely those who have faith and who emigrated and strove with their wealth and their souls in the path of God, and those who sheltered them and helped, such, they are protecting friends of one another. And those who have faith but they did not emigrate, you do not have any duty of protection over them until they emigrate. But if they seek your help in the religion, then it is on you to help them except against a people with whom you have a treaty. And God sees all that you work. - Qur'an 8:72

To those who persevere in doing good is a reward more than in measure. No darkness nor shame shall cover their faces. They are companions of the garden where they will live forever. But those who have earned evil will have a reward like evil. Humiliation will cover their faces. They will have no defender from God. (10:26-27)

Invite all to the way of your God with wisdom and beautiful preaching. And argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious. For your God knows best who have strayed from his path and who receive guidance. And if you do respond to an attack, respond no worse than they did. But if you show patience, that is indeed the best course. Be patient- for your patience is from God . . . Indeed, God is with those who restrain themselves and those who do good. (16:125-128)

"Nor take life, which Allah has made sacred, except for just cause. And if anyone is slain wrongfully, We have given his heir authority (to demand Qisas [retribution] or to forgive): but let him not exceed bounds in the matter of taking life; for he is helped (by the law)" (17: 33).

Permission (to fight) is given to those who are being attacked, because they have been wronged. And surely God measures out help for them. (They are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right,- (for no cause) except that they say, "our Lord is Allah.. Did not Allah check one set of people by means of another, there would surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated in abundant measure. Allah will certainly aid those who aid his (cause);- for verily Allah is full of Strength, Exalted in Might, (able to enforce His Will). - Qur'an 22:39-40

"... They should rather pardon and overlook. Would you not love Allah to forgive you? Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Qur'an, 24:22)

The worshippers of the All-Merciful are they who tread gently upon the earth, and when the ignorant address them, they reply, "Peace!" Qur'an 25:63

[Believers are] those who do not bear false witness and who, when they pass by worthless talk, pass by with dignity. (Qur'an, 25:72)

And when they hear vain talk, they turn away from it and say: "To us our deeds, and to you yours; peace be to you: we do not seek out the ignorant." Qur'an 28:55

Give relatives their due, and the poor and travellers. That is best for those who seek the pleasure of God. They are the ones who are successful. (Qur'an, 30:38)

Goodness and evil are not equal. Repel evil with what is better. Then that person with whom there was hatred, may become your intimate friend! And no one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint, none but people of the greatest good fortune. Qur'an 41:34-35

The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto (in degree), but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from God, for God does not love those who do wrong. But indeed if any do help and defend themselves after a wrong done to them, against such there is no cause of blame. The blame is only against those who oppress men with wrongdoing and insolently transgress beyond bounds through the land, defying right and justice, for such there will be a penalty grievous. (42:40-43)

Oh mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other (Not that you may despise each other). Qur'an 49:13

We sent Our Messengers with clear signs and sent down with them the Book and the measure in order to establish justice among the people (Qur'an 57:25)

God does not forbid that you do good and make justice for those who do not fight you in the religion or drive you out from your homes. Indeed, God loves those who do justice. God only forbids your friendship with those who fight you in the religion and drive you out from your homes and back those who drive you out. And who befriends them, such are wrongdoers. - Qur'an 60:8-9

.... But if you pardon and exonerate and forgive, Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Qur'an, 64: 14)

Anonymous (November 30, 2007 @ 1:28am):

Hi guys, are you kidding me?
The reason Ammar wrote this was to help cure the blatant ignorance that is smeared all over this "comments" section.
Did you go to the contemporary muslims lecture? You should have. It was fantastic.
To a majority of these comments, how well have you actually studied Islam the religion? I know I haven't. How many of you are just regurgitating what your news articles are telling you? Don't you get it? This nation is powered by fear. They want you to only take note of all the horrible atrocities that happen - and no on can argue that they aren't horrible - but they only want you to take note of that because it furthers their agenda, it furthers their will and their way. Any religious text written thousands of years ago has the ability to be misinterpreted, misquoted, misread. It happens to the Bible all the time. But what you need to realize is this - racism is WRONG. And the only way to battle racism is to empower yourself with knowledge and your local media isn't going to give that to you. So take a class, attend an event by MSA, DO SOMETHING rather than sit and get spoon fed narrow minded commentary about the world which you live in.
We, the young, are the people with the power to make this world a better place. But this world isn't going to get much better if you're going to blind yourself from the WHOLE truth. Yeah, horrible things are happening, we all know it, we've read about it, heard about it etc, but that doesn't mean that all Muslims and all individuals who practice Islam are horrible people committing these attrocities. And the fact that you stereotype them and make comments such as "Go back to your Middle-East desert and stay there!" (that's you ANON @ 10:50) doesn't make you a much better person either. Think about it.

Anonymous (November 30, 2007 @ 7:13pm):

Average Americans are sick of this refried taqiya about Islam's peaceful intentions.

The MSA should stop insisting Americans accept your "best intentions" and initiate a campaign to refute your jihadist brethren-- which shouldn't be difficult in light of their insistence that Islam is fundamentally peaceful and the Koran forbids "honor killings."

But despite a great deal of bluster, there is no large-scale organized movement of Muslims countering the jihadist doctrines-- and no coherent moderate Muslim theology that teaches against jihad or the subjugation of women on Islamic grounds-- with the possible exception of that tiny courageous minority of Muslims who've signed the St. Petersburg declaration.

So, I ask pointedly: Are members of the MSA willing to publicly endorse the St. Petersburg Declaration?
http://www.secularislam.org/blog/post/SI_Blog/21/The-St-Petersburg-Declaration

Anonymous (November 30, 2007 @ 7:18pm):

Who's the bigger Islamophobe?

Thbe American who courageously fight Islamo-fascist terrorists?

Or the American Muslim who fails to confront their jihadist brethren?

To ask the question is to answer it.

Checkmate.

Anonymous (December 1, 2007 @ 11:53am):

Until muslims quit killing us and each other in the name of thier moon god and pediphile prophet.....we are never going to understand iSLam....biggest problem islam has in America, is that we can read...Your koran is all it takes, to see the lies.

Anonymous (December 1, 2007 @ 12:06pm):

----
Koran 9:29 - Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Messenger have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection.
----

To the Muslims posting above. There are some of us that are fully aware of the concept of taquiya. Some of us even know that Sura 9, of which I quote from above, was the penultimate "revelation." And that it abrogates earlier passages.

I have also never seen any blanket condemnation of terrorism, it is always couched strategically behind a qualifier.

"Well, I condemn the suicide bomber that killed and maimed scores of Israelis BUT..."

"Well, I condemn 9/11 BUT..."

And that's also when the definitions for "terrorism" and "self-defence" get jumbled together in some amoral mess.

I quote:

"How many of you are just regurgitating what your news articles are telling you?"

The mainstream media is anti-U.S. and anti-Israel, it provides endless excuses for terrorism, or it simply ignores the thousands of attacks that have occurred since 9/11, especially if they can't be blamed on Israel.

Anonymous (December 1, 2007 @ 12:32pm):

Lots of lies are being told to non-muslims by muslims in this comment section. Islam gives non-muslims three choices: convert to islam; live subdued as a second class citizen under sharia law; or war and death. Muslims are obliged to spread their ideology by any means necessary and this permits them to lie to non-muslims. For a male muslim the fast track to paradise and 72 virgins is to die in the jihad: killing a non-muslim or being killed in the cause of spreading his idelolgy. The non-violent verses found in the koran have been abrogated by the more violent passages - passages writen later in time. I do urge non-muslims to learn about the political ideology called islam. Just be careful about your source. There are too many apologists for the jihadists teaching at too many colleges. If you ask a muslim on campus about his or her so called religion, ask him or her if they would like to see the man made laws replaced by sharia law (the law of islam). If he or she says NO! then they are either not authentic muslims or - more likely- you are being lied to your face.

Anonymous (December 1, 2007 @ 1:22pm):

Here is my comment, just posted:

The author of this this column is typical of Islamist apologists as well as an unmitigated liar. Rather than examine his own religion or culture, he blames Robert Spencer, David Horowitz and (of course) Fox News for the fact that Americans may have a negative image of Islam.

First, the term "Islamophobia" is, in and of itself, an abuse of the language. It implies that being distrustful or fearful of a murderous ideology is a medical condition or some form of mental illness, akin to a fear of spiders, that could be cured with the right medication.

Is that British teacher in the Sudan guilty of "Islamophobia," as she sits in protective custody, hoping that she might actually make it out of the country alive? Does she need medication, or a visit to a therapist?

The author wants to blame Fox News? I would submit that murder of 3000 Americans a few years ago on a clear Tuesday morning by those who claimed to be doing it in the name of Islam might have had something more to do with it. I suspect that the images of the Twin Towers collapsing has had a far greater impact than the writings of Robert Spencer or David Horowitz.

The author states:

"In no way does the religion itself discriminate against women...."

Oh really? Ask that rape victim in Saudi Arabia who faces the lash, or the girl in Iran who was hanged after fighting off her rapist.

Ask the women in Afghanistan, who were forced to walk the streets covered from head to toe.
Ask a woman in Saudi Arabia for her driver's license.
Ask those victims of "honor killings" in the UK and Europe and then talk to me about "cultural traditions."

He states" ....or advocate killing innocent people as some claim.":
Oh really?

Ask that British teacher in the Sudan as bloodthirsty mobs waving swords and clubs call for her death over a teddy bear.

Ask the parents of those Israeli teenagers blown to pieces by a Palestinian suicide bomber at a Sbarro pizza place.

Ask the 2500 people in Thailand who have been murdered by the jihad in last 2 1/2 years.

Ask Theo Von Gogh, murdered by a Muslim over a movie.

Ask those Danish cartoonists, if you can find them.

Ask Rushdie, if you can find him.

Ask that [non-Catholic] Christian priest who was shot in the back in the West Bank to avenge a speech by the Pope.

If you wonder "why do they hate us," look in the mirror, my young friend. Turn on your TV and wonder what it is about your religion and its cultures that seems to generate monthly spectacles of mobs of angry, seething, armed men to take to the streets, waiving weapons and threatening people with death.

Where is your shame?

Finally, instead of trying to stifle free speech, shout down those whom you disagree with or engage in name-calling, I suggest you or someone from your group agree to engage in an actual debate with Robert Spencer, free from sloganeering and false victimization. If you can refute is arguments, more power to you. Until then, we will believe what we can see for ourselves, all too well, each and every day.



Anonymous (December 1, 2007 @ 1:48pm):

Posted by "Anonymous (November 29, 2007 @ 10:47am)":

It's not like the followers of Christianity have some sort of flawless record to stand behind ... how many murderers and sex offenders in America claim to be Christian?
-------
The difference is that murderers, pedophiles, wife-killers, and mass murderers in Western countries don't say "Jesus told me to do it in his holy book". In the odd case where somebody claims he did it for God, priests and theologians rebut that claim vigorously, declaring "Thou shalt not kill" is an absolute commandment. The Islamic commandment is "Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last day, nor hold forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and his messenger, nor acknowledge the Religion of Truth (Islam) from among the People of the Book, until they pay the Jiziyah with willing submission and feel themselves subdued." In other words: yield to Islam or die.

Anonymous (December 1, 2007 @ 2:04pm):

Follow the link I am sure all You Islamic
scholars can refute this former Muslims claims
and win 50k easily. /sarc


http://www.faithfreedom.org/challenge.htm

Anonymous (December 1, 2007 @ 2:45pm):

One wonders if Mr. Ali has actually read his own holy book.

It is absolute nonsense to claim that Islam does not discriminate against women. Degradation of women is written into the Koran and elaborated extensively in the hadith, the stories of Mohammed used by Islamic scholars to develop principles of law and theology from the Koran. By now we all know that Mohammed encouraged his followers to beat their wives should they "fear" disobedience, and that women are crippled in public rights such as custody of children, divorce, court testimony, movement, and dress. This systematic oppression is in the Koran, and anyone who even skims the news can see that Mohammedans enthusiastically practice their prophet's cruelty to women everywhere Islamic law applies.

Mohammedans in the West claim their religion offers women "dignity" and "rights." This statement is absurd. The only dignity and rights such Mohammedan women have is provided them by the secular framework of Western society. Western Mohammedans also claim that their religion is "peaceful," when even a brief review of the Koran reveals hundreds of verses demanding violence against nonbelievers -- and in every school of Islamic theology, those verses are read as not bound in the past, but as current, viable commands. Mr. Ali's protest that "innocents" are not to be killed is, flatly, deceptive. To summarize the argument, any person who interferes with the practice or spread of Islam, or refuses to convert or submit to second-class citizenship once properly "invited," is no longer innocent and can be freely killed.

Mr. Ali may smugly assure himself that Islam is the "fastest growing" religion. It isn't, but set that aside. Anyone who remembers grade school will recall that thugs and bullies often had wide followings as well.

Jim Schovanec (December 1, 2007 @ 4:13pm):

"Many Muslims were being scrutinized by the American public on their ability to adapt and intermingle with other Americans."

Correctly worded, it reads: "Many Muslims were being scrutinized by the American public on their INability to adapt and intermingle with other Americans."

"Sept. 11 created a vacuum in the minds of many Americans about Islam."

Maybe in many American muslim's minds. MOST AMERICAN'S minds were filled with anger by the action of 19 muslims shouting allahu akbar and killing 3,000 AMERICANS.

"It has been documented that the first Muslim immigrants arrived in America by way of ships as early as 1880 and were mostly from Lebanon, Syria and Palestine. There were waves of Muslim immigrants after World War I and World War II when the United States loosened its immigration policy."

A sad fact, that many Americans are regretting today.

"Today there are more than a billion Muslims worldwide, making it the second-largest religion on earth. It is also the fastest-growing religion, which has led some to hypothesize that it will be the largest religion in less than 100 years. It is also the second largest and fastest growing religion in America itself."

Womb Jihad, ala Yasser Arafat.

"These statistics may be a point of pride for Muslims, but they are a source of fear for many Americans."

No. The killing of thousands, in the name of allah, is a source of fear for many Americans.

"This has been compounded by Fox News and other conservative broadcasters who regularly engage in some form of "Islam bashing." This fear and mistrust can even be seen on this campus by the recent visits of David Horowitz and Robert Spencer, two individuals known for spreading false information about Islam, thereby creating "Islamophobia."

islamophobia is a misnomer CREATED BY MUSLIMS in describing American's reaction to terrorist tactics carried out in the name of allah. islamomisia is the correct term.

"In fact, an argument could be made that the rise of Islamophobia in America has helped Muslims gain more attention and influence."

Utterly false. The killing of thousands of non-muslim human beings in the name of allah, has focused more attention on muslims. Riots and death threats are used by muslims to gain influence against individuals, groups, governments and entire geographical regions.

Bottom line: (maybe) not all muslims are terrorists, but the FACT IS, ALL TERRORISTS ARE MUSLIMS! Try to refute that one fact. I'll even raise your grade if you'll come up with some statistics to disprove it.

GOD Bless America, in the name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.


Anonymous (December 1, 2007 @ 11:43pm):

@Schovanec:
You've spouted a lot of trash, but your "bottom line" is the clincher that provoked me to reply. I'm not even going to respond to the rest of your comment because there's simply no point: You won't listen because you've already decided to be selective and narrow-minded. Muslims are definitely (quite sadly) involved in criminal activities; it's your embarassingly narrow news width that makes you blind to other criminals.

All terrorists are Muslim? Check out http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/the-world-continues-to-look-away-dont/2007/11/23/1195753310737.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap3
Have you heard of the LTTE?
Have you heard of the Reign of Terrorism?
Have you heard of the Gujarat massacres?
Have you heard of the Assam liberation movement? ETA Basque? Naxalites? IRA? King David Hotel bombing in Palestine? Irgun? Aum Shinri Kyo? Lords Salvation Army in Africa? South Asian Portal?

Anonymous (December 2, 2007 @ 12:10am):

All those enlightened commenters here: Have you considered the fact that for you, terrorists are just those that the mainstream media finds it in their interest to consider terrorists?

For example, do you consider those Serbs who conducted "ethnic cleansing" terrorists? What about the Hutu rebels? Jenin? Fallujah? Sabra/Shatila? What about the people Chris Hedges writes about in his Gaza Diary? (And don't do the childish thing and attack his integrity because you don't like what he says)

There are many many more examples. Broaden your minds, get news in a wholesome manner and THINK!

Anonymous (December 2, 2007 @ 8:32am):

Muslims do not accept that one can discuss the Qur'an in depth, because they say it was written by dictation from God. With such an absolute interpretation, it is difficult to discuss the contents of faith. This is definitely the greatest barrier to dialogue with Muslims. Because Muslims view the Qur'an as a dictation from God through the angel Gabriel (See Qur'an 10:15, 37; 56:77-79; 69:44-48; 85:21-22) Muslims consider it blasphemous to critique the content of the Qur'an and insist that Muhammad's teachings are indefectible. In case you didn't know it,
the Qur'an teaches hand amputation for petty theft (Qur'an 5:38), that a man can own and have sex with slave girls (2:221; 4:3, 24-28; 23:5-6; 33:50-52; 70:30), allows child marriages (65:4-5) and calls for war to be made on Jews and Christians until they are either defeated or subjected to humiliating lowliness (9:29).

Anonymous (December 2, 2007 @ 9:15am):

Jim shrieked: "ALL TERRORISTS ARE MUSLIMS!"

Jim! You were doing so well... and then you finish with that softball?

As much as the Greatest Generation loathed Shinto-fascism, not ALL fascists were Shinto.

Today's Axis of Evil also includes Marxist-terrorist regimes (North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela). And while many terrorists are Muslims, there are many Marxist-terrorists who are non-Muslims (IRA, ETN, FARC, FMLN, FSLN, etc., ad nauseum).

Moreover, atheistic Marxist-fascism has a far larger body count over the past century than Islamo-fascism (albeit, Islamo-fascism hopes to catch up).

FDR simultaneously defeated Shinto-fascism and European-fascism. Let's not undermine our global war on terrorism by minimizing the threat of the Unholy Alliance between Islamo-fascism and Marxist-fascism (particularly when you enter the belly of the beast-- wacademia).

See also "Unholy Alliance"
http://www.amazon.com/Unholy-Alliance-Radical-Islam-American/dp/089526076X

Carol Peter (December 2, 2007 @ 9:27am):

Mr. Ali, I assure you that Americans who have educated themselves on your political islam do not fear you or your masses of mind-numbed people. We are angry with you and your ilk for presuming that you can impose your misunderstood beliefs that include beheading, legitimate gang rape of offenders of sharia, genocide, stoning, amputations, and God knows what else. I do not misunderstand the blatant use of these islamic applications in your culture. The fact is that the source of anxiety among decent, law-abiding, compassionate non-mulims like myself is how to stop your hegemonic jihad. The fact that your people listen to and legitimize clercis and mullahs that permit infant sexual molestation(thighing), wife beating, honor killings,forced child marriages and other accepted cultural norms indicates that muslims lack objectivity and are doomed to an earthly life of ignorance. Those anti-jihadists that you mentioned are far and away beyond your capacity to engage with in a frank and honest debate. And yes I am quite educated on your koran, hadith and sira , the first of which was gleened from rocks, leaves, bits of bones and the memory of those who accompanied your prophet. My question to you is what are you afrid of in the expose' of your belif system? Do you dare to answer that?

Anonymous (December 2, 2007 @ 4:42pm):

I wonder why no other religion has its own "phobia"?

Anonymous (December 2, 2007 @ 5:07pm):

Read it and learn.............

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/019003.php#more

sheik yer'mami (December 2, 2007 @ 5:41pm):

Yes indeed, we can learn from Muslims, everyday.

Because everyday the bombs go off somewhere, everyday there are riots and mayhem, and don't forget the global jihad that is raging in 30+ theaters worldwide, from Thailand to Mindanao, from Chechnya to Israel and from Kashmir to Africa. We can learn that 80% of Muslims are illiterate, stupid and poor BECAUSE of Islam, and we can see that the Taliban make sure that things remain that way.

Islam, for those who have educated themselves and lived in Muslim countries to see it first hand, is a criminal organization based on deceit, slavery and extortion.
There is only one place for the Koran and those who believe this crap: down the loo!

sheik yer'mami (December 2, 2007 @ 5:47pm):

Ammar Ali, you are a liar and you are using taqiyya to deceive and deflect to 'defend' your cult: 'n no way does the religion itself discriminate against women or advocate killing innocent people as some claim.'- this is just rubbish. 'Innocent people' for a Muslim can only be fellow muslims. An unbeliever, a 'kuffar'- is never innocent and is guilty of the most heinous crime: unbelief. Therefore the unbeliever must be killed in order to save him from himself. His wife, his children and his property are 'booty' and belong 'lawfully to the muslim, that's the reality.

And about women, we have this here:



http://sheikyermami.com/2007/12/02/islamic-court-rape-not-a-crime/

John Vernier (December 2, 2007 @ 5:58pm):

The comparisons between Islam and the Mob are interesting:

1. People are to be either converted, subjugated, or killed.
2. Members who leave the organization are to be killed.
3. Women don't have a seat at the table.

As literal Islam boils down to racketeering activity (pattern of felonious behavior or threats thereof), the RICO Statutes should apply to the 'religion'.

Don't believe what this guy is feeding you. His religion sanctions him to lie to you.

Read the texts and make your own judgments. Here's a MSA link. I'm a proud Wisconsin Alumni who has spent time in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain. The University of Wisconsin taught me how to think. Do your own reading. Form your own opinions. Speak out.

http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/

Anonymous (December 2, 2007 @ 6:39pm):

Another fresh steaming pile from another misguided Muslim. He says: "This fear and mistrust can even be seen on this campus by the recent visits of David Horowitz and Robert Spencer, two individuals known for spreading false information about Islam, thereby creating "Islamophobia."" and "People like Mr. Horowitz and Mr. Spencer serve to blur this distinction and generate Islamophobia." He calls them liars but gives no examples, offers no evidence. He doesn't because he can't, because there is none, and he knows it. These are the same tactics CAIR uses to intimidate and misinform. Why don't your sue them Ammar. Then we can see who is righteous and who is a liar.

Carol Peter (December 2, 2007 @ 6:53pm):

Mr. Ali, I'm waiting for your answer to my questions. This is your blog. Own up to it. I think your main problem is that you guys don't know how to manipulate men AND women who can think for themselves. And... I really DO understand.

Anonymous (December 2, 2007 @ 7:21pm):

Plenty of people here have pointed out the truth of the situation: islamophobia, so-called, is created and JUSTIFIED by the murderous activities of muslims all over the world. Wherever there are muslims, even in the USA, there is violence or attempted violence in the name of islam. Many mulims try to dodge that reality by telling us that they condemn all terrorists acts, but they usually do not go on to mention that they do not consider palistinian terrorism, for example, to be terrorist activity because they do not consider Isrealis to be innocent, not even Isreali children. Then they further twist truth by calling Isreal's protective mesures "apartheid". The problem is that apartheid as practiced in South Africa was purely racism. What is going in in Isreal is not apartheid but self-defense: Once palistinians stop sneaking in to blow up pizza parlors and buses, the check points, etc. , will vanish.

Also, this writer like every single person I have ever read on the subject of Horowitz, Spencer or Pipes, accuses them of lying, but they never ever give even a single example of a lie. And they never ever come up with an actual example of so-called hate speech they insist Haorowtiz, et al, are uttering. Not once. Not ever. That's your challenge, Mr. Ali: Write a column in which you enumersate in detail their hate speech and lies. Of course, you will not write sucha coluimn, becasue you know your own statement is the actual lie, don't you. Muslims themselves do lie outright (as the koran reccomends): There is no violence in the koran. O yeah, right, just over 500 verse urging death for...well, just about everyone not a muslim. They lie. They lie. They lie. And the lies are easily documented. And this is why they try so desperately to silence their critics because they cannot truthfully refute them on the facts.

I must say I am heartened by the fact that most of the people responding to this column are under no illusions about the actual natire of islam, the religion of death. Europe is lost. But maybe the USA will survive and all us "apes and pigs", as the koran call Jews and Christians, will once again triumph because we love life, liberty, and knowledge, all of which are missing from islam and sharia.

Finally it may well be that there are moderate, modern muslims in the world. they might even be in the majority. But when you read the polls of attitudes in islamic conuntries, you find that those who support jihad and cowardly terrorist murder number in the millions. In the USA alone, somethiong like 150,000 American muslims admitted that they support suicide bombing. Religion of peace my little toe.

Anonymous (December 2, 2007 @ 10:57pm):

So it is all Westerners fault - moreover Foxnews' fault - that people have become wary of Islam. It can all be put down to "Islamophobia".

So when ever a Thai Buddhist Monk gets his head chopped off, by Thai Muslims, who are 'offended' by Buddhist's in Southern Thailand, indeed in Thailand, than it is the Buddhist Monk who needed to get over his "Islaomphobia" or his irrational fear of Islam?

Hmm?

How can we separate the practise of Islam from the words of the Koran, for ex. when the Prophet stated that, those who leave Islam should be killed - how can we (outside of Islam) ignore these words, which are clearly written in and backed up by Muslims' Holy text?

So whenever places such as London or Madrid get attacked, is this a result of Islamophobia within the USA? Are you saying that Americans should become more comfortable with Islam -- then these types of things will not happen around the world?

And when Muslims state that they want their own, Islamic enclave/Caliphate, in Southern Thailand, the UK, or they wish to see the Islamic flag fly over the White House, do you think their aim is to integrate into these societies?

Or are you and all your more moderate -- Muslim friends -- possibly embarrassed by some your Prophets actions and words, that you would prefer to take Westerners through the Koran, and other Holy text in a way which avoids, the more uncomfortable and inflammatory parts, to convince non-Muslims, of rather, what you hope Islam could be, over what it is not.

Perhaps too that the real nature your religion is emerging -- as started by Muhammad and the only thing you have to hide behind, the only thing left that offers it protection, is that it is called a religion.



As for Islam's growth, according to Al-Jazeera, you are possibly loosing millions of people in Africa to Christianity -- each year. And the rise in the number of Islamic people in the US could easily be accounted for by the number of refugees, coming from the tumultuous Islamic world. (God's law seems to have a few faults.) But I heard (on an Islamic blog) that, any growth in the number of Muslims in the world is down to the high birth rate, so that you are largely giving birth to your own converts.

You are preaching to the choir my friend. Listen, you're going to have to try harder than this.

And all your Saudi funded college - indoctrination classes. We will be off the oil soon.

Anonymous (December 3, 2007 @ 1:14am):

The previous anti-Islamic posts can be categorized under these 2 headlines:

1) Opening up the Qur'an, looking for verses that suit your agenda (i.e. defame Islam), pasting them into Badger Herald, and writing what you think it means.

2) Ascribing cultural un-Islamic practices to the religion of Islam.

Now first and foremost, many of us who have just gotten this sudden interest of Islam in the world are approaching this topic with extremely negative preconceived notions. It begins with our first dramatic encounter with Islam and Muslims. For example, you saw Muslims carry out a horrific act of violence on September the 11th; or you turned on the news and saw a Palestinian Muslim scream "God is great" and blow himself up. Now, by human nature, you go through this process of questions in your mind: Who did this disgusting act and why the hell did he do it? And, again by human nature, we want a simple answer. Our trustworthy government, Mr. George Bush, and all the media outlets in the world gave us that simple answer: Muslim terrorists did it and they did it for religious reasons.

At this point, creating a preconception of Islam is so easy to make that it's pretty much inevitable. There's nothing wrong with your mind creating these preconceptions, like I said, it is human nature. The problem rests in the individual's response to the preconceptions he has created in his mind. Some people will follow the path of their preconceptions and others choose to follow another path, but in their minds that preconception is still apparent. The situation of African Americans is a prime example of this. Majority of the crime in large city urban areas of the US are committed by poor, uneducated African Americans. When we turn on the news and discover that an African American man just committed such and such crime, in our minds we create this definition of African Americans and to simplify life and protect ourselves, we generalize this to all those who look like the culprit. This is our mind creating preconceived notions about African Americans, but true racism and bigotry develops when there is a transition from preconceptions in our mind to negative physical and verbal responses to that demographic. In another example, last year a South Korean man went on a massive killing rampage across Virginia Tech University. I'll be honest, after that act of terrorism, whenever I saw an East Asian man or woman; my mind immediately took me to the violent acts of that South Korean man from Virginia Tech. This essentially made me prone to hating East Asians. However, I chose to follow the rational path of my mind and not my preconceived notions. This leads me into the point I'm trying to make.

People who are anti-Islam are approaching the religion of Islam and Muslims with the exact same manner. Their preconceived notions have been created and they have chosen to educate themselves about Islam with the objective of completing these preconceptions. So if your preconception of Islam is that it preaches violence, hatred, and degradation of women, then you will approach Islam with THE DESIRE of justifying these preconceptions. This is extremely dangerous, considered discriminatory, and in the context of ANY religion, this objective is quite simple to accomplish.

Religious ideals cover all topics: spirituality, prayer, charity, respect, law, war, language, education, equality, rituals, culture, politics and so on. All faiths cover these issues and more. If your goal is to find something negative about the religion, all it takes is opening up the holy text, ignoring the thousands and thousands of lines that discuss the beauty of the religion, and selecting that controversial line that fulfills your agenda.

For those of you who have negative preconceptions about Islam, but are interested in pursuing the rational part of your mind which is telling you to keep an open mind and not make uneducated assumptions about a religion you have no knowledge about, then I encourage you to visit your local mosque or Muslim Students' Association and they should be able to help you with your inquiries.

Fact of the matter is, since 9-11, ALL non-Muslims who are uneducated in Islam have the preconceived notion that Muslims are violent and barbaric, and therefore, are a demographic to be feared. But what type of person will you choose to be?

Do you want to educate yourself in Islam with the goal of completing your negative preconception that Islam is a violent faith?
Or do you want to, simply, educate yourself in Islam with no influence from your negative preconceptions?

Let me warn you, the latter requires more effort. But those who have chosen that approach truly discovered the brilliance, beauty, and serenity of Islam.

Jim Schovanec (December 3, 2007 @ 10:02am):

Anonymous (December 2, 2007 @ 9:15am):
Jim shrieked: "ALL TERRORISTS ARE MUSLIMS!"

I apologize for that statement. I should have said, "IMO, collectively, most terrorist acts committed around the world can be attributed directly to muslims."

Anonymous (December 3, 2007 @ 11:41am):

The Anon. poster at 1:14am suggests that non-muslims consult with the imam at the neighborhood mosque or anyone from the local muslim student association if they really want to learn about islam. I don't object to such an exercise, but I urge the seeker to arm themselves with knowlege before doing so. Before consulting with the imam or rep from the msa, the seeker should arm themselves with the information contained in the writitngs of such people as: Ibn Warraq, Hirsi Ali, Walfa Sultan, Serge Trifkovic, Andrew Bostom, Bat Ye'or, Daniel Pipes, Walid Phares, Nonie Darwish, Brigette Gabriel, and Oriana Fallaci. The seeker of knowledge will be far less inclined to accept empty assurances that the brittle political ideology of islam is a religion of peace. By "brittle ideology" I mean that those who subscribe to islam detest expose or criticism of their ideology. It makes 'em angry. Like when think their religion is insulted or made fun of: they resort to violence or the threat of violence or name calling (You're just an ignorant islamophobe !).

Anonymous (December 3, 2007 @ 1:54pm):

MSA taqiyalope @ 1:14am boasted: "since 9-11, ALL non-Muslims who are uneducated in Islam have the preconceived notion that Muslims are violent and barbaric"

FALSE! In fact, the undereducated dhimmis of the American Left generally accept your taqiya indoctrinations without objection or skepticism. Indeed, they bend over backwards to prostrate their minds; and even parrot back your drivel.

Well-informed anti-jihadist Americans have taken time to learn about Islam-- and have found it utterly abhorent. The comments in this section (which the MSA are unable to refute) demonstrate that knowledge base.

Moreover, average Americans don't "fear" Muslims. You can disabuse yourself of that conceit right now.

In fact, it is Muslims who (quite rightly) cower before sharia apostacy laws-- should they ever find the temerity to get up off their knees and rebuke their jihadist brethren.

Yet despite a great deal of bluster, there is no large-scale organized movement of American Muslims countering the jihadist doctrines-- and no coherent moderate Muslim theology that teaches against jihad or the subjugation of women on Islamic grounds-- with the possible exception of that tiny courageous minority of Muslims who've signed the St. Petersburg declaration.

So, I ask again pointedly: Will the Muslim Student Association show the courage to publicly endorse the St. Petersburg Declaration?
http://www.secularislam.org/blog/post/SI_Blog/21/The-St-Petersburg-Declaration

Don't hold your breath waiting for an answer from the cowardly Jihadophobes of MSA.

Anonymous (December 3, 2007 @ 2:21pm):

Please note the misdirections and evasions in the 1:14 a.m. post. This kind of rhetoric is what you will likely receive should you care to receive Muslim d'awa (conversion attempts) at the mosque or MSA.

Not once were the actual issues of the systematic degradation of women, engrained in the Koran and in all Islamic law, addressed. Not once were the hundreds of verses of the Koran and the Hadith demanding the murder, torture, and subjugation of nonbelievers addressed -- verses which are still interpreted as operative today by every mainstream school of Islamic jurisprudence. They are not addressed because Muslims cannot easily explain them away, given that their own holy texts show their prophet to be a mass murderer, serial rapist, slaver, extortionist and thief. Instead the poster relies on insinuations that people who question Islam are racist and/or uninformed -- a technique intended to shut down any serious debate or challenge.

Most of us do not have "preconceptions" that Islam views women as lesser in dignity and humanity (see, e.g., Koran 4:34) and nonbelievers as objects to be robbed, subjugated, extorted, and murdered (see, e.g., Koran 9:29 and 9:5 -- the latter is the Verse of the Sword, which every mainstream school of Islamic theology says erases every earlier phrase of peace and tolerance that might conflict with it). We do not have preconceptions but conclusions, based not only on our reading of the Koran and its associated texts, but the open, published statements of Mohammedan clerics. (Ladies, did you know that imams from Copenhagen to Australia have warned you that you deserve rape should you step foot outside without wrapping your head?). Most powerfully, we have the evidence of our own eyes.

It is an excellent idea to inform oneself about Islam. The writers suggested in an earlier post are a good start. And keep in mind, should you take up the invitation to d'awa and start asking questions of the smiling imam, that Islam holds lying and deception as holy (taqqiya and kitman) should they advance its cause of domination.

Anonymous (December 3, 2007 @ 4:52pm):

If I had more time I would answer the points made by them ignorant infidel on this comment section -the apes and pigs we are taught to hate according to the dictates of the Holy Qura'n. But I have no time to do so now. This afternoon I'm scheduled to attend the lashing of a 19 year old rape victim. Thereafter I intend to watch the beheading of an apostate - a convert from islam to Christianity. Afterwards I will be in attendance at a protest calling for the death of the writer of a piece of work that insults islam. Rushdie is his name. A fawta was issued in 1989 calling for his death. Why he lives I do not understand. Following that I will attend a protest calling for the death of a woman whose first grade class had the audacity to name a teddy bear Mohammed (pbuh). The stupid english woman thinks she has escaped, but wait until she returns to the UK! Our mujahdin will be there for her. Also I really must get to the hospital to say evening prayers with the brave lions of Islam that were injured (inshallah) inadvertantly while shooting the Catholic nun in the back after the pope (Satan's spawn) called on islam to reform it's violent ways. Or were they injured during the Mohammed cartoon riots manufactured by our brothers in Denamrk? I don't remember anymore - we riot for so little so often! Oh, and my boss is on my case so much these days. Why? I've been dragging my feet on proecessing the insurance claims of the churches that were burned to the ground by the LIONS of islam in the latest French infifada and elsewhere. Finallly, how do I cope with this: Tonight, tonight... I marry my fourth wife, a sweet nine year old child - I call her Aishia - she is being sent to me by her parents from a small town in England. No longer is it necessary to wed young fruit overses in the lands of Allah.. We can do so in Europe without the stupid dhimmi being any the wiser! I love the freedom the infidel multiculti give us. The same freedom WE will take from them when our numbers grow strong. I will have 4 wives and 12 children....9 of whom survive on welfare from the state (call it jizja)...Well...how can one man with one job afford 4 wives and 12 children? It can be done when the Europeans pays us to have more children! As we take you over we will have to decrease the welfare you stupid infidel pass out to us, but that is when we revert to our time honored tradition of slavery. You won't live to see it, but your grand children and (certainly) great grand children will! Islam is peace.

Anonymous (December 3, 2007 @ 6:38pm):

"Let me warn you, the latter requires more effort. But those who have chosen that approach truly discovered the brilliance, beauty, and serenity of Islam."

More like stupidity, ugliness and horrors.

As Anonymous @1.54p, anybody with a brain doesn't need for one second to go to any mosque or MSA center, wherever, to understand the filth of this cult.

As just about everyone above has stated roughly the same thing (Islam is not peace), I congratulate my fellow Americans for realizing the truth, and not taking the Muslim bait.

For the record, one of my favorite examples of "brilliance":

The Islamic "scripture" goes on to say: "And he found near the murky spring a people thereabout." In an adjoining Hadith, Muhammad explained that the "people" who lived near the sun's muddy-spring-setting-place were extraterrestrials: Tabari I:236 "Allah created two cities out in space.... Were those people not so many and noisy, all the inhabitants of this world would hear the loud crash made by the sun falling when it rises and when it sets. Gabriel took me to them during my Night Journey from the Sacred Mosque [the Ka'aba] to the Farthest Mosque [the Jewish Temple which was no longer on Mount Moriah]. I told the people of these cities to worship Allah but they refused to listen to me." I wonder if this proves that extraterrestrials are more advanced than humans?

Craig Winn, author of "Prophet of Doom".

Keep up the good fight!

Anonymous (December 4, 2007 @ 10:16am):

Here are one man's suggestions the muslim community can do to eliminate islamophobia.

1. Muslims should focus their anger and
indignation on muslims that commit acts
of violent jihad in the name of islam.
Stop blaming non-muslims for causing
islamophobia when they merely report on
the activites of the jihadists.

2. Renounce without qualification violent
jihad.

3. Renounce any attempt to replace the US
Constitution or other man-made US laws
with sharia/islamic law. If you would
rather live in a country governed by
sharia/islamic law then leave the USA.
Attempting to impose sharia law even by
peaceful means will not be tolerated.

4. Teach all members of islam in your schools
and mosques the imperative of peaceful
co-existance with non-muslims with equal
rights for all.

5. Teach all muslims in your schools and
mosques that viloent jihad is always
wrong and that islamic supremacism is a
myth.

6. Actively work with law enforcment and
intelligence agencies to identify and
expose the violent jihadists that live
among you.

These demands are non-negotiable. If implemented islamophobia will disappear.

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