Obama through Muslim eyes--He is seen the world over as either Muslim or ex-Muslim.

Jerusalem Post ^ | 8-26-08 | DANIEL PIPES

[SJackson]

How do Muslims see Barack Obama? They have three choices: either as he presents himself, as one who has "never been a Muslim" and has "always been a Christian"; or as a fellow Muslim; or as an apostate from Islam.

Reports suggests that while Americans generally view the Democratic candidate having had no religion before converting at Rev. Jeremiah Wrights's hands at 27, Muslims the world over rarely see him as Christian but usually as either Muslim or ex-Muslim.

Lee Smith of the Hudson Institute explains why: "Barack Obama's father was Muslim and therefore, according to Islamic law, so is the candidate. In spite of the Koranic verses explaining that there is no compulsion in religion, a Muslim child takes the religion of his or her father... For Muslims around the world, non-American Muslims at any rate, they can only ever see Barack Hussein Obama as a Muslim."

In addition, his school record from Indonesia lists him as a Muslim. Thus, an Egyptian newspaper, Al-Masri al-Youm, refers to his "Muslim origins." Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi referred to Obama as "a Muslim" and a person with an "African and Islamic identity." One Al-Jazeera analysis calls him a "non-Christian man," a second refers to his "Muslim Kenyan" father, and a third, by Naseem Jamali, notes that "Obama may not want to be counted as a Muslim, but Muslims are eager to count him as one of their own."

A conversation in Beirut, quoted in the Christian Science Monitor, captures the puzzlement. "He has to be good for Arabs because he is a Muslim," observed a grocer. "He's not a Muslim, he's a Christian," replied a customer. Retorted the grocer: "He can't be a Christian. His middle name is Hussein." Arabic discussions of Obama sometimes mention his middle name as a code, with no further comment needed.

"The symbolism of a major American presidential candidate with the middle name of Hussein, who went to elementary school in Indonesia," reports Tamara Cofman Wittes of the Brookings Institution from a US-Muslim conference in Qatar, "that certainly speaks to Muslims abroad."

Thomas L. Friedman of The New York Times found that Egyptians "don't really understand Obama's family tree, but what they do know is that if America - despite being attacked by Muslim militants on 9/11 - were to elect as its president some guy with the middle name 'Hussein,' it would mark a sea change in America-Muslim world relations."

Some American Muslim leaders also perceive Obama as Muslim. The president of the Islamic Society of North America, Sayyid M. Syeed, told Muslims at a conference in Houston that whether Obama wins or loses, his candidacy will reinforce the idea that Muslim children can "become the presidents of this country." The Nation of Islam's Louis Farrakhan called Obama "the hope of the entire world" and compared him to his religion's founder, Fard Muhammad.

BUT THIS excitement also has a dark side - suspicions that Obama is a traitor to his birth religion, an apostate (murtadd) from Islam. Al-Qaida has prominently featured Obama's statement "I am not a Muslim" and one analyst, Shireen K. Burki of the University of Mary Washington, sees Obama as "bin Laden's dream candidate." Should he become US commander-in-chief, she believes, Al-Qaida would likely "exploit his background to argue that an apostate is leading the global war on terror... to galvanize sympathizers into action."

Mainstream Muslims tend to tiptoe around this topic. An Egyptian supporter of Obama, Yasser Khalil, reports that many Muslims react "with bewilderment and curiosity" when Obama is described as a Muslim apostate; Josie Delap and Robert Lane Greene of the Economist even claim that the Obama-as-apostate theme "has been notably absent" among Arabic-language columnists and editorialists.

That latter claim is inaccurate, for the topic is indeed discussed. At least one Arabic-language newspaper published Burki's article. Kuwait's Al-Watan referred to Obama as "a born Muslim, an apostate, a convert to Christianity." Writing in the Arab Times, Syrian liberal Nidal Na'isa repeatedly called Obama an "apostate Muslim."

In sum, Muslims puzzle over Obama's present religious status. They resist his self-identification as a Christian, while they assume a baby born to a Muslim father and named "Hussein" began life a Muslim.

[SJackson]

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The important word being former, though it would have been better if's he'd bit more direct about the circumstances.

[bboop]

If ‘Hussein’ is a code, does anyone know precisely why? Just that it’s like ‘Mohammed’ as a name? Or??

[Veto!]

My friend who served as a translator in Iraq (she’s a Palestinian who’s lived in the USA her entire adult life) tells me exactly the same thing. The terrorists would take BHussein’s election as a free pass to blow up everything in sight all over the Western world. Especially in the USA. Because they believe BHussein would not retaliate against his clansmen. May or may not be true, but if they think it is, we’d be in huge trouble.

What if he were elected, US buldings were bombed, and he did retaliate immediately? Muslim hitmen would be after him, declaring him an infidel. Any way you look at it, he’s a danger to the country—and even to himself.

Pity, really. Perhaps it is a good time to elect a black or mixed-race president. But certainly not someone with Muslim roots. There are so many other potential candidates who might have been chosen.

[Veto!]

My Arabic friend explained to me that the name Hussein belongs to a warrior clan known to be very fierce. In certain uneducated circles, it inspires awe and fear. Unfortunately, the terrorists tend to come from the uneducated people. Many would believe that the USA had caved to the Husseinis should Barak be elected.

[Prole]

"How do Muslims see Barack Obama?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xtNr5-up0U

[omega4179]

If he’s Christian then he is an Apostate Muslim-bad
if hes a Muslim hes a non-preacticing Apostate-bad
if hes a practicing Muslim I don’t trust him-bad

there just is no upside to Barack Hussein Obama.

[bboop]

Thanks for the translation. OF COURSE Muzses would cheer around the world should he be elected.

[bboop]

Thanks for the translation. OF COURSE Muzses would cheer around the world should he be elected. Make that Muzzies.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Iran is excited about Obama. I believe it was the president or someone in his vicinity who translated Obama’s name as “the one who comes for us.” Short answer - they think he is one of them.

[justiceseeker93]

Unfortunately, the terrorists tend to come from the uneducated people!

Not true at all in the Muslim world! Just examine the backgrounds of the 9/11 hijackers and Osama Bin-Ladin himself. A good number of terrorists apply their professional knowledge in sciences like chemistry and engineering for the purpose of mass killing.

[Dajjal]

obumpa