How Muslim leaders responded to September 11

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Center of Peace and Hope in Christ for Afghanistan
Issues Challenge to Moderate Muslims

Recent threats and acts of hatred against American Muslims, Asian Muslims, and non-Muslim Asian Americans across the United States is wrong. The horrible acts of war committed against the United States on September 11 are a fertile ground for wrong headed Americans to demonstrate their ignorance toward people of various ethnic and religious backgrounds.

The Center of Peace and Hope in Christ for Afghanistan condemns this hatred. The United States Constitution allows all Americans to freely worship in the religion of their own choosing. Also, Americans who choose not to worship or adhere to any religion are free to do so.

It is clear that all genuine seekers of truth would not engage in ethnic hatred, bigotry, or acts of violence. Recent statements of Muslim leaders in America that not all Muslims should be blamed for the September 11 are correct. A small percentage of people who called themselves Muslims are responsible for their own actions. When one who calls himself a Christian commits a crime, not all Christians are responsible for the crime. So too, all Muslims are not responsible for what happened in New York and Washington.

While the government of the United States takes action against these acts of war, people of faith have a great opportunity to assert tolerance toward one another. Now is the time for Christians to demonstrate the love of Christ to our Muslim friends. Christians should pray for God’s greatest blessing on Muslims living as a minority in America.

And now is the time for moderate Muslims to demonstrate their acceptance of Christians and the ideals of tolerance and freedom in our republic. It is exactly this point which is the great need of the hour for Muslim leaders in America to address.

Moderate Muslim leaders need to clearly make the case that as Americans they support the freedom of all people to choose their own religion. Do these moderates tolerate the idea of individual Muslims deciding for themselves what religion to follow?

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of former Muslims in the United States who live under the threat of death because of their own personal decision to no longer follow the Islamic religion. Freedom of religion is a cornerstone of the American republic. Former Muslims do not always experience this aspect of freedom because of the hatred and intolerance of others.

Moderate American Muslims need to clearly denounce those misguided people who, in the name of Islam, call for the death of those who leave the Muslim religion. To do otherwise is to promote intolerance toward our fellow Americans who choose to no longer adhere to the Muslim religion. And to do otherwise will demonstrate that even the most moderate form of Islam is incompatible with the United States Constitution.

Now is the time for “moderate” Muslim leaders in America to clearly define the limits of their tolerance.

John Marion, Jr. is the director of the Center of Peace and Hope in Christ for Afghanistan in Fairfax County. His email is: afghanjohn@afghanbibles.com. Additional copies of this can be downloaded at: www.AfghanBibles.com .

The Guardian should just get it over with and change its title to Al-Ahram II.

I could care less what they say publicly. It is their actions that we are to judge them by.

I have to agree with Ms. Thatcher and Mr. Marion.

Now is the time for Muslim leaders in the United States and elsewhere to stand with America and say that they are against the Taliban's "holy war" against civilization.

So far the only one I've seen do this is the Rev. Louis Farrakhan (very surprising) and he is Muslim in name only.

It is clear that all genuine seekers of truth would not engage in ethnic hatred, bigotry, or acts of violence.

Agreed. This truth_seeker doesn't advocate any mistreatment, whatsoever.

But genuine seekers of truth would be negligent, to overlook that 1. The terrorrists were all middle eastern, Muslims. 2. They claimed by their own writings, and those of their associates, to be acting on behalf of their faith.

Therefore, if their acts are MORALLY WRONG, under Islam, the good leaders of Islam must be heard, loudly, clearly, daily. They must DENOUNCE the other muftis, mullahs, ihmams, who ARE calling for murder of Americans.

Let's get past the rose colored glasses, PC insanity. There are several hundred million ranting, cheering fanatics who have basically declared war on Americans. To ignore this is to ignore the TRUTH.

As a Lebanese Christian, who lived fifteen years of the Lebanese civil war and suffered from Islamic Fundamentalists, and Islamic terrorism, I know the truth about many Muslims and theirs views of Christians, Jews, the United States, and the West. Here are some facts: Many Muslims hate Christians and Jews calling us the "INFIDELS". Many Muslims hate the United States and the West, first because they predominately Christians, second because they believe that the American and Western civilization stand in great contrast to the "ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION". Many Muslims believe that Democracy is against Islam. Many Muslims believe that giving equal rights to women is against Islam. Many Muslims believe that human laws are against Islam. For them the only Law of the land should be the "Islamic Shariiaa", the "Islamic Law" which is totally based on literal interpretation of their Quran and their "Hadith" a supplementary book to the their Quran. Many Muslims believe that "Jihad" the "wholly war" against Christians and Jews is a Virtue rewarded by going to Paradise. There are other dark, very dark facts about many Muslims that may not be appropriate to post in a public domain, but please know this fact: “Many Muslims around the world were happy, very happy on Sept/11/2001.”

'America had it coming'
Rashmee Z Ahmed

09/13/2001 The Times of India

LONDON: In London, a disabled Muslim cleric with a passport revoked by the government, a following across continents and ambitions to convert the West to Islam, pronounces on the attacks in New York and Washington: "America had it coming".

Even as he faces the predictable rush of Western hostility and suspicion against a section of the Muslim community, Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed, founder and leader of the radical Al Muhajiroun group, told The Times of India, "Yes, it is Muslims who have done this. There is no one else who would feel that much anger against America".

Al Muhajiroun, which has offices here, in Pakistan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Mauritius, is alleged to train "fighters" for Kashmir, the Palestinian territories and Chechnya. Sheikh Omar, who openly acknowledges that he shares ideas and information and has friends and acquaintances among some of the Muslim groups denounced as terrorist organisations worldwide, said in an exclusive interview that he had spoken to 68 groups since the attacks happened on Tuesday.

"I have spoken to everyone, jehadi groups, radical groups, people who offer support of all sorts. You name it: Algerias GIA, Hezbollah, Hamas, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish e Mohammed, Tanzeem ul Jihad of Egypt none of them know who did it, none of them claim responsibility, but everyone is agreed that these are the consequences of American atrocities".

The Al-Muhajiroun leader, who is bitterly opposed to Britains new anti-terrorism law, "which makes it an offence even to carry a pamphlet supporting Lashkar-e-Taiba", added however, that he had not spoken to those close to Osama bin Laden, the wealthy Saudi exile that America regards as its enemy number one. "We dont agree with bin Ladens methodology," he said blandly.

In the hours since the attacks on American soil, the world media has been increasingly keen to hear the views of Sheikh Omar, a Syrian exile, who advocates pan-Islamic militancy against the West.

Craftily denying that he had "arms training camps," Sheikh Omar would only say that several young Muslim men in his group "follow their religious obligation to keep fit and have physical training".

Sheikh Omar, a spokesman for the International Islamic Front, is seen to represent the growing radical Islamic threat across the Western world, not least in Britain, France and Germany with their huge Muslim populations running into several millions.

Even as the British prime minister insisted on Wednesday that it was time for right-thinking Muslims to make clear that "acts of terrorism and savagery were wholly contrary to the Islamic faith", Sheikh Omar repeated that "Muslims believe that if they die for a just cause they go to paradise".

Commentators warn of the inherent potential for conflict, something West Asia expert Toby Dodge describes as "a very worrying climate for Muslims in Europe, especially with talk of a civilisational clash".

But Sheikh Omar, for one, remains unconcerned and outspoken. "They rush to judge Muslim groups because they feel guilty that they have done something to us. The question is not who did it, but why America creates more enemies than friends".

Muslim Clerics speak of death to America from their Pulpits in The United States. It's on videotape. They sponsor terrorism through their Charities. Until Muslim Americans expose the corruption of their leaders. they can cry all they want, it's falling on deaf ears. America believes in action, we recieved lip service from the Clintons for the last eight years, look what we got from it. We are not going to accept that from the Muslims, how they behave now will determine how they are treated in the future.

Muslim Clerics speak of death to America from their Pulpits in The United States.

Religious and Speech Freedoms only go so far. Surely NOT as far as preaching terrorism, from their pulpits in the US, or any other place where we can get to them.

I contend they should be arrested and indicted for whatever offense is convered by incitement, suggesting, ordering, lending any support whatsoever.

If this results in the arrest of a hundred or a thousand mufti, ihmams, mullahs---so be it. Hold them without bail, based on risk they would flee. Put them on trial. Let the likes of Johnny Cochran defend them. America's security is in jeopardy, and it is a time of war.

There are 500,000 Muslims in the United States. Should this war escalate, with random anthrax and/or nerve gas attacks taking the lives of thousands more American citizens, it may ultimately become necessary to expel them all, being as how it would become too difficult to tell which among them hold allegiance to Western values and the American flag, and which to the war-like Islamic religion. We can give them all a douceur, say $10,000 per head, and send them packing (I think we can afford a one-time payment of $50 billion, under the circumstances). This can hardly represent much of a hardship, since we all know that all cultures are equal and interchangeable, therefore they shouldn't have any reason to miss the United States. Indeed they may find the environment in home countries such as Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Afghanistan and the Sudan a welcome relief from the oppression and racism which they are accostumed to here. Sound like a plan?

This can hardly represent much of a hardship, since we all know that all cultures are equal and interchangeable, therefore they shouldn't have any reason to miss the United States.

That's a very excellent point. But I wouldn't give them any money for leaving, for one most of them have plenty of inherited oil money, they don't need mine.

What you've stated is very true. Too true for our touchy-feely news media. Welcome to FR. Please post often.

RE: #7 ---- comments please?

....but what is it about The Koran that attracts maniacs anyway? (put on them reading glasses...)

MOHAMMED'S NOCTURNAL TRIP TO PARADISE
AND THE MOHAMMEDAN CONCEPT OF HEAVEN
by James E. Gibbons, Mt. Airy, NC.

SOMETIME AGO while teaching the book of Genesis (the account of Abraham and Ishmael was before me) and teaching the book of Revelation (in sections thought to apply to Mohammed, Mohammedanism, and Mohammedan conquests), and with the fact that the Arabs are continually in the news (one way or another), I was sufficiently provoked to do additional research and study involving Mohammed and the religion that came into being through him (in the seventh century this side of Christ). Several trips to Moslem countries, Jerusalem, and the Mosque of Omar were behind me. A copy of the Koran had been on my library shelf for many years untouched except by dust. In spite of how many writers like to speak of the dignity of the Moslem religion, and their lofty monotheistic concept of God, I was not impressed. Could a religion that had to depend on the ravaging sword for its expansion have much going for it?
To read the Bible, and then to try to read the Koran, one is strikingly and refreshingly impressed by the Bible. There is no question mark about which one is from God. (Oh what a Lord and Savior! And the purity of His religion!) The Koran to me in many ways, thrusts us back to the Old Testament and to pre and sub Old Testament levels. Some concepts may sound good [perhaps borrowed from Christianity], but then these are contradicted by others. Regardless how they may talk about the one God, Allah, we are back in the dingy shadows.
Books written in the last century picture the extreme poverty and backwardness of the Moslem nations with the expectant demise of their religion (the contributing factor). However, because of the oil wealth now flowing into some of these Moslem countries it appears that somewhat of a renaissance is being experienced (and the religion is becoming more attractive in the eyes of some uninformed westerners).
MOHAMMED'S NOCTURNAL TRIP TO PARADISE
Those who have visited Jerusalem and the Mosque of Omar (located on the temple mount) learn that Mohammed was supposed to have ascended to heaven from Jerusalem. If we think it like unto the Lord Jesus Christ, we are away off base (there is no similarity). Following is what I found from my study and is said to be believed by followers of Mohammed. This is supposed to have happened in the twelfth year of the acclaimed mission of the prophet Mohammed. He was in Mecca in bed with his most beloved wife Ayesha (she was one of thirteen wives he had--some say 21 wives besides concubines). He was espoused to Ayesha when she was six years old, but did not consummate his marriage until she was eight. Although Mohammed's law as found in the Koran allowed his followers to have only four wives, he had many, many more. He has God saying in the Koran chapter 33, "This is a peculiar privilege granted unto thee above the rest of the true believers.") The angel Gabriel, who was said to have seventy sets of wings, politely knocked on Mohammed's door. Having gained admittance, he informs the prophet that he had been sent to conduct him into the very presence of God to receive finishing touches involving his mission. A glorious milk-white horse called Al Borak (like prophets were supposed to have ridden in more ancient times) was waiting to carry him on his way. For some reason while Gabriel held the bridle for Mohammed to mount, the animal became very desperate and wild. He was brought under control by Mohammed promising him (the horse) a seat in paradise. This accomplished its purpose. Mohammed mounted, and they were off like lightning on the first leg of their journey to Jerusalem. Here the horse was left fastened at the foot of a rock, and Mohammed is said to have ascended to Heaven. All of this (the trip to Jerusalem, to Heaven, and then back to Jerusalem and Mecca) was supposed to have happened in one night...
In ascending to paradise Mohammed found it to be divided into seven heavens.
The first heaven was composed entirely of solid silver. Here he found a decrepit old man who turned out to be Adam. Adam was very pleased with him and thanked God for such a person. It was from the first heaven that Mohammed was supposed to have seen the stars hanging by golden chains suspended from the roof.
When he reach the second heaven (it was a 500 years journey, normally speaking, between the heavens), we are told that it was all of pure gold. Here he meets Noah, who seems to feel very inferior and wants the prayers of the prophet.
The third heaven was of precious stone, and this was the residence of Abraham. But here his attention seems to be more directed toward an angel which he saw. It is said that the distance between the angel's eyes was a 70,000 days' journey, and "consequently his whole height was five million forty thousand days' journey, or four times as high as all his heavens put together, since each was distant from the other five hundred years' journey."
The fourth heaven was of emerald; here Joseph lived.
The fifth heaven was of adamant. Moses was here, and with him Mohammed had a conference.
The sixth heaven was of carbuncle. Here was the abode of John the Baptist.
The seventh heaven was of divine light, and none other than Jesus Christ was here. It is said that in each of the other heavens all whom he saw wanted the prayers of the prophet, but here he says that he requested the prayers of Jesus. It is said that in the highest heaven, "There was also a very remarkable angel...for he had no fewer than seventy thousand heads, in each head seventy thousand tongues, and each tongue uttered seventy thousand distinct voices at once. That is, he spoke audibly three hundred forty three millions of words in an instant." Here it is said that Mohammed finally arrived within two bowshots of the very throne of God. The face of God was covered with 70,000 veils. As he came near through water and snow, and the hand of God was placed on his back, it was so cold it penetrated to his very marrow. He got important secrets from God, was informed that he would be the greatest man upon the earth, then he was conducted back to earth by the angel Gabriel. His horse was waiting just where he left him, and he was back in Mecca in no time (all in one night). (NOTE: another source has Mohammed riding the white horse to heaven and back).
To say the least, this is different from the Christian's belief in Christ ascending to Heaven after his glorious resurrection. Everything about Mohammed's story sounds a little way out. (!!!) Truth and error stand in sharp contrast.
THE MOHAMMEDAN CONCEPT OF HEAVEN
The Christian is set somewhat aback by Mohammed's Koran on this matter of Heaven and Hell in the hereafter. Hell is no less a place of punishment like taught in the Christian Scriptures, but therewith is added such things as the drinking of stinking and boiling water, the eating of briers and thorns, etc. What really is radically different is the sensual paradise promised to the faithful Moslem. Here a great number of youthful and beautiful dark-eyed women have been especially created for the sensual pleasure of each man; they will continually attend unto him with no detraction or distraction. (When I read this I wondered where the faithful Moslem women of earth were supposed to fit into the picture of such a paradise; also, men like the apostle Paul who chose not to be married). And they will drink delicious liquors and wines and not become drunk (although Moslems are forbidden to drink such on earth).
Let us notice some direct quotations from the Koran to show that what I am saying in not misrepresentation:

The Koran chapter 55: "...This is hell, which the wicked deny as falsehood: they shall pass to and fro between the same and hot boiling water. Which, therefore, of the Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? But for him who dreadeth the tribunal of his Lord are prepared two gardens: (Which, therefore, of your Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully deny?) [This question is found between every statement throughout this section, so we will supply three dots, or ellipsis, rather than repeat it each time] planted with shady trees. (...) In each of them shall there be of every fruit two kinds. (...) They shall repose on couches, the finings whereof shall be of thick silk interwoven with gold: and the fruit of the two gardens shall be near at hand together. (...) Therein shall receive them beauteous damsels, refraining their eyes from beholding any besides their spouses: whom no man shall have de- flowered before them, neither any genius. (...) Having complexions like rubies and pearls.( ...) Shall the reward of good works be any other good? (...) And besides these there shall be two other gardens: (...) Of a dark green (...) In each of them shall be two fountains pouring forth plenty of water. (...) In each of them shall be fruits, and palm trees, and pomegranates. (...) Therein shall be agreeable and beauteous damsels: (...) Having fine black eyes, and kept in pavilions from public view: (...) Whom no man shall have deflowered before their destined spouses, nor any genius. (...) Therein shall they delight themselves, lying on green cushions and beautiful carpets. (...) Blessed be the name of the Lord, possessed of glory and honor!"
The Koran chapter 56: "When the inevitable day of judgment shall suddenly come, no soul shall charge the prediction of its coming with falsehood: it will abase some, and exalt others. When the earth shall be shaken with a violent shock; and the mountains shall be dashed in pieces, and shall become as dust scattered abroad and ye shall be separated into three distinct classes: the companions on the right hand; (how happy shall the companions on the right hand be!) and the companions of the left hand: (how miserable shall the companions of the left hand be!) and those who have preceded other in the faith shall precede them to paradise. These are they who shall approach near unto God: they shall dwell in gardens of delight: (There shall be many of the former religions; and few of the last). Reposing on couches adorned with gold and precious stones; sitting opposite to one another thereon. Youths which shall continue in their bloom forever, shall go around about to attend them, with goblets, and beakers, and a cup of flowing wine; their heads shall not ache by drinking the same, neither shall their reason be disturbed: and with fruits of the sorts which they shall desire. And there shall accompany them fair damsels having large black eyes; resembling pearls hidden in their shells: as a reward for that which they shall have wrought. They shall not hear therein any vain discourse, or any charge of sin; but only the salutation, Peace! Peace! And the companions of the right hand (how happy shall the companions of the right hand be!) shall have their abode among lote-trees free from thorns, and trees of mauz loaded regularly with their produce from top to bottom; under an extended shade, near a flowing water, and amidst fruits in abundance, which shall not fail, nor shall be forbidden to be gathered: and they shall repose themselves on lofty beds. Verily we have created the damsels of paradise by a peculiar creation: and we have made them virgins, beloved by their husbands, of equal age with them; for the delight of the companions of the right hand. There shall be many of the former religions, and many of the latter. And the companions of the left hand (how miserable shall the companions of the left hand be!) shall dwell amidst burning winds, and scalding water, under the shade of a black smoke, neither cool nor agreeable; Then ye, O men, who have erred, and denied the resurrection as a falsehood, shall surely eat of the fruit of the tree of al Zakkum, and shall fill your bellies therewith: and ye shall drink thereon boiling water; and ye shall drink as a thirsty camel drinketh..."

SO MUCH for this little excursion on an intriguing, but alien, byway from my regular study pattern. It proved disturbingly interesting (and there are a lot of others things we could have related). How much better to get back on the main highway (John14:6; Acts 4:12; Matthew 24:11-13). We have no doubt about where it will take us. I am so thankful (and that by God's grace) to be a Christian. Aren't you?
(NOTE: If we have misunderstood what we have read in the Koran in any way, please advise us).

The prosecution rests.

I have heard a much higher figure of 6 million Muslims in the United States.

Not sure what the correct figure is.

You could well be right. I was going from memory, and 500,000 sounds too low, now that I think about it. Might have to make it $1000 a head.

See

Saudi Arabia and Islamic Fanatacism

Note especially the remarks of samaritan, a man with many years of experience in Saudi Arabia. It's this kind of thing which makes it especially difficult to understand what's going on.

See

Saudi Arabia and Islamic Fanatacism

Note especially the remarks of samaritan, a man with many years of experience in Saudi Arabia. It's this kind of thing which makes it especially difficult to understand what's going on.