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A Memo to American Muslims ("EXCELLENT READ")
Islam for Today ^ | Unknown | Dr. M. A. Muqtedar Khan

Posted on 11/23/2003 7:37:34 PM PST by FairOpinion

It is time that we acknowledge that the freedoms we enjoy in the US are more desirable to us than superficial solidarity with the Muslim World. If you disagree, then prove it by packing your bags and going to whichever Muslim country you identify with." In the wake of September 11, Dr. M. A. Muqtedar Khan calls for soul searching, reflection and reassessment among US Muslims.

In the name of Allah, the most Benevolent and the Most Merciful. May this memo find you in the shade of Islam enjoying the mercy, the protection and the grace of Allah.

I am writing this memo to you all with the explicit purpose of inviting you to lead the American Muslim community in soul searching, reflection and reassessment.

What happened on September 11th in New York and Washington DC will forever remain a horrible scar on the history of Islam and humanity. No matter how much we condemn it, and point to the Quran and the Sunnah to argue that Islam forbids the killing of innocent people, the fact remains that the perpetrators of this crime against humanity have indicated that their actions are sanctioned by Islamic values.

The fact that even now several Muslim scholars and thousands of Muslims defend the accused is indicative that not all Muslims believe that the attacks are unIslamic. This is truly sad.

Even if it were true that Israel and the US are enemies of the Muslim World, wonder what is preventing them from unleashing their nuclear arsenal against Muslims, a response that mercilessly murders thousands of innocent people, including hundreds of Muslims is absolutely indefensible. If anywhere in your hearts there is any sympathy or understanding with those who committed this act, I invite you to ask yourself this question, would Muhammad (pbuh) sanction such an act?

While encouraging Muslims to struggle against injustice (Al Quran 4:135), Allah also imposes strict rules of engagement. He says in unequivocal terms that to kill an innocent being is like killing entire humanity (Al Quran 5:32). He also encourages Muslims to forgive Jews and Christians if they have committed injustices against us (Al Quran 2:109, 3:159, 5:85).

Muslims, including American Muslims have been practicing hypocrisy on a grand scale. They protest against the discriminatory practices of Israel but are silent against the discriminatory practices in Muslim states. In the Gulf one can see how laws and even salaries are based on ethnic origin. This is racism, but we never hear of Muslims protesting against them at International fora.

The Israeli occupation of Palestine is perhaps central to Muslim grievance against the West. While acknowledging that, I must remind you that Israel treats its one million Arab citizens with greater respect and dignity than most Arab nations treat their citizens. Today Palestinian refugees can settle and become citizens of the United States but in spite of all the tall rhetoric of the Arab world and Quranic injunctions (24:22) no Muslim country except Jordan extends this support to them.

While we loudly and consistently condemn Israel for its ill treatment of Palestinians we are silent when Muslim regimes abuse the rights of Muslims and slaughter thousands of them. Remember Saddam and his use of chemical weapons against Muslims (Kurds)?. Remember Pakistani army’s excesses against Muslims (Bengalis)?. Remember the Mujahideen of Afghanistan and their mutual slaughter? Have we ever condemned them for their excesses? Have we demanded international intervention or retribution against them? Do you know how the Saudis treat their minority Shias? Have we protested the violation of their rights? But we all are eager to condemn Israel; not because we care for rights and lives of the Palestinians, we don’t. We condemn Israel because we hate “them".

Muslims love to live in the US but also love to hate it. Many openly claim that the US is a terrorist state but they continue to live in it. Their decision to live here is testimony that they would rather live here than anywhere else. As an Indian Muslim, I know for sure that nowhere on earth, including India, will I get the same sense of dignity and respect that I have received in the US. No Muslim country will treat me as well as the US has. If what happened on September 11th had happened in India, the biggest democracy, thousands of Muslims would have been slaughtered in riots on mere suspicion and there would be another slaughter after confirmation. But in the US, bigotry and xenophobia has been kept in check by media and leaders. In many places hundreds of Americans have gathered around Islamic centers in symbolic gestures of protection and embrace of American Muslims. In many cities Christian congregations have started wearing hijab to identify with fellow Muslim women. In patience and in tolerance ordinary Americans have demonstrated their extraordinary virtues.

It is time that we acknowledge that the freedoms we enjoy in the US are more desirable to us than superficial solidarity with the Muslim World. If you disagree than prove it by packing your bags and going to whichever Muslim country you identify with. If you do not leave and do not acknowledge that you would rather live here than anywhere else, know that you are being hypocritical.

It is time that we faced these hypocritical practices and struggled to transcend them. It is time that American Muslim leaders fought to purify their own lot.

For over a decade we have watched as Muslims in the name of Islam have committed violence against other Muslims and other peoples. We have always found a way to reconcile the vast distance between Islamic values and Muslim practices by pointing out to the injustices committed upon Muslims by others. The point however is this – our belief in Islam and commitment to Islamic values is not contingent on the moral conduct of the US or Israel. And as Muslims can we condone such inhuman and senseless waste of life in the name of Islam?

The biggest victims of hate filled politics as embodied in the actions of several Muslim militias all over the world are Muslims themselves. Hate is the extreme form of intolerance and when individuals and groups succumb to it they can do nothing constructive. Militias like the Taliban have allowed their hate for the West to override their obligation to pursue the welfare of their people and as a result of their actions not only have thousands of innocent people died in America, but thousands of people will die in the Muslim World.

Already, half a million Afghans have had to leave their homes and their country. The war has not yet begun. It will only get worst. Hamas and Islamic Jihad may kill a few Jews, women and children included, with their suicide bombs and temporarily satisfy their lust for Jewish blood, but thousands of Palestinians then pay the price for their actions.

The culture of hate and killing is tearing away at the moral fabric of the Muslim society. We are more focused on “the other” and have completely forgotten our duty to Allah. In pursuit of the inferior jihad we have sacrificed the superior jihad.

Islamic resurgence, the cherished ideals of which pursued the ultimate goal of a universally just and moral society has been hijacked by hate and call for murder and mayhem. If Bin Laden were an individual then we would have no problem. But unfortunately Bin Laden has become a phenomenon -- a cancer eating away at the morality of our youth, and undermining the spiritual health of our future.

Today the century old Islamic revival is in jeopardy because we have allowed insanity to prevail over our better judgment. Yes, the US has played a hand in the creation of Bin Laden and the Taliban, but it is we who have allowed them to grow and gain such a foothold. It is our duty to police our world. It is our responsibility to prevent people from abusing Islam. It is our job to ensure that Islam is not misrepresented. We should have made sure that what happened on Sept. 11th should never have happened.

It is time the leaders of the American Muslim community woke up and realized that there is more to life than competing with the American Jewish lobby for power over US foreign policy. Islam is not about defeating Jews or conquering Jerusalem. It is about mercy, about virtue, about sacrifice and about duty. Above all it is the pursuit of moral perfection. Nothing can be further away from moral perfection than the wanton slaughter of thousands of unsuspecting innocent people.

I hope that we will now rededicate our lives and our institutions to the search for harmony, peace and tolerance. Let us be prepared to suffer injustice rather than commit injustices. After all it is we who carry the divine burden of Islam and not others. We have to be morally better, more forgiving, more sacrificing than others, if we wish to convince the world about the truth of our message. We cannot even be equal to others in virtue, we must excel.

It is time for soul searching. How can the message of Muhammad (pbuh) who was sent as mercy to mankind become a source of horror and fear? How can Islam inspire thousands of youth to dedicate their lives to killing others? We are supposed to invite people to Islam not murder them.

The worst exhibition of Islam happened on our turf. We must take first responsibility to undo the evil it has manifest. This is our mandate, our burden and also our opportunity.

---------

Muqtedar Khan, Ph.D. Director of International Studies, Adrian College, MI Association of Muslim Social Scientists Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy.


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: muslimamericans
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I just came across this. With Ramadan just having ended, this is a great article for American Muslims to contemplate.

(It didn't have a date, so I don't know when it was written, but it's timely, regardless)

1 posted on 11/23/2003 7:37:35 PM PST by FairOpinion
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To: missyme
**PING**
2 posted on 11/23/2003 7:44:33 PM PST by Luis Gonzalez (The Gift Is To See The Trout.)
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To: FairOpinion
SITREP - RELIGION OF PEACE
3 posted on 11/23/2003 7:45:49 PM PST by LiteKeeper
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To: FairOpinion
Al-Taqiyyah?
4 posted on 11/23/2003 7:47:30 PM PST by spodefly (This is my tagline. There are many like it, but this one is mine.)
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To: FairOpinion
I imagine the author will be branded an Uncle Tom and be given the Salmon Rushdie treatment. He's clearly been in the USA too long. I'ts addled his mind.
5 posted on 11/23/2003 7:50:57 PM PST by umgud (gov't has more money than it needs, but never as much as it wants)
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To: FairOpinion; rintense; Howlin; Miss Marple; Dog; MJY1288; prairiebreeze
Check this out
6 posted on 11/23/2003 7:51:16 PM PST by Mo1
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To: FairOpinion
Muqtader's memo proves there's hope for Islam...

...if only more Muslims thought like him....
7 posted on 11/23/2003 7:51:36 PM PST by El Conservador ("No blood for oil!"... Then don't drive, you moron!!!)
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To: FairOpinion
Its time that we acknowledge that the freedoms we enjoy in the US are more desirable to us than superficial solidarity with the muslim world.
Its way too late for that. Is that an admission that muslims did'nt support the war on terror? The author just sees whats coming the muslims way and this pig doesnt like what he sees!!
8 posted on 11/23/2003 7:52:16 PM PST by Coroner
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To: FairOpinion
This is amazing. I hope he stays alive to spread his message.
9 posted on 11/23/2003 7:53:37 PM PST by doug from upland (Hillary didn't hire Pelicano.......my butt)
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To: FairOpinion
Trojan Horse
10 posted on 11/23/2003 7:54:41 PM PST by joesnuffy (Moderate Islam Is For Dilettantes)
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To: FairOpinion
Already, half a million Afghans have had to leave their homes and their country. The war has not yet begun.

This appears to be post 911 pre Afghanistan.

I suprized we never heard of a fatwa issued against this man.

Judging from Muslim response to his words, His voice seems to be one in the wilderness.
11 posted on 11/23/2003 7:57:52 PM PST by mylife
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To: joesnuffy
"Trojan Horse "

==

I really don't think so. This guy sounds real, not like some Muslims who say one thing in English and something else in Arabic.

I saw a couple of other articles recently about Muslims finally waking up and realizing that the terrorists are hurting the "Muslim cause" more than helping it.

Here is one:

(Middle Eastern) Press urges unity in terror fight
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1027279/posts
12 posted on 11/23/2003 7:59:45 PM PST by FairOpinion
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To: mylife
I suprized

tingers fangled!

13 posted on 11/23/2003 7:59:46 PM PST by mylife
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To: Coroner
agree with ya, islam gets exposed a little more with every islamic attack on civilization.

Backlash is coming and it's gonna get ugly.
14 posted on 11/23/2003 8:01:02 PM PST by Stopislamnow (Islam is the enemy of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.)
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To: FairOpinion
All I know is that all of the freedoms that Muslims and others in America enjoy were the products of Western Christian thought and culture. You can probably forget about getting a pig to sing because the religion is in basic conflict with Constitutional principles. God forbid somebody calls it the way it is!
15 posted on 11/23/2003 8:02:10 PM PST by Dr.Syn
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To: FairOpinion
Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy.

Well, let's hope that the Center increases in size from the current briefcase and yellow legal pad.

16 posted on 11/23/2003 8:02:52 PM PST by DeFault User
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To: joesnuffy
Trojan Horse

It could be..or he could realize that all it's going to take is one more time on our soil and there won't be many Muslims in this country for him to write to.

17 posted on 11/23/2003 8:04:56 PM PST by Indie ("Death was our business....and business was good" -MACVSOG)
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To: FairOpinion
Muslims, including American Muslims have been practicing hypocrisy on a grand scale. They protest against the discriminatory practices of Israel but are silent against the discriminatory practices in Muslim states. In the Gulf one can see how laws and even salaries are based on ethnic origin. This is racism, but we never hear of Muslims protesting against them at International fora.

Wow! We don't see enough of this!

18 posted on 11/23/2003 8:05:06 PM PST by NYC GOP Chick (So don't hand me Jack and try to call it Cola. I know the difference 'tween $h!t and shinola)
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To: FairOpinion
There's a spoof going around the internet, but it could be prophacy by accident? LOL. Type in Quran 9:11 into your search engines.
(Note - it's not really in the Quran. It's a spoof! Here's a link to a Google search)
19 posted on 11/23/2003 8:06:16 PM PST by concerned about politics ( "Satire". It's Just "Satire.".......So it is.)
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To: FairOpinion
"It is time that we acknowledge that the freedoms we enjoy in the US are more desirable to us than superficial solidarity with the Muslim World. If you disagree, then prove it by packing your bags and going to whichever Muslim country you identify with."

Ping!

20 posted on 11/23/2003 8:07:04 PM PST by Kay Soze (Liberal Homosexuals kill more people than Global Warming, SUVs’, Firearms & Terrorism combined.)
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