Posted on 12/28/2004 11:56:39 PM PST by krinkrayyado
As I explain in Islam Unveiled, this is not infrequently the kind of reception that awaits Muslims who dare to stand up for reform of the religion.
Why? Because Islam is perfect, as Allah tells Muhammad: "This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion" (Qur'an 5:3).
Jihadists say to moderates: "You would change what is perfect? Do you know more than Allah?" And of course they see such presumption as a manifestation of unbelief and apostasy, making the moderate liable to a death sentence.
Also, the Qur'an warns Muslims against those who would keep the other observances of Islam but dare to remove fighting from it:
Hast thou not seen those unto whom it was said: Withhold your hands, establish worship and pay the poordue, but when fighting was prescribed for them behold! a party of them fear mankind even as their fear of Allah or with greater fear, and say: Our Lord! Why hast Thou ordained fighting for us? If only Thou wouldst give us respite yet a while! Say (unto them, O Muhammad): The comfort of this world is scant; the Hereafter will be better for him who wardeth off (evil); and ye will not be wronged the down upon a date-stone. (4:77)
Nonetheless, it is at least a good sign that the murder sparked protests. From ExpressIndia, with thanks to Twostellas:
Danwakote (rajouri), December 27: Piqued over the peace prayers at the local Jamia Masjid in non-descript hamlet of Danwakote in Rajouri district, militants last night abducted and slit the throat of the Imam of the mosque, sparking off a huge protest demonstration in the area. Sources said today morning, hundreds of villagers from Danwakote and its adjoining areas came out on the streets to protest the killing of Moulvi Mohammad Bashir, the head priest of the Jamia Masjid mosque.
This is for the first time in the area that a religious preacher has been killed by militants.
According to villagers, at 8:30 pm last night, some unidentified gunmen barged into the house of Bashir and abducted him and another villager Khalil Ahmad at gunpoint.
After taking them a kilometer away, militants released Ahmad, but slit throat of Bashir, whose body was spotted by villagers.
Demanding visit of human rights organisation to the area, protesters said, “The killing of Imam has exposed the militants’ claim of carrying out jehad and their so-called sympathy with Muslims of the area.”
Posted at 01:21 PM | Comments (17) | Email this entry | Print this entry Al-Qaeda 'is plotting attack on London's New Year celebrations'
More empty bluster? Maybe. We have seen a string of empty threats here since the site opened. But maybe not. From The Telegraph, with thanks to Anthony:
A secret intelligence report has revealed that security chiefs believe al-Qaeda may target New Year celebrations across Britain, The Telegraph has learned.
The document, which has been distributed to every military base in Britain warns that "crowded places or events" are under "a severe threat" of attack from terrorist bombers. The report, which is marked "restricted", is understood to have been compiled by military intelligence specialists, MI5 and Special Branch officers.
Under the heading "International Terrorism", the report warns that military personnel and establishments within the Government Security Zone in central London, which includes Horse Guards in Whitehall, and Buckingham and St James's Palaces, face a "substantial" threat of attack. It says military bases across the country are also facing a similar threat.
The report, which is part of a monthly security update for the armed forces, adds that the threat "comes from al-Qaeda and associated terrorist groups". It continues: "Targeting against US and UK interests both at home and abroad remains a priority for al-Qaeda. Their attacks - including the Madrid train bombings in March - have been against soft targets with the aim of creating as many casualties as possible."
The report says that on November 18, the general threat to central London was reduced, but it adds: "It is emphasised that crowded places or events... that draw large numbers of people will still attract a severe (general) threat."
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