Posted on 05/14/2005 6:31:44 AM PDT by Cornpone
Sheikh Taj el-Din al-Hilali is Australia's most senior Muslim cleric or Mufti.
He is currently on a mercy mission in Iraq, hoping his influence can save the life of Australian hostage Douglas Wood.
"We feel for Australians and we will do our best to bring our brother, Douglas Wood, home," he told reporters at Sydney airport before he left.
To his supporters, Sheikh Taj is a charismatic figure.
But his opponents see him as a menace. They have accused him of praising suicide bombers and claiming the attacks in the United States on 11 September were "God's work against oppressors".
The Egyptian-born cleric has insisted his remarks - spoken in Arabic on a trip to the Middle East last year - were misinterpreted, and that he is committed to fighting Islamic fundamentalism.
"My stand is very clear. I have a long history of condemning violence and extremism," Sheikh Taj told the BBC through an interpreter.
"I was amongst the first people to condemn the 11 September tragedy and those behind it," he said.
Criticism of the US
However, the sheikh remains a fierce critic of the Americans.
My experiences... would tend to indicate that he represents a relatively small portion of that community at the very most
Jeremy Jones, Executive Council of Australian Jewry
"I see extremism of any sort to be just as dangerous - or more dangerous - than Aids," he said.
"One of the causes of extremism is the dictatorial regimes that the United States has created, and continues to support, in a number of different countries - and also its one-eyed stand towards Israel and its genocide against the Palestinian people," he added.
The Mufti is the imam at the Lakemba Mosque in suburban Sydney. His power base lies within the local Lebanese community.
He was appointed Mufti by the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, an influential Muslim organisation.
However, because there is no real hierarchy among imams in Australia, his position is seen by some as largely symbolic.
Jewish leaders have accused him of anti-Semitism and have been dismissive of his claims to represent moderate Islam.
Jeremy Jones from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry said that since Sheikh Taj arrived in the country more than 20 years ago, he has been a marginal figure.
"My experiences with Muslims in Australia would tend to indicate that he represents a relatively small portion of that community at the very most," Mr Jones said.
Divided appeal
There are about 300,000 Muslims in Australia. Many were born in the country, while others have come from more than 70 other nations, including Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq.
Sheikh Taj hopes to win the release of Australian Douglas Wood
Kurander Seyit, the publisher of an Islamic newspaper in Sydney, says that among certain sections of the Muslim population, the Sheikh is extremely popular.
"He says what the community wants to hear. He's very outspoken in that regard, because he doesn't just take a timid role," he said.
However Kurander Seyit believes that not all Australian Muslims see the 64-year-old cleric as their spiritual leader.
"He's not really well-known outside the Arabic community, so a lot of the Indian, Pakistani - or even the Turkish, Indonesian or Bosnian communities - they know of him and have all heard about him, but really there's not much [of a] relationship there," he said.
Muslims in Australia often employ imams from abroad rather than use locals.
Sheikh Taj was working in Lebanon when he was recruited.
More than two decades later, his grasp of English still appears to be rather shaky.
Professor Ahmad Shboul, from the University of Sydney, believes that importing foreign imams can have its problems.
"The majority who come from overseas... don't have good English and it takes them a long time to get a feel of the culture here, so they might be talking out of context for many people, especially the young," he said.
Despite the controversy that surrounds him, the Mufti has said he is determined to be a unifying figure of peace and moderation at a time when Islamic extremism is heating up.
The family of hostage Douglas Wood is praying the sheikh can deliver the ultimate prize during his time in Baghdad - the life of the 63-year-old Australian engineer.
Ping...straight out of Yasser Arafat's play book. Tell the stupid infidels what they want to hear in English and then tell Muslim Jihadists in Arabic what you really think...kill the infidels.
No, I am not exaggerating. Click the pic, go to "last," and read backwards.
If you aren't informed about this stuff, you will be made sick. If you are informed, you will be made mad, all over again.
They hate the West. Why are they here ?
Taquiyah is pretty new to most FReepers. Simply put, it is the Koranic practice in Islam that expects its followers to lie to the 'infidels' if it helps their 'safety' or the advancement of Islam in infidel lands.
Well, another sad news, America has its largest mosque unveiled in Michigan on Friday.
Every word in Arabic should be recorded and translated for all to behold.
SUPER Ping® !
You're absolutely right. It allows them to do ANYTHING or say ANYTHING in the land of dar al harb (House of War against Infidels) as long as it advances the cause of Islam. When Anne Coulter said Arabs lie, she was only slightly wrong. Muslim Arabs lie. They are taught to by their Imams, Mullahs, and Muftis. If any FReeper wants an Islamic glossary, visit my profile and follow the instructions there. Thanks CarrotAndStick.
Anytime!
Islam's attitude towards lying and honoring agreements with non-Muslims. This conclusion is taken from "The 4th Conference of Islamic Research" at Al Azar University in Cairo, 1970. The teachings at Al Azar University is normative for all Sunni Muslims. For Shiites it is Qum in Iran.
Taqiyya
The expression taquija means to dissimulate and is used when serving the propagation of Islam or benefitting a Muslim compared to 'infidels'. Lying to 'infidels' is officially acknowledged and is religiously motivated.
Lying is okay
In essence taqija means that a Muslim is allowed to hide his or her intentions in a difficult situation. For instance in regard to Koran interpretations, the more mellow verses are emphasized towards people with no thorough knowledge of the matter, and threatening, harsh verses are hidden.
Muhammed did it
Taqiyya was practised by the Prophet, Mohammed, himself; in negotiations where he fooled his opponents. For that very reason Muslims often enter into agreements intending to break them when they have assumed control of the situation.
Denial
Active Muslims in the West deny the use of taqija. This emphatic denial of using taqija towards us and the authorities is part of the method used in taqiyya. Often it leads to confusion on behalf of us and negotiating authorities e.g. the Ministry of the Interior.
Common claim
A common example of taqiyya is the claim that Islam does not do missionary work in the West. At the same time Arab states spend four to five billions of Kroners to missionary work in Europe per year. In Germany 1000 of mosques have been built over the last 15 years.
Fraud is legitimate
Fraud and lies are religiously permitted means in Islam. A negotiated settlement or an agreement with a Muslim is never final.
Neither is a business contract as I found out the hard way. "Its out of scope!" "But it is the will of Allah, and either you do it or you're out of the country." What a way to do business.
A bit like Sinn Fein/IRA - except as gaeilge!
A base from which taqiyya can emanate in a thousand directions
straight out of Yasser Arafat's play book. Tell the stupid infidels what they want to hear in English and then tell Muslim Jihadists in Arabic what you really think...kill the infidels.
Straight out of Gerry Adam's play book. Tell the stupid Westbrits what they want to hear in English and then tell Hibernofascists as gaeilge what you really think...kill the Brits.
"Prophet, rouse the faithful to arms. If there are twenty steadfast men among you, they shall vanquish two hundred; and if there are a hundred, they shall rout a thousand unbelievers, for they are devoid of understanding." (8:65)
Religion of peace or Cult of Imbeciles????
You heard it straight from Moe! You question it you die!
Jeremy Jones from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry said that since Sheikh Taj arrived in the country more than 20 years ago, he has been a marginal figure.
"My experiences with Muslims in Australia would tend to indicate that he represents a relatively small portion of that community at the very most," Mr Jones said.
ummmmmm, and that surprises anyone, HOW?
I simply do not understand why to date I have not seen reports of people going into Mosques during sermons taping them and then translating them and reporting back. I do not speak Arabic and would love to know what the heck is going on during these sermons.
Rabid dogs need killing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.