Islam’s Wahhabi Mutation

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette ^ | May 22, 2005 | Holly Lebowitz [Rossi Religion News Service]

[littlelilac]

excellent point, El United States of America is less a threat than Al United States of Amerika

don't worry though the Islamists are trying to get a foot hold into South America, they already have an area, called the Tri Border region, where they go to train and
meet, away from the prying eyes of other intelligence agencies, except the Argentinians, who are keeping an eye on them.....and hey Hezbollah has already launched a few attacks vs Jewish targets in Argentina......

there are also stories of Latinos converting to Islam, in what numbers I do not know or whether that is more a North American phenomenon rather than South America I do not know

[littlelilac]

Hmmm I have more respect for Bernard Lewis than that, try reading one of his many books, like Where Islam went Wrong, it's a great synposis of why the situation is as it is today, he is very insightful, I imagine most Muslims would not like his theories

[littlelilac]

PS He is not a Muslim, in fact, he might even be Jewish, which would be ironic......I should look that up

[HardStarboard]

>>> I believe I speak for many in FR when I say that we don't label "hostile" Muslims as Wahhabi Muslims -- we just call 'em Muslims. <<<

Right on the mark! Show me a Muslim in America, or anywhere for that matter, that does not wish to see an Islamic society in the United States - complete with Sharia Law.

There are a few - I talked to a Muslim cab driver from Somalia the other day. He likes America the way it is but said that the vast majority of Muslims here want to see Islam predominate in America....and that means Christians and Jews assume "dihminni", diminished status.

Not as long as I draw breath.

[littlelilac]

sounds interesting, I've certainly know that name, I'm game

someone mentioned other radical sects, I believe the Deobandi are the Wahhabis of India and just guessing, I'll bet they had a profound influence on Islam in Pakistan

[littlelilac]

hmmm aren't cabbies interesting, we were just in NYC, we had a Pakistani cabbie and he had a small US flag hanging from his rear view mirror and he was quite proud of it...I was shocked....

[littlelilac]

as I thought, Bernard Lewis is Jewish, born in Britain,

actually when I quoted Lewis on another board with a lot of Muslim visitors, I was always waiting for someone to attack Lewis on that basis, but I don't recall that anyone did....

so ironically the man considered one of the foremost scholars on Islam is a Jew

and given his theories, and having just reviewed the faculty list for Princeton's Near East Studies Department, and given the way most college campuses think these days, sadly, how is it they haven't run him out of Princeton yet?

I mean he is basically saying Muslims are backwards ok in academic speak, they are not "progessing" as a society and that Islam is what is holding them back.....because the three tenets to progress are democracy, equal participation of women and education - real education, not just religious

[OK]

Re: "but clearly Islam was different before Wahhab developed his own school of thought because many Arabs opposed his efforts"

The thing is that Islamics had moved away from the strict Shariah way of life that was followed by Muhammad and the first Caliphs. Wahhabism simply is the reading of the Haddiths and following Islam the way it is laid down in those ancient revered texts. It is not an aberration, it is simply Islam as Muhammad presented it.

The moderate Muslims have no leg to stand on when arguing against the fundamentalists. All it takes is to read the first texts of Islam (Haddiths) that lay out how Muhammad lived and what he did and said. Anyone who wants to live as Muhammad did must follow these texts which only lead to behavior such as Osama and Ayatollah Khomeini displayed.