[CHUCKfromCAL]

Finally.

I never thought I would see a Muslim write about this.

[poet]

Great speeches are one thing, action is another. I'll believe it when the "good" muslims take to the streets with signs condemning the devils who murder civilians.

[swarthyguy]

He's written other articles in this vein. YOu can also find articles by a Pakistani called Tashbih Sayyed, posted on FR; he writes for a mag called paktoday.com; he's in the US currently, having to flee Pakistan in fear of his life.

Another decent source is Dailytimes.com.pk or co.pk.

Regarding this guy, where do we send the flowers for this brave soul.

[Coop]

One thing fueling this rise in public bigotry is the anger expressed by some Americans about the Muslim reaction to Sept. 11. On this matter, I think that American Muslims should take a hard look at the Muslim organizations that claim to represent them or speak on their behalf.

I would hardly call anger directed at terrorists and American Muslims dancing for joy in the street as bigotry.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

I'm extremely disappointed too. Where have they been?

I will say this.. within a couple days of 9/11, a huge Sikh community where I live did fundraisers and sent the money to NY. They have been wonderful neighbors. True Americans. I was so glad they did it, and raised so much so quickly, because it quelled any prejudices that may have popped up. But I wonder if it even would have.. as they have just been awesome in our community.

We have lived in one of the most mixed and diverse towns in the USA, and it has been a true blessing. I would hate to even say where it was, because people would try to bring their families here to enjoy it. And then we would be over-run. It would change.

The Sikhs did more than any of the local churches. And way sooner.

But where is the Muslim community? Why the silence? Considering the fact that the perps who harmed us were Muslim, it would seem that a showing of support FOR America, and AGAINST extremist would have served everyone well!! So why the silence?

Thanks for posting this. Interesting .. and I'm glad to see a Muslim FINALLY speaking up.. and loudly!! But will the Muslim community start responding? I won't hold my breath. It has been 10 months. In two months, a year. Where are they?

[Aaron_A]

A friend of mine, an Orthodox rabbi,

Surely this alone is probably engough to have a fatwa written against him.

[RightWhale]

It has not been easy for a Muslim such as the author to find the correct Muslim way to denounce terrorists.

Khaled Abou El Fadl has put his focus on Muslim organizations, which are not individual Muslims who are constrained in what they think and say, but can act in any manner they wish. He also includes Muslim intellectuals, who have a special relationship with Islam somewhat separate from their individual practice of the religion. This is the only way Islam can criticize terrorism. Individual Muslims cannot question other Muslims' faith or Muslimness, but organizations can.

[AmericanCompatriot]

I never thought I would see a Muslim write about this.

I wonder if they aren't writing and speaking out or if the media won't let them be heard? After all, a divided and strife-ridden America needs MORE HELP from the government. Anything and everything that increases our dependence on the "BIG MACHINE" is promoted and slanted, appropriately.

[First_Salute]

This guy, Jamie Farr, the girl who just moved out downstairs, an old friend from Iran (now in L.A. - L.A. Land), Kasey Kassem, and maybe a few others, are the only mid-East descent people on this wavelength.

The rest are still checking the wind direction.

Which is one really, really big reason why President Bush should have done some major thumpin' from the start, so as to set the wind direction.

He talks a great storm, but few clouds gather.

[CaptRon]

Muslim organizations should establish a unified task force that provides information and assistance to the federal government with the purpose of preventing further terrorist attacks against the United States and apprehending anyone involved in facilitating or carrying out such attacks.

This step alone would change my thinking. The others he mentions are mere window dressing, easily-faked "support".

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

[Atsilvquodi]

what a joke...

too little too late.

[tm22721]

McWorld is defeating Jihad and there's nothing Muslims can do about it.

BUMP

[TADSLOS]

Most important, whatever we do must be united, compelling and convincing, not because we fear retaliation or harm by bigots or Islam-haters but because this is what Islamic morality teaches us

Nice sentiment, but Islamic "morality" doesn't add up from what I've seen and heard. Dump the Koran in its current form, do a re-write, leave out all of the hate and warlike rhetoric it espouses then re-instruct your believers accordingly. You may be able to join the rest of us in the Western world in about three or four generations. In the meantime, just focus on being American, if you can.

[E Rocc]

I've seen it several times since September. There's just some people who believe they've seen all their prejudices against Muslims justified, and simply aren't going to give up this misperception that American Muslims haven't spoken out against terrorism.

We condemn in the strongest terms possible what are apparently vicious and cowardly acts of terrorism against innocent civilians. We join with all Americans in calling for the swift apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators. No cause could ever be assisted by such immoral acts.

"All members of the Muslim community are asked to offer whatever help they can to the victims and their families. Muslim medical professionals should go to the scenes of the attacks to offer aid and comfort to the victims.

- September 11 statement: the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

-Eric

[SlickWillard]

All major Muslim organizations should agree on a unified statement unequivocally condemning terrorism and the Sept. 11 attacks in the harshest language possible. All major American Muslim organizations and intellectuals should sign this statement.

To do this, a Muslim must unequivocally condemn Mohammed's clear and unequivocal commandment to seize and kill, which, to a Muslim, is a condemnation of Allah's own clear and unequivocal commandment to seize and kill. In other words: To condemn terrorism is to condemn Islam itself. Don't hold your breath waiting for it to happen. As a little exercise in domestic impolity: Ask any Muslim of your acquaintance whether they will renounce the Chapter of Women's commandment to seize and kill. Hell, for such a renunciation to mean anything, you'd first have to get them to renounce the practice of Al-Taqiyah [or Taqija, or lying to infidels], but once you introduce the liar's paradox, everything degenerates into gobbledy-gook nonsense [which, by the way, is a pretty good description of Islam in the first place].

Medina Suras
The Chapter of Women
[Chapters from the Koran]
The Harvard Classics 1909–14

But if there befalls you grace from God, he would say—as though there were no friendship between you and him—‘O would that I had been with thee to attain this mighty happiness!’ Let those then fight in God’s way who sell this life of the world for the next; and whoso fights in God’s way, then, be he killed or be he victorious, we will give him a mighty hire.

What ails you that ye do not fight in God’s way, and for the weak men and women and children, who say, ‘Lord, bring us out of this town 19 of oppressive folk, and make for us from Thee a patron, and make for us from Thee a help?’

Those who believe fight in the way of God; and those who disbelieve fight in the way of Tâghût; fight ye then against the friends of Satan, verily, Satan’s tricks are weak.

Do ye not see those to whom it is said, ‘Restrain your hands, and be steadfast in prayer and give alms;’ and when it is prescribed for them to fight then a band of them fear men, as though it were the fear of God or a still stronger fear, and they say, ‘O our Lord! why hast thou prescribed for us to fight, couldst thou not let us abide till our near appointed time?’ Say, ‘The enjoyment of this world is but slight, and the next is better for him who fears;’—but they shall not be wronged a straw.

...

Why are ye two parties about the hypocrites, when God hath overturned them for what they earned? Do ye wish to guide those whom God hath led astray? Whoso God hath led astray ye shall not surely find for him a path. They would fain that ye misbelieve as they misbelieve, that ye might be alike; take ye not patrons from among them until they too flee in God’s way; but if they turn their backs, then seize them and kill them wheresoever ye find them, and take from them neither patron nor help,—save those who reach a people betwixt whom and you is an alliance—or who come to you while their bosoms prevent them from fighting you or fighting their own people. But had God pleased He would have given you dominion over them, and they would surely have fought you. But if they retire from you and do not fight you, and offer you peace,—then God hath given you no way against them.

Ye will find others who seek for quarter from you, and quarter from their own people; whenever they return to sedition they shall be overturned therein: but if they retire not from you, nor offer you peace, nor restrain their hands, then seize them and kill them wheresoever ye find them;—over these we have made for you manifest power.

[The Scorpion King]

Not bloody likely!

[Kermit]

El Fadl is a really brave and good man.

"In one year, more than 20 hate-filled books, with titles such as ``Islamic Invasion,'' ``The Truth About Islam'' and ``The Enemies Among Us,'' have been published."

I haven't read these books, but it is wrong to dismiss them as "hate-filled" from the titles. We suffered an Islamic Invasion, which is advocated by certain Islamicists around the world. Finding out the truth about Islam seems to me to be a noble goal. And Mohammed Atta and his pals were enemies and were among us for 2+ years. It is also reported that up to 5,000 Al Qaeda sympathizers, supporters and potential terrorists in this country today. Isn't that enemies among us?El Fadl also advocates that American Muslim organizations work today to find enemies in this country.

[Redcloak]

American Muslims must...

Any such actions would be coming about 10 months too late.

[McGavin999]

This good man has written a number of really great articles. He's right, we waited for the Muslim community to step up and say something and it was only when we heard from CAIR and other groups of that type that we turned.

All we have seen from the Muslim community is half hearted statements that have NEVER been followed with actions.

The simple fact is, the Muslims need a reformation. They need to gather together and state their position and then they need to follow it with actions. Turn in the terrorists, volunteer to translate, go on shows AGAINST the CAIR group to argue the Muslim law.

[Valin]

It is not an exaggeration to say that the leadership of these organizations has failed to establish its credibility and to convince the American public of the outrage felt by most Muslims over the tragedy of Sept. 11. Various individuals and particular organizations have issued isolated condemnations, but to date there has not been something unified and overwhelming. Muslim leadership has failed, and it has blamed everyone but itself for this failure.

American Muslims must demand that either this leadership reform itself or be changed.

Unfortunatly this seems to be a problem throughout the arab world.