Grand Mufti, Others Denounce London Bombings

LONDON/JEDDAH, 9 July 2005 — The Kingdom’s grand mufti yesterday strongly denounced the deadly blasts that rocked London, saying Islam strictly prohibits the killing of innocent people. He also censured the terrorists for tarnishing the image of Islam by attaching their heinous crimes to the religion.

The explosions that ripped through central London’s transport system on Thursday, “targeting peaceful people, are not condoned by Islam, and are indeed prohibited by our religion,” Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.

“Attributing to Islam acts of individual or collective killings, bombings, destruction of properties and the terrorizing of peaceful people is unfair, because they are alien to the divine religion,” said the mufti, who also heads the Council of Senior Islamic Scholars, Saudi Arabia’s highest religious authority.

“Islam is a religion of reforms and righteousness. It envisages the progress of humanity and takes it from darkness to light. It also calls for respecting agreements and prohibits their violation,” the mufti said referring to accords binding governments. “Causing corruption on earth is one of the biggest crimes in Islam,” he explained.

Sheikh Abdul Aziz said respectable Muslim scholars all over the world have stated that such outrages bear no relation to Islam.

Meanwhile, Saudi Ambassador to Britain Prince Turki Al-Faisal issued a statement condemning the London attacks. “On behalf of the government of Saudi Arabia, I wish to assure the British people that our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the blasts that hit London Thursday morning,” he said.

Also yesterday, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary-general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims. He sent a message to Prime Minister Tony Blair expressing his “utmost indignation and outrage” and condemning, “in the strongest terms, the horrendous acts.”

Muslim World League Secretary-General Dr. Abdullah Al-Turki also condemned the criminal attacks. “On behalf of Muslims and Islamic organizations it represents, the MWL condemns the repugnant act of crime that targeted innocent civilians,” Al-Turki said, adding that Islam has prohibited the killing of innocent people. He urged the United Nations to carry out a coordinated joint campaign to cleanse the world of terrorists.

Sheikh Abdul Mohsen Al-Obaikan, a senior Saudi scholar and a Shoura member, said there was no justification, whatsoever, for the killing of innocent people. Speaking to MBC television, he urged all members of the Muslim community in Britain to cooperate with British authorities in tracking down the criminals behind the attacks.

“Any Muslim having information leading to the perpetrators is urged to pass it on to the British authorities. By doing so, we not only help protect innocent Muslims from random arrests and charges but also save them from being labeled as terrorists,” the scholar said.

Britain’s Muslim community is bracing itself for a possible backlash after Thursday’s bombings. Police confirmed a minor arson attack yesterday morning on a mosque in Leeds. The East London Mosque in Whitechapel, a stone’s throw from Aldgate, one of the underground station affected by the attacks, has received anonymous threatening letters.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair, however, said “There has been no incidents at any of the London mosques.”

Muslim leaders such as Sir Dr. Zaki Badawi, chairman of the Imams & Mosques Council of Britain and principal of the Muslim College, and Sir Iqbal Sacranie, secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain, have both condemned the atrocities and urged the Muslim communities to cooperate with the authorities in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Dr. Muhammed Abdul Bari, chairman of the East London Mosque, stressed: “We cannot let people who carry out such crimes ruin the cohesion we have built up in this community over many years. “This terrible atrocity should not be allowed to wreck all the hard work we have done,” he added.

Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi diplomat in London, said the best defense against such terrorist atrocities lies with the Muslim community in Britain. He urged the authorities to engage with its Muslim population to flush out potential radicals and preempt further such attacks. He confirmed that Saudi intelligence and security organizations were cooperating with their British counterparts in exchanging information and intelligence over the movements and involvement of known Muslim radicals.

The Muslim Social Forum (MSF), an umbrella organization made up of national and regional Islamic organizations and key advisory body for the police service, expressed its dismay, shock and deep sadness at the events that unfolded in London.

The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) also condemned the attacks. IHRC chairman Massoud Shadjareh urged Muslims to stay calm.

The IHRC is advising Muslims not to travel or go out unless necessary, and is particularly concerned that women should not go out alone in this situation. In the event of being attacked, IHRC urges victims not to retaliate and to report the matter to the police and other appropriate authorities

Indeed, the essence of Taqiyya (holy lying) is fully on display here. To Muslims, the intersection of "innocent" and "infidels" (ALL non-Muslims) is the empty set, so any murders of infidels are OK, if not always convenient or prudent.

Below is an extended example of Taqiyya, handed out to US public school teachers, followed by a critique and balancing website references. Let's see how quickly the "balancing information" gets disseminated. Link provided to check original (which I have slightly edited to eliminate a few annoying typos and incorrect punctuation).

http://www.hannity.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-1246.html
KAOSKTRL April 8th, 2005, 10:25 AM

What is Islam?

By Semya Hakim

The recent attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon have brought to the surface a lot of ignorant beliefs and stereotypes about Islam. Clearly, it is past time for teachers to educate themselves and their students about what is the second largest religion in the world.

One way to start discussions is to ask students to: 1. List stereotypes about Islam and/or Muslims; 2. List everything they know about Islam and/or Muslims.

When I ask about Islam, I often get blank stares, followed by stammerings such as, "Muslims pray a lot," or, "They believe in Allah" (or, as one of my students told me, "They believe in Allan."). Some students have even told me that all Muslim men have, and possibly are required to have, more than one wife.

One common misconception is that Jihad can be easily translated as "holy war." Jihad actually translates as "to strive in the way of God." So a person who studies Islam, preaches Islam, or defends an Islamic country is jihad. It is not someone who initiates violence in the name of Islam. In fact, the literal translation of the word "Islam" is "peace."

This misunderstanding stems, in part, from the fact that many non-Muslim Americans do not understand that Islam is a way of life. Because Muslims don't necessarily see boundaries between nation-states the way Americans do, their patriotism is more about the religion than a particular country. Also, because of religious/racial profiling in the media and elsewhere, Muslims are one of the few groups who are consistently identified by religion when they are accused of committing terrorist acts.

BASIC FACTS ABOUT ISLAM

Part of the problem is that many teachers approach Islam as if it were some distant, ancient religion. Yet there are six million Muslims in the United States, and Islam is one of the fastest-growing religions in the country.

Here is some basic information about Islam that can help teachers educate their students.

* Islam is the name of the religion; Muslim refers to its followers.

* Worldwide, there are 1.2 billion Muslims. Islam is the dominant religion throughout large portions of Asia and Africa, with the largest Muslim populations living in Indonesia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

* Islam is the third of the three largest monotheistic religions, in addition to Judaism and Christianity. Muslims believe that the Qu'ran is God's word as revealed to the prophet Muhammad (570-632) through the angel Gabriel.

* There are five basic beliefs of Islam. 1. Belief in one god. (Allah is the Arabic word for god, not believed to be a separate god from the Judeo-Christian version). 2. Belief in prophethood (Muhammad and the ones before him). 3. Belief in the justice of God. 4. Belief in the Imams (or Apostles) of God (Shi'ite belief). 5. Belief in the Day of Judgment.

* There are five major duties of Muslims. 1. Pray five times a day - morning, noon, afternoon, sunset and evening (Sullah). 2. Make a pilgrimage to Mecca once in their lifetime if physically/financially able (Hajj). 3. Fast during the month of Ramadan (Saum). 4. Give to the Poor (Zakat). 5. Strive in the way of God (Jihad).

* According to Islam, there are five major prophets: Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad.

* Muslims worship God directly. Religious leaders do not have any divine characteristics; people and objects are not "holy." It is, in fact, sacrilegious to worship anything or anyone outside of God.

* Muslims, unlike Christians, do not believe that Jesus was God's son, although they do believe he was a prophet.

* The Qu'ran contains much of the basic information told in the Bible's Old Testament and in the Torah as well as additional information.

* Women dress modestly out of reverence for God, not for men. Muslim women are not more submissive than other women. Some argue that Muslim women, in fact, have been treated better than women in other cultures. For example, women in Islam were given the right to vote about 1,400 years ago, centuries before other women. Of course, like many other cultures, patriarchal culture can corrupt Muslim culture.

* There are two main sects of Islam: Sunni and Shi'ite. One of their main differences is in their beliefs about who were the leaders following the death of Prophet Muhammad and how they became leaders (appointed by God or elected). Also, Muslims in Saudi Arabia and Qatar practice Wahabism, which is an extremist interpretation of Islam founded in the 18th century by Mohamed Ibn Abd-al-Wahab. It is often discounted by Islamic scholars, just as they discount the Taliban.

* Arranged marriages have changed over time. It is rarely the case where the two people involved have absolutely no input in the decision to marry. Muslim women are rarely forced into marriage, even in the most religious of families.

* Muslims follow the lunar calendar, and thus their holidays move approximately 11 days on the Christian calendar. There are two major holidays in Islam: Eid al Adha is at the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca and Eid al Fitr is at the end of Ramadan.

* Islam is very family-oriented. The primary means of transmitting the religion are through the family. Therefore parents, both mothers and fathers, take on a big responsibility when raising children. This family orientation also translates into a community-oriented way of life that can greatly conflict with Western notions of individuality.

While this article does not begin to make other teachers "experts," hopefully it can give you some confidence in starting a dialogue in your own classrooms. Here are some websites for further information:

American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), www.adc.org
Arab American Institute (AAI), www.aaiusa.org
American Committee on Jerusalem (ACJ), www.acj.org
American Muslim Alliance (AMA), www.amaweb.org
American Muslim Council (AMC), www.amconline.org
Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), www.cair-net.org
Islamic Institute, www.islamicinstitute.org.

Semya Hakim teaches at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, MN.

Please encourage these folks to add a fairier collection of links to their choices as the none biased POV offer by them is in serious doubt. RMB to copy hyperlink email address I think.

KAOSKTRL

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Continues at top of next column

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Terry Burant terry.[url]burant@marquette.edu
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You can send mail to some individual editors by clicking the links on their names above. You can contact the others by sending your message c/o rethink@execpc.com.

Here's the letter I sent. Please contact these folks and see if they will be fair.

KAOSKTRL April 8th, 2005, 10:25 AM

I found out about your site and read the essay on What is Islam?

Both Semya Hakim and I support giving teachers information about Islam. However the slanted views found at the links you have provided are merely propaganda and are a mixture of whitewashed dilutions of Islamic scripture and outright lies that have no scriptural basis .

Thousands of people have begun the study of Islam since 9/11/01 to find out the nature of the hijacking and twisting going on.

We are angry the have found out we were being lied to by conniving people with an agenda They lie with a purpose to protect Islam’s image .Not to reveal the truth .concepts they don’t want you to know about are Taqiyya (holy lying) Abrogation (The order of the Qurans revelations)and Dhimmitude ( Oppressing non Muslims the Goal Of Islam.)

When these concept are understood Islamic violence make sense and the confusion over what you hear and what you see fades away So please add some other links for teacher to explore, that help reveal more not conceal more.

I recommend

http://jihadwatch.org/
http://www.prophetofdoom.net/
http://www.faithfreedom.org/
http://www.answering-islam.org/
http://www.islamreview.com/

KAOSKTRL April 8th, 2005, 10:25 AM

A good summary of the vision the West faces in challenging the messianic world-conquering claims of Islam. What makes the challenge less daunting is that this is only one of several claimants to the caliphate (khilifate in this reference) - - - and who knows if this movement's claim of 200 million adherents is anything but one more blowhard brag without foundation? Still, this site is more than a fly-by-night operation. Compare the final paragraph of this excerpt with the ritual denunciation of the London bombings on their home page. Try searching for "Taqiyya" (holy lying) and see what you turn up. Some external references:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taqiyya
http://www.al-islam.org/encyclopedia/chapter6b/1.html
http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2005/03/speaking-taqiyya.html

Compare with:
http://www.alislam.org/mta/summary/december19-2003.html
"Significance of Truthfulness"

http://www.alislam.org/introduction/index.html
http://www.alislam.org/index.html
http://www.alislam.org/library/books/thewill/

Commentary on the Khilafat
http://www.alislam.org/library/links/00000003.html

A Passage from the Quran on Khilafat
The Muslim Sunrise, Summer 1995

Allah had promised to those among you who believe and do good works that He will surely make them Successors in the earth, as He made Successors from among those who were before them; and that He will surely establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them; and that He will surely give them in exchange security and peace after their fear: They will worship Me, and they will not associate anything with Me. Then who so is ungrateful after that, they will be the rebellious.

(Surah Al-Nur, Verse 56)
Commentary:
The present verse embodies a promise that Muslims will be vouchsafed both spiritual and temporal leadership. The promise is made to the whole Muslim nation but the institution of Khilafat will take a palpable form in the person of certain individuals who will be the Prophet's Successors and the representatives of the whole nation. They will be, as it were, Khilafat personified. The verse further says that the fulfillment of this promise will depend on the Muslims' observing the Prayer and giving the Zakat and on their obeying the Messenger of God in all religious and temporal matters concerning the nation. When they will have fulfilled these conditions, the boon of Khilafat will be bestowed upon them and they will be made the leaders of nations; their state of fear will give place to a condition of safety and security, Islam will reign supreme in the world, and above all the Oneness and Unity of God - the real purpose and object of Islam - will become firmly established.

The promise of the establishment of Khilafat is clear and unmistakable. As the Holy Prophet is now humanity's sole guide for all time, his Khilafat must continue to exist in one form or another in the world till the end of time, all other Khilafahs having ceased to exist. This is among many others the Holy Prophet's distinct superiority over all other Prophets and Messengers of God. Our age has witnessed his greatest spiritual Khalifa in the person of Ahmad, the Promised Messiah.

The Qur'an has mentioned three kinds of Khalifas:

Khalifas, who are Prophets such as Adam and David. About Adam, God says in the Qur'an: "I am about to place a vicegerent in the earth" (2:31); and about David He says: "O David, We have made thee a vicegerent in the earth" (38:27).

Prophets who are the Khalifas of another and a greater Prophet such as the Isrealite Prophets who all were the Khalifas of Moses. About them the Qur'an says: "We have sent down the Torah wherein was guidance and light. By it did the Prophets who were obedient to Us judge for the Jews:" (5:45).

Non-Prophet Khalifas of a Prophet, with or without temporal powers, such as godly people learned in the Law. Their mission is to protect and preserve the law from being tampered with (5:45).

Briefly, the verse under comment covers all these categories of Khalifas, viz., the Holy Prophet's rightly-guided Khalifas, the Promised Messiah, his Successors and the spiritual Reformers or Mujaddids. Their mission, as the above verse says, is to protect the Law and to bring back "the erring flock into the Master's fold."

The special marks and characteristics of these Khalifas are:

They are appointed Khalifas through God's own decree in the sense that the hearts of believers become inclined towards them and they voluntarily accept them as their Khalifas;

the religion which their mission is to serve becomes firmly established through their prayers and missionary efforts;

they enjoy equanimity and peace of mind amidst hardships, privations or persecution which nothing can disturb; and

they worship God alone, i.e. in the discharge of their great responsibilities they fear no one and they carry on their duties undaunted and without being discouraged or dismayed by the difficulties that stand in their way.

The verse may also be regarded as embodying a prophecy which was made at a time when Islam was very weak and idols were being worshipped throughout Arabia and the Muslims being small in number feared for their very lives, and yet in the course of only a generation the prophecy was literally fulfilled. Idolatry disappeared from Arabia and Islam became firmly established not only in Arabia but also reigned supreme in the whole world and the followers of the Holy Prophet, erstwhile regarded as the dregs and scum of humanity, became the leaders and teachers of nations.

The words, "Whosoever is ungrateful after that, they will be the rebellious," signify that Khilafat is a great Divine blessing. Without it there can be no solidarity, cohesion and unity among Muslims and therefore they can make no real progress without it. If Muslims do not show proper appreciation of Khilafat by giving unstinted support and obedience to their Khalifas they will forfeit this great Divine boon and in addition will draw the displeasure of God upon themselves.

(The Holy Quran with English Translation and Commentary, Vol. 4, pp. 1869-1870.)

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