Am I Islamophobic?

In a speech given at the National Endowment for Democracy, on October 6, 2005 President Bush said: “Many Muslim scholars have already publicly condemned terrorism, often citing Chapter 5, Verse 32 of the Koran, which states that killing an innocent human being is like killing all humanity…” He most likely did not read the entire verse which states: “…whoever kills a person, unless it be for manslaughter or for mischief in the land, it is as though he had killed all men.”

So it is okay according to the Quran to kill anyone who creates “mischief in the land.” It is easy to see how the Taliban can justify killing. Mischief can be translated to pretty much anything they want, such as foreigners in their country, even those who are there as aid workers.

The arrival of families changed the immigrants’ attitudes towards religious and cultural values, transplanting honor culture, modesty standards, and attitudes toward women to the West. Veiled women have now become a common sight on U.S. and European streets.

Verse 33 states: “The only punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is that they should be murdered, or crucified, or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides, or they should be imprisoned.” Quite severe punishment for “mischief.”

Feisal Abdul Rauf is the Imam of a mosque in New York City. He founded the American Society for Muslim Advancement in 1997. He is also the Imam behind the project to build the mosque near ground zero. It seems he has become the spokesperson for Muslim-American relations as the State Department representative to “foster ‘greater understanding’ about Islam and Muslim communities in the United States.” In this capacity he recently traveled to the Middle East. There is some justifiable speculation that he is using this trip to raise funds for the mosque despite the State Department’s denial.

Another article recently published in the New York Times titled “Parsing the Record of Feisal Abdul Rauf” began with: “The Internet is crowded with claims and counterclaims about Feisal Abdul Rauf…” A quote from the Imam Rauf’s book What’s Right With Islam Is What’s Right With Americs states: “Islamic law is clearly against terrorism, against any kind of deliberate killing of civilians or similar ‘collateral damage.'”

“Claims and counterclaims” do not mean anything. It is perception that drives our beliefs and fears. To say that Islamic law prohibits killing innocent civilians doesn’t mean much when the Quran clearly justifies killing anyone who “makes mischief in the land.”

The article also refers to an interview on “60 Minutes” just after 9/11 when Imam Rauf stated, “I wouldn’t say the United States deserved what happened, but the United States policies were an accessory to the crime that happened.” When asked how the United States was an accessory he said, “In fact, it – in the most direct sense, Osama bin Laden is made in the U.S.A…”

When I read the entire article I come away with the notion that Imam Rauf wants America to “understand” Islam. He contends that the definition of “terrorism” is different for Muslims because they believe “collateral damage” to civilians is “terrorism.” He needs to be explaining to the Muslim world that “collateral damage” is not intentional, nor premeditated, and certainly is not meant to kill innocent men, women, or children. “Terrorism” is intentional, is premeditated, is meant to kill innocent men, women, and children for the purpose of instilling fear. Surely the Imam who has lived in America since his late teens and has a degree in physics from Columbia University knows the difference between “terrorism” and “collateral damage.” Could he be pandering to Muslims?

Accusing us of terrorism is the rationalization many Muslims used to celebrate in the streets when the World Trade Center was destroyed and thousands were murdered. It is this kind of thinking from an Imam who is supposed to be representing America that is troublesome. Yet my thoughts on this will be translated by the left wing in America as “Islamophobic.”

The Quran specifically states that the goal of Islam is to be the dominant religion of the world. “Islam is considered Europe’s fastest growing religion,” according to an article in the BBC News. The following verses in the Quran support that goal:

Ch. 48 vs. 28, “He it is Who has sent His Messenger with the guidance and the Religion of Truth that He may make it prevail over all religions.” This same verse is repeated word for word in Ch. 61, vs. 9.

In Ch. 8, vs. 39, Muslims are encouraged to fight until Allah is the only God: “And fight with them until there is no more persecution, and all religions are for Allah.”

You will not find Christian churches, synagogues, Buddhists temples, or Mormon tabernacles in many Muslim countries, and forget trying to build one there if the country is ruled by Islamic law. We are to tolerate building a mosque at Ground Zero while countries ruled by Islamic law won’t allow any non-Muslim missionaries within their borders. It seems hypocritical and insensitive for Muslims to disregard this fact.

The Quran states in Ch. 3, vs. 28: “Let not the believers take the disbelievers for friends rather than believers. And whoever does this has no connection with Allah – except that you guard yourselves against them.” And in Ch. 5, vs. 51: “O you who believe, take not the Jews and Christians for friends. They are friends of each other. And whoever amongst you takes them for friends he is indeed one of them. Surely Allah guides not the unjust people.” Many Muslims consider all non-Muslims “infidels” and believe there is no room for religious coexistence in Islam.

Nor is there room for forgiveness of unbelievers, Ch. 4, vs. 168: “Those who disbelieve and act unjustly Allah will never forgive them, nor guide them to a path.” This is in total opposition to the Christian faith.

Ch. 3 vs. 85: And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will not be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.

Since the beginning of recorded history religious wars have killed hundreds of thousands. The First Crusade began in 1095 with Pope Urban II’s Synod of Clermont. Between the 11^th and 16^th centuries a strict theocratic hierarchy ruled the Mayans. They made human sacrifices to appease their god. St. Bernard of Clairvaux promoted the Second Crusade in a letter to the Archbishops, Bishops, et al. He wrote: “…the enemies of the Cross have raised blaspheming heads, ravaging with the edge of the sword the land of promise. …Alas! They rage against the very shrine of the Christian faith with blasphemous mouths…” He is quoted in other historical works saying, “The Christian glories in the death of the pagan, because Christ is glorified…” Sounds a lot like the Islamic fanatics of today who would say, “The Muslim glories in the death of the infidel, because Allah is glorified.” St. Bernard also stated, “…since to inflict death or to die for Christ is no sin, but rather, an abundant claim to glory.” Sounds a lot like the “jihadist” of today.

The Muslim leader Saladin started the Third Crusade and was finally beaten by Richard the Lion-Hearted who “ordered 3,000 captives to be slaughtered including women and children.” A radical Islamic Sect called the Assassins killed their religious opponents. Pope Innocent III’s eighteen year Papacy used “Christian force” to quell disagreements when his diplomacy failed. His career began and ended with crusades to the Holy Land. Pope Innocent IV responsible for the Inquisition during the 1200s authorized torture to force heretics to confess.

It is not only Christians and Muslims who committed atrocities in the name of religion. A more comprehensive list of religious horror stories can be found in an article first published in 1990, titled Religion’s Death Toll by James A. Haught.

The point I am making is that unlike Christianity, which has gotten over its barbaric past, the fanatics of Islam are still in the Dark Ages. Where are the moderate Muslims protesting the daily atrocities committed in the name of their religion? Where are the moderate Muslims protesting the Mosque to be built at ground zero?

If we are to believe that Islam is “the Religion of Peace” then it is the responsibility of Muslims everywhere to quell the hate and violence of the Jihadists. Until that happens the distrust of Muslims will continue and if one wants to call that Islamaphobia, so be it.

The frequency of news stories about planned terror attacks and arrests continues to escalate. Killings in the name of Allah occur somewhere in the world on a daily basis. According to one website that follows these atrocities 15,966 terror attacks have occurred since 9/11.

When will it stop? If the majority of Muslims are “peaceful” why don’t they stand together to openly protest their fanatical brothers? I believe Islamophobia is fueled by the lack of protests against “terrorism” by moderate Muslims. It is fueled by the fog created by “claims and counterclaims” and rhetoric that fails to address the real issues. Fanatical Islam if left alone is a cancer that will only continue to spread.

The Quran is very specific in putting itself above all other religions with the goal to dominate the world. The fact that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the west and millions of Muslims are immigrating to non-Muslim countries only adds to the concern of many people. The fact that Muslims attempt to impose their religious laws in those countries is disconcerting.

I am concerned when we see people arrested in the United States for plotting terror attacks and 99% of them are Muslim. When I am on a plane and there is a passenger that appears to be a Muslim, it worries me. Am I Islamophobic? Yes, I am.