With defenders like this, Islam does not need any enemies!
The Mujahedeen Shura Council, an umbrella organisation of Sunni Arab extremist groups that includes al-Qaida in Iraq, issued a statement on a web forum saying the pontiff and the west were “doomed”. The message, the authenticity of which could not be immediately verified, said: “We shall continue our holy war and never stop until God enables us to chop your necks and raise the fluttering banner of monotheism when God’s rule is established governing all people and nations.”
As a polytheist who especially believes in the mother goddess – would i be a target, i wonder?
How about an athiest – would they be included in all this neck chopping.
How about agnostics or animists (and i must admit that there are times that i am one)
I am not really sure that i like the idea of some idiot somewhere threatening to impose his world /religious / theocratic view on me ….
source : here
i really would like to see the same level of protest against this statement as there was against Pope Benedict’s speech. I really respect the way that the Indonesians and the Malaysians have reacted to this entire fracas – I wish that the middle east and indeed India can learn from them. There is a way of protesting with dignity without calling for heads, necks and other body parts – and in that the countries of South East Asia are leading the way.
It is sad that the Muslim leadership in India (if it can be called that) is busy looking at kowtowing to the Arabs in general and the Saudi’s in particular when they should be actually building bridges with Indonesia and Malaysia and form a common front against those who wish to hijack [tag]Islam[/tag] for their own petty gains.
Ever wondered the reason for different reactions by Middle East Muslims and Muslims of Indonasia/Malasia? I think if Indonasia/Malasia was also the play field of USA and allies like Middle East is, the reactions would have been same. As for India, well, we have lot many leaders with mindset like that of VHP or SIMI which has roots in history, so our ways of reaction has to be like this only. Malasia/Indonasia don’t have such history. Still it is to the credit of Indonasia/Malasia that they are showing wisdom. When our Hindu brothers have not forgotten the injustice done to them few centuries ago by some zealous and ignorant Muslims kings (not following the tenets of Islam), how do we expect that people of Middle East will fail to react to the injustice done to Palestinians and invasion of Iraq on false charges of WMD?
Having said that, yes I agree that with friends like ‘this’, as you said, we don’t need enemies.
Hi Irshad – thank you for your comment.
I buy your point on the American involvement in the Middle East. But, i think that it is slightly more than that. there is a political vacuum in terms of leadership in the Middle East – while there isn’t one in Malaysia and Indonesia.
If you remember the Indian independence movement – the earliest participants were the muslim intellensia. They were social reformers, they were learned men, they set up universities, they particiapted in society and they wanted equality and liberty for all the people. Sir Sayyed Ahmed Khan, Mohamad Ali Jinnah, Maulana Azad> Khan Abdul Ghaffur Khan, Asaf Ali, Sayed Ameer Ali, Ali Brothers, Maulana Muhammad Ali and Maulana Shaukat Ali,– just to name a few were leaders not just in politics but of the community. -And these were men who would have the guts and the courage to stand up against ritual bound dogma and look at progress of their society. This just about gives you a glimpse:
Today, there isn’t such strong political leadership – and it is this leadership vacuum that is being filled by the extremists. In the middle east the tyranny of the state that prevents the leadership.In Pakistan — unless they have serious land reform they are going to be stuck between the military and the mullah. In India the situation is quite different. There isn’t really any logical reason as to why there are is no leadership. There are politicians who are Mulsims, but i am not sure whether you can call them leaders.
Malaysia and Indonesia are lucky in that they have political leadership and a plurality of views.
And finally, the next time anyone refers to ‘forcible conversions’ remind them of sati !!
Hi Gargi!
Thanks for replying. Your point about lack of leadership is well taken, as also the reason for its absence in middle-east and Pakistan. I am not an analyst who can give expert opinion, but here is what I think about lack of Muslim leaders in India:
Post independence, the trauma of Partition of India had sent Indian Muslims into a shell. Prior to Partition, Muslim intellectuals had confidence of political dialogue; post-Partition, this community had little scope for such political activism, being accused of partitioning India. The rubber-stamp presence of leaders like Maulana Azad and Zakir Hussain did not help much. In the present times, the fracture in Muslim community on shia/sunni and barelvi/deobandi lines is major stumbling block. And it also does not help that there is active lobby working against this community to subvert its progress and mislead it into oblivion thru trick and con.
Social reforms and women’s education is indeed good things that happened earlier, and should continue. But in the ‘glimps’ quoted by you, I see mention of ‘daring literature’ of Ismat Chugtai. Now, if you mean such an empowerment of women to be ‘daring’ in the manner of Ismat Chugtai’s litrature, I think it amounts to taking the Muslims away from their Constitution.
You know, Indian Constitution has a term called ‘Basic Structure of Constitution’ or something like that. What it means is that any legislature has to conform to this ‘Basic Structure’, otherwise the Learned Judges of Supreme Court can strike it down. Same way, Muslims have their Constitution, and any proposed reform has to confirm to it, otherwise the Learned religious leaders can strike it down. In whatever liberal manner you interpret this Muslim Constitution, the Ismat Chugtai type of reform just does not fit in. What then? One way is to rewrite/change this Constitution – Quran – and that is impossible, as this Constitution itself says that no power on earth can succeed in changing it. The other way is to just ignore this Constitution and do whatever one likes. Choice is in the hand of people, and the majority view prevails. And majority Muslim view is that any reform has to confirm to this Constitution.
And thanks for ‘sati’ tip! I shall remember it.
There is a quote, I forget by whom – “The tendency to turn human judgments into divine commands makes religion one of the most dangerous forces in the world.”
absolutely
a bit like demolishing a mosque and triggering off riots to usher in ram rajya… .the irony is astounding 🙂