Comments (11)

To Deb Chatterjee & Tess Cummins:

I would like to mention here that those who are fighting with believers of other religions, in fact, they are fighting against huminity. No religion asked to fight and/or attack believers of other religions.

What is quoted by Deb Chatterjee referring Quaran, is a mis-interpretation of Quran. The real Jihad means to fight against the ill habits or thinking that we possess inside us. The Quran asked us to fight aginst those and be a perfect human being. To understand it, I would urge you all that "whether mankind is meant for religion or religion is meant for mankind?". Above all religion, human being comes first.

I want to learn as much as I can about Muslim religion. I have been stationed on Guam for the last three years and now that I am back in the states I want to utilize every opportunity but went to the wrong place for the Muslims in America lecture. I would appreciate information on any conferences and lectures and information in the area. I would appreciate it if you would let me know if Muslims in America will be available next. Thank you very much.

Templet

Tess Cummins wrote:

"Yes muslims have encouraged violence against non-muslims. Hindus have encouraged violence agains all non-hindus,and christians have been and still are very tolerant of non-christian and non-western deaths caused by western soldiers."

This is a false interpretation. Yes, Hindus have been violent, which is only a recent phenomenon since the past 100 years (in India). This is actually a reaction to the violence that Quran asks Muslims to commit in the name of Jihad (Holy War). The various strands of Hindu religion do not ask the faithful to commit violence against non-Hindus. This is most unlike Islam which asks faithfuls to wage war against non-believers till the convert to Islam.

Why are you compulsively deflecting the main issue ? To create confusion ?

To my brothers Muahmmad Abdul Mazid and Hilima Begum Ali,

I too agree with your thoughts on those of a religious understanding who fail to see our commonality in serving all of humanity. As a christian I strive to do this daily and I do it with a love for all in the name of Christ - not serving Him.

I was very blessed to be present at a recent interfaith gathering in Memphis, TN where one of the speakers was Ingrid Mattson. I'm sure the gathering tonight will continue to strengthen that power of God that reaches out to all in love.

My question for the panel tonight - Is there an ongoing dialogue between Muslims of other nations and those who live in the U.S? Was this mechanism in place before the events of 9-11 and all that has followed and has this been possible since then? How are American Muslims viewed by Muslims in other parts of the world? Are they considered a serious/vital part of the Muslim faith as a whole or are they thought to be too westernized or in some way lesser by their presence here?

assalamu alaikum
i have wrote to say that i totally agree with you brother Muhammad Abdul Mazid

Verse #33 in chapter 5 Sura Al-Maidah should be understood with all its context starting from verse 27 and going further after V33. This section deals with people of the book, those who say they believe but still work against the prophets and Allah, how they should be delt with when discovered and especially within the territories of the Muslim countries. Rushdih is an apt example of a blashphemer who will live in exile and never will he be appreciated by his own people and that is a disgrace in its self.

To All of them who would be reading this:

I feel that becoming violent against any action by the west and/or by people of other religions is definitely foolishness. Those who are real believers, they do not get mad of others' action. Someone has to understand, what is religion and why the religion is? Getting mad and/or irritated about any action(s) by oponent group is the result of not knowing the truth. The less educated (those who are lagging in knowing the depth of religion) wear religious dresses and show much instead of doing. In fact, those religious fashion wearing people are spoiling the religions. It is every where in every religions. There is no dress code for any religion but we made it!

I want to request each one of you that do not fight about the religions, try to do some good to the people by means of your capacity. People has to suffer for their acts, no one will be excused. So, first think of youself, learn the truth and be a servant of mankind and not a lord!

Peope poke fun at Hindu Gods all the time, in lots of places. The cartoon up roar was a staged and promoted event at first. No major outrage until some Imans pushed the idea of outrage on a trip to Mecca.

Deb, The cultural gap today between muslims and secular west is not just a gap between Islam and west but between much of relgious east and secular west. If Eurppeans poked fun at Hindu gods, trust me, Hindus would be up in arms. You will need riot police to use tear gas and batons to suppress the violent protests, and there will be people who will lose their lives. The non-muslim religous extremism doesn't get much coverage because its not a threat to the west. For instance, we call hindu suicide bombers "tamil tiger rebels". We call muslim suicide bombers "terrorists". Both are using exact same technique to declare their jihad against civilians.

In my opinon, part of the reason for this "cultural gap" between east and west has nothing to do with religion or culture but with the fact that bulk of our population is under 25 compared to the aging population of the west. And much of that under 25 year olds are unemployed. So when young males get together, the mob mentality takes over, and violence is given. You have seen for yourself. In the east, the protest rallies comprise overwhelmingly of young males. That is not the case in US and west.

Regarding the rest of your email: Yes muslims have encouraged violence against non-muslims. Hindus have encouraged violence agains all non-hindus,and christians have been and still are very tolerant of non-christian and non-western deaths caused by western soldiers.

Is this event open to the public?

To be a Muslim American in USA would literally mean internal "jihaad" (struggling with one's inner self for improvement). USA and Islam have diametrically opposite cultural polarities, as appraised below.

In USA filmmakers such as Martin Scorcese can make a blasphemous film, The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), where it was suggested Christ was married and probably had sexual relations. The Dan Brown novel (DaVinci Code) echoed the same theme. Recently documentary film-maker from Toronto, Canada, Simcha Jacobovici had made a film shown on TV with Ted Koppel as the anchorman/moderator, where it was indicated that Jesus's mortal remains were available, and that he was married and had kids.

All these films/novels hit at the very base of Christian belief and Christianity itself. I have not seen Christians going on rampage, mayhem and killing or issuing fatwas. Compare this to the fate of Salman Rushdie, Naguib Mahfooz, Ayman Hrsi Ali, Theo van Gogh and Tasleem Nasreen. The Danish cartoons of Muhammad, and the subsequent uproar in Pakistan/Britain elsewhere show the inherent incompatibility of Islamic and Western values. In a country (USA) where plurality and freedom of speech and expression are the norm, how can Muslims explain the attitude and behavior of their fellow co-religionists elsewhere in the world through the fanatical outbursts we have witnessed ? Or is the US version of Islam quite different from that in Saudi Arabia/Pakistan ?

As a corollary, a whitewashing argument is often made that such fanatics are not "real Muslims". Excuse me, but Islamic scholars such as Maulana Maudoodi (Pakistan) and Sayyid Qutb (Egypt) have advocated that use of terror to propagate Islam and pre-emptive strikes at countries whose cultural or political values are inimical to Islam, are absolutely OK. This sentiment appears to be sticking as evidenced from the recent uproars in the Islamic world over such cartoons and blasphemous books. So, which version of Islam is correct ? (I am not sure if the liberal or liberated Muslims have successfully demolished the arguments and sentiments echoed by Maudoodi and Qutb on the free-speech issue.)

Can your panel comment/elaborate on these issues in the context of American Muslims upholding Free Speech (1st Amendment) and allegiance to the Quran - in particular Quran[005:033], where Allah's instructions are exactly opposite to the 1st Amendment ? Which one would American Muslims uphold - 1st Amendment or Quran [005:033] ?