All Comments (94)

PEOPLE! have any of you read the bible? It is also filled with violence, murder and hate. It was used to justify slavery for goodness sake. So should why just point at the Koran? Most of these religious texts were written in a time for the people of the time. Pulling something out it to justify a specific point is just crazy

i am a ismaili, & i wish to be a true MURID for our beloved imam. he is the person fighting for humainity.

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What religion does Aga Khan himself follow?

ismailis like their leader try and improve the quality of life of their fellow citizens thru volunteerism and hard work. They are mostly law abiding citizens trying to build bridges with other communities and religions.

To Abdul RAZZAQ

Dear Brother

I do not represent the official voice of the Ismaili community. I am offering you my opinions about how I understand and practice my faith. Refer to the 3 websites above on Ismaili religion. I have had many debates with sunnis purely on rational level, not referring to Koran or hadits. Yes, I have referred to Koran for some arguments. However, religion to me must make sense and must be honest. For example, if a fat man who is constipated keeps a fast, and doesn't feel hungry is his fast equal to a thin man who is starving to death during his fast? If the thin man is happy while starving but the fat man is angry because he isn't suppose to eat even though he isn't hungry than whose fast will be accepted by Allah? Everything you do must make sense to you, if you do it because your Imam forces you or your mullah threathens you than you don't love your religion you will hate it. There can be no compulsion in religion. But fanatic posts will alter koran meaning and translation.

Iam a sunni muslim actually from India & Pakistan, now a us citizen, living in the USA. My question to you sir, is what do Ismailis believe in the five tenats of Islam & why their belief is some what different from main stream muslims. I have extreme respect for Ismailis & the AGA khan. lease can you response to my enquiry.Sincerely. Abdul Razzaq.

Iam a sunni muslim actually from India & Pakistan, now a us citizen, living in the USA. My question to you sir, is what do Ismailis believe in the five tenats of Islam & why their belief is some what different from main stream muslims. I have extreme respect for Ismailis & the AGA khan. lease can you response to my enquiry.Sincerely. Abdul Razzaq.

Iam a sunni muslim actually from India & Pakistan, now a us citizen, living in the USA. My question to you sir, is what do Ismailis believe in the five tenats of Islam & why their belief is some what different from main stream muslims. I have extreme respect for Ismailis & the AGA khan. lease can you response to my enquiry.Sincerely. Abdul Razzaq.

The lack of education on Ismailism and Islam displayed on this forum is unfortunate. It seems like some of the posters didn't even read the article so it should be reiterated. Ismailis are Muslims, they affirm that there is one God and that Muhammad is his last messenger. The Imam plays a different function than that of the Prophet. He continuously interprets the faith for the community, rather than revealing a new religion. All Shias believe that the Prophet Muhammad(sas) appointed Ali as the first Imam of the Muslim community. However, issues over succession arose and there were splits. Today the Ismailis are the only Shias with a present Imam, who is the Aga Khan. He continuously stresses the importance of living in peace, being tolerant, and pluralism. He has condemned violence and terrorism in public. He has also committed himself towards healing the wounds in the Muslim community. His record of service towards humanity stands on its own. Ayahs in the Quran that have been posted need to be read in the context of the Surah and historical context. The early Muslim community was heavily persecuted and had to flee their homes. Reading these ayahs in context will show you that they are urging self defense. Finally these are some links that you should look at:
www.theismaili.org
www.iis.ac.uk
www.akdn.org

We Ismailis are taught that the Agakhan is "Allah" or God in a spiritual form, if that's the truth why doesn't he come out and tell the whole world that he is "GOD" and Ismailis actually, literlly pray to him. They(Ismailis) always hide these fact. All the Schools, centers and unuversity that are built from government money(donations) and from mmany other Ismailis, they are not free for the population they are mean't for. Alot of these health centres, schools are completely unaffordable for the local population.

Excellent article. I liked it very much. I am going to pass this to some of my friends. It is very easy and understandable. Almost everything is covered in it about the faith and Islam.

Great piece. Very clear and concise. Mubaraki - Congratulations!

Great piece. Very clear and concise. Mubaraki - Congratulations!

Excellent analysis and facts.

Thanks for sharing the truth.

m

I am a memon and reside in Houston.I am a great admirer of your Highness.I had the good fortune of meeting him in Houston. When I went up, I shook hands with him and told him how I admired all the good work he was doing around the world for humanity and I wished that he was our leader too.He just smiled.I have many Ismaili friends and my sister-in-law in Karachi is an Ismaili and she works very closely with Princess Zara on women's development.You'll are role models for the Muslim community.

Mariam Issa

I am a Muslim also and take my hat off to the Aga Khan for his good work in all countries regardless of their colour, race or religion.

It is truly sad that we all believe in only one God yet we look at Him from different angles with different understanding. Then we start fighting like animals or rather uneducated people. Look at this article which clearly says "Occupation, not Islam, ‘drives suicide attacks’"
http://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/articles/2007/06/08/news/local/islam0608.txt

The two World Wars were really Western wars, but we call them World Wars. In reality, the West has killed more people in these two WW than the whole world has in the last 2000 years. And of course now the West (with lots of lies) has invaded Afghanistan and Iraqis killing millions there. Also there are so many unanswered questions about 9/11, so we don't know whether the White House has told some lies about 9/11. Also why is the West keeping quiet about these killings and occupation? What about the occupation in Palestine. Any religion including Christianity, Islam, Judaism all promote love and peace only. None of them teaches fighting/killing without proper justification. (To comments by Center for Global studies, I say you are quoting the Holy Quran out of context)

Can you imagine how much development and prosperity we can bring in this world with good understanding and respect for each other? We are spending trillions in killing each other. Can you imagine, we could literally eradicate poverty world wide overnight with the money we spend in killing? But unfortunately, the West wants to lie, occupy, rule and kill.

May God help bring true love in the West.....ameen

nizar

ps when i say West, i mean the majority of the people in the West.

I am an ismaili and while reading some of these posts I realized that many of you are not educated on the basis of ismailism. We are Shia Muslims. You cannot tie terrorism to all Muslims, just like you cannot tie acts of crime to one race or society. Translations of the Quran differ because of the people who translate them. I have read several Qurans and some are completely biased and others are compassionate and uplifting. Just because someone has read one type does not mean that all Qurans are that way or that all Muslims are that way. I have lived in the US my whole life and neither I nor my family have ever faced any problems based on our religion. I am proud of the Ismaili faith and of Aga Khan. I, too, was not fully educated about him and had my opinions. However, after hearing his advice and seeing how much good he has done for third world countries, which many leaders of other religions are not noted for, I feel that he himself is a good man and you cannot compare him to what a few amount of people have done to the Muslim community. And after reading all the criticism that has been posted you cannot call all Muslims evil and incompetent fanatics, because it seems that there is a little bit of a fanatic in every religion.

Aga Khan is like an angle with wings flying from one country to another to promote better standard of living and eradicate poverty. I respect his work, I wish there are more people like him.

To be fair, my car mechanics in this Canadian city are Ismaili. Thave treated me very fairly (including deferring bills for months) and work very competently. They have numerous awards and thank yous for offering mechanical literacy classes to women's groups etc. When they learned years ago that I am an expat American, nothing changed.
A curious and polite if sceptical ear is in order. If this is a pacifist and relatively benign form of Islam, I'd like it to come to the fore relative to other forms.
The GWB administration in the states has sytematically sacrificed honesty and transparency too while hiding behind and abusing the mantle of Christianity. This is an even greater sin in its hypocrisy for the faith he espouses makes no allowance for lieing to anyone.
Encourage the Ismaili community to keep talking and see if their words and deeds are in sync. Those of my acquaintance are not hypocrites.

ya ali madad, mr. Eboo Patel,

Golden Jubilee Mubaraq!!!

you wrote "Like all Shia, we believe that the Prophet Muhammad appointed his cousin and son-in-law Ali to lead the Muslim community after his death."

i think we ismailis believe that Imamat existed with all prophets even with Hz Adam, but only Prophet Mohmd(pbuh) was asked to declare the Imamat, Prophet(pbuh) did not appoint Hz Ali. if u need more proofs pls contact on my email add.

thank you
love and peace
salina

i started looking at what tufail wrote and then checked a few of them.

lets look at the koran. tufail wrote:

11. : “Do not dispute with the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) except in the kindest way..."(Koran 29:46).

here is what the koran actually says:

"29.46": And do not dispute with the followers of the Book except by what is best, except those of them who act unjustly, and say: We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you, and our God and your God is One, and to Him do we submit.
IN OTHER WORDS IF THEY GIVE UP THEIR RELIGION AND ACCEPT ISLAM THEN THEY ARE OK!

her also wrote:
12. “Nearest among all people in love to believers (i.e., Muslims) are the people who say: ‘We are the followers of Christ,’ because among them are men devoted to learning and men who renounced the world, and they are not arrogant.” (Qur’an 5:85).

this is what is actually says:

"5.85": Therefore Allah rewarded them on account of what they said, with gardens in which rivers flow to abide in them; and this is the reward of those who do good (to others).

what he wrote:
9. “O Prophet.!…Thy duty is not more than to deliver the message; and the reckoning is Ours.” (Koran 13:40).
what the koran actually says and he intentionally left out with . . .
"13.40": And We will either let you see part of what We threaten them with or cause you to die, for only the delivery of the message is (incumbent) on you, while calling (them) to account is Our (business).

so death is part of it.

HE WROTE:
8. “And so, [O Prophet,] exhort them; thy task is only to exhort: thou cannot compel them to believe.” (Koran: 21-22).

what the koran says:

"21.22": If there had been in them any gods except Allah, they would both have certainly been in a state of disorder; therefore glory be to Allah, the Lord of the dominion, above what they attribute (to Him).

this section is where islam is actually saying jesus was not the christ - you shoud read the 5 passages above and below this one.

WHAT HE WROTE:

7. “Say (Muhammad it is) truth from the Lord of you all. Whosoever will, let him believe and whosoever will, let him disbelieve" (Koran 18: 29)

what the koran says
"18.29": And say: The truth is from your Lord, so let him who please believe, and let him who please disbelieve; surely We have prepared for the iniquitous a fire, the curtains of which shall encompass them about; and if they cry for water, they shall be given water like molten brass which will scald their faces; evil the drink and ill the resting-place.

HE WROTE
4.“and enjoin one another in patience, and enjoin one another in compassion such are the companion of the right hand.” (Koran 90:17-18).

NOW THIS IS THE FOLLOWING - NOTE THE STATEMENT ABOUT RIGHT HAND- THAT MEANS ISLAMICS ONLY. HERE IS WHAT THE REST OF US GET UNDER ISLAM:

"90.19": And (as for) those who disbelieve in our communications, they are the people of the left hand.

"90.20": On them is fire closed over.

WELL THAT SURE PUTS A WET TOWEL ON THE COMPASSION PART - DO YOU THINK OUR AUTHOR WAS TRYING TO PULL A FAST ONE?

enough of the islamic half truths and outright lies.

bye bye boo boy - sorry you gave up so fast.

since the last posters here have reporduced their statements on other sites, i will do the same.
if i am wrong all you need do is site the incorrect fact - then site the correct statement and link us to the source of it. i will look. if you are correct i will say so and change the fact for future reference.
i always ask for someone to first print what they allege i wrote - and to link to it as it is not uncommon that people will not accurately produce what i originally wrote.
and the fact that i actually respond to these alleged assertions means i do much more than islamics ever do.
as for hating islamics - well i hate nazi's, and members of the kkk. and as long as islamics demand hate and murder and then actually follow through, well i will hate those too, and those that support the islamic agenda. i do not deny that.
i used to think that only a "few" were hate mongers but then i started reading the koran and that hadith. that was a wake up call.
like many i was taught the crusades were wrong, but then i started reading about what islam did to cause that response.
i heard about the spanish inquisition and then learned that it was not the church but the king and queen that turned it into their private bank and used the terror to force others to give up their money.
i used to think that the jews were wrong - and then i studied what is happening in the middle east.
in each case i found that education was the key to knowledge and the more you learn the more you understand that the greatest evil on the earth today is islam. and i have linked to sites where islamic clerics say exactly what i say is happening, and are so proud of it that they distribute these sermons on the internet.
when i say that islamic women teach their children to hate i post links to the sites.
i have not bothered to post to the saudi sites - they would be cumulative, but they are out ther too.
when i say islam wants to impose its will on those not islamic i site to links that show rioting islamics demanding the death of the pope over a comment made by a 14th century empiror who said that it was evil to force islam on anyone. not just one link, but many, and showing riots from many different islamic countries.
there is not a single comment i have made that i do not post a citation to - except some dates and battles - which i presume are not subject to question as most of the time i get them from islamic history sites. such as the acts of islamics in india.
and why cant any islamic defender actually answer any of my questions? the fact is - islamics dont answer questions when the answers are not favorable to islam, or that there is so much authority to the contrary that they can be shown to lie if they deny them.
and i dont have a girlfriend - i have a wife - one wife only - and children and grandchildren.
and unlike islamics i did not show my children or grandchildren pictures of mickey mouse telling other children to murder jews, and i did not show my grandchildren mickey mouse being killed by a fake jew so that the children would grow up thinking a jew killed mickey mouse.
as a matter of fact i taught them to love people and it was only after they reached an age of reason that i ever discussed politics and then only at a level they would understand.
and no i dont have straining blood vessels and i dont shriek.
you see unlike islamics i have a lot of pleasure here on earth and hope for an afterlife, where the only pleasure is to be in the presence of god.
on the other hand islamics believe that they are here to suffer and that the way to paradise is to make others as miserable as you are, and then, when you get to heaven, your god will give you that which you could have had on earth - women, food and wine, but nothing else.
so here is my question - if you could get those things already, why continue to be miserable and make others miserable, in the hope that your god will give you what you can already have.
and i know and have represented a lof of islamics, including some retired ministers of islamic countries - surprise surprise. they are good people but very bad islamics. while they are in public they pretend the islamic life - when alone we drink, eat white steak [pork] and their wives drive cars, dont wear those nutty clothes and discuss how the governments they used to serve use islam as a way to make the common people stay poor, while the rulers live a nice life in their home countries and abroad.
there is one thing that does make all islamic people equal - MONEY. those with it want a good life and live it, but they dont mind their own countrymen living in poverty and dirt shacks.
such is islam.

may the peace of god be with you brother patel-
your message glows with your love and inclusive spirit.

Att: Mr. Frank enstein, et al. Hello you uckfay;

SOME PEOPLE CANNOT HANDLE RELIGION, and not realise IT, and or, just as so, Some Good Folk who turn bad in Fact, CANNOT HANDLE FREEDOM. They are slaves to the "Satanic" will of other Men & never G-d! No Matter What Name one Screams!

"One-More" Thank you for your "Insight And Pattern Recognition Powers" and for helping some good folk gone bad, see the Light og their plight, so to speaketh. Ya Ya.

Frank Collins wrote:

"if i get a fact wrong, and i mean a real fact, not some slight variation in gramar, tell me and i will change what i say about that fact."

Christopher responds:

On many facets of this blog you have been repeatedly called out by many people for deliberate misstatements of fact, and you have already been corrected on many topics numerous times. Not once have you admitted your errors, plagiarism or falsehoods once they were exposed. You clearly have no credibility in the area of religion, as you have not been willing to take responsibility for your statements, and you have been willing to say things you would never dare say to someone in person. That is a lack of maturity, and it would serve you right if no one on this blog ever spoke to you again, mister troll.

Jim-

For a few years I worked for one of the Aga Khan's projects, and occasionally met with him. I am not a Muslim, of any stripe. I can say that in my observation, the Aga Khan was a very intelligent and hard working man, albeit one with whom I disagreed on several issues (note that I no longer work for his agency). With respect to the war in Iraq, I believe he opposed it from the start. I was told by some of his close aides that when he met with President Bush, he emphasized his usual positions on the importance of building bridges and the need to understand diverse cultures. I got the impression that one problem was that he is very self assured, and in some cases is perceived as arrogant, so that the meeting with President Bush was not a success- apparently he came across as "lecturing" the President.

All of that is second and third and fourth hand information, but it is clear that the Aga Khan has no "special relationship" with this administration. As I said, I disagree with him about many things, but I do not think he deserves any blame for the current situation in Iraq.

Also, it is useful to remember that Ismailis are considered heretics by both Sunnis and Shi'as (just as, say, Baptists and Methodists might question Mormons, etc), and are I believe a very small part of the population in Iraq (they are much more numerous in Afgahnistan).

What involvement did Aga Khan have in the invasion of Iraq and the perpetuation of the Republican War in Iraq? If he had a direct involvement in Bush’s invasion of Iraq, shouldn’t he be held accountable? Could the craziness that is the Middle East and its children like Aga Khan be pointed directly at the Status given to Muhammad as God on earth? If so, then the craziness of Christianity, a religion that has made Jesus its God on earth is understandable. Aga, generosity without piety is counter productive to you. Give up your worldly possessions and honor God in a purposeful way.

Tim
You overlooked the last but an importent part point of earlier posting:

"For a constantly humiliated people, there is nothing to lose and so, they embrace fanaticism. Contemporary eastern Muslims may not admit that they are a humiliated people. But it is a truth. Unless, rational people around the world charter a plan to make these Muslims regain human dignity, I have very limited hope for Muslims in general, as well as for the end to their terrorism. Unfortunately, I have no magic plan."

These murderous doctors, engineers are smart and educated but without intelligence. Components of intelligence include such things as sensibility, good sense and sane aims. These criminals do not have any of these. Loss of human diginity made these doctors, engineers, and their people at large made into monsters committing horontous crimes against humanity. I am not justifying them in any fasion, but state the observation recorded in the recent book, "Journey into Islam: The Crisis of Globalization" by Akbar Ahmed.

If the literal reading of the Qur'an is the reason for their inhuman behavior,as you suggest, how come they do not read the following verses from the Qur'an literally (I wish and pray that they do!):

1. "If anyone slew a person-unless it is the punishment for murder or for spreading mischief in the land- it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if anyone save a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people." (Koran 5:35).

2 Chapter 6, verse 151: "Take not life, which God has made sacred, except by way of justice and law." (Koran 6:151).

3 “Kill not yourselves.” (Koran 4:29).

4.“and enjoin one another in patience, and enjoin one another in compassion such are the companion of the right hand.” (Koran 90:17-18).

5. "Oh! You believe! Maintain your pact with God as witness to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others make you swerve to wrong and depart from injustice. Be Just: that is near to duty; and beware of God. Surely God is well acquainted with all that you do." (Koran 5:8).

6. "The good deed and evil deed are not equal. Hence repel the evil deed with that which is best, so that the one who, between you and him there is enmity, would be as though he were a staunch friend.” (Koran 41:34)

7. “Say (Muhammad it is) truth from the Lord of you all. Whosoever will, let him believe and whosoever will, let him disbelieve" (Koran 18: 29)

8. “And so, [O Prophet,] exhort them; thy task is only to exhort: thou cannot compel them to believe.” (Koran: 21-22).

9. “O Prophet.!…Thy duty is not more than to deliver the message; and the reckoning is Ours.” (Koran 13:40).

10. “It may be that God will create love between you and your enemies. God is all-powerful, and God is forging, ever merciful. God does not forbid you from being kind and acting justly towards those who have not fought you on account of religion nor expelled you from your homes. God indeed loves those who are just. He only forbids you from making friends with those who fought over your faith with you and banished you from your homes, and aided in your exile. Whoever makes friend with them is a transgressor.” (Koran 60:7).

11. : “Do not dispute with the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) except in the kindest way..."(Koran 29:46).

12. “Nearest among all people in love to believers (i.e., Muslims) are the people who say: ‘We are the followers of Christ,’ because among them are men devoted to learning and men who renounced the world, and they are not arrogant.” (Qur’an 5:85).

may the peace of god be with you brother patel-
your message glows with your love and inclusive spirit.

Mr. Patel,

Thank you for an informative and interesting contribution. Many of those who understand little about Islam have barely even heard of the Ismailis, let alone other branches of Islam. I completely agree with you that developing a public and shared "language of faith" is vital to understanding our radically pluralistic world.

Also, I wish to apologize for the shameful behavior of some of the other posters here. The language of hatred and deliberate "bearing of false witness" unfortunately gives aid and comfort to radical violent minorities and their allies. Acts of either physical or hermeneutic violence do not contribute to understanding difficult and sometimes seemingly intractable issues such the role of violence in religion. The added fact that many of these shameful posters are attempting to monopolize the discussion through repetitive posting and rampant plagiarism cheapens the forum and demonstrates that there are some people who are unable to conduct themselves in a respectful and mature manner in a public place.

Tufail says -- "Solution to the problem is therefore: promote education and free speech among Muslims;"

What about the doctors in the recent incident in Britain? bin Laden is a highly educated person from a billionaire family. The second in command for AL Queada is also a doctor and very educated. Most of the Muslim Brotherhood are the upper class educated folks looking for a cause. One thing you can say about Islamo terrorists: they are not stupid or un-educated.

Free speech is something some terrorist have enjoy in both America and Britain. They have been educated in American or British Universities and yet they hate both countries and plot our destruction.

The true followers of the faith must at some point return to the literal Quran and that's where they find their purpose. They are smart and well educated people who understand what the Quran says, unlike the uneducated Muslim. With a purpose in hand these smart, educated people are dangerous and a threat for this reason.

The problem is not education. Free speech and the rule of law, and freedom of religion will help. But still, as long as some want to use the literal Quran as the guidebook we will have to do a great deal of containment and keep our guard up.

Amid the general noise, please don't take it as insincere when I just go, "Wow, you guys get *helicopters?* " :) *chuckle.*

My Goddess.

"Language of faith?"

What if we just agreed to get together incognito sometimes?

It'd be better than this.

During World War II Rabbi Weissmandl devised a plan which would have allowed thousands of European Jews to escape the horrors of the holocaust. His plans were thwarted by the Zionists who refused to compromise, saying that unless the Jews could go to Palestine they would stay where they were and accept their fate.

Please see this video, and decide for yourself:

http://www.jewsagainstzionism.com/mediaclips/weissmandl/weissmandlvideo.cfm

Zionists incite hatred of Jews for the sake of Israel.

Zionism was supported by the German SS and Gestapo.[3] [4] [5] [6] Hitler himself personally supported Zionism.[7] [8] During the 1930’s, in cooperation with the German authorities, Zionist groups organized a network of some 40 camps throughout Germany where prospective settlers were trained for their new lives in Palestine. As late as 1942 Zionists operated at least one of these officially authorized “Kibbutz” training camps[9] over which flew the blue and white banner which would one day be adopted as the national flag of “Israel”.[10]

On December 7, 1938, Ben Gurion, the first head of the Zionist ‘state of Israel’ declared “If I knew it was possible to save all the children in Germany by taking them to England, and only half of the children by taking them to Eretz Israel, I would choose the second solution. For we must take into account not only the lives of these children but also the history of the people of Israel.”[14]

Please visit the true Jewish site:
http://www.jewsagainstzionism.com/

And help us fight against the Zionists who are at the verge of starting WW4 to create Eretz Israel

SAMMY; Geeeeee, you sound more like Aga Sing, then Aga King!

NUH

Definitely, Muslims can mis-interprete Qur’an. An outstanding thinker and Muslim Jurist, Khalid El-Fadal has said: The Qur'an, Bible, Geeta of Hindus or any text, speaks through its reader. This ability of human beings to interpret texts is both a blessing and a burden. It is a blessing because it provides us with the flexibility to adapt texts to changing circumstances. It is a burden because the reader must take responsibility for the normative values he or she brings to the text. Any text, including those that are Islamic, provides possibilities for meaning, not inevitabilities. And those possibilities are exploited, developed and ultimately determined by the reader's efforts—good faith efforts, we hope—at making sense of the text's complexities. Consequently, the meaning of the text is often only as moral as its reader. If the reader is intolerant, hateful, or oppressive, so will be the interpretation of the text. However, by emptying the Qur'an both of its historical and moral context, the Salafi/Wahabis and other Muslims with arrogant Islamic-supremacist-world view trend ends up transforming the Qur'anic text into a long list of morally non-committal legal commands. So it is conducive to an arrogance that can easily descend into a lack of respect or concern for the well-being or dignity of non-Muslims. When this arrogant orientation is coupled with textual sources that exhort Muslims to fight against unbelievers, it can produce a radical belligerency.

The Muslim fanaticism is the result of Muslim illiteracy, lack of free speech, and the humiliation Muslims by their own leaders and by the most advance nations. Furthermore, in Muslim nations, most Imams (clerics) are those who are school drop-out and who are not smart enough to get into colleges for secular education. When these Imams preach in the Mosques, they spit a fire of hate at the west and at anyone, Muslim or non-Muslim, who do not agree with them.

Solution to the problem is therefore: promote education and free speech among Muslims; For a constantly humiliated people, there is nothing to lose and so, they embrace fanaticism. Contemporary eastern Muslims may not admit that they are a humiliated people. But it is a truth. Unless, rational people around the world charter a plan to make these Muslims regain human dignity, I have very limited hope for Muslims in general, as well as for the end to their terrorism. Unfortunately, I have no magic plan

NUH

Definitely, Muslims can mis-interprete Qur’an. An outstanding thinker and Muslim Jurist, Khalid El-Fadal has said: The Qur'an, Bible, Geeta of Hindus or any text, speaks through its reader. This ability of human beings to interpret texts is both a blessing and a burden. It is a blessing because it provides us with the flexibility to adapt texts to changing circumstances. It is a burden because the reader must take responsibility for the normative values he or she brings to the text. Any text, including those that are Islamic, provides possibilities for meaning, not inevitabilities. And those possibilities are exploited, developed and ultimately determined by the reader's efforts—good faith efforts, we hope—at making sense of the text's complexities. Consequently, the meaning of the text is often only as moral as its reader. If the reader is intolerant, hateful, or oppressive, so will be the interpretation of the text. However, by emptying the Qur'an both of its historical and moral context, the Salafi/Wahabis and other Muslims with arrogant Islamic-supremacist-world view trend ends up transforming the Qur'anic text into a long list of morally non-committal legal commands. So it is conducive to an arrogance that can easily descend into a lack of respect or concern for the well-being or dignity of non-Muslims. When this arrogant orientation is coupled with textual sources that exhort Muslims to fight against unbelievers, it can produce a radical belligerency.

The Muslim fanaticism is the result of Muslim illiteracy, lack of free speech, and the humiliation Muslims by their own leaders and by the most advance nations. Furthermore, in Muslim nations, most Imams (clerics) are those who are school drop-out and who are not smart enough to get into colleges for secular education. When these Imams preach in the Mosques, they spit a fire of hate at the west and at anyone, Muslim or non-Muslim, who do not agree with them.

Solution to the problem is therefore: promote education and free speech among Muslims; For a constantly humiliated people, there is nothing to lose and so, they embrace fanaticism. Contemporary eastern Muslims may not admit that they are a humiliated people. But it is a truth. Unless, rational people around the world charter a plan to make these Muslims regain human dignity, I have very limited hope for Muslims in general, as well as for the end to their terrorism. Unfortunately, I have no magic plan

.... "... The "conversation" too often turns into mud slinging.

Following the blogs from day to day, one has to admit [Hypocryt!] that "On Faith" has brought together some thoughtful scholars and thinkers to post some salient, short essays from which all can benefit.." Ya.

<? :+)/ Ya Ya! I Attest!

Very interesting article. Thanks Mr. Patel. I have great admiration for the development work AKDN has done and Ismaili community deserves praise for supporting this work. I would however like to know what is Ismaili position on some of the pressing issues of our time:

1. Do you support or condemn as a community the practice of suicide bombing for achieving political goals? Has Aga Khan publicly addressed this issue? If not, why not?
2. Can Muslims, Sunni or Shia, really claim that Islam is a religion of peace if they do not openly condemn the horrific practice of killing civilians to settle scores?
3. Where does Ismaili community stand on Sunni-Shia strife in Iraq?
4. Do you think Iran should have access to Nuclear weapons?
5. Is the concept of a living Imam compatible with accepting Koran as the final arbiter of Muslim faith?

Thank you!

One wonders whether Sally Quinn rues the day that she set up this Washington Post blogging framework to "converse" about religion. The "conversation" too often turns into mud slinging.

Following the blogs from day to day, one has to admit that "On Faith" has brought together some thoughtful scholars and thinkers to post some salient, short essays from which all can benefit.

Yet can one imagine a motlier collection of lunacy, gibberish, wild sectarian nonsense and outright malevolence than what accumulates among posted messages under each essay?

Truly, one must return to Al Gore's latest book in which he appeals to reason. Judging by the bloggers in "On Faith", reason has little significance for them. Has reason departed and left behind in America little but hateful, vulgar, shouting and sectarian squabbling? How that must greatly embarrass the well-meant intentions behind Ms. Quinn's initiative.

There seems to infect the blogosphere a particularly vicious strain of primitive hatred for Muslims, all Muslims, and it is well that "On Faith" does the best it can to moderate and contest this kind of detestable, reptilian animosity, which is no different in kind from that with which Islamist terrorists and extremists tarnish their own faiths.

Aga Khan fans may like to know the sobering message in the following Newsweek article

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19717961/site/newsweek/

Unless Muslim immigration is put on a moratorium, there will be high probability of attacks on US Soil, because the jihadi cancer has long metastasized and hence dispersed geographically.

The 2008 election year should be a test to see if the democratic candidates (Hillary, Obama, Edwards etc.) would take a firm position on Muslim immigration to USA. Checking Muslim immigration into USA would allow the intelligence community to focus its resources on the 'enemy within' (already inside USA), and hence spend minimal resources on the ones that might have entered USA but could not do so because of immigration changes.

Sorry, my previous post was not proofread correctly and does not read properly.

The Pope in Rome has just ruled that other Christian sects and faiths are "defective" or not Christian at all. He was reported to have announced that one can only come to Christ through the One Truth Church, that is, his. Presumably all others will be sent to the Fiery Pit to burn in Hell forever (now that limbo has been ruled a fantasy half-way house).

It doesn't appear kosher that Christians should throw the first stone when it comes to decrying the faults of other religions. Some of the above comments about our Muslim cousins in Monotheism seem somewhat intemperate and even malevolent, certainly lacking in Christian charity and an openness to understanding.

Christ said he "comes with a sword" to pit brother against brother? What did he mean by that?

Aga Khan fans may like to know the sobering message in the following Newsweek article

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19717961/site/newsweek/

Unless Muslim immigration is put on a moratorium, there will be high probability of attacks on US Soil, because the jihadi cancer has long metastasized and hence dispersed geographically.

The 2008 election year should be a test to see if the liberal democrats would take a position on Muslim immigration to USA. That way the intelligence community can focus its resources on the 'enemy within' and not top of the hidden enemy the ones that are all poised to enter USA.

"ONE-MORE".interesting Neuro Synopsis Heuristical consumptional as per prophetic insight and pattern recognition results! Ya!

I mispoke. I meant to say that Christians, who are supposed to follow the New Testament, were resonsible for the Spanish Inquisition and Salem witch burnings. You're quite correct; Jesus never incited followers to kill. I doubt that Mohammad meant that either; he was concerned about attacks from contemporary nonbellievers. We know how both testaments have been copied, sometimes erroneously and sometimes to push certain beliefs, over the ages. I wonder if that is the case with the Qu'ran also.

I mispoke. I meant to say that Christians, who are supposed to follow the New Testament, were resonsible for the Spanish Inquisition and Salem witch burnings. You're quite correct; Jesus never incited followers to kill. I doubt that Mohammad meant that either. We know how both testaments have been copied, sometimes erroneously and sometimes to push certain beliefs, over the ages. I wonder if that is the case with the Qu'ran also.

Eboo,

Aga Khan a Man of Vision, Inspiration???? Not until he addresses the foundations of his religion just as Christians and Jews are doing now with their religions.

A synopsis for Aga Khan's review and comments: (you have seen it many times but refuse to respond).

1. Abraham founder/father of three major religions was probably a mythical character. If he was real, he was at best a combination of at least three men. 1.5 million Conservative Jews and their rabbis have relegated Abraham to the myth pile along with most if not all the OT.

2. Jesus, the illiterate Jewish peasant/carpenter possibly suffering from hallucinations, has been characterized anywhere from the Messiah from Nazareth to a mythical character from mythical Nazareth. Analyses of his life by many contemporary NT scholars (e.g. Professors Crossan, Borg and Fredriksen, On Faith panelists)via the NT and related documents have concluded that only about 30% of Jesus' sayings and ways noted in the NT were authentic. The rest being embellishments (e.g. miracles)/hallucinations made/had by the NT authors to impress various Christian sects.

3. Mohammed, an illiterate, hallucinating Arab, also had embellishing/hallucinating scribal biographers who not only added "angels" and flying chariots to the Koran but also a militaristic agenda which is still in the koran to support the plundering and looting of the lands of non-believers and more recently suicide bombings and terrorist activities as shown recently by the conduct of seven Moslem DOCTORS in the UK.

4. Luther, Calvin, Smith, Henry VIII, Wesley et al, founders of Christian-based religions, also suffered from the belief in/hallucinations of "pretty wingy thingie" visits and "prophecies" for profits analogous to the myths of Catholicism (resurrections, apparitions, ascensions and immaculate conceptions).

5. Hinduism (from an online Hindu site) - "Hinduism cannot be described as an organized religion. It is not founded by any individual. Hinduism is God centred and therefore one can call Hinduism as founded by God, because the answer to the question ‘Who is behind the eternal principles and who makes them work?’ will have to be ‘Cosmic power, Divine power, God’"
The caste/laborer system and cow worship are problems when saying a fair and rational God founded Hinduism."

6. Buddhism- "Buddhism began in India about 500 years before the birth of Christ. The people living at that time had become disillusioned with certain beliefs of Hinduism including the caste system, which had grown extremely complex. The number of outcasts (those who did not belong to any particular caste) was continuing to grow."

"However, in Buddhism, like so many other religions, fanciful stories arose concerning events in the life of the founder, Siddhartha Gautama (fifth century B.C.):"

Archaeological discoveries have proved, beyond a doubt, his historical character, but apart from the legends we know very little about the circumstances of his life.

http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/BUDDHISM/SIDD.HTM

Bottom line: There are many good ways of living but be aware of the hallucinations/embellishments and myths surrounding the founders of said rules of life.

OK Marjorie Streeter, tell me where in the Christian, Jew, pagan or other world are there stoning going on for adultery? This is happening in the Islamic world or have you not been keeping up with current affairs? Where are people put in jail if they leave their religion, except the Islamic world? Tell me where in the world, outside of the backward Islamic world, are all other religions banned and or persecuted? Tell me where else in the world that there is a tradition of female genitalia mutilation and a female dress code? Tell me where boys and girls are given detailed instructions on making themselves into bombs except the Muslim world? Tell me where in the world are there loud speakers mounted up high on phallic symbols that force people to bow to Allah and if you don't you get arrested by the religious police? Where but the Islamic world do you find religious police? Forget the past Marjorie. We are talking about the present, what is happening right now in front of your face. Or do you think 911 never happened? In the present you will find tolerance in Western civilized nations of the world but you will find not find this in Islamic nations. Can you write on a blog like this in Saudi Arabia?

But the thing that they do the most in Muslim nations is display religious intolerance. In Turkey they just cut and torture some Christians, for example. And Turkey is suppose to be the model of Islamic tolerance. While they build mosques here in the US they will not allow Christian missionaries in their own countries.

Wake up Marjorie and stop living in the past. What is happening today is what matters for the future. The past is just a place where people live when they do not want to face the truth.