New in PJ Media:
On Sunday in Toronto, anti-Israel demonstrators screamed “Allahu akbar” in exultation when they heard about a rocket attack against the Jewish state. Raheel Raza, a prominent moderate Muslim in Canada, took to the National Post Tuesday to denounce the demonstration in a passionately written article entitled “As a practising Muslim, I find Al-Quds Day abhorrent.” It’s just great that Raheel Raza, as a practicing Muslim, finds Al-Quds Day abhorrent. I wish that more practicing Muslims did so as well. Unfortunately, her article contains a number of inaccuracies and misleading statements, not what we need to counter the jihadis’ appeal.
Raza noted that at the rally, “participants could be heard shouting ‘God is great‘ after it was announced that Israel had been hit by two rockets.” But actually, the participants in the anti-Israel rally in downtown Toronto were not shouting “God is great.” They were shouting “Allahu akbar,” which does not mean “God is great.” It means “Allah is greater,” that is, greater than your god or anything else that one may regard as an authority or power. It is, in other words, a declaration of Islamic supremacy that the translation “God is great” entirely glosses over. If we are going to understand the jihadi mindset and motives, this is not an insignificant point of accuracy in translation.
For it was the same Islamic beliefs upon which jihadis make their appeal to peaceful Muslims on which Raza based her case. She argues that “conflict is prohibited during the month of Ramadan, as it is a time when hate, revenge, anger and rage are to be subdued. Thus, orchestrating an event that is nothing but a hate fest is totally against the essence of Ramadan.”
Unfortunately, however, “conflict” is not actually “prohibited” during Ramadan. On the contrary. During Ramadan, an observant Muslim strives to conform his or her life to the will of Allah. And what is the will of Allah? A hadith has a Muslim asking Muhammad: “Instruct me as to such a deed as equals Jihad (in reward).” Muhammad replied, “I do not find such a deed.” (Bukhari 4.52.44). If jihad is the deed that brings the greatest reward, it is a perfect deed for Ramadan, in which Muslims strive to please Allah and do things that will bring them his rewards.
That is why so many Muslims say that Ramadan is the month of jihad. Palestinian Authority Supreme Sharia Judge Mahmoud Al-Habbash stated just two weeks ago: “Ramadan is not a month of laziness but rather a month of activity, of effort, and of hard work, and as it also was in the life of the Prophet, a month of jihad, conquest, and victory.”
There is more. Read the rest here.
Wellington says
Again, so-called moderate Muslims, whether sincere or dissembling, give cover to what Islam intends for us all.
And what Islam intends for the human race is a recipe for the restriction of the mind, body (especially the female body) and spirit.
There is nothing in Islam which is good (if any) that cannot be found in other faiths. And yet there is much harm in Islam (e.g., death for apostasy) which can be nowhere found in the theological blueprints of any other major faith.
Conclusion: Islam is, at best, redundant; Islam, at worst, is a menace to freedom and other wonderful things like equality under the law and true women’s rights. Therefore, there is no more need for Islam upon planet Earth. A valid indictment of Islam, I contend, but still not seen enough, not nearly enough, by way too many, both Muslims and non-Muslims. May the fictional Allah of Islam strike me dead tonight (deluded followers of the fictional Allah doing so will not count) if I am wrong about all this.
Be back tomorrow. Surely.
PRCS says
If we are to accept that Islam is open to interpretation, we must also accept that the strictest is as valid as the least.
And who knows when a “moderate” Muslim will go all in.
john smith says
Behave yourself Wellington.
But like you say,
you’re back today.