MRFF's Inbox

December 21, 2008

Hi Mikey,

I am a devout, practicing, sunni Muslim American. I embrace the
teachings of Islam as established in the Hanafi mathab (school). Just
so you know, the Qur'an and Sunnah of Muhammad (pbuh) does not
classify Jews, Christians, or Sabaians (a small sect of monotheists
from some parts of the middle east) as unbelievers. The term "Ahl Al
Kitab", or "People of the Book", is used to describe believers of God
Almighty, His Prophets, His Angels, and His fair judgment after death.
There are a minority of Muslims who consider all those who do not
accept the terms of the Shahada (testament of faith) as unbelievers,
but they are not common place among the Muslim population*. These are
usually the same folks who often pronounce Muslims of other sects as
unbelievers, which is a behavior that is strongly condemned by the
Sunnah and moderate (and even many conservative) "Sheikhs" (shuyuk in
Arabic) alike.

The way that I see things, and this is shared by most of the people of
faith that I know (not just Muslims) is this:

If you believe in God or practice a religious tradition, you are not
an atheist. Atheism is, of course, the absence of Theology. I may not
accept or agree with some religions or religious practices, but it is
the God given right of a person or community to practice what they
want. This includes practicing the absence of belief. I can't imagine
any reasonable believer seeing things any other way, Muslim,
Christian, or otherwise.

This right is actually enforced in the Qur'an repeatedly, our faith is
not for everyone, its as simple as that. The verse sanctioning attacks
on "unbelievers" was in the context of a particular time and space.
Like all such ayat (verses) it is bound by limits and reminders that
God knows/sees/does not like aggressors, and so on.

If we all simply stuck to the things in which we agree, rather than
deride and denounce our differences, we all could make the world a
much better place. Even atheists agree in the value of respect and
love for one's fellow man, nation, family, and the sanctity of life.

As for Christain proselytization in Muslim lands, particularly
Afghanistan, this is very dangerous indeed. The Pashtun have a strict
syncratic code of conduct composed of a tribal social code/legal
system (Pashtunwali) and a very simplified interpretation of Shari'ah
(most of these guys can't read their own Pashtun or Dari, let alone
Arabic). When a foreigner is in a pashtun land, they are frequently
greeted as guests. If that foreigner steps out of line badal, or
retribution, can be harsh and swift. This whole matter of badal is
complicated greatly when one considers that proselyzation is one
component of other faiths that is not accepted in Muslim society at
any level. It puts everyone who is not Afghan in grave danger,
civilian contractors, NGO workers, and soldiers alike.

I love America and I love, respect, and support our soldiers. It
troubles me a great deal that the actions of some of those soldiers
are putting the rest at risk.

And anyway the whole point of the TOME that this message has become is this:

We Muslims do not think that we will get 72 virgins if we blow
ourselves up. This is not a common belief among Muslims nor is it an
accepted tenant of the Islamic faith at any level. Not to mention in
Islam, like all Abrahamic faiths, suicide is strictly forbidden. A
definitive criteria for muslimness is, in my sect, the five pillars:

Belief in God and His Prophets (Muhammad , pbuh among them), Charity
(zakat), Fasting during Ramadan, performing Hajj (if financially
capable), and daily prayer. I know that it does not have the zing of
a bomb vest, but that's the whole point. Islam really is a faith of
moderation and elegant simplicity. It doesn't need to be snazzed up by
balaclavas, green headbands, yelling and screaming and burning
effigies in the street.

Thanks again for all your hard work, and happy holidays to you and
your family and friends,

[name withheld]

*There are some parts of the world where this is the majority view,
but I can't name names because I am currently on contract in one of
those locations. I can't wait to go home, God willing, I really miss
the USA.