The Washington Post published a poll-induced barely comprehensible laundry list of what a 'moderate' Muslim should be. Let us pick it apart one by one. With apologies to the author of the said piece, Qasim Rashid, we may not have understood what you were trying to say but let it not distract us from what we thought you were saying.
In the absence of a unified voice . . .
First, a moderate Muslim recognizes that Islam requires complete separation of mosque and state. . .
Contrary to Faisal Shahzad's ambitions, the Quran requires a Muslim to obey, and be loyal to those in his charge.
Moderate Muslims reject violent Jihad, recognizing that true Jihad is the struggle to attain nearness to God through good works. Would-be Portland bomber Mohamad Mohamed apparently never . . .
Therefore, a moderate Muslim recognizes that Prophet Muhammad promoted freedom of religion and speech for all mankind . . . .
Moderate Muslims also recognize the equality and empowerment of women. Prophet Muhammad clearly stated that education is . .
Additionally, a moderate Muslim recognizes that Islam does not monopolize salvation. . . .
Equality for Women
Qasim Rashid is an Ahmadi, here is what one of his priests said very recently about women:
At a session on the myths and realities of Islam, Mukhtar Cheema, a professor at the Ahmadiyya Institute of Islamic Studies in Toronto, said both women and men are equal in Islam.
However, the sexes are different, he added. There is work that men do and women do not do, he said.
Cheema said a woman is the “boss at the house level” while the man is the “overall boss.’’
It is the responsibility and obligation of the man to financially support his wife and children and take care of them, Cheema said. While women take care of the children and the house, they are not servants to men, he said.
Cheema said there is “great propaganda” within Western culture that Islam doesn’t treat women fairly.
“It pleases God to serve your mother. Paradise is under the feet of your mother said the Prophet Muhammad,’’ he said. “To get closer to God, you must treat your wife in a nice way.’’
About the veil, Cheema said it is often viewed in the wider culture as subjugating women, but the veil is “used to recognize women who belong to Islam, not to hid them.’’
For instance, women pray separately in mosques from men not because they are not equal to men but so as not to distract men with their beauty, Cheema said.
Cheema said the Qur’an — the Islamic holy book — tells women to dress modestly and be pious, and it’s up to women as to how they choose to live their faith.
(http://www.therecord.com/living/faith/article/500827--exploring-the-myths-and-realities-of-islam)
Superficial and simplistic
The summary of the article was nice, but no one has addressed them yet. Our editorial input is that these are very simplistic observations of the author and that:
In the absence of a unified voice . . .
Well, there is no group of 1.5 billion that has a single voice, but Muslims are much better off than comparable groups of humanity
First, a moderate Muslim recognizes that Islam requires complete separation of mosque and state. . .
Try convincing the Republican party presidential candidates on what this actually means . . . and most Muslim countries have secular constitutions.
Contrary to Faisal Shahzad's ambitions, the Quran requires a Muslim to obey, and be loyal to those in his charge.
Trying to link a terrorist to Islamic teachings is what Islamophobes do . .
Moderate Muslims reject violent Jihad, recognizing that true Jihad is the struggle to attain nearness to God through good works. . .
The 'martial' type of jihad is always defensive and is the motto of the Pakistan Army in which members of your community serve. Disagree?
Therefore, a moderate Muslim recognizes that Prophet Muhammad promoted freedom of religion and speech for all mankind . . . .
Yes, but don't cry 'fire' in a crowded theatre or bash all Muslims in a climate of Islamophobia . . please read the case law on the U.S. first amendment.
Moderate Muslims also recognize the equality and empowerment of women. Prophet Muhammad clearly stated that education is . .
Yes he did. Why does your (Ahmadiyya) community not allow women to elect general officials or to hold general office. Why 'separate but equal'?
Additionally, a moderate Muslim recognizes that Islam does not monopolize salvation. . .
Almost all Muslims do . .
Add new comment