Eiffel Tower in Paris. The Muslim Times has the best collection of articles to promote secularism in every country and to refute Islamophobia
Source: The Intercept
By Mehdi Hasan, who is a Columnist, The Intercept. Contributing Editor, New Statesman. Host, Al Jazeera English. Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University.
YOU THINK LIFE is bad for Muslims in Trump’s America? Spare a thought for the Muslims of France.
Over the past few years, they have been collectively blamed, and punished, for a series of horrific terror attacks carried out in France by so-called jihadists. The latest, a knife attack in Paris by a man shouting “Allahu akbar,” killed one person and injured four others last weekend.
While anti-Muslim bigotry has become a hallmark of the Republican right in America, in France it is a truly bipartisan affair. Islamophobia is peddled by the left and right alike, with both socialists and conservatives falling over one another to defend French secularism, or laïcité, by demonizing French Muslims.
Consider: Successive French governments have criminalized the face veil and banned the headscarf in schools. French mayors have targeted Muslim women who want to cover up at the beach and Muslim school kids who try to have a pork-free lunch. The French president — and new liberal heartthrob — Emmanuel Macron has introduced draconian counterterror legislation that United Nations human rights experts have warned could have a discriminatory impact on Muslims in particular.
And the latest big idea? To go after the Quran. On April 21, the newspaper Le Parisien published a manifesto “against the new anti-Semitism,” signed by 300 public figures — ranging from former President Nicolas Sarkozy and former Prime Minister Manuel Valls, to actor Gérard Depardieu and singer Charles Aznavour. According to The Atlantic, the manifesto states that “11 Jews have been assassinated — and some tortured — by radical Islamists” in France, and demands that “the verses of the Quran calling for murder and punishment of Jews, Christians, and nonbelievers be struck to obsolescence by religious authorities,” so that “no believer can refer to a sacred text to commit a crime.”
Such rhetoric is a reflection both of Gallic bigotry and sheer stupidity, a toxic combination of ignorance and privilege.
First, where are these Muslim “religious authorities” who would be willing to do to the Quran what Thomas Jefferson did to the Bible? Establishment-friendly French imams, such as Dalil Boubakeur, rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, and Tareq Oubrou, imam of Bordeaux’s Grand Mosque, have denounced the manifesto as “unbelievable and unfair” and “nearly blasphemous.” And were such mainstream figures to even agree to edit the Quran — believed by Muslims to be the literal word of God! — does anyone really believe that the fanatics of the Islamic State or Al Qaeda would give a damn?
Second, violent extremism isn’t a product of scripture. Contrary to conventional wisdom, and as I have argued in the past while citing a raft of studies and experts, religious faith “isn’t a crucial factor” in terror attacks — or in the process of so-called radicalization. Why, then, obsess over Quranic verses? As the French journalist Didier Francois, who was held hostage by ISIS in Syria, told CNN in 2015: “There was never really discussion about texts or — it was not a religious discussion. It was a political discussion. … Because it has nothing to do with the Quran.” Or, as his fellow former French hostage, Nicolas Henin, has said, “I noticed that these jihadists have little to do with … Arab or Muslim culture — they are children of our societies. … They are products of our culture, our world.”
Who do you take more seriously? Two former ISIS hostages? Or the guy from “Green Card“?
The sad thing is when Muslims ‘join in’, such as Somi …
THE SECOND DAY OF RAMADHAN’S. DAKWA.
Busmillshirahmanirrahim
THE TERNET OF ISLAMIC TEACHING FROM AL QURAN IS A RELIGION OF LOVE, JUSTICE FOR ALL PEOPLE AND RELIGION OF MERCY FOR MANKIND
It is hoped that Allah will bring about love between you and those of them (Jews, Christians and others ) with whom you have enmity. Allah is Powerful, and Allah is Most-forgiving, Very-Merciful. Allah does not forbid you as regards those who did not fight you on account of faith, and did not expel you from your homes, that you do good to them, and deal justly with them. Surely Allah loves those who maintain justice. Q 60:7-8.
The Wisdom of Prophet Mohammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “None of you has faith until you love for your neighbor what you love for yourself.”
If you love Allah, follow Me QS 3;31, Allah love those who place their trust on Him. QS 3;159. Islam is Mercy for all mankind QS 21;107.
These Golden Rules are found in Christianity, Judaism, and other religions.
The Wisdom of Prophet Jesus (saw) Galatian 5:14. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself. If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. Luke 6:27. What ever you do, do it with love. Proverb.
You say, you love God, but you still hate other, you are a big liar. Proverb.
FIRST GOD’S COMMANDMENT TO PROPHET MOSES;
Deuteronomy 6;5; Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength.
Love is the seed of peace, happiness and prosperity, but hatred is the seed of the darkness (Evil) , violence and poverty.
How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God’s people to live together in harmony. Psalm 133:1
These are the messages we must give the next generation.(our children and grandchildren)
Unfortunately, extremist Jews, Christian and Muslim ignore and hide these true massages of Allah, they follow Evil to create conflict and violence in peaceful society. They follow some of Allah’s laws and ignore the rest They are actually hypocrisy. Allah will disgrace in present life and on the Day of Judgement, they shall be be turned to the most severe punishment. Q 2;85.
ALLAH has warned his people in Bible and Quran as following;
1. The wise men of knowledge have brought society to prosperity and peace, to Radical clerics, to bring destruction and calamity to their followers and to the people.
2. The radical clerics (Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddha ) deceive their friends, and dry up their followers into sensual and humiliating lives, seeking ways to harm others, even the word hurt / slander.
3. And do not incline to those who do wrong / oppressors that cause you to be touched by the fires of hell.QS.11; 113.
4. And indeed most (from radical intolerant clerics) really want to mislead (others) with their lust without knowledge. Lo! Thy Lord, He is the one who knows the transgressors. QS.6: 119.
5. And so We have set in every country the greatest villains in order that they may commit the deceit of the land. And they do not deceive but themselves, and they do not realize it. Q.6: (123)
When Muslims are in the Minority they are concerned the right of minority, but when they are in the majority, there is no the Minority’s Right. ( Extremist ideology)
My Conclusion.
1.All Jews, Christians and Muslims are Islam, or believer
2.The tenet of Islamic teaching from God, as creator are “ love and justice for all people regardless his religion, race, gender and skin.
3.Those who hate other is hypocrite, or Munafiqun or extremist Muslims.
4.Extremist Muslims are hypocrite, they follow some Allah’s laws and reject the rest. Allah will punish them in this world and hereafter. Refer to 2;85.
I urge all Muslims around the world fight the extremist ideology and do not choose extremist Muslim as a leader.Be careful, Extremist leader is just like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Hopefully, if we speak up loudly and urge Muslim scholars around the world to declare that the violent Hadith should be taken out from the book of Hadith–otherwise the extremist Muslim
Or terrorist will continue killing people forever. These violent Hadith have caused millions people’s life as photos above. Nauzubillah.
May Allah guide Muslim scholars to the right path of Islam and dare to correct the wrong teaching of Islam.
I wish you all a blessed and peaceful Ramadhan.Amen
Wassalamu’alaikum wrwb
With all my love.❤️
In the beginning of your long article you correctly point out that there are extremists in all religions. In the end – as usual – you only mention some violent hadith. If you were fair and not pro-Christian in your heart you would also quote violent verses of the bible, but, no, you always only talk of violent verses in hadith and quran. Why? Are you, as some readers have pointed out, a wolf in sheep’s clothing?
Rafiq —, you always only talk of violent verses in hadith and quran. Why?
Because God command us not judge other religion—
Contemplate this verse in Al Quran;
DO NOT JUDGE OTHER FAITH.
O you who believe, no man should ever scoff at other men. May be, the latter are better than the former. Nor should women (ever scoff) at other women. May be, the latter women are better than the former ones. And do not find fault with one another, nor call one another with bad nicknames. Bad is the name of sinfulness after embracing Faith. 4 If anyone does not repent, then such people are the wrongdoers.QS 49 11
DO NOT INSULT OTHER FAITH.
“And insult not those whom they worship besides God, lest they insult God wrongfully without knowledge. Thus We have made fair-seeming to each people its own doings; then to their Lord is their return and He shall then inform them of all that they used to do QS 6;108.
These are the messages we must give the next generation.(our children and grandchildren)
PROPHET MUHAMMAD RESPECT OTHER RELIGION.
Islam Requires Muslims to Respect the Faith of Others
Such is an example of how the Prophet respect Christians. Good Christians would respect the Prophet too. Prophet is not prejudiced or that all Christian are enemies. Many more examples of noble morality we must follow.Then the Prophet warned his people again in a paragraph below;
“among those most hostile to the Believers you will find Jews and Pagans…”and nearest among them in love to the Believers you will find those who say: ‘We are Christians’ because among them you find men devoted to learning, men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant.”Q..5;82
These is the key to achieve the peaceful world we share together.
It is better to improve or correct our Islamic interpretation rather than to judge other religion. It is better to improve our Muslims life rather than to judge other religion. It is wise if we cleanse our house first before to cleanse other house.
That is why Rafiq
Please contemplate above verses, it is good for us all.
I wish you a blessed and peaceful Ramadhan
All ❤️
You still erase my comment even in Ramadhan.
Fasting still cannot change your bad habit. Very sad indeed.
smooth talker. or wolf in sheep clothing? We promote equal justice for all. Not blaming only one side all the time.
Rafiq —-
smooth talker. or wolf in sheep clothing? We promote equal justice for al——
You do not treat me equal justice— you still erase my comment— where is justice for all—Rafiq?
I wish you a blessed and peaceful Ramadhan
All❤️
which Muslim is following good quotes of Quraan?
most followers of Islam are fascinated of the idea( converting whole world in to Islam) given by Mullahas and extremists. terrorists are produced from this fascination.
this phenomenon creates Islamophobia( I am against this word because it undermines the Islamic terrorism), that till Islam is on Earth terrorists will never stop to produce.
All members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community are following good quotes of the Qur’an. Many other Muslims too of course. Please check out http://www.mta.tv and see the books and articles in the library of http://www.alislam.org . I am sure you will find all good quotes and good articles promoting the peaceful Islam. Do not be influenced by fake news of the Islamophobia industry. Take your information from the source as mentioned above. If you have questions after watching mta.tv or reading articles and books at the Alislam.org library please let us know.
Reason, critical thinking and the scientific method suggests….Religion bad. Secularism good.
Think about it.
For all the rigidity of dogma, inherent in a faith based worldview, religions are in continuous conflict with themselves and the rest of humanity. This can be an uncomfortable exercise for anyone. Reflect on any journey of discovery that starts with a conformational bias and exercise is pointless. Keep an open mind, have a willingness to be wrong and be excited about new discoveries. The downside is, depending on where you are, the consequences for your enlightenment can be detrimental to you and yours.
Just a thought.