Posted on 07/31/2005 6:48:56 AM PDT by SLB
Imam Mohamed Lunat helps debunk common myths about his religion
The image of Imam Mohamed Lunat as he walks in the doors of the Islamic Center of Elizabethtown looks like one from the evening news.
He is medium height and thin, with dark, intense eyes and a fist-length beard with no mustache. He has a prayer cap on his head, an ankle-length robe and sheds his shoes as he enters. Based solely on appearance he could, to biased eyes, be mistaken as the cliché of any of the Middle-Eastern terrorists who scream into shoddy video cameras around the world about the evils of American imperialism, jihads, fatwas and the blood of nonbelievers.
But anyone who would assume that would be horribly wrong, and horribly uneducated about Lunat's religion.
The reality of Lunat, and that of most Muslims around the world, is completely different than that seen on television.
Lunat is a soft-spoken man, a devoted follower of Allah with a quick and vibrant smile and a message of peace and devotion. He is a 36-year-old husband and father of four with a quick intellect and somewhat shy disposition. On a hot day, he offers guests mango juice and snacks, and while his children watch, he gently explains some of the core beliefs of Islam.
His main concern is far away from troubles in the larger world. Instead, his immediate concerns are about the spiritual lives of his congregation, which includes between 60 and 70 families from Elizabethtown and the surrounding region.
He has his hands full. The mosque in Elizabethtown has more programs than any other in the region. And the demands of devout Islam take time.
To Lunat, terror and violence in far parts of the world are so far removed from the teachings of Islam that he said they are not connected.
"Basically, what has been carried out has no Islamic affiliation at all," he said. "Whatever has been perpetrated has nothing to do with Islam. It's a coordinated way of certain groups to take care of differences. There is no religious basis. One of the main teachings (of Islam) is to follow the Prophet Muhammad. One fundamental thing is to follow the laws of the land you live in. That is especially true in America. Those groups do what they do because of conflicts with governments, not people."
True Muslims instead believe in justice and equality among men, he said. The actions of those groups and their violence are not only geographically far away, but spiritually distant, as well, he said.
"This is portrayed as a problem and has nothing to do with my community — nothing to do with Muslims in Elizabethtown," he said.
His worries are more immediate.
"Getting youth to come to the mosque, to be good, virtuous men can't wait — get them to be good Muslims and upstanding citizens."
The central tenants of Islam are simple and similar to the other two monotheistic traditions, Christianity and Judaism, Lunat said.
Contrary to many perceptions, the religions have many similarities. Muslims believe in Jesus as one of many prophets, and closely follow his teachings as well as that of the last prophet, Mohammed, who lived sometime around 700 A.D.
"It is obedience to one sovereign Lord and to spend your life in his worship," he said. "Islam is a combination of Judeo/Christian tradition that culminates in Islamic law."
The laws include prayer five times a day facing Mecca, the most holy site in the Islamic world. Men are encouraged to attend the mosque and pray together; women are allowed to pray from home or attend the mosque.
There are special rules about eating, as well. Meat must be slaughtered in a traditional way, similar but slightly different than the kosher rules of the Jewish faith. Muslims do not eat pork, and are encouraged to eat simply and in moderation. They do not drink alcohol.
Islamic law also includes rules on traditional dress. Lunat wears a robe and beard, as did the Prophet. Traditional garb for Islamic women includes a Hijab, or facial covering.
"This is the dress code Muhammad imposes on men and women in a virtuous society," Lunat said. The dress code is traditional, and supposed to be modest and appropriate.
There are challenges to practicing Islam in the United States, but they can be overcome, Lunat said.
"Allah maintains that every human being has a test of his own faith — their own struggles that come in the way of worship."
Two of those can be work and schedule. Muslims are encouraged to attend the mosque for prayers five times a day, but that is simply not feasible for some. Islam allows for them to pray on their own.
Availability of mosques and distances also must be considered. In some cities, attending a mosque is easier than in others.
Muslims also deal with same societal problems that affect everyone and try to find faith-based solutions.
Still, the religion held a power for Abdul Hakeem, an American from Pennsylvania who converted to Islam and recently moved to Elizabethtown because of his wife's family.
"It's the purest form of monotheism," he said. "It's balanced in terms of the belief system regarding the prophets. Humanity is our common brotherhood."
The religion and its traditions also held a strong pull for Lunat, who has been in Elizabethtown for a year and a half. Originally from an upper middle-class family in Zimbabwe, he attended Hofstra University in New York and is a licensed CPA in New York.
However, Lunat found he wished to spend his life instead closer to his religion. At 30, almost twice the age of his classmates, he entered a traditional Islamic school, or Madressa, in London for five years of study. The school itself was free.
"Contrary to what people perceive, it is not a place that espouses violent ideologies," he said. "Instead, it is to learn the principles of our faith. I really did enjoy it. The teachers who taught us were very simple and pious and down to earth."
Islam does not have the same hierarchical structure as other religions. Instead, mosques are somewhat independent and loosely networked. Lunat was living in Arizona when he was contacted by the Islamic Center's former Imam, Ahmed Patel, who said he was leaving. Lunat soon moved to Elizabethtown with his family.
Since 9/11, life for Muslims has been difficult wherever they live in the United States.
"One of the consequences of 9/11 is Muslims are afraid to identify themselves," Lunat said.
Still, for the most part, Elizabethtown has been an inviting place.
"Elizabethtown is very friendly, eager to break down the barriers to learn," he said.
But there have been times where Lunat said he and some of his congregation have been harassed.
"There have been no actions — no physical threatenings," he said. "There has been occasional vocal abuse, even on Ring Road. Obscene gestures."
Lunat blames much of the misunderstanding on perceptions from the media.
"It has its challenges," he said. "Islam is in the news as a negative. There are ensuing perceptions (and) stereotypes that are false."
To battle that, Lunat is trying to help the public separate myths from reality in two ways.
"We try to do outreach meetings at churches, to have an open-door policy, publish literature and meet with the local media," he said. "As the community grows, we will be outreaching more."
The other way is to truly practice the faith. True Islam, Lunat said, is not one that is at odds with people of differing beliefs or faiths, and is a long way from the violence on the television.
"We follow the tenets of Islam," he said. "Things that appeal to humanity's laws — honesty, justice, equality — they will separate reality from the myths."
I wonder if this is one of the training school for the 9/11 or 7/7 terrorists?
FYI the picture associated with the link is NOT Lunat.
Look at what we have about 4 miles from my house! Right here in the heart of Central Kentucky.
I find driving past that place disquieting.
Of course, E-town has had a relatively long-time Islamic presence due primarily to Pakistani doctors at the hospital.
This is a propaganda piece. The only way a Muslim can live peacefully is to ignore the basic teachings of Koran which calls repeatedly on the faithful to destroy the infidel.
He forgot to mention the core belief of TAQIYYAH.
Is it TRUE the prophet Muhammad was a child molester , marrying a 9 year old girl . Now that we're being be truthful ???
That is...until the cameras are gone, and he can drop the pretense and speak with Islamazis in their language with no"infidels" around!
Do not be taken in...they will LIE to your face, and their "Religion" says it's OK if it furthers the cause of Islamazis!
No more. The blinders were removed on 9/11.
Yes, it is a propaganda piece. And, after all, isn't it almost unanimous that we already know the truth about Islam.
The five oldest and most trusted Islamic sources don't portray Muhammad as a great and godly man. They confirm that he was a thief, liar, assassin, mass murderer, terrorist, warmonger, and an unrestrained sexual pervert engaged in pedophilia, incest, and rape. He authorized deception, assassinations, torture, slavery, and genocide. He was a pirate, not a prophet. According to the Hadith and the Qur'an, Muhammad and his henchmen plundered their way to power and prosperity.
THIS IS JUST A BIT OF WHAT ALL MUSLIMS, INCLUDING SO-CALLED MODERATES, SIGN UP FOR WHEN THEY SAY THE BISMALLAH, "THERE IS NO GOD BUT ALLAH AND MUHAMMAD IS HIS PROPHET"!
KORAN [3.28] Let not the believers take the unbelievers for friends rather than believers; and whoever does this, he shall have nothing of (the guardianship of) Allah, but you should guard yourselves against them, guarding carefully; and Allah makes you cautious of (retribution from) Himself; and to Allah is the eventual coming.
KORAN [4.34] Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great.
KORAN [4.89] They desire that you should disbelieve as they have disbelieved, so that you might be (all) alike; therefore take not from among them friends until they fly (their homes) in Allah's way; but if they turn back, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them, and take not from among them a friend or a helper.
KORAN [9.29] Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Apostle have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection.
KORAN [9.30] And the Jews say: Uzair [Ezra] is the son of Allah; and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them; how they are turned away!
HADITH Sahih Bukhari [4:52:176] Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar:
Allah's Apostle said, "You (i.e. Muslims) will fight with the Jews till some of them will hide behind stones. The stones will (betray them) saying, 'O 'Abdullah (i.e. slave of Allah)! There is a Jew hiding behind me; so kill him.' "
HADITH Sahih Bukhari [4:52:177] Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "The Hour will not be established until you fight with the Jews, and the stone behind which a Jew will be hiding will say. "O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, so kill him."
HADITH Sahih Bukhari [4:56:791] Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar:
I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "The Jews will fight with you, and you will be given victory over them so that a stone will say, 'O Muslim! There is a Jew behind me; kill him!' "
HADITH Sahih Muslim [41:6981] Ibn 'Umar reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying:
You will fight against the Jews and you will kill them until even a stone would say: Come here, Muslim, there is a Jew (hiding himself behind me); kill him.
HADITH Sahih Muslim [41:6982] Ubaidullah has reported this hadith with this chain of transmitters (and the Words are):
"There is a Jew behind me."
HADITH Sahih Muslim [41:6983] Abdullah b. 'Umar reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying:
You and the Jews would fight against one another until a stone would say: Muslim, here is a Jew behind me; come and kill him.
HADITH Sahih Muslim [41:6984] Abdullah b. 'Umar reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said:
The Jews will fight against you and you will gain victory over them until the stone would say: Muslim, here is a Jew behind me; kill him.
HADITH Sahih Muslim [41:6985] Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying:
The last hour would not come unless the Muslims will fight against the Jews and the Muslims would kill them until the Jews would hide themselves behind a stone or a tree and a stone or a tree would say: Muslim, or the servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me; come and kill him; but the tree Gharqad would not say, for it is the tree of the Jews.
HADITH Sahih Bukhari [4:52:283] Narrated Abu Juhaifa:
I asked Ali, "Do you have the knowledge of any Divine Inspiration besides what is in Allah's Book?" 'Ali replied, "No, by Him Who splits the grain of corn and creates the soul. I don't think we have such knowledge, but we have the ability of understanding which Allah may endow a person with, so that he may understand the Qur'an, and we have what is written in this paper as well." I asked, "What is written in this paper?" He replied, "(The regulations of) blood-money, the freeing of captives,
According to a few articles here on FR, there is a world of difference between the teachings of Mohammed and Jesus.
But was he nice to his mother?
Kinda similar to the founder of Islam?
There probably is no connection, I would not suggest there is, just wondering...
Does anyone want to buy a used camel from Imam Mohamed Lunat ??
Nonsense.
The Koran, from those who have studied it as literature, is so ambiguous and self contradictory that one can find texts to justify just about anything one wants to justify.
So, you have militant killers justifying themselves, and peaceful virtuous civic leaders saying they are wrong, from the same book.
This is why we need to encourage the peaceful interpretations, and wreak havoc on the killers.
LOL....Yeah he only pimped her out on Tuesdays after she'd cleaned the crapper.....
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