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It is time for Muslims to begin a deep self-examination
WaPo ^ | Yasmine Bahrani

Posted on 01/01/2016 4:57:40 AM PST by RoosterRedux

Recently, I asked my students what they thought about commentary that appeared in the Guardian newspaper in November suggesting that France and Britain had failed their immigrants through clumsy -- and ultimately alienating -- efforts to promote multiculturalism (in Britain's case) and assimilation (in France's). In this way, author Kenan Malik said, French and British policies gave Islamism an entree into isolated Muslim communities.

Nearly all my students rejected the premise, arguing that immigrants were responsible for their own actions whether they were isolated or not. Of course, many of these students come from families who fled countries terrorized by Muslim extremists and have no sympathy for them. But they don't blame Western multiculturalism for the rise of home-grown Islamism. "That's silly," shrugged one Syrian girl.

Why, then, I asked them, don't Muslims march in the streets of London, Paris and New York loudly condemning the Islamic State? Because, they answered, mainstream Muslims are too scared that the extremists would come after them. The class brainstormed about what could be done instead. Most concluded that they, too, would be afraid to call attention to themselves.

When I asked another class what responsibility we have to explain to others that terrorists don't represent all Muslims, the response was mixed. One Saudi student said it was not at all our responsibility. "If a (Western) person wants to learn about Islam, he should Google it," she said. Another, an Egyptian, was angered by the question: "If I hear one more time that Muslims have not done enough to condemn terrorists. . . ." Many Muslims are weary of such criticism.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: islam
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1 posted on 01/01/2016 4:57:41 AM PST by RoosterRedux
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To: RoosterRedux

A site created by Muslims against fundamentalist Islam.
http://www.clarionproject.org/

I don’t know what they do with Muhammad, since he is the first and prototypical Islamic terrorist.


2 posted on 01/01/2016 5:03:43 AM PST by Westbrook (Children do not divide your love, they multiply it)
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To: RoosterRedux

Islam is not compatible with western societies, end of discussion. It is like the left ideology we are determined to change you whether you like it or not.


3 posted on 01/01/2016 5:07:27 AM PST by ronnie raygun (If we dont stand we will fall hard)
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To: RoosterRedux
"If I hear one more time that Muslims have not done enough to condemn terrorists. . . ."

"...I'm gonna just snap and cut somebody's head off."

4 posted on 01/01/2016 5:13:22 AM PST by ExGeeEye (Mohammed was a war mongering pedophile rapist who started a Satanic death cult. Arrest me, Lynch.)
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To: RoosterRedux

They should. Their founder created this phony religion mainly for money and sex. People forget that nations paid muslims to get along. Besides what kind of god rewards people with sex in the afterlife?


5 posted on 01/01/2016 5:33:55 AM PST by New Jersey Realist (America: home of the free because of the brave)
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To: RoosterRedux

Self-examination may occur, but positive change is impossible, if history is any indication. We all need to grow up, face reality, and recognize what is futile and nothing more than wishful thinking.


6 posted on 01/01/2016 5:40:03 AM PST by iontheball
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To: RoosterRedux

It is an act of apostasy to question Islam. The Ummah (the body of faithful Muslims) is obligated to slay any such apostate. Not only does this work to preclude any change, but it is the way in which people like Sayyid Qutb (head ideologist for the Muslim Brotherhood) were able to convince slacker Muslims that they must follow the full demands of their religion if they every hoped to attain Paradise.

Qutb wrote a short book on the subject, Milestones. See especially chapter 4, Jihad in the Cause of God:

http://majalla.org/books/2005/qutb-nilestone.pdf


7 posted on 01/01/2016 5:40:13 AM PST by theBuckwheat
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To: theBuckwheat

Sayyid Qutb’s “Milestones” and Its Impact on the Arab Spring
by Steven G. Zenishek

Journal Article | May 9, 2013 - 2:30am

Author’s Note: Steven wishes to thank CDR Youssef Aboul-Enein, USN for his edits and for encouraging

him to publish this work.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this essay are those of the author and do not reflectthe official

policy or position of the National Defense University, the Department of Defense or the U.S.

Government.

Overview

Sayyid Qutb is considered the father of modern fundamentalism and is described by his (Arab)

biographer as “the most famous personality of the Muslim world in the second half of the 20th

century”.[1] Qutb is credited by Karen Armstrong, a scholar on religious affairs, as “the real

founder of Islamic fundamentalism in the Sunni world”.[2] She states “Every Sunni fundamentalist

movement has been influenced by Qutb.”[3] Qutb’s writings distort Islam and exhort “Muslims to

separate themselves from mainstream society and engage in violent jihad.”[4] His writings and legacy

are admired by parts of the Muslim Brotherhood and found in Al Qaeda’s ideology in advocating violence

against every current government and society because all are in a state of “Jahiliyyah” (Apostasy).

Qutb advocated Jihad to force society to submit to God alone. His book “Milestones” has become a

manifesto for Jihadists seeking to free Muslims from Jahiliyyah and to establish “Divine Law” (al-

Shari’ah) to bring about man’s submission to God. Of note, there are various interpretations of

Shari’ah, so in essence Qutb advocates an interpretation in his image, wishing to impose this on

Muslims and non-Muslims alike.[5] This essay will review Qutb’s arguments to legitimize Jihad,

discuss the problems posed by his arguments and then examine how “Milestones” has influenced the Arab

Spring and its implications to National Security in interacting with the Muslim Brotherhood and

defeating Al Qaeda.

Qutb’s Premise

Qutb introduces Milestones with “Mankind…is on the brink of a precipice…because humanity is devoid of

those vital values necessary for healthy development” and “real progress.”[6] He discounts western

democracy as being infertile of life giving ideas and he discounts Marxism because it conflicts man’s

nature and needs.[7] Qutb asserts Islam is the only system harmonious with human values, positive,

constructive and practicable.[8] His vision is a revived Islam returned to its original form when

Mohammad was in Mecca to exert a leadership role over mankind. In order to attract mankind, Islam

must satisfy human needs through faith and material benefits in a Muslim society.[9] Qutb asserts

only the Islamic way of life frees men from the servitude of other men and allows them to worship God

deriving guidance from him alone. To accomplish this, a vanguard of believers will march through the

Jahiliyyah world to bring about its conversion through Jihad. Qutb wrote Milestones to show the

vanguard of believers the starting point, nature, responsibilities and purpose of the journey.[10]

The Starting Point

Qutb looks to the companions of Prophet Mohammad as the first generation steeped in pure Islam through

their direct interaction with the Prophet. Qutb asserts this first generation received the pure

Quran; while later generations tainted by exposure to Greek, Persian, Jewish and Christian ideas, were

never able to rise to the same level as the first generation.[11] ....

from:
http://bit.ly/1rsevx6

PDF of Qutb’s Milestones: [133 pages]
http://majalla.org/books/2005/qutb-nilestone.pdf


8 posted on 01/01/2016 5:41:06 AM PST by theBuckwheat
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To: RoosterRedux

Won’t happen, The cult will not let it!


9 posted on 01/01/2016 6:06:15 AM PST by Busko (The only thing that is certain is that nothing is certain.)
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To: RoosterRedux

It’s been time now for about 14 centuries; ain’t gonna happen,


10 posted on 01/01/2016 6:06:36 AM PST by The_Media_never_lie (The Bush family needs to just go away. The Clinton family needs just to go to prison.)
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To: ExGeeEye

Are you becoming more devout?


11 posted on 01/01/2016 6:09:24 AM PST by The_Media_never_lie (The Bush family needs to just go away. The Clinton family needs just to go to prison.)
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To: ronnie raygun

‘zackly.
They do not belong in the West.


12 posted on 01/01/2016 6:15:10 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (Baseball players, gangsters and musicians are remembered. But journalists are forgotten.)
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To: RoosterRedux

Muslims are not self reflecting anything. Forget it. They are happy to see their brothers kill you and you Christian families. What is needed is a Constitutional Amendment defining Islam as a political hate group and banning all current Muslims from public employment and benefits. Mosques should be demolished.


13 posted on 01/01/2016 6:15:44 AM PST by anton
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To: RoosterRedux

Passive, assertive or aggressive about imposing a theocracy. Or speak out and support freedom of religion.


14 posted on 01/01/2016 6:19:10 AM PST by Son House (The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; the Original Legislative Fraud.)
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To: anton

I would vote for that.


15 posted on 01/01/2016 6:21:56 AM PST by JohnnyP
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To: ronnie raygun
Islam is not compatible with western societies, end of discussion.

You nailed it. We have nearly 1400 years of history by which to judge Islam, and every minute of that time testifies to the fact you stated. For further reference, see this cartoon (somebody posted the link the other day, but it seems to apply to this discussion).
16 posted on 01/01/2016 6:22:17 AM PST by Montana_Sam (Truth lives.)
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To: RoosterRedux

“When I asked another class what responsibility we have to explain to others that terrorists don’t represent all Muslims, the response was mixed.”

Probably because it is a blatant lie; except for a few Muslim homosexuals that have fled to the West (who claim to still be Muslim), the silence on the part of the other 99.9999% implies consent with their actions. When the US had to accustom airmen to the idea that they would be bombing civilian populations in WWII, they rationalized it by saying the civilian populations were enabling the military authorities. This is no different.


17 posted on 01/01/2016 6:25:23 AM PST by kearnyirish2 (Affirmative action is economic warfare against white males (and therefore white families).)
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To: ronnie raygun
Islam is not compatible with western societies, end of discussion.

Islam is not compatible with human civilization.

18 posted on 01/01/2016 6:31:30 AM PST by P-Marlowe (Tagline pending.)
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To: ExGeeEye

Yasmine Bahrani...hmm sounds like a Muslim writer putting out a propaganda piece to make it sound like there are Muslims against terrorists. Well if she reads her Koran I’m sure she knows it calls for them to lie to and kill infidels to accomplish their end goals so not buying the Taqiyya Bahrani. Nice try though.


19 posted on 01/01/2016 6:32:24 AM PST by jsanders2001
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To: kearnyirish2

“the silence on the part of the other 99.9999%”

I would say that most Muslims actively support the terrorists. When asked under conditions where they do not need to lie as is their habit, they seem to almost always speak in support. The silent Muslims with reservations might be 10%. Maybe less. The peaceful Muslim is one who is not really an adherent, too stupid to know what they have bought into, or a liar.


20 posted on 01/01/2016 6:34:01 AM PST by anton
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