It is here, in Redmond, WA. My wife went a session yesterday; amusing, in a way, that of the three people who came one was an Iranian Muslim furious at what the Arabs were doing to Islam.
It is here, in Redmond, WA. My wife went a session yesterday; amusing, in a way, that of the three people who came one was an Iranian Muslim furious at what the Arabs were doing to Islam.
"an Iranian Muslim furious at what the Arabs were doing to Islam."
Everything I need to know about Islam I learned on 9-11.
I went to this event at the Redmond Library hoping that I could finally meet "Moderate" Islam in the flesh. This meeting was almost exactly as described in the article Muslim Jihad Comes to Small Town, USA.
I was only one of three identifiably non-Muslims who attended the session. The large room had plenty of chairs for visitors, but they remained empty. I arrived late and missed the introduction of the main speakers, but I quickly caught on to what was happening. The "Imam" (teacher/preacher) Mutahhir Sabree, was teaching/preaching about the Five Pillars of Islam and what they are designed to accomplish in the heart and life of a Muslim. What I heard sounded very compatible with pre-Vatican II Roman Catholicism, Traditional Anglicanism, and mainstream Judaism. Worship of One God, practice of regular daily prayer and reading of holy writings, inward and outward cleanliness, pilgrimage to holy places and giving of charity to those in need. (How Islam relates to the Ba'hai Faith is, well, different. I know for instance that the Mullahs in Iran made "jihad" against Ba'hais and literally drove those they didn't rape, torture and murder out of Iran.)
The only "sticking point" for me was the Imam's characterization of Jesus, the Christ. He is considered to be only a prophet, the son of MAN, a human being Abraham, Isaac, Ishamel, Jacob, and all other prominent Biblical figures whose mission and message centered on One God.
Next up was Mr. "Yusuf" Estes, a former "Christian" preacher and alleged "scholar" of Scripture, whose father is still a minister in Texas. This man was introduced by Mutahhir Sabree with the title of Sheikh (inaudible). Mr Estes travels around the world and on the Internet promoting Islam as the One True Religion. He says he came to Islam as a genuine skeptic, scientifically challenging its teachings and "proofs." (he gave examples) The session I attended was being webcast for the world to hear. Mr. Estes gave an email address to which people may send questions (askislam@aol.com) saying he, or any one of a group of Islamic scholars would provide answers with the help of Allah. Mr. Estes appeared sincere and gave a very enthusiastic anecdotal presentation of his personal discovery of (and conversion to) Islam and its impact on his life.
Most salient was a point relating to his relationship with his father and the loud antagonistic arguments he used to have with him about religion. He said "the (Muslim) brothers" admonished him to stop yelling and disrespecting his father (breaking the commandment: "Honor thy Father and thy Mother"), to beg Allah's forgiveness and to be reconciled to his Father - thereby honoring Allah and giving a more appropriate witness to the truth of Islam. The result is that today he still can relate to his father even though they disagree. Unstated was the hope that his father would see the light and also convert. (Evangelism?)
There were women there (some completely covered except for their eyes) and children - entire families. There was a group of men in one corner paying close attention to the Imam and the Sheikh, but also to the people coming and going into and outside the room. I felt strangely welcome yet very much "outside" and under a microscope. The air of suspicion and mistrust was palpable.
The women were more open and friendly than the men. One even offered me some special water to drink from Saudi Arabia but I politely declined. (I have also been offered water from Catholic shrines, but I have declined that also. Knowing the chemical, bacterial and viral content of what goes in my mouth is important to me.) I was handed a folder with brochures and a CD, a pen and some sticky note cards so I could write my questions. There was also a "survey" form for me to fill out and give feedback on the program with suggestions for improvement. I was also given CDs and DVDs and other material about Islam and encouraged to explore and ask questions. Refreshments offered were plentiful and fresh. Their hospitality was inviting and warm.
I came away from the meeting with insight into the community of Islam among us that gives me cause for great concern. Adherents of Islam consider beliefs that do not coincide with the teachings of their prophet Mohammed to be utterly false. They teach that Mohammed is the last prophetic voice of God to the people of earth. The mission of Islam in this world (as expressed by these people at this meeting) appears to be nothing short of total takeover. Those who practice and represent Islam in our community are genuinely convinced that their "way of life" (not a religion) is the ultimate reality, and that the world's ultimate destiny is to be totally surrendered to Allah and to his kingdom. The attitude exepected among Muslims is one of complete submission to the sovereign will of God without question. I can see where this kind of blind obedience and religious zeal can lead to acts of violence like September 11, 2001.
I can also see from the lack of attendance that Americans are still sound asleep and have not taken the "lessons" of September 11 sufficiently to heart. The measures that have been taken to "protect" our country from terror attacks are all well intentioned I am sure, but they will not protect us from an alien cultural invasion. The only protection we have for our individual and national cultural sovereignty is to learn all we can about how Islam thinks. We also need to rediscover what western culture thinks so we can better defend the truths we hold to be self-evident from all enemies foreign and domestic.