You know what still amazes me today about 9/11 is that Muslims in North America (or anywhere else for that matter) didn’t seem to rise up like a chorus of protest against the attacks. They didn’t form organizations to combat terrorism. Mosques didn’t develop programs for Muslims or non-Muslims to help them understand how wrong the attacks were. Muslims didn’t try to provide the rest of us with a sense that they were not affiliated with the terrorists.

There were a few short lived groups that developed, but the bulk of the Muslim community did not join in. One guy sensed that a movement of Muslims should come together to make a statement about how wrong 9/11 was. He did not find much support, but he didn’t give up (not right away). As he was trying to motivate Muslims to protest the attacks, he was told to stop by Imams and other prominent Muslims.

Why?

If a person reads the Qur’an, it is very much focused on the idea that Christians and Jews are not to be trusted. In order to understand the Qur’an a person must understand abrogation. The chapters/surahs of the Qur’an that were revealed last are the ones with the most authority. Surah 9, ‘Repentance’ is the 2nd last revealed Surah. The last Surah revealed is only 3 verses long. Surah 9 is quite long and has quite a bit to say. verse 5 basically gives authority to Muslims to ambush or kill non-Muslims (unless they repent).

Elsewhere the Qur’an presents the idea that a Muslim should keep their weapon near them when they pray so they cannot be ambushed while in prayer – so the idea is that God will not provide protection for them. A Muslim needs to be ready to make quick decisions about who will live and who will die.

That is a repetitive point in the Qur’an – that is part of Islam.

So, why would Muslims speak out against ambush or violence that is done against Christians or Jews? Typically they see America as a Christian nation, so why would they care if America is attacked?

Part of the mindset that comes out of the Qur’an is that a person must take care of themselves and the people they love. A Christian or a Jew might just become an active enemy to them in the near future and that Muslim, or a Muslim they know might have to kill these Christians or Jews…. so why speak out against their deaths? Muslims know that Allah may call them to kill in His name. Allah’s way in the Qur’an and in Muhammad’s life was the way of ambush, murder and warfare. Muhammad is considered the model for Muslims to follow – He was a war lord. He demanded conversion under the threat of death.

Islam excuses violence and passivity in both subtle and overt ways.

I agree with Insol, lets just help them along a little bit!

Why waste good Americans like Dr. Abdullah? Isn’t this the perfect time to let the diplomatic minded American hippies reach out to those misunderstood snipers? I think it is.

I don’t know why I didn’t think about this earlier, but there are plenty of Muslim bloggers in the ME who would agree with the above statements. We should make it a habit to search them out and link them.

Yep.

[...] Not all Muslims are the enemy. Kill us, too:  We are also Americans. (ht Radioactive Liberty) [...]

More people like Dr. Abdullah and less of CAIR would go along way to bridging the gap.