http://theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16034307%255E7583,00.html
Irshad Manji: 'Sins of scripture' in the Koran, too
25jul05
AS a reform-minded Muslim, I've given birth to a twinge of optimism.
Nine months ago, I wrote about the need for Muslim leaders to pull
their heads out of the sand. I challenged them to recognise that
something is askew in Islam. My call for honesty capped a week of
back-to-back terrorist atrocities: the slaying of 12 Nepalese cooks
and cleaners in Iraq, the double suicide bombings in Israel, the
kidnapping of two French journalists and the hijacking of a school in
Russia.
In the wake of Thursday's bombings in London, combined with the first
wave of explosions 2 1/2 weeks ago, something has changed. As I scour
Muslim chat rooms and discussion boards, I see an overwhelming display
of heartfelt condolences for the victims and angry condemnation of the
criminals.
Last year, the powerless children of Beslan, Russia didn't have nearly
such an effect on Muslims worldwide. It is as if London - its
pluralism, dynamism, and (we shall whisper this) capitalism - marked
the line that dare not be crossed. The International Olympic Committee
was vindicated in less than a day.
Yet two myths still rear their heads in this most sympathetic of
Muslim responses. First, that Britain courted the attack by joining
the US in Iraq. Second, that Islam cannot be held responsible for what
a few twisted Muslims choose to do.
Terrorists have never needed an Iraq debacle to justify their violent
jihads. What exactly was the Iraq of 1993, when Islamic radicals first
tried to blow up New York City's World Trade Centre? Or 2000, when the
USS Cole was attacked? Indeed, that assault took place after US
military intervention saved thousands of Muslims in Bosnia.
If staying out of Iraq protected anybody from terrorism, then why did
"insurgents" make hostages out of reporters from France, the most
anti-war, anti-Bush nation in the West? Even overt solidarity with the
people of Iraq, demonstrated by CARE's top relief worker in the area,
Margaret Hassan, did not shield her from assassination.
When Muslims ignore these facts, we cloud what ought to be a clear
repudiation of the London bombings. I say "ought" not just for moral
reasons but also for strategic ones. An unqualified rejection of the
London bombings can only help moderate Muslims differentiate
themselves from the apologists.
Which brings me to a second myth: that Islam has nothing to do with
these atrocities. You need not live in Britain to cling defensively to
that line. Consider a prominent imam in New York City. He is a gentle,
decent man; a new generation type who emphasises multi-faith dialogue.
To top it off, he just returned from a conference about moderate Islam
in Jordan, where he played a key role.
But in his official response to the London bombings, this cleric
sanitises the Koran. He says it teaches us - and here is the precise
quote - "whoever kills a human being ... it is as if he has killed all
humankind". The imam is honest enough to indicate that he has removed
a part of the passage but not honest enough to tell us it is a crucial
part. The full verse reads: "Whoever kills a human being, except as
punishment for murder or other villainy in the land, shall be regarded
as having killed all humankind." Militant Muslims easily deploy the
clause beginning with "except" to justify their rampages.
It is what Osama bin Laden had in mind when he announced a jihad
against the US in the late 1990s. Did economic sanctions on Iraq,
imposed by the UN but demanded by Washington, cause the "murder" of
half a million children? Bin Laden believes so, oil-for-food scandal
or not. Did the boot prints of US troops in the Arabian peninsula,
birthplace of the Prophet Mohammed, qualify as "villainy in the land"?
To bin Laden, you bet. As for US civilians, can they be innocent of
either "murder" or "villainy" when their tax money helps Israel buy
tanks to raze Palestinian homes? A no-brainer for bin Laden.
And, it seems, for the July 7 terrorists. The group claiming
responsibility cited - what else? - a defence of Iraq and a disgust
with the Zionist entity as its primary motives. The invasion of the
former and the existence of the latter amount to nothing less than
murder and villainy in the land.
These days, most Muslims in Britain can agree that al-Qa'ida and its
sympathisers are ethically Neanderthal for manipulating the Koran to
pursue this train of jihad. I stand with those Muslims who insist that
certain passages are being politically exploited. Of course they are.
The point is, however, that they could not be exploited if they did
not exist.
We Muslims cannot bear to admit as much. Why? Why do we hang on to the
mantra that the Koran - and Islam - are blemish-free? God may well be
perfect but God transcends a book, a prophet and a belief system. That
means we are free to question without fear that the Almighty will feel
threatened by our reasoning, speculating, or doubting. Rather, it is
we who feel threatened.
How about joining with the moderates of Judaism and Christianity in
confessing some "sins of scripture", as the Episcopal bishop John
Shelby Spong has said of the Bible? In so doing, Muslims would be
paying tribute to the very pluralism of ideas and interpretations that
allows them to practise Islam in this part of the world. Anything less
leaves one to wonder how it is that, in diverse societies, those who
oppose diversity of thought feel more comfortable getting vocal than
those who embrace it.
Irshad Manji, a Canadian writer and television presenter, is author of
The Trouble with Islam: A Muslim's Call for Reform in Her Faith (St
Martin's Press, 2005).
© 2005 The Australian
--
Contempt of Congress meter reading-offscale.
Hello, theocracy with a fundamentalist US Supreme
Court who will ensure church and state are joined
at the hip like clergy and altar boys.
America 1776-Jan 2001 RIP
"As democracy is perfected, the office of president
represents, more and more closely, the inner soul
of the people. On some great and glorious day the
plain folks of the land will reach their heart's
desire at last and the White House will be adorned
by a downright moron." --- H.L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)
Religion is the original war crime.
-Michelle Malkin (Feb 26, 2005)
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