Examining us examining Hasan
I said two prayers when I saw the initial reports: the first for the dead and suffering, the second about the shooter, praying that he wasn't Muslim. A whole lot of Muslims know how I feel, just check out the blog posts by people like Hussein Rashid, Wajahat Ali, Daisy Khan and a host of others on this.
I admit, it's kind of peculiar to be so invested in the identity of the perpetrator, but we Muslims have a lot at stake. After all, it's our religion the murderer du jour has violated, which is bad enough. But in addition to that, we have to deal with our faith being the subject of constant questions (asked on television talk shows and in OpEd columns) like, "Is the religion inherently violent or is this more about the people?" And there is always the question (sometimes implicit, sometimes shouted out loud): Are all Muslims somehow suspect because of the few who turn to terror and murder? Do people hold us responsible? Fear us? (Incidentally, there's a lot of people who aren't Muslim who prayed the shooter wasn't Muslim either, because they understand what's at stake as well. See more.)
What's even more peculiar to me, though, is the other group of people who seem to have an investment in the identity of such perpetrators. The people who seem to want the most recent high-profile murder or terror attack to be committed by someone who swears by the Holy Qur'an. Who are eagerly awaiting every detail linking the murderer to Islam so they can fire up their laptops and use the current trauma as a stage for an ideology.
I have this somewhat stomach-turning image of a group of people watching the initial news reports of the Fort Hood tragedy and saying the opposite prayer that I did -- praying that the person was Muslim.
I certainly hope that I'm wrong about this. I think most reasonable people would agree that hoping that any tradition (whether it's Islam or Judaism) is inherently poisoned and that any community (whether it's Muslims or Americans) are inevitably violent is both sick and foolish.
Still, there's something about some of the articles written about Fort Hood which seem a bit too eager to me.
There's the piece that somehow uses Nidal Hasan's actions to make this statement, "If the U.S. government cannot come to grips with the reality that authoritative Islam is rooted in Shariah, that Shariah demands its adherents engage in supremacist jihad and that jihad is - pursuant to Shariah - intended to inflict terror on its victims, it will be wholly unable to defeat an enemy bent on its destruction."
Then there was the writer who used the opportunity to advance this opinion: "Muslims may be more extreme because their religion is founded on bellicose conquest, a contempt for infidels and an obligation for piety that is more extensive than in other schemes."
(Since these guys seem so eager to represent Islam in light of Fort Hood, one wishes they knew something about the tradition before they went on about it. They could start with what Imam Feisal and Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa wrote in light of the tragedy.)
I wonder if these writers would have felt a twinge of disappointment if the shooter turned out to be white (as in Columbine) or Korean (Virginia Tech). I wonder if they would have sighed and wished that the next tragedy would come along just as fast as possible, hopefully that will have some Muslim shooters or bombers - all the better for casting a negative light on a fifth of their neighbors on planet Earth.
Seems like they got what they wanted at Fort Hood.
The whole thing -- the dead and wounded and suffering at Fort Hood, the identity of the murderer, the sorry state of the guys who were hoping it would go down this way -- well, it just makes me sad.
By
Eboo Patel
|
November 16, 2009; 11:48 AM ET
| Category:
Interfaith Issues
,
Religion & Leadership
,
Religion & Politics
,
Religious Conflict
Save & Share:
Previous: Another Muslim soldier |
Next: Going McCarthy
Posted by: RickinKC | November 25, 2009 4:59 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Islam not inevitably violent? Why, the evidence is all around, every day. With such core concepts as infidel, dhimmi, jizya and jihad, you are not getting off that easy, Eboo!
Posted by: RickinKC | November 25, 2009 4:58 PM
Report Offensive Comment
We must acknowledge that there is a clash of civilizations that is occuring right now. Western influence in the Middle East, worldwide really, and it's domination of the natural and human resources coupled with the shrinking of the world will continue this conflict as long as Western and Islamic governments continue their current policies.
The prejudice of Muslims in the United States will continue with those that seperate humanity by religion, ethnicity, and nationality primarily and are not exposed to the many cultures in the world.
This will alienate a small percentage of Muslims who will radicalize. The many murders that occur daily in the United States will not make it to telivision but the ones done by Muslims will make it by a high percentage.
How do you share the resources of Earth and open minds to the other cultures?
Posted by: FRIENDENEMY | November 18, 2009 12:08 PM
Report Offensive Comment
If it is not minded,let us speak about some Teological Situations which may be considered by someones as Inconsistency.
1-Lets begin from the beginning
-Unlettered Man spoke with Gabriel in the Den,but it is believed to be Word of Allah.
-Unlettered Man took Read Divine Inspiration/Revelation.Isnt it Interesting ?
2-Islam says;*Jewish People went astray and Allah sent a Messenger* Yes,right.But,but,If Jewish People went astray,Allah would sent a Hebrew speaking man to Jerusalem,not a man to Bedouin Tribes in desert.
Jewish People went astray,but Allah sent a Messenger to Bedouins.
Is this Reasonable ? Is this Logical ?
3-Besides,Allah is interested in Jewish People problems too much and Allah loves Jewish People very,very,very much and He immediately sent a Helper/Messenger(plus at least fifty ones),
But,Allah didnt send only one Messenger to Red Skins,Hindus,Chineses,Lazs,Germans etc.
Arent they Servants of Allah ? Is it Reasonable ?
4-God of Islam says *I shall secure My Book* If Allah secures His Books,
-Why He coundnt secure Torah/The Law.
-Why He coundnt secure Bible.
How can one interpret/appreciate those ones.
Posted by: halozcel1 | November 18, 2009 9:06 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Why Jealousy; Why Did you; Brad Hirschfield & CO., jealously Delete this partial Essay (it's hard working thinking & posting)?
-- Behold; America's Newly-Elected "NEW-SECULAR" KiNG, QUEEN & PRINCES in the-peoples WHITE-HOUSE; not out-house:
Dear JEALOUS folks or those inflicted with such Pre-Apocalyptarianity; Hark, Good Tidings!;
Mr. OBAMA, the slammin, Dunkin hoopster/shooter,Dadda is as Tough/ or as hard as a 'Rock'n type of fella, not quite
like in thee O' mighty 'ROCK' but rocks!.
The Obama Brother/Sister/Kin'das & FAMILYs, are the KING, QUEEN & PRINCE, PRINCES'S of America's "NEWSECULAR"
s, aka the New-Neo-Con's or better yet; It's imagining that OBAMA & CO., art the "NEW-NEPOLIAN"s whom will turn Judeo-abe-ISLAM & CO., 'Upside-Down' on their [Shmotta] Theocratic & or Monarchis Heads.
Note: Even a "'GOOGLE'-amount of People" (beyond Tetra) can'th Squeez'th-HEMO-From a "ROCK" [i.e., Mr. OBAMA] THEREFORE:
Like-wise, PRAYERS (talking to "IT"/G-D); can-NOT Squeez'th BLOOD-from a rock [OBAMA] Either; Includes MEDITATING (listening to "G-D/"IT"). QUESTION: WHO Wrote that Satanic/evil 'Psalm's 108-109' versus for the "EBERU-UMMAH", King Solomon & or CO., lovers/followers?
FACT: The SiNCRETISTs Hebrews or Bedoiuns or Coptic awareness for "Pslam" means not Desert-Palm or leaf but means READINGS from-The HEBREW"PALM" of-ones-Hand. Like Fortune-Tellings. A supplement to their own preapocalyptic Horror-Scopes/Astrology becoming part of their Myths/beliefs thinking/faiths..
Note: Today Eveb Hebrews, besides Mazzooza's on every door; also have, in most, the HAMSA-Palm therein too; and the Blue Eye'nri et al SYMBOLIC 'SuperStupidStitious' material chochkas to work with the Spirits!?
Note: The Judeo-abe-ISLAMIC Ummah & Judeo-abe-Christian Ummah & Judeo-vedic-Hindu&Buddhist.. also have their SYMBOLIC chochkas to help them PRAY away their time on S.pace-S.hip Earth too! In away; it's like having a Baby-Bottle or baby blanket to keep content; only that adults can't seem to LET-GO (of their PreApocalypticarian/aryan-itys; not nessecity's)!
continued..
Posted by: mr-intangibil | November 18, 2009 12:13 AM
Report Offensive Comment
continued:
FACT, Most of King Solomons 1,000 wives worshiped BAALism. They worshiped Idols; and they oversaw or participated [via EVIL thinking, behaviour] in "Child-Sacrifice" & "Adult-Sacrifice."
FACT: Even Chumash/Biblical character 'JETHRO'[MOSES's Father-Inlaw] was the Highest Idol-worshiping
Priest of the BAAL/MOLECH/CHEMOSH/AMAN-ra, AMONre.. CULTure & SECTions of the LEVANTian area!
Sorry; but Today that type of Thinking (Believing in PSALMreadings", aka clairvoyant [Eye-n-ri] belief via (man Made; Zero G-D) hand-writings via samples 109:8,109 et al; are so so stupido'a.
Note: As a "FREUDiAN SLIP OF GENUINE PROPHECY" Most people who dare to Organizevily pray (wish; includes spitting etc..) Mr., Brother King-OBAMA & CO., away are only 'REVERSING" EVILness U-pon themselves in-return for being so so "SUPERSTUPIDSTITIOUS" mind'ds! A very Dangerous state/frame of Mind! So
'all' PRE-APOCALYPTIC-arians/Aryans worshipers; are "Spiriting' (via Prayer's) themselves away. important: Did you know, that Even in U.S. courts or STATE [New-Secular] Systems; if any 'JUDEO-abe'Christian or a JUDEO-abe-JEW or a JUDEO-abe-ISLAMic; even a JUDEO-vedic-Hindu or a Judeo-vedic-Buddhist.., all Pre-
Apocalyptariann/aryan's TELLS a "JUDGE" of the Seculars Peoples-Court something like;
"I or WE (of any JUDEO domination), will PRAY for You [Judge-Name & Co.,] to die on your way home or work, and or I will wish you bad Omens.." etc. Guess what?
THEY will be sent to a quarantined; "Go to Jail!"; for Religious Superstupidstitious THREATS (Wishing even, yes, PRAYng or even meditating ) against Humanity [The SECULAR Peoples-Court via honorable JUDGEships] for such Pre-Apocalyptic "Religious Jealousy Psychosis"s (thinking) threats and or via "Pre-Apocalyptic-SiNDROME" Religion/Faith) thinkings and other bad Evil belief's.
Interestingly: Besides the ability to punish groups or individuals that Under Secular Judges Power This gives the U.s./State "Attorney Generals" fodder/power/excuse, repectively to request the IRS to Remove All/any "TaxExempt Status" for any Organised, CHURCH; MOSQUE/SINOGOGUE/TEMPLEs..[Corporations for
Propheteerings & prifits], via Old-time or new-time VOODOOiSM, WITCHCRAFT, IDOLism worship etc..! Regodless of the RELIGION Praying, sayin , sining in such organized or Individual Behaviours! Originally POSTED BY: MR-INTANGIBIL, 11.17.09; 9:30AM
Posted by: mr-intangibil | November 18, 2009 12:11 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Eboo:
The fact that you and others hoped that the perpetrator of the Fort Hood massacre was not a Muslim is telling in and by itself. Why would you suspect that the terrorist be a Muslim in a country where their numbers are insignificantly small. If it were a random act of violence the probability of it being perpetrated by a Muslim should be less than 0.4%. The reason for your trepidation is partly because of the almost daily discoveries of Muslims trying to inflict damage on this country. The very recent ones in Colorado, New York, Texas, Michigan and North Carolina were caught or killed before they inflicted any material damage. This latest one was not stopped in time. Now anyone care to explain this phenomenon in a manner that makes sense to us?
Posted by: abhab1 | November 17, 2009 11:12 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Note: There's no such animal like a "NEO-CON" anymore; (so called 'new-Conservative'moveants of the "Testy-1950"s; but died on 09.11.2001)
Hear Ye Hear Ye, sweet sweet Automatic-born Citizens/Denizens of blesseth, but NEBULA-BUiLT, S.pace-S.hip Earth:
Behold, The NEO-SECULARs, aka US, the "NEO-SEC''s" (an international 'NEW-SECULAR' movement; born post 911, to replace the Neocon Movement). Note: Think Mr. Obama & CO., as the new"NEO-NAPOLIANS" on S.S. Earth, not only in France, doing their righteous work/job in the Pre-Apocalyptic thinking/Worshiping Middle &near-East, for the sake of Humanity, to SEPERATE CHURCH from STATE (i.e., Islam, Sharia etc..); ELSE, Never will there be Peace, Shalom, Salaam, Ahimsa, Zhingyu, Mir, Paz..!? But
only a new "NEW-SECULAR"s can do the 'Dirty or Clean Work/job, which means 'Saving The Day & the Earth', instead of the-NeoCons of old.! We art a NEW-PARADIGM with a "HOLY COSMIC FEELER's FAiTH"; like a REligion, but with a better twist!
Do not-NO EDUCATE the "ELDERS OF Al TAQIYAH"izms Children, aka "Islami-Ka{fir-Ummah" for the next +/- 15/20 years!!
DO NOT buy 'any' TURKiSH Products or eat in Restaurants! &NO SYRiAN or LEBAN.
Secret: SAUDi WAHHABi already have aSunni-A-BOMB, gifted by Paki's early 08 or late 07. So SAUDUi, TURKEY + SYRIA + IRAN + PAKi now all have IT or know-how! It's a matter of 'time' & 'Patience' ; via their tactics, "AL TAQIYAH" IslamicZionism.
So, now The "NEW-SECULAR" movants on S.pace-S.hip Earth, not Locally anymore, will have to take-away, or Stop the Theocratic JUDEO-abe-Islamics from possesing ANY unkinda NUKE, be it a Shia-a or Sunni-b Bomb!
iMAGINE IF THE Theocratic VATICAN "POPE" & CO., by brother/sister-hood, secretly own'd/had a JESUS-Alpha-Omega-BOMB" hidden somewhere in their manymany Churches through-out the Land(s)? How about the E.ast Orthodox Arch BISHOP & CO., also had/having secretly, an atomic "GOSPEL-a/b-BOMB" hidden somewhere in their manymany Churches scatered on all over S.S. Earth!? continued...
...WHY ARE "IMMAMS", whom advocate ANTi-PEACE & Promote Violence, orally or scipuraly via "MOSQUES/CHURCH or via Privates, controlling the-PUBLIC/PRIVATES, instead of letting The SECULAR-ANiTY Society's do that muchmuch more MORALY than religious Immoral tribal precedents? NO?
WHo needs THEOCRACY!? WHO NEEDS MONARCHY!? O' Oh, Citizens of S.S. Earth, WE [i] ONLY-need our "RELIGION OF EVERYHING (before Science of Everything) WiTH G_D" ('GRiDARiAN DEMOCRACY')!
Posted by: mr-intangibil | November 17, 2009 11:59 AM
Report Offensive Comment
The question is for adherents of the faith. What is it about Islam that makes it such a comfy home for gynophobes like Hasan and Mohammed Atta? To be sure there are other ideologies that attract the loner losers. The Unabomber found environmental wackoism. Tim McVeigh found anti-government conspiracy. However, Islam, with its inherent misogyny seems to be a particularly felicitous home for them.
Posted by: edbyronadams | November 17, 2009 11:52 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Dear Mr. Patel & CO.,
Remember the Shiek who bombed the garage of the World Trade center 1994? Remember the 911 & the "Magnificant 19" Hijackers (oppos, Judeo-abe-iSLAMIC Matyres)?
Did you Wish n Pray that the 'Perps' were not Judeo-abe-Ilamic? but INSTEAD wur Judeo-abe-Jewish or Judeo-abe-Christo's or even Judeo-vedic-hindu's or Buddhists? OR
maybe you Prayed or and wished that the Mass-KILLERS were or was/are from the SECULARs [Not Us "NEW-SEULAR"S movement international(born Post 911); begot from the; ex-NewConservatives or "NEOCONS" (Born post testy 1950's, died on 911)]?
Note: Considering the Curren-Events of the Day [Think Globally 1st, then locally 2nd;] and in contemplation of recent HiSTORY (our JURY/Judge/Witness) there is such a thing as "IT's TOO LATE for an APOLOGY" and
SOME CRiMES committed against any "Automatic-born'th Citizen/denizen of S.pace S.hip Earth" are UNFORGIVENABLE acts, even if the Perp(s) are Punished! whether they be present on S.S. Earth now orin in another fantacy planet called 'Heaven' or a different sub-planet called Hell etc.., that HEALING of Familys or Nations is impossible!
Sorry bubb, but WE [i] do not turn our cheeks around to any-Perp; Judeo-abe-Islami's or not! -- So, LET US HEAR'th, not from self serving (DR. of gods?) Mr. Ali Gomaa and his 2ndary Mr. (Rabbi? of Quran/Koran/koron) Feisal; but let us hear from the Mouths of
The WAHHABi & AYATOLLAH-hoods, so called Judeo-abe-Islamic Ummah's, REPresentative of a MOUTH-PIECEs (not Peace) like via Prince/Kinds SAUD, Faisal, Abdullah's & CO. ['god-Players' who have, the have-nots money] get up at the international Podium openly condemning the MAGNIFICAN 911 MATYRES" & other Brothers/Sisters , children of "AL TAQIYAH"ism.
Psssst: Fact: Today; the Sneaky Judeo-abic-islamic TURKs + SYRIA + IRAN & Co., on one side; + SAUDI + JORDAN + LEBON & CO. + PAKi on the other side of the Jihadist-Coin..... Already have both an ATOMIC "SUNNI-a-BOMB" and a ATOMIC "SHIA-b-BOMB" hidden in their, deserts, caves, lands somewhere; waiting to use it on Us via one or more of them "MAGNIFICANT 57" (O.I.C. Members) trying to Hijack OUR (not Their) blesseth SECULAR-UNiTED-NATIiONS?!
Non Islamic Nations should NOT/NO educate any/every/All self called JUDEO-abe-iSLAMIC person, in America & elswhere for the next 15/20 Years!
WHY 'Educate'(un-Ignorize) the Judeo-abe-Islami's if all they want to do is to Use US, infiltrate US & conquor US, aka KAFFHIRS" (non-Islamic world/nations); via the "ELDERS OF 'AL TAQIYAH'" Wahhabi/Ayatolahism secret plans. aka "Patient Islamic-Zionism"?
Also, let's Us hear it , SINCERLY, from IRAN's (not Persia we once knew) Big Mouth-mouthpiece (not Peace) "A-MAD-MAN-OF-JIHAD" aka "MUHAJEENAMAN" ???
Posted by: mr-intangibil | November 17, 2009 10:38 AM
Report Offensive Comment
It makes me wonder, Mr. Patel, why your first thought would be, "I hope it's not a Muslim"
When I hear of a mass shooting, my first thought isn't, "I hope it's not a Rastafarian"
What about Islam would you instantly and automatically worry manifested itself here?
Posted by: coloradodog | November 17, 2009 8:35 AM
Report Offensive Comment
The problem is that people like Eboo, Hussein, Wajahat, Daisy (and Pam Taylor) are interpreting Islam through the lens of Judaism and Christianity -- a form of spirituality to practice privately in a nonsectarian society. Real Islam is form of totalitarianism that seeks to bring the whole world under the culture of seventh century Arabia. This is NOT to say that Muslims outside the Arab core (like in Indonesia, Tunisia and Kosovo) necessarily subscribe to its Arab tribalism.
http://97.74.65.51/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=30675
"Islam is not a religion nor is it a cult. It is a complete system. Islam has religious, legal, political, economic and military components. The religious component is a beard for all the other components. Islamization occurs when there are sufficient Muslims in a country to agitate for their so-called 'religious rights.'"
Posted by: WmarkW | November 17, 2009 7:40 AM
Report Offensive Comment
We have seen this before in 2003 when a SGT Hasan of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) threw hand grenades and opened fire into his Commanding Officer’s tent in Kuwait. We have seen the foiled attempt of Albanian Muslims who sought to attack Ft Dix, NJ. Recently we saw a young convert to Islam named Carlos Bledsoe travel to Yemen, receive terrorist training, and return to gun down two US Soldiers at a Little Rock, Arkansas Army recruiting station. We thwarted another Islamic terrorist plot in North Carolina which had US Marine Corps Base, Quantico as a target.
What have we done with all these prevalent trends? Nothing.
What we see are recalcitrant leaders who are refusing to confront the issue, Islamic terrorist infiltration into America, and possibly further into our Armed Services. Instead we have a multiculturalism and diversity syndrome on steroids.
Major Hasan should have never been transferred to Ft Hood, matter of fact he should have been Chaptered from the Army. His previous statements, poor evaluation reports, and the fact that the FBI had him under investigation for jihadist website posting should have been proof positive.
However, what we have is a typical liberal approach to find a victim, not the 13 and 30 Soldiers and Civilian, but rather the poor shooter. A shooter who we are told was a great American, who loved the Army and serving his Nation and the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) stating that his actions had nothing to do with religious belief.
We know that Major Hasan deliberately planned this episode; he did give away his possessions. He stood atop a table in the confined space of the Soldier Readiness Center shouting “Allahu Akhbar”, same chant as the 9-11 terrorists and those we fight against overseas in the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters of operation.
No one in leadership seems willing to sound the alarm for the American people; they are therefore complicit in any future attacks. Our Congress should suspend the insidious action to vote on a preposterous and unconstitutional healthcare bill and resolve the issue of “protecting the American people”.
The recent incidents in Dearborn Michigan, Boston Massachusetts, Dallas Texas, and Chicago Illinois should bear witness to the fact that we have an Islamic terrorism issue in America. And don’t have CAIR call me and try to issue a vanilla press statement; they are an illegitimate terrorist associated organization which should be disbanded.
Posted by: Indian51 | November 16, 2009 10:20 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Read the following article and draw your own conclusions.
Lieutenant Colonel Allen B West (US Army, Ret)
This past Thursday 13 American Soldiers were killed and another 30 wounded at a horrific mass shooting at US Army installation, Ft Hood Texas. As I watched in horror and then anger I recalled my two years of final service in the Army as a Battalion Commander at Ft Hood, 2002-2004.
My wife and two daughters were stunned at the incident having lived on the post in family housing.
A military installation, whether it is Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine, or Coast Guard, is supposed to be a safe sanctuary for our Warriors and their families. It is intended to provide a home whereby our “Band of Brothers and Sisters” can find solace and bond beyond just the foxhole but as family units.
A military installation is supposed to be a place where our Warriors train for war, to serve and protect our Nation. On Thursday, 5 November 2009 Ft Hood became a part of the battlefield in the war against Islamic totalitarianism and state sponsored terrorism.
There may be those who feel threatened by my words and would even recommend they not be uttered. To those individuals I say step aside because now is not the time for cowardice. Our Country has become so paralyzed by political correctness that we have allowed a vile and determined enemy to breach what should be the safest place in America, an Army post.
We have become so politically correct that our media is more concerned about the stress of the shooter, Major Nidal Malik Hasan. The misplaced benevolence intending to portray him as a victim is despicable. The fact that there are some who have now created an entire new classification called; “pre-virtual vicarious Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)” is unconscionable.
This is not a “man caused disaster”. It is what it is, an Islamic jihadist attack.
(contd.)
Posted by: Indian51 | November 16, 2009 10:18 PM
Report Offensive Comment
The comments to this entry are closed.

Twitter










Islam needs a thoroughgoing reformation, such as Christianity and Judaism have experienced.