Source/Credit: Lancaster Eagle Gazette
By Usama Awan | May 5, 2011 |
I am writing in response to Mr. Bo Perrin's letter, "Rebuttals to Shariah columns can be found online." In his letter, Perrin quotes different verses from the Quran to argue that Islam, among other things, encourages Muslims to kill Jews, subdue women and be loyal to countries like Saudi Arabia. Basically, Perrin argues that people like me cannot be both Muslim and American.
So are my friendships with non-Muslims a facade? Is playing basketball with them every Sunday night a show? Is my job at the local Kroger pharmacy a cover-up? I can assure you all of this is not a hoax because I follow Islam which instructs, "Obey God, and his Messenger and those who are in authority among you" (Quran 4:60). Yes Mr. Perrin, I am just a regular American who is also a practicing Ahmadi Muslim.
Furthermore Perrin states, "A Muslim who becomes violent is not radicalized but normalized because he is now following Shariah." I like to think of myself as a peaceful person, so which Shariah is Perrin talking about? In his blog he mentions Wahhabis, but there are many more divisions than that -- 73 as a matter of fact. Is he talking about the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, whose motto is "Love for All, Hatred for None?" Moreover, today every sect has its own interpretation of Shariah so it is impossible to paint with a broad brush on such issues. It is absolutely true, however, that Islam does not preach extremism.
In his blog, Perrin has us believe Muslim college students like me are pawns of Hamas, a Palestinian political party. What does an Indonesian or Ghanaian Muslim have to do with Palestinian politics? Palestinians themselves cannot agree on political leadership, so Perrin would have us believe that Muslims students of all backgrounds have come together to agree on Hamas!
Skepticism regarding Islam following Sept. 11 is understandable, but it is not justified. Islam, unlike extremists, demands respect for the rule of law and all people: "Seek not to create disorder in the earth. Verily, God loves not those who seek to create disorder" (Quran 28:78). Moreover, Prophet Muhammad stated, "The best among you is one who treats his wife best." If you are in any doubt of the treatment of Muslim women, I welcome you to talk with my mother and sister.
While the likes of Perrin are misguided, Muslim-Americans must do more to remove these misconceptions. That is why the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the oldest Islamic-American organization in history, is conducting a nationwide "Muslims for Peace" campaign and "Muslims for Loyalty" campaign. One can see highlights of our efforts here: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=M3N_HKikErY= player_embedded.
Muslims can talk about Islam being a peaceful religion, but actions will definitely speak louder than words. For example, at Ohio State a couple friends of mine, some of them non-Muslim even, passed out Muslims for Peace fliers as shown in the video. A few weeks later, a kid at the bus stop recognized me, probably by my "Muslims for Peace" shirt, and said, "You're that Muslims for Peace guy right? Man I have so many of those fliers." After that, we had a five-minute conversation on the bus about how the image of Islam has been tainted. I realize clearing people's misconceptions doesn't happen overnight, but that bus ride at least got him thinking a little differently.
Concerned fellow Americans and Mr. Bo Perrin, I encourage you to actually get to know a Muslim; only about 35 percent of Americans have even met one. Who knows, maybe you can start a conversation with someone wearing a "Muslims for Peace" shirt?
Read original post here: People can be Americans, Muslims
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