Islamic in the Eyes of the West

7/26/2013
J.F. Kennedy, 1962
Islam in the Eyes of the West
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Gulten Ilhan
[email protected]
Associate Professor of Philosophy
Saint Louis Community College
“You are obligated to tell our story in a
truthful way, to tell it, as Oliver Cromwell
said about his portrait, “paint us with all
our blemishes and warts, all those things
about us that may not be so immediately
attractive”…
The USA TODAY/Gallup Poll
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Someone once asked Prophet Muhammad,
"Inform me about something that will cause me
to go to heaven?
The Prophet replied:
"Be a muhsin/ doer of good."
The man asked,
"O Prophet, how will I know that I am a good
person?"
The Prophet replied,
"Ask your neighbor. If your neighbor says you
are good, then indeed you must be good."
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CORNELL UNIVERSITY STUDY
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44 percent of Americans believe that
government authorities should direct special
attention toward Muslims living in America,
either by registering their whereabouts, profiling
them, monitoring their mosques, or infiltrating
their organizations.
About 27 percent of respondents said that all
Muslim Americans should be required to register
their location with the federal government,
39% percent of respondents favored requiring
Muslims, including U.S. citizens, to carry a
special ID "as a means of preventing terrorist
attacks in the United States."
About one-third said U.S. Muslims were
sympathetic to al-Qaeda,
and 22% said they wouldn't want Muslims as
neighbors.
CORNELL UNIVERSITY STUDY
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26 percent said they think that mosques
should be closely monitored by U.S.
law enforcement agencies.
About 22 percent said the federal
government should profile citizens as
potential threats based on the fact that
they are Muslim or have Middle Eastern
heritage.
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7/26/2013
Dr. James J. Zogby
Declaration of Independence
“that all men are created equal, that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain
inalienable Rights, that among these are
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”
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When Americans were asked if they would
be more or less likely inclined to do
business with an entity if they knew it was
Muslim-owned 40% said they would be
less likely to patronize such a business.
July 4, 1776
Michael Savage
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Nationally syndicated radio host told the
listeners that “They say, ‘Oh, there’s a
billion of them.’ I said, ‘So kill 100 million
of them, then there’d be 900 million of
them’.”
“Muhammad is a terrorist.” Jerry Falwell
“Islam is a very evil and wicked religion.”
Franklin Graham
“Muslims are worse than Nazis.” Rev. Pat
Robertson
"I don't want the students in the
university system to be required to study
this evil." Sam Ellis NC state legislator
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Restaurant sign
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U.S. Mosque Incidents …
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U.S. mosques are becoming dangerous places.
There have been:
11 threats
51 vandalisms
1 cross burning
2 vehicles driven into mosque
1 bomb plot and 5 bombings
2 assaults
6 shootings
7 arsons
“if a terrorist attack
were to occur in
the USA by Muslim
extremists then our
response could be
to bomb Mecca.”
Republican Congressman Tom
Tancredo of Colorado
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Pastor Martin Niemoller
Elie Wiesel
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“Unless we safeguard the liberties of all
our citizens, the Pledge of
Allegiance and the Declaration of
Independence mean about as much as a
plastic flag bumper sticker.”
Margaret Mead
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“Never doubt that a small group of
thoughtful, committed citizens can change
the world; indeed it’s the only thing that
ever has.”
Muslims Voices Against Extremism
& Terrorism
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Muslim voices have been loud and clear –
they are simply not heard or ignored.
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FATWAS BY MUSLIM SCHOLARS
Abdulkadir, Dr. Deina FCNA (U.S.) Fatwa against terrorism 7/05
Abdullah, Sh. M. Nur, FCNA (U.S.) minority rights & apostasy 3/06
Abdullah, Shaikh Muhammad Nur (U.S.) FCNA Fatwa against terrorism 7/05
al Abidin, Ali Zain al Jifri Renowned Islamic Scholar (Yemen) 2/06 Danish cartoons
Al-Akiti, Shaykh Muhammad Afifi – against killing civilians 6/05
Amjad, Moiz – Refutation of bin Laden’s defense of terrorism (Pakistan)
al Alwani, Shaykh Taha Jabir (U.S.) against 9/11 attack 9/01
Al Alwani, Dr. Taha Jabir (U.S.) FCNA Fatwa against terrorism 7/05
Al Alwani, Shaikhah Zainab (U.S.) FCNA Fatwa against terrorism 7/05
al Alwini, Muhammad Head of European Academy of Islamic Culture & Sciences, Brussels (Belgium) 2/06 Danish
cartoons
al Awda, Salman General Supervisor of “Islam Today” Institution (Saudi Arabia) 2/06 Danish cartoons
Al-Awdah, Shaykh Salman (Saudi Arabia) condemns terrorism 5/03
Al Azhari, Muhammad Akhtar Rida Head of Barelwi Ulama (India) 2/06 Danish cartoons
Al Bouti, Muhammad Saeed Ramadan Department Chair of Theology, University of Damascus (Syria) 2/06 Danish
cartoons ]
Al Hanooti, Shaikh Muhammad (U.S.) FCNA Fatwa against terrorism 7/05
al-Hanooti, Sheikh Muhammad Ali - against 9/11 (U.S.) 9/01
al-Hitar, Judge Hamoud (Yemen) he and four other Islamic scholars used Qur’an to challenge Al Qaeda’s views on
terror 2/05
Al Husary, Yasmin Mahmud Khalil Head of Husary Islamic Foundation (Egypt) 2/06 Danish cartoons
al Jundi, Khalid Renowned Islamic Scholar (Egypt) 2/06 Danish cartoons
Al Kahlawi, Abla Muhammad Dean of Islamic & Arabic Studies College at Azhar University, Port Said (Egypt) 2/06
Danish cartoons
Al Khalili, Ahmad bin Hamad General Mufti of the Sultanate of Oman (Oman) 2/06 Danish cartoons
al Kubaysi, Ahmad Renowned Islamic spokesperson (Iraq) 2/06 Danish cartoons
al Luheidan Shaikh Saleh Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council (Saudi Arabia) against 9/11 9/01
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STATEMENTS BY NATIONAL & REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
American Muslim Alliance, Agha Saeed statement against 9/11 attacks
American Muslim Organizations statement against 9/11 attacks by 15 organizations 9/01
American Muslim CEO’s Fight Terrorism
American Muslim Political Coordination Cuncil statement against 9/11 attacks 9/01
American Muslim Alliance (AMA) - against 9/11 (U.S.)
American Muslim Foundation (AMF) - - against 9/11 (U.S.)
American Muslims for Global Peace and Justice (AMGPJ) - against 9/11 (U.S.)
American Muslims for Jerusalem (AMJ) - against 9/11 (U.S.)
American Muslim Leaders call for release of journalist in Iraq 1/06
American Muslims & Scholars denounce terrorism (signed by 57 leaders of National Islamic Organizations and 199
International scholars) 9/2002
Arab American Media Syndicate speaks out against extremism 3/04
Amman Conference bans killings in name of Islam (signed by 180 scholars) 7/05
American Muslim Organizations – condemn Berg beheading 5/04
Australian Muslims condemn 9/11 attack
British Muslim Council (Britain) condemnation of London bombing & Fatwa against terrorism signed by 500
leaders 7/05
British Muslim Scholars - against terrorism (signed by 500 scholars) 7/05
CAIR Condemns murder of Daniel Pearl 2/02
Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) - against 9/11 (U.S.)
CAIR Not in the name of Islam petition (U.S.) signed by 691,531 Muslims 5/04
CAIR Day of Unity and Prayer 9-11-03
CAIR condemns Beslan killings 9/04
CAIR condemns burning of Nigerian churches 2/06
CAIR condemns Philippines airport bombing 3/03 CAIR-CANcondemns attack on Passover celebration in Israel
3/02
CAIR launches TV ad campaign against terrorism 10/06
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STATEMENTS BY INDIVIDUAL ACTIVISTS & LEADERS
Abdullah, Aslam Anatomy of Violence 6/05
Abdullah, Aslam Letter to Al Qaeda: Kill Us Too, We Are Also Americans
King Abdullah (Jordan) urges Muslims to unite against extremism 12/05
Abdullah, Aslam Whither Muslims? 2/06
Abu-Nimer, Muhammad - Values of Peacebuilding and Non-Violence in Islam.
Adi, Imam Tammam - Fanatics and Terrorists are Misguided 9/02
Adi, Imam Tammam - on War 5/2003
Afflito, Frank M. – A Condemnation of Al Qaeda 9/02
Ahmad, Dr. Imad ad-Deen - Islam Demands a Muslim Response to 9/11 (U.S.) 8/02
Akhter, Javeed - Does Islam Promote Violence? (U.S.) 8/02
Ali, Syed Mumtaz - against terrorism (Canada) 9/01
Al-Rashed, Abdel Rahman - Innocent Religion Is Now a Message of Hate
Alam, M. Shahid - Dialectics of Terror
Ali, Muhammad – condemns 9/11 attacks
Al-Qaradawi, Shaykh Yusuf Jihad Renegotiated
Al-Rashed, Abdul Rahman Generalizing the Islamic Label
Amanullah, Shahed Massacre in Ossetia, How Did It Come to This?
Amanullah, shahed A Murder in Saudi, It’s our Problem Too
Amanullah, Shahed The Extremists Among Us
Arjomand, Said Can Rational Analysis Break a Taboo?
Asmal, Abdul Cader - Bin Ladenism, the Heresy That Must Be Exposed 3/06
Athar, Dr. Shahed We Must Love Others To Be Loved By God
Azam, Hina Terrorism, A Return to Jahiliyya 8/05
Aziz, Harris (U.S.) against Anti-Semitism Amongst Muslims 3/06
Badawi, Zaki - Terrorism has no place in Islam,” (Britain) 9/01
Baig, Khaled What Does Islam Teach About Justice?
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