Reply to Be Wary of Racism and Islamophobes

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[quote=Muslima][quote=jsteele][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

The particular posts were reported and Jeff contacted me. While he sympathized, he said the thread was extremely long and it would be a very arduous task for him to delete every single post that contained the racist comments. It would take him an entire afternoon. Upon reflection, I realized that perhaps it is indeed best such racist remarks are permanently recorded in that thread, because it provides the clear evidence how deceptive islamophobes inquire about Islam under the guise of intellectual curiosity, when, in fact, their motive is far more sinister. 
[/quote]

PP again. Really? Or did Jeff say the problem was that it would take all afternoon to read a 22-page thread? I'd really be interested in Jeff's take on this. The "racism" that got you so outraged was when one poster (not me) pointed out that many converts to Islam are African American.  I'm fairly sure that's a fact. You guys banged on for pages about how racist it is to say that. Jeff, I'd be really interested in your opinion.

It has to be said, that one poster (again, not me) called Mohammed a pedophile 2-3 times, and somebody (again, not me) told Muslima to go back to Iran. And you guys certainly held your own, calling Mary a slut even more times and flinging the ad hominems left and right. However, what are we to make of your claims that immigrants are "rich' and many converts are white - don't these statements seem equally racist?

I'm actually quite happy that thread is still up, if for no other reason that anybody who wants can see how shallow your claims of racism and Islamophobia really are.[/quote]

The OP reported a single post that was several pages from the end of the thread. I replied that it was likely that particular post had been quoted or referenced many times in the rest of the thread and it would take me all afternoon to remove every quote and reference. But, I am content with your interpretation as well since they amount to the same thing.

[b]There is no "one" Islam. Sunni Islam, in particular, is decentralized much like protestantism in Christianity. So arguing whether Islam is "peaceful" or "violent", for instance, is a fool's errand. It is both, just as are almost every other religion. The only way that you can constructively have this sort of conversation is to take specific topic and discuss how they are addressed by Islam. The goal cannot be to determine whether Islam is "right" or "wrong" or "better" or "worse", but simply to understand how Islam treats the topic. In all likelihood, there will be more than one answer for most topics.

The Islam practiced by IS grows directly from the Wahhabism practiced centuries ago in the Saudi peninsula. It has the same roots as the Islam practiced by al-Qaida and the "official" Islam of today's Saudi Arabia. However, those are all branches of the same tree that diverged some time ago. Many of the traditions and precepts are alien concepts to the vast majority of the World's Muslims. Drawing conclusions about Islam based on the actions of IS is about as accurate as explaining Christianity based on how it it practiced by the Westboro Baptist Church.
[/b]
I haven't read the entire other thread, just enough to know that I didn't want to waste my time reading it, but as far as I know, many Muslims in America are African American. However, I don't know how many are "converts" as opposed to those born into the religion. I believe conversion was much more common during the 1960s, but I haven't seen any data on this. I don't know how any discussion of the topic would be considered racist unless that was being argued in order to somehow tarnish the religion (eg. "it's only a religion for black people which means it's inferior" and I don't thing that was happening).

I also have little tolerance for the constant attacks on Muslima. Anyone who uses a username on DCUM gets a target on their back -- including me -- and it is really annoying to be followed thread to thread by people who don't want to do anything other that attack you. Finally, if you find yourself asking questions begin as "why do Muslims" or "why does Islam", you are probably not going to get a satisfactory answer. Muslims are not a monolithic block. If you are talking to Muslima, phrase your question as to "why do you..". She appears quite willing to provide the answers.
[/quote]

I totally agree with that! Among Muslims of all hues we will get 100% consensus on the subject of Tauheed (Oneness of creation), Muhammad (pbuh) the last Prophet, and several other items that most will agree. However there are many areas we differ and perhaps partially agree,  we have the God given right to have a different perspective. No one should even dream of compelling anyone to conformity, it simply goes against the human Fitra (nature). Even the closest companions of the Prophet (PBUH) differed from each other in understanding various verses. Also, since there is no concept of official church in Islam no one interpretation can command following of a majority of Muslims, let alone all Muslims. These differences, more often than not are due to different interpretations of the Qur'anic text.
There are various reasons for this. Firstly, the Qur'anic text is very rich and can be understood in ways more than one. Secondly its language often tends to be symbolic or allegorical and hence these symbols and allegories carry rich social and cultural meanings and its shades of meaning can change with different socio-cultural backgrounds. Thus, often social and cultural factors can often play an important role in understanding of the Qur'anic text. Thus, those scholars who have been brought up in modern societies with its own intellectual traditions tend to understand the text differently from those who studied the text under medieval ethos and its own intellectual traditions.

Now the orthodox 'ulama of course insist on medieval understanding of the text as final and irrevocable whereas modern scholars, of no less intellectual integrity and knowledge, insist that there can be a multiple understanding of the holy text. Today this debate between the orthodox and modern scholars has been going on practically in every Islamic country. Also, new issues and questions are emerging which cannot be answered with medieval understanding of the text. Breathtaking discoveries and changes have taken place in the last two centuries and these revolutionary changes cannot be ignored if the Qur'an has to play any role for Muslims in modern society.

Finally any person or groups of people who believe imams/scholars are infallible are upon falsehood given that in the Islamic doctrine Only God is Infallible, so to that PP quoting me Bin Baz & Quaradawi, maybe you think I consider them infallible? They are learned scholars but remain human beings as such I respect their interpretations of the Quran, I respect their dedications to the deen, but I have the right to disagree with any of their opinions, this is a God-Given right to any Muslim by the Almighty. The Quran is the only thing I regard as infallible, scholars are human beings, sometimes they get it right and sometimes they get it wrong![/quote]

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