| | | quote | Originally posted by maryjane:
Refresh my memory. Was that purported "influence" before or after the planes hit the world trade center towers?
(merely asking just to put things in a realistic perspective of course)
But I really would like an answer. |
|
I really wasn't expecting to spark a debate about something as esoteric as the founding fathers, and how some of them may have been influenced by Islamic thought.
I started this thread to keep the "flames" going about Islam and Muslims, because (for whatever reason) it draws my interest more than just about anything else that comes up on this forum.
Since you bring up 9-11 in this context, here's a sizable list of influential Muslims and the statements that they issued against terrorism in general and specifically, the attacks of 9-11:
http://kurzman.unc.edu/isla...s-against-terrorism/The Amman Message is a statement which was issued in 2004 by King Abdullah of Jordan, calling for tolerance and unity in the Muslim world.
Subsequently, a ruling was issued by 200 Islamic scholars from over 50 countries, focusing on issues of: defining who a Muslim is; excommunication from Islam, and; principles related to delivering religious edicts (fatwas).
And as all True Islam forbids wanton aggression and terrorism, enjoins freedom of religion, peace, justice and good-will to non-Muslims, it is also a message of good news, friendship and hope to the whole world. I pray that this unique consensus as documented and affirmed in this book will bring us closer to a world where we can be loyal to our religion, live in peace and prosper with all our fellow human beings, and fulfill the purpose for which we all were placed on earth.Here are the first two paragraphs of the Amman Message:
This is a declaration to our brethren in the lands of Islam and throughout the world that Amman, the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is proud to issue during the blessed month of Ramadan in which the Qur'an descended as guidance to humankind and as clarifications for guidance and discernment. (2:185)
In this declaration we speak frankly to the [Islamic] nation, at this difficult juncture in its history, regarding the perils that beset it. We are aware of the challenges confronting the nation, threatening its identity, assailing its tenets (kalima), and working to distort its religion and harm what is sacred to it. Today the magnanimous message of Islam faces a vicious attack from those who through distortion and fabrication try to portray Islam as an enemy to them. It is also under attack from some who claim affiliation with Islam and commit irresponsible acts in its name.Remark the last sentence, which I underlined: That's a clear denunciation of Osama bin Laden and other violent Islamic extremists.
The Amman Message is the most significant addition to Sharia (Islamic law) since the attacks of 9-11 (that I know of).
Some of the PFF members, who are confused about the difference between Islam as an ideal, vs. the many imperfect ways it is practiced around the world, will doubtless continue in their mistaken ways of defaming Islam as an ideal, and defaming all Muslims when their quarrel is only with certain groups of Muslims.
These PFF members like to cherry pick the Koran and the Hadith for the "malignant" verses that they want to display, in the mistaken belief that Sharia is nothing more than what is written in the ancient texts: They ignore the role that Muslim scholars and clerics are expected to carry out in informing the umma (Muslim faithful) about
how to interpret the Koran and Hadith in the light of the modern world.
(The Koran is a long book: For every antiquated verse, there is another counteracting verse that better suits the modern world.)
They have gone so far as to post their specious fantasies about the "eradication" of Islam--a particular insult (in my view) to the roughly 3700 Muslim men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces and the larger number of
Muslims who uphold their loyalty to the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights as part and parcel of Islamic law.
They seize on every new remark from Islam's lunatic fringe, from Al-Qaida's Internet posting to ignite wildfires in the U.S., to the radicals who call for the destruction of the Pyramids, to the Azz-Bomber cleric, falsely magnifying the significance of each new episode, as if there were not any
significant number of influential Muslims who strive for the very opposite of this violent extremism.
The worst of this handful are making themselves appear intellectually lazy--as if they don't want to exert the relatively small effort that would be required to discover anything of substance that might conflict with their sadly prejudiced views.
Of course, this (PFF) is just a fairly obscure node in cyberspace, not some significant international forum, so the net result of all this mischief is zero (except to insult the one PFF member who is known to be a Muslim).
Once again, I respond only because it is my pleasure.
"J'accuse" [This message has been edited by rinselberg (edited 07-31-2012).]
