We are our own worst enemy
Reader comment on item: Conference of the Books: The Search for Beauty in Islam

Submitted by Ali Donmez (United States), Feb 1, 2004 at 11:52

I greatly agree with Abou el Fahl's moderate and modern approach to Islam. Being a moderate myself I find that the people who dislike me most are not the Christians or the Jews or any other faith other than my own.

So far, the only few people who do not seem to like me are these couple of extreme muslims I have encountered. (the true champions of our faith, huh). It must be stated that I am VERY much a practicing Muslim. It seems that if you share your views and it in any way contradicts with their way of thinking, then you are the "wrong" one. Wow, that's amazing that they could be the only ones in Islam who hold the correct views.

I am getting at this because while I would NEVER question the Quran, I am compelled when I am told something not directly stated in the Quran. I a, and even commanded by the Quran to use my reason and excercise caution referring to many of the so-called Islamic practices obtained from the literally hundreds of thousands of hadiths and sunnah out there.

Don't get me wrong, I love the hadiths and there are some great ones out there, but if you tell me that I can't cut my hair a certain way, or I MUST wear a beard, or that I must stone to death the adulterer and adultress (the Quran already gives the prescribed punishment for this) then you better believe not only am I NOT going to do it, but I will ask you to show me where it says this in the Quran.

What about the homicide bombers? They KILL and DISFIGURE thousands of thier OWN PEOPLE. I must say I am very disgusted with the way SOME people (and these abominations of mankind only represent a very small percentage of us) practice Islam.

Oh, and one final note, if you go around preaching your moderate and peaceful interpretation of Islam, you will encounter many of the same threats and aggressions that the prophet and his followers had to edure, except that it won't be coming from the hostile tribes of ancient Arabia, it will be from your so-called Muslim (extremist) brothers.

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