There is Only One Doctrine in Islam
Reader comment on item: Harvard Debates Islam
in response to reader comment: Harvard Debates Islam

Submitted by Luther R. Lloyd (United States), Dec 30, 2005 at 17:14

This message is for Mr. Pipes because I had the same question as Soshana Pugh.

I have quickly reviewed your previous writings as you suggested and I have come to the conclusion that Islam can be interperted in any manner you desire. However, to my knowledge their is only one doctrine in Islam and their is no moderate or secularist doctrine.

I have read many articles, books, etc. pointing to a moderate philosophy which I wish was in effect today throughout the world, but I know of no place I can turn to find an articulated moderate doctrine that can be - and is being - presented to the world in a manner which can successfully defeat the Wahhabi Islam that is permeating the mosques here and elsewhere. Inasmuch as Whabbism can be fully supported by the Koran, hadith and Shar'ia and used to inculcate Muslim youth against us throughout the globe with a willingness to die for their faith, I am at somewhat of a loss as to why Islam is not the problem. Frankly, I can not imagine anyone making themselves into a human bomb for any reason other than religion. I am frustrated by those who say it is peaceful while our young men are dying.

Frankly, in my faith there is a saying, "You shall know the truth and the truth will make you free." If the truth is not that we have a religion founded on "the sword and the shadow of the sword" as articulated by Ayatollah Khomeini, or that 'the war is fundamentally religious and that Muslims should not forget the enmity (enmity based on creed) between believers and infidels' as stated by Osama Bin Laden himself on al-Jazirah TV, then why are we fighting? I am aware of all the political reasons, the propaganda and everything else, but it seems to me that Michael Scheuer had it right when he wrote in 'Imperial Hubris' that "Islam is the glue, cohesion, appeal, and rationale that holds the focus of the people and makes bin Laden and al-Qaeda so deadly." The moderate and secularist thrust is obviously the best one for all of us, but in this moment of time, I see nothing peaceful and I do not think we should deceive ourselves into believing religion is not the problem. That is the message of 'taqiyah' and that is the message that can lead us to shar'ia.

I know this is a internal struggle for the Muslim world. I know that all Muslims are not terrorists. I know that we could help them if they would let us, but I do not know where to turn in doing so. In fact, the only thing I know definitively is which group I should be coming against. At this point in time, that may be enough, but if so, I have got to call a spade a spade and respond that "Islam is the true problem we face strategically."

Frustrated in Florida...Comments appreciated...

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Daniel Pipes replies:

The radical and most aggressive version of Islam is dominant these days, but that does not mean it is the only version.