Daniel J. Pipes

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Let me clarify. Palli

Reader comment on item: Pope Benedict Criticizes Islam
in response to reader comment: nice trans-parere !

Submitted by trans-parere (Canada), Oct 6, 2006 at 19:30

Dear Palli

I'm not a communist, a liberal, or a conservative, or a unionist.
I'm not a Muslim, nor am I a Christian, nor Jewish. I'm not a Buddhist, nor a Doaist. I do not identify myself by religion. I do however believe
that those who do, need to be true to their religion and must ensure that whatever the cost, Their identity remain true and pure. It is unnatural, and false, for a communist to live with in democracy. So is it for an Islamist. Just as it is equally unjust and false for a democracy to
curb the rights and freedoms of it's people to make room for the expression of authoritarianism.

My philosophy is not to fight religion with religion or to engage in useless, base, dogmatic diatribe. I believe that there is in this world sufficient room for understanding, and different points of view and core beliefs.

Communism seems to work very well for China, and Islam for fifty odd Islamic States, and a number of countries seem unwilling to change their military dictatorships, and other countries are experimenting with in their societies to create their ideal. Some ideas are close to, or can work as associates with out causing too much social friction, and some governmental and social ideas are symbiotic. BUT - No Nation can mix too opposing realities. Islam and democacy do not mix. The authoritarian nature of Islam is forever trying to dictate the social and governing principle at the expence of democracy.

Any Muslim who resides in a democratic nation outside of temporary medical needsor for the purpose of further education is being false to Islam and to the citizenship of the host country. Or is acting as an agent of Islam to undermine the princilpes of democracy and the practice of other religions(that support democracy or in practice do not oppose democracy) for the purpose of converting the people to Islam and thus the country to the laws of sharia.

Muslim fatwa; " It is not permissible to reside in a non-Muslim country and get their citizenship except in dire necessity of life or a considerable religious need."

Fatwa
There is no doubt that a person who accepts the naturalization of disbelieving countries commits many religious infractions. Among these infractions is to utter what is not permissible to believe in or abide by, like accepting their regime which is totally different from Islaam, and uttering an oath to be loyal and friendly with them. This will also oblige him to serve in their army if military service is obligatory in their country, as well as fight on their side against their enemies even if these enemies are his brothers in religion and creed, not to mention many more obligations which contradict Islaam.

Fatwa
First of all you should know that living in a non-Muslim country is forbidden. Imam Abu Dawood narrated on the authority of Jareer Bin
Abdullah (May Allah pleased with him) he said that the Prophet said: "I am exempt from a Muslim who lives among pagans". This is a sound Hadith. So, living among them is forbidden as a general rule, because it has many ill affects on the religion of a Muslim. Those persons who face trials in their own countries or who fear that they may imprisoned or killed in their countries, at that critical moment they may live in
non-Muslim countries and Allah will forgive them, insha Allah. The evidence for this rule is the migration of the weak Muslims from Makkah
to Abyssinia because the King of Abyssinia was a good ruler and did not practice injustice to anyone.

Living in a non-Muslim country or migration to it is permissible only if a person can not find Muslim country where he can earn a livelihood and
can practice his religion freely. It is also permissible for Muslim scholars live in non-Muslim countries for the purpose of Dawah i.e., calling non-Muslims towards Islam and teaching the Muslims rules of Sharia if they do not feel tempted to compromise or leave their religion.

All the mentioned details are related to the rule of Muslims living in non-Muslim countries. But the rule for applying and accepting citizenship of those countries is, much restricted. A Muslim is not permitted to apply for citizenship of non-Muslim countries except in dire need, such as not being able to practice his religion in his own country or fear of oppression or being in danger for his life or the threat of imprisonment or torture in his homeland and there is no Islamic country where he can live. In such circumstances one can apply for citizenship of a non-Muslim country. If it is obliged to take an oath for getting citizenship, at that moment one should try to allude to the words of oath as much as possible to escape their intended point. If he is able to live harmlessly in the non-Muslim country without taking the citizenship then applying for citizenship is not permissible for him. It is forbidden for him to apply for citizenship of a non-Muslim country if he is simply aspiring to material comforts or financial gain.

Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {And never will Allâh grant to the disbelievers a way (to triumph) over the believers.}[4: 141].
No doubt, the believer who accepts the nationality of a non-Muslim country gives non-believers an advantage over him to force him to follow
their rules and regulations.

Fatwa
So many scholars, past and present, have given the Fatwa that living in non-Muslim countries without any need or necessity is prohibited.
Prophet (Blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: " Fire of Muslims should not be seen with the fire of MUSHRIKEEN". Just imagine
how it would be to live among them. But it is allowed in the time of necessity, such as a business trip, gaining some knowledge not found in
Muslim countries, for treatment, or for the one who fears for his life in Muslim countries. In the above circumstances one may migrate to
non-Muslim country. Now, Understanding Islamic intention and belief, do we choose to do battle with Islamist in Afghanistan or Iraq or anywhere else, or do we as democratic nations choose to further our commitment to democracy and take a honest look at the weaknesses we have allowed to creep into our societies through the fragmentation of law.

And strengthening democracy must become the method of fighting. And not the kneejerk response we have seen from the Bush republicans. Limiting the rights and freedoms flies in the face of democracy.

Make clean, concise law and execute it without prejudice.

Muslims can not be citizens of democratic nations. It's not a fault. It's a fact, a dictate of Islam, and therefore other rules of law regarding
Muslims and Islam need to come into play. Democracies must overcome the "rule of the victim" in our societies. We have
weakened ourselves to the point where true democracy and the purity of law have been manipulated and fractured to the needs of "special interest" and not the people as a whole.

Our battle is not with Islam or Muslims. Our struggle will be to uphold and strengthen democracy and clarify the law after years of special interest rule. Democracies will need to do battle with those from with in their own societies who have been deemed "more special" and the provisions that have been made to law to accommodate that "specialness".

I do not claim any intellectual property right or ownership to this concept. I pass it on freely and hope that those in positions of power take the steps necessary to return truth, honesty, and justice to democratic rule.

I believe in democracy. In the sovereignty of my nation. That nothing can come before, and that everything else of value in the human experience is dependant upon these principles. I am not willing to compromise this love, especially not so that something foreign and diametrically opposed can flourish. I do not want any of my fellow citizens fighting and dying in a foreign land at a time when it is precisely those men and women of belief and value that are needed at home to buttress our nation by voting for governemnt and laws that reflect democracy and nationhood.


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Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

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