my thoughts as a muslim
Reader comment on item: Why I Am Not a Muslim

Submitted by anonymous (United Kingdom), Mar 3, 2007 at 22:44

Personally I feel this guy can write what he wants. If someone from a muslim family doesn't want to be muslim, that's fine. I know plenty of athiests or agnostics with muslim families. Yes they are all still alive ...

I fully support the notion that Islam should be critically analysed. However, what leads me to conclude that ibn waraq is a fraud with an inferiority complex is the following quote

European rule, "with all its shortcomings, ultimately benefited the ruled as much as the rulers. Despite certain infamous incidents, the European powers conducted themselves, on the whole, very humanely."

This is an absurd statement to make. He loves to highlight muslim crimes -- of which there are many i admit-- but then he completely absolves europeans of their crimes. In effect the author shows his inferiority complex and complete ignorance of history when history itself contradicts his 'humane' belief system. A person that dismisses the genocide of the native australians -- alongside many other massive crimes -- as simply 'incidents' is in no way a humanist.

I am sure there are many athiests from muslim families that could write a less hateful more objective account of the religion than the overblown author of 'why i am not muslim.' moreover he is not worthy of the title historically bestowed upon dissident writers in the islamic world. It would be an injustice to compare this writer to the great dissident philosophers and scientists that called themselves ibn waraq

---

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 for relevance, substance, and tone, and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome, but comments are rejected if scurrilous, off-topic, vulgar, ad hominem, or otherwise viewed as inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the Guidelines for Comments. For informational purposes, we identify countries from which comments are sent.