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May 2nd, 2011
12:40 PM ET
Opinion: For Muslims, a reason to rejoice
By Arsalan Iftikhar, Special to CNN Although there has not been much cause for celebration for our global village over the past decade, the world was able to breathe a sigh of relief at the announcement by President Barack Obama of the killing of Osama bin Laden by U.S. special operations forces at a mansion on the outskirts of Abbottabad, Pakistan. In addition to the vast majority of Americans who are relieved by his death, there are more than 1 billion Muslims around the world who salute the fact that bin Laden's ungodly terrorist mischief has finally come to an end. Simply put, there has been no single person in nearly a millennium and a half of Muslim history who has ever hijacked our beloved religion of Islam more than bin Laden. Read the full story
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  About this blog
The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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Editor's note: Arsalan Iftikhar is an international human rights lawyer, founder of TheMuslimGuy.com and global managing editor for The Crescent Post in Washington.
You say >>> there are more than 1 billion Muslims around the world who salute the fact that bin Laden's ungodly terrorist mischief has finally come to an end <<<. Really? Where are they?
Muslims rejoice realize religion is silly and hateful. learn about nature,natural selection,evolution,plants and animals the planet earth. Learn about people true emotions love and respect art and cultures.....forget about brainwashing religion....
I don't care if the muslims are happy. That's none of my business. I'm an American, look, this is me being an American! [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjnltxaPDyE&w=640&h=390]
There is no true good news unless a man reforms his way into godliness. Immoral society has no hope for a better future.
Bin Laden is dead but unfortunately Islam, his religion and operating manual, is not but there is a quick cure:
The Five Steps To Deprogram 1400 Years of Islamic Myths:
( –The Steps take less than two minutes to finish- simply amazing, two minutes to bring peace and rationality to over one billion lost souls to include that of Arsalan Iftikhar – Priceless!!!)
Are you ready?
Using "The 77 Branches of Islamic "faith" a collection compiled by Imam Bayhaqi as a starting point. In it, he explains the essential virtues that reflect true "faith" (iman) through related Qur’anic verses and Prophetic sayings." i.e. a nice summary of the Koran and Islamic beliefs.
The First Five of the 77 Branches:
"1. Belief in Allah"
aka as God, Yahweh, Zeus, Jehovah, Mother Nature, etc. should be added to your cleansing neurons.
"2. To believe that everything other than Allah was non-existent. Thereafter, Allah Most High created these things and subsequently they came into existence."
Evolution and the Big Bang or the "Gi-b G-nab" (when the universe starts to recycle) are more plausible and the "akas" for Allah should be included if you continue to be a "crea-tionist".
"3. To believe in the existence of angels."
A major item for neuron cleansing. Angels/de-vils are the mythical creations of ancient civilizations, e.g. Hitt-ites, to explain/define natural events, contacts with their gods, big birds, sudden winds, protectors during the dark nights, etc. No "pretty/ug-ly wingy thingies" ever visited or talked to Mohammed, Jesus, Mary or Joseph or Joe Smith. Today we would classify angels as f–airies and "tin–ker be-lls". Modern de-vils are classified as the de-mons of the de-mented.
"4. To believe that all the heavenly books that were sent to the different prophets are true. However, apart from the Quran, all other books are not valid anymore."
Another major item to delete. There are no books written in the spirit state of Heaven (if there is one) just as there are no angels to write/publish/distribute them. The Koran, OT, NT etc. are simply books written by humans for humans.
Prophets were invented by ancient scribes typically to keep the un-educated masses in line. Today we call them for-tune tellers.
Prophecies are also invali-dated by the natural/God/Allah gifts of Free Will and Future.
"5. To believe that all the prophets are true. However, we are commanded to follow the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) alone."
Mohammed spent thirty days "fasting" (the Ramadan legend) in a hot cave before his first contact with Allah aka God etc. via a "pretty wingy thingy". Common sense demands a neuron deletion of #5. #5 is also the major source of Islamic vi-olence i.e. turning Mohammed's "fast, hunger-driven" hallu-cinations into horrible reality for unbelievers.
Walk these Five Steps and we guarantee a complete recovery from your Islamic ways!!!!
Unfortunately, there are not many Muslim commentators/readers on this blog so the "two-minute" cure is not getting to those who need it. If you have a Muslim friend, send him a copy and help save the world.
Analogous steps are available at your request for deprogramming the myths of Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Paganism at your request.
So the author is an international human rights lawyer, eh? So maybe he should show us how compassionate he is and take Asia Bibi as a client and get her released. Well sir, what's your answer?
Stii, one can nott rust the Muslims. As long as they believe in the quran they will continue to plan to kill all non-believers.
Guess the same can be said of Christians.
Unfortunately, individuals like Rogue above have misinterpreted the Quran. You can not take one verse from the Quran and quote it out of context. The Quran must be read as a whole to truly understand the individual verses within it. There are many verses in the bible if taken alone, would seem to be promoting violence, but when taking the bible as a whole the message of it's love for humanity and peace seems more clear. As a Muslim, I praise God for ridding us of an individual that has led to the deaths of my fellow Americans and Muslmis throughout the world.
@Muslim American – Perhaps you did not read my post. I did not quote anything from your Quran, so your accusations of "misinterpretation" and taking things out of context fall rather flat.
Your attempts to lie in defense of your religion are obvious to me. And they are very typical of Muslims also. You lie like a dog.
@Muslim American
Hey -Mus. American...
You Said: "Unfortunately, individuals like Rogue above have misinterpreted the Quran. You can not take one verse from the Quran and quote it out of context."
Actually, I think you 'may' be misunderstanding the very subtle distinctions that @Rogue is making here.
When you say..."You can not take one verse from the Qur'an and quote it out of context." Unfortunately, that's what the 'crazies' (whether they be Muslim, Christians, etc...) actually do ('is') to take verses out of their holybooks and use the verses they see fit to *interpret* them in the way that fits their insane minds and to justify their insane acts of terror.
Respectfully,
Peace...
Hey, Peace...
I'm getting tired of this. The same old apologist propaganda... different day.
I need to find one of those little smiley-faces giving a one-finger salute... Do they make those?
@BG
Hey -BG...
I'm tired of it too. One of the things we can do here is be a bit more vocal, yes...?
Peace...
@BG
LOL....!!!! Sorry, *Forgot*... Re: 'smiley faces' giving the 'one-fingered' salute. You might ask 'ol @ Rogue(a.k.a. -Sum Dude) about those 'smileys' as he originally helped me with a few of those.
Peace...
@BG – Sorry honestanon, there were never any smileys like that in the list. And now they've shut down the smiley machine...or is my browser messed up again? Anyway here's one for you:
t-_-t (two fingers) You can get fancy with that sort of thing. I've seen some other ones around here.
Why give anyone a finger when you need it to point at Muslims? hahaha!
@ Dude
Too much work, but thanks.
Regards
@Rogue
Yes... your 'browser' must be messed up, as I continue to use the smiley plus the one you taught me.
Ya' know, the one that let's me know it's you.
Peace...
http://sightlikeaconstructionworker.blogspot.com/2011/05/wheres-patriotism-in.html
How could he have "hijacked" your nasty, violent religion by being nasty and violent? Gosh, how does that work, exactly?
I've read the Q'uran. Osama Bin Laden was just following it's tenets just like any good fundamentalist. He "hijacked" nothing.
If you follow that religion, you are commanded (according to the Q'uran) to kill unbelievers, to oppress them and lie to them to further whatever aims you desire to ascribe to "Allah".
Bin Laden might have had some differences with fellow Muslims on how to further the cause of Islam, but what religion ever has all adherents agreeing on every point? He was a hero to many Muslims and not necessarily all the "extremist" ones, either. Members of any group often enjoy seeing fellow members "take the fight" to the perceived enemy. Projection of your religion into your secular affairs is also commanded by the words in your "holy" book as being from your "god".
You cannot say that you believe otherwise lest you be killed for apostasy.
Another thing in your "religion of peace".
So I view your article as just one more pile of lies put forth to deceive the "unbelievers" into thinking your religion is "really okay" or some such nonsense. It's not and never will be.
Bin Laden was a "hero" of Islamic fundamentalists everywhere. Any murderer of innocent "unbelievers" will always be a "hero" to Islam. That is basic to your faith and if you don't like it you can always join the rest of the human race in finding a better religion to follow or you can use your common sense (if you have any) to dispense with religion altogether.
But please don't pretend he "hijacked" your religion. He was just being a good little Muslim and doing his best to further the cause of your "beloved religion of Islam" more than any "moderate".
So either you are lying, are mistaken, or are both at the same time. For your words to be true your Q'uran would have to be written differently than it is. Maybe you should burn yours. I would.
The Qu'ran, like the Bible, is only as endorsing of violence as people want to make it. So, isn't it better to hope that the vast majority of Muslims will take his death as a sign to fully embrace a peaceable observance of the religion?
@Rogue
Hey brother... 😯 !
I think you are right on in a lot of your points.
Also, I'm with -NL in his question of 'hope.'
Peace brother...
@NL – In the short-term, yes. In the long-term, no. The eradication of delusional belief systems should not be put aside in favor of short-term gains unless it is useful from some tactical or strategic viewpoint.
So I don't mind everyone becoming "peaceable", but if we refuse to face these problems and just sweep them under the carpet then there is no point in pretending to further the cause of humanity as a whole.
And how can you trust any religion that uses such words as the religions we have in the world today? At some point they will base their actions on their interpreted "beliefs" and not on reason or logic. That's where being "tolerant" becomes another word for insanity. I feel the line needs to be drawn somewhere. This "hope" may be a false one as regards to religion, for all it takes is a proper leader to rile up the "faithful" into committing crimes against the innocent.
But if everyone would like to keep from following the tenets of their religion, that would be okay too. (laughs)
@Peace2All – Hey bro, go ahead and hope. I wouldn't mind everyone ignoring the actual words in their "holy" books for once. But that's as far as it goes for me. To be more "secular" or "moderate" often means a departure from being a fundamentalist, so it's all good I guess.
Peace to you and NL. My hope is in the long-term, and I do not like to compromise my position by entertaining false hopes. The problem is their religion, not their particular observance of it.
@Rogue
Again, you make some very valid points. In my opinion, it's not an either or thing. Of course, the killing of bin laden will not stop all terrorism. But, since it happened, I 'hope' that this will make more of a dent into 'radical Islam.'
I think, as always, you and I are on the same page. We understand the danger of pretty much 'all' religions and from the followers 'beliefs' flow their 'actions' so with that, yes... we agree and 'hope' that somehow over time, there will be some difference made.
I believe, for me I can kind of some my opinion or view up this way: "Prepare for the worst... and hope for the best." In other words, be ever more vigilant as to the realities and potential harm the 'crazies' from 'all' religions can and most likely will attempt to inflict on our society, while also making and taking actions to make things better.
Anyway, as always, my friend, you write very wise postings. My 'hope' as well as yours is in the 'long-term.'
Peace brother...
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
@Peace2All – Actually my friend, most of my postings are riddled with foolishness but no one is actually pointing them out so I guess no one is reading me that deep.
I have yet to find anyone of sufficient caliber to debate such things.
I am always on the lookout for a better way, a better idea, or even just a more intelligent position. That's where you and all my other friends here help me to become a better person. It would be much more difficult in a social vacuum.
And I have changed over time, if only in having a better grounding in my current position. But thanks for the vote of confidence. I am not always "wise" but am often foolish and inconsistent in my abilities, just like anyone else. I can't seem to find any fundies smart enough to catch me though. Oh, well. As David Johnson would say, "I love me some fundies!"
😀
@Rogue
Sure...we often see your 'foolishness' like we 'all' say at times. However, you do make very valid points too. And... we are all here to help each other out when we 'all' make those foolish comments from time-to-time, yes...? 🙂
Peace brother...
Hi all. Allow me to add some 'fuel to the fire."
From the article: "... there are more than 1 billion Muslims around the world who salute the fact that bin Laden's ungodly terrorist mischief has finally come to an end."
If they're so happily 'saluting' OBL's demise, then why not point out the rest of the bunch, and for that matter, all other Muslims with similar inclinations? Go get 'em, fellas. Saddle up, and send the posses out. Don't come back 'till you've rounded them all up.
Then you can 'salute' to your hearts' content.
@BG
Hey -BG...
No fuel to the fire, at least IMO, ... (I'm with ya' on this brother.) Let's (our government) use every tool and resource at their disposal to root out and get these radicalized terrorists.
Peace...
crazy!
Everything you say is true. Muslims need to omit words of violence from their Quran just as Christians did to the Bible. They need to burn or destory all the Qurans that have words of violence so future generations of Muslims do not grow up thinking they need to kill unbelievers to be a good Muslim.