They Said What???

I have posted and will again post using the words of radical Islamist/Jihadist. But since I have had so much feedback from people who haven’t seen/heard any/enough of response from Muslims in general over Bin Laden and terrorism, I am going to post a list of quotes from Muslim scholars in regards to this subject. Hopefully you will see something you haven’t seen before.

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Grand Sheikh Mohammed Sayed Tantawi of the Al-Azhar mosque of Cairo – which is seen as the highest authority in Sunni Islam – said groups which carried out suicide bombings were the enemies of Islam. “I do not subscribe to the idea of a clash among civilizations. People of different beliefs should co-operate and not get into senseless conflicts and animosity.” “Extremism is the enemy of Islam. Whereas, jihad is allowed in Islam to defend one’s land, to help the oppressed. The difference between jihad in Islam and extremism is like the earth and the sky.”Sheikh Tantawi said Muslim suicide attacks, including those against Israelis, were wrong and not be justified.

His comments echoed those by Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohammed who said, at the opening of the conference on Thursday, that salvation could not be achieved through the killing of innocent people.“I would rather live in America under Ashcroft and Bush at their worst, than in any “Islamic state” established by ignorant, intolerant, and murderous punks like you and Mullah Omar at their best.” A thought provoking, controversial, pre-war article by Muqtedar Khan, Ph.D. 

Prominent Muslim scholar Dr. Youssef Al-Qaradawi has condemned Al-Qaeda for their fuel tanker suicide bombing of a centuries-old Jewish synagogue on the Tunisian island of Djerba in April 2002.

On June 23 in a statement broadcast on the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera television channel, Sulaiman Abu Gaith, a spokesman for the Al-Qaeda network, claimed responsibility for the explosion that killed 14 German tourists. Five local Jews also perished.

Dr. Al Qaradawi said that in Islam it is not permissible to attack places of worship such as churches and synagogues or attack men of religion, even in a state of war. “Civilians, such as the German tourists, should not be killed, or kept as hostages. Jews, not in conflict with Muslims, must not be killed either. Anyone who commits these crimes is punishable by Islamic Sharia and have committed the sin of killing a soul which God has prohibited to kill and of spreading corruption on earth.”

When asked whether the killing of Jewish women, children and men is permissible, Islamic scholar Muhammad Al-Hanuti said that no one may be persecuted or tortured because of their religion. “The only one who could be killed is the murderer or the one who commits a crime punishable by the law. In war, when people are fighting for a certain cause, Muslims are not allowed to kill the elderly, women or children. The only legitimate target is the one who is involved in combat against Muslims.”

Dr. Al-Qaradawi said that the conflict with the Jews is over land and not about their Judaism, because they are people of the Book (i.e. they believe in a revealed religion). “We are allowed to eat their food and marry their women. Accordingly, social intercourse, including inter-marriage, is permitted with the People of the Book. The Jews lived under Muslims’ protection for many centuries.

Over the attacks on 9/11, Al-Qaradawi said, killing hundreds of helpless civilians who have nothing to do with the decision making process and are striving hard to earn their daily bread, such as the victims of [9/11], is a heinous crime in Islam. The Prophet, pbuh, is reported to have stated that a woman was qualified to enter Hell because of the cat she locked up to death. If such is the ruling applied in protecting animals, no doubt, aggression against human beings, a fortiori, deserves greater protection, for human beings are honored by Allah Almighty and are His vicegerents on earth.” “Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds” From the last sermon of Mohammed

“It is time that we Muslims acknowledge that the freedoms we enjoy in the US are more desirable to us than superficial solidarity with the Muslim World. If you disagree, then prove it by packing your bags and going to whichever Muslim country you identify with.” Dr. M.A. Muqtedar Khan

Ed Bradley: Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t it the responsibility…Does not Islam, does not Allah require that Muslims police their own religion and rid themselves of extremists?

Hamza Yusuf: Yes, absolutely. It’s an obligation for Muslims to root them out. And I think it is a jihad now for the Muslims in the Muslim country to rid themselves of this element. (CBS’s 60 Minutes Sept. 30, 2001)

“Who has the greatest duty to stop violence committed by Muslims against innocent non-Muslims in the name of Islam?? The answer, obviously, is Muslims.” Ingrid Mattson, Vice President, Islamic Society of North America

“Hijacking Planes, terrorizing innocent people and shedding blood constitute a form of injustice that can not be tolerated by Islam, which views them as gross crimes and sinful acts.” Shaykh Abdul Aziz al-Ashaikh, Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of the Senior Ulama, on 9/15/01

“The terrorists acts, from the perspective of Islamic law, constitute the crime of hirabah (waging war against society).”
September 27, 2001 – Fatwa, signed by:
Shaykh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Grand Islamic Scholar and Chairman of the Sunna and Sira Council, Qatar
Judge Tariq al-Bishri, First Deputy President of the Council d’etat, Egypt
Dr. Muhammad s. al-Awa, Professor of Islamic Law and Shari’a, Egypt
Dr. Haytham al-Khayyat, Islamic scholar, Syria
Fahmi Houaydi, Islamic scholar, Syria
Shaykh Taha Jabir al-Alwani, Chairman, North America High Council

“Neither the law of Islam nor its ethical system justify such a crime.” Zaki Badawi, Principal of the Muslim College in London. Cited in Arab News, 9/28/01.

“It is wrong to kill innocent people. It is also wrong to praise those who kill innocent people.” Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai, Pakistan. Cited in the NY Times, 9/28/01.

“What these people stand for is completely against all the principles that Arab Muslims believe in.” King Abdullah II, of Jordan; cited in the Middle East Times, 9/28/01. (The above statements by high ranking international Muslim scholars and leaders appeared in an advertisement placed by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, in the New York Times, 10/17/01)

“I’m a Muslim, I’ve been a Muslim for 20 years. I want the world to know the truth about Islam. I wouldn’t be here to represent Islam if it were the way the terrorists make it look…Islam is for peace.” Former World Heavyweight boxing champion, Muhammad Ali, at the telethon benefit concert, 9/21/01

“Those terrorists must be reading a completely different Quran than the rest of us. This isn’t about Islam. It’s about terrorism.” US Marine Corps Captain Aisha Bakkar-Poe.

“Terrorists claiming to act in the name of Islam is like a knife through my heart – that people would practice Islam, but do deeds like what they’ve done. It’s not true faith. Some people twist religion to the way they think.” US Army Captain Arneshuia Balial, a convert to Islam since 1987.

The country’s top cleric told 2 million hajj pilgrims Wednesday that some of Islam’s own sons had been “lured by the devil” to conduct violent attacks on the kingdom and charged that non-Muslims were conspiring against people of the faith. Sheik Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah al Sheik, speaking at a mosque near Mt. Arafat, lamented the violence waged by Muslim militants against Saudi Arabia.

“The greatest affliction to strike the nation of Islam came from some of its own sons, who were lured by the devil,” the cleric said. “They have called the nation infidel, they have shed protected blood and they have spread vice on Earth, with explosions and destruction and killing of innocents.”

He pointedly asked of Muslim youth: “How would you meet God? With innocent blood you shed or helped shed?”

A leading Saudi cleric issued a plea today for Muslims not to heed calls to wage terror attacks in the name of Islam. Sheikh Abdulrahman al-Sudeis, the state-appointed preacher at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, told pilgrims in a sermon marking the feast of Eid al-Adha that scholars must preach moderation to confront militants, who were using “misguided and void” interpretations to justify violence. His sermon, dedicated to the 2.5 million Muslims performing the hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, echoed comments made yesterday by Sheikh Abdul-Aziz al Sheik. The kingdom’s grand mufti said the greatest test to the nation of Islam came from its sons who were “lured by the devil” to carry out acts of violence.

Sheikh al-Sudeis said militancy was not a valid interpretation of Islam. “Because Muslims have strayed from moderation, we are now suffering from this dangerous phenomenon of branding people infidels and inciting Muslims to rise against their leaders to cause instability,” he said.

“The reason for this is a delinquent and void interpretation of Islam based on ignorance … faith does not mean killing Muslims or non-Muslims who live among us, it does not mean shedding blood, terrorising or sending body parts flying.”

The preacher warned that extremism would ruin the Muslim nation: “This phenomenon has expanded so much that scholars must confront it with concrete proof from Islam to protect our youth from its stench and putridity.”

A a quick browse of Muslims Condemn Terrorist Attacks will show, every major Muslim group in every English-speaking country (since I don’t speak other languages, my collection is limited in this regard) has issued statements condemning terrorism. All the major scholars and schools of thought in Islam have issued statements condemning terrorism. Political and community leaders from across the Muslim world have issued statements condemning terrorism. Many ordinary Muslims have written articles condemning terrorism or posted condemnations to their websites. What more do the critics want? A sworn affadavit from each of 1.2 billion Muslims?

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There is so much stuff out there in this same vein, that it is hard for me to put it all in one post.  Or even decide which ones I want to use and how much of it.  I don’t want to bore you with positive things.  Some of it comes out of the most surprising places when you consider their past.  

I am going to post some website links at the bottom of this post.  Some are source links but within them are all kinds of information.  You can see a mutitude of Muslims who have condemned terrorism, Bin Laden, and all his practices.  You can find info on those pesky verses in the Quran that seem to say to kill everyone.  You can get some insight from Muslim scholars as to why the terrorists are wrong in their interpetation of the Quran.  If you have doubt in your mind, please check it out.  Seriously, 1.something billion Muslims are not out to kill you, if they were, you would already be dead. 

Muslims become just as frustrated when they feel people are wanting day to day demonstrations of apology, protests, and begging of forgiveness for a crime that they didn’t commit.  How many times must I say, just because the crime was commited by a Muslim, does not mean that all Muslims are criminals.  

http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/muslim_voices_against_extremism_and_terrorism_part_i_fatwas/0012209

http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php

http://www.muhajabah.com/otherscondemn.php

http://freemuslims.org/

http://www.islamfortoday.com/terrorism.htm

http://www.rayhawk.com/classics/matusa/home.html

http://www.islamdenouncesterrorism.com/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3059365.stm

This is a link to a friend where he has a poll of Muslims in various countries.  It shows that the majority of Muslims disagree with the tactics of al Qaeda.

http://towelianism.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/islam-muslims-the-world-a-brief-paradigmatic-analysis/

 

Reform In Islam

  

I have GOT to stop getting distracted LOL. I start with one thing and get switched to something else. I have been really busy the last couple of days, so I haven’t been keeping up with my blog. Please accept my apologies. I am doing research right now for some upcoming topics, I don’t want to miss anything so it takes a little time. In the mean time, I will cheat with some easy posts.

I want to print some stuff that I have found out there from Muslims in regards to current events. I still see that people question Muslim attitudes, acts/non-acts, etc. I was a little disappointed that when I posted the letter which was sent 5 years ago on the anniversary of 9/11, I still saw people questioning all Muslims because of the actions of a few. Too bad it can’t be the other way around.

I could, if this blog was about Islam in general, which it isn’t,…but I could post a story everyday for at least the next 2 years with stories of Muslims against terrorism, against radical Islam.  Muslims who believe that those people in radical Islam are not Muslims.  They feel that the radicals are not following the Quran.  I could post those stories every day, and I doubt it would change some peoples minds.  I tried to point out just a few things in hopes of changing minds, please be aware that there is much, much, more out there and it’s easy to find. 

The following comes from a Muslim college lecturer. His concern over the U.S. invading and taking over due to human rights violations… I seriously doubt. At any rate, he is speaking against Sharia and of reform, both in the past and in the future. I may not agree with everything he says, in regards to the U.S., but I am always grateful when I hear of Muslims wanting to step into the 21st century.  It was written Sept. 9, 2004

Christianity had its own violent past. There were many things done in the name of Christianity that we no longer do today. In time, I hope, the same will be able to be said of Islam. As my friend salahudin said, Islam hasn’t been around as long as Judaism or Christianity. They seem to be having their own “dark ages”. If we are honest with ourselves we can start a list of the violence done in the name of Christianity. But even in those days, not all Christians acted the same way, as a matter of fact, MOST didn’t. So why would you think that all of Islam is the same??

Tunisian University Lecturer: Sharia Must Not Be Implemented Today

In an article titled “Shari’a Must Not Be Implemented Today” posted on the liberal Arab website www.metransparent.com, Dr. Iqbal Al-Gharbi, lecturer in psychology at Al-Zaytouna University, Tunisia, wrote that during Islam’s formative years, the Prophet Muhammad and the four Righteous Caliphs placed the best interests of the Muslim nation before a literal adherence to the Koran and blind imitation of the Prophet’s way of life (the Sunna). She stated that the principle of placing the Muslim nation’s best interests first and using logic must guide the Muslim world today as well. The following are excerpts from the article: [1]

‘The Implementation of Shari’a in Our Generation Harms Shari’a and the Islamic Nation’

“ Shari’a [Islamic religious law] must not be implemented in the Arab world today because its implementation threatens the cultural balance that has existed in this region for hundreds of years. For example, [implementing Shari’a caused] Christian Arab emigration to the West, which is a mark of shame on the forehead of the [Muslim] nation.

“Statistics show that the number of Christian Arabs, which today stands at 12 million, has waned, and their presence in the Arab region has diminished. In Syria today there are half the Christians that there were in the 1950s, and in Jerusalem, there are only a few thousand, when in 1948 they numbered 50,000…

“In addition, the implementation of Shari’a in our generation harms Shari’a itself, as well as the Islamic nation – which will become a world joke for [dictating] amputating the hand of someone who stole ‘a quarter of a dinar,’ stoning [adulterous] lovers, publicly giving 1,000 lashes to anyone who imbibes a glass of wine, and breaking the necks of [Muslims] who adopted another religion or of those who do not act according to any religion.

“Moreover, the day will come when the U.S. will use our violation of the Human Rights Convention as an excuse to occupy us and make us into other Indians [and do to us what they did to them]. This is because it is clear today, in the era of globalization, that any internal problem not dealt with by deep-rooted reform becomes an international problem…”

‘The Demand to Implement Shari’a Today is Absurd and Ill-Intentioned’

“The demand to implement Shari’a today is absurd and ill-intentioned. It indicates its supporters’ ignorance both of Islamic history and of the aims of Shari’a. The Prophet Muhammad did not implement Shari’a fully because [ Shari’a ] was not revealed to him all at once but gradually, over more than 20 years, in response to problems that arose with the organization of the new nation and in response to the challenges [posed] by the Children of Israel in Al-Madina…

“[Likewise], an important part of the Koran was abrogated because every time the social, economic, and security circumstances of the Islamic nation developed, the previous verses, which were no longer appropriate [in light of] the new changes, were abrogated…

“[Furthermore,] Islam urges the use of logic and wisdom. The role of the Prophet was not only to declare the revelations and interpret the Koranic text, but also to get [the people] accustomed to using logic… For this reason, the abrogation of Koranic verses did not end with the death of the Prophet – because social conditions did not freeze in place, but continued their constant movement from the simple to the complex.”

‘The Four Righteous Caliphs Continued [in the Path of the Prophet], Abrogating and Amending’

“The four Righteous Caliphs continued [in the path of the Prophet] and abrogated and amended the verses connected to the commandments between man and his fellow [man], in accordance with the Shari’a principles based on encouraging good deeds and refraining from evil deeds.

“Thus, for example, [the First Caliph] Abu Bakr abrogated the verse ‘Alms are only for the poor and the needy, and those who collect them, and those whose hearts have [recently] been reconciled to [Islam] [Koran 9:60]’ – that is, [Abu Bakr eliminated the grant] to those who had newly joined Islam, while the Prophet continued to give this Zakat [charitable grant] to them throughout his life. It is interesting that none of the Prophet’s Companions argued with him about this, or accused him of deviating from Islam – like people today hasten to accuse [others] of betrayal and apostasy.

“Abu Bakr’s argument when he abrogated this verse was based on logic, not on tradition: ‘Islam has become stronger, and we have no need for them [i.e. those who have newly joined Islam]’ Why? Because the balance of power between the Muslims and the polytheists had changed from the situation that existed when the verse was revealed. Previously, the [Muslim] nation was weak, and needed to entice people with material temptations so they would join. But when it became stronger, both numerically and with regard to its [military] preparedness, it no longer needed this…

“According to this logic, which is open to the innovations of life and sets the public [wellbeing] over the text of the Koran or the Sunna, [the Second Caliph] Omar bin Al-Khattab abrogated the Koranic punishment for theft in the year Al-Ramada [18 in the Muslim calendar], the year that famine struck the Arabian Peninsula. [He did so] even though the verse clearly and absolutely orders hand amputation: ‘As for the thief, both male and female, cut off their hands. It is the reward for their own deeds. [Koran 5:38].’

“The reason why [this punishment was abrogated] was a change in the Muslim nation’s strategic situation in Omar’s day, in contrast to the situation in the day of the Prophet. The nation had become a conquering [nation], and had [developed] a mighty military program – to topple the Persian and Byzantine empires. Such objectives cannot be achieved with a military consisting of one-armed men, and in the year Al-Ramada, Mecca and Al-Madina alone had 15,000 thieves, and doubtless the number [of thieves] in the rest of the Arabian Peninsula was many times greater…

“[The Third Caliph] Uthman bin ‘Affan went even farther than his two predecessors in abrogating texts in the Sunna and the Koran – even in the sphere of ritual between man and God. He prayed at Mina, while the Prophet and [the previous Caliphs] Abu Bakr and Omar abandoned this prayer. Also, he introduced many changes unfamiliar to Muslims in the deeds between man and his fellow [man] – which aroused outbreaks against him and led to his cruel murder.

“For example, he introduced new Persian [-style] taxes, when the Koran and the Sunna recognized only the Zakat and the Kharaj [land tax], and preferred to give his family state jobs and funds from the Muslim treasury…

“Also, the Fourth Caliph Ali bin Abu Taleb acted no differently than his three predecessors, placing what he thought was the best interests of the [Muslim] nation over the text of the Koran and the Sunna… [Thus for example] he invented the punishment for [imbibing] wine… [Imbibing wine] is forbidden in the Koran…: ‘Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows are an abomination [and] Satan’s handwork: Eschew such (abomination) [Koran 5:90].’ However, the Koran had not determined a punishment for anyone violating these prohibitions… The Prophet had not punished anyone who drank wine, and even Abu Bakr had not, and apparently also Omar had not…

“But the Imam Ali [did so because] he was horrified by the worsening of alcohol consumption and by the grave sins stemming from it during the period after the spread of the [Muslim] occupation, at a time when the booty flowed abundantly to Mecca and Al-Madina, and corruption and drunkenness proliferated there.

“In an attempt to be rid of this corruption, he did not hesitate to differ from what was said in the Koran and the Sunna, and to invent a punishment for wine-drinkers…”

‘The Flaw Lies in Reliance upon a Literal Reading of the Koran and Sunna’

“The flaw [in understanding Shari’a ] lies in the reliance on a literal reading of the Koran and Sunna, instead of an allegorical and rational reading that sets the best interests of the nation over the texts of its heritage – as did the best of [our] ancient, righteous patriarchs who made us a nation among the advanced nations, that set logic above tradition and placed the best interests of flesh and blood man over the rituals of their forefathers.

“If we do not turn [in this direction] swiftly and with maximum determination, we will remain a nation of the agrarian era that has no place in an era of industrial revolutions that follow each other…”

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 http://www.metransparent.com/texts/ikbal_algharbi_application_of_sharia_today.htm, September 9, 2004. Abrogation is a method known in Islam by the technical names of Nasekh and mansoukh which offers a solution to the contradictions between Koranic verses. According to this method, the Koran includes verses that were subsequently abrogated by verses revealed at a later stage, and only the later verses are binding upon Muslims.

Peace Be Upon…Who??

 

Since I am going in for surgery on Friday, I am going to be real busy for the next week. I will throw up, some blog entries, that are copy/paste, from my time in jihadist websites. So you won’t miss me while I am gone. LOL

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Actually, the copy/paste entries, are ones I was planning to post, and they are ones that I can put together the fastest, so this week is the perfect time to do it.

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At least one of them will be kind of long, and I thought about putting it in two installments, but that would take away from it. So when it comes up…be sure to read it all. It is very enlightening. Thank goodness for the draft option in email. It makes it really easy to save things, especially when some people erase, everything I post on their site.

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The following comes from a jihadist website, it is a comment posted by “Jeff”, and the answer he received.

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Jeff in USA –

I wish I could call you my Muslim friend, My Muslim brother, but sadly I cannot. Like so many humans, you have a strong faith that empowers you, but have you examined your faith? Are you humble before the creator, the one you call Allah (PBUH)?

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Take a look around the world. Take a look through history. There were many (are many) people that believe they have THE answer to this mystery called life. Look at how Christians have killed Muslims, look at how they have killed Jews. Look at how Muslims have killed Jews and Christians. Look at how Jews have killed Muslims and Christians. And why? Much of it is traced back to the fervent belief that each group thinks it is the practitioner of the one true faith.

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I will not change your mind. I cannot change your mind. For I have not come to know the being that you call Allah. For that “sin” it appears from your belief system that I am less, that I can and should be killed. It was sad when the Christians were killing Muslims and Jews for their Christian God. It is just as sad that Muslims are killing each other and members of other belief systems in the name of Allah (PBUH)..

Your fellow man, be it a Jew or a Christian, or even a person that knows not what to believe, is not your enemy. Your enemy is within yourself. Allow yourself to re-learn peace. Allow yourself to re-learn love. Allow yourself to examine why you believe the creator wishes us to kill our fellow man if they do not believe exactly as you believe.

.You will find that the creator is glorified through helping your fellow man come to the truth instead of killing him for not sharing your belief.

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Response to Jeff from Muslim:.

To Jeff, you approached Mujahid very plainly and humbly and not with violence or threats like what my buddy used to receive from an American soldier that read his blog. If that is the case, you aren’t the one we’re fighting. .

Our mission is to bring Islam to the world by both preaching and by force. Now, on a personal level, Islam only spreads by preaching and acceptance. We’re not out to kill people of other religions for having another belief, otherwise their conversions wouldn’t be valid because of the coercion. But the government of Islam, the Shariah, (Sharia Law) that is what we spread by force except for cases where a people en masse, or a leader accepts Islam of their own will. The Shariah rule is what we spread by force when a people resist, because the Shariah is just for ALL people of all religions..

We’re not out to harm you personally, especially if you’re not out after us. But we are convinced of the truth of our religion and we’re not allowed to accept non-Islamic rule over ourselves or call other religions valid..

end comments.

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It should be noted here that these people DO NOT consider Iran a Islamic state. So what do they consider an Islamic state?? And how would it affect Muslims world wide?? I think it is something Muslims should ask themselves..

Please, anyone who visits “jihadist” websites, should be respectful. There is no need to act like your mother never taught you any manners. No one can change peoples minds by acting like that. Those kind of comments are the main ones that the jihadist, DON’T erase. They are used as an example of how it is “OK” to attack and kill non-Muslims. .

There is a rule that we should all follow. It is….”Do unto others that which you would have done unto your self.” If you, would not want Christianity forced upon you, then you should not want Islam forced upon someone else. That should be a principle shouted from the rooftops..

Forcing Sharia on anybody, falls under the same category. .

Peace be upon you, is a common greeting in the Muslim world. I agree, may peace be upon us all. The jihadist could learn from that short greeting that they use many times a day. So many times in fact, that I don’t think that they even consider the words they are speaking. For them, it is more of a….peace be upon everyone except…you, you, and anyone else who doesn’t think like I do. .

Peace be upon you. And remember, God is watching.