Middle-East

Iraqi Journalist Throws Shoes At George Bush, Misses

Published

December 15, 2008

SaqibSaab

An angry Iraqi journalist gains worldwide attention with the toss of a shoe. Or rather, with the toss of two. Muntadar al-Zeidi turned his frustration into action and launched two of what seems to be his own shoes straight at George W. Bush as he was about to shake hands with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki during a news conference in Iraq.

Now, based on the fact that he was using shoes, one may ask what exactly was he trying to accomplish? Best case scenario, Bush gets a black eye or a scoffed up nose. But you know what, I feel the disgruntled journalist, along with millions across the globe, could care less at the effectiveness of his weapons of choice. It was the statement that spoke loudest. Upset with the leader of the super powerful nation of the world? Take off your jutha (shoe) and chuck it at him. I can see the internet jokes of “epic shoe maneuver,” already.

And check out how quickly he launches the first one and then removes his other shoe (reloads) and fires away. Maybe he had them untied and ready for deployment? Or rather, perhaps he wore slip-ons or loafers that day.

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On a more serious and somber note, Shaykh Yasir Qadhi said:

One wonders the depth of anger that must have been present in him to be driven to such a drastic move: completely ineffective on the one hand, yet so symbolic on the other. The journalist knew he had nowhere to hide; he knew he would be facing at the minimum a prison sentence. It was nothing but sheer disgust that he felt, and millions of people around the world along with him, that drove him to commit such a trivial yet symbolic deed.

Here’s the report from AP:

Bush ducks shoes in Baghdad

BAGHDAD (AP) — It gives fresh meaning to the phrase shooed away.

President George W. Bush ducked a pair of shoes hurled at his head — one shoe after the other — in the middle of a news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Both shoes narrowly missed their target and thumped loudly against the wall behind the leaders.

“Don’t worry about it,” the president said as the room erupted into chaos.

Iraqi reporters started shouting what Bush later explained were apologies for the incident.

“So what if the guy threw a shoe at me?” Bush said, comparing the action to political protests in the United States.

“If you want the facts, it was a size 10,” he joked.

The shoe attack came as Bush and al-Maliki were about to shake hands. The assailant — later identified as television correspondent Muntadar al-Zeidi — leapt from his chair and hurled his footwear at the president, who was about 20 feet away.

“This is the end,” he yelled.

The crowd descended on al-Zeidi, who works for Al-Baghdadia television, an Iraqi-owned station based in Cairo, Egypt. He was wrestled to the ground by security officials and then hauled away, moaning as they departed the room. Later, a trail of fresh blood could be seen on the carpet, although the source was not known.

In Iraqi culture, throwing shoes at someone is a sign of contempt. When U.S. Marines toppled Saddam Hussein’s statue on Firdos Square in 2003, the assembled crowd whacked it with their shoes.

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SaqibSaab

SaqibSaab is an average Desi Muslim guy living in Chicago. He enjoys videography and design as side hobbies, and helps out with AlMaghrib Institute in Chicago, Wasat Studios, and other projects here and there. His go-around vehicle is a 2007 Volkswagen Jetta 5-speed Wolfburg Edition. Originally born in Michigan, he and his wife reside in Chicagoland with his parents who come from Bangalore, India. He blogs personally at SaqibSaab.com.

97 Comments

ilmsummitee

December 15, 2008 at 1:35 AM

SubhanAllah, when this happened my father notified me immediately to go check it out…….I didnt believe him at first, but then I watched it over and over and over again.

Mashallah, what courage to stand against the oppression that so arrogantly stands in front of you, the head of the source that has destroyed not just a country but a rich history of centuries of civilizations, and not just destroyed homes, infrastructers, lives, families, futures, hopes but killed so many in such a brutally ‘justifiable’ way for a ‘noble’ cause. Can you imagine what the punishment is for these people who cause so much suffering and indescribable pain?!?!?

This journalist, only Allah knows what happened to him, if he had any family members or friends, neighbors killed/injured or how the occupation affected him and caused his suffering. His actions really touched me and I am praying for him specifically, who knows they probably took him to some secret torture prison, God forbid. Ya Allah help your servant who spoke in the name of those who could not speak for themselves, and sacrificed to stand up for the Haqq.

May Allah ease the situation among the Muslims worldwide, and bring them victory, strength, and a resurgence of izzah. Ameen, ya ALLAH!

Reply
Siraaj

December 15, 2008 at 2:02 AM

Hilarious!

Siraaj

Reply
Ron Ibn Abi Paul Al-Anti-Illuminati

December 15, 2008 at 2:14 AM

lol at the whole incident.

Further lol at reporters pondering over the cultural significance of shoes being hurled at high velocities towards critical organs.

“You see, in Muslim culture, it is customary for people to throw shoes to express contempt. While it is still unknown what this man’s intentions were, one thing is for sure: his mention of a goodbye kiss was purely figurative”

In reality, it’s only Arab culture, not Muslim culture, that frowns upon directing the soles of your feet towards people. Throwing shoes at someone is pretty much universally understood to be an unfriendly gesture.

Reply
Dunia's Stranger

December 15, 2008 at 2:31 AM

This reminds me of the Austin Powers lines:
“Who throws a shoe. Honesly?”

Reply
R

December 15, 2008 at 2:45 AM

http://www.anwar-alawlaki.com/2008/12/15/the-best-shoes-in-the-world

Reply
Naeem

December 15, 2008 at 4:28 AM

AA-

And the craziest part of this entire fiasco is the ignorance displayed by Bush (surprise!) when asked about the incident, he responded: “I don’t know what the guy’s cause is.”

You’ve just completed the systematic destruction of the man’s country and you seriously can’t figure out what his beef is?!

Get a clue dude!

Reply
Ron Ibn Abi Paul Al-Anti-Illuminati

December 15, 2008 at 5:45 AM

lol yeah he was like “BY GOLLY! A man just hurled his footwear at me! This is a matter most peculiar! But why? Why would someone do such a thing? What might his cause be? I don’t know. I am just as baffled as you are, Madam Reporter! What’s that you say? He’s screaming about dogs, widows and children? MY GOD! This man is on crack! Away with him to the dungeons.”

Reply
Pingback: Bush & The Two Shoes - Kulpreet Singh
Ar-Raheeq

December 15, 2008 at 6:39 AM

Hilarious…I started laughing immediately as i read the title…. I bet even one of the security guards trying to surround the angry journalist would have had a quite chuckle within themselves!!! Gee what a humiliating torment in this dunya itself….

Reply
Organica

December 15, 2008 at 7:26 AM

Ahh.

He did it for all of us.

He was a man!

Reply
Yasir Qadhi

December 15, 2008 at 8:27 AM

Should be titled: “From Iraq With Love” !

The funniest part of the whole fiasco is how news ‘analysts’ are informing us that throwing a shoe at someone is considered a sign of disrespect in Arab / Muslim culture (said explicitly on CNN, Yahoo, AP and more).

Well, thank God for such insightful cultural analysis! Of course, here in America, were someone to do the same we’d all understand this differently, hence the need for this profound societal background information. Here in America, without this deep thought, many would have assumed that the Iraqi journalist was merely welcoming the liberators with open arms.

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abu abdAllah, the Houstonian

December 15, 2008 at 9:07 AM

bismillah. i just dugg the article, because i think we’ve got more to offer than just the video. but the video itself over at MSNBC has already got over 7400 diggs!!!

i’m thinking that maybe the journalist just came back from Hajj. :) ever been at the jamarat? a lot of emotional hujjaaj throw their shoes at the great shaytan. :P

as for the President, he’s a dodgeball evil genius. for 8 straight years he’s dodged truth, morality, justice, human rights, you name it! his security detail was so slow the Iraqi had time to wind-up for each throw of his shoes. but Bush was a pro. did you see that first duck? if they remake that dodgeball movie, Bush should totally be cast as the evil gym owner.

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abu abdAllah, the Houstonian

December 15, 2008 at 9:10 AM

bismillah. and i am praying for the family of that journalist. may Allah strengthen them — i would be amazed if the man and his family were spared by President Bush’s lackeys and surrogates.

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Hassan

December 15, 2008 at 9:10 AM

I am deeply disappointed. He should have practiced well, to hit the target.

Bush October 2001 93% approval rating, and feared.

Bush December 2008 27% approval rating, and being thrown shoes at.

Just a point for people who think.

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Yasir Qadhi

December 15, 2008 at 9:33 AM

It is interesting to note that most American media outlets are not reporting the entire sentence that the man said.

AP (an international agency) has the full quote:

“This is a farewell kiss, you dog,” al-Zeidi yelled in Arabic as he threw his shoes. “This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq.”

In related news, thousands took to the street demanding the release of the journalist, who was declared a hero. In yet another story, the police confiscated the shoes as evidence.

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Nusaiba

December 15, 2008 at 9:49 AM

The incident reminds me of this hadith:
“…And if Allah has abhorred a servant [of His], He calls Gabriel and says: ‘I abhor So-and-so, therefore abhor him.’ So Gabriel abhors him. Then Gabriel calls out to the inhabitants of heaven: ‘Allah abhors So-and-so, therefore abhor him.’” He (the Prophet – peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “So they abhor him, and abhorrence is established for him on earth.”
[Muslim, Bukhari,Tirmidhi]

Reply
MM Associates

December 15, 2008 at 10:15 AM

bismillah. [by abu abdAllah]

has anyone seen any flash-type games yet based on this incident? it’s sure to make a great stocking-stuffer: “throw your shoes at President Bush! your choice of dress shoes (so shiny!!), high heels (stilettos could poke out an eye!!), or gym shoes (available in biowarfare or plain-smelly-warfare). can you throw at full power? can he dodge your smelly missiles? will you play the enhanced version, where he throws back?! or will you play the Bush-years-commemorative-edition, where you get thrown into your choice of Abu Ghraib or Gitmo while Bush, Cheney, et al laugh their evil selves to sleep? available soon for all platforms, including PC, PSP, iPhone, and more!!

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IbnAbbas

December 15, 2008 at 10:16 AM

yeah how he missed the target? but still he did a great job alhamdulillah! LOVED IT!

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IbnAbbas

December 15, 2008 at 10:18 AM

i’m thinking that maybe the journalist just came back from Hajj. ever been at the jamarat? a lot of emotional hujjaaj throw their shoes at the great shaytan.

LOL

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ibnkhalil

December 15, 2008 at 10:59 AM

MashAllah….the brother really outdid himself.

On a serious note, perhaps when the US president shows up everybody should be allowed in the room after they remove their shoes, just as a security measure. After all throwing shoes at someone in American culture (vs Arab culture) is a sign of great respect.

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Hidaya

December 15, 2008 at 11:44 AM

Man I thought throw was pretty good would have hit his face if he didn’t move his head…….but thats ok, mission was accomplished nonetheless =)

Reply
Ar-Raheeq

December 15, 2008 at 11:51 AM

SubhanAllah!!!
The media news agency he was working for has stopped broadcasting regular news and has started broadcasting messages praising the journalist a hero of all Arabs!!! Source:Al-Jazeera

Reply
anon

December 15, 2008 at 1:16 PM

This has a nice slideshow

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/14/bush-visits-iraq-for-fina_n_150832.html

What is amazing is that the Iraqi president seems totally unfazed, not even blinking! He knows the shoe is being thrown at Bush, so he doens’t even flinch… and second attempt he tries to ‘magically’ wave it away.

and once again, we see how good Bush is at dodging things…but you gotta hand it to him, those were some fast moves!

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ibnabeeomar

December 15, 2008 at 1:16 PM

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/15/arabs-across-middle-east-_n_150996.html

“Al-Zeidi is the man,” said 42-year-old Jordanian businessman Samer Tabalat. “He did what Arab leaders failed to do.”

Reply
Siraaj

December 15, 2008 at 1:20 PM

Salaam alaykum all,

Although I do agree that throwing shoes in any culture at someone is probably disrespectful, does it have special significance in Arab culture? I’ve seen other sources (Arab) reporting the same on this incident.

Siraaj

Reply
Yaser Birjas

December 15, 2008 at 2:22 PM

Before we all get carried away with the comics of this incident…let us just make sure we keep this journalist on our list of du’a for safety for his life and his family’s from the Iraqi security gurds. Let us keep following his case with updates, otherwise he will be forgotten forever, and only Allah knows what he is going through right now as we all read through these few words.

Reply
Amad

December 15, 2008 at 2:54 PM

I am surprised they haven’t called this a “terrorist attack” yet, and taken the poor journalist to Gitmo.

May Allah protect him from torture and other forms of retributions for making Iraq’s sham government look bad.

Reply
Joyhamza

December 15, 2008 at 3:07 PM

The funniest part of the whole fiasco is how news ‘analysts’ are informing us that throwing a shoe at someone is considered a sign of disrespect in Arab / Muslim culture (said explicitly on CNN, Yahoo, AP and more).

Well, thank God for such insightful cultural analysis! Of course, here in America, were someone to do the same we’d all understand this differently, hence the need for this profound societal background information. Here in America, without this deep thought, many would have assumed that the Iraqi journalist was merely welcoming the liberators with open arms.

hahahahaha!

Reply
Faraz

December 15, 2008 at 3:44 PM

@ Abu Abdullah: I haven’t played it, but there was an article in the Telegraph about a game:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/technology/technologynews/3777388/George-W-Bush-fends-off-shoes-in-new-viral-computer-game.html

The game:
http://www.t-enterprise.co.uk/flashgame/playgame.aspx?id=bushbootcamp

Reply
Shooed

December 15, 2008 at 4:37 PM

What a waste of shoes.
I say the guy only deserves Hell-fire thrown at.
Allahuma Aameen.

Reply
Shooed

December 15, 2008 at 4:40 PM

Also, to keep the balance, He should have thrown the second one at Noori Al Maliki instead.

Reply
AnonyMouse

December 15, 2008 at 5:29 PM

Absolutely priceless.
Ameen to the ad’iyah for the brother – the bit about a “trail of fresh blood” worries me.

Reply
sincethestorm

December 15, 2008 at 5:31 PM

I don’t want the journalist tortured or killed over this but whatever happened to Islamic manners. He was clearly out of his mind or maybe this was planned ahead of time. In either case, his aim was pretty darn good under the circumstances. I’m just wandering what they thought he would do when he bent down for the 2nd one. I guess the entire room was in shock except President Bush because he dodged the shoe perfectly.

Reply
someone

December 15, 2008 at 5:37 PM

it didn’t hit bush, but it hit the american flag

Reply
MM Associates

December 15, 2008 at 5:55 PM

bismillah. [by abu abdAllah]

ameen to all the duas for the protection of this journalist and his family. indeed, this act was political speech and any sovereign should reflect that while his throw was strong and his aim true, he only threw his shoes. for bombs dropped, missiles fired, a country occupied, a people divided, in return only shoes hurled. let the man go free, and let him and his family be.

@faraz, jazak Allah khayr, for the links.

@sincethestorm, the journalist was clearly in grief over what America has done to his country and people. it’s fantastic that it was caught on video and that the video was not suppressed. someone should make a video with the Mission Accomplished appearance followed by the shoe-dodge.

NYTimes story: Shoe-Hurling Iraqi Becomes a Folk Hero
By TIMOTHY WILLIAMS and SHARON OTTERMAN
The Iraqi journalist who threw shoes at President Bush has stirred up a storm of emotions across Iraq and the Arab world.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/16/world/middleeast/16shoe.html?8au&emc=au

Reply
mofw

December 15, 2008 at 5:57 PM

I must admit this is the most honorable suicide attack I have ever seen.

I call it a suicide attack because he is sure to be killed. He is a sunni while those in control of the iraqi government, especially Maliki’s body guards, are all shiite. With sectarianism aside I am sure this dude is gonna take a whole lot of heat just for the embarrassment this is going to cause them. Iraqis have been tortured to death for a lot less.

Also, did you see maliki’s face? I watched this thing in slow mo and he’s not surprised so much as he is sporting this irritated frown on his face.

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ilmsummitee

December 15, 2008 at 7:07 PM

Quick update: The journalist, Muntathir Al-Zaydee, was born in Baghdad, is 28yrs old, works for Al-Baghdadiyah local newspaper has been reported to be in custody in some prison. His colleagues described him to be a fairly quiet guy, but he was also known for his political views of opposing the occupation. His family have publically acknowledged his heroism and feel honored yet at the same time afraid of his safety and whereabouts. The previous year, he himself was kidnapped by militias.

What is funny and not so surprising, is that the American media did not show the entire video of how they struck the journalist down and roughly handled him (seemingly even hitting him and trying to silence him) while the Iraqi security tried to get all the cameras/vids to be put away. for those who understand arabic, you can hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2-4UM9OE14

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shahgul

December 15, 2008 at 8:02 PM

This is a time for all of us who have grown arrogant to fall down in sajdah and ask Allah for forgiveness. He has humilitated the man entrusted with most power on earth. He can humiliate us too. All with the flick of a hand and the sole of a shoe.

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anonymous

December 15, 2008 at 8:48 PM

http://www.facebook.com/pages/-/40778818468
become a fan?

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Amad

December 15, 2008 at 8:57 PM

this is funny
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmoN8WhRNZw

Just noticed that Maliki tried to ward off the second shoe with his hand… but really Maliki deserves that shoe even more than Bush imho

Reply
IbnAbbas

December 15, 2008 at 9:15 PM

وما رميت اذا رميت ولكن الله رمى
“And you didn’t throw when you threw but it was Allah who threw” – Surah Anfal: verse 17

:)

Reply
- shiney
  
  July 27, 2010 at 10:02 PM
  
  ASA,
  ok so the relation of the shoe-throwing incident w/ the Qur’anic ayah may be funny or even cool to some Muslims but I seriously think that negative actions done by Muslims should not be related to the Qur’an as that can be used by the non-believers as yet another way to defame Islam by saying that it is a violent religion. furthermore, to take an ayah out of context like that and try to relate it to an event out of nowhere is i think, not acceptable in islam. I don’t have much knowledge on the subject but i think it is forbidden to interpret something in the Qur’an as something else out of one’s own mind.
  
  Reply
Amad

December 15, 2008 at 9:34 PM

MOFW

I call it a suicide attack because he is sure to be killed. He is a sunni while those in control of the iraqi government, especially Maliki’s body guards, are all shiite. With sectarianism aside I am sure this dude is gonna take a whole lot of heat just for the embarrassment this is going to cause them. Iraqis have been tortured to death for a lot less.

MOFW, u got that wrong dude. “Luckily” for him (unluckily for his akhira), he is not a sunni, he is Shi’a. Otherwise the Shiite Republic of Iraq would have hung him off the nearest pole. So now, the lunatic murderer Muqtada Sadr, can secure the release of this man and become even more popular. On a tangent, what I don’t get is that if Saddam was so ruthless with shias, how come these cult-leaders such as muqtada survive Saddam’s rule??

[source]

Reply
DrM

December 15, 2008 at 11:01 PM

The shoes heard around the world……….

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Yusuf

December 15, 2008 at 11:08 PM

@Ibn Abbas: That quoted Ayah from Surat al-Anfal was classic. Great timing.

Reply
MM Associates

December 16, 2008 at 12:33 AM

bismillah. [observation by abu abdAllah]

@ibn abbas and yusuf: i agree with the enthusiasm. but not so much with the use of the ayat: Allah never misses, and His Punishment can never be ducked. but maybe you did not mean the shoes themselves: the ignominy of being the target of so much emotional outrage did hit home.

Reply
mudsir

December 16, 2008 at 10:08 AM

Well just like how Muslims were enthusiastic about the Revolution in Iran initially but later realized that that the Iranian revolution had done more harm to the Ummah than any good due to the establishment of the Shia regime in Iran. This is going to be another attempt by the Shias to lure Muslims into shiaism.

Reply
hassan

December 16, 2008 at 10:11 AM

http://www.kroma.no/2008/bushgame/

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Hassan

December 16, 2008 at 11:16 AM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7785338.stm

Reply
To Mudsir

December 16, 2008 at 11:49 AM

To Mudsir,

How do you know this is going to benefit Shiaism ?

Why do you think we have Shaytan?

Why does Allah SWT puts us in trials?

Why does He SWT sends catastrophies on the people/communities where evil becomes more prevelent than good?

If you find answers to these according to Quran and Sunnah, you will understand whats happening around you.

ma salaam

Reply
FreeZaidi yahoo group

December 16, 2008 at 12:43 PM

As Salamalaikom,

Please join the group and help in raising a colected voice for the release of our symbolic hero ZAIDI.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FreeZaidi/

Jazakallah.

Reply
Hidaya

December 16, 2008 at 2:36 PM

Thanks for the link for the show game, I was able to hit him several times =)

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Valerie

December 16, 2008 at 11:31 PM

My only regret is that he didn’t hit Bush with the shoes and knock his psycho ass out!

Reply
Cindy Sheehan

December 16, 2008 at 11:51 PM

Watch the Bush policies unfold in Afghanistan. We need peace not wars.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/16/afghanistan-taliban-us-foreign-policy

Reply
sacbutteredtoast

December 17, 2008 at 12:00 AM

http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2008/12/bush-shoe-toss.html

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mudsir

December 17, 2008 at 1:31 AM

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Man_applauds_shoe-ing_of_Bush_held/articleshow/3849038.cms

Reply
Saad

December 17, 2008 at 10:40 AM

Should have also thrown shoes at the “American” Muslim sheikhs/types who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Bush after 9/11 and who stood, clapped, and cheered when Bush said “You are either with us or against us”.

Reply
mudsir

December 17, 2008 at 12:34 PM

@Saad

Yes from now onwards this has to become our standard reaction.

We don’t agree with this sheikh and that and start throwing shoes at everyone we disagree with.

So muslims will at least come out of the terrorist tag and get the shoe throwers tag.

Yes, I can see how the media will play this out to put this tag on Muslims. They will say that all muslims are not shoe throwers but all shoe throwers are Muslims.

Yes the Ummah and all the Shaikhs should encourage throwing shoes from now onwards.

Well I can see a series of lectures on the benefit of shoe throwing.

Yes teach your children to throw shoes at an early age. And keep these shoe throwers in our duas.

May Allah (swt) protect the shoe throwers.

Reply
Abu Ayesha Al Emarati

December 17, 2008 at 1:51 PM

Assalaamualikum

I do not understand why my comments were deleted.

All I did was express a concern for Brother Anwar Al Awlaki’s views on this matter.

The fact is, many young Muslims consider him to be an ”Imam” and a teacher which he is. This is exactly what makes his approval of the ”shoe-throwing” journalist rather disturbing

Why praise an act that is contrary to the principles established by Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah? Does no one on here see how actions like this serve little to enhance the standing of the Ummah or to help the condition of the Muslims? Infact, the journalist has only brought fitnah upon himself (and probably is family) through his actions.

Anyway, I hope this comment will not be deleted like the previous one and that it will only lend some perspective to the outright praise that has so far been expressed on here.

Wassalaam

Abu Ayesha

Reply
- shiney
  
  July 27, 2010 at 10:29 PM
  
  i never read Imam Awlaki’s comment (i’ve been looking for it, though) but i agree with you. Many young Muslims (including me) laughed at this incident but it is certainly not the way of the Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah. The Prophet (SAW) never resorted to violence (even if it be minor) so why should we? So overall, I agree w/ what you’re saying.
  
  Reply
Abdullah

December 17, 2008 at 3:04 PM

Asalamualikum,

I thought Muslims were just in their criticism and dealings. However, i am disappointed to see unwanted and unjust critisism of SHEIKH Anwar al awlaki by brother Abu Ayesha. His(SHeikh Anwar) views are in accordance with quran and sunnah. The logic of human being doesn’t supercede the logic of Allah swt. If you have daleel from quran and sunnah that proves the criticism of Sheikh Anwar is not in accordance with quran and suinnah then we will definitely let the sheikh know.

Unneccessary, raving and ranting and trying to assassinate the character of sheikh Anwar is not helping because the honour is not in the hands of mere human being, it is in the hands of Allah swt. Allah swt humiliates the lowly and protects the believers from humiliation.
He has inspired and continues to inspire many youth to islam who otherwise might end-up in local pubs(not denying the guidance is from Allah swt). We ask Allah swt to honor him and to protect him from any harm and instill justice in the hearts of the believers..Ameen

@ADMIN, Please be just and don’t delete the comment

Wa Salam

Reply
Yusuf

December 17, 2008 at 3:27 PM

@ Abu Aleya:

All I did was express a concern for Brother Anwar Al Awlaki’s views on this matter.

You’re kidding, right?

Why praise an act that is contrary to the principles established by Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah? Does no one on here see how actions like this serve little to enhance the standing of the Ummah or to help the condition of the Muslims? Infact, the..

Ah yes, the Sunnah. Then let me ask you this:

Did you send Imam Anwar a private email via his personal blog expressing your concerns? Or did you instead choose to “advise him” using a community platform like this blog? You do realize that even mundane adab dictates us to advise a brother in confidence, don’t you?

Maybe you don’t.

“I was sent for the perfection of manners.” Prophet Muhammad صل الله عليه وسلّم

Reply
mofw

December 17, 2008 at 3:39 PM

abu ayesha,

I don’t know why people see throwing shoes at Bush to be curious behavior. If anything it should be the norm. This journalist’s actions have been praised globally. As a matter of fact the only negative comments I have heard about this guy is that he missed.

If more people had thrown shoes at Bush, I am sure that many lives and much suffering could have been avoided.

Perhaps you would have preferred that our hero would have been content with shoveling Bush’s arrogant lies into a pail and splattering them all over some newspaper. Perhaps that would be in keeping with the “principles established by Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah.”

Let me remind you that Bush is not your run of the mill Muslim hater, but rather, he is a man responsible for the massacre of literally millions of Muslims in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Somalia and Pakistan. He is responsible for the wrongful imprisonment and torture of thousands.

Criminals like this are normally tried for their crimes and if found guilty, executed. Remember Saddam?

It’s funny because I don’t ever seeing you saying those words in public. Perhaps you too would get a vigorious shoe-ing.

Viva la resistance!

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mofw

December 17, 2008 at 3:43 PM

btw have you read Imam Anwar’s article: “Muslim for the sake of the Disbelievers?” It would be very instructive in this, our current farce of a discussion.

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Amad

December 17, 2008 at 3:56 PM

Let’s move on, and not make this post about Al-Awlaki.

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Abu Ayesha Al Emarati

December 17, 2008 at 4:51 PM

Yusuf

How do you know I haven’t advised the brother in confidence?

Do you even know me or my relationship with Al Awlaki?

SubhaanAllah; quick to judge and slow to husn ad dhun.

Anwar al Awlaki is man enough and strong enough (MashaAllah) to answer my concerns by himself without you having to rush to his defence. Defend the manhaj akhi, not personalities.

The moment any individual assumes the mantle of guide, teacher, Imam, scholar his or her speech or writings is not like the speech and writing of the masses like you and I. The words of these people take on a special significance since the influence they have is great. The fact is that a great many people will make Taqlid of scholars and the mistakes of the scholars will become mistakes of the people.

Imam Anwar Al Awlaki posted his article on a public forum. Why should comments on the article not be in public as well?

Do not be reactionary. There is a tendency nowdays to exercise extreme laxity in views as a reaction to the harshness and rigidness of the ”super salafis” of the early to mid 2000s.

Anyways, akhi, my comments are not meant to cause fitnah. They are meant to temper views and attitudes InshaAllah.

Wassalaam

Abu A

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Mohammed

December 17, 2008 at 5:10 PM

Salam Brothers,

To Brother Amad,

We need to respect our elders and scholars so it will be better if you will add Imam or Shaik instead of plain Awlaki. JazakAllah. No Offense please.

Shoe Throwing Game

http://www.sockandawe.com

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Amad

December 17, 2008 at 5:23 PM

The best thing to do, Abu Ayesha, is to post your comments and your concerns on the post that you take issue with, because the post here did not have anything to do really with him, someone just posted the presence of a post on this subject (like the many other links people posted).

Mohammed, jak for the advice.

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abu isa

December 17, 2008 at 5:24 PM

although i salute the news reporter who threw the shoe, i must say that anwar al-awlaki has turned into a raving lunatic. he should be silenced. now he is working for tibyan publications, who support al-qaeda and say it is ok to target women and children, break covenants, etc.

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mudsir

December 17, 2008 at 8:29 PM

What I don’t like about Anwar al awlaki and brothers like him is that they are very quick to judge. For them either you are with them and agree with their extreme views or you are a RAND muslim which is in effect for them a non-muslim. They do not tolerate other opinions, and in fact are against the major scholars and the government of Saudi Arabia. Last time I posted a comment in Brother Awlaki’s site, it was deleted.

Labelling anyone is to be done by their creator that is Allah(swt) only and not by human beings. We speak against terrorism not because we are afraid of disbelievers and want to please them but because we being Muslims are against the indiscriminate killing of innocent human beings, women, and children. Now if some mere mortal thinks that I am a RAND muslim or whatever I should not really care. But it really hurts me when a fellow believer whom I love labels me.

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mofw

December 17, 2008 at 10:38 PM

I always cringe when someone says “manhaj.”

Anyway, time to maybe close the comments on the post, eh?

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mofw

December 18, 2008 at 2:19 AM

update: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7785338.stm

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mohammed

December 18, 2008 at 3:26 AM

Salam brothers,

To brother Mudsir,

Brother you need to let us know what Imam Anwar said wrong with evidence. You cannot just backbite about him here. Remember the saying of our leader, role model, Habeeballah Mohammed (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) about backbiting? So you are not happy because he is against Saudi Government? Once Ameer al Mumineen, Umar Al Khattab, during his khilafa, asked the sahaba what will they do if he goes against shariah and the rule of Allah, one sahabi said they will correct Umar Al Khattab with their sword. He said I am happy that people like you exist.

Now coming to our saudi government, can you raise your voice and tell them that your people are living in worst conditions in villages like wadi dawasir, kharj etc and th royal family wasting money in casinos, palaces etc. They are not forbidding evil rather promoting things that will bring wrath of Allah. They are not caring for muslims in palestine, and other places. They not even providing food for the hungry muslims in several parts of the world and gathering wealth. IS THIS NOT A GOOD REASON ISLAMICALLY TO OPPOSE THEM?

Major scholars? Whom are we referring here? Listen my brother, every nation hated people who spoke the truth. Imam Anwar awlaki speaks the truth Alhamdulillah giving evidences from quran and hadith. You cannot deny the ahadith. If you can then bring your proofs.

Our shoyookh here can correct me if I am wrong. Please no backbiting and I am correcting you here since you brought it here. May Allah reward you and me and unite muslims. Our main aim should be to please Allah. Look at the intentions of the brother and if he is judging then look at his daleel. If you do not agree then contact him instead of backbiting here.

Jazakallah Khair

Brother Amad, Jak means Jazakallah Allah Khair right? lol…I was trying to figure out at first what does “mohammed Jak” means.

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mudsir

December 18, 2008 at 6:07 AM

Salam brothers,

To brother mohammed,

Brother I thought I made myself clear.
As far as backbiting is concerned can you please stop backbiting against your brothers in the Saudi government. Has Brother Awlaki and you advised the SAudi government or just trying to incite the masses against a government that is governing by the sharia. They may be bad but by revolting against them an even evil scenario will result as seen in Iraq, Iran, and Pakistan where even though Muslims are in the majority there is no Sharia.

So you are not happy about the Saudi Government? Go to Saudi and advice them. You cannot just backbite about them here or in any lectures where they have no oppurtunity to clarify themselves against things which you have said which might be true or may be lies.

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Khan..

December 18, 2008 at 7:23 AM

Asslamo alaikum…

i think Bush deserve that kind of polished kisses in dozens daily ….

wasalam

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Khan..

December 18, 2008 at 7:28 AM

Brother mudsi and Brother Muhammad …

constructive criticism is a good thing but we should not blame each other and let not waste our words and time to prove some one wrong or right , the best thing is we should share our views in best manners .. we are not judge.. i think Allah knows every thing more than us.. hope we should not spoil the taste of sharing words with blaming each other…

Regards

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Abu Ayesha Al Emarati

December 18, 2008 at 9:56 AM

Okay, I started this and I must try and stop this.

As brother Amad pointed out I was wrong to take exception to Imam Al Awlaki’s post on this forum.

Please Ikhwaan, lets stop debating this particular point here and lets direct our comments to the proper channel.

Once again, apologies to everyone for the distraction I created.

Wassalaam

Abu A

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mohammed

December 18, 2008 at 11:19 AM

Salam Brothers,

No more debate from my part after this….

Brother mudsir, dont take it personal. May Allah reward you. I am not trying to blame anyone nor incite anyone. Let me clear few points here. Saudi government is not ruling by sharia since there is no kingship in shariah. There is only one king (malik) that is Allah. About correcting them, they will beat the hell out of us if we try to correct them. They will put us in jail and they did. They did put several people in jail for just trying to correct them. Yes we tried advising them several times and got beaten up. May Allah give us more knowledge. It will be great if any scholar here at MM can post about Backbiting. We would love to know what is allowed and what is not regarding backbiting.

End from my side and no hard feeling.

Jazakallah Khair

wa salam ala man tabaa al huda

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Yasir Qadhi

December 18, 2008 at 3:47 PM

Humor at its best:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/17/opinion/17kenney.html?_r=1&em

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mofw

December 18, 2008 at 5:08 PM

wow … i haven’t been to the nytimes in ages! Down with corporate media.

Sadly, Sh. Yasir, as enjoyable as this article was, I doubt most of the NY times readers will get it. They will probably even take the whole thing literally.

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Yusuf

December 18, 2008 at 5:17 PM

i haven’t been to the nytimes in ages! Down with corporate media.

Very true. In this day and age, we are almost always better off getting news from the internet than television – and from independent blogs than corporate news sites (aka mainstream media outlets) that serve a vested agenda.

The past few years testify to that.

Mainstream media, by the way, ultimately changes their tone and catches up – when it’s convenient later on.

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mulsimah

December 18, 2008 at 7:24 PM

so in Egypt a man was so awestruck by what the man did he offered his daughter in marriage.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article5360397.ece

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mulsimah

December 19, 2008 at 10:39 AM

salaam
well he seems to be getting more proposals. (last paragraph in this latest update:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28309544

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Cookies

December 19, 2008 at 10:51 AM

I hear he’s asking for pardon?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28295066/

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Algebra

December 19, 2008 at 11:27 AM

Aslamu-alaikum:
I hear its a forgery http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28309544/
salam

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Ibn fellah

December 19, 2008 at 1:24 PM

http://sockandawe.com/

:)

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Lucy

December 20, 2008 at 10:30 AM

this is so funny i love that guy

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muslimah

December 20, 2008 at 11:41 AM

http://www.kroma.no/2008/bushgame/

good luck ;)

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Abdullah

December 20, 2008 at 12:22 PM

Asalamualikum,

Help Needed, Brothers/sieters!!!!

Can anyone find me an article by Sheikh Abu Mohamad Al maqdisi called ” The dogs are barking and the caravan is moving…”?

Much Appreciated

Wa Salam

Abu Dharaar.

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mofw

December 20, 2008 at 5:55 PM

here you go abdullah

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MM Associates

December 21, 2008 at 1:05 AM

bismillah. maybe we should rename this MM article: “Journalist Throws Shoes, George Bush Ducks, and Iraq Rises.”

The demonstration, which began early Friday, continued the theme of presenting Mr. Zaidi, a Shiite television journalist, as a unifier of a fractured nation.

Signs pictured Mr. Zaidi, 29, in a traditional white Arab headdress, not commonly seen in Baghdad, proclaiming him in Arabic as “the son of Iraq” and “the humiliator of the occupiers.”

At lunchtime, a group from the largely Sunni city of Samarra joined the mostly Shiite crowd in an unusual gesture of sectarian unity. The groups sat together on the park’s patchy grass, sharing large plates of rice, raisins and lamb.

A few of the soldiers also ate the food offered them, although they stayed close to their military vehicles.

excerpted from the end of this NYTimes story

[comment by abu abdAllah]

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MM Associates

December 21, 2008 at 1:09 AM

bismillah. [abu abdAllah]

http://muslimmatters.org/2008/12/15/iraqi-journalist-throws-shoes-at-george-bush-misses/#comment-34568
mashaAllah, mofw, that site is hilarious! i smiled so much… :)

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cobbler

December 21, 2008 at 3:59 PM

buy my shoes… good business sense or ugly profiteering?

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MM

December 21, 2008 at 7:32 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rToKEnySb7s

BUSH other top 10

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coffee fiend

December 26, 2008 at 4:42 PM

these shoe throwing games are too funny

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abu abdAllah Tariq Ahmed

March 12, 2009 at 5:25 PM

bismillah was salamu alaykum, if the sentence is carried out, may Allah guide and reward this brother and his family for every day of it, and curse his imprisoners and the target of his shoes, too, for every minute of it.

http://wire.antiwar.com/2009/03/12/iraq-shoe-thrower-sentenced-to-three-years-in-jail/

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Sister: No Non-sense please!

March 12, 2009 at 11:44 PM

I can never get enough laughs out of this. An absolutely amazing video!

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