Terrorism

American Muslims Make Video to Rebut Militants

Published

August 3, 2010

Ify Okoye

By Lauri Goodstein of the NY Times:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IofpsHOosE]

NY Times Article:

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A recent spate of arrests of Muslims accused of terrorism in the United States has revealed that many of them were radicalized by militant preaching they found on the Internet.

Now nine influential American Muslim scholars have come together in a YouTube video to repudiate the militants’ message. The nine represent a diversity of theological schools within Islam, and several of them have large followings among American Muslim youths.

The video is one indication that American Muslim leaders are increasingly engaging the war of ideas being waged within Islam.

“We need to shepherd our own flock and to say that, theologically, these things are unacceptable,” said Imam Suhaib Webb, the educational director for the Muslim American Society, a grass-roots group in Santa Clara, Calif., who is among the nine in the video. “The Prophet Muhammad, when on the battlefield, saw that amongst the enemy there were innocent women and children killed, and he was openly angry. He is prohibiting us from killing the innocent. It is very clear.”

Mr. Webb said in an interview on Friday that as a white convert from Oklahoma, he had become deeply alarmed in the past year at the number of converts who had been arrested on charges of planning or carrying out violence in the name of Islam.

In July alone, one American convert in Virginia and another in Alaska who were arrested and accused of having ties to terrorism were both said to have been influenced by Anwar al-Awlaki, an American-born militant cleric now hiding in Yemen who maintains an active Web site.

Ihsan Bagby, an associate professor of Islamic studies at the University of Kentucky, who is also in the video, said, “We’re hoping that that loner out there who, because of internal turmoil, starts listening to the wrong people, that this message also filters into his ear.”

Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, director of the Center for the Study of Terrorist Radicalization at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said of the video: “It can be a powerful outlet. It is the kind of thing that, formatwise, is matching what’s being done by the jihadist groups.”

He said that some of the scholars in the video were politically controversial but had credibility among many Muslims because they were not seen as “sell-outs.”

“Some would argue that they might be more effective than those perceived as more establishment figures,” said Mr. Gartenstein-Ross, the author of “My Year Inside Radical Islam.”

Among the nine are several converts to Islam who are popular because they are steeped in both American culture and Islamic scholarship. They include Sheik Hamza Yusuf and Imam Zaid Shakir, scholars who have founded Zaytuna College, an Islamic seminary in Hayward, Calif.

The video, which is about five and a half minutes long, opens with ominous music, like that used in some of the jihadists’ propaganda videos, and the words “Believers Beware: Injustice Cannot Defeat Injustice.”

“Many people are saying that there are so many issues of injustice taking place around the world,” Imam Mohamed Magid, leader of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society, a mosque in Virginia, says in the video. “That is true, we acknowledge the injustice taking place around the world. But we believe there is a way to address the injustice — not by taking innocent people’s lives.”

Edina Lekovic, director of policy and programming for the Muslim Public Affairs Council, the advocacy group that produced the video, said they intentionally chose scholars who represent a diversity of theological streams.

“We didn’t want to just target the liberals or the conservatives or ultraconservatives,” Ms. Lekovic said. “The point was to show that no matter where you stand on the religious spectrum, we all have a shared belief and shared outrage by the events that are taking place.”

She said the only criticism the council had received was that there were no female scholars in the video — a fact she attributed to scheduling problems. She said the council expected to make another video that would include women. The group is also preparing another version, without the music, for Muslims who consider music haram, or forbidden.

Mr. Magid said in an interview: “This is the beginning of a greater effort. Imams have to be virtual imams, answering questions on the Web, having blogs. We have to have open discussions for youths to talk about what is frustrating them.”

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Ify Okoye

Ify Okoye is a Muslim woman, a convert, born and raised in the U.S. She is from New York and her parents are from Nigeria. Despite the petty hassles of work and school, Ify finds time to travel usually for AlMaghrib Institute seminars and to visit beautiful places. Pronunciation primer for her name, say it like this: E-fee O-coy-yeah!

66 Comments

broAhmed

August 3, 2010 at 11:01 AM

I was glad to see our scholars get together for this! Some constructive criticism: the music is overwhelmingly loud in certain areas and drowns out the speaker. I’d love for them to take out the music entirely so the words of the scholars are allowed to stand on their own, but I hope the creators can at least tone it down.

Reply
AsimG

August 3, 2010 at 12:49 PM

The music was really distracting and unnecessary. I’m glad they are making a non-music one

Reply
Hajera

August 3, 2010 at 2:17 PM

This is awesome! May Allah (swt) bless their efforts.

Reply
Atif

August 4, 2010 at 1:05 PM

Although the video makes good points, I kinda have to question the effectiveness of it. Don’t you think this video is kind of “preaching to the choir”? People who follow the scholars in the video most likely already have a non-militant stance.
The problem with radical militants is that they are very selective when it comes to religious authority. I would think that they don’t consider most, if not, all of the scholars in the video to be religious authorities, especially in the field of Jihad.

Reply
hussain

August 4, 2010 at 2:43 PM

Sadly, this was really disappointing, I would like to see a similar video against the American government and its sponsorship of state funded terrorism by Israel, it seems to me many of these individuals who speak on behalf of the Ummah really bend their backs to please the status quo.

Reply
- Ify Okoye
  
  August 5, 2010 at 11:30 AM
  
  Why “really disappointing?” It’s important to not let our dislike of one situation blind us to other injustices. Why only mention the situation in Israel when there are so many other injustices around the world? Does it mean you only care about one issue and not the others? We should stand against injustice regardless of the situation, country, individual, or our own personal biases.
  
  Reply
  - Injamul
    
    October 3, 2010 at 10:59 AM
    
    I agree with Br. Hussein. As decent human being, we cannot let the Death of Muslims go by.
    Muslims blood is more sacred than the Kabah. Muslims went to a Battle bercause of humiliation of one Muslim. They took oath under the tree to avenge the death of Uthman. All of this happened for a reason.
    Why isn’t a single scholar speaking out for the ones who dies in the hands of America every single day? Why is it that non-Muslims like Norman finkelstein, George Galloway, Noam Chomsky have to defend the Muslims from the attacks of the Non-Muslims.
    
    You are right…Why should you care about one injustice and not the other?
    This video focuses on the Injustice done by “Radicals”. So why not condemn the other party in the same video or in a different video?
    
    The Radicals only came to be known after the US started bombarding Islam. Do you know the situation they grew up in? Do you know how many relatives of theirs were killed by foreign fighters? Do you care for the mother who let her children do these stuff? Do you consider them innocent? Do you really think they want to kill their own people or kill the non-muslims? Who created this Problem: the radical or America?
    
    There are Radicals I would agree. such as in Iraq. But it was almost unheard of before the Invasion of Iraq by US.
    
    Since they are radicals, are the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and elsewhere, justified? Are the killings of innocent Muslims by non-Muslims justified because there might be radical within them??
    
    Stop helping America in their own game.
    
    Reply
- Abu Zakariyya
  
  August 19, 2010 at 8:52 AM
  
  on point brother hussain, why the whole anti terror video almost 10 years after 9/11. Where are videos from these “scholars” condemning American atrocities across the globe?
  
  Reply
  - Adam
    
    August 22, 2010 at 5:20 PM
    
    exactly what hussain said, I also agree with Ify to an extent yes we shouldn’t let ” not let our dislike of one situation blind us to other injustices” . Having said that, the injsutices against muslims are far greater, I’m not saying no other group of people is being oppressed, just that some muslim scholars have become too soft. Ask them about whats happening in Iraq, Palestine and Afghanistan and they’re quick to point out that the prophet hated the killing of innocent women and children (which I totaly agree with), but never speak about our duty as muslims to totally denounce the govern,ments responsible for this terrorism and take them as a nenemy simple. I’m not talking about the general public, just the government and their armies, and any one else in cahoots with them.
    
    Muslims should have our enemies out in black and white.
    The illegal State of Israel
    The US Governent
    The EU…..etc…etc…
    
    Reply
- fais
  
  September 27, 2010 at 3:56 PM
  
  hey hussain, pass the buck over here, i’m open
  
  Reply
Amjhad

August 4, 2010 at 4:49 PM

May Allaah reward u hussain. u are right.

May Allaah give us true Scholars who speak Against all forms of injustices! not As br shuhaib webb say ” my beloved country” meaning America.
Ya Allaah give us ulaamah who do not fear the blame of the Blamer!
Ameen

Reply
- sister
  
  August 4, 2010 at 10:14 PM
  
  Whats wrong to love a country where one is born? America is a land of Allah, just like all land of this world. Its the crooked system that is injustice. I don’t think the scholar meant to support any injustice, this video is against injustice, oppression, terrorism…And these filthy action can be done by any person, politician, state or system. Don’t put the entire America in a pot and blame the country!! Please don’t jump to conclusion like that and judge our scholars. They are only intending to do good and warn us.
  
  Its the heart that is pure always thinks pure and good of others…. May Allah Guide us all. Ameen
  
  ma salaama
  
  Reply
  - Kashif H
    
    August 5, 2010 at 10:17 PM
    
    Given the spate of recent arrests and the helplessness that Muslim youths feel while watching current events unfold in the Muslim World it is inevitible that some would react and try to do something, anything which seemed (in their minds at least) to make a difference.
    
    I don’t doubt the necessity of having to make a video warning Muslim youth against this given all this. However the others who have commented against this do make a valid point:
    
    1. There is a slave minded and groveling tone apparent in this, most especially in Suhaib Webb’s words and insinuations. Someone needs to inform this individual that nationalism and patriotism don’t have any basis in Islam (even if you are White and born and raised in the promised land of America):
    
    Prohibition of Nationalism in Islam
    
    2. To talk about one injustice (of nihilistic disorganized and ineffective jihadist violence) without talking about its antecedent root cause (political oppression financed and directed by the imperial nature of U.S. policies) is itself an injustice. Even kuffar who have an understanding of political events have pointed this out, most especially former CIA analyst Michael Scheur who wrote about this on his blog here (after the Times Square bomber):
    
    “Sadly, the negative impact of U.S. foreign policy in the Muslim world is creating Islamist enemies for America at home and abroad far faster than they can be identified, let alone destroyed. Before this day is through, you can bet on two things: (1) the politicians will be on TV telling Americans that if the car bomb is the work of Islamists, it demonstrates they hate our freedoms and liberties; and (2) Washington will receive expressions of sympathy and offers of forensic help from Israel. Both will be aimed at inoculating Americans from anyone who suggests the truth: that the would-be attackers â€” if Islamists â€” are motivated by the U.S. governmentâ€™s relentless interventionism in the Muslim world, not by the lifestyle and political philosophy of Americans. In short, the politicians will try to make sure Americans stay ignorant of interventionâ€™s cost, and unaware that intervention is bringing war to their cities and streets.”
    
    In short, it is NOT a policing issue, but a political one. It does not matter how many videos the U.S. govt. pays and praises these “scholars” to put out, if you don’t remove the political cause of the injustice you will not remove the effect it is having on Muslim youth in America and the world over.
    
    Reply
  - Injamul
    
    October 3, 2010 at 11:07 AM
    
    I dont have problem with the land. I have problems with America. and you should too for all they did to raise this nation.
    it took them 200 years to realize taht slavery of that sort is wrong. IT took them another 100 years to think racism is wrong? They killed millions of Natives to get this land. Their ancestor (england) was even worse. Why am I talking about their past? because thats what America represents.
    
    American govt. represents the People . They are paing their tax, which are going to countries, that are warring against its people.
    I dont have to go further.
    
    I cant waste my time pointing at our mistake.
    
    Reply
- Ify Okoye
  
  August 5, 2010 at 11:24 AM
  
  May Allah give us followers worthy of such good leadership. I am reminded of the incident in the time of Ali ibn Abi Talib when some people criticized him by saying things were better under the other khulafa. His response was beautiful, “At the time of Abu Bakr and Umar and Uthman, they had followers like me, but as for me, I have followers like you”. (paraphrased)
  
  In our time, most of us have not even striven to study or learn our deen to a tenth that those we criticize have…Ali has another quote about such people, which seems to describe a definite trend visible in our times which the people of knowledge have begun to speak out against.
  
  Reply
  - Anonymous
    
    August 5, 2010 at 2:23 PM
    
    ^ Completely agree. Another problem is the lack of analysis by most of these criticizers. I don’t know about other scholars but yasir Qadhi has criticized american policy at numerous occasion. Every lecture, every video has a purpose, you cant expect them to go on radomly ranting and criticizing every single type of injustice that is taking place all over the world at one place in one video.
    
    I loved the story of Ali r.a and thanks for sharing.
    
    Reply
Mohammad Islam Hussain

August 5, 2010 at 1:09 AM

But we can talk about policy of injustice, action of ruthless dominance and supporting one sided Zionist policy in the same sentence. This is unfortunate

Reply
Hudhaifa

August 5, 2010 at 2:27 AM

“Many people are saying that there are so many issues of injustice taking place around the world,â€ Imam Mohamed Magid, leader of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society, a mosque in Virginia, says in the video. â€œThat is true, we acknowledge the injustice taking place around the world”

so wheres your videos on the greater injustices???

Reply
- Ify Okoye
  
  August 5, 2010 at 11:12 AM
  
  Hudhaifa, this is such a common argument but I don’t think it holds much water. We all speak about justice or injustice selectively, one does not have to mention every single injustice everywhere for an argument to be valid. It is only natural that imams, Islamic activists, and da’ees will focus more on the area where they have the most expertise or influence i.e. religious matters while a politician will focus on political matters and a healthcare practitioner on medical issues, which doesn’t mean they are not concerned about abuse or injustice elsewhere.
  
  Reply
  - Anonymous
    
    August 5, 2010 at 2:25 PM
    
    ^ Exactly!!
    
    Reply
Guest

August 5, 2010 at 2:36 AM

All talk but no cigar.

Reply
- Ify Okoye
  
  August 5, 2010 at 11:06 AM
  
  What would the cigar be that you are looking for, Guest?
  
  Reply
Abdus Salam

August 5, 2010 at 11:39 AM

<>

I guess these kinds of comments are never going to end. It’s almost as if people think it’s a righteous act to simply talk about these injustices. What have you done to help the Palestinians or the Iraqis or whoever else? And if you are going to side with those who bomb indiscriminately, I hope you realize that all that you are doing is giving excuses for Western to kill scores of people. What happened after 9/11? Afghanistan virtually got eliminated.

Bottom line: Trash talking is easy, but maybe you should go ahead and do something about the injustices. The scholars here have made this video because they believe that they have some control over what happens here. What sense would it make to make a video that simply lambasted Western governments for attacking Muslim countries? Will that change anything?

Finally, as you probably know if you have been reading the news, many, many Muslims have been killing other Muslims. Where is your condemnation of that?

Reply
- Injamul
  
  October 3, 2010 at 11:11 AM
  
  A Muslim cannot kill a Muslim. It’s impossible. You know why?
  Prophet SA said, “abusing a Muslim is disbelief. Killing him is Kufr.” Bukhari.
  
  Reply
Kwame Madden

August 6, 2010 at 12:15 AM

I applaud the brothers efforts in trying to curb some of insensate some muslims have and are willing to carry out..But also like to see a video codemming torture and supermmax prisions housing many muslims.Example Florence ,Colorado were Imam Jamil Al-Amin and Dr.Mutulu Sukur are held at ,There are muslims who have been swept in the past several yrs.under the war terror incarenated there.There are over sixty supermax prisions.Unfortenly we are naive as a community to the realities of the inhuman treatment that is occuring to muslims and nonmuslims in these torture chambers.These issues we just gloss over and pretend they will dissappear.Many of the old poltical prisoners in this country are now in there 60’s and in many cases are sick.One brother Mohaman Koti is 82 yrs.old .His health is failing him he suffers from grave diseae.His captors acourse make sure he receives the least medical attention.Please cheak out http://www.projectsalam.org,jericomovement free poltical prisoners,In the last few wks.the right wing has stepped up there hate and bigotry aganist muslims in America.We must be proactive and take a stand as a ummah here in North america.This quran burning that going take place in Florida is not seperate from the tea party exetremists,It is same crew with just diffrent name.May Allah giude us all and protect the muslims ummah!

Reply
Farhan

August 6, 2010 at 7:42 AM

Imam Magid, Imam of my masjid, reppin’ us mainstreamers! May Allah bless him!
I love that guy ma sha Allah, he’s like a giant Sudani teddy bear.

Reply
- Abu Zakariyya
  
  August 19, 2010 at 8:55 AM
  
  Sorry, but muslims in America are not mainstream rather muslims IN muslim countries who suffer from the injustice of the West are the mainstream.
  
  Reply
  - Mozlem
    
    September 5, 2010 at 2:52 AM
    
    So you’ve got to be living in a muslim country and suffering from injustice to be mainstream? Whatever.
    
    Reply
    - Amad
      
      September 5, 2010 at 5:09 AM
      
      lol
      
      Reply
Jumaat Sulaiman

August 12, 2010 at 1:23 PM

Alhamdullillah, it is about time that we have a response to extremists baiting our youths. Look forward to other versions that are in the making. Iman Magid is also my Imam. We love him!

Reply
Mombeam

August 12, 2010 at 11:05 PM

My two bits of constructive criticism:

1) Dr. Jamal Badawi was looking down too much at the paper he was reading from. It really took away from the serious-looking-you-straight-in-the-eye-look that the other brothers had. He either should have memorized or should have read from something behind the camera.

2) I would have liked to see Siraj Wahhaj with a powerful, loud ending to this, engineered with echoes and stuff. It really needed a more powerful, sticking, dramatic ending and he might have done the trick.

Reply
Umm Talhah

August 16, 2010 at 7:30 PM

May Allah awj aid the believers and bring back the khilafah and remove the diseases of the ummah. Ya Allah send us heroes who will defend this religion and who will help establish your shariah. Allahuma ameen

:” …”Our Lord! Rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from thee one who will protect; and raise for us from thee one who will help!””” ayah 75: an nisa

Reply
- Muslimah
  
  September 24, 2010 at 8:02 AM
  
  ameen
  
  Reply
Jason

August 19, 2010 at 5:06 AM

Have these imams given fatwa to make jihad against America and American forces haram throughout the world? If they are patriotic Americans they have to give make sure they do every thing to stop jihadi militants to attack our forces.

It is good to see that there are muslims who hate violent jihad and are willing to reform and give up the more radicalinterpretations of the Quran and interpret them more metaphorically with newer more modern meanings just the way the bible is now interpreted. I appreciate you muslim matters.

Reply
- Siraaj
  
  August 19, 2010 at 11:16 AM
  
  Hi Jason,
  
  The interpretation of the Qur’aan doesn’t change to suit our tastes, it’s interpreted according to what we believe was intended by God – that’s the essence of faith in God, that you believe He’s sent you Revelation, detailing the manner in which He wants you to obey and worship Him and become a person of virtue.
  
  The video you see above is not a result of re-interpretation – it’s the result of reading from the texts as they were intended and practiced for the past 1400 years. The danger of strange, new interpretations that we’ve seen originate from two sources – one, from the groups targeting innocents as part of warfare, and two, from anti-Muslim bigots who twist history and take quotes out of context from the divine texts and present group one as having represented a literal interpretation of the texts that was practiced by the first generation of muslims.
  
  Siraaj
  
  Reply
- To Jason
  
  August 23, 2010 at 1:46 AM
  
  Jason,
  so what you want is the people of Iraq and Afghanistan to lay down their arms ?
  May be you should try to change your radical extremist political ideology that repeatedly causes you country to fight wars in lands seas away from your border
  
  Reply
  - fais
    
    September 27, 2010 at 4:07 PM
    
    this is all i understood from “to”jason’s” message… “no fair, your country fights war dirty, you’re cheating!…BOT! AIMHACK!” . you should complain about ping next and then rage quit…
    
    Reply
Hamza Muhammad

September 1, 2010 at 5:40 AM

Rabbana la ta zigh qulubana ba’da iz hadaitana wahab lana inna ka antal wahab

Reply
Bint Ibrahim

September 2, 2010 at 4:06 PM

One question: Are all the recent arrests of Muslims in America, both in 2009 and 2010, examples of Muslim extremists and militants [not sure what this even means!]? Is there no such thing called an FBI entrapment?

I don’t understand why we have non-Muslims who advocate for the Muslim prisoners in Guantanamo bay and in the prisons here in the US. But we can’t have a video like the one above for even one of our brothers or sisters who’re being oppressed by adh-dhalimeen.

I honestly do not care if MM chooses to have vids like this. My concern is why the same isn’t being done for our oppressed brethren right here in US. I’ve seen a few articles on the case of Aafia Siddiqui here – has there been an event to support here by the masheykh in the video? Is she NOT our sister? Or do we have to think about whether she’s American enough to support.. wAllaahu’l musta’aan. I’m sorry but wAllaahi I feel sick. I ask Allaah to rid us of the disease called al-wahn. I have no love for this dunya but fear of my Creator who I WILL meet one day, so I am content and proud of what I say. I am against all types of injustice but this is just not working for me.

Is not what’s happening to Aafia Siddiqui a complete mess?! Should we not clean that up ourselves?! Can we not campaign for her just like we’re doing stuff like this?

Reply
- Amad
  
  September 3, 2010 at 5:35 AM
  
  We have a whole slew of articles dedicated to Dr. Aafia.
  And I believe there have been shayookh in response to that too.
  
  IT’s one thing to stand up for one person, it’s another to stand up for the religion itself.
  
  There is no need to connect one issue to the other. They are not mutually exclusive.
  
  Reply
  - Adam
    
    September 3, 2010 at 8:24 AM
    
    Sister, I was thinking the same thing but refrained from commenting. People like yourself are in the minority these days. Thank you for an extremely well put comment. At least one person knows their priorities.
    
    Reply
  - Bint Ibrahim
    
    September 4, 2010 at 7:42 PM
    
    Thank you for your response.
    
    Is not standing up for ‘Aafia standing up for the religion itself? Are you familiar with the story of Mu’tasim, may Allaah be pleased with him? When he razed an entire city to rescue one Muslim woman, was it not for the religion or was it because she’s one person and there’s a difference b/w what he did for her and Islam in general?
    
    Akhee, my concern is why do we have to ignore one side and go to the extent of making this video and having CNN interviews about issues like this but no CNN interviews about how some of our bro/sis in the prisons in the US have been entraped by the FBI? Or how our brethren in Gitmo and other secret prisons? Do they not deserve a campaign?!
    
    I’m sorry but a few articles on Aafia is not enough. Why don’t we write articles about this issue too. Why a video message? This is the 8th Ramadan our sister is spending in that hole.. 8TH RAMADAN akhee. She’s already been convicted guilty for no crime she committed and her sentence is coming up in a few weeks. If more of our Muslim leaders in the community spoke about this issue hard enough or issues pertaining to the injustice done to the imprisoned Muslims in the US and elsewhere, wAllaahi we would not be in this position today. We’ve saved our gheerah for the wrong people and situations. Rather, we seem to have NO gheerah any longer. No sense of brotherhood, wAllaahu’l musta’aan.
    
    And it seems like some of the speakers in the video are suggesting that the Muslim prisoners deserve what’s happened to them because of their ‘extremism’… again, do they not know about the many cases where the FBI actually entrap innocent individuals?
    
    Reply
    - Bint Ibrahim
      
      September 4, 2010 at 8:01 PM
      
      Sorry, that reply is for Amad not Adam.
      
      Reply
  - LoveAlmaghrib
    
    September 5, 2010 at 7:10 AM
    
    “It is one thing to stand up for one person, it’s another to stand up for the religion itself.”
    
    Really? Mind you also be reminded of Banu Quraida? The tribe of jews layed seige by rasool Allah for the harassment of a muslim woman by one of their members??
    
    What was done to our sister Afia by their hands exceeds all thresholds of “harassment”. Isn’t this an injustice worth pleading pleading for in a worthless video??
    
    Reply
- Ify Okoye
  
  September 3, 2010 at 8:58 AM
  
  Your words themselves are an injustice and what are you doing for Aafia, how do you suggest we “clean it up”? Since you seem to like to write, at least in the comments, if you don’t feel enough attention is being brought to an issue, feel free to write a post and submit it to MM, we accept guest submissions.
  
  Reply
  - Bint Ibrahim
    
    September 4, 2010 at 7:56 PM
    
    Fear Allaah! Do not say about me what you do not know. Allaah knows who I am and what I work for, so please watch your tongue.
    
    I will contact MM, insha’Allaah. Thank you for this suggestion. I have contacted MM in the past about issues relating to a certain prisoner and I will do so again but this time I will stretch my message more, insha’Allaah.
    
    I used the term ‘clean it up’ because one of the speakers seemed to have said that he’s cleaning up the mess of the ‘extremists’ or ‘militants’ have made… Those who’re oppressing Aafia to me are terrorists and we should also ‘clean up’ the mess they’ve made. Clean up basically means that we stand against what they’re doing.. like the video seemed to have done. Whether we protest, have fundraisers to help her legal fund etc.. that sense of cleaning up :) I don’t know what you were thinking…
    
    You know what’s interesting by the way – if we as Muslims treat one another like this online.. like the way you’ve just spoken to me IFY… I don’t expect you to treat me or other believers better online. Understand that I only wish to remind the believers of what benefits as Allaah tells us in al-Qur’an to remind the believers of what will benefit them. I believe paying attention to the points I’ve raised will bring benefit, insha’Allaah. There are a few Muslim or non-Muslim groups who campaign for the wrongly charged and convicted in the US and I’m sure some of you know them. What they’re doing is khayr and insha’Allaah if MM takes bigger steps to helping out groups like this, it’ll be a benefit for them and the wider Muslim Ummah. wAllaahu a’lam.
    
    Reply
    - Bint Ibrahim
      
      September 4, 2010 at 8:05 PM
      
      sorry, that should say, ‘I don’t expect you to treat me or other believers better offline’.. well, not with that attitude at least. I most certainly was not looking to offend anyone with my comments but if I did, I ask Allaah to forgive me. I’m not always the best at delivering my concerns across online, but know I never like to hurt the feelings of others.
      
      Reply
      - LoveAlmaghrib
        
        September 5, 2010 at 6:55 AM
        
        SubhanAllah Sis, you see how Ify accused your words of injustice as if it pierced her heart to hear such words of truth and wisdom as yours. It is they who do the injustice by issuing such videos. They give the same shameless excuse
        
        “we can’t condemn all injustices everywhere randomly”
        
        But they conveniently condemn the “right” injustice!? For what gain? So kuffar like “Jason” urge us to do more like “give up the more radical interpretations of the Quran and interpret them more metaphorically with newer more modern meanings just the way the bible is now interpreted”!! Why aren’t these words an injustice to you Ify??
        
        What purpose do they make such videos for? Do they expect to be given a lighter time by the intelligence agencies? By the media?? Have we not already sold our religion for the sake of the American God? And still they despise us, and they stand in our way of erecting places of worship, and they desecrate them and vow to burn our noble book, and they defame the beloved.
        
        Is a natural reaction to question and criticize these videos when virtually very little is being done to address the greater and much longer list of injustices perpetrated by America and her allies.
      - Ify Okoye
        
        September 5, 2010 at 9:28 AM
        
        No piercing here :) The non-constructive argument (based more on emotion than reason) of why others don’t do more of what we want them to do is almost always a cover for our own inaction. So rather than criticize others for not doing enough in one’s own opinion begin to work as Allah says in Suratul Taubah/105: And say, “Work, for Allah will see your deeds, and [so, will] His Messenger and the believers. And you will be returned to the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, and He will inform you of what you used to do.”
        
        I hadn’t read Jason’s comments until you mentioned them but Siraaj has responded adequately. Happy Ramadan.
      - Ify Okoye
        
        September 5, 2010 at 9:51 AM
        
        You don’t expect khayr and you don’t even know me? Clearly not, but I assume were we to meet in person, we’d get along just fine. My criticism of your words was just that, the words in your comment not a personal attack.
        
        Good to know, it’s the last ten nights of Ramadan, I don’t intend to argue with anyone, let’s busy ourselves with doing good deeds and asking Allah for forgiveness, the dua the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam taught to Aisha comes to mind.
        
        A few tips, avoid over-broad generalizations, re-read a number of time before you post, perhaps write your response offline using a word processing software and then copy/paste it, try to avoid writing when your emotions are inflamed, and assume the best of your Muslims brothers and sisters.
    - Ify Okoye
      
      September 5, 2010 at 9:42 AM
      
      You counsel others to fear Allah and guard the tongue yet don’t forget to heed your own advice as in your earlier comment you unleashed your tongue on MM, the imams in the video and made all sorts of accusations of which you have no knowledge i.e. injustice. I personally know of many articles and events supporting Muslims that have been unjustly detained or sentenced in this “war against terror.”
      
      As to the question of why you haven’t seen a video, did you work for one? One sister had an idea, proposed it, organized it, and the end result was this video. If we also want a video for something rather than questioning the intentions of others of why they haven’t implemented your idea, start it. If you’d like MM to support an idea more, work for it. So I hope to see your work soon in our inboxes or on youtube, insha’Allah.
      
      Reply
      - LoveAlmaghrib
        
        September 5, 2010 at 1:38 PM
        
        You speak of our making videos as if we are the ones who the masses are tuned to. As if we hold any credibility or sway over the masses to guide them to the truth. It is not our responsibility to create these videos, but theirs who have taken up the tasks to do so. Our American Ulema. Those who stand for “justice” would do justice and keep their credibility if they gave equal weight to all injustices. Especially in the case where the countries they reside in and pay taxes to are the promoters of injustice throughout the world.
        
        We are not in the same category as these influential scholars/leaders/speakers. They have a responsiblity to give equal weight to all issues at hand. Asking us to put the effort into these videos does not absolve them of their responsiblity to justly cover the events at hand.
        
        This is about precedence. It is obvious what the cause of militancy is in our youth; the injustices commited by the west for the sake of its freedoms. Surely before broadcasting such a highly concentrated and publicized message condemning militancy, a similar work of equal or greater value should have been produced prior to it. Isn’t there a “cause/effect” relationship? Why did we not see these scholars come together when afghanistan was invaded, cautioning the US of what is coming to be their greatest follY? Same wih Iraq, no such effort existed. What about the drone wars in Pakistan? Where is the effort confronting it? Sister Afia Siddiqui, brother Jamal Al Ameen, Sheikh Ali Tamimi, etc etc. Why do they feel inclined to reach out to muslims about militancy when they haven’t focused on the cause. How can they be taken as credible leaders after this? The cause is clear.. US enrouchment on Muslim soil. And so is the effect – militancy. Focusing on militancy only and admonishing it does nothing to counter it, except hurt the credibility of these scholars and suggest alterior motives.
        
        So our scholars have not been mindful of the precedances. It is not too late. Militancy has to be confronted by taking a tough stance with the US. By creating media messages that voice the concern of muslim leaders regarding Afghanistan and Iraq, regarding the raping of Muslim women by US servicemen which is carrying on in Afghanistan and Iraq, regarding the caging of muslims in Guantanimo. They have to provide solutions to these problems. How de we end US involvement in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Yemen, Pakistan, …, …. How de we get the US to respect the life and property of a Muslim? How do we get the US to respect the honor of our women? This is no longer a problem outside the realm of America, because our youth are turning to militancy due to the actions of the US. So if the scholar are sincere in these efforts, let them acknowledge the order of events which have contributed to the militancy justly, and let them address all concerns equally.
        
        I have to question the lack of emotion. Islam was at its peak when those who embraced it had much gheerah for it. Nowadays, sadly this is not the case..
      - Amad
        
        September 5, 2010 at 6:02 PM
        
        If you have something worthwhile to write on the issues of injustice, feel free to do so. If it’s good, we’ll consider publishing it.
        Until then, it’s all talk. As I have noted, we have MORE articles on injustices against Muslims than injustices by Muslims. Anyone who has any sense of fairness or justice can see that.
        
        As for what causes militancy, the issues are complex. There is not just one factor but many. Yes, political situation of Muslims causes grievances (a situation caused BOTH by the west AND by our rulers– Zardari anyone???). But there are issues beyond that. Muslims need to be taught how to channel their grievances properly and in an Islamic manner. Excusing our actions just because someone else is wrong, is deconstructive. Two wrongs don’t make a right.
        
        And I know this argument is going to go in circles, so to you, your opinion, to us ours. Take the good in what you see, and do something constructive where you think there is room for better strategy.
      - Zecchetti
        
        September 15, 2010 at 3:47 PM
        
        @ Amad,
        
        You say we should deal with injustice in a proper and Islamic manner, but this is precisely what our ulema are failing to define. What is the Islamic manner?
        
        If we look into the Qur’an we see clear cut verses referring to qital etc. See my post at the bottom to see what I mean.
Hamad

September 13, 2010 at 4:56 AM

Assalamu Alaikum

I am very disappointed by this video. These seem to me like the usual bunch of sell-outs. They have a very poor understanding of Islam. May Allah guide them, Ameen

Reply
- fais
  
  September 27, 2010 at 3:45 PM
  
  haters gonna hate
  
  Reply
Zecchetti

September 15, 2010 at 3:44 PM

Unfortunately, this is just another video that leaves much to be desired. They have failed to actually explain to us what we are supposed to do. And they in no way actually refuted the proofs that the people of the other schools of thought use. Take this ayah for example:

From Surah Nisa:

And why should ye not fight in the cause of Allah and of those who, being weak, are ill-treated (and oppressed)?â€• men, women, and children, whose cry is: “Our Lord! rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from Thee one who will protect; and raise for us from Thee one who will help!” (75) Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah and those who reject Faith fight in the cause of Evil: so fight ye against the friends, of Satan: feeble indeed is the cunning of Satan. (76)

And in Surah Mumtahanah:

Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes – from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly (8). Allah only forbids you from those who fight you because of religion and expel you from your homes and aid in your expulsion – [forbids] that you make allies of them. And whoever makes allies of them, then it is those who are the wrongdoers. (9)

READ SURAH MUMTANAHAH V9 AGAIN: Allah only forbids you from those who fight you because of religion and expel you from your homes and aid in your expulsion – [forbids] that you make allies of them. And whoever makes allies of them, then it is those who are the wrongdoers. (9)

So the reason why many young Muslims aren’t listening to these “scholars” in this video is because they consistently hide the verses of Allah whilst saying thing like “our beloved country” to the biggest attacker of Muslims on earth.

Yes they are absolutely right that it is forbidden to harm innocent civilians be they American or whoever, but then why hide the above verses from us. If these “scholars” do not muster up the courage to interpret them for us, then Muslims will continue to leave their sermons in search for some real answers.

Reply
HydTech

September 17, 2010 at 10:40 AM

… Or they failed to explain how Jihad becomes Fard ‘Ayn in particular circumstances as agreed by the four schools and other major Salaf.

Reply
Irfan

September 22, 2010 at 6:20 PM

Amazing video. But we as Muslims also need to accept that Islamic theology backs up acts of terrorism. Now one can argue that killing innocent people is not Islamic, but the fact that during the events of 9/11, Al Qaeda theologians passed a fatwa that made killing innocent people permissible, killing innocent people then became acceptable in Islam for the terrorists involved in the attacks. Let’s not be in denial of this fact.

Reply
- Sayf
  
  September 22, 2010 at 7:38 PM
  
  …?
  
  What business do you have here Irfan?
  
  Reply
- Farfoosh
  
  October 17, 2010 at 1:32 AM
  
  As salamu 3laykom.
  
  Last I heard, a businessman and a doctor have no authority to make a fatwa. A fatwa must be made by a Mufti if I’m not mistaken. If a businessman and a doctor can make a fatwa so can the ice cream man. Fatawa are serious things, they arent for the unlearned.
  
  Barak Allah feekom
  
  Reply
No Pride

September 23, 2010 at 4:13 AM

Alhamdulillah….

Reply
New

September 26, 2010 at 9:39 PM

Wa la ilaaha illallahu wallahu akbar

Reply
UmmAasiyah

September 27, 2010 at 2:49 PM

I think I just sicked a little…

Reply
Umer

September 29, 2010 at 1:35 PM

I think Muslims who say America is “My Country” and “Our homeland” need to read up on the Reconquista when the Muslims lost al-Andalus. Some poetry:

An iftar at the White House

Barack Oâ€™Hulako
Gives his shacko macko!
And pakhayr raghli too
In the Ramadan moon!
Pet Moslems he summons
And out they come running
Labbaik and saâ€™daiking
With rounds of hand shaking

Thick saucy duck dressing
Donâ€™t know what youâ€™re missing
Roast lamby hock gristle
Spiced curry juice trickle
Baked turkey with stuffings
Lip smack gooey muffins
Plump tandouri chicken
Then comes digit licking

All smiley faced grinning
Proud patriots brimming
With glee from the dining
Lapel pins a-shining
One steps up proclaiming
Most solemnly naming
His heartfelt emotions
With bows and devotions

â€œOur Lord how we love ye
Hope to see more of ye
If youâ€™d be so kindly
Weâ€™ll come prompt and timely
Our object and missionâ€™s
To make your boots glisten
Youâ€™ll find that among us
My tongue is the longest

In our constitution
Lies every solution
And all sublime doctrines
Inspiring our actions
New interpretations
Of our revelations
Demonstrate itâ€™s quite true
We should be just like you

Our uniformed heroes
Protecting our freedoms
Big-time sacrificing
Are picked off like bison
Hooly blissful martirs
Like our founding fathers
Outremer campaignyes
They battle extremists

Please do go kill Anwar
The card holding member
Of everything wicked
Shoot him with a rocket!
He washes our noggins
With all of his jargons
Qurâ€™an and hadithes
He scares us to pieces

Wahappies and sloffies
Are worse than the Nazis
They lack our outstanding
Refined understanding
We say to our youngâ€™uns
Donâ€™t be like the drunken
Imbibe revelation
But in moderation

Weâ€™re not anti-Semites
Our best friends are rabbis
We lay wreaths in Poland
Tear shedding and bawling
Weâ€™re Avrahamâ€™s babies
With your help then maybe
Weâ€™ll join with the jews in
A two-state solution

Look on us with mercy
We hate controversy
With your indications
Weâ€™ll make condemnations
We truly are sorry
For all of your worry
Weâ€™ll bend with more lowness
To pleaseth Your Highnessâ€

When push comes to shovings
Theyâ€™ll fire up their ovens
With Serbian instincts
Theyâ€™ll make no distinctions
All Centrists and fringists
All sundry contingents
All friendlies and hostiles
All field and house Negroes

Ayerabs and South Asians
All beard and bald faces
Hijab and hijabless
All hep cats and hapless
Theyâ€™ll come to your houses
Theyâ€™ll come to your office
Theyâ€™ll read off their papers
Then off to the chambers

Abu Sulayman al-Irlandi
Detainee #001
Ramada 1431

Reply
- Abu Sulayman
  
  October 22, 2010 at 7:00 AM
  
  Amazing. May Allah reward you for posting this.
  
  Reply