Anti-Muslim Bigotry

Texts of Terror? An Interfaith Dialogue

Published

September 14, 2012

About two years ago, I wrote my first article in MM entitled “Is Islam a Violent Religion?” Despite the fact that I have posted many articles afterward, I can say that this first post was by far the most successful. Up till today, if you were to Google “Islam violent”, that article is still the top hit. I’m not telling you this to brag. In fact, I don’t necessarily think I came anywhere near giving justice to this topic. But I think what made the article popular was the utter necessity to explaining this issue in an objective and calm manner. It’s no secret to anyone, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, that this issue is the number one misconception about Islam in this post-911 age. It’s also no secret that this is number one question that Muslims get anywhere they go.

Well no matter how good the article was, it certainly wasn’t comprehenensive. So, here I’m today presenting part 2. This second installment comes in the form of an interfaith dialogue about this very topic. This forum was not just focused on Islam, yes a little breather. But certainly the questions at the end were!! If the sound quality is not the best, I do apologize!

Finally I got to admit, this definitely is not my favorite topic. I tackle this issue purely out of necessity. I really feel that this is a discussion that was imposed on the majority of Muslims by a minority of extremists (both Muslims and non-Muslims). This reminds me of Omar , the second successor of the Prophet , who said, “Knowledge was a drop, but it was made into an ocean by the ignorants”. Really this issue should have been simple if it was not made complicated by the arguments and misunderstandings of the ignorants.

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Anas Hlayhel

Born and raised in Lebanon, Hlayhel began attending study circles at his local mosque when he was ten. He came to the United States at 17 and studied electrical engineering at the University of Houston. At its MSA, he met Sh Yasir Qadhi and worked together to raise Islamic awareness on campus. Hlayhel studied traditional sciences of Aqeedah (Islamic creed), Fiqh (Islamic law) and Nahw (Arabic grammar) under Sh Waleed Basyouni and Sh Waleed Idriss Meneese among others. After settling in Phoenix AZ, he worked tirelessly, in the capacity of a board member then a chairman, to revive the then dead AZ chapter of CAIR in order to face the growing Islamophobia in that state and to address the resulting civil right violations. Today, he's considered the second founder of a strong CAIR-AZ. In addition, Hlayhel is a part-time imam at the Islamic Center of the Northeast Valley in Phoenix, husband and father of four. His current topics of interest include positive Islam, youth coaching, and countering Islamophobia.

6 Comments

Aly Balagamwala | DiscoMaulvi

September 15, 2012 at 12:44 AM

ApproveApprove

Reply
Anas Hlayhel

September 15, 2012 at 11:07 AM

Thank you so much, the Dixie Dove, for sharing your essay. Wow in few succinct paragraphs you made a very good argument support by quite few examples. I’m glad that you see the double-standard. I just wish there were many more of you :)

Reply
PeaceToAll

September 15, 2012 at 1:55 PM

Yes, a great info from Dr. Hathout’s Friday Sermon:

http://vimeo.com/49492174

Reply
Am

September 15, 2012 at 6:02 PM

It is strange when the U.S. declares a war on terror while there is homegrown terrorism there allowed hiding places under the banner of “Heritage”. In the U.S. there are Christian religious extremist that rarely make the news while the U.S. focuses on other religions and cultures with their own being at least 100 years old. See video for images and please share this message as far as the internet can take it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-daAHmMvWo

السلام عليكم

Reply
Muhammad Abdul Haqq

September 16, 2012 at 3:40 PM

“Knowledge was a drop, but it was made into an ocean by the ignorants”

What is the reference for this saying off Umar(radhi Allahu anhu)

Reply
wilbah

September 20, 2012 at 11:37 AM

power of the islams!!!!

Reply