Know your enemy

If you have seen the movie "Patton", you may remember the scene of the general standing on a cliff overlooking Rommel's burning tanks and yelling, "I read your book". He was able to defeat Rommel because he understood how his adversary thought. We should adapt the same strategy in confronting those who have hijacked Islam from a religious movement to a political and military movement.

Since 9/11, we have seen glaring examples of politicians who clearly did not understand their adversary. One of the most glaring was the Congressman who referring to Muslims worshipping their "monkey god". He then apologized, not to Muslims but to Hindus who thought he might have been referring to Lord Hanuman. If the Congressman had taken the time to understand what he was talking about an absurd idea, I know), he would have found the following in the Qur'an:

002.133 Were ye witnesses when death appeared before Jacob? Behold, he said to his sons: "What will ye worship after me?" They said: "We shall worship Thy god and the god of thy fathers, of Abraham, Isma'il and Isaac,- the one (True) Allah: To Him we bow (in Islam)."

Perhaps the most famous example of willful ignorance was the urban legend about verse 09.11 of the Qur'an. The verse was wrongly quoted as "For it is written that a son of Arabia would awaken a fearsome Eagle. The wrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout the lands of Allah and lo, while some of the people trembled in despair still more rejoiced; for the wrath of the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah; and there was peace."

The verse actually says, "009.011 But (even so), if they repent, establish regular prayers, and practise regular charity,- they are your brethren in Faith: (thus) do We explain the Signs in detail, for those who understand."

I believe it is important to understand not only what you believe but why you believe it. It is also important to understand what you do not believe and why you do not believe it. Otherwise, you are fair game for those who would use your lack of knowledge to further their personal agendas.

Isn't that what the terrorists do?

Best always
Brother Ron