A first step towards thinking about Islam

I cannot help but think of my faith as rationally as possible. Muslims may believe that their book, the Quran, is the word of God and a fitting first principle, but there is enough of man's hand in even that, that I cannot help but consider the even more primary gift given to us by our creator: our minds. We are, philosophy and observation tell us, a consciousness perceiving all else. All existence may well be nothing more than our imagination, but we know for sure that we exist. I think, therefore I am, as Descartes said. If this can be accepted, that our minds are our most primary given, than we must also accept that it is necessarily our greatest tool in perceiving even the divine. If you believe, as I do, before even rationalization, than you know that our minds too must be God given. Once you accept that, I can begin to make my case...

To all Muslims and friends of Muslims, now that we have made our point about Park51 not being a mosque' about it not really being on ground zero, etc. Let's finally deal with the unsaid question: Why should there be a mosque at Ground Zero? I don't mean the realities of the local Muslim population or even the symbolism for the US as a truly democratic and free country, but in the deeper sense, what does it do for Muslims to have a mosque in this place that has such an immense shadow across the Islamic world. Why within the unofficial "Remember 9/11 Heroes" district should there be a mosque and Islamic cultural center?

i think it is precisely where a mosque should be. Why do people go to pray? If you read the words of most prayers, it is mostly to either ask for forgiveness or to find peace. That is what they will be doing in that building, the Muslims who come there, looking for peace. What kind of peace do you find in a crater? Do victors really celebrate in the trench? Where else can Muslims be reminded of their responsibility and obligation for peacemaking and bridge building than on the site of contemporary Islam's greatest shames. Just as I would welcome former 'good Germans' to make a pilgrimage to a concentration camp to seek redemption, I would hope that Muslims the world over will come to this place and witness just how large the consequences are of allowing others to define our faith.

For while I do not find the majority of Muslims complicit, at least not more than imperialist policy is complicit, I think that the very structure and culture of global Islam is at least one of the causes of not only 9/11, but of the Taliban, the revolution in Iran, the armed intifada and a host of other past and chronic problems in the Middle East and the world. 9/11 was the result of Muslims allowing the spread of a doctrine of rage and ignorance in their homelands without confronting it directly, and even naievely funding it. We have turned our backs on the women of Islam by not challenging regressive cultural norms, and have fostered the growth of an angry, disaffected, idle army of young men unprepared to face the modern world with anything more than insecurity, shame, a holier than thou attitude and complete lack of concern for human life. I can remember the very wholesome all-American Muslim groups I joined being unable to refuse appeals from the very groups that funded the revolution in Iran.

Muslims with consciences must stand up to the extremist forces that have taken control of our institutions and congregations, because they have become our public face. We cannot have people who condone violence of any sort in our institutions. We cannot have them as Imams, we cannot have them as teachers, we cannot have them as political leaders. We cannot have people with advanced degrees in Islam condoning female genital mutilation, or honor killing, or even polygamy any longer. We must put these practices in the past.

Every other conglomeration of individuals, from dog breeders to universities, to facebook users has found reliable methods for seperating the genuine article from the tainted formula... why can't Muslims? Why can't we require a seal of modernity from our clerics and our speakers? I want to know: do you support polygamy? X do you condone the killing of innocents? X Do you allow women to be educated and join the work force? check

We can no longer allow people to lead us in prayer who pray for the death or injury to other human beings, whoever they might be, and whatever they might have done. This is not the message of peace and forgiveness we know Islam to embody, nor is it the image of Islam we want our children to learn, nor is it the Islam we want the world to see. After all, we are to be a beacon of good intentions and good actions, that is our role as Muslims.

It is only by building places like Park51 that we can begin to counter this. We need places for Muslims to gather and discuss our religion openly, without influence or pressure from anyone. We need to build community and consensus amongst all Muslims to make choices for our community. We should be praying in places that remind us of our responsibility, our fallibility, and our place in the larger world. It is only a first step, but we NEED a mosque near ground zero.

Who is the Quran speaking to?

Recently I came across this article: http://www.ahl-alquran.com/English/show_article.php?main_id=5258

where I read the following:

"Then there may be instances of ambiguity in address as well. Sometimes, a verse would apparently address the Prophet (pbuh); however, in reality the address would be directed at the Muslim ummah. Similarly, an apparent address to him would actually be directed at the leadership of the Quraysh or to the People of the Book. Examples of such addresses abound in the Qur'an. Thus it is essential that this differentiation be made with full caution, and it should be fully ascertained as to who is the actual addressee. Without this, the real purport of the Qur'an cannot be grasped.

"Third, general and specific verses should be differentiated. There are many places in the Qur'an where the words are general; however, the context testifies with full certainty that something specific is meant. The Qur'an uses the word (people), but it does not refer to all the people of the world; and many a time they do not even refer to all the people of Arabia: the word refers to a group among them. It uses the expression (on all the religions), and it does not refer to all religions of the world; it refers to (polytheists) but they do not refer to all those who are guilty of polytheism. Similarly, the words (And from these People of the Book) do not refer to all the People of the Book of the world. It mentions the word (man) but it does not refer to mankind."

This is important in understanding the Quran as not only a timeless scripture, but also a record of specific events at a specific time in history.  If this is true, then is it all relevant to us?  And if some of the Quran is not relevant to us, then how can we see it as a perfect book? How can we think the supreme being would be so lazy.

But I don't see it that way.  Think of a classic book, let's say Huck Finn.  Does the very important and ALWAYS relevant message that you should treat people equally become less true because the story takes place in the past...? No.  And on the other hand, does a reader need to embrace the archaic lifestyle, morals and pastimes of the characters of the story to feel that the message of it speaks to them...? No.

So if we know this to be true: That literature is a powerful way to teach society, an intimate whisper into the heart of a reader, and we know that God is speaking to us through stories and metaphor, both of which are necessary elements of literature, then why can we not see certain parts of the Quran AS literature? Not reportage, not commandments, but actually literature, with all the open endedness and personal interpretation that is suggested by that.

I think even in the Quran, God warns us against taking things to literally... and more importantly he warns us against forcing our interpretation on others:

"Now those whose hearts are given to swerving from the truth go after that part of the divine writ
which has been expressed in allegory, seeking out [what is bound to create] confusion, and seeking [to arrive at] its final meaning [in an arbitrary manner]; but none save God knows its final meaning. Hence, those who are deeply rooted in knowledge say: "We believe in it; the whole [of the divine writ] is from our Sustainer - albeit none takes this to heart save those who are endowed with insight.
(Sorry, I believe in quoting full verse references to avoid misinterpretation.)"

I don't understand why Muslims cant agree to simply leave each other alone. Why didn't God tell us that? Why didn't his message say, "don't kill other people for their beliefs" Well he didn't, but he did tell us to be obedient, and gentle, and kind, and over and over and over: forgiving. He said there is no compulsion in religion and yet we are constantly trying to compel others to share our beliefs. It is well known that Islam was revealed to the first believers in stages, to allow them to gradually come to deeper piety.

Today, I joined my sister and her kids to build some support for her organization, Muslims for Peace. The purpose behind the organization is to show to the world, that there is a majority of Muslims who are peaceful. We set up a table at the MLK day event sponsored by local Brooklyn politician, Kevin Powell. It was very interesting. Very few Muslims there, but as the audience was primarily African American, they were very sympathetic.