A coyote in a sheep’s clothing

JAMAL HASAN

NOWADAYS WE are hearing more and more that lofty terminology “moderate Muslims”. Is there any such thing called moderate Muslims? When I think about the mindset of the expatriat Bangladeshi Muslims, I tend to think it is indeed a rarity.

In my opinion, when any Muslim starts to talk about Sharia or rant “Islam is a way of life”, the moderation in his or her world view immediately evaporates. The Islamic tradition encourages politicization of the theological belief. Some critics of Islam say Islam comes with the whole package where jihad and politics are integral part. I would say it is still possible to defang the entity of political Islam. Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf has not convinced me he is a socalled moderate Muslim.

Last night in an interview with CNN’s Soledad O’Brien his sly oratory indicated he was slickier than a cunning fox. He was no sheep; he is rather a coyote in a sheep’s clothing. The Imam brought the bogeyman of radical jihadists in his argument against moving the Ground Zero Mosque.

The question is, aren’t we fighting the radical elements of the Middle East? So, do we have to care if they dislike the move? The Imam said, he was against politicizing any religion. I thought it was Imam Rauf, the charlatan who was boastfully bragging USA was a Sharia compliant country.

Any sufi and aplolitical individual has no business in delving into Sharia business. It is the political Islamists who are always concerned of the draconican Islamic law. Imam Feisal in his 2001 Sixty Minutes interview said bluntly, the USA was partly responsible for the 9-11 attack: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHKV9GbjFko Did he show any indication that he deviated from his past thinking?

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf is out and out a dishonest person. And, of course, he is anything but a moderate Muslim. #

Jamal Hasan is Bangladesh born social justice activist and advocate of trial of crime against humanity. He is presently living in Washington DC