Osama bin Laden gathers troops for his jihad (holy war) by saying that the Qu'ran and Allah say that it is honorable if the jihadists die in a suicide bomb so long as America is taken down and Islam is helped, but recently, this view has been under attack from inside the Islamic world.
In the June 9, 2008 version of NEWSWEEK, there was an article detailing a change that is taking place within the Islamic religion (http://www.newsweek.com/id/139433). It details the beginning of bin Laden's beliefs where he changed the traditionalist view of Islamic scripture and the teachings of Mohammed in order to better correlate with his hatred for Western culture. However, after this declaration of war and the death of countless innocent men, women and children in addition to the sons of many Muslims from the Middle East, a new group of Muslims is saying that this is wrong.
Due to this belief that bin Laden, Al Qaeda and his followers have been doing a terrible job, certain groups are re-examining the Qu'ran and interpreting it different from the way in which bin Laden did as well as the traditionalists before it. They are putting a modern spin on it to make it more applicable to a modern world filled with democracy, equality and an idea that freedom is possible. For example, one of the teachings of Mohammed that is fundamental to bin Laden's view and the traditionalist view stated that women should not walk alone in the streets. This was transformed by bin Laden into saying that women should not drive a car or be seen in public. But, the modern interpretation realizes that Mohammed was just saying this because he didn't want to lose followers to the dangers of the streets between Yemen and Mecca. The Liberal Muslim thinkers therefore outlwaed this rule.
Due to this change, less and less people are hoarding themselves into Osama's followings. This includes Al Qaeda's #2 man Ayman-al-Zawahiri, who recently wrote a book claiming that Osama's jihad receives disapproval from Allah. Is this going to be the last we see of Osama? For some reason, I think not. There are always mindless followers who will follow their leader to the pits of hell, but there is always hope.
I am personally glad that a transformation like this is occurring. For too long has the Islamic religion been getting a bad name because of the acts of only a few Muslims. The religion and its writings has no writing that claims that Western culture is terrible and that it is an Islamic rule to hate America, and yet there are those all over the world who believe this and hate every Muslim due to it. I remember last year at my Confirmation when we had one of our youth leaders give a speech about why Catholicism is the best religion (not deliberately, but in actuality it obviously was), he blunted stated that it was in the Qu'ran that it is an Islamic tradition to America. And the worst part is I believed him! I had no knowledge that this world isn't that bad and is only given a bad image by a few who deliberately ruined it.
It is time to take Islam into the future with us as an equal and as a friend.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
I always figured that people that blew themselves up and other people for religious purposes could not possibly be following a God. Excellant and refreshing blog in the midst of gas and Obama.
If this change is quick and wide spread enough maybe our military can get relief.
~T
All truths are easy to understand once discovered; The point is to discover them ~Galileo
I agree. I believe that the new movement is working its way in from the outside world of Islam to the middle, but I hope that Muslims see the benefits of the new way of thinking and make the change quicker than expected.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/nharris1032
I do not really see it is a new way of thinking...more like getting back to the old right way of thinking. I hope either way it is presented in a way that the people take to it.
~T
All truths are easy to understand once discovered; The point is to discover them ~Galileo
This brings new light to the islamic religion. I'm glad you posted this and I hope more people read this to be informed.
http://www.progressiveu.org/032913-lupus-uncureable-wait-what
Love comments? I do too!
If that's true, then it's very good news (excuse my skepticism, I can't help it. I want it to be true, though.) Anyway, you quoted a source, so it looks pretty accurate to me.
I think that Muslims have always felt this way about Osama bin Laden. The moderates in the religion are just finally finding their voice and speaking out against extremism en masse.
The Koran teaches Muslims to treat "people of the book," better know as Christians and Jews, with great respect. We need more inter-faith communication and understanding.
I hope its true. The only Muslims that have supported Osama are brainwashed by his propaganda, so as a whole, I think you are right in that they have always felt this way. But unfortunately it was just a couple of his who did his bidding on 9/11/01, and that caused mass destruction.
Interesting about the Qu'ran. I kind of want to read it, but would also be nervous. Have you read it?
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/nharris1032
I have not read it, though I'm sure it would often express similar sentiments as the Bible and the Torah. Also, since Arabic is the "holy language" of Islam, the Koran is allowed to be written in Arabic ONLY. As far as I know, there are not many translations in the world, if any.
Though I've never read the Koran, I've read plenty of the Bible, and assuming that they are somewhat similar, this is one personal observation I can make about jihad and Islam. In Christianity, the Great Commission is Jesus' order Christians to make "believers of the nations." In other words, to spread the religion. In a strange poetic sense, that can be interpreted as "holy war," or what Muslims call jihad. So perhaps jihad only refers to metaphorical holy war, or the spreading of Islam via peaceful means. Honestly, I'm no Koran scholar so I can't make real judgments about this. It's just a possibility.
Well, if you can make that assumption as someone who hasn't read the Qu'ran, then imagine what Osama bin Laden can take from it and mold into his messed up propaganda. Dangerous stuff. I'm glad that the Liberal Muslims are taking a stand.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/nharris1032
I haven't read it but I have heard from several people (this could be bias information) that it states that their mission in life is to kill as many people as possiable so they can be good with their god. I wouldn't think this is true but I have no idea. I have always heard bad things and although your post showed insight to a better view I am still skeptical. I hate to judge like that, but it is really hard not to.
I do know for a fact though that they have Honor killings which I need to write a blog on. So many blogs!!! If a woman is raped or has sex before marriage most of them are killed by a family member. Usually a brother,uncle, or male. They are seen as objects (woman) not people. It is sad.
http://www.progressiveu.org/032913-lupus-uncureable-wait-what
Love comments? I do too!
What's an Honor Killing. Is it like a communal sacrifice? Because that's what it sounds like.
But I am pretty sure that what you said is not in the Qu'ran but is a common myth about it. People like Osama bin Laden interpret from it what they like, much like the leaders of the Catholic Church, and unfortunately, bin Laden mistook "Holy War" meaning conversion for an actual jihad. Not good.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/nharris1032