When Islam was presented to me, I was presented a religion of worshiping One God alone and as a practical solution for mankind's social ills. It was a road map for improving our lives. I was told about an Islam that is about togetherness, sharing, caring and strengthening familial bonds. An Islam that was about creating communities, doing business together and uplifting people.

I was told about an Islam that promoted the equality of all men and no person is superior to the other except by his righteousness. An Islam that eschewed racism. I was told about an Islam that was about kindness to neighbors regardless of religion. Islam and Muslims were known as a force for good in the community and a sign that things are going to be cleaned up. This is the Islam that I know and love. An Islam of hope, kindness, concern and mercy. An Islam that promoted a mosque that affected the community around it in a positive manner and met the needs of a broken people. An Islam that was part of the community and not apart from it. An Islam that provided a place for outsiders.

A Muslim was a symbol in many neighborhoods - American neighborhoods- of standing for justice and making improvement in one's life. A Muslim man was the personification of manly pride and responsibility to his family and his community. I was told of an Islam that spoke of God's infinite love and mercy for His creation. I was told of an Islam that inspired people to make positive changes to their lives. I was told of an Islam that offers to serve others and offered solid solutions to problems. All of these things were attractive and this is the Islam that people were flocking to in the 1990’s. This is the Islam I accepted.

Now all of those things are a "waste of time." This new "Islam" is about hate, killing, rape and murder. I am told by a person visiting my blog that I should be praising the daily carnage that I see on the news and to believe in wacky conspiracy theories and blood libel. I have been accused several times - by my co-religionists - of being a spy and a closet Zionist.

Now I am told that I never understood Islam and that the things I mentioned above represent an "American" Islam and hence bidah (rejected innovation) and that I should accept this "real Islam." I see people trying to convince me that Islam is actually not about the things I mention above. No! Islam is about hate. You don't pray for people, you pray against them and invoke the worst curses you can think of upon them. You don't talk about God's Love, you constantly talk about His wrath. We should be fire breathing dragons that hate and invoke curses upon people.

I am now told by these people that there is no family togetherness or community building in Islam. Oh and by the way, that thing about all human beings being equal except by righteousness? Cancel that! The Arabs are superior to all men. They now tell me that Islam is firmly grounded in a medieval social order where Arabs are on top and I (as a black) am on the bottom.

I just don't recognize this "Islam" of hate, murder, rape, stealing, explosions and chaos and I hate this "Islam" passionately. This is why I am so vehemenently opposed to this "Islam" of Bin Laden and the other creeps. You see, I was told about a very different Islam than the one that we see on TV and hear about on the media and even the one that some Muslims try to promote. This new "Islam" that we see now would have been very strange in the 1990s to those of us who were accepting Islam. This is just not the Islam we were sold. And we would have never 'bought' it in the first place.

I find it very strange that I would be criticized by any Muslim for my rejection of throat cutting, rape and murder as being a part of Islam as if it were a pillar of some sort. I am not familiar with this Islam that calls for a lack of love and human emotion, but now this is what we hear. Slavish dogmatism, slogans and a culture of death.

Because of the lack of emphasis on self improvement (denounced as alien to Islam) and cloaking failure as "religious commitment" a Muslim is now one that is mired in many of the social ills that the rest of community suffers from. Because of this new "Islam," Islam has begun to cease to be a force for positive change in the inner cities.

It has gotten so bad that a person will say to a Muslim: "you are too rational to be a Muslim" or they think that he is about to leave Islam or it will be said to him "you are not like them." I am finding more Muslims from the 90's that are even beginning to think a "bait and switch" has been pulled on them and are confused because of the mass chaos set off by the Bin Ladens of the world.

This is why I reject this "Islam" of carnage, irrationality, social disorder and murder. I accepted an Islam of problem solving, love and rational thought. That is an Islam that people can accept and live with.

That is Islam.

Looks like ansik reinvnted himself as inholi. From reading between the lines my guess is that he is not American but a immigrant who is Hindu.

Brother Tariq:
Did you think you would not be tested? What did you think the anti-Muslim actors would do when they were warning each other that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world? Sit back and let us take over without a fight? The 90's, 80's, 70's or all the way back to the first hijra, Muslims have had to rise to the challenge of their time. The enemy is very clever and wants us to spend our time, talent and energy fussing about what they want us to focus on. It is a sly trap indeed. I say give them what they fear and tell the world what they refuse to discuss! The pope has a bank that charges interest - the Quran has banned interest. The West uses paper money based on interest - Islam demands the use of gold and silver for currency not fake interest based paper notes. Islam has outlawed monopolies - corporate or otherwise. Islam has forbidden sharecropping and land grabbing/holding abuses. Islam has forbidden the production and sale of intoxicants and alcohol. Islam has forbidden the production and sale of swine flesh - pork. The rise of fascist corporate power cannot tolerate a belief system that refuses to compromise its core principles even in the face of death. That is what this struggle is all about - wicked moneyed gangs who believe that "Greed is good" and that charity is for suckers. And by contrast, the Muslim masses that should understand that Islam stands for charity over greedy gain, justice over oppression and the enjoining of good and forbidding evil. The wicked liars want to keep Muslims busy with nonsense when what the western thieves really fear is the Global Islamic Economic System. If the so-called Muslim world went back to using the gold dinar for currency, the western Zionist economic system based on wicked interest would collapse! Focus on the Islamic injunctions as to the use and control of property and tell the world about that. That is what the "Islamophobes" fear - that we Muslims will replace their "Payday Loan", "Usury Mortgages" and fake paper money with independent Halal capital and call the oppressed to the blessings of an Islamic Economic Order! When have you heard about that on CNN or Fox News? Again and again will those who disbelieve wish they had became Muslim!

ansik28 wrote: The purer the Islam, the bleaker the society (Saudi Arabia, Taliban Afganistan, etc)...

The Saudis? The Taliban? Pure Islam? Oh, Please. I can't say more than that because I'd like go take my family to Hajj one day. But Islam is more pure (purer?) in America because we are allowed to practice openly and freely without the Karma Policy watching/correcting our every move with the "right" way to do things...

Oops, did I say that out loud?

ansik28:

If America can decontextualise the entire reality of the middle east to plant puppet regimes, fight proxy wars, INVENT A WAR against Iraq .. it is easy for people experiencing political duress to decontextualise the Quraan and retaliate. The current situation with the west is a direct result of American interference and since no other political voice represents the people affected, they will inevitably resort to the voice that works. You ignore the majority of muslims who under alot of political pressure who did not resort to Communism despite the involvement of America in propping the Shahs and Sauds of the muslim world.

Are you not aware that many American citizens invalidly claim that America is a nation that was created for White Christians and inspired by Christian texts and that a pluralistic, liberal and secular society is a myth? It is not a misnomer. As for "great" Islamic empire, you will find few fans. Many honest Muslim and Non-Muslim readers of history are much more comfortable pointing out the civilising effects of Islam and not the diatrib of empire.


As for misreadings of core texts ... read the entire text yourself and read the texts that are there. If I said that America had in place the death penalty and ignored the legal system, it can easily be said that Americans are a nation of savages. Half truths may make an argument bu they do not present the Truth itself.

Ghulam, who taught you history? Indians were the people who invented complex mathematical ideas - for example the Zero. The so-called 'Indo-Arabic' numeral is the number system the Arabs brought out of India.

Whatever made you think that the Hindus were not scientific before the Muslims came to India and butchered millions, in the name of Islam no doubt?! Indians had advanced astronomical calculators long before Arabs figured out how to ride a donkey! As for this business of warring kingdoms in India, that was no different than your ideal for all of the world: 'Arabia'! However, India is united today And Arabia is still squabbling.

Thousands of years before your prophet preached 'non-violence' (as long as the other guy was a 'believer'!) Buddha had preached genuine non-violence and a king named Ashoka was so overcome by the carnage in a war he won, that he gave up violence and became a Budhist. In fact it is this very non-violent nature of India and tolerance, that was exploited by invading hordes of muslims and the proselytizing christians.

Maybe in South Africa you guys were a bunch of jungle men who needed the Arabs to come and civilize you but India did not need your religion nor your kind. Sadly they forced themselves there and Pakistan is reaping the result of brutal acts committed long ago to establish this brutal religion in what was, and would have been, a far more peaceful part of the world.

>> The so-called 'Indo-Arabic' numeral is the number system the Arabs brought out of India.

There is a huge difference between developing the number system and understanding the concept of zero. You'd know this if you understood Mathematics. Spiritual concepts of zero is not algebra (just like algebra is not Einsteins theory of relativity)

>> Sadly they forced themselves there and Pakistan is reaping the result of brutal acts committed long ago to establish this brutal religion in what was, and would have been, a far more peaceful part of the world.

I did not make an interreligious debate(or in this case intercountry). You hatred for Pakistanis doesnot make an argument. India may very well experience a better political situation now (in comparison to Pakistans, and if we ignored Kashmir and other troubled spots), but Gujerat, the Golden Temple, Nepal... these and others are indications of similarly violent tendencies within the subcontinents culture. You're defending the one country that actually still runs risks of the plague. Unlike the sheltered confines of India, Pakistan occupies a far smaller space with a much more diverse population and is (for better or worse) more exposed to the regional unrest of the Middle East.

Brazenly talking about peaceful India and ignoring the identities of warring Aryan and Dravidian ancestors to snub the Prophet (SAW)is indignant. Hindutva lackeys who forment violence and national fervour to appease their colonial masters sentiments (the Queen in England) shouldn't speak about history that is poorly researched and dramatised into Bollywood fanfair. You're even so bold as to ignore the various rebellions in India against the British and use this convenient modern construct of savage Muslim invaders as if these were in the class of Genghis Kahn and Alexander?! Pakistanis and Bangladeshis are not Arab invaders ... they are Indians.

Ghulam - you are sounding downright Stupid. Your idea is that the Hindus only knew Zero as a 'spiritual concept'? I will not even bother to debate you on that point! It is like talking to people who insist one and one is four!

It is you who is blinded by self-love! I am neither a Pakistan-hater nor a India-lover. My knowledge of what I said comes from writings of Mathematical scholars in the west. It is now widely acknowledged that the Hindus had advanced concepts of Mathematics long before the rest of the world. Your need to see all things great in Islam is typical of a man who wants to believe in what he wants to be true, no matter what!

At best the Arabs collected data from India and Europe and held it for a few centuries. Yes, we are grateful for that. But by no stretch of imagination can anyone believe that the Hindus learnt things from Arabs. All that Islam gave india was Burka for women and and Beards for men, both of which are abominable.

As for the Bangladeshis and Pakis being 'Indians'...I am confused now! I thought all that bloodshed of partition was precisely to say they were NOT Indians! In fact you should read some Pakistani newspapers to realize the lengths to which Pakis go to fool themselve into thinking they are NOT Indians. One great example is when they recently undertook a massive deforestation of all old-growth trees native to the region, and instead imported desert palms to plant in thier place; so that the country looks more 'Islamic'! Even you have to admit the stupendous idiocy of such acts!

"my guess is that he is not American but a immigrant who is Hindu."

It doesn’t matter where someone is from or their religion.. A post should be responded to based on its merits (i.e. reason, logic, factual accuracy, pertinence to the article etc)

"At best the Arabs collected data from India and Europe and held it for a few centuries."

At best held it? No.. There were notable advances in trigonometry, algebra and calculus from the 10th to 15th century in the Islamic world, which provided the foundation of modern mathematics.

"Your need to see all things great in Islam is typical of a man who wants to believe in what he wants to be true, no matter what!"

This quote perfectly applies to you when you change the word 'great' to 'negative' ... You want to believe everything to do with Islam is bad, even in the face of Muslims saying they completely reject violent extremism. I hope you actually meet some Muslims so you can get over this prejudice and open your mind to see the similarities far outweigh any differences.

Andraa, as for your speculations to my identity, trust me on this one - you don't have to be a Hindu to disagree with Muslims, there are millions of us around the world, who are not Hindus! As for knowing peaceful muslims, I know some too. My mind is not closed to that. The closure of the mind is predominant among you guys who are brainwashed by the 'glory of Islam' and are incapable of accepting reality.

What I am pointing out in Ghulam is a blind belief that Islam gave all good things to the world. If Arabs were good mathematicians say so - don’t tell me 'Muslims' were mathematicians as if Islam gave them the ability to be mathematicians. Just as you don't like it when we call them 'Islamic' terrorists, so also it makes no sense to attribute Mathematical skills to 'Islamic' mathematicians.

Islam happens to be just one more religion like many others in which all manner of people are present- smart and stupid - but wait! That itself is heresy in your books - to say that Islam is just another religion? right?!

Science and Math are no man's property and especially no one religion has claim over it! If Indians were good mathematicians Hinduism was not the cause of that. They just happened to be Hindus. A long peaceful time period nurtures interest in deeper cultural, philosophical and scientific studies anywhere in the world. America is a great scientific power not because we are inherently, genetically disposed to science but because we have peace and tranquility that lets people do whatever they want, and liberty to live life to the fullest. All of which are lacking in Arabia today - Arabia being the Saudi Arabia, UAE etc.

To say that India needed Arabs to teach them math or stop them from internecine fighting is infantile and stupid. India was an ancient civilization like China, free from outside harassment due to its inaccessibility. Thousands of years of peace and prosperity preceded the Muslim hordes. In fact the Muslim hordes came to India to loot. But for Muslims this is an awkward truth and they try to fool themselves that wherever Islam went it went in peace and further brought peace with it. Not it at all!

>> Your idea is that the Hindus only knew Zero as a 'spiritual concept'?

Really. My point stands. I did not say that Indians don't understand zero. I said that the concept that Arabs received is vastly different to what they developed. But recognition is and always will be given to the concept originating in HINDU INDIA. No need to lie.

>> India is united today And Arabia is still squabbling.

Yes. I agree. Arabs have fallen from grace considerably. They've left the original light from Islam to play in shadows. But India is a good country and I'm Indian and hope to see the country of my heritage some day. Yet I am Muslim. Identity games seem to be just that ..games.

>> But by no stretch of imagination can anyone believe that the Hindus learnt things from Arabs.

The spindle wheel of Indias flag is itself an imported Muslim idea. Please don't deny the greatly positive impact of the Arabs and Muslims in India. The advancement and benefits brought to India through trade literature and science aren't denied by anyone When in doubt google it :-)

http://www.indianmuslims.info/history_of_muslims_in_india.html
https://www.vedamsbooks.com/no31973.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_India

>> As for the Bangladeshis and Pakis being 'Indians'...I am confused now! I thought all that bloodshed of partition was precisely to say they were NOT Indians!

I think its the principle of divide and rule playing out very well. I think that those in now Pakistan wanted to establish Muslim majority democracy and what is now India wanted to establish a Hindu majority democracy. That seems to correlate to the positive intentions of Indians and Pakistanis. REMEMBER ~ People moved both ways across the border.

>> What I am pointing out in Ghulam is a blind belief that Islam gave all good things to the world.

Its not about blind speculation. Its about a civilising and important religion, that formed many links and influenced the world much longer than say the English Empire or mother India, in this chain of human history. We rightfully honoured to be Muslims and wholly entitled to some nostalgia or we'd be without identity. Yes .. pride is bad (we know this well). But self-respect is very justified ... especially if we choose to honour this tradition. I think people take exception to Muslims finding adequate and equally effective alternatives, because we're too large a group with too meaningful an alternative to the established forces.

Now Ghulam says he is Indian too? What the heck are you? Indian, South African, Arab, Muslim? Of course you will say you are all of the above, but Muslim first! Just the other day in the post about South Africa by the great white father from america Ghulam said he was glad the Africans are coming back into regions 'dominated' by Indians. I assumed he was an African! But ehre he says he is 'Indian'- which means you are going to get kicked out by the Africans? I suppose he means he is Indian but not a Hindu, so it is allright! Can pass off as 'non-Indian', with the 'Arabs' and 'Africans' I guess! :-)

Let me explain how conquests work - in case you are too blinded by the 'light'! Your assertions that the Muslims brought good things to India are no different than Christians who claim to have 'civilized' the Mayans in South America. Just like in India, the Mayans had developed intelligent ways to do many things that we think of as scientific now but were considered to be philosophical or spiritual then. Sure the Mayans had crazy things like human scrifice but that did not mean they needed a genocide to teach them it was wrong - they would have probably realized it on thier own in time.

The 'Christians', if you can call them that, first and foremost wanted to loot and take away the plunder - just like the early 'Muslims' in India; I put it in quotes because I know what Islam stands for and it is certainly not what Muslims who came into India on horseback stood for!

The Padres who accompanied the conqustadores wanted to establish Christianity - in a way they also wanted to plunder- not wealth but souls! If you think the Mayans should be grateful for that - you just don't get it.

The Indians also might have gotten a few things from Arabs because they were traders and traders visit many lands and gather ideas. The Arabs might have improved many ideas - also true. But looking back at India or South America, I am convinced that had the Christians and Muslims NOT come there, these two civilizations would still have lived well and prospered. India would have been spared the rape and destruction of an ancient culture in the name of Allah, and the Mayans a genocide in the name of Christ.

Does it not strike you as ridiculous to think that wherever the Islamic marauders and Christian Plunderers did succeeed in destroying an existing culture completely, today we have death and destruction and chaos unbounded? Examples? All of the so called 'Islamic' world Egypt foremost among them - the pharaonic culture survived for thousands of years and had advanced scientific ideas while worshipping animistic dieties. Lo and Behold the one true light arrives in Egypt and what happens? It destroys ancient temples, and burns down the library of Alexandria! As for misery inspired by the Christians just look at all of Latin America and South america.

But I admit, the Hindus seem to have fared better than the Mayans. So if it makes you feel any better Ghulam, Muslims did not succeed in wiping out the Hindus like the Christians did with the Mayans. But lest you start gloating that it was because 'Islam' was tolerant, beware, they really tried hard in India to do the same. Or for that matter guess what they did to the largest church in Europe? ooops, they burned half of it down and turned it into a Mosque! Whither tolerance?!

Google it if you want to see the atrocities in India. :-) I am sure you will find some. I am too bored to waste time loking it up and paste it here.

You can google all you want but it will not help unless you see the truth for what it is.

By the way - where is my old friend Bushmakewar...? I miss his constant calls to ban 'this Jewish fanatic WeisskoPH'! Don't tell me HE got Banned! :-)

The founders of israel were indeed atheist secularists.
However, they have not hesitated to USE religion to maintian their power and support by the american christians.

ansik28- what makes you think muslims HAVE NOT done so already?

have you looked?

http://ammanmessage.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=97

http://www.iumsonline.net/english/index.shtml

go take a look dear.
then come back and tell us what you've learned.

What has happened to good Islam is the question? Islam is a beautiful way of life. The beauty of Islam is here, present and has nothing to do with being a westerner or modern! Look at our beloved Prophet and how he dealt with man kind, look at one of our leaders Sullahuddin! They ruled with peace and love, they were respectful to their jewish and christian brothers! Lets not forget the Abysinnian King that gave Refuge to the Sahabah! When people truly Love Allah acts of kindness prevail! Not murder, rape, injustice!
What people see today is through a blur of Capitalism, Politics and the Foggy media. During President Roosevelts reign civilian and military officials had concerns about the loyalty of the ethnic Japanese and considered them to be security risks, although these concerns often arose more from racial bias than actual risk. The American people allowed such inhumane treatment of the Japanese because the "japanese" were a threat! And yes it had everything to do with what they were getting from the media! Let's wake up and see past the smoke! Truth is If anyone ever took the time to read the Holy Quran they would see how beautiful it is in it's entirety. Has anyone ever read the old testament? In fact I was just reading the book of Deuteronomy and the people of Moses waged war on the innocent: on men, women and children (the gentiles) all to obtainn their bounty and blessings??? Let's not talk about what's actually inciting anything please. What is the excuse for the Ireali soldiers killing a bunch of innocent children in teh Gaza Strip? Is it fair to say It's JUDAISM...the cause of their horrific actions against the helpless? What else would it be? Besides the fact that we never hear about that on Cnn...or any of the Isreali crimes against humanity! Hmm? Has anyone not seen Warriors of God? Jews and Christians claim to be Warriors of God! Jewish Warriors have sacrificed their lives, blown things to smitherines all in the name of Yahweh! Christians...what really would they be fighting for? They have lost their word..their PURE word all thanks to the Councils of Nicaea and Jamnia! Their scripts were lost and changed forever....thus resulting in a Christian lifestyle that celebrates Pagan Holidays and distorted script that enforces Grace rather than THE LAW!

Islam has only incited protection of the poor, the oppressed regardless to what their faith is:

Suratul Nisa: 74. Let those fight in the cause of Allah Who sell the life of this world for the hereafter. To him who fighteth in the cause of Allah,- whether he is slain or gets victory - Soon shall We give him a reward of great (value).
75. And why should ye not fight in the cause of Allah and of those who, being weak, are ill-treated (and oppressed)?- Men, women, and children, whose cry is: "Our Lord! Rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from thee one who will protect; and raise for us from thee one who will help!"

How beautiful is that: That when you fight you fight forthe innocent and oppressed! To fight for the innocent...jewish, christian and muslim......the oppressed period! There is another Ayat In the Holy Quran that says when you kill one innocent...It is as if you have killed the whole of humanity! That type of action is FORBIDDEN in Islam! There is nothing in Islam that incites anger, rage or destruction.

In fact it has only been war, death, oppression, invasions, and destruction of a society that has bred this type of action! Let's keep it real! The bottom line is Evil cannot prevail unless GOOD men sit around and DO NOTHING! Im sure we can go back and forth all day! Stop arguing and work together to bring about peace...justice and change. We are all from the same essence of life. The laws of the Old Testament are what Muslims live by In the Holy Quran. People now days are too lazy to read and figure that out for themselves. The law of the Torah and the law of Quran is THE SAME!!!!!

Islam is still the same Islam that was given to us long ago! It's the same message that was revealed to the Beloved Prophet Abraham! Islam is the un-tampered TRUTH. I was once a Christian many many years ago :) The Quran says to STAND FIRMLY FOR JUSTICE, AS WITNESSES TO aLLAH EVEN AGAINST YOUR KIN, FRIENDS, RICH OR POOR! QUARN 4:13

I have many people in my family that are now out of the military. They say that too many times they were ordered to fire into crowds with women and children! I see my family struggle with that daily! This war is an example of why we will yet have another generation that fights below the belt to bring their point across if nothing changes! Look into the root of the issues...that's the only way you can began to fix them!

One cannot possibily think that there is something wrong with Islam, rather, one has to think that there is something wrong with those whoa are practicing Islam. Mainly because, we as Muslims are not living in the foot steps of our Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. and his companions. If we were, then people would be floking into Islam in doves instead of looking at Islam with a wiery eye. We have not studied our true religion of Islam. We as Muslims today are more worried about getting a Masters in Biology or chemistry, when we should be getting masters in fiqh, or Ph.D. in tafsiir of the Qur'an. If one the companion of the Prophet S.A.W. were to witness our action in present day, I think he would impose Jizyah upon us.

>> India would have been spared the rape and destruction of an ancient culture in the name of Allah <<

India was actually conquered by the Mongols who captured most of the Eastern part of the Islamic Empire of the time and then moved eastwards and took over India as well. Descendents of these Mongols settled down as Kings of India and were converted to Islam by the non-militant Sufis that constituted the Muslim presence in India up to that point. Babur as a result was the first Mughal (i.e. Muslim) emporer of India.

It was only near the end of the Mughal empire that the then King, Aurangzeb became militant towards local non-Muslim Indians, and this was mainly towards the unconquered southern tip of India which was ruled by small very militant states. Its questionable whether Aurangzeb waged war in the name of Islam, more likely he did so for conquest of lands or maybe a "Wag the Dog" style campaign to take the mind of other issues with the Mughal empire at the time. Or perhaps he was just a very militant prince and liked wars and stuff.

The only other violence against non-Muslim Indians at the time was by the Afghans/Pushtuns who used to come across the Punjab and so-called "horde" the western extermities of the Indian empire vis-a-vis Gujrat and Rajahstan. Not sure about the nature of this, hindu historians promote this a lot and Muslim historians deny this happended, take your pick.

Muslims should not feel defensive about Militancy in Islam, more so insofar as making up so-called half-ass religions like "Moderate Islam" and "Good Islam" to distance themselves from militancy.

There is good and bad in the world. Bad people resort to violence and militancy to subjugate, oppress, cause misery to good people. "Turning the Other Cheek" to such bad people does not get you anything practically speaking. Unless you beat them with a stick, they dont go away. And often the bad people masquarade as good people (Americans in Iraq for instance), but I suspect they fool nobody but themselves.

Which is why Allah has allowed Muslims to fight defensive wars and to maintain armies of fighting men in order to discourage bad people from causing harm and fitna across the lands. And it has been decreed that armies are to be maintained by the rulers of the lands, not Robin Hood like characters such as OBL. This in order for their to be peace and transparency.

Which is why this whole terrorist concept is alien to Islamic Militancy. If America is indeed the enemy, then the particular Muslim state at odds with her, should openly declare that to be the case and there should be clear and open that so-and-so Muslim state is at war with so-and-so enemy. Your fighting men should fight with their fighting men and the common folks and the economy of the common people should not be harmed. Noble and Chivilrous. And that has been the case through the first 1,000 year history of Islam. And we as Muslims should not feel ashamed of that.

The example of Hitler and Nazi Germany comes to mind. Here was an evil man with evil intentions who built this great big army and went on a killing rampage across the lands. Did the Pope stop him? No. Or the Grand Mufti of Egypt perhaps? It took a vast amount of military apparatus to defeat the bugger. Nations had to join together, put together huge armies and even join forces with other evil empires (Stalin) to defeat Hitler. That Islam formalizes this pragmatism is a sign of its beauty and wisdom and emphasis towards PEACE. Nobody seems to villify all the death and mayhem caused by the Allied forces. Why is that? Because they were the "good guys" and the end result of their effort was PEACE. Duh.