If you ever visit Arlington National Cemetery, as many are doing on this Memorial Day, you may notice that every now and then, a crescent pops up among the field of crosses. Few Americans are aware that many American Muslims have fought and died in the US Armed Forces, including in Iraq. When you wander the cemetery grounds that overlook Washington, DC, you'll notice the grave of Army Captain Humayun Khan, who lured a suicide car bomb away from the men in his charge, saving their lives but giving up his own.

You might also come across the grave of Army Spc. Rasheed Sahib, an American Muslim from Guyana who was killed in Iraq as well, under mysterious circumstances. And then there's Army Spc. Omead Razani, a son of Iranian immigrants who also died in Iraq. Also, Marine Staff Sgt. Kendall Damon Waters-Bey was killed in a helicopter crash on his way to duty in Iraq. In fact, you'll find the graves of fallen Muslim soldiers and Muslim veterans in military cemeteries all over the United States, from Hassein Ahmed (Army, WWII) to Ibrahim Muhammad (Navy, WWII), from Mahir Hasan (Army, Korea) to Abul Fateh Umar Khan (Air Force, Korea).

Today, nearly 15,000 Muslims serve in the US Armed Forces, under situations of conflicting loyalties and misunderstanding both by their non-Muslim colleagues as well as other Muslims. "We don't have to prove anything," said Imam Ghayth Nur Kashif, a Korean War veteran and former counselor for the Muslim American Military Association. "Many of us were born here so it's really kind of an insult for people to question are you an American."

The question to ask is:

Should these Muslims be considered martrys?(insert smile followed by confused look)

Salaam,

I don't celebrate those muslims who died in the usa christian military fighting to take over a muslim country; killing muslims with every bomb that they dropped. ALLAH says that He forgives all sins except shirk.
The question is, Bro. Basit: Will ALLAH forgive them for being on the side of the unbelievers in their War against Islam???

There are many reasons why someone joins the US military; economics, manliness, belonging, patriatism,....

Allah knows the hearts of his believers and He knows what were in the hearts of these Muslims in the US military.

Before we judge the intentions of these folks, one should look in their own backyards. And the Muslim backyard is hardly clean...what about Muslims killing Muslims in the name of what????Definitely not Islam!!!

Anyways...

how can a muslim be a muslim when he fights with the kuffaar against his fellow muslims, killing his brothers in iraq or wherever it is then he is commemorated with a cresent and a star on his grave stone ,, Allahu akbar what an honor to die while killing your fellow muslims some manliness and patriatism that is .. any muslim who does not see something wrong with that picture is messed up in some way,, fighting with an army who aims to kill your kind ,, thats like an immigrant in the KKK. intentions aside the prophet alaihi asalaam already clarified for us who the muslim is, the muslim is the one who does not harm his fellow muslims with his tongue or hands. so with that said i think the intentions are out the window and also the deeds are by the intentions as the prophet alaihi asalaam said it does not mean one can go and kill another muslim with the intention of being manly or patriotic and get away with it.. I ask Allah to forgive our brothers and sisters who have taken that path if they deserve his forgiveness. ameen .
as for muslims killing muslims they way you said that is just so ignorant and uneducated, you basically are trying to justify the killing of muslims??!! the prophet alaihi asalaam said about the 2 muslims who draw their swords to kill each other the killed and the killer are in hell... why is that? he was asked he alaihi asalaam said because both of their intentions were to kill each other.
also another hadeeth in bukhari says that : the slave (of Allah) is still safe in his deen as long as he does not incur upon himself blood unlawfully. such as murdering an innocent or killing someone ..for no reason, so its not something to say about everything is forgiven except shirk.. it is a major sin and requires repentance that may or may not be granted and Allah knows best.

Muslims have been fiercely killing each other, and sometimes quite randomly since the time of the Righteous Caliphs. This doesn't need clarification. But what if these guys are genuinely fighting a tyrrany? What if the fight is against injustice? I don't speak for those currently fallen in battle on both sides .. but if muslims are under tyrannical rule .. what guides the believer in that situation? The terrorist cells are killing muslims just as blatantly (but declaring them kaafeer while doing it).

I think that even as occupiers, the current american military serves no different purpose for iraqis than Saddams previous army did. It might even be said that they're better suited to killing muslims because they don't discriminate against heritage or appearance or other cultural background.

** I'm in no way condoning the war or even validating muslim participation (on either side of the fighting) .. I just think the questions are pertinent

This situation is not as clear cut as ridhwaan makes it out to be. We should remember that Muslims poured chemicals on Muslims under the command of a tyrant now shown in underwear and found in the hole in the earth. To bring him down, even if means fighting against his supporters, no matter their faith, seems absolutely necessary. The fact that America had to do it is actually an embarrasment and an exposure of the Muslim impotence to bring about political change. The fact that a leader can kill his own citizens with impunity and still remain in power is something to lament, perhaps with greater sorrow than what's happening now in Iraq. It is conceivable to make one's intention to bring down a tyrant, even if it means fighting with other than Muslims. What should really disturb you, ridhwaan, is the fact that a Muslim can only fight against a tyrant when someone else starts it. Your argument and quoting of hadith is transparently superficial and, actually, vexing. We should remember that Salah al-Din had to fight against Muslims before turning his attention toward elsewhere. The so-called insurgency in Iraq should be defeated and humiliated, for they offer no alternative and world view other than duping desperate men to drive and blow themselves up at a marketplace or police station, killing people who only want to make a living for their families. Now that, ridhwaan, should really piss you off. -- migocup

Migocup, the issues of chemical warfare abuse of power, tyranny, etc. are all abhorable and forbidden in Islam. It is reported in a saheeh hadith that Allah does not change the situation of an Ummah until its members work for change themselves. We can consider political/social reform as a part of this change. Equally distressful is the notion that Muslims feel the need to rely moreso upon others for change. As this dependency relates to warfare, there is immense wisdom behind the instructions to prevent Muslims from fighting fellow Muslims unjustly. With the global arena being dominated by the West, etc for the last few centuries, we are not quite sure if their interests corresponds to that of the Ummah--that is to build a better Ummah on a strong Islamic foundation through democratic and other postive change. As for Salahideen, his pre-Crusade campaigns were not for the sake of conquest, nor for economic gain, but to unify a Muslim world that was already terribly fractured and disunited and that was facing threats of Crusade occupation and invasion because of the weakness associated with such disunity. His treatment of Muslim subjects was exemplary even to Christian Europe.

The point, Motazz, was to rebuff absolutist understanding of a situation that is complex and not so clear cut. Trite solutions for tangled issues are a put off and thoroughly boring. I can't stand to read them, nor should they be considered as a serious part of the discussion. No one is talking about the slave trade from Iraq, for example, as dirty men kidnap Muslim girls and take them to Kuwait to be sold as sex slaves, for which, apparently, there is a market. This is not from American press releases, but from Muslims in the region who actually struggle against this and fail to make the news. The degree of corruption in the Muslim east is so systemic, it makes the west's issues seem like boys town. We need to wake up, that's all, and stop with these comforting pills we take.

I understand your point, and I hope you understand mine. My main concern is that we (the Muslims) be the MAIN initiators of change/improvement, and not "wait" for others to do so, or not to think that it's hopeless if we ourselves attempt and struggle for change. In the Muslim world, we need an active civil society with reasonable degree of independence. In some countries, there are actually very active civil societies, but are heavily regulated. The devlpt of vibrant and independent civil society naturally contributes to a system where authority is, to various degrees, accountable and transparent. I believe this can be done within an Islamic inspiration, as we have much to learn from the Righteously-Guided Caliphs and the rest of Islamic history, and as we have much to build to upon as well. Various elements of the Intl community can be, and in fact has been helpful, in trying to build such civil society sectors in the Muslim world and elsewhere. This is commendable. But, ultimately, there is no substitute for the role of domestic civil society in the the areas of reform/improvement. Scholarship has shown that there is no substitute for devlpt and strengthening of domestic civil society, not even internationally or foreign-based initatives can be substitutes. If this was the case, foreign aid could have wiped out poverty and the so-called "north-south" gap. But the receipt of foreign aid, has in fact to a very large degree, further contributed propelled and reinforced the existing corruption, the existing abuse of power, and the neglect of the principles of accountability and responsible governance. Finally, the recipes for reform/improvement cannot be negotiated from a position of perceived weakness. Because the Muslim world is behind the West, Muslims are likely to view that anything coming from the outside will be "imposed" upon them. Here, the West needs to understand Muslim sensitivities and needs to incorporate Muslims as a primary partner--not subject--of proposals for reform. The West also needs to limit itself to an advisory role, so as to give Muslims assurance of their intentions.

Migocup: do not use Salahideen's efforts- to unify the Ummah and to re take the Holyland-as justification for joining the armys of the non believers as they invade and colonize muslim countries, killing hundreds of thousands of muslims in those countries in the process. There is NO justification in joining the armies of the enemies of Islam.
Corruption, no one living in the USA or any western nation can point fingers at any other society. Every day we read about young American children being raped and killed, or killed and then raped. These are only the children of the racial mainstream America, the press doesn't bother to publicize the missing and victimized children in the ghettos of the USA.
Remember the 'terrible' Taliban govt of Afghanistan that came into power to put some type of sanity back into a lawless,and utterly corrupt situation that Afghanistan had deteriorated into after the USA helped them defeat the USSR. The Taliban govt came into existence to rid their home of rape,kidnappings, tribal warfare,etc. The type of horrors that you say exist between Iraq and Kuwait today, may not have existed under a strict islamic govt.
My thoughts may be simplistic or absolutist , but I've lived long enough to know that ALLAH's dictates are the best best possible solution. Now, what man does with ALLAH's laws may be extreme and/or unjust, but we are allowed to change those who are our leaders in Islam.

Bilquis, I'm sure you are sincere in what you're saying. But still, the point is missed. Muslims find strange solace and relief in finding fault elsewhere as a way to ignore the crap that's happening in our so called "Muslim world." The fact is: Muslims have tried the method of "doing nothing" to change their political conditions for the best, and so far, it hasn't worked. And there were no signs that anything was going to change. The so-called Islamic movements were failures, and have been from the start. It had to take an army from the west to drop to their knees a man and system that was utterly corrupt. The Muslims did nothing. Absolutely nothing. The situation now is chaotic, but I pray for the best, for the beginnings are always difficult. --Migocup

I don't know how corrupt Saddam was, but he only became utterly corrupt when he was no longer useful to his master: USA. Plus, with all the WMD's that the US has a mere frown from this govt would have caused that utterly corrupt puppet to behave. He even asked the USA for permission to invade Kuwait.
I don't understand Migocup's- logic, the USA has invaded a muslim country and is responsible for the death of hundreds of thousands of its people. For fifteen years the USA has bombed and blockaded the people of Iraq, because of their leader-one man!!! Well, now the muslims are doing something about this invasion, but you and the people of your elk call them terrorists and insurgents. I know who the enemy is, but I don't know who my friends and brothers are.

Migcup, Bilquis has a good point. I mean it is the good old Usa that tolerates and support these corrupt regimes in the Muslim World.

To be honest, I think once tourism is facilatated in the Muslim world, the Muslim world will be better off and the west will be happy again. I say improve the tourism industry and many Muslim problems will vanish.

Yea Tourism......

What do you mean that muslims have done nothing to change their political situations? The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, the Iranian muslims who overthrew the Shah, the Palestinian Mujahadin, the brothers who have struggled against the corrupt Sauds and so on. Where are they now? Tortured, killed, or imprisoned by their puppet govts: puppets to the West and the USA. Muslims have struggled to rid themselves of tyranny, but the struggle hasn't been pretty. The western imperialism is very sophisticated, it allows civil disobedience, and a few nonviolent demos to keep their subjects tranquil. Bro. Malcolm said that the revolution(jihad) will be bloody, and that's frightening to us, westernized muslims, and our benefactor.

Egypt, Iran, Palestine, Pakistan, Syria: "meet the new boss, same as the old boss," or, "meet the old boss, still there!" There's nothing empowering about boohooing the world. What's empowering is finding our own faults, for that's what is closest in our realm of influence, not the "hegemony of the west." Better luck stopping a huricane.

True, the Shah is gone, but a new tyranny took over. Jailed and "disappeared" journalist and opposition (they work for the cia? right?).

Saddam's corruption was bad when he still was DC's lap dog. His "discovery" as an evil tryant by the West, however convenient that may be, does not lessen his despotism nor calls it into question. We have ethics, no matter who signs on or off. A duck is a duck.

Migocup

Insha Allah this is my last comment on this issue, because as you(Migocup) said 'finding our own faults is empowering'. While the hegemony of the west is bombing us back into the 19th century, muslims-progressives,apologists, and the lapdogs-are blaming the victims and those who decide to fight the invaders. You are our problems, that's why France, Russia, and now the USA govts promote these moderate/western muslims. You are our biggest problems;
some people refer to your type as uncle toms.

migocup... its sad that you think that america is liberating the iraqis,, if it wasnt for the oil saddam would still be in power right now.. and try to understand islamic history when you read it,, i dont want to start an argument here but i think its pretty clear that you dont.. the prophet alaihi asalaam and the quran have all the answers for the muslim ummah today but many of the muslims dont apply it as a result we have whats happening in palestine, iraq, russia, and all over the muslim world but the day the muslims start applying their deen they will succeed and their problems would be finished if the muslims all over the world were united i dont think america would be anyones backyard except their own.. the sex slave trade you talk about none of this is confirmed there are problems but not to the degree that you say it is the muslim world has its problems because of the state it is in today ,, if we look at history spain was taken over from the muslims because the deen wasnt their priority anymore and the same happened for many others as for the suicide bombers yeah ill tell you its stupid islam prohibits it but what makes a person blow himself up im not justifying it but for someone who has seen his people family members friends being killed on a daily basis i think it would be very easy for him to retaliate in this way if he has no other choice,,

about islamic movements failing many of them are not what islam really is and they are not organized they just want power and be in charge Allah does not give success to those organizations whose intentions are gaining power and wealth ,, like in palestine there are a number of groups and individuals each doing their own thing one bombs here one there and then the others are trying to run a government??? same as iraq and afghanistan they may as well be american states now.. the governments there are true american puppets none of these governments have islam on their agenda they its all secular if islam was on their agenda america would not be involved not because they wouldnt want to but because they would not be allowed to so yeah the regimes were corrupt but the new democratic governments installed by the usa are even more corrupt,, like i said before the muslims will be humiliated like this until they return to their deen.

I think, Balquis, you're the lapdog who can't see past the victim mentality, who finds relief in being controlled by situations beyond their control and then think they're being pious and godly. Think before you throw out words like that.

And as Ridhwaan, what the hell are you talking about. Put words in my mouth and then strike at them. Grow up, man. We have to get past rage and toward empowerment, to focus on what we can change for the better. Read the seerah, for God's sake.

Over and out.

migocup

To be honest I can't help but have mixed feelings when the issue of Muslims in the military comes up. On the one hand, given the nature of US foreign policy in the world, being in the military most likely means being sent half-way around the world to kill other Muslims. So from that perspective any Muslim should have great reservations if they are going to even consider entering the US armed forces.

On the other hand, if we assume for a moment that maybe the US military is sincerely being used to promote stability and democracy in the Middle East (or at least if we temporarily look past the big moral issue mentioned above) then military service seems like an exceptional way for American Muslim to prove that we aren't some kind of fifth column lurking in corners looking for stuff to blow up.

It's a difficult topic all the way around. I think there are certain sectors (FBI, military, law enforcement) which we might accuse of being biased against Muslims, but if Muslims don't enter those sectors and work and contribute it is hard for those attitudes to change.

But if we did enter those fields and contributed to make the nation safer in more significant visible ways then we would also help set the agendas for those communities. e.g. So the FBI might do more against white supremacist militias, etc.