Posted on Dec 7, 2015
Shiite Muslims hold anti-terrorism rally in Washington
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From The Washington Post
Recommended read for folks here who claim Muslims don't speak out against terrorism.
Hundreds of Shiite Muslims turned a major annual spiritual ritual into an anti-terrorism rally Sunday, marching, singing and praying for hours from trendy Dupont Circle to the White House as tourists and brunch-goers rubbernecked.
Connecticut Avenue was a sea of black as Shiites mostly from the D.C. region waved banners with the name of their spiritual forefather, Imam Hussein, and pounded their chests with their fists simultaneously as an expression of mourning. His martyrdom 1,400 years ago is a major part of Shiite narrative and a defining event in the break between Shiite and Sunni Muslims, and is marked annually. A few days ago, more than 22 million Shiites and others visited the Iraqi city of Karbala in a pilgrimage to the place where Hussein died.
But this year the event twinned as a peace march. Muslims — including head-covered women, young children and hipsters with man buns on hoverboards — held signs condemning terrorism and the Islamic State and handed out hot chocolate and doughnuts in an effort to open conversations with passersby.
Some American Muslim groups and prominent U.S. Muslims have been making extra public efforts since the recent terrorism-related killings in San Bernardino, Calif., to speak against the Islamic State terrorist group, which is also known as ISIS, and radical Islamists.
“What’s happening now is we feel even more compelled to come out of our homes,” said Zehra Raza, 27, an electrical engineer from Alexandria, Va., who was at the rally with her husband.
The crowd was smaller than in past years, she and others said, because many Muslims were afraid of being harassed or targeted with violence. Such incidents have been on the rise. Many police officers were on hand, and there were no obvious protests against the rally.
When the crowd arrived at Lafayette Park across from the White House, tourists pulled out their cellphones. One group from Poland attempted in broken English to explain to a pair from Colombia what was going on.
“Some [Muslims] were afraid, but I think this is the perfect time to come out and stand with people who are oppressed. ISIS is the same as what Hussein was fighting 1,400 years ago,” Raza said.
ISIS has persecuted Shiites — among other religious minorities — in Syria and Iraq, called them infidels and killed them.
As Raza spoke, and offered strangers Krispy Kreme doughnuts, a woman from outside the group approached her to offer support and give her a hug. “God bless. Or whomever bless — the universe bless,” the woman said as she walked away.
Many of the signs echoed the views of marchers — that Shiites are victims of ISIS, and in particular of the Wahhabi branch of Islam that dominates Saudi Arabia. The front row of the marchers was a phalanx of young boys holding posterboards with words such as “Americans unite against Wahhabi terrorism,” “Muslims against ISIS” and “American Shia Muslims stand with the victims of San Bernardino.”
Ali Alkhafa, 23, a University of Maryland student who grew up in California but was born in a Saudi refugee camp, said Muslim Americans are hindered from being a louder voice against terrorism by their own internal divisions.
“Muslims aren’t as vocal as we need to be,” he said as the sound of men thumping their chests punctuated the air. “It’s cultural. We’re welcoming but not as open to one another as we should be. My folks’ generation are still isolated [by ethnic group], but my generation is really open.”
The crowd appeared conservative. Men and women marched mostly separately, and women’s heads were covered. However, participants said they were more ideologically diverse, and were deferring to the more traditional gestures out of respect for one another. In the mix were convenience store managers, emergency room doctors and chemistry teachers.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/shia-muslims-hold-antiterrorism-rally-in-washington/2015/12/06/03b2bf80-9c81-11e5-8728-1af6af208198_story.html?tid=sm_fb
Recommended read for folks here who claim Muslims don't speak out against terrorism.
Hundreds of Shiite Muslims turned a major annual spiritual ritual into an anti-terrorism rally Sunday, marching, singing and praying for hours from trendy Dupont Circle to the White House as tourists and brunch-goers rubbernecked.
Connecticut Avenue was a sea of black as Shiites mostly from the D.C. region waved banners with the name of their spiritual forefather, Imam Hussein, and pounded their chests with their fists simultaneously as an expression of mourning. His martyrdom 1,400 years ago is a major part of Shiite narrative and a defining event in the break between Shiite and Sunni Muslims, and is marked annually. A few days ago, more than 22 million Shiites and others visited the Iraqi city of Karbala in a pilgrimage to the place where Hussein died.
But this year the event twinned as a peace march. Muslims — including head-covered women, young children and hipsters with man buns on hoverboards — held signs condemning terrorism and the Islamic State and handed out hot chocolate and doughnuts in an effort to open conversations with passersby.
Some American Muslim groups and prominent U.S. Muslims have been making extra public efforts since the recent terrorism-related killings in San Bernardino, Calif., to speak against the Islamic State terrorist group, which is also known as ISIS, and radical Islamists.
“What’s happening now is we feel even more compelled to come out of our homes,” said Zehra Raza, 27, an electrical engineer from Alexandria, Va., who was at the rally with her husband.
The crowd was smaller than in past years, she and others said, because many Muslims were afraid of being harassed or targeted with violence. Such incidents have been on the rise. Many police officers were on hand, and there were no obvious protests against the rally.
When the crowd arrived at Lafayette Park across from the White House, tourists pulled out their cellphones. One group from Poland attempted in broken English to explain to a pair from Colombia what was going on.
“Some [Muslims] were afraid, but I think this is the perfect time to come out and stand with people who are oppressed. ISIS is the same as what Hussein was fighting 1,400 years ago,” Raza said.
ISIS has persecuted Shiites — among other religious minorities — in Syria and Iraq, called them infidels and killed them.
As Raza spoke, and offered strangers Krispy Kreme doughnuts, a woman from outside the group approached her to offer support and give her a hug. “God bless. Or whomever bless — the universe bless,” the woman said as she walked away.
Many of the signs echoed the views of marchers — that Shiites are victims of ISIS, and in particular of the Wahhabi branch of Islam that dominates Saudi Arabia. The front row of the marchers was a phalanx of young boys holding posterboards with words such as “Americans unite against Wahhabi terrorism,” “Muslims against ISIS” and “American Shia Muslims stand with the victims of San Bernardino.”
Ali Alkhafa, 23, a University of Maryland student who grew up in California but was born in a Saudi refugee camp, said Muslim Americans are hindered from being a louder voice against terrorism by their own internal divisions.
“Muslims aren’t as vocal as we need to be,” he said as the sound of men thumping their chests punctuated the air. “It’s cultural. We’re welcoming but not as open to one another as we should be. My folks’ generation are still isolated [by ethnic group], but my generation is really open.”
The crowd appeared conservative. Men and women marched mostly separately, and women’s heads were covered. However, participants said they were more ideologically diverse, and were deferring to the more traditional gestures out of respect for one another. In the mix were convenience store managers, emergency room doctors and chemistry teachers.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/shia-muslims-hold-antiterrorism-rally-in-washington/2015/12/06/03b2bf80-9c81-11e5-8728-1af6af208198_story.html?tid=sm_fb
Terrorism
Politics
Protest
Islam
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 22
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CPT Ahmed Faried
I was told that the Imam for the Mosque nearby, on Friday, gave an excellent speech regarding how ISIS and the like are hurting muslims, how violence is not the way, denouncing the actions of those in Paris, France and Farook/Malik in California. He encouraged members to not follow the path of violence. I was excited to hear this news of the Imam publicly speaking out and wanted to hear/read it for myself. I looked to see if I could find a copy of it online, but wasn't successful or I would share it with you. It's good news to know more are publicly speaking out against these extremist groups.
CPT Ahmed Faried Thank you for the post. It is an excellent read!
I was told that the Imam for the Mosque nearby, on Friday, gave an excellent speech regarding how ISIS and the like are hurting muslims, how violence is not the way, denouncing the actions of those in Paris, France and Farook/Malik in California. He encouraged members to not follow the path of violence. I was excited to hear this news of the Imam publicly speaking out and wanted to hear/read it for myself. I looked to see if I could find a copy of it online, but wasn't successful or I would share it with you. It's good news to know more are publicly speaking out against these extremist groups.
CPT Ahmed Faried Thank you for the post. It is an excellent read!
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CPT Ahmed Faried
I hope more forums will be given to like-minded imams so their message of tolerance and inclusion can reach and overpower more radical preaching.
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1stSgt Eugene Harless
American Muslims raise more than $100,000 for families of San Bernardino shooting victims
Faisal Qazi had no idea the shooters who massacred 14 people in San Bernardino last week were Muslims, like himself. The Pomona-based neurologist only knew that the victims and their families were his Inland Empire neighbors, and his faith obligated him to help.
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Good on them, and happy to see it. I wish it were a larger crowd, and I hope to see Christian and Jewish leaders and followers joining them in the future.
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Col Joseph Lenertz
Sgt Richard Buckner I agree with the sentiment. This represents one possible future path in the cultural "meeting" of West and East. One reason I said I wish it were a larger crowd: "Hundreds of Shite Muslims..." represents such a tiny percentage of Muslims, that it's almost meaningless. Unless the vast majority of moderate Muslims come forward, to shake hands with Christians and Jews and all faiths, in opposition to extremist Islamists, this article describes the future. As more people come to recognize the Muslim community is committed to NOT assimilate, fear will grow, and groups like the Soldiers of Odin will multiply.
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SGT Damaso V Santana
Col Joseph Lenertz - Agree with the comments, perhaps it is a tiny percentage because they were Shiite Muslims, I do not believe any Sunni were represented at this event. Shiite Muslims have been victimized together with Christians by ISIS and other Sunni groups.
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Excellent read. It is easy for people to fear that which is different. Even after all the deployments, I don't hate Muslims. I found most were hard working, good people just trying to get by like the rest of us. Every group has those who do evil things. We cannot judge the whole, by the actions of a few.
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There are over 1 billion muslims and only 44million support ISIS. Thats a tiny percentage. I have muslim friends, neighbors, my sons best freind is a muslim refugee from Kosovo. They are some of the best people in my life. I do not think the muslims who committ the atrocities for ISIS etc are even religious. If so I wonder what these radical clerics say to twist the teachings of their faith to allow for the horrific things they do.
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I have posted this before The classical Shafi‘i manual of law, "‘Umdat al-Salik" [The Reliance of the Traveller]
by Ahmad ibn Naqib al-Misri.
This the book of Islamic law. It is the defining edge of Islam. If you have doubt of the true intentions of Islam, look here.
“Jihad means to war against non-Muslims.” (Reliance o9.0.)
It is an annual requirement to donate a portion of one’s income to the betterment of the ummah (an obligation called zakat, which is usually, and inaccurately, translated as “charity” –zakat can only be given to Muslims and is designed strictly to fortify the Muslim community, not benefit the less fortunate generally); of this annual donation, one-eighth must be given to “those fighting for Allah, meaning people engaged in Islamic military operations for whom no salary has been allotted in the army roster…. They are given enough to suffice them for the operation even if they are affluent; of weapons, mounts, clothing and expenses.” (Reliance, h8.1-17.)
by Ahmad ibn Naqib al-Misri.
This the book of Islamic law. It is the defining edge of Islam. If you have doubt of the true intentions of Islam, look here.
“Jihad means to war against non-Muslims.” (Reliance o9.0.)
It is an annual requirement to donate a portion of one’s income to the betterment of the ummah (an obligation called zakat, which is usually, and inaccurately, translated as “charity” –zakat can only be given to Muslims and is designed strictly to fortify the Muslim community, not benefit the less fortunate generally); of this annual donation, one-eighth must be given to “those fighting for Allah, meaning people engaged in Islamic military operations for whom no salary has been allotted in the army roster…. They are given enough to suffice them for the operation even if they are affluent; of weapons, mounts, clothing and expenses.” (Reliance, h8.1-17.)
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MSG David Chappell
Taqiyya islamic concept of deceiving the infidels. Those who defend Islam have three methods of attack one ignore the question and restate their own opinion to miss direction work around the question and bring their own ideas into the argument and three attack the person personally. Calling someone Islam a phobic is a personal attack and it is amiss direction as you are not answering the question. If Islam is a peaceful religion and those who are committing the atrocities are not true Muslims then what of the ayatollahs in Iran who are the controlling force to the Callphate and Islam who are ordering the destruction of all religious artifacts not of Islam and the death of the nonbelievers. The true question here is do you understand what an ayatollah is.
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LTC Paul Labrador
CPT Ahmed Faried - Yes, Radical Islamists don't make up anywhere near the majority of the 1.6 billion Muslims in the world....yet they are the loudest voice and cause the most problems (and yes, makes you all look bad)....and yet the rest of the Muslim world does NOTHING about it. Even if the entire population of radical Islamists makes up less than 1% of Muslims worldwide (approx. 16million), there are still 1.5 BILLION left to clean house themselves. If Islam really wanted ISIS wiped off the map, you have more than enough people to do it yourselves. If Islam really wanted the Taliban or Boko Haram eradicated, you have more than enough people to do it yourselves. So is it begs the question WHY isn't Islamic nations policing themselves up? IS it because they are inept or lazy? Or because you don't really care (or secretly like) that there are whack jobs doing shit in your name?
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CPT Ahmed Faried
I wouldn't be presumptuous enough to speak for 1.8 billion Sir. But speaking for myself, clearly I denounce it and have fought against it over there and here.
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Ashura is a day of atonement and reflection for Shia Muslims.
It is very heartening to see them use the occasion to publicly denounce recent and long-standing acts of terrorism by radical Wahabbi.
It is a good start. I for one really appreciate the courage of the gesture.
It is very heartening to see them use the occasion to publicly denounce recent and long-standing acts of terrorism by radical Wahabbi.
It is a good start. I for one really appreciate the courage of the gesture.
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OK, where are the Sunni? Why wasn't the meeting together.....you folks can't get your act together until you can get your own house to stop the crazy crap. By the by, read the koran and all the stuff the jihadist are saying IS in that book, along with the haddith and hundreds of years worth of fatwahs and all the speechifying from all over the world. Sorry Capt. It Is About Islam.
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CW3 Jim Norris
Sir: 132 times the koran itself talks about hurting the infidel. Find one in the KJ New Testament.
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CW3 Jim Norris
2LT R. A. - Horse manure. The language in the constitution is quite understandable by anyone who is semi-literate. So to is the koran, read it, study a bit of history and get back to me on your opinion. Exactly what does belonging to the religion have to do with intellectually understanding it's dogma?
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CW3 Jim Norris
2LT R. A. - I do spell the word correctly – the Koran. I am not a follower and am not required to use a specific spelling of ANY book. I do however have knowledge of what’s in that ‘book’. The ranting of a pedophile gangster, with a sprinkling of ancient Jewish teaching sprinkled in. I quote the following to show you that not only are believers to pursue the globalization of the faith, but to not even befriend the rest of the world -
O you who believe! do not make friends with a people with whom Allah is wroth; indeed they despair of the hereafter as the unbelievers despair of those in tombs.
O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people
:1 A declaration of immunity from God and His apostle to the idolaters with whom you have made agreements:
Now we find that all others are to be slain -
For four months you shall go unmolested in the land. But know that you shall not escape God’s judgement, and that God will humble the unbelievers.
A proclamation to the people from God and His apostle on the day of the greater pilgrimage:
God and His apostle are under no obligation to the idolaters. If you repent, it shall be well with you; but if you give no heed, know that you shall not be immune from God’s judgement.
Proclaim a woeful punishment to the unbelievers,
except to those idolaters who have honoured their treaties with you in every detail and aided none against you. With these keep faith, until their treaties have run their term. God loves the righteous.
When the sacred months are over slay the idolaters wherever you find them. Arrest them, besiege them, and lie in ambush everywhere for them. If they repent and take to prayer and render the alms levy, allow them to go their way. God is forgiving and merciful.
If an idolater seeks asylum with you, give him protection so that he may hear the Word of God, and then convey him to safety. For the idolaters are ignorant men.
God and His apostle repose no trust in idolaters, save those with whom you have made treaties at the Sacred Mosque. So long as they keep faith with you, keep faith with them. God loves the righteous.
How can you trust them? If they prevail against you they will respect neither agreements nor ties of kindred. They flatter you with their tongues, but their hearts reject you. Most of them are evil doers.
As we find in a noted scholar, Wakidi was an early Muslim scholar and he wrote a history of Muhammad’s battles. Sir William Muir was a Christian and was one of the finest Islamic scholars of his day (19th century). He based his detailed four-volume biography of Muhammad, "Life of Muhammad"10 upon the works of Ibn Ishaq, Ibn Sa’d, Wackidi, Tabari, and the collections of Sahih Hadith. Starting on page 208 of volume 3:
Towards the close of the pilgrimage, on the great day of sacrifice, at the place of casting stones near Mina, Ali read aloud to the multitudes who crowded round him in the narrow pass, the heavenly command as follows:
Muir writes out 9:1-7, then continues on pages 210-11:
Having finished the recitation of this passage, Ali continued; - "I have been commanded to declare unto you that no unbeliever shall enter Paradise. No idolater shall after this year perform the pilgrimage; and no one shall make the circuit of the holy house naked. Whosoever hath a treaty with the Prophet, it shall be respected till its termination. Four months are permitted to every tribe to return to their territories in security. After that the obligation of the Prophet ceaseth."
The vast concourse of pilgrims listened peaceably till Ali ended. Then they broke up and departed every man to his home, publishing to all the tribes throughout the Peninsula, the inexorable ordinance which they had heard from the lips of Ali.
The passage just quoted completed the system of Mahomet so far as its relations with idolatrous tribes and races were concerned. The few cases of truce excepted, uncompromising warfare was declared against them all. No trace of idolatry was to survive within the expanding circle of the influence of Islam. And as Islam was the universal faith intended for all mankind, so its mission was now plainly set forth to be the absolute annihilation of idolatry throughout the world.
So violent Islam – yes proclaimed by the founder of the philosophy and further clarified by all clerics since. Why do not ‘moderate’ believers speak out against the violent acts - the truth of the matter is that it would require the repudiation of core teaching of the founder….yes even Mohammed the evil pedophile of the 4th century.
O you who believe! do not make friends with a people with whom Allah is wroth; indeed they despair of the hereafter as the unbelievers despair of those in tombs.
O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people
:1 A declaration of immunity from God and His apostle to the idolaters with whom you have made agreements:
Now we find that all others are to be slain -
For four months you shall go unmolested in the land. But know that you shall not escape God’s judgement, and that God will humble the unbelievers.
A proclamation to the people from God and His apostle on the day of the greater pilgrimage:
God and His apostle are under no obligation to the idolaters. If you repent, it shall be well with you; but if you give no heed, know that you shall not be immune from God’s judgement.
Proclaim a woeful punishment to the unbelievers,
except to those idolaters who have honoured their treaties with you in every detail and aided none against you. With these keep faith, until their treaties have run their term. God loves the righteous.
When the sacred months are over slay the idolaters wherever you find them. Arrest them, besiege them, and lie in ambush everywhere for them. If they repent and take to prayer and render the alms levy, allow them to go their way. God is forgiving and merciful.
If an idolater seeks asylum with you, give him protection so that he may hear the Word of God, and then convey him to safety. For the idolaters are ignorant men.
God and His apostle repose no trust in idolaters, save those with whom you have made treaties at the Sacred Mosque. So long as they keep faith with you, keep faith with them. God loves the righteous.
How can you trust them? If they prevail against you they will respect neither agreements nor ties of kindred. They flatter you with their tongues, but their hearts reject you. Most of them are evil doers.
As we find in a noted scholar, Wakidi was an early Muslim scholar and he wrote a history of Muhammad’s battles. Sir William Muir was a Christian and was one of the finest Islamic scholars of his day (19th century). He based his detailed four-volume biography of Muhammad, "Life of Muhammad"10 upon the works of Ibn Ishaq, Ibn Sa’d, Wackidi, Tabari, and the collections of Sahih Hadith. Starting on page 208 of volume 3:
Towards the close of the pilgrimage, on the great day of sacrifice, at the place of casting stones near Mina, Ali read aloud to the multitudes who crowded round him in the narrow pass, the heavenly command as follows:
Muir writes out 9:1-7, then continues on pages 210-11:
Having finished the recitation of this passage, Ali continued; - "I have been commanded to declare unto you that no unbeliever shall enter Paradise. No idolater shall after this year perform the pilgrimage; and no one shall make the circuit of the holy house naked. Whosoever hath a treaty with the Prophet, it shall be respected till its termination. Four months are permitted to every tribe to return to their territories in security. After that the obligation of the Prophet ceaseth."
The vast concourse of pilgrims listened peaceably till Ali ended. Then they broke up and departed every man to his home, publishing to all the tribes throughout the Peninsula, the inexorable ordinance which they had heard from the lips of Ali.
The passage just quoted completed the system of Mahomet so far as its relations with idolatrous tribes and races were concerned. The few cases of truce excepted, uncompromising warfare was declared against them all. No trace of idolatry was to survive within the expanding circle of the influence of Islam. And as Islam was the universal faith intended for all mankind, so its mission was now plainly set forth to be the absolute annihilation of idolatry throughout the world.
So violent Islam – yes proclaimed by the founder of the philosophy and further clarified by all clerics since. Why do not ‘moderate’ believers speak out against the violent acts - the truth of the matter is that it would require the repudiation of core teaching of the founder….yes even Mohammed the evil pedophile of the 4th century.
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Better late than never, and they have more to lose if ISIS like terrorism get a hold here. All that they worked for to build businesses and lives and community here would be damaged irrevocably. Radicals don't just go after non-muslims. They target other muslims that don't agree with them and won't join them or be extorted to fund them. They don't want the chaos.
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This is a great read, and I am pleased the Islamic community are speaking out. However, it must be both Sunni and Shiite speaking out. A combined and continuous effort is the only answer.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
CPT Ahmed Faried - Negative, but I do appreciate the passion of those who took part.
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