A VIEW FROM THE CHEAP SEATS
By Rich Trzupek
Ellison's Challenge
The government �of the people, for the people and by the people,� passed a watershed moment in its history this month, as Keith Ellison (D-Minn) was sworn in as the nation�s first Muslim elected to Congress.
That is either a very good thing or a very bad thing, depending largely on what Ellison and his co-religionists make of the moment.
Ellison was sworn in using a copy of the Muslim holy book, the Quran, that was once owned by Thomas Jefferson. Not that Jefferson was a Muslim�he generally ducked religious conviction of any kind�but TJ was an avid reader and infinitely curious. The Quran was part of understanding the world for him, just as the Bible and �The Wealth of Nations� was.
By using Jefferson�s copy of the Quran, Ellison hoped to attach himself to the founding fathers. That�s great. But we should be more concerned about whether Jefferson�s ideas also attach themselves to Ellison and his fellow worshippers.
�Jefferson�s Quran dates religious tolerance to the founders of our country,� Ellison�s spokesman Rich Jauert said.
Indeed. That is entirely true. We are all for the religious tolerance of our founders. That�s not the problem with Islam today. What Americans worry about�and should worry about�is whether Islam itself follows the same principles.
Let�s take the suicide bombers, torturers and beheaders out of the equation. Let�s say that they don�t represent Islam today. Personally, I believe that this extremist element does not�in fact�represent the core beliefs of the religion. Some disagree, but I think these are just fanatics, and every religion has its fanatics.
So let�s focus on what we will call (for purposes of this column) mainstream, moderate Islam. What does that religion stand for? Does it stand for the tolerance it demands?
The Imams (Muslim Holy Men) are clear on several points. (Mind you, we�re talking the moderates here.) To them, the Quran is the final, all-encompassing Word of God. It trumps every other Holy Book ever written. It�s words may not be questioned, or even modified, by modern day thought.
So here�s Question #1 for Mr. Ellison: Do you accept or deny the infallibility of the Quran? And if you say�as your religion demands�that it is the whole truth, the only truth, how do you reconcile this belief with �tolerance,� of the Christians, Jews, Hindus, Bhuddists, etc., whose tolerance you demand?
Consider the words of one Mufti Ebrahim Desai, a moderate imam based in Britain who cheerfully answers questions about his religion on the internet. Here�s what he has to say about other religions:
�The book of Allah has signs of Haqq and truth within it. It is the choice of every understanding person to realize the truth of Islam and Deen and accept it. Allah states that the non-Muslims know the truth of Islam but reject out of pride and stubbornness. Allah states, �We have shown them both the paths (good and bad)� (Surah Balad). In another verse of the Quraan Allah exhorts, �Say (Oh! Muhammed) the truth has been revealed from your Rabb (Lord), whoever wishes to accept should do so and whoever wishes to reject should do so, Allah has prepared for those who reject, fire that would engulf them�(Surah Kahf).�
We are used to thinking about religion in terms of a journey. Our beliefs guide us toward the Ultimate Truth, but we�for the most part�believe that other people, of other beliefs, can search for the truth along their own path. Together, we�ll figure it out, for no absolute answers have been given. Islam�moderate Islam�disagrees. Muslims have been given the truth. Everything else is a deception.
Agree or disagree, Mr. Ellison?
The goal of Islam is to convert (or, as the Imams say to �revert��implying that the Islamic faith is the natural state of affairs) everyone to their religion. In a sense, that�s true of every religion. We all want everyone on our side. But there is a difference with Islam. Christians can appreciate Bhudda. Jews may not believe Jesus was Divine, but they believe he was an important prophet. Hindus look for harmony in every belief.
In Islam, failure to accept their religion�the final, definitive Word of God�is a horrible, life-altering mistake. To have heard The Word�and failed to accept it�effectively dooms the person involved. It�s everything that mainstream America despises about ultra-fundamentalist Christianity, magnified 10-fold. In the tone of many an ultra-fundamentilist Christian, our buddy the Mufti tells us why Muslims may not marry non-Muslims - ever:
�...the greatest one is that the beliefs of the Kufaar classify them as being impure (Najis) in their beliefs. How can it be possible for a muslim to have as a soul-mate a person who denies the existence of Allah, our Creator and Sustainer? Belief in Allah is the very essence and pivot of the life of a Muslim, thus a relationship with a disbeliever is impossible for a true Muslim.�
And women? The Quran�s position on women is clear. They were designed for a specific role�to be mothers and wives. They are not supposed to be leaders, in business or in government. It doesn�t matter if you�re Margaret Thatcher or Hillary Clinton, you place is in the home�serving your man. The book that Representative Ellison was sworn in on says so. Or to quote the Mufti:
�Human beings were also created for specific functions. Each one lending support to the other in its own way thereby assisting in the smooth functioning of the universe. The kingdom of a woman is her home. Her dominion reins over her children. The smooth running of the home depends on the woman. She is incharge of the domestic duties of the house. The moment she steps out of the house and ventures into the world, she will be lacking in her responsibilities, thereby corrupting the smooth running of the divine system of Allah.
Allah has bestowed man the capability to rule, become prime minister/president or simply speaking a leader of any community. Allah mentions, �Men are overseers over women.� (Nisaa 34)...�
If that nation�s first Muslim congressman, who expects tolerance from the rest of us, hopes to truly serve his country, he should address all of these issues.
Ellison should say that tolerance must reach in all directions. He should say that no religion�including his�has any right to be so righteous that it demands belief. He should say that every faith has something to offer and that no one should be so arrogant as to believe that he or she has all of the answers. He should say that he recognizes the contributions that women have made in America�in all aspects of public life�and that he supports their right to do so.
He should say that religion may offer a guiding light toward the ultimate goals we wall share�peace, prosperity and justice for all�but no one should be so arrogant as to say that their particular set of beliefs provides all of the answers life. He should say that every voice is worthwhile, even if that voice directly contradicts his personal beliefs. Most of all, he should say that it�s possible�just possible�that Quran sometimes gets it wrong.
If he has the guts to say all that, Rep. Ellison will do this nation a tremendous service. He will have done Thomas Jefferson proud. And that�s what we all want, right?
