The Two Faces of the Ground Zero Mosque
More pointedly, throughout Islam’s history, whenever a region was conquered, one of the first signs of consolidation was/is the erection of a mosque atop the sacred sites of the vanquished: the pagan Ka‘ba temple in Arabia was converted into Islam’s holiest site, the mosque of Mecca; the al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site, was built atop Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem; the Umayyad Mosque was built atop the Church of St. John the Baptist; and the Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque upon the conquest of Constantinople.
(In 2006, when the Pope visited the Hagia Sophia in Turkey, there was a risk that the “Islamic world [would go] into paroxysms of fury” if there was “any perception that the pope is trying to re-appropriate a Christian center that fell to Muslims” — this even as Muslims today seek to build a mosque on the rubble of the Twin Towers.)
Such double standards lead us back to the issue of double meanings. As for the literal wording of the mosque project, “Cordoba House,” it too offers opposing paradigms of thought: to Westerners, the English word “house” suggests shelter, intimacy — coziness, even; in classical Arabic, however, the word for house, dar, can also mean “region,” and is regularly used in a divisive sense, as in Dar al-Harb, i.e., “infidel region of war.” Thus, to Muslim ears, while “Cordoba” offers allusions of conquest and domination, dar is further suggestive of division and separation (from infidels, a la the doctrine of al-Wala’ wa al-Bara’, for instance).
Words aside, even the mosque’s scheduled opening date — 9/11/2011 — has two aspects: to Americans, opening the mosque on 9/11 is to proclaim a new beginning with the Muslim world on the ten-year anniversary of the worst terror strikes on American soil; however, it just so happens that Koranic verse 9:111 is one of the loftiest calls for suicidal jihad and is probably the reason al-Qaeda originally chose that date to strike. So while Americans may think the mosque’s planned 9/11 opening is meant to commemorate that date, it may well be a cryptic evocation for all out war. A “new beginning,” indeed, but of a very different sort, namely, the propagation of more Islamists and jihadists — mosques are, after all, epicenters of radicalization — on, of all places, soil sacred to America.
Some final thoughts on the history of Cordoba and the ominous parallels it bodes for America: though many Christian regions were conquered by Islam prior to Cordoba, its conquest signified the first time a truly “Western” region was conquered by the sword of Islam. It was also used as a base to launch further attacks into the heart of Europe (until decisively beaten at the Battle of Tours), just as, perhaps, the largest mosque in America will be used as a base to subvert the rest of the United States. And the sacking of the original Cordoba was facilitated by an insider traitor — a warning to the U.S., which seems to have no end of traitors and willing lackeys.
Such, then, is the dual significance of the Cordoba Initiative: What appears to many Americans as a gesture of peace and interfaith dialogue, is to Muslims reminiscent of Islamist conquest and consolidation; mosques, which Americans assume are Muslim counterparts to Christian churches — that is, places where altruistic Muslims congregate and pray for world peace and harmony — are symbols of domination and centers of radicalization; the numbers of the opening date, 9/11/11, appear to Americans as commemorative of a new beginning, whereas the Koranic significance of those numbers is suicidal jihad. Of course, the two faces of the Cordoba House should not be surprising considering that the man behind the initiative, Feisal Abdul Rauf, also has two faces.
Going along with the historic analogy, there is one bit of good news: As opposed to the vast majority of onetime Western/Christian nations annexed by Islam, Spain did ultimately manage to overthrow the Islamic yoke. Though only after some 700 years of occupation.
I just hope that you and other bloggers and commentators can convince the mosque’s supporters – in this case, american New Yorkers – in time.
I love the idea of building a mosque, not only in NewYork but any where around the world. All the different refreces made inregards to the new cordoba mosque are only allusions that have nothing to do with reality. My advice is stop all blind hatred of Muslims because that and only that is what brought about the tragedy of 911.
OK if Christians can start building churches in Mecca. Maybe Medina also? What about new churches anywhere in Saudi? No? Lets compromise how about just Bibles?
Hey FM—–Good vone. That goes for ANY other religion or people-group existing in Muslim territory.
I love the idea of building statues of Hitler not only in Tel-Aviv but anywhere in the world. All the different refreces made inregards to the new “SS Totenkopf Verband” building are only allusions that have nothing to do with reality. My advice is stop all blind hatred of Nazis because that and only that is what brought about the tragedy of Auschwitz.
Cn you tell me the conceptual differences between both texts?
My suggestion is to not be the guy trying to build one.
My suggestion too (and I would like it would be an equally bad idea to be the guy trying to build a mosque in New York) also I hope it was clear enough I was just deriding what this useless idiot has written.
Henry,
I hope you are merely ignorant and not a willful fool.
There is (and was) no “blind hatred of Muslims” prior to our being attacked. America helped stop the genocide of muslims in Kosovo, as well as Kuwait.
After 9/11 there was virtually NO violence perpetrated against Muslims OR mosques.
Muslims (both Islamists AND their “Moderate” enablers have no concept of freedom (Islam translates out to “submission”) and a virtually total rejection of Wester Values (Freedoms of religion, expression, etc)
We were not attacked for “Fighting Islam”, we were attacked because of our values and for supporting the ONLY democracy in the mid-east.
The fact that you can support a mosque so close to ground zero causes me to wonder how firm your grounding in reality is.
Can you please point to any evidence of the masses exhibiting ‘blind hatred’ toward Islam before 9/11 (or even after)?
I would submit that America is FAR more tolerant of Islam than Islamic countries are of Christianity or Judiasm, or even Muslims themselves are of the West.
Henry: Why do you “love” the idea of a mosque at Ground Zero? Or “any where arouund the world”? You write “All the different refreces made inregards to the new cordoba mosque are only allusions that have nothing to do with reality. My advice is stop all blind hatred of Muslims because that and only that is what brought about the tragedy of 911.” Did you mean “illusions,” and not “allusions”? You really need to straighten out your grammar and acquire a greater vocabulary. That being said, are you implying that because the West allegedly hated Osama bin Laden, he “lashed out” by sending planes into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a Pennsylvania field? We’d never heard of him until he made himself known. Guess that was gratitude for all the petrodollars extorted from us making him and his family richer than Bill Gates. Admit it: Islam is a war religion, and Muslims are its obedient manques.
May your sister dishonor your family.
Yallah Yallah Yallah
The US has sacrificed much to help muslims, much of this prior to 911. The idea that there is blind hatred of muslims in the US is taught in much of the muslim world and in all of the left wing universities. But like most things believed by the left, it just ain’t so.
Now if the muslims don’t stop trying to kill everyone who isn’t their brand of muslim, this situation could change.
“My advice is stop all blind hatred of Muslims because that and only that is what brought about the tragedy of 911.”
Yes, the blind hatred OF Muslims — their hatred for the West — is what brought about 9/11.
Read up on those who carried out the 9/11 atrocities. They came from advantaged families, received Western educations. The United States (stupidly) welcomed them in despite no evidence they could support themselves in the US, and tolerated their presence even after some of them overstayed their visas. They were treated well — and in return they murdered thousands.
They did that because they believed their “Allah” would reward them with an eternal paradise for murdering innocent men, women, and children who made the mistake of not acknowledging the Arab imperialist cant named “Islam”.
I love the idea of the Star Spangled Banner being raised daily by US Marines over the Kabaa.
You’re obviously a bloody fool, Henry, which renders your opinion on the matter moot.
I’m sure Obama will attend the opening of the mosque. He will say that it’s a symbol of our wanting to have “better relations” with the Muslim world. I would rather have him visit Guantanamo Bay and shake hands with the troops there. I think that would send a much better message to Islamic thugs trying to kill us: Don’t mess with the United States or else, if you do manage to live after we attack you, you’ll end up here. Fat chance that will ever happen with a president like this. I’m just surprised Obama didn’t allow the mosque to actually be built right ON ground zero.
Jihad Victory Mosque would be a more appropriate name.
great post, with few words…An Islime Mosque at that location is a bigger “invitaion” than the one we sent Islime in the 1990s to please, please come topple the World Trade Center.
Yes, in the language of the middle east we sent an invitation then and this one is a bigger more demanding invition than the one we sent: to please, please topple World Trade Center in the name of Islime!
Yes, I understood the invitation then and refused to travel south of 40th Street, NY after Jan. 1999.
This war is a phoney weapons deal; the USA has already surrendered to Islime, the troops in Iraq and Afghan are only human sacrifice to “Islime”.
And that is a better and exactly accurate representaion of the actual market conditions than you get from the MSM today.
Scheduled opening date September 11, 2011.
Is there anyway to stop this? It should be located somewhere else.
Contamination of the ground with pig blood
In fact, that is not a bad idea. People living in NYC should stage such a slaughter although it would sure get the animal rights, PETA going. But it seems to be the only way to stop this steamroller. I will go to my grave convinced there have been bribes here. It is unbelievable to me that residents of NYC would not be swayed by the fact that the atomized remains of many innocent victims are resting at this site.
I completely agree – bribes and threats or both. $4.5 Million in cash for down payment with the remaining balance also paid in cash. I say follow the money – the lifestyles of those who voted yes, including Bloomberg. The CIA/FBI should be investigating them all.
the only people who have protested as an organized group (see AtlasShrugs blog and SIOA) have been labeled by the usual suspects as RACISTS and right wing extremists.(lions and tigers and bears OH MY!)
Anyone who does understand the two faced nature of Muslims in USA and can translate their code is vilified.
Thereis an excellent vid right here at pajamas of Walid Shoebat expalining the significance of the Obamantion beig erected in NYC.
We are living in backwards world now- truth is a hate crime and lies are good.
Welcome to the MUSLIM USA. Obama told you loud and clear- this is an ISLAMIC nation- bye bye American pie, sold my soul to Mohammed…………..
Excellently well put. It also behooves Americans to remember that Yasser Arafat repeatedly told his Arab Muslim followers to “ignore what I say in English; listen only to what I say in Arabic.” He’s not the only Muslim leader to employ that tactic. The Islamic world knows how few of us in Dar al-Harb can speak the Arabic language, and has succeeded in suborning a healthy fraction of those who can.
Exactly correct..
If we just talk and have understanding , I am sure we can all get along, maybe if I learn more about Islime; Islime says I can have two wives and beat them if they do not give me sex when I demand it; Islime says I can dump them or better yet murder them, whenever I want, and say it was honor killing and it is legal! Boy Islime is progressive and liberal, I new the American liberal women really just needed some real male domination to put them in their place! Now wonder Liberal women do not complain about Islime treatment of women, deep down they want it too! Just proving “liberism is a mental disorder!
There is actually a surah that pretty much states that it is okay for a Muslim to lie as long as it is for the benefit/advancement of Islam.
See the article on Taqiyya at Jihad Watch
Clearly the American perception thinking and the Islamic perception thinking are not alike or even remotely alike. That in turn translates into each party’s intentions resulting in different goals and strategies and of course different outcomes. It comes down to this…. who beats whom? America is at risk from Islam. Legally in a contractural sense there must be ” …a meeting of the minds” of the parties to a contract to be enforceable otherwise it is a voidable contract by the parties until again affirmed. It’s time to say ‘no’ to Islam/Sharia in the legislative realm and internally enforce civil compliance standards (intolerance, incitment to hatred, sedition etc) and close the border to immigration to all who donot pledge to assimulate and integrate. The time is 45 minutes to 12 for America.
it seems this is no longer an overseas contingency.
If this insult to 9/11 is ever built it will become a tourist destination for Muslims from all over the world, sort of a Mecca west. Only these pilgrims won’t be coming to pray, they will be coming to gloat.
For anyone who doubts the true purpose of the Ground Zero mosque, or questions Mr. Ibrahim’s revelations here, I suggest they read Amil Imani’s excellent article, “Understanding the Muslims’ Mindset.” Imani is an Iranian expatriate who dissects the authoritarian psychology of all Muslims (Sunni, Shiite, and in between) and why they are so passive and silent in the face of violent and stealth jihad waged by their brethren. The Cordoba mosque will not only be a flipping off of America, but will serve as another madrassa for the jihadists. Go here for Imani’s article. http://www.amilimani.com/ Required reading for all dhimmis, kaffirs, and those who refuse to become dhimmis or kaffirs and glory in their status as “infidels.”
See also the excellent analysis of the Arab/Muslim culture and mindset The Arab Mind by Raphael Patai. It always amazes me how Americans blindly operate under the assumption that everybody else on the planet thinks just like them.
See also Jihad Watch and any book by Robert Spencer. Pertinent is his current article in Front Page magazine re the trial of would-be Times Square car bomber Faisal Shahzad.
Only Islamic theology makes sense of Shahzad’s words and actions. In court Monday, Shahzad said he was retaliating against those who “attacked the Muslim lands.” ….
The idea that the allegedly indiscriminate killing done by Americans in Afghanistan and Iraq gives Shahzad a license as a Muslim to kill Americans indiscriminately in Times Square comes straight from the Qur’an: “The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto” (42:40).
there may still be hope
http://dnainfo.com/20100623/manhattan/downtown-community-board-may-withdraw-support-of-ground-zero-mosque
Downtown Community Board May Withdraw Support of Ground Zero Mosque Updated 3 hrs ago
If we were to build something in Iraq or Afghanistan (over our triumphs) we would be told we’re not be sensitive to the muslims, yet they want to build their ‘trophy mosque’ near their victory. They’re not being sensitive to us, nor do then have any wanton desire to try. Their goal is to spread islam, and show how ‘powerful’ they are. The promotion of this ideology and its accompying sharia law goes against all that is the United States. We exercise a seperation of church and state, they incorporate them as law. We promote through-out our republic, the rights of the person, they promote control over the person, slavery, having women be of lesser person than man, death to any who try to leave their ‘religion.
The PC world is slowly eroding our country, so we don’t make anyone ‘feel bad’.
We need to all stand up for our country, and if NYC wants to allow this to happen, we need to boycott them and let them know how the American people feel about the musilms putting up their ‘shrine’ to the ‘martyrs.
If New Yorkers are dumb enough to believe that the establishment of a permanent, immutable, once-established-can-never-be-removed Muslim Waqf in lower Manhattan by a descendent of the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood…is a gesture of “good faith”, then there is no hope for the survival of intelligent life on the planet.
Or at least no hope for the survival of intelligent life in NYC.
The symbology of the location, the proximity to ground zero, would be a huge feather in the cap for Islamists.
“Sabotaging the miserable house of the unbelievers from within” seems to be getting easier and easier.
Given the permanence of the once established Waqf in Islam, reclaiming Cordoba itself is part of the plan, returning Andalusia to its true owners and overseers in the new Caliphate.
The Ground Zero mosque is a terrible idea. I cannot even imagine what they were thinking when they greenlit it. It boggles the mind.
Americans, by and large, are so undereducated – and whether this is by leftist design or mere union inspired or “progressive” incompetence, is irrelevant. They have no concept of ME environments, of how the 7th century mind sees the post-Enlightenment culture and how it manipulates it by virtue of the west’s lack of understanding of the East’s cleverness.
The usual US response when it is discovered that you’ve been “had” is often legal, often physical, and always established in anger. Occasionally, the response takes on a different calibre when the presumed victims own armaments. However, it is never pretty as the US does not like it when someone gets their advantage – as the president has set up the country to swallow, already.
This isn’t a new situation, but the federal government which has determinedly dumbed-down the education system for 30-40 years faces the responsibility for this; and their response will be to look for my children’s friend: Notme.
Raymond: so what is the difference between you and Hitler?
or should I say what you and hitler have in common?
you are both vile, petheric anti semites and racists. Period.
so what is your point?
look here: I work in NYC and I witness the destruction of the towers
I smelled burnt bodies south of Union Square, I witnessed businesses
closing. who attacked us? Bin Laden who shares the value as you
and hitler does. Intolrance, racist, anti semite. that is who.
Look, I am a muslim and I HATE Islam and the mosque just as much as
I HATE any other reliogn. But I respect it. which you do not.
Instead of fueling the flame come up with a solution. But I hardly
doubt that you can. Just like Hitler and Bin Laden you can onlt think of genocide…
I am no fan of them building any f….ing mosque any where.
But to kill two billion muslims as you are suggesting is not
a sulotion either.. get over it..
Mirimam: could you be so kind as to indicate what aspects of Mr. Raymond Ibrahim’s article relate to Hitler, anti-Semitism, or a suggestion “to kill two billion Muslims”? Or are you referring to some other ‘Raymond’ besides the author?
Wondering if we’re on the same planet here, but maybe I missed a deleted post or something…..
No Hepzi — no deleted post or another Raymond. Miriam — who claims to be a Muslim and yet hates Islam — is just ranting and raving.
miriam did once claim that the govt of Israel is even worse than Hitler.
“Miriam rove: But I respect it. which you do not.”
respect is earned!! Period.
Until Muslim society earns it then they will receive it. Building a mosque at ground zero doesn’t earn it. Name a single Muslim county where Christianity/western-ism is allowed to be truly free?? Or its own people?
Why are so many Muslims fleeing their countries? And why don’t they flee to another “good” Muslim county??
We are a christian nation(mostly)…yet, you don’t see people fleeing christian countries to go to Muslim countries? hhmm why is that?
I am not a huge fan of any religion..whoever, Islam is dangerous..period. Until western society sees this we are in trouble.
What’s the difference between miriam and Hitler.
Hitler killed jews, miriam just wants them to die.
Obama just announced he fired McChrystal. Too bad its not the other way around.
Amen. I could have accepted a Military Overthrow and Summary Executions.
If that’s not racist I dont know what is.
Dear R.I. Iam deeply sorry to read that number of your US readers contest and argue subjectively and negatively your lines. These denote a total ignorance of the mahommedonian history which in order to implant his wrong faith by the force of the sword, did not miss to massacre hundred thousands of his jewish and christian fellow Arabs, that he attacked with a bestial ferocity without being confronted by any of them. The moslems who crossed, the later called, jabal tareq pass, sowed not only in Andalusia terror by massacring all infidels, jews and christians, who refuded to embrace their islam, but crossed the Alps, dug their way till
Dear R.I. I am deeply sorry to notice the numerous negative as subjuntive arguments but contradictionary to your intended subject. That denotes a total ignorance of the histor of islam. Ignorance that is very commun not only among US citizen, rather among most citizen of the christian Occident.
The downfall of this great country is beginning. A house divided can not stand. If the traitors of this nation outnumber the patriots, then this is only a matter of time.
I am very worried as well. All conservative minded peopl should move to the south or midwest..and soon.
Interesting numbers about new house sales..which were very bad. The least slump was in the south and midwest states. The northeast and west got hammered…….. hhhm how are the liberal policies working for those states?
The history of islam is in general a camouflaged one. Mouhammad who stressed on terror in order to implant his religion, did not fail to massacre hundert thousands of his fellow citizens, jews and christians Arabs born from arab parents since long centuries. The US citizens are invited to larn the islam and its history and birth.
“I love the idea of building a mosque”
To each his own.
Personally, I favor bulldozing them.
Knocking down that piece of crap in Jerusalem and rebuilding the Temple would be a great place to start.
“He will say that it’s a symbol of our wanting to have “better relations” with the Muslim world.”
I’ll go along with that…once the Muslim imperialists are driven out of Alexandria, Constantinople and Damascus and Judeo-Christian rule is restored as has already taken place in Cordoba, Athens and Jerusalem…then we can all be friends.
Cordoba House. A reminder of Muslims murdering Infidels. The Twin Towers is another reminder of Muslim murdering in the name of Allah the moon god, and following Mohammad who raped, and murdered most of his adult life.
A better name, I could not find.
I was told, from a friend of a friend of a friend, a truck load of pigs were going to be sheltered at the Mosque building site. Not just any kind of pigs, but show pigs. They take better pictures you know.
The history of islam is written in blood. It will cease to be only when more blood is shed.
As long as the good people of America and NYC understand that once the Mosque is built near Ground Zero it will become the islamic Iwo Jima flag raising for their side in this war.
Nothing says your war is lost and you fail like a symbol of islamic repression and hate built near the remains of the murdered victims for allah.
NYC, ya’ll will get what you want and then what you deserve.
Now face mecca and submit.
Pay the infidel tax.
Or
Bare your neck and stand still while your throat gets cut.
I’ll take the third option- burn it down hoist the colors high over the ashes while the Star Spangled Banner plays!
And I suppose it’s also worth pointing out why 9/11 was likely chosen for a date for the attacks in 2001 in the first place. 9/11/1683 marked the end of the mahoundian caliphate’s territorial expansion under the Ottoman Turks, when they were defeated by Jan Sobieski in the Battle of Vienna.
…to Americans, opening the mosque on 9/11 is to proclaim a new beginning with the Muslim world on the ten-year anniversary of the worst terror strikes on American soil…
Not to this American. Opening the mosque on 9/11 is just one more in-your-face move to rub additional salt into the wounds. I flew to New York to take park in the 6-6 protest rally precisely because I don’t want this mosque to become radical Muslim’s New World Cordoba. Rather, I much prefer that Ground Zero become the New World’s Gates of Vienna.
quoting:
“While the Cordoba Initiative appears to Americans as a sign of good faith and a new beginning with the Islamic world…”
Unless I see polls proving otherwise I would completely disagree, and will wager that the vast majority of America opposes the mosque’s presence.
One mosque on descrated grounds is totally enough, too much we don’t really need another, certainly not where 3,000 Americans and others died by Jidadists Muslims.
I’m shocked that there are so many nieve people out there who believe that there is nothing wrong with building this mosque.
If the Jidadists Muslims could show, by example, their honest intention of getting along with the rest of the world and not interfere with other religions and political movements, this would be just the first step for a reconciliation. As just one example, they currently will never accept the existence of Israel. Their education system and propoganda substantiates this.
Bad enough a mosque being built on ground zero, but with all these pertinent analogies from Spain’s history…makes me sick
Wake up America!
But it isn’t being built “on ground zero”, and I think the writer became carried away with his analogy.
“Near” however, is close enough, given everything else he points out in this piece.
there it is folks. after reading Mr Ibrahim’s article, how can any one justify the building of this Islamic supremacist building? after this articulation, how can any one still have doubts??
thank you Mr Ibrahim.
to build a mosque on american soil PERIOD is a disgrace!
(Yes, I saw what follows while I was on the web – Victoria)
Mayor “Napoleon” Bloomberg
Mayor Boobberg – er, Bloomberg – and his backstabbing cronies must have a $tupendou$ rea$on which they can’t reveal for wanting a sharia-hugging mosque near Ground Zero.
But the sharia “cobra” they’re toying with can quickly grow up and not be choosy as to whom it will strike soon after it announces “Smile, you’re on Candid Scimitar and will soon be buried in a scimitary, ha ha ha!” – proving that one good backstabbing deserves another!
Incidentally, I thought up the following pro-life slogans which anyone is free to reprint: “Unborn babies should have the right to keep and bear arms – and legs and ears and eyes etc.!” and “Unborn babies should have the same right to be born alive that abortionists had!”
God-haters and America-haters may not realize how high the collective temperature has now risen in the hearts of true American patriots – many of whom are now willing to die for America right here in America if they get pushed completely over the line!
Since the nation’s headquarters for treason is the White House, readers can enjoy related material if they google “Obama Supports Public Depravity” and also google “Sandra Bernhard, Larry David, Kathy Griffin, Bill Maher, Sarah Silverman” in addition to googling “Obama…destined to become a black-slavery avenger.”
A Kansas Patriot
Is Mr. Ibrahim lying or ignorant when he states “. . .mosque, situated atop Ground Zero—that is, atop the carnage. . .”?
The proposed mosque is two blocks from where the WTC stood. How far does Ground Zero extend into the surrounding blocks?
With such blatant misinformation like that, I will now find it hard not to be skeptical of anything I read from Mr. Ibrahim. I purchased The Al-Qaeda Reader when it first came out and I found it very informative, but how much of it is the equivalent of the sort of misrepresentation shown in his article here?
What a disappointment.
Yes, Jack, my sentiments precisely. This is otherwise quite an informative piece, which makes one wonder why Raymond Ibraham would have thought hyperbole necessary.