This article and many of the comments have angered me. I have made little effort in the following to curb or conceal that anger save when I felt it overstepped the Sharia. That being the case I would understand if it is not published or kept but would by the same token be grateful to the moderators if it is since my anger is born out of concern for the author and the commenters as fellow human beings accountable before God.
Is this a joke? That was my first reaction to this piece. I’ve been Muslim for thirteen years, have been studying Islam since 1996, have learned Arabic, lived in Saudi Arabia, and currently reside in Jordan furthering my studies in Islamic theology and have never, not once, had to study a book, or commentary on this supposed “central”, “pivotal”, “doctrine” called Taqiyya. I recall reading some anti-Shiite material that made reference in a critical manner to a Shiite practice called Taqiya where Shiites conceal their sect when amongst Sunnis but that is about it.
This piece is sloppy and lacks references regarding it’s most critical claims. If “Taqiyya” is indeed a central doctrine that is universally accepted by Muslims then please provide me with a standard Sunni book of doctrine that exposits it. I doubt the learned author is even capable of directing me to any book of doctrine whatsoever it being the case that he can’t even decide what part of speech the word Shariah is! Also who is the author of the much touted Al-Taqiyya fi Al-Islam and where was it published?
I for one would never advocate deception except where it is allowed in Islam: as a stratagem on the battle field or in order to avoid harm and death. It is indeed unfortunate that people who claim to eschew legal rigidity can’t appreciate this simple wisdom in Islamic law. Surely one who appreciates the “thoroughly legalistic nature” of Islam can appreciate that it is categorically forbidden to deceive people except in those narrow circumstances I’ve mentioned. Yet you take references to a legal exception and present it to your readers as the rule. It is absolutely disgusting the way scholarship can be prostituted.
For those who are convinced that we, Muslims are bent on deceiving you: maybe we’ll tell you you have weapons of mass destruction when you don’t, maybe we’ll tell you we don’t torture when we do, let me clear the air on this point. We have no need to lie to people about our faith for it is nothing but truth and wisdom from God.
The holy prophet Muhammad like Moses, Jesus and others between them (God bless all and grant them peace) did not teach passivism for he was not so instructed by God. We Muslims do and will fight against those so blinded by misguidance that they can do nothing but cry lies to themselves and the rest of creation. Against such souls who may come from all creeds without exception reason fails and war is the only option. If anyone doubts the wisdom in that then I’ll simply point to this article and the majority of its comments and rest my case.
God bless you and guide you.
