ISNA Thugs

Whether one should follow ISNA or organization or not, is not a question that is too hard to answer. Since, ISNA is an organization that is based on only one ideology that is, Islam, therefore, the only criteria to make the right choice is by following the words of Holy Prophet (pbuh); according to the which we must see whether this organization or the people who run it, lead acoording to principles of Holy Qura`n and the Sunnah of Holy prophet or not. The memebrship to ISNA is purely voluntary. But even then one has to see whether this criteria is met or not. This criteria renders the question whether ISNA enforces Saudi agenda, whabi agenda, Arab agenda, sunni agenda or any other agenda, moot. Islam burried these differences 15 centuries ago in the Dark Ages. Those people who invoke these differences want to take Muslims to the Dark Ages again. We must seek guidance from the words of Holy Prophet (pbuh); he said in his last sermon that:

``O’ Ye people! Allah says, O’ people We created you from one male and one female and made you into tribes and nations, so as to be known to one another. Verily in the sight of Allah, the most honoured amongst you is the one who is most God-fearing. There is no superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab and for a non-Arab over an Arab, nor for the white over the black nor for the black over the white except in God-conciousness.

O’ People! Every Muslim is the brother of every other Muslim, and all the
Muslims form one brotherhood.

O’ people! Listen and obey, though a mangled Abyssinian slave (a black slave with a mangled nose, sic) is appointed your Amir, provided he executes (the Ordinance of) the Book of Allah among you.


Having said that, Hasansiddiqui # 32, has a valid point. No organization is perfect. No people are absolute paragons of virtue. There is always a room for improvement. There must be an honorable way to bring changes into an organization. Certainly, the obnoxious method that this author has used is bound to fail. The people like them must ask themselves this question whether they want to condemn an organization or they want to contribute positively to it. Either way honesty is prime.

#32, {``Disagreed. Comparing ISNA to KKK is like saying all religious people are fanatics``}{

Hassan Bhai,
At least the KKK have the decency to hide their faces completely. These ISNA chameleons are unabashedly exposed to be riding the wrong horse each time. Before 9/11, these guys were rampant in their anti-American rhetoric, their ardent call for support to jihadists and Muslim separatists from Bolivia to Botswana. They were in locked arms, and locket step, with the Christian Coalition in their anti-gay, anti-liberal, anti-abortion, anti-secular, anti-Democrat agenda. The whole thing was a big collection racket for ``charities`` for every Muslim ``suffering`` imaginable. They were collecting for Zabiha meat, for madrassas, for mosques, for the poor, for the raped, for the homeless, and for refugees from Rwanda to Rohilkhand.

Sept 11 changed all that. Many of their associated charities have been exposed as branch offices for UBL and Alkayda. Their endorsement of Dubya backfired. So they went blindly into the John Kerry camp, were rebuffed, supported him anyway, and he still lost. Now the shameless shamans are on a patriotic agenda, trying to outdo the most jingoistic redneck in waving the biggest flag, overindulging in infinite interfaith dialogues with every denomination from Hare Krishnas to Jehovas Witnesses - not to mention Hassidic Jews, Mormons, and even a few Manson followers if they can find them.

These ISNA nuts had no credibility before and now they are charting in negative waters. I think they are Islam`s answer to Jonestown, Waco, and Charlie Manson. The sooner we get an injunction against ISNA for defaming Islam and defrauding Muslims the better. You can`t reform an organization that is out to destroy what you believe in. ISNA is responsible for creating the image in America of Muslims as bearded, hijabed, extremist, Wahabbist, politically stupid, and financially corrupt people.

Ms. Qureshi ends her article by writing: ``It is worth inferring that ISNA wants to promote only non-ideology based businesses like boutiques and halal meat stores. ISNA is in a position to facilitate the formation of an American Muslim identity. However, without more enlightened leadership it may never live up to its potential. ``

Mr. Urstruly writes: ``No people are absolute paragons of virtue. There is always a room for improvement. There must be an honorable way to bring changes into an organization. Certainly, the obnoxious method that this author has used is bound to fail. The people like them must ask themselves this question whether they want to condemn an organization or they want to contribute positively to it. Either way honesty is prime. ``

THUS: Ms. Qureshi says ``ISNA is in a position to facitlitate the formation of an American identify`` but questions the leadership. Urstruly considers this questioning of the ISNA leadership to be equivalent to condemning the organization. I believe urstruly is being honest in his equation of the organization with that of the leadership - he is simply incapable of telling the difference!!

No wonder muslim countries have so much trouble introducing democracy - the urstrulies of the muslim world are incapable of thinking like free men!!

Re: # 33

`nor for the white over the black nor for the black over the white except in God-conciousness. ``

can someone tell me whether Mohd. saw/met any white man/woman? how/where/when. I didn`t know arab society had come make in contact with europeans at that time. just curious

Netizen #36 arabs come in all colors, except green.

Re: # 37

so i suppose the white/black refers to fair skinned/dark-skinned

thanks

Thanks to Jang for bringing this to our attention:


Tennis star deflects clothing row

Indian tennis star Sania Mirza has refused to be drawn into a controversy over what she wears on court.
The Muslim player had been accused by a leading cleric of wearing ``indecent dress`` and being a ``corrupting influence on young women``.

Mirza said it was ``disturbing`` that her dress was a subject of controversy but she would take it in her stride.

Mirza, 18 and from Hyderabad, recently became the first Indian woman to reach the fourth round of the US Open.

Mirza said on her return from the US: ``Every word I speak, every skirt I wear is discussed and analysed. I have to take all this in my stride.

``Wherever I go people look at me. That`s why these days I prefer to stay at home. I have to learn to live with all this.``

She added: ``It is quite disturbing that my dress has become the subject of controversy I don`t want to say anything on this``.

`Not permitted`

Haseeb-ul-hasan Siddiqui, a leading cleric of the Muslim organisation the Sunni Ulema Board, said: ``The dress she wears on the tennis courts not only doesn`t cover large parts of her body but leaves nothing to the imagination.``

Mr Siddiqui said Islam did not allow women to wear skirts, shorts and sleeveless tops in public.

``She will undoubtedly be a corrupting influence on these young women, which we want to prevent,`` he said.


Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/4229052.stm


Does the irony escape anyone? Here we have a desi young MAKING HISTORY on the strength of her ABILITIES, and these patriarchical throwbacks are trying to take that PROGRESS away from all of us....Methinks, he needs to deal with his own damned imagination and let the woman be an athlete...

Re: # 33

[Having said that, Hasansiddiqui # 32, has a valid point. No organization is perfect. No people are absolute paragons of virtue. There is always a room for improvement. There must be an honorable way to bring changes into an organization. Certainly, the obnoxious method that this author has used is bound to fail. The people like them must ask themselves this question whether they want to condemn an organization or they want to contribute positively to it. Either way honesty is prime. ]

Although I agree with you that every organization has some room for improvement, I have some concerns on your take.

This is a critique. ``Obnoxious`` is an inappropriate adjective here. The writer has expressed her views on ISNA Event. Just because I stands for Islamic and S represents Society does not imply that one cannot critique events conducted by a religious organization. I also disagree with your rationale that the writer should start participating in the organization to improve its function. What if the writer is not interested in getting involved with a religious organization? What if she is only interested in being an observer?

Having been involved in various organizations (excluding any religious orgs) in the past, I would definitely say that there was a lot room for improvement in all of them. Most of these organizations thrive on volunteers who are full-time professionals and can only spare a limited portion of their time. The other side to the picture had very passionate and enthusiastic volunteers who inspite of conflicting priorities gave their 110% to a non-profit organization and in return got disappointed by the dynamics and momentum.

Ideally everyone should take some onus in the improvement process. In that respect, by writing this ``opinion piece`` the writer has shown her committment.

Re: # 25

It seems that your lack of comprehension skills constitutes a bigger problem than first realised.

There is no contradiction between what Rozaiba is saying and what I am saying. The distinction we are drawing is ``this-worldly`` vs ``Other-worldly``...

Now tell me how is employment a religious concern? This I have got to hear, though a counterpart of yours in the Indian community once claimed that even foreign affairs were religious issue...

zahra

I have no intention to defend ISNA but still they are doers and not whiners. What other organization can bring so many people from all around the globe under one roof, name one except may be UN. Now that we have a common forum we must strengthen it and not weeken it. Calling the members of an organization ``thugs``, ``KKK``, ``patron saints of terrorists``, ``retired suicide bombers`` exposes ones bigotry and inherent hatered for a people and not good intentions to have it ``reformed``. THese calls for reforms then become just a facade from behind which puss of one`s prejudices ooz out. I am sorry but I am not buying.

urstruly #42 I see you have no response to my post #37 where I showed the contradictions in what you wrote.

Urstruly,

Every one has a unique style. You use to write very strong views about your beloved ``hindu combrades`` on Chowk. If you were truly interested in improving the human fabric then you would have been sweet and kind to the fellow human beings and explained your rationale in a friendly manner. You did not take that route. Why should you propose something that you cannot practice yourself? Isn`t it easier to criticize when a female writer expresses her take on religious matters? After all God has appointed Muslim Men to be the guardian of anything to do with religion and religious matters. The above is given but I wanted to reiterate it for the pleasure of my own eyes :)

(^_^)

Muslims require diversity of ideas, thoughts and views. There has to be some challenge in the thinking process. Otherwise, the world of muslims will be boring.

Re: # 44 Zahraj

Your diagnosis is absolutely correct but only short of interpretation. This post has given me a great opportunity of an insight into my mind. Even in my olden days I was consciously aware that I had no intentions of `reforming`` hindus; frankly I wanted them dead and gone and I had to express my prejudices in a colorful language...........that was the point I was trying to make in my last post. The rules that apply to me, apply to others as well. I hope now you understand what I mean. When you sincerely wish to reform someone you use a sensible tone to approach them and when you want someone dead and gone.....you use ``thugs``, ``KKK``, ``suicide bombers``......

Re: # 46

You use terms like ``thugs`` and ``KKK`` when you want to point out the violence that a particular power holding group subjects less powerful group to so that the power holding group can by hook or crook, hold on to their authority.

Btw, do you actually know the history of the KKK in North America? The Civil Rights movement?

Re: # 46

And the second point that the writer seems to be making, is that this call for a ``sensible`` approach means:

1. don`t expect too much, because the power holders arent going to give anything to you (women, racial, political, sexually orientated) minorities, losers...and thats just too bad...

2. don`t go crazy like those ``out of control`` western suffragettes, feminazis, black nationalists-even though they are responsible for pushing the us govt towards reforming exclusionary policy (like those quota laws that enable my parents and you to emigrate here)

3. don`t be angry-even though the anger Muslim women are entitled to (for their subjugation under interpretations that legalized terrible inequality) could dwarf a global nuclear conflagration....we are uncomfortable when you are angry at us-it makes us have to look at ourselves honestly...

4. don`t express your anger in articles like these...again, we know you`ve been our doormats, but the fact that your rights (like Black enslaved American civil rights were linked to the true realization of the Enlightenment) are increasingly and more forcefully linked to the phenomena of Modernity makes it clear that we arent Saudi Arab anymore...