A great piece. It echoes sentiments that I have had over the years that if there was a Muslim "Ghandi", Palestine would be a state and there would be peace in the Middle East.

I totally agree with your article. Man has hated each other since the beginning of time and no group of people have been left out of having idiots who hate and kill others. I'm an American Muslim by choice, not birth and know that my religion does not teach hate or violence. In the Qur'an it says that "you should want for your brother what you have yourself." and also, "If one person is killed unjustly, it is as all mankind has been killed." Every group of people have their bad apples...

AMEN!

I applaud your position, but please understand that "1400 years Pan-Islamic cultural and societal progress go[ing] down the drain" was not the result of "one terrorist cave-dweller." Islamic extremist terrorism has been going on for decades, and if I recall correctly, polls taken across the world immediately after 9/11 showed a majority of Muslims polled supported the attacks. Islamic hatred in the name of god is not inherent to the religion (my son's best friend is an American Muslim and harbors no such feelings; nor do most American Muslims I know) - any more so than Christianity being labeled a religion of hate because of the Inquisition. But modern Islamic culture is currently suffused with intolerance and arrogance. I chalk it up to a "young" religion flexing it's strength. Look at where Christianity was 1400 years after its founding. These things shall pass - but we need people like you standing up for tolerance and understanding.

11 Sept 089

One of my greatest criticisms of Muslims has been the lack of objective and public criticism of Osama Bin Laden and Al-Queda. Now I find a very articulate Muslim doing just that. My question is why is the main-steam media not picking up on this. Is there Muslim bias in the main stream media? Why do we not hear of the Doha debates and similar venues? As a self-proclaimed conservative christian this lack of exposure of clear thinking by Muslims is deeply troubling.

Amazing commentary. Thank you for writing so eloquently about this issue that plagues our nation. My thoughts are with you and the rest of the Muslim community that has been persecuted for the evil of a select few. I admire the strength of the Muslin faith post-9/11.

Thanks for this post. It reminds me of all the muslims I have met in m travels as a telecom engineer and the trading of stories about family, culture, and religion. We discussed what each of us wanted and the one thing that I learned is that we all pretty much wanted the same thing. A challenging job, a work-life balance and a safe place to raise our families. I miss the days of discussing politics with guys from the other end of the world ( geographically and politically) at a cafe in London or a pizza shop in Dallas Texas. Their ideas made me take a look at mine and see the world thru the eyes of somebody else who has a whole different set of life experiences. We did not always agree but we did listen to each other.

Thanks

I applaud your bravery and agree with you whole heartly

Hey Arsalan,
I'm with you almost all the way. See, you forgot to include those of us who think that religion getting highjacked isn't the problem, but religion itself. I suppose you could argue that if we were to rise above religion all the way to a perfectly rational society that some other way of dividing humanity would jump up to bite us–color, ethnicity, gender, what have you. But I'd sure like to give it a try..........

I loved this. I am sure I will be given a bath by my 'tribe', but as a Manhattan born Jew I think we need more voices like this – yes, please, worry about the civil rights of everyone. Period. No exceptions.

Lest anyone think that Muslims have a monopoly on violence and hatred, read James Carroll's book Constantine's Sword (or view the recently released DVD) – Christians have equally bloody hands. As do many other religions. We all need to wash our hands and learn to live in peace.

Tossing insults and accusations at others while ignoring our own shortcomings is not helpful. The majority of adherents to the world's religions would prefer to live in peace with their neighbors – violence is in no one's interest, except the selfish few who provoke it and profit from it.

Well Said.................PEACE

I appreciate what the author wrote here along with his stance and actions. In the past, I have been surprised by (what seems to me) little support of this anti-terrorism stance from Muslims. At least I do not see this portrayed often in the media. Do Muslims face backlash and/or threats for having this? Or are many Muslims uncomfortable criticizing other Muslims in this way? Or perhaps the media is more interested in Hollywood's bimbos and other faux scandals??? Not sure. Anyway ... thanks again to the author.

most inspirational thing i've read in a while

How wonderful the world would be if everyone thinks like this. A nice tribute for world peace and those who seek it.

Utopia has been awaited for centuries but still haven't arrived. Somehow I think we have forgotten that man himself will have to create it. It will not be given to us.

I find your blog very interesting. The fact that you have been travelling around for 7 years speaking to the issues that I've been searching for is amazing.

My question to you is – if there really is 1 billion peace loving Muslims out there, why are they so quiet? Why don't I hear anything but radical voices from the side of the Muslims? Why are news that I read about only about how Muslims wants to change the west and not allow criticism of Islam (even the UN seems to now declare it against the human rights to simply criticize Islam!). I greatly appreciate your front against the madness – but from an outsider like me – it seems like you're the only one fighting this fight?

Religion as it was meant to be a uniter of faith is one of the most attractive targets of those who seek to sway a mass audience.

Those who hope to spread their own version of faith whether it be for good or evil will always seek to hijack religion as the surest way to reach a large group to achieve their goal.

This is the true test for those committed to their core religious beliefs.

Nice to see that on a day when millions turn their attention to the thousands who perished seven years ago, someone has the courage to step forward and use a veil of cliched love-everyone platitudes as a way of sharing with the world how into themselves they are. I wish I could give you a pat on the back, but your own hands seem to be covering it up. Go you!

Bravo. I hope more young (and old) Muslims continue to work toward changing Islam's undeserved bad image. It is no worse, nor no better than any other religion out there, an just as prone to fanaticism.

A few points to ponder:

Eye for an Eye makes the whole world blind.

If you turn an enemy into a friend, have you not vanquished the enemy?

Peace on Earth will not be achieved until individuals practice personal peace.

We need to make this article required reading. I was raised a Christian but now practice no religion. Part of the reason is the way so many people (a vocal minority, I think) use religion as an excuse to hate.

Mr Iftikar speaks like a true follower of Islam. Osama bin Laden and his kind pervert Islam for their sick purposes. Honestly, there are Christians and Jews guilty of the same thing.

Having read the Bible, Koran and Baghavad Gita, I believe there is one God (use whatever name suits you) who wants us to love God and each other and act like we really believe that. Why can't the human race try that?

Seething love – fabulous! Let's continue to reclusively stand together (an oxymoron, I know) against the knuckleheads encroaching on all sides. I want my kids to worry about the color of their Nerf ball, not the color of the skin of those they're playing with.

Great article. But where are the moderate Muslims, the majority, throughout all of this...? Why are they not protesting the violence overseas...? Why are they not trying to communicate to any of the terrorists, directly or indirectly...? Think of all the great work they could do, yet do not.

Even if 99.999% of the world's population embraced pacifism, it would be cruelly dominated by the 0.001% who didn't.

You are one-in-a-million! And, unfortunately THAT is part of the problem. Why, since it is only a few (in the grand scheme of things) of the Radical verity of Muslims that are causing the trouble, why is there not a larger OUTCRY of the mainstream Muslim community? This silence speaks to me of the Muslim 'Silent Majority' giving tacit approval.

I like both your article and attitude, but I fear there is an underlying premise that you're missing in this article.

The perception that you are battling is not restricted to Osama Bin Laden. Over and over in your article you use Osama and Coulter as examples of the two sides of this problem, but the comparison is very unfair. If you want to complain about Al-Jazeera and Coulter then you'll be getting closer to the mark. Most Americans don't think that most muslims are like Osama...but most of us do believe that most muslims are followers of the vitrol that is displayed in islamic news stations in the same way that muslims have a general feeling that americans are followers of the likes of Coulter.

You can't have it both ways. You can't say that Osama is your bad guy and Coulter is ours. If you expect us to fix our "Coulter" culture, you MUST also expect muslims to fix their Al-Jazeera culture.

Fantastic piece. As previously stated, I applaud your bravery and thank you for writing a very insightful article.

Very noble of you to quote the Mahatma at the very beginning. Mahatma was an ardent student and follower of the GITA one of the most profound scriptures ever presented to mankind. However his religion is always branded as " The false" religion by the majority of the Muslim and Christian world ( not only the poor of the poorest but the most "educated" of the "educated "). Don't you think we as humans Must shun this perceived hatred and ignorance of others who are unlike you and learn from each other? God the creator is one. God has created the universe billions of years ago so his message must be respected no matter where it was received. Its time to respect one another and its time to start loving God instead of diluting the essence of spirituality by distinction of " My God v/so their God". Its time to learn from each other.

Amen, Mr. Iftikhar, Amen. While I'm not religious, I am a pacifist for humanistic reasons, in the same way that Einstein described. I've always wondered why "Arab" and "Muslim" seem to go hand-in-hand, and are often used as synonyms for the far-right, even though less than 15% of muslims worldwide are Arab. This is a small detail, but I have often found myself disgusted at the lack of knowledge of Islam by many Americans.
I am proud to see that there are people worried enough to try and take the religion back. I don't think we hear enough from muslims about the subject because we're still worried about being called culturally or religiously insensitive, but this blog was very informative.
Thanks.

Arslana, I applaude your comments and agree that Muslims & Arabs have and still make noteworthy contributions to the world. I have traveled in the Muslim world and had some very good dialogue with some locals. However, I fear that a large number of Osma's disciples cannot be delt with peaceably. We in the West, I in particular, feel that right thinking Muslims are too busy trying to love the radicals into loving back and that isn't going to happen. You don't love a mad dog, you kill it. I, and many others, suspect that Osama is being protected by tribal groups in the mountains of Pakistan and the the Arab population has done little or nothing to go get him. If peaceful Muslims want peace and order, why do they not take up arms and go get him, no matter where he is or who is protecting him?

Well said... Count me on your side.

Arsalan:

I very much appreciate what you wrote. I guess my reaction is similar to what others have stated...why aren't we seeing more of this? It's all well and good that Muslims here in the U.S. are critical of Bin Laden et al., but where this criticism REALLY needs to originate is in the Arab world as THAT is where the majority of those "hijackers" as you call them are located and/or schooled.

Again, thanks for such a moving and inspirational piece.

Peace.

An absolutely wonderful and appropriate sentiment for this tragic anniversary, Mr. Iftikhar. As an African-American, I am proud to have had friends of the Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Buddist faiths – in addition to agnostics and atheists. I believe that all people are created equal and we must all do our very best to treat everyone else in the way we ourselves wish to be treated.

So, on this tragic anniversary – let all of us, of all colors, religions and national origins, pull together to start a great coalition of peace and mutual understanding. Let us each pledge to respect our differences and celebrate not denigrate diversity.

Each of us has a role to play in this great change so that one wonderful day in the future, there will be no wars, no terrorism and no hatred.

As an American and a Christian, I've been waiting for the emergence of people like you. The defeat of Muslim extremism must come from within Islam. My impression is that most respectable Muslims have been frozen into inactivity by the extremist threat. We (fellow non-Muslim Americans) need you to take a stand.

I am reminded of Martin Luther King, taking a stand against a minority problem that was not his people's fault. I remember telling an African-American friend that I could not be part of leadership against that problem, but I was ready to help when the leadership emeerged. The initiative, the leadership had to come from within the African-American community, and it did!

Now it's YOUR turn. Blessings on you.

religion(/s) is the biggest scam that had been pulled off on human civilization......................and, it's still affecting us after thousands of years.

Thank-you for sharing your intelligence and wisdom this 9/11. I so appreciate when someone can see and speak the truth and encourage all of us to live more loving lives. May we all pray for lasting peace. I would much rather the USA spend billions ($) on feeding others, not killing them. May God bless you.

Here! Here!

Although I am not a Muslim, I believe in the equality of all religions. We are all created from the same and all go back to the same. Thank you for putting so much into perspective for those that have a hard time expressing respect and equality as fundamental human rights.

Great Article, very inspiring. Thanks a lot.

Many muslims stil believe that the World Trade Center attacks were somehow a plot by the US government. This is obviously a lie and yet they continue to believe lies. Until muslims come to believe that it is their religion that is a fault and that there religion is fundmentally violent and that they must change that aspect of their religion, there will be no peace.

From one Amercian (who also happens to be a Muslim) to another, BRAVO!
And to all Americans, kindly note that this is the general feeling and sense of ALL muslims around the world. No one likes violence, no Muslim wants Osama to be their leader. Obama is one and the rest of the Muslims of the world are one-united and against Osama. The problem is the world does not know that Muslims are equally against violence. We do not have a good PR machine to get our message out.
Equal THANKS to CNN for putting this article out.

PEACE!

That was beautifully written.

While I can't understand your love for your religion,(Any religion, not just Islam) I can't understand people who hate because of religion or lack thereof even more. When the world learns to stop wearing religion on it's sleeve, we will be in a much better place.

Thanks to Allah, and many thanks to you for leading this cause. I am with you 110 %.

We as muslims have to show to others that we are also peaceful and tolerant of others. If we don't speak up and show who we are, others will see and hear of us from these terrorists and murderers who do not represent the masses. There is a huge media bias around the world on both sides failing to show that people in general are peaceful regardless of their faith.

God bless you, and God bless America.

A nice article.

The thing I've never understood (as a former Muslim) is why more Muslims are not coming out and openly condemning Osama and other terrorists for their actions. As a new Muslim, I was completely shocked when I was reprimanded by the men at the masjid I attended for implying that Muslims should stand up and denounce Osama's actions. I even went so far as to say "in my understanding of Islam and what it means to be a Muslim, he is not even a Muslim". That drew even sharper criticism.

I left the religion 5 years ago and found the truth in Christianity, but even 5 years later I see little or no criticism from Muslims towards the men who wreck their "religion of Peace" with their violence.

Thanks to you for making a stand, and God Bless.

This is a great article. I wish that earth could be the way you are fighting for it to be. Alas, it never will be, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't fight to make it so. Thank you for standing up to the Islamic extremists. Far too few Muslims are willing to do what you are doing. America, and all free nations need to fight to defend those around the world wishing to be free from terror and the hijacking of Islam. It is a battle that needs to be fought on all fronts. Militarily, diplomatically, through the mosques, churches and synagogues around the world, and through grassroots movements. As long as we are on Earth, things will never be perfect, but we can fight to make the world, 'more perfect'.

The root of the problem my not be current Muslims, it may be the founders of each religion. While both Muhammad and Jesus were admirable, Jesus instantly condemned Peter when he cut off the ear of the Roman soldier. Muhammad did not condemn his armies when they conquered Medina. Maybe it is in the root of each religion that makes it hard for Muslims to denounce the violence, Christians have a clear example, Muslims have conflicting ones.

The condition of Islam today illustrates the tragic flaw of all religions, including Christianity; that such organizations empower cruel fanatics to perform torture and murder with the assurance that some god is endorsing their actions. When you become convinced that an all-powerful creator is standing behind you, no bible, no Koran, no argument, no cries of agony, no human emotion can pierce the smug impervious zealotry that shields a deadly ignorance.

At all of their fundamental cores, Christianity, Judaism and Islam all teach intolerance.
On the surface they preach peace and togetherness.

But even within their own disciplines’ they teach intolerance and hatred.

Pentecostals hate Catholics. Sunni’s hate Shiites. And Hasidic Jews hate Orthodox Jews.

All would start killing one another once the other opposing Abrahamic faith was destroyed.

Religion destroys our compassion.
Blinds our sight.
Kills our humanity.
And stifles our inquisitiveness.

When will this hairless little monkey ever grow up ?

One thing that you forgot here is that Islam attacked the US not vise versa. They also sold their brethren out in Isreal. The hatred between Muslims and others is not new, if you go back to the bible, and read it, this hatred has existed almost since the beginning of time since the days of Abraham.

If "Islam" is so appauled by Bin Laden, where are they in this war? Why aren't they bringing forces to find him and bring him to their own justice. It is probably because no matter what this one writer says, most of Islam hates the west and what we stand for.

There will not be any PEACE, until either their ways or our ways change. I don't see either happening soon. In fact we are getting further apart by the day.

Overall I agree with your message and think this is a well written blog. In the future I would refrain from attempting to inject so many attempts at humor and movie referrences. It distracts from the messages and makes you come across as too flipant. In addition, lumping Osama and Hamas with Coulter and Cheney is just plain ignorant. You lose credibility with educated readers. Its like comparing apples and dead babies. None the less, i feel your opinion is the minority message being vocalized. I have spent time in the middle east, mostly under developed areas where Koranic law prevails and mullahs hold the greatest sway. The message in these areas still has glaring contradictions of Isalm as a peaceful religion while simultaneously preaching "honour killings", jihad (solely in the killing of non-muslim context), and destruction of everything non-Islamic. Its hard to fault them too much. Most have never left a 5km area from their homes, cant read or even understand the arabic they memorize from the Koran. Until the rational people of Islam take back their religion, your words will never reach the audience that needs it the most.

It really left me speechless, I'm sending the link to my friends... I've read so many articles about jewish people and christian people talking about tolerance, but I think this is one of the best anti-racism and pro-peace pieces I've got the chance to read.
Peace!!! And Human Rights everywhere!

This is a wonderful writing and should be read by all. I heart is with the author.

Thank you for bringing this perspective. Like other readers, I agree that it's a shame the media does not focus on the millions and millions but on the one or two that give a group a bad name. Unfortunately, it's not just Muslim. Look at the Catholic Church (which I belong). Instead of focusing on the positive things the church has done for many years in many countries, the media targets those that, somehow, manage to give the entire religion a bad name and provide a punch line in a comedy bit. Stereotypes have got to stop; they are ruining us all! Not all Southerners are ignorant, not all Northerners are rude, not all Catholics are child molesters and not all Muslims are terrorists. Peace to all!

Not only hijacked, but dragged trough the mud. The sad part is that some non violent muslims secretly agree with all this crap! Yes the USA deserved it yada yada yada. Its OK to blow yourself and kill innocent people yada yada yada. All in the name of islam yada yada yada. Enough of this crap! You either join the modern world or wallop in sand. I would be very upset about this if I were muslim.

Spectacular piece!

In response to the several comments along the lines of "Why aren't there more Muslims speaking out like this in the media?" Um, our media isn't exactly free of bias. What makes better press– the endless stories of war-mongering battle words (Bush, Cheney, etc...) or peace-loving Muslims talking about the real Islam? Which would Americans have believed in the early days after 9-11 when they were terrified and seeking vengeance? Those voices WERE there (I remember them), they just got swamped out by all the hatred. And then slowly we descended into a deepening state of distrust and paranoia towards ANY Muslim who dared to speak out and say this was not the real Islam. Or any Muslim, period. This has to stop.

Unfortunately the bad apples are usually also the loudest, get the most attention and therefore befall the entire group which they are often the fringe of...with the labels of their craziness. The religious right get labeled by the Jerry Falwells and James Dobsons of the world, the Muslims get labeled by the terrorists, pro-lifers get labeled by the morons who bomb abortion clinics, animal rights advocated get labeled by the idiots who blow up laboratories, etc. The truth is the normal, sane, everyday middle of the road people who may have opinions on one side of the road or the other get swept away in the irrational and extreme side of the argument they represent. Until we all learn to be able to point out and denounce those in our own particular groups that are extreme...our differences will never be reconciled with the oppositions.

I share in the sorrow felt not just in America but around the world for the loss of so many innocent lives. I truly believe my American neighbours when they speak of freedom, of individual rights, of world peace. I am confounded and frustrated by their continued support for a president, an ideology, a party that continues to speak of freedom, individual rights and peace while it strips Americans of those rights in an unparalleled way and continues to destroy the homes and lives of others in the name of freedom and peace. Why would they re elect a party that impales their freedoms at home and curtails the freedoms of others. If military rule is held in such disdain by Americans that Cuba, Venezuela, and China are ridiculed would they insist on electing the very military complex they argue against?

Muslim moderates exist on in the west.
Whats the point in trying to convince me that the rest of the muslims hate violence.
I'm from India- and I see Islamic terrorism in the Kashmir valley being supported by the 'everday muslim' in India. Muslims have got themselves into a corner by years of ignorance and violence. They have ended up in poverty and strife and now believe they are the victim. Victim of what? the west? the Hindus and jews?
Look at the rampants human rights abuse in muslim nations, the corruption, the lack of respect for human lives and the way they treat women.
Dave Chapelle and Mohammed Ali were muslim? Is that such a good thing-look at the statistics-more black in prisons convert to islam. obviously the find solace in a religon which matches their perception of the world.

Craig, well said, I agree we all must pursue peace. Just to be accurate to the Truth however, it must be noted while Constantine probably promoted Christianity for political gain, he is not recognized as a religious leader in that religion, but a political one. And yes, if he was in fact a Christian, he did lead many others to do some terrible things. This was again the case with the Crusades. It is unfounded to argue, however, that their actions in any way reflect the example and words of Christ; which is what Bin Laden et al. DO argue as far as it concerns Muhammed's example of violence.

And Peter Franklin, sadly your goal is noble, but your means would be unjust. Some of the greatest tools to unite Humanity come through religion, as well as some of the most inspired acts of art and governing. You cannot deny that the rights we enjoy and the nation we dwell in were not in part a result of the religious convictions of those who fought to see them realized. A world without religion is not the goal, neither is a world with unconfronted evil (reference Hitler going largely unchallenged by other powers in the beginning of his Holocaust against the Jews.) A world free from unjustified violence and killing (especially to promote your specific religion or worldview through force) is the goal we are striving for. Govt. sponsored atheism, and the "rationality"/enlightenment/hegemony you think would follow, is nothing more than tyranny and injustice in another form.

You know, I agree with the purpose of this article, but why does there have to be jabs at republicans?? I didn't see any reason to throw politics into this when you're talking about the hijacking of your religion. I support muslims fully, but likening Dick Cheney and Anne Coulter to Osama bin Laden was a cowardice stab.

Other than those few stabs, this was a well-written, heart-felt piece. Goodluck in your effort.

Amazing article...I too hope that the world could stop for a moment and realize the wars will be never ending if we don't learn to coexist.

Good Luck in your future...I hope you continue to spread understanding successfully.

To the athiest, why do you care? If you don't believe in God, then what does it matter to you when others do?

If you understand religion, it is the calling of God to bring people to him. If you don't belive in God, why don't you kill people? Is it the little voice inside that says its wrong? That is God! God brings that moral standard to you. Animals kill without remorse because they have no soul, that is the same as humans that kill without remorse.

Where does the athiest get a soul?

You can cherry-pick any religious book and find exhortations to follow a peaceful path. As a whole, all the Abrahamic faiths encourage oppression, torture, and death to "outsiders." Take the high road: reject religion and embrace rationality.

That was inordinately articulate and heart felt. To peace, love and happiness.

As an atheist, I view the unquestioning faith in ancient religious tenants (i.e. religion) as the problem. As a realist, I know that religion is not going away any time soon, so I will settle for increased maturity. This article points us in that direction. Peace.

I believe what is needed is more public show of unity on the Muslim front. At this point, the average American is lost in the "Violence of Islam." We are being fed what ISN'T main stream, but a consistent douse of terrorist attacks, honor killings all IN the name of Muslim beliefs sure makes it seem like this is "all these people do." We need more of your Sir, to publicly voice and condemn. Sure peace is great....but being silent isnt going to get it done. I think a showing of unity, a showing of common beliefs, a showing of peace (publicly), speeches etc is needed.

Take for example African Americans. There has been alot of progress, to where they are today. Unity,....public reform from within the black community. From within they unified and stood as one. Currently as it seems, the followers of Islam, are shattered fragments. You have extremist publicy bombarding airwaves, and TV, but few voicing peace (or a small voice). We need someone to stand up and take the reins much like MLK did, and show us, show the average American how peace is the way.

Thank you for this well writen piece. I truly appreciate your point of view and hope it will inspire those close minded individuals that believe all Islamist are extremists to see the light. Now the only thing I can fault Muslims for is inventing algebra – I am terrible at math!! Kidding! Thanks again!

Religion is *always* hijacked by political groups to meet political goals. Suni vs Shia, Protestants vs Catholics, etc. It has very little to do with religion, religion is just the stated reason for the conflict. Similarly, do you really think Neo-cons are that against gays, abortion, etc? Of course not, it's just a way to motivate people to do what they want.

Power-hungry people will say whatever it takes to get what they want done, even (or perhaps especially) if it means being a demagogue. Religion is an easy stick with which to prod people.

Anyway, I totally agree. Extremists does not a religion make.

I loved reading this, my only problem is why hasn't the general muslimcommunity had an uproar about this? Why haven't religious leaders spoken out against the terrorists and govern themselves?

That is my problem with all of this, all the killing, and blood, and hardly any large displays of intolerance by Muslims. If it were terrorists doing this in the name of Christianity I can guarantee the pope and people would be in the streets with signs either stating to stop, or disclaiming that these people are even christian. I don't see Muslims fighting for their religion other than bombs and rocket propelled grenades.

I don't think the 9/11 Islamists hijacked Islam at all. They were, and are, a small, but a very real part of Islam. It makes no more sense to say they 'hijacked' Islam than it does to say the Amish aren't Christians because they make up such a small part of that religion.

Islamist fanaticism, like Christian fundamentalism, is a worldwide phenomenon. Every Muslim country has Islamists. Having just returned from a trip to Malaysia, I've personally seen what happens when a religion becomes established by the state. It's not pretty. (And yes, I did have a dicussion with a moderate Muslim who thought the WTC attacks were done by the US govt.)

Unless and until both Christians and Muslims deal with the problem of fundamentalism in their midst, these ideologies will continue to exist, threatening us all.

Denying they exist will not solve the problem. The courageous among those religious traditions will confront the fanatics. They have not yet done so.

While wandering the www it is most heartening to come across such a finely crafted article .... and that it was posted on this date makes it ever more significant .... Thank You!

You hit the nail on the head.
Our religion and country were hijacked on this infamous day.
We may think otherwise but there are many in fact the majority of Muslims I know that were totally aghast at the events of 9/11.
We could have used the goodwill that was generated after this to come together to defeat the perpetrators but, unfortunately, all of it was wasted and there was a counter-effect after our invasions abroad.

I appreciate your stance but i dont beleive this is the majorty view in the Islamic world. I agree with all the great things Islam has contributed but the followers of this religion are at cross roads. Look ate the armed struggules in the world right now. It is not just one guy "Osama " who is the culprit.Look at the terrorists in India,Pakisthan,Chechenya,Xiang province in China,Algeria,Phillipines etc. There is a fundamental problem of illitracy and milatant thinking in many muslim enclaves. They refuse to assimlate in the country they are in and cuase a lot of problems. If they are 10% or less the country there is a victim of civil unrest and terrorism. If they are 15% or more there is out right Civil war. Look at all the conflicts going on right now. More than 70% of the time there is a muslim on one end or both ends of the conflict.Islam as a religion may be peacfull but its followers for the most part are not. Who do the muslims live in peace with? JEWS? HINDUS?CHRISTIANS?BUDDHISTS? Who ? I have livied in predomnently islamic areas. You come to the United States and demand freedom but go to a Muslim country and try for any sort of freedom. You get none. So please spare me the "Muslims are Peacfull or muslims are Victims act". While a minorty are peacefull the majority are miltants or sympathisers of miltents.

We shouldn't be surprised about the condition that our world is in. One of the basic military concepts is that if you're enemy is divided he is more easily conquered. How many countries are there in the world? About 195. Within those countries how many races are there? How many religions? Social classes? How many other categories can someone come up with to show how much we are divided from each other that I simply don't have the time, or space to list. I am a Christian and would like to offer some food for thought. In Matthew 4:1-10 Satan offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if he would fall down and do just one act of worship to him. The apostle John described the entire world as lying in the power of the wicked one. 1 John 5:19. I know there are many Muslims, Jews, Budhists out there and people of other religions that don't read the Bible however I think we can all agree we certainly stand divided. What's next?.....

Wonderful to read a true heartbreak of a pious Muslim. As a devout Hindu, I feel we all are in the same boat. Take any religion for that reason. All of them have been hijacked by those who tremedously PROFIT from that. Profit may be in form of money or power, but ALL THE RELEGIONS OF WORLD have been hijacked. Those who are profiting from religion have distorted all possible HOLY BOOKS and have created their own version to benefit their cause. It is upto the CURRENT survivors (mentally) to fight and take their religions back. To start with, each and every religious person has to read and try to understand about his/her religion AND NOT ACCEPT THE VERSION forwarded by the so called religious authorities.

Hard to believe you are an islamic pacifist when you worked for cair, an organization that to this day still refuses to acknowledge that hamas and hezbollah are terrorist groups. That seems to be the problem today. To many muslims are against terrorism, or they say they are, but their view of who is a terrorist and who isn't a terrorist is not the same as non muslims.

As someone who has had the great priviledge of knowing many people from all over the world and many different religions, you have stated something I already knew. No matter what religion or ethnicity people are all fundementally the same, they all want to live their lives in peace.

To Richard, I cannot share your xenophobic and bigoted beliefs. Christianity in it's 2,000 years has done more harm than islam ever has. You don't believe me ask the native peoples of the americas or all the descentants of people killed during the spanish inquisition or better yet the descendants of slaves bible thumping preachers of the 1840's said it was allowed in the bible to keep other people in chains.
So we did not slam an aircraft full of people into a building, Islam did not do that , hate did.

I was very moved by what you have written. It is sad that more people won't be reading your words. It is difficult enough to raise children in this world and teach them to love everyone, and the events on 9/11 certainly made it more challenging. I will share your words with my children so that they too can see that ultimately we all just want the same thing, understanding of what makes us different. Thank you.

I totally agree 9/11 has hijacked Islamic religion, who ever did those atrocities are enemies of man. They dont belong to any religion. Muslims are not different from any other group ,they are also humble hard working people, love peace and harmony. What we see in middle east is violence against long lasting occupancy and double standard policies. We cant equate them only muslims and portray them as only attitudes of muslims in the globe.

Ahem Ahem. Excuse me. I think is you who have hijacked Islam.

In your article I see references to a lot of peaceful people, from Gandhi to Lennon but, If you wanted to effectively back the claim that Islam can peacefully coexist with other religions without dominating them or taxing them; why don't you quote from the Koran? I don't want interpretations by wetern-liberal Muslim scholars. I want a verse that says that you can live with people from other faiths without coercive taxation or outright domination. Then I will believe you. Oh yeah, there is no such verse.

You live in denial of the fundamental tenets of your religion; It appears that every religion and ideology that comes in contact with the politically correctness of the American culture dilutes overtime. But when articles like this one are written they offend intellectual people like me who read and understand instead of watching regurgitated information on the TV.

A breath of fresh air. The climate in the US is such that one is almost afraid to talk of "peace" and "tolerance". Religion is a dangerous thing....it allows groups of "us" to form and therefore creates "them". The evolution of our collective soul depends on seeing us and them as the same.

Straight out, after 9/11, I realized god was a silly and childish notion. Why, what caused that reaction? When I heard people who escaped the buliding say that "god was with them" or "god helped them out"...that's when I realized god was a childs concept ...What he just said to hell w/ all those other people??? Rediculous. Why would he help you (those that got out) and not those other people? You are somehow better more fitting to live....nonsense...it didn't matter if you were the most religious god fearing person on the planet, a priest , a nun, an imam; if you were above where those planes struck you were dead, god or no. That was the only criteria. Well you could say, "maybe it was just their time." Well then it could be any of our "times" at any moment, so what does it benefit me to believe...there is no benefit and no god watching over.

Thank you, I am humbled by your wisdom and remain hopeful that the collective conciousness of people like yourself will one day reclaim the country to a "for the people by the people" status.

I appreciate the sentiment, but the truth is that most Muslims hate Western cultures and societies. It is also true that there is no such thing as Muslim pacifism. Yes, there might be notable exceptions, but the Majority of Muslims around the world applauded the 9/11 attacks, and they overwhelmingly still support al-Qaeda's methods and goals.

I work with many good Muslims every day, and I have great relationships with them, and on a personal level they are no different from anyone else. But when we get around to talking about politics, the hatred for the US, the hatred for anything Western, the justification of violence means, all those are unanimous.

Yes, all religions wend through violent phases. Yes, history is laden with religious violence. But today, on 9/11/2008, it is the Muslim masses around the world who feed, arm, and support violent Islamic extremism.

A very strong article written on 9/11 2008. As accustomed, much heat is bashed upon the Muslims of America or those from around the globe. So unlike the years before. I decided to turn the table and question my self as an American that after 7 years what have we learned as a nation. It is evident that no progress has been made to over come the forces of Evil ie Osama & his gang of murderers (& i wont use the word Jihadist or Islamist because these group of term are an Oxymoron to one another).

We tend to negate the fact that for us 9/11 has become a mere symbol of delusional unity that begins on the 1st hour of 9/11 year after year and ends at the 24th hour. But for fellow human beings all across the globe, 9/11 is not limited to a single day rather its 365 days out of the calender year after year. Be it in the face of act of terrorism, hunger & death from starvation or death in the face of a war. Simple put death is death and for a loved one to lose a loved one, every day is 9/11.

After 7 years of War & lack of diplomacy our achievements have been nil. Though many Gov still stand behind our President to show there solidarity there respected citizens don't. Our ratings globally have diminished not only that of our president but as a nation.

After 7 years of war, we are more venerable of getting attacked and our common enemy has only grown stronger and the echoes of worry have now finally reached the Pentagon it self.

To cut it short, its time that we can American should sit back, on this day of sadness & sorrow and question our self's, Question that have we been marching on the right path in the right direction or have we played into the hands of warmongers or fear mongers & terrorist who are stripping us of of our intellect and power to use logic & reason. For long my patriotism as an American Muslims has been questioned but it is time that we question our patriotism as a nation and say Enough!

"we will spend our lives serenely hijacking it (Islam) back" & that we will!

God Bless American & the Ummah.

Excellent article Arsalan. Loved reading it. Like others have said, mainstream media needs to pick up on this article, and others like this and show the world that there are people who are standing up for whats right.
Bravo to you for writing this, and bravo to CNN for posting it.

But all because of one terrorist cave-dweller, 1400 years of Pan-Islamic cultural and societal progress goes down the drain.

Not quite true. "One terrorist cave-dweller" who put into practice the teachings of your infamous "prophet," who stated:

"I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah ... if they perform that, then they save their lives and property from me ..."
Sahih Bukhari V4, B52, No.196

Also, Islam does not mean "peace," it means "submission."

As an American Muslim who is also in the U.S. Army I applaud you for the beautiful article. I love my country of U.S. more anything and I beleive we all need to take a stand to protect the freedom and the rights that it has granted us. I am sick and tired of the media painting all Muslims in a negative way and I hope that the media will pay more attention to people like you. Thank you

BEAUTIFUL. And for everyone who finds this viewpoint refreshing and issurprised by the lack of it in the media I would say that it is just that, a lack of media exposure. In the Muslim, Middle Eastern, or Arab community, this is not a novel viewpoint. This is how the majority of us view Islamist Extremism. That story just doesn't get as much attention or coverage. Extremely frustrating. And sadly, the media is such a powerful thing in America, that if it's not being covered it's almost as if it doesn't exist.

commentor Richard: Put down the confederate flag and read a book please.

You write well and are very brave. Unfortunately, were you to have written this in Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia or other parts of the Muslim world, you would be risking jail, or perhaps your life.

Wherefore the Muslim Pacifists? Are they hiding behind those who cheered the attackers on 9/11? Protesting intentional attacks on civilians justified by religio-politic reasons? Challenging those who continue to make excuses and place blame on others? Condemning teaching children to hate and become martyrs (e.g. see Hamas TV)?

Find them – show them to me. I will stand beside them.

By the way, Algebra was not invented by a Muslim, but yes Muslims contributed to a field predating Islam.

If only more Muslims like yourself would speak out . . .

An excellent article. Thanks for expressing the views of myself and all the other muslims I know on a platform like CNN. Islam is a religion of peace and understanding, of tolerance and patience. Anyone who reads this beautiful book will find peace and solace and answers to how and why this world was created. The number of times that sea and land is mentioned in the Quran is equivalent to the exact ratio (percentage) of sea and land on earth. This is an example of the genius in this book. Unfortunately, a sect of misguided people have given our religion an image which has nothing to do with Islam. But you are right, Islam will prove it's beauty in the end.

Bravo! My thanks and appreciation to the author. This spring I vacationed in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. It was perhaps the most rewarding time of my adult life. I was unaware of how ignorant I was in regards to Islam, it's origins, and the true teachings. My heart and mind were opened to a greater love, respect, and understanding of my Muslim brothers and sisters. I wish you Peave, Love and Knowledge.

Salam and thank you for this article. I see a lot of people raising the question as to why they don't see a lot of muslims standing against injustice or terrorism. Hello, muslims worldwide have done this and still do it every day! Just because the media doesnt wanna portray those muslims doesn't mean they don't exist. See, the media chooses to display what they want to display so they can manipulate the viewers. They will not show any knowledgeable muslim on an interfaith debate, let alone show someone who knows something about Islam! You want to know how muslims feel, go and ask muslims, don't let FOX or CNN tell you how muslims feel. You want to ask a muslim woman how she feels, please have a conversation with a muslim woman and ask her about how she feels about her religion, don't let Barbara Walters tell you about how a muslim woman feels! Islam is a religion of peace. I am a muslim woman and I love Islam, it has given us women so much freedom, peace and a voice when noone wanted to listen! Please do not hijack my beautiful religion, I want it back!

Great article! Thanks so much. This made my day!

ATTENTION RICHARD:

Do you even know any Muslims? It's astonishing that after reading such an informative article, you still felt compelled to GENERALIZE Muslims.

Peace and Love to ALL Mankind!

American Muslims, and Muslims around the world have been condemning violence and terrorism from well before 9/11. Organizations, mosques, and communities world wide have been clear that they will not accept it. Why has it continually fallen upon deaf ears? Why is it that the press releases condemning acts of violence are rarely picked up on by the TV stations and newspapers?

I've never characterized my Christian friends as terrorists because of the acts of the KKK or other white supremacist organizations... I don't say that white males are more susceptible to white collar crimes... so why is it said that Islam is inherently violent and Muslims are more susceptible to hatred. It's just not true.

Are there issues in Islam? Absolutely – as in any faith. Are there violent people out there? Absolutely – as in any faith. Ken Lay, Eric Robert Rudolph, and Timothy McVeigh don't represent their religions – despite some pretty horrid acts – so why do we assume that all Muslims are like that jackass Bin-Laden.

Most religions today are out of control vehicles for hate, so I do not look at the Muslim religion any different today than I did in 1999.
I grew up in the South and know that you don’t have to be blowing up buildings to be terrorist, anyone been to a Baptist church? Anyone heard of fallwell and others like him?
These are the ones to be afraid of because they destroy through brain washing using terms like ‘Family Values’ and ‘Freedom’.
Tearing the country apart this way is no better than the 2001 attacks by those cowards.

God bless and God save me from your “good” people

God made man.

Man made religion!

Very moving commentary. However, I see significant problems with the fact that the Muslim leadership in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and elswhere has failed to loudly and collectively condenm the use of suicide bobmers – especially the use of young women and children aswe have seen in Pakistan, Iraq, and Israel. This failure does not speak well for institutional Islam. Instead we see instances of Imams and Aytollahs applauding this barbaric behavior.

All religions have their share of violent fanatics. Religion is predicated on the acceptance of irrational belief; any culture that takes this as a norm is bound to go through periods were violence motivated by faith is not only acceptable but encouraged.

I am sorry that you feel your religion was hijacked by violent extremists. I feel like my species has been hijacked by religious nuts, many are violent, all are dangerous.

Thank you for your article. The insecure people of every religion will continue to be unable to act in the best interest of themselves or others. I pray that all of us who are secure in our spirituality will actually demonstrate love in our relationships a way of living that works. Sometimes our selfishness and violence is part of a much more systemic battle plan. My religion could end much of the suffering in the world by living well at at lower level and sharing. If we did it, the violent fundamentalists would look absurd. Maybe I'll skip Starbucks and send something to ....

Thank you Mr. Iftikar for writing this article and thank you CNN for publishing it.

It's too easy to make collective statements and classify people on the basis of race, religion, etc.

The world needs to see Muslims (and everyone else) as people (for those of us who are religious, children of God) first and everything else second. As a Christian pacifist, I could never understand those of my religion who so quickly neglected their teachings and readily disparaged Muslims as a group, rather than speaking about individuals who had committed a crime by attacking the U.S.

The fact is that most people, when they meet can find good in each other and common interests. As you said, we need to discuss our problems rather than fight over them.

And by the way, my favorite delicatessen is owned by a Muslim family. They're normal people, just like me (and you and most others). I just wish everyone who groups Muslims into a prejudicial collective could meet them.

As a person who thinks that, other than the basic moral values they teach, religions are a little silly, I have said many times I wish Obama really was Muslim – and that it didn't matter.

Great article. Keep fighting the good fight.

The problem is; not enough Muslims speak out. Everyone in the world knows that Islamic terrorists "hi-jacked" an otherwise peaceful religion; but Islam is in itself, to blame. Mainly, Islam seems to think the world is against them, when in fact it's not. It must do it's own policing through whatever means it can. There is no Islamic pope for the masses to look up to, so someone has to set a tane, and not just be a "passive observers."

Islam has a real big PROBLEM. "Fix It!"

I liked your article. Thanks.

If I recall right, Yaser Arafat lost his credibility afetr he was found to have directed his objection to Mid-East violence in English towards westerners ONLY and not to the culprits.

What the author here says, really has to Originate from the Leaders of the Religion and from the Mid-East to reduce violence and hatred against the entire world by those bad guys.

To me as simple as it is, "Any religion against humanity is NOT a religion" its devil and its evil. Buddhism may be seen different by many, but what Dalai Lama believes and speaks for takes the Lead. I people here do not believe in their any religion, denounce continiously and reject what is there in them, if found against humanity. Only then, the world can accept them. Never by threats and killings.

Thank you.

Great Article. I had thoughts during the presidential campaign about people suspecting Obama of being Muslim rather than Christian. The "Muslim" rumors still hang out there. But what bugged me is no one ever said... SO WHAT IF HE IS MUSLIM?!

I'm United Methodist myself (not actively practicing) and it has nothing to do with how I work or how I would govern if I was a public official. I have plenty of patriotic Muslim friends. Obviously terrorism has put an unfotunate and unfair connotation with being "Muslim". As much as I've heard abotu sexism or racism in the campaign, people can talk about Muslims as if they were pure evil and nobody really complains. All because of the "terrorism" fears tend to justify it. Well unjustified fears have been used in the past to support atrocities, be it racism and segregation against black in the South. Japanese internment camps during WWII or even the Holocaust.

Brilliantly written, extraordinarily poignant, and sure to be overlooked by those who need to hear it most.

Understand this, if you had written this piece in many other areas of the Muslim world your head could very likely end up on a stake outside of the town. So I applaud your message, but how about suggesting some peaceful muslim leaders speak this way in front of an unruly crowd of hate filled people who celebrate beheadings as righteous justice and kill people after seing a cartoon they don't like.

Until Muslim religious leaders can stand up to their own hatemongers and argue about the Quran verses that are being recited every time a rusty serrated knife goes through someones throat without being called an infidel and a denyer of the infallible word of Mohammed, your words are but preaching to a choir with a gang of criminals outside of the church.

I hope that one day the world will realize what this struggle really is, and that is the battle of the anti-christ (Mohammed) against believers in Jesus.

Before any Muslims take insult at my label of your religious leader, understand that Muslims do not believe that Jesus is in fact God, and as such are "Anti Christ". No other religion in the world, including atheism and materialism, have pulled as many who seek the true God away from the love of Jesus as has the monotheistic religion of the Muslim Faith.

I will never advocate or condone violence or wrongdoing against one of another faith, and that includes any wrongful violence perpetrated my own country, and I will never condemn the basic teachings of Islam which are very similar to those of Christianity. But I will stand firm by my belief that this is a war greater than that of just earthly nations and one that began many many years ago. The only righteous way to fight this war is to love they neighbor as thyself, and love thy Lord with all thy heart, soul, mind and strength.

I could agree no more with Richard above, who said this..

"Richard September 11th, 2008 12:12 pm ET

Many muslims stil believe that the World Trade Center attacks were somehow a plot by the US government. This is obviously a lie and yet they continue to believe lies. Until muslims come to believe that it is their religion that is a fault and that there religion is fundmentally violent and that they must change that aspect of their religion, there will be no peace."

Nice Article. A sentiment which is deeply rooted in the Muslim community. One can see the bias after 9/11, as many Americans are hesitant to even vote for Barack Obama because they believe him to be Muslim, but since does religion dictates how good of a President a person would be? Blatant Ignorance!

Another thing which a lot of Americans fail to understand is that Most Muslims are NOT ARAB. ARABS only signal a silent majority of Muslim. There are over 1 billion Muslims from different countries living on different continents throughout the world. It is quite ignorant in my regard to make a whole entire religion and its people to suffer along side of terrorists.

Lastly, what would it do to anyone if Muslims come out and say that they do not support these terrorists? Will it change the behaviors of these terrorists? Why are people allowing terrorist to give them information when they should exercise their own intelligence and learn for themselves!

Equating bin Laden with Coulter and Cheney is interesting. That's pretty much the same level of thinking that goes on in madrassas.

Well written. Why did so few Muslims speak out against Bin Laden after 9/11? That may have helped the problem.

9/11 succeeded in bringing religious radicalism in spotlight mainly on account of America's status in the world. However, the radicalization is nothing new and nor are its sympathizers. 9/11 put a face to this monster in the West, but the monster did not grow up instantaneously. It is an inevitable product ever-increasing focus of Man towards satisfying individual goals with no consideration of its effect on his neighbors or his own long-term value system. Now that the monster of radical Islam (not that it is the only or even the biggest one) is alive and well and has a name, I think it would be naive to attribute his existence to the lunatics who brought about the tragedy on 9/11. The terror infrastructure has been decades in making and has been applied with mixed success for geographical gains or introduction of new forms of governments. If we are indeed to look for effective solutions, I think we should address the root causes behind this phenomenon. I think we will find the feeling of (socio-economic, psychological) injustice as both the main cause as well as the main product of terrorism. And for that reason (propelled by our own collective apathy and disbelief in a global welfare scheme) it is likely to keep growing and mutating to other forms of violent movements (see Maoists movement in India for example). Without an healthy infusion of "positive energy" in forms of radically different approach to living and thinking (along the lines you suggest perhaps), this monster has a good future ahead.

I think one of the worst tragedies of the last decade is that people around the globe, in the Middle East and in Washington, have had their love of God so twisted that they use it to commit evil.

With peacelovers of all faiths coming together in the cause of peace, "Deep in my heart, I do believe we shall overcome some day."

Absolutely beautiful!

I think Muslims who advocate peace have hijacked the religion. It took over 300 years for the words of Jesus to be accepted by the Roman Empire; in less than 100 years Islam had spread from Arabia to France, because the latter was spread by the sword. If you are a Muslim, and are peaceful, God bless you. But don't then say you follow the words of Mohamed, who was as much a Conqueror as a Prophet.

I couldn't agree more with the sentiment behind this wonderfully written article. As a Muslim who had converted just weeks before 9/11, I can not put in words the grief I not only felt for those who suffered, but for Islam as well. The loss for me was compounded by the events on that day.

Thank you my brother for voicing how at least one other Muslim feels.

Yoda said it best and perhaps it is the start of all things dark, "fear" why do we fear each other? Which in turn, leads to anger, and then hate, and finally suffering. This small insignificant rock floating through time and the great void is our home, and we all are in this together. Nevertheless, it is up to each one of us to see beyond ourselves and find peace of mind waiting there, and at that point in time we will see that we are all one, and life flows on within us and without us.

Though I can't say I have ever been thankful for Algebra, I am surely thankful for individuals like you. Your words are inspiring. Never lose your optimism!

Thank you

P. Larsen : that is the fault of our media, the potrayal of the rest of the world is typically negative. Can you imagine the perception of Africa by an Average American? The only thing you hear or see of Africa are naken and hungary people, they don't show the advanced cities in Africa. It's very sad how the media has turned a perception to a reality.
from my travels I've found that Middle Eastern people have a very sophisticated society.

Great piece, but I have a question regarding the Koran.
“So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayher and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. And.” – The Koran, Sura 9:5-6

In the context of the above, and other passages in the Koran that advocate killing of non-muslims, can someone explain how Islam can be seen as a religion of peace? Maybe I have a botched translation?

man...lots of big words...its no wonder you are doing well in college. professors love that stuff. and i know that because all the writing ive done in college looks just like that, and i get pretty good grades in writing classes.

It's time for the silent majority of Muslims to come out and set the record straight. Our religion has indeed been hijacked.

Our faith does not allow attacks on civilians under ANY circumstance. Islam absolutely forbids death penalty on anyone for something they said, wrote (or a cartoon they sketched). The Qur'an teaches us to counter those who dislike us by doing good towards them. Raise arms only to disarm a madman.

The insanity of so-called "Islamic Terrorism" has its roots in idiocy, not in the scriptures of Islam, not in the teachings of Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him). In the 1400 years since Prophet Muhammed walked this earth, only in the last few decades has this disease shrouded itself in Islam.

The etymology of the word Islam is anchored in the word peace – Salam. It's time we became agents of peace to this world. This is the highest calling in Islam. After all, our Prophet prayed and taught us to pray as follows:

Oh God,
You are peace
and the source of peace,
To you returns peace
Revive us with a salutation of peace,
And lead us to your abode of peace.

Islam means "submission," you knuckleheads, not "peace," And Arabs are not a race. Just two of the imbecilic statements made by this author. If any of you can't by now discern taqiyah from the truth, then I tremble for my country.

Beautifully written. You are truly inspirational. We need more people like you who can show everyone else the true colors of Islam.

To Richard: Unless you have studied Islam, you can have no idea of what it teaches. It's not the religion at fault but the extremists who make false interpretations and basically lie to justify their acts of hate and violence. The biggest problem is the lack of education in some of these middle east countries which makes it easy for terrorist groups to manipulate the minds of the people living there.

I like what John Prince said. The main stream media is partially to blame for the public view of Muslims. Ever since 9/11, they have constantly used the words Muslims and terrorists hand in hand. It is our job as true Muslims to show the rest of the world that these terrorists and extremists do not follow what Islam stands for and are nothing more than fakes who use religion as a platform for gaining support and power.

Awesome...as a veteran of the US Army and a Christian I could not have said it better....I don't understand how on one hand my so called brothers and sisters in Christ can be "lovers of unborn life" yet be willing to execute people, not support research that could some day lead to a treatment to my terminal cancer and be willing to send our brave son's, daughters, husbands and wives to fight in an unjust war.

GODS Blessings To ALL!!!!

Thats fine that you believe in peace, obviously you are an intelligent and educated person. Problem is that you are only one Muslim and statistics show that overwhelming majorities of millions of Muslims are supportive of killing of non-muslims and identify with their suicide bombers. The vast majoirty of conflicts in the world today involve muslims attacking people and persecuting those who are are not muslim.

Until the muslim world stops killing people who do not want to believe they way they do, it is a religion of hate and an enemy to the world.

Conspicuously absent from Mr. Iftikhar's attached biography is his service as CAIR's nationwide legal director. I find this absence telling if not surprising, given CAIR's role as political cover for the terrorist organization of the Muslim Brotherhood. Do not trust a single thing this man says, as he molds it in one vein for the unsuspecting infidel reader, while saying something VERY different back at headquarters.

This is all nice to hear coming from a Muslim, but I think the article ignores the graveness of the situation. I do not accept the writer's characterization that "over a billion mainstream Muslim" do not agree with Osama Bin Laden's tactics. Too many Muslims have danced in the streets following the 9/11 attack, and too many of them continue to send money to charities that fund terrorism. The Qur'an, which is preoccupied with burning the infidels, provides instructions on how and when to wage war, while offering dangerously vague guidelines for its justification. Many Muslims seem to have no critical skills when it comes to separating fact from hateful propaganda. For more than a milliennia, violence has been the chief problem-solving mechanism for Islam, both for internal and external problems. It is clear enough that if Mr. Iftikhar were to say these things in most of the Middle Eastern countries dominated by Islam, he would be imprisoned or killed. Preaching to the choir is not what is needed today. More bravery than that is required.

Great piece...

But instead of trying to pacify our religions maybe we should just get rid of them...

I was in Managerial Accounting on 9.11.01 and the class after 9.11.01 the very fist thing my professor said to us was to remember NOT to make blanket categorization, to not discriminate against the very students a week before we had no problems with (we had a fairly high population of Muslim students). I have never forgotten those words and have worked to live by them.

"our next generation of youthful global pacifists can help reclaim our culture of humanity from sinister warmongering dinosaurs with names like Osama, Coulter, Hamas and Cheney."

Couple of points...

Islam would have to have been a 'culture of humanity' at some point for us to 'reclaim' it.

Nothing says 'classy' like comparing the American VP to the lowest form of terrorists scum on the planet on 9/11.

Keep up the good work - your consistent attempts to minimize the autrocities committed in the name of Islam seem to be working on most the folks in this thread.

Arsalan, you are right that racism and extremism must be defeated, however you are wrong if you think that we can do this through non-violence alone. Ghandi had the advantage of facing an enemy that did not desire its own death. The current crop of Muslim extremists want nothing other than the destruction of most life on this planet, the establishment of an global Islamic caliphate, 72 virgins, and other such idiotic fantasies. I don't think you will ever win that group over with your prose.

When people start wearing religious and reacial masks, no words can explain our own personal image or identity. While religions, races and cultures are part of lives for centuries, we are all being separated by acts of extremists. There is no immediate remedy for this. The long term solution is love that can mix all of us. My suggestion is love and marry someone who is not from your religion, race or culture.

hmmm, what scary percentage of American Muslims think suicide bombings are OK?

It didn't start with 9/11. It started in Munich. It happend to embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. It happened in Beirut and Jerusalem.

Until the "billion muslim pacificts" take to the streets and condemn suicide bombings and terrorist, Islam will be associated with "martyrs" who "god willing" will paint the streets red with the blood of the "infidels."

I applaud all your comments, but peace has never been accomplished by being passive. If Western Europe was Islamic when Hitler began his march of aggression, who would have stopped his rockets? I just don't see it happening – sorry!
Even in Nature, undisturbed by politics, it's a struggle of who is the boss, commander, leader...if God does exist, in all these centuries, someone would have followed his rules to the letter and eternal peace would have been accomplished. Think those odds are about as timely as following the chances of duplicating someone's DNA! But your message is not to be discarded! If one aggresive leader GETS IT, then we can assume that his following of a couple of thousand will also get it, for a while anyway.

Brad, you have some serious misconceptions about atheists. Atheist does not equal amoral. Peace.

Thank you for making so many points so eloquently!

It is sad that Barack Obama has been called "a Muslim" as if it were a bad thing. He has also distanced himself from this issue. My only wish is that an American leader would have the courage to align himself with any race, religion or creed that does what Arsalan Ifthikar has stood for.

Great article – Inspiring and needed.

I know many American Muslims who are hard working and just want a better life for their families. They immigrated to America to enhance their education and provide a better opportunity for themselves.

All minorities in America have gone through challenging times. Blacks, Hispanics, Jews, Native Americans, Catholics, etc. Now it is the Muslim's turn. Who will be next? Chinese, Russians, etc?

America should embrace all cultures and all religions and judge people INDIVIDUALLY by their actions rather than STEREOTYPING all people because of the actions of a radical few.

*sniff****sniff*

As noble and admirable as this article is, it wholly misses the point. In history of mankind, religion is the number 1 reason for war. This article though is akin to build one giant Field of Peace with everyone in it singing koomby-ya and then sitting back saying "build it and they will come".

As long as religion prevails in the governments of countries or is the single driving social force of any society then there will always be problems. In Saudi Arabia the school text books 'preach' the hatred of Jews and the construction of different religious places of worship is illegal. In China all religions are illegal. In many western nations Christianity has taken a back seat in society that you can find daily satire of it in the media outlets – the guise of freedom of the press overshadows respect for peoples beliefs. And in many areas of the world, where social classes are separated by the extreme poor and the extreme rich, religion becomes the only guiding light, the only beacon of hope for poor and down trodden. The poorer a people are the more they embrace their religion. And they embrace their religion with unbridled passion and ferocious emotion and defend it with intense irrationality.

The keys to peace is poverty and the removal of religious governments. IF that were ever to occur and that major hurdle was out of the way, then we could focus on the rest of the top 10 reasons why we nations war.

As student of history: people will change when they are ready, but you can't will change upon them.

This comment is for Richard:
You are bias, you are a racist and you are wrong... We dont know anything is for sure anymore...and for you to say an entire religion is this way and behave that way and do those things is completely RACIST. Thats like me saying your family is full of racist people when im sure there is at least one smart soul who doesnt believe in your warped ideas...she/he too would be offended. Im disgusted by your remarks and by the fact that you pick a day where people mourn the loss of their loved ones and speak of peace to feel "attacked" by a muslim.
I work for a muslim family, my boss is by far the best person I've worked for in my life. He has helped me and my family through the worst times ever and he continues to help me by extending a friendly hand and not asking for anything in return no matter how much I insist on it. Im Colombian and my grandfather was muslim...he was from India. He spoke 7 different languages and traveled the world teaching the Koran and tutoring those less fortunate. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to meet him but I will forever think of him as a hero...he had a heart of gold. It was you Richard...people like you who crashed those planes and killed those innocent people with your racist thinking...shame on you.
As for the author of this article...you are an inspiration to your religion and to all of us immigrants who battle with racism and separatism each passing day. People like you who focus on the positive and never the negative are the people who truly make a difference in the world...Kudos to you!

Just like the author quoted a few peaceful quotes from quran, i can post hateful posts from the quran too. this selective propagation, used by ideologists is what makes humans think that their belief system is being hijacked. but who is to blame for that, just like how the author chose the peaceful quotes and peaceful way of life in islam, some other person of islam or any other religion might chose the hateful quotes and hateful way of life, and what rational way can we condemn them when we ourselves have chose something that suits us from the same set of quotes.

If you start believing that there is no difference between humans, cultures and traditions then you are just misleading people, and i strongly believe that the goal of one united world will never happen unless we learn to understand that we are all different, but we have to learn to understand and appreciate the differences. The sense of insecurity about our believes drives us crazy, we need to understand that whatever we believe is what we perceive, and there are and can be innumerable of these. As an individual most people have a great heart, but when in a group the same individuals become foolish, this is the result of the internal craving for belonging somewhere and belonging to something. this need not be wrong, but being insecure about it is the culprit to take inhumane actions.

Being judgemental, making decisions who is better than whom, what idea is better than the other is foolish and that drives the entire gammot of this hate whether is based of race or religion. as long as we do not stop judging we will never get rid of this problem.

As long as muslim leaders dont codemn terrorism , this kind of jihadi behavior will exist and will encourage the younger muslims. Every other religion leaders does condemn their own people when something goes wrong, why is that not happening in muslim community? Muslim extremists have issues not only with US, but 10 other countries. Is it the problem with these countries or muslim extremists in general?

Richard, its not the religion that is at fault, its those manupilators & opportunits who're twisting the religion to further their own agendas and this is not the first time in history. Remember, during the so called Afghan Jihad, these same war mongers were depicted as heros & freedom fighters. Time magazine and Newsweek called them Soldiers of God and Holy Figthers. CIA sponsored training camps sprung up all along Afghan-Pak borders where religious teachings was shamelessly twisted, bended and used to infest a jihadi culture among the young cannon fodders recruited from around the world for waging a jihad against infidels of that time i.e Soviets. They were trained for ONLY two things: to kill or be killed with the lure of 72 virgins. Soviet withdrawl gave them a false sense of invincibility and religious supremacy, which severly crippled their ability of objective & rational thinking. An entire generation has been wasted, they're beyond cure. Distorted religious teachings have distorted their minds & souls.

Great article Arsalan btw, it echos the sentiments of billion + Muslims around the world. Osama does NOT own Islam, neither he is sincere to his faith, he is only using Islam to spread his own anarchist teachings.

Mr. Iftikhar, keep writing. We need voices like yours. Don't let the haters get you down.

Salaam.

Arsalan, I applaud your condemnation of terror and the killing of innocents in the name of Islam. I sincerely hope Muslims around the world will take it to heart. However, have you ever seriously considered there is a possibility, that the islamic system itself could be a source of such terrorism? Have you ever asked yourself who comes closer to the original Islam : whether the mass of tolerant, peace-loving Muslims you belong to, or the intolerant, murderous islamists? What do you think of the statements in the Qur'an and Hadithe which clearly call for the execution of apostates? How do you feel about having a chapter/Sure in your holy book called Anfal– "the spoils of war"– giving instructions on how to divvy up the booty of people that have been attacked? Or what about the permission in Qur'an to have sex with/rape female "war booty" in Sure 33:50. I have many tolerant muslim friends who are disgusted by these things which are commanded in their holy book. Recently one told me: "The more I read in the Qur'an and in the Hadithe about the original Islam and the historical Mohammed, the more my conscience bothers me. My only way to cope is to create a fantasy Islam/Mohammed in my mind, which is peacful and tolerant to block out the facts of history." The attempt to compare islamic terror with the inquisitions is flawed. Christians who perpetrated such crimes, did so in CONTRADICTION to their holy book and their leader Jesus (in the New Testament you will find no chapter on the spoils of war, executoing apostates or the rape of female prisoners). However when Islamists do this, they are acting in AGREEMENT with their holy book and imitating their founder. A contrast we dare not overlook!

Islam, put simply, is not a religion of peace.

There is a reason it has the traditions of Nasikh/Mansukh verses (and the peaceful verses are always the abrogated ones; the most violent and hateful part of the koran was the LAST part written). There is a reason they practice the tradition of taqiyyah, or "lying to make the religion look better", in order to get in good when a minority like the liar who wrote this article does.

The vast majority of Muslims, polled, will ADMIT TO SUPPORTING TERRORISM. And that's the ones who are being honest to the poller.

When I think of Salman Rushdie, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Theo Van Gogh, the children in Beslan, commuters in Madrid and London, vacationers in Bali, Israelis in restaurants and many other recent sickening events in the past few years, I cannot believe for an instant that “one terrorist cave dweller” is behind all the violence and intolerance perpetrated by Muslims.

Indeed, there are many international terrorist organizations such as Hamas, Hizbullah, Jamaah e Islamiyah, Abu Sayyaf who are not directly tied to Bin Ladin but who do use the teachings of the Qur’an and the Hadith to justify their violent actions and intolerant world views. You could say that they are twisting and high jacking Islam—and maybe they are, but they would say the same about your interpretation of Islam—and I daresay that they would have more scriptures and commentary by Islamic scholars throughout the ages to back up their claims than you do yours.

Nevertheless, I appreciate your love of this nation and your respect for people of all belief systems and cultures. The world is in dire need of more Muslims who think as you do.

Blessed Be.

Once again, the lie that Islam means Peace. The world is not so blind any more to the false claims. Islam actually means "submission", and you should know it... but are afraid to actually say it. The fact that you do this one small thing shows that you are working only to hide the truth. The only true muslims are those that follow Muhammed's example, and that is murder, lying, pedophilia and theft. You cannot deny that he is guilty of any of those. They are all recorded and are now being held up as examples to be copied by Osama and his kind.

In response to John R. Prince's comment/question- mainstream media would never report that 99.9% of muslims in the world are against Bin Ladin because that would not draw the readers to draw the advertising to draw the money. Plain and simple.

I am an American muslim convert (post-9/11) and am ashamed sometimes at how our culture "loves" freedom so much it destroys it.

I´ve lived in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Lahore, Pakistan. I´ve become very familiar with Islam. There´s no such thing as Islamic "pacificism." You are either a "practicing" Muslim following the Qur´an, or you call yourself a Muslim but practice only parts of the Qur´an – the parts you like and agree with. Osama bin Laden is a practicing Muslim, takes the entire Qur´an for its word, and follows it to the T. You, my friend, thank God, practice only those parts that are nonviolent, and hopefully those parts that don´t require bigotry and hatred from you toward all nonMuslims. Some would call you a " moderate," but in fact you are simply a Muslim who doesn´t practice your religion in its entirety. The "extremists" aren´t extremists at all; they are practicing Muslims. You know this, and those Muslims consider you a lightweight and not a " good" Muslim.

This article has made my day. With my experiences in the U.S. military, and going over our future plans, this article has most certainly warmed my heart. Thank you.

Yes, muslims all around the world have been looked upon funny, strange, involved and most of all as supporters of 9/11. But the truth of the matter is that, there are millions of muslims who do not follow these radical beleifs at all. infact, the 5% of the rotten apples give the remianing 95% a bad name. In my state (maryland) alone, there are so many of us practicing muslims who have been born here or became US citizens and live the American Dream. we work hard, love our neighbor at home & work. and do the right thing, but when we go home and watch TV, we see that it was a muslim who did this and a muslim who did this. I only ask the media for one thing, and that is to portray some good muslims as well, with each horrible bad muslim news. why cant they do an expose on a typical US-muslim family who practices Islam and works, play soccer, loves DVD's and pays Zakat, fasts, gives to charity, cuts the neighbors lawn, and all the other things normal people do. My co-workers all know i am fasting, so they crack jokes and make me feel good and most of all they know who i am. May Allah bless the USA and all its people; muslims, christians, jews and all others. Part of the reasons why we fast is so we can truly say; "i know what they go through in Somali, Rowanda, Nigeria, Bangladesh" by not eating during the day we thank God, for when we can eat.

May God (Allah) bless you and your efforts.

Excellent article. 9/11 has changed the way we (Muslims) live in this great country. I can never forget that day. I was a first year medical resident rotating in a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. I entered a patient’s room and saw horrible scenes of WTC on fire on the television. I was in a state of disbelief when the patient (a veteran) said in anger, "You Muslims did all this" (I was taking care of him for the last couple of days and he know I am a Muslim). That moment I knew my life is changed for ever in this country. I just want to state this to every one that Islam is a religion of peace, any person who believes in true teachings of Islam knows that killing innocent people is wrong and forbidden under any circumstances and OBL is a terrorist who is using a peaceful religion to propagate his terrorist agenda and we all Muslims strongly condemn that. Last thing, we all love this country as much as any one else as this is the greatest and the only country in the world which gives every person opportunity to touch the sky without considering his/her race or religion.

This goes to show that we should judge people individually not as a group.

C'mon now. Doesn't anybody else see how self-serving this guy is? He's managed to turn himself from a second-year law student (I've been there as a black student, it's not fun) into someone who's getting cast in movies, hob-knobbing with Bono and appearing on TV shows. How many bombs has he stopped? It's an interesting read, but please don't turn this guy into the messiah. Better to follow Gandhi, MLK or your average U.S. soldier, who are really putting it on the line.

Great article. Alot of Americans feel for you. We had our government and foreign policy hijacked by the GOP fear-mongers and now they're trying for 4 more years.

Peace. What a concept. It is a concept espoused by every religion around the world, yet is the most elusive to put into action. As someone who has also read the Bible (the Catholic version, the Protestant version, and many different translations), the Q'uran, the Torah, as well as the holy books of many other faiths of this varied and magnificent world, I've always made an effort to look for how they are similar, not for how they are different. Mankind - and womankind as well - needs more voices like the author's. More people looking for peaceful ways to resolve our differences, more people looking for ways to bring us together. We are running out of time to resolve global issues in the environment, terrorism, disease, and hatred.

Thank you, Arsalan, for your commitment, your clear vision, and your courage.

I feel the same way about America. Used to love it, used to feel patriotic, but the Republicans have spilled too much innocent blood, lied about it, and blatantly alienated me. And no one did anything about it.

We should dissolve the Union, for the good of humanity.

nicely said my friend...to answer "George" and a common thought/question; it is not that most Muslims are silent to the evil actions of such terrorists as Bin Laden, thus obviously approving it, but rather their outcry and condemnation is mainly ignored by the Western media; and only the negatives of the Muslim community are mainly portrayed in the media. An example would be the piece the media showed on 9/11 when a bunch of Palestinians (well, so they were said to be) were handing out sweets on the street. Yet they totally ignored or minimized at best the lighting of candles for the victims of 9/11 by such people as Iranians in Iran (not the Iranian government, but the people of Iran).

As a born and bred Muslim American, I applaud your article. I am a college freshman and I strongly believe that the challenge for my generation is this: reverse the evils shown my select few extremists. The task, I know, is not an easy one. But millions of other young Muslims like myself are lucky to grow up in a country where our voices can be heard and our views taken with an open mind. Islam is a beautiful religion and America is a wonderful country. I know that these two things can one day go hand in hand without the word "terrorism" being mentioned. Also, I assure you that these extremists are not even considered Muslim because it says in the Quran that a person is not to kill anyone, much less innocent victims. I wish these brainless people wouldn't ruin everything for the rest of us. After 9-11 many Muslim teens are left to ponder on how to clean up the mess left by others. Well, we are getting there, one step at a time.

Great thinking.

If world goes "Mahatma Gandhi" way, all problems will be solved without any killing. Martin Luther King followed Mahatma Gandhi way, that shows that "GANDHIgiri" worked in India, South Africa and America, so it can work any any country if they stick to his idea.

I wish all moderate muslims come out and speak out this way so extrimist voice will be lower than main stream moderate muslims which will convince them that they are not advocate of their religion.

Let us all together protect this modern civilizatin from extremist groups.

- What does Islam think of infidels like us?
- How come there's no Christian church allowed in Saudi Arabia?
- How come Muhammad said and did so many hateful and violent things, while Jesus never did such a thing?

I find it interesting that muslims in America are always claiming their religion is peaceful. History and the writingsin the Qur'an show different!

Islamic extremists hijacking Islam is no different than evangelicals hijacking Christianity. Thus the war some of us have against a theocratic government here in the US (which unfortunately ebbs and flows with whatever party controls our government). If one wants to do battle with Islamic Extremism, one could do better by starting the fight here with Evangelicalism. That is the greater danger. Personally, I have no problem with Islam – I greatly dislike ALL religions.

I'm also Indian and had many muslim acquaintances tell me how America deserved the attacks at the time. Westerners just don't understand how the rest of the world thinks, Muslim or otherwise. Ghandi spoke of peace and enabled the creation of two countries, how wonderfull. Then, these two countries have been involved in bloody conflict ever since. 9/11 was not the start of terrorism, it just made you aware because it was in your soil and not on tv, in some foreign, far away country.

Interesting column. If the "peaceful Muslim majority" wants to get off the blacklist, perhaps it should do its part in shutting down religious schools and mosques where inciteful rhetoric is preached. Perhaps the "peaceful Muslim majority" should imprison and punish clerics and religious leaders who are promoting jihad and violence, instead of stoning 14 yr old girls who were raped. Perhaps the "peaceful Muslim majority" should get off it's a** and do something about the violent extremist Muslim minority if it wants it's religion back.

I'm sorry you and your fellow "peaceful Muslim majority" are having a tough time dealing with all the criticism, hateful looks, preudice, and other wrongs by the mostly Christian American nation. Just remember that the extremist Christian factions throughout the world never flew a plane into Mecca or Dubai. The extremist Jewish factions never sent suicide bombers into neighborhoods filled with innocent children and killed scores of people.

I keep hearing about how Islam is a religion of peace from the "peaceful, (albeit Silent) Muslim majority". Until Muslims call and act upon other Muslims to stop the violence, I will continue to think twice about shaking your hand, getting in your cab, doing business in your stores, and befriending you. Call me a bigot, or a racist, or anything else you'd like. The onus is on the peaceful Muslim majority to prove us wrong.

I have little sympathy for your situation honestly.

Your religion, as much as most muslims deny it, is based upon extreme intolerance and violence towards those who do not follow your faith.

You can say all you like that only "extremists" feel that way but that doesn't really change the text of your holy books nor the acts and words of the high ranking religious officials for your religion.

Perhaps it's time to break away and make a new religion, one that draws the positive fundamentals from Islam and their writings and remove the parts that these extremist lunatics use as their excuse to do what they do.

Only once they are removed and you can honestly sit back and say – I am not associated with them – will your religion ever have it's followers looked at in a different light.

Thank you for your eloquent words. I am of mixed ancestry, my mother is Jewish and my father is Irish Catholic, and there are many races and religions represented in my family, white, black, brown, yellow, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu. I know that as a family, we come together in respect, celebration, and love. I think that if we as a family can do it, then the world can.

Hijack your religion? Do you even know your religions violent history? Convert, pay tribute or die religion? Kill the infidel, Jew and people of the book religion? Your religion wasn`t hijacked that day.......merely exposed for what it truly is.

To the author,

Thank you and may many Muslims join your campaign.

I read the article and all the comments. Nearly all were serious, intelligent and inspiring. What a pleasure to read a blog like that after so many others with their hate, biases and ignorant ranting. Thank the writer and all you bloggers for keeping it civil and helpful. As regards the point of the writer I support you and look for more people like you. We need you to be the vocal majority (or minority as the case may be). Good material, well written, absolutely dead on. What the public needs to see.

Well written article. No harm at adding humor and movie references, gives it a true perspective. I still wonder what the hell was Osama's pupose of destroying buildings and innocent lives both in the USA and the US Embassy in Kenya. It is sad but just like a serial killer has really no motives, so does Osama and his followers. Just mental issues is what I think he has but just really terrible mental issues. Unfortunately he has dragged Islam into his acts and it is sad that religious extremism through wahabbism and the talibans as representatives of religion have sided with his unknown mentally disturbed purposes.

The piece probably reflects the feelings of many co-followers of Muslim faith. But unfortunately it has not become their voice. Just not yet – and hopefully will gain momentum.

I am not a follower of Islam and admit that I have a limited knowledge of its real teachings. But as a follower of another faith, I believe that if Islam is considered a religion it must be teaching love, compassion, tolerance, respect among humans of all stripes, acceptance of all religions and faiths, selflessness, non-violence, a civilized and enlightened way to lead life etc. That's what my faith teaches me. Call it human faith.

Mahatma Gandhi was not only able to recognize this, he actually put these virtues into his life. Despite being born in a Hindu family and a practioner of this faith until his assassination, he never put religion above humanity. He had pride in being a Hindu, but never identified himself just as a Hindu.

This is what I find missing in the followers of Islam. They identify themselves too much as Muslims – from individuals to nations. Self-dignity is one thing, self-obsession quite another. Religion is for the good of humans, not humans for the good of religion.

The human faith. Incidents of recent past unfortunately linked to followers of Muslim faith have shaken that faith in the teachings of Islam. Indeed Islam's been hijacked.

I can't argue with your obvious sincerity and have no doubt that there are others like you. However, a few points of clarification:
1) Islam _is_ a religion that, in and of itself, promotes violence against any and all non-believers. I refer you to the writings in the Quran itself, as well as to former native-born Muslim Ayaan Hirsi Ali, specifically her book "Infidel" wherein she makes it very clear that the fault is not that of a handful of radicals but of the faith itself.
2) While Albert Einstein may have genuinely held a pacifist position, he was a key figure in the Manhattan Project, which gave the US the atomic bomb and was later used to take the lives of many, many innocent persons. Despite the fact that the case can well be made that we needed the A-bomb and its use _may_ have averted the loss of significantly more life, killing is killing, and we need to consider Einstein's "pacifist" position an arguable one.
3) Personally, I will not soon forget the images of Muslims rejoicing in the streets at America's pain on September 11, 2001. Most Americans will well remember the joy and/or indifference of a majority of Muslims. If there was some other Islam that day, I did not see it.

That was very interesting piece. I have studied several religions like Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. I have travelled extensively and lived in India. I became big fan of Mahatma Gandhi after visiting his montessories. Instead of calling myself a Christian, I would prefer to call myself a follower of Christ. The current so called Christianity is being convoluted by historical figures like Constantine and to some extent British throne. Don't get me wrong, lot of good has been done by Christian missionaries/nuns around the world. Selfless attitude of some of the great men/women have touched millions of people around the world. IMHO if world can just learn to say/practice one lesson i.e. I am no better than others then this world would be a better place. If you know something more than others that does not mean you are better than the other person. Just thank God for that knowledge. Christ commanded people to make disciples, not Christians. If one claims to be the disciple of Christ, then he/she needs to follow basic commandments like "love your neighbor as yourself". People should be able to see Christ in you. I would advocate same thing for Islam followers. Hinduism by default is not practiced for proselythize people but some militants groups (right wing Hindu outfits) in India have started to misuse for political/power purposes and when such things start to happen, you will see polarization among the followers. The religion which evolved from many cultures (like Aryans, Dravidian ..) as a way of life is being given a form which does not exist in their religious background and books.

My message is that treat others as you would like to be treated. Despite all the differences we have, without a doubt I can say that America is the best place to live and Americans know how to give. On this day, my tribute and respect to all our men/women in uniform protecting our country. God bless.

Hijack your religion? Do you even know your religions violent history? Convert, pay tribute or die religion? Kill the infidel, Jew and people of the book religion? Your religion wasn`t hijacked that day.......merely exposed for what it truly is. All we are seeing today is a revival of it`s original roots.

My only question would be why no Fatwa released against Osama after 9/11 in US?

All the Muslim religious institutions in U.S should codemn his act!!!!

Islam wasn’t hijacked, it was simply taken to it logical conclusion, as set forth in the Koran. The men who committed the atrocities of September 11 were certainly not "cowards," as they were repeatedly described in the Western media, nor were they lunatics in any ordinary sense. They were men of faith—perfect faith, as it turns out — and this, it must finally be acknowledged, is a terrible thing to be.

The rise of Islamic fundamentalism is only a problem because the fundamentals of Islam are a problem. A rise of Jain fundamentalism would endanger no one. In fact, the uncontrollable spread of Jainism throughout the world would improve our situation immensely. We would lose more of our crops to pests, perhaps (observant Jains generally will not kill anything, including insects), but we would not find ourselves surrounded by suicidal terrorists or by a civilization that widely condones their actions.

The problem is the majority of Muslims in America were very silent after the attacks on 9/11. There was no outrage, there was no condemnation, and very few if any tears for fallen countrymen. It was as if the Muslim community was waiting to see if they should be upset or cheering. Appearances on TV by Muslim clerics claiming "We had this coming" didn't help much either. I won't lie to you, as a Christian I am very distrustful of all Muslims. Your actions as a whole, and as a community have been terribly anemic when it comes to condeming and fighting against radical fascist Islam. Until we see Muslims in America and abroad stand up, unequivocably condemn Bin Laden as a murder, and start exposing radical elements within your own mosques you can expect very little trust from the rest of the nation any time soon.

I am sorry, but has Islam ever had a peaceful conquest, in its history?
Indian subcontinent was brutalized, subjected to atrocities, slavery, repeated raids and treasures looted, hundreds of million Muslims now stand testimony to the brutal and forceful conversions at sword point.

Mosques were established on destroyed temples.

Bin Laden and his coterie are only the 21st century versions of their predecessors, aiming for Islam to dominate the world in their own ways.
Please stop spreading the myth of "Islam, the peaceful religion". Koran says "smite the non-believer".

I find it is interesting reading so far & amaged to read so many opinions on this issue. I don't see it has anything with this religion itself, it was beyond that. Just see who was/is the most benificiary of this incident. The group should know that it is the most wrong & unjustified thing they can ever do against this country. In Islam, killing is probihited & the big question still remains unanswered: WHO build-up & prepared these folks behind this attack".

While I applaud your efforts, it's hard to believe that every Muslim disagrees with Osama, despite the known/given media bias. If this were true, then why the difficulty taking back your religion?

With that said, you can't blame the "other side" without looking at your own folly. The war has been very profitable for a select few. Dick Cheney, his friends at Halliburton and his boss (Bush) the oil man, have all gotten rich at the expense of the American people (many lost lives and $53 trillion in debt) – all the while, playing into the hands of extremist. And yes, we voted them into office.

I am a Muslim and I lived for first 24 years of my life in Pakistan and have been living in US for last 6 years. I see lot of people complaining that why don't Muslim stand against Osama and why don't they see Muslim protest. There are two main reasons 1- Most of the Muslims in Afghanistan and Pakistan are living in severe poverty so they have no time to think of any thing else other than bread. 2- The media does not show you the true picture. I read Fox, I read CNN, I read local news paper of Muslim world and I have concluded that there are forces in this world who just want war in this world and would never show true side of any thing and would create fear and uncertainty. I have lived in both worlds so I know there is not much we can do unless media gains some sanity.

I applaud your article....being a Christian I too desire peace for all men and this article brings to mind the song:
Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.

After 9/11, the silence from Muslims condemning the act was deafening. If Jews or Christians had done this, rabbis, ministers, and priests would have been falling over themselves getting to microphones to condemn it. If the professor from Princeton (I have forgotten his name) who is supposed to be an international expert on Islam is correct, 15% of Muslims support al-Qaeda's methods and 30% are sympathetic with them (I've also heard those numbers elsewhere). So I don't believe the "1 billion Muslim pacifists" statement. And Muslims must theologically address Sura 9, the last and therefore most definitive statement of Allah calling for the spread of Islam by the sword (attack Christians and Jews until they submit). And comparing Dick Cheney to Hamas and Ann Coulter to Osama bin Laden is moral idiocy.

I want global peace as much as anyone. But as long as Muslims gather en masse to chant death to Israel, death to America, and death to the West while others (individuals and nations like IRAN) seek WMD, I prefer to keep my guard up.

Although I agree in principle, I am left asking...where are all these "peace loving Muslims"? Start in Libya and go to Indonesia, and you can't find a majority Muslim country that is actually practicing "peace loving". Every one is either run by a despot (or group of despots), or has a nominally "benevolent" despot (e.g. Saudi Royal Family) that is constantly fighting off assassination and overthrow by large, locally-grown fanatic elements. A far-left, liberal, self-proclaimed "human rights lawyer" and "public diplomat" (and what exactly is that, anyway?) living in the US worshiping Noam Chomsky and Nelson Mandela is hardly a representative for the average Muslim, no matter how much of an "international media spokesperson" he fancies himself to be. Go live in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, or the like for couple years - experience Sharia Law first-hand - experience Taliban and Al Quaeda first-hand - and then come back and lecture us about how Muslims worldwide really feel, and what they really want, and what they really believe. You will most likely find that, unfortunately, a large percentage either actively support or at least tacitly approve of the majority of it. You don't burn McDonalds and vandalize Burger Kings in multiple countries over a bunch of Danish Cartoons without having a fundamental core belief in the justification of such acts. That's what Muslims really need to address - look in the mirror to see what's wrong with Islam. Human Rights Lawyer Physician, Heal Thyself.

I think your article is wonderful and I wish you luck in your fight to get your religion back. My opinion has always been that terrorists are a small part of the human family, so imagine my thoughts after 9/11 when we read that most Muslims understood why the attack happened, danced in the streets (yes that was shown on TV) and didn't bother to speak up as you are doing now. Or maybe they did and the media ignored it.

Be that as it is, Osama and his ilk have not won...not yet. It will be people like you that defeat him. I wish you all the best.

Mike, there are milions of Muslims who live in North America and think there is no better place to live and raise their families. They are as patriotic as any other segment of American society can be. And when it comes to expressing their loylaty for America, they do not care about any backlash. Like Christianity, Muslims have dozens of sects and if they worried about each others backlash, may they will become one sect. Muslims do not lack support for anti-terrorism stance, they lack media support to cover milions of such stances.

If media shows milions of patriotic or even dozens of patriotic Muslims, would it increase their ratings? However, if after a long hard exhausting search if they find one Muslim whom they can present as a terrorist/fundamantilist/nuts – IT MAKES HEADLINES – and other media outlets jump on the storry as vulchers. For media that is more important than PEACE. If there will be peace in the world, what will be the dramatic headlines and lead stories?

What sounds more dramatic: "a Muslim terrorist found in an American city about to do something or nothing" (after a long hard exhausting search)

or

milions of patriotic Muslims living in America are taking a stance against a fraction (0.00001%) of fundamantlists among them.

I admire your conviction, passion, and intelligence. I wish more people were like you.

The thing that bothers me is that people think that just because Jesus was himself a peaceful person, that makes ALL of Christianity peaceful. EVERY religion (even buddhism) has sects that are extremely exclusivist and violent. People throw around the word, "Fundamentalism" and almost always are referring to Islam. The term "fundamentalism" actually came into existence in the early 1900's describing a group of extreme exlcusivist Christians in the southern part of the United States. It was based off the book they created, called "The Fundamentals," which was about the fundamentals for Christian faith. They were the type of people who said other people would burn in hell if they didn't believe exactly what this group believed.

Ghandi and MLK Jr. and Mandela. These people are not spoken about enough.

Personally, I blame the media for the poor image of Islam. They focus solely on the small contingent of muslims who believe in this violence. They don't focus on the majority of Muslims who believe in peace and love. It isn't good news to them.

This is an excellent reflection. Thank you!! Merci y Gracias.
Let me say, that RELIGION in general is getting hijacked .. fundamentalism, bigotry, prejudice is being supported by narrow or errant understandings of faith.

If one is a believer, God created us in the image of God .. and promises PEACE. We are all equals. No matter our faith, clothes we wear, foods we eat, and holidays we celebrate. Look inside and see all that is goo.

Thank you for writing this today.

Great article. More moderate Muslims need to raise their voices to take a stand against those who kill and hurt in the name of their religion.

While I commend your good heart, a "feel good" piece that obscures truth is of limited value. The 19 terrorists on that day were not "hijacking" their religion, but simply bringing up to date a jihadist philosophy woven into the very fabric of Islam. What was the spread of Islam in the 7th century but imperial conquest of "unbelievers"? What was the institution of dhimmitude but a claim that Muslims are to be superior? Were the fanatical Almohads of the 12th century or the 18th century Barbary pirates who kidnapped and enslaved merchants for Islam also "hijackers" of the true peaceful faith?

In the face of the Muslim multitudes who continue to hate the West, Israel and Jews, I suppose it makes you feel good that a few Muslims have earned the Nobel Peace Prize. Folks like Arafat the terrorist, and el Baradei who has done much to enable Iran to go nuclear.

Mind you, I have lived and worked with a few Muslims over the years, but none were practitioners of the faith. In order to take Jews and Christians as friends, they had to ignore the directives of the Koran. As a Muslim legal scholar at al Azhar wrote a few years ago, if one talks of Islam stripped of polygamy, its discrimination against Jews, Christians and women, its belief in jihad, it is no longer Islam. Something to think about.

BTW, more than 10,000 terror attacks in the name of Islam worldwide since 9/11 tell me more than all the "Religion of Peace" articles combined.

am i the only one to notice an armchair peacenik comparing himself to gandhi being absurd to the extreme, how can you take someone seriously when all he's done is talk talk talk and admits in the same breath that he's not taken seriously by other muslims. I don't see if anyone beyond this side of the fence has heard of him or takes him seriously

sounds like a paris hilton wannabe, famous for being famous with little substance beyond talk

Thank you for the article.

I fail to understand why is it all muslims are lumped together? There are arab muslims, asian muslims, far eastern muslims, european muslims and afrcan muslims....This horrenous act was committed by a people that were arab muslims for thier own agenda and their own closemindedness. Why am I being put in the spot light for this faction of a group that don't ever represent the whole arab muslims.

Why then aren't we asking all christians to condemn acts by Milosovic or Kradic. Why do we have to keep on apologizing for some abominable crooks with whom I have nothing in commom except the fact that their god has the same name as my god?

This is the most heartfelt and truthful thing I've read in a long time. I wish that, on this historical day, every American could read this a reflect upon it.

I agree with Grant 100%, "Very moving commentary. However, I see significant problems with the fact that the Muslim leadership in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and elswhere has failed to loudly and collectively condenm the use of suicide bobmers – especially the use of young women and children aswe have seen in Pakistan, Iraq, and Israel. This failure does not speak well for institutional Islam. Instead we see instances of Imams and Aytollahs applauding this barbaric behavior".

We are told Islam is the religion of peace...by muslims. However, after 911 where were the THOUSANDS of muslims protesting in the streets in the U.S. and around the world VISIBLY raising up to "take control of your own religion again". Unfortunately the only time we see thousands of muslims protesting is when they are ranting about their hatred for the U.S. and it's policies.

Throughout history (and today throughout the world) Islam is anything but the religion of peace. When will this change?

Until muslims protest in the same fashion for peace on a worldwide scale and turn in the radical elements practicing religion to the authorities, you are kidding yourself if you think this will change.

Walk the Talk...that speaks volumes.

Excellent article. By the way.......as a Christian, I believe my religion has been hijacked as well. Over and over the right-wingers invoke the name of "Christianity" in support of their political and economic views. The Church of Jesus Christ is not the church that condemns those who vote a certain way or who embrace "non-concervative" views!

It is the passengers of United 93 whom I honor today. May their memory always be a blessing. May their rational assessment of their actions – that they were going to die anyway, but that by their actions, they could save thousands more – be an inspiration to us, and a warning to those who have declared themselves our enemies.

We are a nation that, in spite of the fettering ties of collectivism and nanny-state-ism, still kindles in the breasts of all our countrymen, the embers of heroism, to be fanned at need.

Our martyrs die defending the lives of others.

Yours die with suicide bombs in front of public playgrounds full of children.

If you claim to speak for over a billion Muslims rather than Osama bin Laden, why is it the United States that is doing the bulk of the fighting to close down his network? Why is it that innocent Iraqis are being killed by their suicide bombers, rather than a Muslim insurgency trying to take out Al Queda? Oh wait – that insurgency came about during the much maligned surge, where we offered our protection to Sunnis willing to take on Al Queda. The same surge that was pilloried as a horrible waste of resources in an unwinnable war by the left.

We spending half a trillion dollars, and the lives of people we hold dearly, to clean up the mess your religion made.

Yet you equate Hannity and Coulter with Osama in your piece. What a lovely display of ingratitude and the inability to look at this day without trying to insult the majority of Americans who believe differently than you.

Wherever and whenever people are "different" in some way that difference will create discomfort but we can't forget our differences are helps us all grow. If we were all alike everyone would drive a dark blue Ford. One trip out of the mall to the parking lot would make my point. We need to focus rather on what we have in common. If this point were to be preached by the religous leaders of not just Islam but all faiths we'd all realize we're all after the same goal. The same destination if you will. This guy gets it.

I do applaud the writer for pointing in a public setting what I've been saying for seven years: The epic battle is not between East and West, nor between Muslims and Christians. It's a battle between those who are willing to kill civilians to achieve their political objectives, and those who are not. To this end, I declare that I'm on the side of Gandhi and Iftikhar, and not on the side of Bush and bin Laden.

That makes the two of us Araslan.

Here's another Moslem condemning terrorists and warmongers alike. I'm not a practising Moslem because I believe you don't need religion to tell you that killing innocent humans, no matter what the reasons, is not justified by any God. Nor will those who do that go unpunished.

So all you Moslems, the true path to heaven is through compassion, not hatred.

The Holy Quran says, "Let there be no compulsion in religion". That's true Islam, not what these terrorists represent.

Peace.

Specifically in response to Raymond in DC:

Unfortunately, the word "jihad" has also been hijacked by the media. Ever since 9/11 everyone automatically translates "jihad" as holy way.

To be more precise, "jihad" means struggle. And if you were to read the Quran, you would find that the jihad that is spoken about is the struggle to spread the good word of god. Just as Christians are called to spread the good word.

Yes, there is violence in the Quran. But there is also violence in the Bible. These were books that were written millenia ago, when times were very different.

My previous attempt at posting was rejected by CNN!! It had no profanity, no hate, just a reasoned response as to why the concept of a progressive muslim culture *TODAY* (not 1000 years ago) is laughable.

Answer this: What other culuture/religion takes such murderous offense in men shaving, women driving, cartoons, women's bodies, democracy, daughters marrying whom they wish, secular education, existence of churches and Buddist temples, books, bibles, drinking alcohol....?

To quote a previous poster "One of my greatest criticisms of Muslims has been the lack of objective and public criticism of Osama Bin Laden and Al-Queda."

How many times has any one here watched Al Jazeera? Probably not too many. So then how can your complaint be about something to which you never really investigated? The muslim world is outraged by the extremists, and it is only a small, but growing faction, that are backing the extremists. It isn't because they back their agenda of violence and terrorism, its because when they losing their women and children in airstrikes, and they have no chance of fighting back. They are doing the same thing American's would do, if another country were to invade and occupy the USA, and carry out bad airstrikes on our civilians repeatedly.

Raymond in DC is 100% correct. Matt in NY...wake up and smell the coffee!

I am always leery when someone professes to speak for one billion people. There isn't even a Cleric who supposes he speaks for all. Most of the billion Muslamics are not tolerant of Christians and Jews.
It would be nice if the world was a peaceful place, but it isn't.
Incidentally, if all followed the Ten Commandments, the world WOULD be a peaceful place. But we are all human, and fall short...
I applaud your idealism. Temper it with some reality.

I also agree with Ralph Wiley that "the pen is mightier than the sword" is a statement made by cowards who want to preen as heroes. After the first Gulf War, journalists bravely wrote on behalf of the Muslim Kurds. But it didn't save one life. Now, the Kurds have a future. Their democracy might be imperfect, but it is better than a mass grave.

Blessings to the author of this article. And thanks to CNN for posting. Like John Lennon, I too hope for the day of people "living life in peace".
To Bev Meslo – re US "support" for our "government", haven't you seen the polls – Bush's approval rating is hovering between 25-30%. Don't give up on us yet.
To Peter – comparing Osama to Cheney is perfectly legitimate. Water-boarding, anyone?

Osama bin Ladin represents Islam no more than those American soldiers who committed those abusive acts at the Abu Ghraib prison represent our US Military. Ann Coulter does not represent the Conservative block. I suppose you shouldn't blame the religion but the people.

And for those here who say religion is the root of all evil, how about Stalin, being an atheist, killing millions of Russians, the 1994 Rwandan Genocide when 10,000 people were killed in one night, and finally the thousands of American who die each year in US not by terrorist acts but plain gun violence.

You do the thinking!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I appreciate your thoughts and join you to wish for a Gandhi X. At the same time i fail to understand why the community which preaches PEACE, is breaking into pieces. I am happy to know that Muslims gave Algerba to this world and are nobel prize winner and even some have lady leaders. Contrary to the above, there are large pockets of muslims who continue to prefer "MADARSA" to a "Govt. School", Girl child eduction is almost nil, and overall litteracy rate in most of the Islamic Countries today is poor. Middle east if is the oil dum of world, it also stores the most notorious minds, who stay away from lime light but take active part in activities, which my frnd. has taken an oath to condem through out his life.

No point beating around the bush. Pherhaps just voicing our concern or agreeing to some noble thoughts may not be enough. What is need is to find reasons why in a list of 10 convicts 7 believe in Islam. What is causing the readers of "Kuran" decode it wrongly. What has happened to childrens of Prophet, which motivates them to lay their lives for piece of land in Kashmir? What is it?

If some one has answers to the above questions, that would be perhaps the start point which will help our frnd. win (and not hijack) back the glory of Islam.

My sentiments exactly....You wrote exactly what I have been thinking for the past 7 years.

This is probably the most poignant writing I've read related to 9/11. The biggest tragedy of ideas and great thinkers is not enough people listen. Many people like myself seek comfort and hope from hearing voices such as this one, voices drowned out by the hate and self indulgence of the majority. My first thought when I saw the 9/11 tragedy was to ask God to "please forgive them for they know not what they do". The act of terror and the deaths of the victims pales in comparison to the certain ripple of infinite time to heal the hate that was born.

Re: silence of Muslims in the world concerning 9/11, Americans need to understand that many Muslims have suffered greatly and directly as a result of American foreign policy toward several Muslim nations for decades. There are too many examples to cite here. After 3 or 4 generations of oppression by corrupt leaders, many proped up by the US government, thus leading to torture, death and lack of democracy in those countries. We must keep this history in mind before assuming that all Muslims will immediately jump up to condemn terrorist actions against the US. Muslims have been subject to their own forms of 9/11 with thousands of their own people dying due to US policies. This is certainly not meant to condone terrorism in any manner, only that US complicity is so easily forgotten when it comes to Muslim lives.

I believe what you describe of yourself to be true. You truly believe in a 'peaceful' Islam and see other extremists as non-brethren.

I, however, am an open-minded agnostic yet believe that no religion has ever brought 'peace' to the world, with the exception of a select few, such as Buddhism (a truly peaceful religion).

Every mainstream religion this world has ever conjured have all had their own conquests with tears, death, and blood spilled over their respective continents, all in the name of their belief in their God(s). Entire advancing civilizations have been lost to this world because of religion, civilizations that may have brought more culture to this world than any one religion could bring.

If their were no religions in this world... at least our wars would have been fought for actual attainable goals between governments, rather than waving our dominating faith-based wands around.

How are we to ever progress/advance as a world of people when everyone's God wants us dead?

Muslims living in America have the opportunity to help the war on terrorism which has yet to be acted upon. Islamic terrorists hate America because we do not treat Muslims fairly? Muslims who live here–in particular those that chose to emigrate here from Arab countries-would help the fight by shouting that you love this country. Let the Muslim terrorists know they are wrong. Demonstrate on a regular basis–or at least once–take out ads, do everything possible so it gets back to Muslims overseas that you love this country.

Arsalan,

First, this was a very fine article, I heartily applaud the sentiments expressed here. I am thrilled by the concept of "Islamic Pacifism." I am a Buddhist. By and large, Buddhism is already a pacifist traditon, with a few regrettable exceptions in history. And that is my point– why is it, that the history of Islam has had so few voices like yours? In Buddhist history, sporadic religious violence has been the exception, not the rule. In Islamic history, sporadic expressions of pacifism have been the exception, not the rule. You are obviously an educated man, so you are clearly lucid enough to see the difficult truth of the historical record. And I am not talking about Islam since 9/11– I am speaking of the history of Islam down through the centuries. Others on this list have pointed out– correctly– that your very sane perspective is notable, in the absence of other voices like yours.

When the state of affairs in the world is such that a Muslim perspective like yours is no longer newsworthy, you will be living in the world you want to make. I hope you work yourself out of a job.

I wish you well, with all my heart, in your effort to craft a new "Islamic Pacifism." May many more Muslim voices like yours rise up and speak out. With so many Muslims in the world, if you succeed in shifting this paradigm, you will have changed the world. I fear otherwise, but will hope for the best. Please do us all a favor, get a good publicist so your message of peace and goodwill can spread far and wide. Make sure the publicist specializes in Arab-language media outlets. Remember that your heroes, Ghandhi and King, were murdered, so cultivate the same fearlessness that the religious fanatics display. You will need it. Good luck.

To Desmond
Muslim countries do not hate the western.. They do not like the U.S. Goverment.

If you or anyone goes to a arab country like Egypt, Saudi, Dubai you will see alot of western living there... not to mention the restaraunts, shopping etc. If they hate western living like you assume, why would they be bring the west to the east.

Stop being so closed minded and take what you hear from the media as the gospel..

IT's people like you that make people like me have to fight to bring our religion back.

Islam does not condone violence or terrorism....

Bet you never thought of Timothy McVey being a terrriost did you... even though he was an american, christian and in the military...
Does that not count or what

I just do not buy this "My Religion has Been Hijacked" stuff, and I am truly sick of hearing it.

As an Atheist, I fear that this dogmatic deity worship will someday bring about the extinction of our species.

I see no enlightenment but insecurity, any prophets, but just ordinary men throughout history, some of whom were slave owners.

I also hold these so-called moderate Muslims very much responsible for 9/11.

The "Autobiography of Gandhi X" Mr. Iftikhar ??!!?? You certainly have an ego the size of Texas !! Gandhi never went about saying "One day people will call me Mahatma (enlightened soul)", he just went about his work quietly and with purpose. Piece of advice for you ...... if you truly aim to be a Muslim Gandhi, first pick up some lessons on humility from your idol.

As for your very slick post ..... please dont try to package Islam into some kind of doe-eyed deer lost among the angry mullahs who bastardize it for their benefit. Islam's holy book (the Qur'an) exhorts "Slay non-believers where they stand". Can such a religion be peaceful ? Millions of souls butchered in Asia and Africa over the past 1386 years would vigorously disagree .....

Say you stand for REFORMING your religion and maybe the world will believe you. Otherwise, please take your wordsmithing and put it where the sun dont shine.

And oh, by the way ..... algebra was not "invented" by muslims. Algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry originated east of the Indus river almost 1500 years before Muhammed was a gleam in his dad's eye.

Amen! I agree with this inspirational article what you state is very true. What people don’t realize is that if we don’t learn from the past how can we fix the present, nor will we be able to make a future of peace for our children and there children. If we continue down this path we as humanity should not think it would be impossible for a new Hitler to be born out of the chaos that is slowly spreading to turn our light of civilization to darkness. If we don’t learn from the past we will be doomed to continue on this spiral of hate and racism. Take a second and look back in history and you will find that every race that has come to the shores of America has either been the ones being oppressed cause of race or gender or the ones doing the oppressing we have come along way in the past 5 centuries, even though all races have at one time been the target of racism or religious discrimination we have never learned from it. We need to learn from all things good and bad we have do to each other as humanity to try and stop the cycle of hate and oppression and help each other to grow and live in peace and fix our planet before we destroy ourselves, or are consumed by our hate and fall into another dark age.

My problem with this, is that Radical Muslim beliefs are tolerated within the Muslim community around the world. So the impression that Islam gives to the rest of the world is that the only difference between moderate Muslims and Radical Muslims is that radicals strap bombs to their bodies to kill people, while moderates just hate everyone that is not their particular brand of Islam and look on while the radicals blow people up in the name of their god.

I wonder if any of these peace loving / teaching muslims will go to any muslim country and try to change their view of other religions. Tell them that others are not infidels. Only in America (or western countries) you can talk about other religious believes and defend it. You go to countries like Iran, middle east countries, India or Pakistan and talk to them about Christianity or Jewism, they will burn you alive.

As someone who grew up Jewish and orthodox, I spent many years hearing anti-Islamic rhetoric. Since high school, I have studied other religions and am thankful that I know what the Qur'an preaches. It preaches love and peace for the entire world, and it is the unfortunate interpretation of zealots (much like in other religions) that leads the world to see such a loving and peaceful religion in such a negative light.

Thank you for this story. I look forward to sharing it with my family and friends.

Please let me know when the Million Man Muslim American March Against Terror will start. . .I've been waiting 7 years.

Thank you,
Thank you !

HP

Many muslims, particularly those who live in the US, were appalled by the Sept 11 attacks and seek to justify their religion by saying that this is not the way of Islam. However all one has to do is to read the Koran to see that those who follow the Koran believe that violence is justified to meet one's goals, including Dar Al Islam, which is to have Islam take over the non-muslim world. I too noticed the polls that showed that a disturbing number of muslims thought that the attacks were justified.

I applaud this author for trying to stop this thinking, but those muslims who follow the Koran will not be changed because violence is in their scripture.

I applaud you for not losing your way after all that has happened! You are definitely not alone in your hopes for a brighter future! As a person who has always been the subject of racism since a young age, I could have been bitter and angry and accusing the world in general, but I try to love everyone equally, and strive to make the world a better place, little by little. One day, we will reach this dream goal.

There are all these responses: where are other peaceful muslims and why aren't they speaking out?

Instead, I say, appreciate this response and hope that the millions of other non-violent muslims feel safe enough to come out of the woodwork. We all remember 9/11, but do we remember how many people that were of Asian/Middle Eastern descent were beaten, battered and murdered in the name of revenge during this time seven years ago? The Sihk man killed because he looked like he could be muslim? They have reason to fear speaking out because we gave them that fear.

I loved the article and appreciate the honesty of what your life has been like since that horrible day seven years ago. May this give more "Ghandi X"s the courage to also speak up.

All of the world's major religions are based on the communication by The Supreme Being to humans many centuries ago. They seem to be targeted to the people of those specific times and places. Anybody that says they communicate with The Supreme Being these days is written off as a lunatic and a heretic. Why did The Supreme Being stop talking to those of us who can write, in modern parlance, the words of wisdom needed to stop such hatred and violence? And why did this Supreme Being give us humans such incredible common sense, only to demand that we disregard such rationalism in favor of blind faith? I am in favor of using religious beliefs to promote peace and understanding, but I cannot get past the destruction most belief systems have wrought.

. . .By the way, Islam means "submssion," not "peace." Algebra was not "invented" by anyone, though the word comes from Arabic. Rather, it evolved over centuries in places as far apart as Greece and China. And to place Osama and Coulter together in a sentence is to broadcast your ignorance and lack of perspective. Thanks.

I agree with Matt in NY and am also responding to Raymond in DC: it is absolutely untrue that Muslims have to turn away from the Qur'an if they befriend Christians or Jews...it is comical that you are learning what you know about Islam from your "non-practicing" Muslim friends (where is the common sense in that?), and unfortunate that you wrote such a narrow-minded response to this article. Peace begins from all sides – with everybody dropping their prejudices taught to them by country & family. It is a very hard thing to do...but it can be done.

Andrea

nyb angli: Yes, there are "arab muslims, asian muslims, far eastern muslims, european muslims and african muslims…" But they all have one thing in common–the Koran/Hadith/Sunna of your Prophet and his successors, as well as1400 years of butchering/enslaving kaffirs from Africa to India. I frankly fail to see what the difference is.

In response to Matt from New York

No, unfortunately the term "jihad" was not hijacked by the media. it does in fact mean holy war and the jihad that we are facing today is something that is commanded of all muslims in the Koran. You have been fooled by propaganda, as many are.

You would be well advised to look into the writings of Brigitte Gabriel, a lebanese christian who knows first hand what it is like to lose your homeland to the followers of Muhammad, and Steve Emerson (author of "American Jihad").

Spoken like a true pacifist! Now let´s get to the realities of the world. YOUR religion is what is responsible for the terrorism of 9/11, 3/11704, 7/7/05, Bali, Saudi, Yemen, etc, etc., besides the thwarted plans of dozens of others. YOUR religion and the words of the Koran is what inspires the tens of thousands of terrorists around the world, their recruiters, their financiers, and their ideologists. It´s ISLAMIC preachers calling for the destruction of all unIslamic, and doing so through violence and "martyrdom" and the callings from the Koran. Only in MUSLIM families are girls and women butchered by their own fathers and brothers for " honor." Yea, right, we should lay down our weapons and seek peace. Sorry, that hasn´t worked. So why don´t "all" (as you catagorize peace loving Muslims) Muslims rise up against the supposed " few" of you and put and put down these " knuckleheads" you say have hijacked your religion? Come on...the world is waiting. Take charge. (And by the way, Islam doesn´t mean " peace," it means " submission." Which is what Islam demands of us all, Muslim or not.)

I applaud you, sir. The world needs more people like you.

Amen! Beautifully stated ~ I stand with you.

What a great article? As a Christain I believe my religion has been hijacked by right-wing conservatives to promote a political party or to create a cultrual war in country.

ulysses your statment placing Bush and Bin Laden on the same side makes you an unashamed idiot. Just thought that needed to be pointed out.

@ P Larsen & others who think this way:

My question to you is – if there really is 1 billion peace loving Muslims out there, why are they so quiet? Why don’t I hear anything but radical voices from the side of the Muslims?

You hear what the US media let you hear. The US media, contrary to popular belief, are not 'free'. Now that I live in the UK, and watch CNN-International (still biased, but MUCH less so), I see news every day, which is simply NOT news in the USA.

If nobody tells you, how are you supposed to know? I recommend reading (Qatari) 'Al-Jazeera' online. It is one of the most scrupulously accurate news sources on the PLANET.

It's not news unless the news media SAY it's news. So here are some bits of 'news' from CNN-I:

Over half of all university students in Iran are women. They have women fire-fighters in Iran! A Qatari Sheikha is one of the biggest real-estate developers in her area. Beirut is coming back, as the 'Jewel of the Mediterranean'. The backlash against the US (and Coalition) Forces in Afghanistan does not come from Taliban/Al-Quaeda, but from the Afghanis, who do not suffer conquest - and NEVER have done! Business in the Middle East is MUCH more than oil-drilling. There is a place in Qatar where it rains in the Summer, and it is beautifully green, lush, and peaceful. Yemeni Jews are Yemeni, as much as they are Jewish.

Another New Yorker for Peace.

Sala'am, Shalom, Shanti.

Thank you. That was very well written. And thank you CNN.

This is hard for me.
I am not religious and I don't understand the faith that people can put so heavily into religion however it is days like today that I wish I could believe, it is days like today that I wish I had something or somebody to be angry at, to blame.

I SO wish that we as a world could come together and work to move forward more united world. Everybody needs to strive to be more open-minded. We all know that not everyone has the same beliefs. So why should every Muslim person be held responsible for the extremists actions? We cannot blame the religion. They all have their nuts.

For those of you who lost a friend or family member- I am sorry. I can never know what it feels like to be in your shoes and I realize there is nothing I can say to make it better, even a little. But I hurt for you. My heart breaks for you. I hope that you are able to forgive, if not today then someday.

my thoughts and prayer are with all the families and loved once of the victim's of 9/11, this unjustifiable ' senseless act of violence the world will never forget, and I would like to add to this, why won't we also remember the hundreds of thousand of Innocent Iraqis that also lost their lives? a life is a life, and we should never value on life over another, the hearts of American mothers who lost her child ' does not hurt more or less ' than the Iraqi mother who also lost her child, death hurts us all just the same, Bush personal hate for Islam, and Saddam has blinded him from making the right decision, he wanted to please the American people by any means necessary' even if it meant the destruction of an entire country, and the killing of so many Innocent people, Please. Pause for a moment and think about this " The Iraqis paid a Heavy Price for a Crime That They Did Not Commit. May God Bless the souls of those who lost their lives in Vain

Where would this world be without religion? Hmmmm.....PEACEFUL!!

Why do we have all this religion in this world and no tolerance???