Overheard in the Mosque

Aamir: Hello Faruq. Did you hear about the American dogs burning Korans?

Faruq: Yes – I went to the demonstrations the last three days. Death to America for their incivility and disrespect for Allah.

Aamir: How have you been my brother? Haven't seen you in a while.

Faruq: I have been busy building suicide vests. My brother Hakeem is planning for his glorious martyrdom next week.

Aamir: Praise be to Allah. How is your family?

Faruq: We sent my sister Adeela away. My Father threw acid in her face after she refused to marry Masum. Her stubbornness brought dishonor on the family and the action was thus warranted. She has gone to receive medical treatment from the West. By doing so she brings even more dishonor on our family.

Aamir: It is proper what was done. She actually got off lightly. She could have been put to death for such independence and disobedience.

Faruq: Yes, She has been in revolt ever since her friend Shahada was flogged for meeting Tazeem without permission.

Aamir: Enough about petty and rebellious women. More importantly, are you going to the Koran burning protest tonight?

Faruq: Yes, those American infidel's are uncivilized and have no respect.

Aamir: Allah will surely allow us to spill the blood of occupiers to avenge their insults of Islam.

Faruq: If Allah wills, I will see you tonight.

Aamir: Until then.

 

[ Commentary: Anyone is free to follow the dictates of their conscience and choose the Islamic faith. But first consider that God (or Allah) gave you a brain. With that ability to think you must reason out and explain to yourself and those around you the rationale of why it is that such a faith and such a culture can apparently hold an inanimate object (like a book) in higher esteem than a human life?

Why is it the response to the Koran burning incident in Afghanistan has been so dramatic and violent (at least 30 fatalities so far) when by contrast the incidents of honor killings, floggings, and even acid thrown in the faces of young Muslim women for modest and often fabricated or non-existent offenses are rarely prosecuted? Why does this imbalance exist and how can it be justified? That these incidents are so often committed by family members of the victim with the tacit support of the local community is all the more troubling.

The Koran burnings were undertaken because the Korans had been written in (which is apparently itself an unacceptable act according to Islamic tradition). That tradition holds that burning is an acceptable and proper manner of disposing of such defaced or damaged Korans. The burning was performed by non-Muslims so their responsibility to Islamic traditions cannot reasonably be expected to be as high as that of practicing Muslims. No offense was intended yet such offense was assumed and intentionally enlarged beyond all reason.

What faith is so insecure that it requires compliance (with mortal consequences for failure) from those who don't even adhere to it? How can such horrific treatment of daughters, sisters, and wives be justified? How can a “religion of peace” examine itself in such cases as these and not be found wanting?  Where are the voices of moderate Muslim leaders in condemnation of such events? Their silence is very loud.

Isn't the life and beautiful face of a young Muslim woman more valuable, more important, and more worthy of protection than a defaced Koran? ]