Can a Muslim be a Good American?

I received the following text in an email today. While reading, I kept a lookout for the punch line, thinking that surely there must be a light-hearted joke wrapped up in this drivel. However, when I got to the end of the message and discovered there was no punch line, I felt physically sick and incredibly angry. I thought I would share the content of this message (in white, bold, italic print), along with the details of my reply to my husband's birthmother (who had sent the original message to us). My goal is to educate, stop the dissemination of lies, and make it known (at least to hubby's birthmom) that I will not passively stand by while such hatefulness and ignorance are propagated. Note that most of the info I have included in my reply to birthmom was found on some terrific Internet sites that, like me, would like to put an end to this kind of shit.

Can a good Muslim be a good American?

This question was forwarded someone who worked in Saudi Arabia for 20 years. The following is his forwarded reply:

Theologically - no. Because his allegiance is
to Allah, the moon God of Arabia.

The moon God of Arabia? Are you kidding me? The word "Allah" means "God." In Arab-speaking lands, Jews and Christians and Muslims all refer to God as "Allah." Because that's what the word means: God. Muslims believe they worship the same exact God as the Jewish and Christian God. They worship the God of Abraham.

Additionally, is it really logical to assume that a Muslim cannot be loyal to the American government because he is loyal to Allah? If so, one might wonder if Christians or Jews can be loyal to our government if their primary allegiance is to God.

Religiously - no. Because no other religion is
accepted by his Allah except Islam (Quran, 2:256)

The translation of the Koran I referenced says this in 2:256, "There is no compulsion in religion; truly the right way has become clearly distinct from error; therefore, whoever disbelieves in the Shaitan and believes in Allah he indeed has laid hold on the firmest handle, which shall not break off, and Allah is Hearing, Knowing." Perhaps others interpret this passage differently, but all this says to me is that religion is voluntary, not compulsory (the Koran says that in more than one place). If you believe in God and reject Satan, then God will know and you'll be in good shape.

Scripturally - no. Because his allegiance is to
the five pillars of Islam and the Quran (Koran)

First off, not all Muslims follow the "five pillars." Most Sunni do, most Shia do not. But either way, there's nothing particularly sinister about the pillars, which are: 1) Profess to believe that there is no God except for God, and that Muhammed was his messenger. 2) Pray to God at least five times a day, if it's practical and you can manage it. 3) Give alms ("zakat") to the poor. This is usually money, but can be food if you can't give money. 4) Fast from dawn to dusk for one month a year, known as Ramadan. This is only for adults, and not for people who are sick or elderly. 5) If practical, and you can afford it, make at least one pilgrimmage in your life to visit Mecca.

Again, does believing in the Bible or the Torah somehow negate a Christian or Jew’s citizenship?

Geographically - no. Because his allegiance is to
Mecca, to which he turns in prayer five times a day.

This is like saying Jews can't be good Americans because their allegiance is to Israel, or Catholics can't be good Americans because their allegiance is to the Vatican in Rome. Tripe, in other words.

Socially - no. Because his allegiance to Islam
forbids him to make friends with Christians or Jews.

Parts of the Koran say don't be friends with treacherous unbelievers, but then in other sections it says God may give you friends among the unbelievers. Most Muslims I know interpret that to mean you shouldn't be friends with treacherous or deceitful unbelievers, but if unbelievers treat you honorably then you can be friends with them. Furthermore, the word "infidel" is a Christian term. It was invented centuries ago by Christians to describe Muslims, Jews, idol-worshippers, and other non-Christians. Indeed, here's a lengthy quote from the King James Bible:

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

That would be 2 Corinthians:14-17. (See also 1 Timothy 5:8 in the King James).

Somewhat ironic, isn't it? Doesn't the Bible say that Christians shouldn't be friends with unbelievers? Yes, if you take it literally, that's exactly what it says. Indeed, it says people who aren't Christians are unclean and shouldn't even be touched, if you read it too literally. The point is, very few Christians believe such a thing because those verses need to be read in their proper historical context and in the context of the rest of the Bible. Which, coincidentally, is exactly how you have to interpret the Koran: in proper historical context and in the context of the full book and not just one or two verses.

Politically - no. Because he must submit to the
mullah (spiritual leaders), who teach annihilation
of Israel and destruction of America, the great Satan.

No Muslim has an obligation to follow a scholar (mullah) who teaches hatred and harm to others. To the contrary, it is the duty of Muslims to follow the leaders who represent the moral and spiritual values of Islam. No one can stand indifferent to injustice in the world and regard himself or herself as a member of the human community, let alone of the Muslim community.

Do some Muslims scholars promote the annihilation of Israel and the destruction of the US? Sure, some of them may. And Pat Robertson teaches the destruction of Pennsylvania and Hugo Chavez. However, no one but the most extreme of fundamentalist Muslims would commit violence against America.

Domestically - no. Because he is instructed to marry four women and beat and scourge his wife when she disobeys him (Quran 4:34).

The fourth book of the Koran, known as "The Women," says that a man may marry as many as four women, but only if he can do justice to all of them. And if he has any doubts about that, he should marry only one woman (Koran 4:3). Historically, multiple marriages usually occur only when a man is very rich or when a widow who has children at home needs a new husband and no single man is able or willing to marry her. As for wife-beating, there is one controversial verse in the Koran, which has multiple interpretations, which may indicate this behavior is acceptable in extreme circumstances. However, it should also be noted that there are numerous other verses in the Koran that specifically prohibit such behavior.

If you look through the Bible you'll find that many biblical figures had multiple wives, including Abraham, Jacob, Judah, David, and Solomon. You'll also find verses which say people should be stoned to death for blasphemy or adultery. Yet, most Christians and Jews today don't take such instructions literally, do they?

Intellectually - no. Because he cannot accept
the American Constitution since it is based on Biblical principles and he believes the Bible to be corrupt.

I'm afraid I need some help with this one. Can you please show me the words "God" or "Bible" or "Christian" anywhere in the entire text of the Constitution? I have done a rather thorough search, all for not. Go on, show me where you find that, because I just don't see it. I do see this though, in one of my favorite amendments:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

I've looked and I've looked and I've looked again, and I do not see any "except for Muslims" clause in there. Have I missed that as well?

Philosophically - no. Because Islam, Muhammad, and the Quran do not allow freedom of religion and expression. Democracy and Islam cannot co-exist. Every Muslim government is either dictatorial or autocratic.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. Again, the Koran clearly says there can be no compulsion in religion -- which sounds suspiciously like freedom of religion and expression to me!

Additionally, how many of us have been subjected to the hypocritical rantings and holier-than-thou, bible-thumping, you'd-better-repent-or-burn-in-Hell threats and judgments from those who claim to value freedom of religion and expression but are outraged by Piss Christ or The Last Temptation of Christ, removing the Commandments from our public school buildings, or embracing homosexuals in our religious houses of worship? How many times have the ultra-conservatives in this country fought for freedom of religion and expression? Only the number of times that the religion and expression agreed with their religion and expression.

The Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has been one of the world's foremost advocates of democracy, urging all Muslims to vote and be a part of the democratic process both in his homeland of Iraq (which is now a democracy) and around the world. He says voting and being part of democratic processes is a fundamental duty of all Muslims.

Democratic nations dominated by Muslims include Indonesia, Mali, Senegal, Turkey, Albania, Niger, and Nigeria -- and nowadays we can also add Iraq, Afghanistan, and Lebanon to the list. Oh, by the way, the largest democracy in the world is India. Who is India's president? Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam -- a Muslim! Perhaps someone ought to tell him that democracy can't exist in his religion.

Spiritually - no. Because when we declare "one nation under God," the Christian's God is loving and kind, while Allah is NEVER referred to as heavenly father, nor is he ever called love in The Quran's 99 excellent names.

"And spend in the way of Allah and cast not yourselves to perdition with your own hands, and do good (to others); surely Allah loves the doers of good." (Koran 2:195)

"Surely Allah loves those who turn much (to Him), and He loves those who purify themselves." (Koran 2:222)

"Say: If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your faults, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." (Koran 3:31)

"Those who spend (benevolently) in ease as well as in straitness, and those who restrain (their) anger and pardon men; and Allah loves the doers of good (to others)." (Koran 3:134)

True, the Koran doesn't refer to God as the "Heavenly Father." But love, compassion, mercy, and benevolence are all traits ascribed to God over and over again. The 99 names of God mentioned in the Koran include "Peace and Blessing," "The Subtly Kind," "The All Forgiving," "The Bountiful, the Generous," and "The Loving, The Kind" among many others.

Therefore after much study and deliberation...
perhaps we should be very mindful of ALL MUSLIMS in this country. They obviously cannot be both good Muslims and good Americans. Call it what you wish... it's still the truth.

Pass it on Fellow Americans. The religious war is bigger than we know or understand.

With all seriousness, this kind of message is nothing short of irrational, unfounded, xenophobic hate-mongering that attempts to incite violence and bigotry toward our fellow man. The message, as well as the thoughts behind it, are despicable. Shame, shame, shame.