Khayr Posted March 26, 2006 How to be a Muslim reformer After reading an article on Wafa Sultan (the up-and-coming Muslim reformer) in the New York Times today, it occured to me that I should get on this reformer bandwagon before the market gets saturated. I'm articulate, telegenic, exotic (yet oh so fluffy and Westernized), not to mention female (oppressed by rigid Islamic paternalism, naturally). Too bad I've got so many other little schemes on the go and can't spare the time for this one. However, I've written a handy little guide for aspiring refuseniks, male or female, Muslim or non-Muslim. Hopefully it will inspire readers to lead the charge in enlightening the benighted Islamic world. 1. Keep it simple First and foremost, don't bother actually studying the religion or recent MENA history. Take a page from Pundita's book: no need for research when you're painting with a really big brush. If you absolutely must research, this site is a treasure trove of convenient black and white stereotyping. 2. Have an angle Find or manufacture a useful "turning point" in your life that made you realize Islam was a bigoted and/or violent religion. In Irshad Manji's case, it was being kicked out of her madrasa for demanding proof of a Jewish conspiracy. For Wafa Sultan, it was watching the Muslim Brotherhood kill a professor at her university in Aleppo. Of course, it's helpful not to mention Hafez Assad's response. I recall Irshad was all for Emergency Law in Egypt because Naguib Mahfouz was roughed up by some Islamist thugs: "Excuse me, but if that's a reason to maim (and possibly kill), it's equally a reason for security forces to crack down on the thugs. Bring on the Emergency Law" (128). Ahem, moving on... 3. Write a book Start holding interviews just prior to (or immediately after) publishing a book that claims to spearhead a reform movement and/or turn the Islamic world on its head. Tell the NYT that the working title is The Escaped Prisoner: When God Is a Monster, because The Trouble with Islam Today is simply too namby-pamby. 4. Become a Western media darling Be extremely provocative. Make rude statements about Islam and those who follow it. Make sure to have an itemized list of every horrible act commited by Muslims, rulers of Muslim-majority countries, Caliphs, etc. Make fun of Arabs and how childish and barbaric they are compared to Jews and Christians (or in Irshad's case, go one step further and blame everything on the "Arabization" of Islam. Don't bother to mention any similar acts carried out in the name of other Abrahamic religions or even atheist ideologies, such as Communism. This is supposed to be an indictment against Islam, not the vile predictability of human nature and perverse incentives. 5. Remind people that you are constantly under siege Make sure the media is fully aware of every single death threat you receive as a result of the aforementioned provocative statements. If you're lucky, some wacko will release a fatwa that demands you be stoned, beheaded or strung up in some elaborate medieval way. 6. Rake in the cash Watch as speaking invitations roll in from hardline right-wing Israeli and US organizations. No, it's not a Jewish conspiracy, but for some odd reason they are in full agreement with your views on Islamic reform. You're definitely on the way to winning Muslim hearts and minds if they're supporting you! 7. Remember your audience Don't bother engaging Muslims in a respectful yet frank discussion on how to remain faithful to the Prophet's message in our modern, globalized, polarized, terrorized world. You don't even need to talk to Muslims, unless it's to get the extremists frothing at the mouth. Being a true visionary is hard work and requires far too much study, which leaves you hardly any time for gala dinners with pretentious, xenophobic ultra-liberal or ultra-conservative (really, does it matter?) activists who will praise you as a model Muslim making a real difference in the Islamic world. How to be a Muslim Reformer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gabbal Posted March 26, 2006 Somehow some had the foresight to tie in together what every anti-Islam lunatic had in common starting from Salman Rushdie. Bravo I say. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Khayr Posted March 26, 2006 I thought that this was appropriate seeing how some SOL members have decided to take on that role. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nur Posted March 26, 2006 Simply Brilliant! Nur Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RendezVous Posted March 26, 2006 and Lastly, Celebrate the "Nobel Prize" for Reforming Islam.. That how AYAAN HIRSI made a name...She is now neither a muslim, a christian nor even an atheist..She is no where... Is there anything called "a reformed muslim" anyway???.. What are you Reforming from or to? From One God to Three Gods, From Modesty to being Semi nudity From Truth to the "Untruth and propagandas" .... Islam was already Reformed or consistent with the 21st century?issues they talk about like Jihad or self defense written in the Quraan were discussed by Brother Harun Yahya in his websites... IslamDenouncesTerrorism.com Many articles from the Quraan on Jihaad were designed for the period ISLAM was spreading and had lot of enemies [/i] , there then the prophet used to give guidance that "There is no killing whatsoever" apart from "Self defense.." Read on.. Islam Reformed for the 21st century Islam has long been reformed..It just needs the muslims to start going back to their own religion..They left their religion and need to just go back to it... Is that the Reform they are talking about???? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N.O.R.F Posted March 26, 2006 I should get on this reformer bandwagon before the market gets saturated I'm sure there will always be room for more,,, nice one,,,, Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Socod_badne Posted March 26, 2006 How To Be a Muslim Reformer! 1 Easy Step. Tell the truth! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
codetalker Posted March 26, 2006 ^ Which is? More nacnac from you? :rolleyes: Facinating! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Socod_badne Posted March 26, 2006 Originally posted by codetalker: ^Which is? More nacnac from you? :rolleyes: You keep saying the word nacnac where it's most impertinent. Which leads me to suspect you don't really know what it actually means. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ibtisam Posted March 26, 2006 codetalker; hhm, i think nacac means sweets. i don't get it unless ur calling SB sweety or offering him sweets :confused: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
codetalker Posted March 26, 2006 ^ Nacnac could mean sweets or something altogether different. Nacnac-badane knows what it means. Why don't you ask him. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
-Lily- Posted March 27, 2006 This is classic. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RendezVous Posted March 27, 2006 Originally posted by codetalker: ^ Nacnac could mean sweets or something altogether different. Nacnac-badane knows what it means. Why don't you ask him. CodeTalker, and who is this nacnac-badne..anyways? U guys, please refrain from arguing for the sake of arguing.Our brother has posted an important topic that is useful to all of us. All of us are muslims who value Islam, people who know what ISLAM means to their life.. .SOL guys know that Islam is dear to them..Their families and so on.. But see the scenario, Why is it that nowadays, If someone kills another, he is seen as a warlord or a hero..while ISLAM is against "Killing anyone..".. When one advises a lady to wear her Hijaab, Jilbaab or cabaaya in the name of Islam, the whole world advises the woman to find her "freedom" and "liberty" and uncover herself...This is distortion of Islam...ISLAM talks about Jilbaab in a different context.. It is an era Where and when, someone comes from the furthest corner of a baadiya,like without actually reading exactly what the Quraan/hadith says about ISLAM, spreads his wings, abuses the teachings of ISLAM, says all bad things about ISLAM and suddenly He/She becomes an ultimate "SUPER-HERO" for abusing Islam..is this a "conspiracy"... we just need to be "Reformed" and go back to our religion..This is the only better reformation we know so far... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Resistance Posted March 27, 2006 Now u seen the Muslim reformer .. how about the Jewish/Christian reformer ... the ones who support palestine and are anti-Bush .. are they any different to the Muslim reformer ... but you support them right examples ... Goerge 'Goergues' Golloway, Tonny 'Cod Weyn' Ben, Ken 'Jew Basher yet Jew' Londonvingtone and many others ... are they sell-out to their own people ... like the Ayan ' i know english' Hirsi is a sell-out to our own. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RendezVous Posted March 29, 2006 No wonder this business of "Reformers" in Islam is rising..I didn't know guyz make money out of this... who is supplying this money and what is their cause..? to cause confusion in Islam.. Originally posted by Khayr: How to be a Muslim reformer 1. Keep it simple 2. Have an angle 3. Write a book 4. Become a Western media darling 5. Remind people that you are constantly under siege 6. Rake in the cash 7. Remember your audience How to be a Muslim Reformer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
