I came across this article this fine rainy morning in NY. My hats off for Judge Hitar, this is the way to win hearts and minds. As our State department /President has said “War of Hearts and Minds”, well it doesn’t get any better than this.
Now this is Jihad. Intellect vs Intellect.
Welcome to the modern Jihad
Here is an excerpt:
SANAA, YEMEN – When Judge Hamoud al-Hitar announced that he and four other Islamic scholars would challenge Yemen’s Al Qaeda prisoners to a theological contest, Western antiterrorism experts warned that this high-stakes gamble would end in disaster.
Nervous as he faced five captured, yet defiant, Al Qaeda members in a Sanaa prison, Judge Hitar was inclined to agree. But banishing his doubts, the youthful cleric threw down the gauntlet, in the hope of bringing peace to his troubled homeland.
“If you can convince us that your ideas are justified by the Koran, then we will join you in your struggle,” Hitar told the militants. “But if we succeed in convincing you of our ideas, then you must agree to renounce violence.”
The prisoners eagerly agreed.
P.S It might not have been the president or State Dept and just Tom Friedman who coined “war of hearts and mind”. I am getting old so I don’t remember.
Hitar will never succeed.
First of all he will not find a rational support to his peaceful ideas in Islamic religious scriptures.
Second majority of these terrorists have spent their childhood at some madrisas. For a complete mind change Hitar will need extra ordinary strength.
There is nothing new that militants give up very easily in jails, where they dont behave like freedom fighters because they do not understand why the divine force did not come to their rescue.
^^ did you read the whole article? As long as people have jobs and economic stability they don't care about jihad and causes (there are exceptions, always).
Majority of young muslims in Middle-east are somewhat educated but unemployed and frustrated at their regimes; Intellectual radicals prey on folks like these. If the economic conditions improve in ME and people have jobs, you will see that people won't care as much about religion in every aspect of their lives,like they do now.
I think that the judge is doing the right thing from a perspective of using the same weapon (religion) that the radicals have used to fuel anger.
Two non-muslims arguing over Jihad. Since you are Anjjan, so I dont blame you. :)
..If you can convince us that your ideas are justified by the Quran, then we will join you in your struggle...
If the judge puts the Quran as the source of justice and not the Yemeni President or Constitution, he will in the mountains fighting with them. There is no Muslim govt, based on principles set by Quran which can convince anyone let alone the radical elements in Muslim world to stop thier struggle for better, Just and moral society.
MiniMe: well thanks foryour verdict on non-muslims
You do know that non-muslims actually know more about Islam than Muslims.
So you mean to tell me that OBL and Al-Qeaada are right to fight since jihad is prescribed in Quraan?
Well Jihad is prescribed, I agree with you there, but what this article is talking about is to refute the jihadis cause (that is based on Quran) and use the Quran to negate them. I think that is a wonderful idea.
I read the whole article, there is a difference in refuting Jihad and its causes and killing innocents, as the article says there are several places where the Quran protects the innocents, the women, and children. The article is not about refuting Jihad or it causes.
I think the key mistake most of Secular Muslim govt do is that they never give diplomacy a chance, they resort to violence and it begets more violence. Egypt, Jordan, Syria all the GCC members have this problem. What I like the most in this approach is that for the first time they have somebody who is listening to them.
For you may be Mats..not for us Muslims. Jihad is a struggle, and it can be intellectual in essence. I think a lot of Muslims do struggle with intellect, so yes a struggle can be intellectual.
Re: Post #10
Oh wait a minute how dare you say that. I am trying to solve a big issue here aur tum neh paani pheyr diya (washed it all up).
Care to explain why it is an oxymoron, make sure to comply with GS policies and back your statement with URLs and pages numbers.
Minime Bhaijan, do you have to be Islami to know what Jihad is? It’s that kind of mind-set that gives us Muslims a bad name. We go around telling Jews and Christians that they are not following true Christianity and Judaism, but if some Christian and Jews (and a couple of Hindus) tell us that we are not following true Islam, we get all bundled up into a cat.
Sir Ji, Matsui, let me get these together, fruits of Jihad and not following true Islam. let be put it in Non-Islamic jargon.
Some times you go to Jihad (US going to WWII) some time you go to war (Vietnam) but declare it as Jihad, it is that simple. I hope you get it.
Think about it.. if there were no one misinterpreting Jihad as an all out war against "kaffirs' and indulging in terrorism, the Evil Doers will not find excuses to invade countries or label entire religions as "Satanic" and 'extremist".
These few morons who misinterpret Islam are essential for war mongers to continue waging wars for personal gains.. the moderates will never get the press or exposure even if they outnumber the miscreants.
Dear Friends, You must know that Jihad, Holy war such concepts are there in every religion. Only Muslims have gone mad after this concept. Why so?
Does Islam really prohibit to kill innocents? All non-beleivers who reject the ayats are deaf and dumb. Once you fill up the minds of your minors at madrisas with such non-sense, and after what criteria is left for non-muslim innocents and civillians?
Minimeji, there is no copyright of Muslims over Quran. Any one can study it.
