In Human Events this morning I discuss Ayatullah Durrani's novel choice for caliph:
The caliph in Sunni Islam is the symbol of the supranational unity of the Muslims, and is the successor of Muhammad as the military, political, and spiritual leader of the Islamic community. There hasn't been a caliph for nearly 90 years, but now Pakistan's Minister of State for Industries, Ayatullah Durrani, has a novel idea for just the right man for the job: Barack Obama!The caliphate was abolished in 1924 by the secular Turkish government; foremost on the agenda of Islamic supremacists worldwide is its restoration. Hamstringing that effort, however, has been the lack of a candidate who would be acceptable to everyone concerned. The elusive one-eyed Islamic cleric who leads the Taliban in Afghanistan, Mullah Omar, was declared caliph--Emir al-Momineen, or Leader of the Believers--by his followers in 1994.
Omar went to the Shrine of the Respectable Cloak of Muhammad in Kandahar, climbed up onto its roof, and wrapped himself in the Muslim prophet's cloak, to the jubilation of his followers below. But Omar's claim to the caliphate has been complicated by a number of matters since then--notably the toppling of the Taliban from state power by American forces--and his claim to the caliphate has been acknowledged by only one group outside Afghanistan: Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, a group formerly known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat--a name that shares none of the U.S. government's delicacy about identifying Islamic preaching as a not infrequent source of jihad violence.
The restoration of the caliphate is foremost on the agenda of the global mujahedin because, according to Islamic law, the caliph alone can declare offensive jihad against infidel nations--which is why Osama bin Laden and other jihad theorists cast all the present actions of Islamic jihadists as defensive.
Islamic supremacists also see the abolition of the caliphate as the loss of the unity of the umma, the Islamic community worldwide; they see a divided Islamic umma as a weakened one, subject to buffeting and humiliation from colonialist and neo-colonialist powers.
And so Durrani, a member of Pakistan's governing People's Party, said: "The time is approaching fast. Barack Hussein Obama must act now. This is a golden opportunity, Muslims badly need it."
He added that on the Muslim feast of Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan and falls this year on September 11, Obama should offer the prescribed Eid prayers and seize the moment to declare himself caliph. "In this way," said the starry-eyed Durrani, "all the problems of the Muslim world would be solved."
If only it were that easy!...
Hey, I'm for it so long as Obama resigns as president and goes to live in a cave in Arabia. Or even one or the other. I'm becoming less fussy as time goes on.
I wouldn't be surprised if Obama accepted the offer.
Well, hasn't Obama used that revoltingly misleading qur’anic quote "Whoever kills an innocent, it is as if he has killed all humankind”? He would seem to be a good candidate for the nightmare role of Caliph. As for the meaning of that quote, take a look at a ‘radical’ Muslim clarifying its meaning with a ‘moderate’ Muslim in the video here: http://durotrigan.blogspot.com/2010/09/quran-532-whoever-kills-innocent-it-is.html
Do they consider us to be ‘innocent’? Really, surely you couldn’t be so naïve?!
Rasulullahhaha Obama is already Caliph, isn't he?
In America we don't call the position 'Caliph', we call it President...The names are different, but with Rasulullahhaha running the show, the duties are the same...
Most of the posters here are already on to 5:32, and Spencer has covered the subject more than once...But it does not hurt to bring it up for people who may not know...Especially Mahoundians...Some innocently quote that, not because they read it and were paying attention, but because it sounds good superficially...Like all fine sounding aya's, scrape a little veneer of the surface, and ugly comes oozing out...
Just a moment. Hasnt Obama declared that he is a Christian? His White House staff have declared many a time oft, that Obama is a Christian. So what has got into Durrani that he believes that not only Obama is a Muslim, but can become the caliph, and acceptable as such to the whole Muslim world.
I think Obama should to go to Mecca and declare to the world that he is indeed a Christian, thus removing any misunderstanding.
@DP111 THAT is one finely-crafted suggestion, if you'll please accept the compliment from an outsider.
Our own Hesperado had his "epiphany" in which he proclaimed that contrary to conventional thinking, the reconstitution of the Caliphate would be good thing, that we in the West could now direct our wrath at a sitting government and institution.
It's an interesting theory, not without at least a degree of merit. My own feeling is that we should do everything in our power to keep the ummah weak and divided. My guess is that the West would reach new heights of obsequiousness and appeasement in the face of an actual Islamic authority.
This is an interesting article in the New York Times about Obahma's new partners.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/07/opinion/07iht-edcohen.html?_r=1&hp
This is typical Muslim thinking - rather than work to change the thinking and behavior of masses, which is hard work, but makes for a healthier society, they seek a mega manipulation that will take them out of their troubles. However, manipulation it is and nothing else.
Essentially the thinking is: they remain as they are - backward / medieval, devoid of character, devoid of modernity, but manipulation wins political power for them and with that power, they can always extract booty forcibly from the kaafirs. That has been Islam since it's birth.
The other day, had an exchange with an Indian Muslim columnist who is essentially a Pakistani at heart. He sees no difference between Pakistan and India because in both countries, affairs are manipulated at the top and what the masses feel and what they need is of no consequence. This is the basic difference between Muslims and free societies everywhere. This is one of the key reasons India is democratic (because Hindus do not believe manipulation is everything, we can work things at grassroots and bring about change) and Pakistan and Muslim world is not.
Muslims are light years away from understanding democracy.
Sanjay
Sanjay
Elegantly put.
I nominate either Robert Spencer or Pam Gellar!
What? Kuffars can't be the Caliph? (kuffar - Caliph, sounds the same, doesn't it?)
What? Kuffars can't even nominate anyone to be Caliph? That's not very democratic. Oh, Islam is Autocratic, not Democratic. My bad.
What? Does Ayatullah Durrani realize that President Obama has only heard the Qur'an read in Arabic and doesn't really realize what it says or means. That's NOT a problem!?
How about Ayaan Hirshi Ali or Ibn Warraq?
How about Obama for Chicago Cubs bat boy. That way maybe he could learn at least one of the names of the players on his "favorite team".
Drat and double-Drat tanstaafl. . .you beat me to the button.
I still maintain my belief that BHO is neither Christian, nor Muslim, nor any other religion (other than the devoted worship of himself).
That BHO would take the bait and declare himself Caliph is so improbable as to be effectively impossible, but not for the reason most people think. It wouldn't work. This one individual, Ayatollah Durrani, does not speak for the entire Ummah (no one does), and the overwhelming majority of of Muslims in the world would utterly reject anyone (especially an American President) who called himself "Caliph".
Having said that, I also believe that, if there were any chance of BHO actually being accepted as Caliph, Obama would jump at the opportunity. Being a Christian in name only, leaving one religion for another would be no big deal, because in the end it's all about him.
The idea is no more ridiculous than Obama for President, nor his incomprehensable win of a Nobel Prize. Hell, he's already implied in word and deed his willingness to kill America.
It's not nine o'clock yet, and already I feel myself tumbling down that rabbit's hole.
But I wanted to be Caliph !
I wonder what it pays and is there a job description. Do I have to conform to equal rights legislation is a company car provided, do I get my own private jet and whats the pension like ? What is the living accomodation like and can I get to meet the Pope or even better the Archdhimmi of Cantilistan.......
Obama's a natural choice. He's already working as a part-time Caliph. A few extra hours and he could be a full-time Caliph.
In order for a Caliph to rule he must be spiritually pure.
Obama is not.
I believe he loves his alcohol too much.
What I would like to know is if the Sunni Muslims would accept the nomination, and how people in the Islamic states reacting to the idea, if at all.
>"I think Obama should to go to Mecca and declare to the world that he is indeed a Christian, thus removing any misunderstanding."
Hey DP111, that is a great idea!!
However, as a Christian and a non-Muslim, he won't be allowed to enter Mecca. But if Saudis allow him to go to Mecca then that will be a proof that they consider him a Muslim and the truth about Obama would be out. No further bickering if he is a Muslim or not!!!
>"In order for a Caliph to rule he must be spiritually pure.
Obama is not."
So all those Caliphs starting from abu Bakar onwards were "spiritually pure"??? abu Bakar marries his six year old daughter to a 53 year old pedophile, Mo/allah. He may not have had a choice as Mo/allah would have beheaded him for refusing to do so.
Seems like a murderers, rapists, looters invaders row to me!!! Of course that is Muslim "spirituality" as guided by Mo/allah, not the same as common human beings' spirituality!!
Caliph? Looking at the picture I'd vote for Santa Claus.
This is something Hussein might consider after becoming a one-term president.
And it would certainly be more fitting.
The pope of the muslims!
Very wiley move. The pakis are trying to flatter Barry to stop bombing them....and what else?
Muslims are light years away from understanding democracy
The problem is not so much muslim's lack of understanding as that would suggest that with effective information campaign muslims may, one day, see democracy as something worth pursuing.
Many muslims understand democracy quite well, find it fundamentally un-islamic and, therefore, reject it.
It is not so difficult to see WHY 25% of Americans think Obama is a Muslim. If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, acts like a duck, it's a duck.
Oh ! You got to read about Caliph's rights somewhere. I am sure you will find it on the net.
I read it once, can't recall. But one of the rights of the Caliph is that he can rape a woman and no punishment ensues, especially if the woman is a kaafir.
I think he can kill anyone he wants too.
Life is opulent, massive palaces and armies of servants amongst other things.
Really, if you can stand being that kind of a person, go ahead, try it !!
Sanjay
Thanks.
At personal level too, I have seen this basic belief - whether what happens at macro level is the result of the will of the masses or of a grand manipulation by a powerful few, is one of the most important of life's choices and determines a person's character.
Many non - Muslims too have the latter belief and it makes them quasi-Muslims in personal conduct as well as political thought.
However, in case of Islam, this belief is part of the genetic code of Islam, and I don't think Muslim masses can give it up without giving up Islam itself.
Sanjay
this only shows you how pathetic mudlim countries are. look who is the industril minister? some uneducated islamist! that is why there is no industry in Oakistan!!
Isn't the position of Caliph usually obtained by assassination of the predecessor Caliph? Since there is no predecessor, clearly some innovation will be required for Obama to be elevated to this position.
But it appears that procedures actually exist for this. According to Wikipedia, "...Although, it is widely believed that the institution of the caliphate has been dissolved this is not the case. The institution of the caliphate has been transferred to the Turkish Parliament which in turn has delegated it's authority to various Turkish Government Institutions."
Maybe this is why Obama has been so solicitous of Turkey, in preparation for the day he is summoned to Istanbul to lead Friday prayers and assume the leadership of the Ummah.
Alternately, maybe he could be made Honorary Caliph and, as with his Nobel Peace Prize, get a medal in recognition of all his contributions to Islam.
BHO as caliph? I thought he already was. He seems to act like it; he spends an awful lot of his time on Moslem affairs and visits to Moslem countries; and he prefers to rule by decree. What? He's only the American President?
Gosh, my mistake! Easy one to make, though.
Seriously, as Caliph BHO could do some real good in the world. Isn't the Caliph the only one who can authorize a legitimate Jihad? So, as Caliph, BHO could order an end to all the existing unauthorized jihads, and then when some of the jihadists refused to follow his order, he could declare a real Jihad against them. Likewise, probably a lot of Moslems would not accept him as a legitimate Caliph, so he could also order a Jihad against them. He could really tie the Moslem world up in knots.
Knowing BHO however, I must admit that he'd blow the opportunity: he'd have Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh beheaded, and declare a Jihad against the Tea Party.
Maybe once he isn't elected for a second term, he will do what many Muslims do — get angry and suddenly adopt the extremist version of Islam and betray the Western homeland.
Robert Spencer should declare himself a Caliph. He's got the beard, and Muslims already listen to every word he says!
Robert Spencer should declare himself a Caliph. He's got the beard, and Muslims already listen to every word he says!
20% of Americans believe Obama is a Muslim, probably at least half of the Muslim world believes he is also. He can't win (especially in 2012), so he should just give up, say the shahada three times, change his name to al-Mahdi Abdallah Barack Hussein Obama, Move to Makkah, and assume his rightful place as the Caliph.
It would give the Democrats an ideal opportunity to break out another socialist or two to bedevil us with.
Yeah, and as an Antiochene Catholic, he may be an Arab as well--or would Syriac be close enough?
How about we look at this a little more seriously?
Barack Obama is s Muslim in the same way that Ronald Reagan was Catholic: he does not "belong" to the faith, but thanks to parental influence he carries the mental landscape of a believer.
It is becoming obvious he will, baring a "miracle", be a one-term president.
What would you think if, near the end of his term, many at home and abroad begin to push him for UN Secretary General?
What would you think if, having been elected to this position, he returns to the faith of his youth?
What would you think if, having done so, he is called Caliph while leading the UN and will neither confirm or deny it, but continues to talk in 'stirring' generalities?
Many ifs here, but, what would you think?
Yes, Secretary General of the United Nations would definitely be a position Obama would consider his exalted self to be worthy of. In place of a fickle Democratic caucus in the U.S. Congress he would have the OIC bloc behind him. I am sure he would find the position of Secretary General to be much more congenial than the POTUS, having to deal with all those irritating military types with mindsets orthogonal to his that the latter entails. He could spend his days issuing platitudes and traveling the world. What could be better? I wonder what he would do about the Secret Service contingent he would be entitled to? Would they get to accompany him on the Hajj?
Eastview, you picked right up on where I was headed.
My overall point is that I doubt very much that Obama would declare adherence to Islam while in the White House: the secular leftist strands in his mind are too strong right now. But afterward? Who knows, especially after an electoral defeat brings some embitterment? Probably the only person who could stand in his way is his wife.
Such a scenario might be more of a disaster than his election as president. A "soft" informal caliphate at the UN led by a former U.S. President and his attractive designer-headscarf clad wife could tip the scales on Western reversion to Islam.