Hearing Omar use the Islamic phrases in the acceptance speech felt affirming, authentic and relatable, Margaret Hill, managing director of the Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative, told HuffPost.
“For any Muslim who draws on their faith for strength, these are natural phrases,” Hill said. “They are everyday phrases. I see a Muslim, I give them that greeting. I often say it when I address a crowd.”
The weight of authority in Islam — Muhammad’s own words — is that the greeting “salaam aleikum” should not be used to initiate a greeting with a non-Muslim. Note that Margaret Hill said that “I see a Muslim, I give them that greeting.” She carefully does not say that “I see someone, and I give them that greeting.” It is a greeting whose selective use separates humanity into two groups: the Muslims, to whom the greeting may be given, and the non-Muslims, to whom it should not.
An Islamic website explains when the greeting of salaam is impermissible:
A good number of Islamic scholars are of the view that it is prohibited to initiate the greeting of salaam to non-Muslims. They say salaam is meant to be exchanged among Muslims and that the verse of the Qur’an which spoke of greeting with salaam is referring to Muslims alone. This was the view of Ata’ bin Rabah They went further to say that salaam is to Muslims as shalom is to Jews. They backed their position with the Hadith reported by Abu Hurairah, where the messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said: “You must not initiate the (greetings of) salaam with Jews and Christians,”. They say, salaam is a greeting of honor and a non–Muslim (kafir) does not deserve to be honored. Ahmad Bin Hanbal commented on the above Hadith: “Going by this Hadith is better than any other contrary opinion”. Ibn Hajar is of similar opinion, while commenting on the above Hadith, he said: “The most credible of all these (views) is what is evident in the above Hadith, although it is specific to the People of the Book. Ibn Katheer also, while commenting on the verse on greeting (Qur’an 4:86) said: “But as to non-Muslim citizens (Alum Dimmit) one should not initiate to them the greetings of salaam.” Abu Haneefah and Malik Bin Anas detested initiating salaam with non-Muslims.
Proponents of this opinion argue further that the salaam meant for greeting is among the peculiarities of this Ummah of Prophet Muhammad as reported by Anas bin Malik, who said that the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Indeed, Allah has given my Ummah three things that were not given to any other Ummah before me: saying salaam, and it is the greeting of the people of Hannah (Paradise)…”
Imam An-Nawawi reconciled between the ahadith that enjoined greeting and those that prohibit initiating salaams to non Muslims as follows: “The ahadith that enjoined spreading the greetings of salaam is a generalization (A’am), from which the people of the book were excluded”
This group go further to assert that the salaam that Prophet Ibrahim (Peace be upon him) said to his father in Qur’an 19:47 was a mere farewell and good will, and it was not meant as a greeting.
Omar’s “As-salaam aleikum” was thus “affirming, authentic, and relatable,” but only for those it was addressed to — the Muslims in her audience. Instead of a normal victory speech, addressed to all of those who helped elect her, contributed money, put up signs, knocked on doors, and got out the vote, Ilhan Omar first addressed only her Muslim supporters with that “as-salaam aleikum” greeting and thrice-repeated “alhamdulillah.” Even before Omar’s greetings, the room was transformed by the surprising spectacle of a Somali dance. It was a most peculiar moment, reminding the crowd that parts of Minneapolis were now a Little Mogadishu. This was a moment of triumphant celebration, telling the world that not a Democrat, but a Muslim Somali, still rooted in her culture, had won.
It’s also not at all uncommon for Christian politicians to use religious language to give thanks, with phrases like, “praise God,” and “to God be the glory.”
Nonsense. “Not at all uncommon…”? It is most uncommon for Christian politicians to “praise God” or claim that “to God be the glory” of a political victory. When was last time you heard a “Christian politician” at a victory rally “praise God” or say “to God be the glory”? No doubt there may be a handful of holy-rollers among our politicians, but they would be looked at askance — no, raked over the coals — for thanking God in such a public way for their political triumphs. But when Ilhan Omar, smiling, photogenic, gives thanks to God for her victory — three times uttering in Arabic alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah — “praise be to Allah” — the very people, at The New York Times or Washington Post or at NPR, who would be most offended by a Christian political figure doing the same thing, that is, thanking God for ensuring that he, or she, had won an election, apparently found nothing wrong with Ilhan Omar’s exclamation.
These Muslim propagandists quoted in the article are simply engaging in Tu-Quoque, claiming — falsely — that “Christian politicians do” routinely what Omar did. When she turned her victory rally into a display of Islamic solidarity and triumphalism, she was not merely doing, as her defenders claim, “what so many non-Muslim politicians do.”
Nautikos says
The camel’s nose is in the tent…
Moshe says
I write — as a high-information voter and as a metrosexual college teacher woke to Social Justice — to urge the learned Mr. Fitzgerald to reconsider and reinterpret the Hon. Ilhan Omar’s joyous and spontaneous remarks of political celebration: these remarks should be heard in an important ethical context as illuminated by former President Obama.
In 2016 America’s transformational young leader and Constitutional scholar offered this poignant affirmation of traditional American values:
“We know that our diversity, our patchwork heritage is not a weakness, it is still and always will be one of our greatest strengths,” then-President Obama taught us on the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. “This is the America that was attacked that September morning [2001]. This is the America that we must remain true to.”
The wisdom, impact and credibility of Pres. Obama’s remarks are reinforced by the extraordinary fact that his two terms in office witnessed “not even a smidgen of corruption.”
The integrity and progressive values of the Obama Administration now stand in pointed contrast to the many sordid and ongoing FBI/DOJ/Mueller investigations of the Trump Presidency, soon to be expanded by Congressperson Omar and her brave new colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives.
I urge J-W readers to turn to the New York Times as an unbiased source of news. Indeed, it is thanks to the insights of the NYT that I am today a happy high-information voter–the blessing and benefit of all the news that is fit to print!
What have you got to lose?
WCM says
Applause! Here-Hear!
🙂
Mark Swan says
Oh, you bet Moshe—Obama good—Trump bad—thank you Moshe.
So you brag about being a whistle breeches—hmmm.
Your nauseating pile all covered with syrupy coating—may not
win you any friends here—but hey—the flies will give you
some attention while you Carry-out that social justice.
Looking Good Moshe.
Indiana Tom says
Gosh darn you! I just blew up in laughter and now I have German potato salad all over my laptop.
FYI says
I urge “metrosexual college teachers woke to social justice*” like yourself “moshe” to..
1.Wake-up and realize islam’s POLITICAL nature is subversive and in
opposition to our democratic freedoms and beliefs.
2.Stop reading the idiotic and totally biased NYT{“Leftard News world”}:objective ,honest ,unbiased journalism is beyond them.
3 Desist from idolizing Imam Barack Obama,a man who famously defended an owner,buyer,seller and murderer of Black Slaves:the “prophet” muhammed ..and was not even smart enough to get the IRONY of it.
4 Ignore the naive Dhimmi secular Jews, who think islam is to be accomodated{see Sahih Muslim #6985:ask ilhan Omar to explain THAT:islam’s final solution for the Jews}…the smug Leftard College professors in their safe spaces in their academic Ivory towers and those super-sensitive
virtue-signalling, namby-pamby,snowflake SJW students who wouldn’t know an abstract concept if they heard one..
What have you got to lose?
*metrosexual,college teacher,Woke,SJ:says it all really doesn’t it “moshe”,defender of islam?Ask ilhan Omar to explain Sahih muslim #6985 to you “moshe”:it concerns islam’s plan for the Jews.Surely THAT’S A Social Justice issue right?
Bishop Guy Leven-Torres says
Dear Moshe old Boy?
Are you trying to be humorously ironic?
If not please remember to take your Meds.
fredoniahead says
This has to be satire from Moshe. No one can be that pathetic or their pants would be soaking wet all of the time.
Wellington says
Whatever your motive for posting here at JW, Moshe, you’re annoying and cloying.
mortimer says
Agree with Wellington. Obviously a spoof, but enough. MOSHE, DID YOU READ ISLAM’S PRIMARY SOURCE TEXTS? NO? INTELLECTALLY LAZY, RIGHT?
Westman says
There are so many “dog whistles” in Omar’s victory statements that canines should be howling a kilometer away. And it’s obvious, from timing of her supporter response, that they considered this an Islamic win.
We’ve heard the foul mouth of Rashida Tlaib and her contribution to, “diversity….one of our greatest strengths…” – just like Obama, Moshe? Let’s hope Omar doesn’t catch the fungus of a rotten apple by proximity.
gravenimage says
More tedious trolling from “Moshe”.
KWJ says
You’re not a high-information anything if you think the New York Times is an unbiased news source. Also, what newspapers leave out their daily paper is also as important as what and how they report.
As far as Obama, you wear rose-colored glasses and if you can’t find things to criticize in right years of his presidency, then you aren’t being an objective and high-information citizen.
Really, Moshe, you live in a fantasy world. I’d like to think your posts are satire, but alas, I’m afraid not.
mortimer says
The camel’s SPIT is in the tent.
mortimer says
Ilhan Omar excluded DIRTY KAFIRS in her acceptance speech. It was intentional. The DIRTY KUFAAR are not part of JIHAD. Ilhan Omar considers her time in congress to be LEGAL JIHAD and nothing less. She is not loyal to her party, Democrat voters or the defending the constitution. She is there to defend Sharia law.
Once you know the CODE LANGUAGE USED BY MUSLIMS, you won’t miss clues like this anymore.
Proud American says
If the msm won’t condemn what these moslem scum are saying about alla,then the Christians of our country need to bring attention to anything that comes out of their mouths that does not embrace all Americans,not just muslins.
Buraq says
It might also be useful to point out that “As-salaam aleikum” is a greeting in the plural! Why? Because a Muslim is also greeting the angels which sit on the left and right shoulder of the person he/she addresses, according to Islam.
So, if you don’t believe in angels (how can angels with feathery wings fly in the vast, freezing vacuum of space that has no atmosphere?), then the greeting is inappropriate, anyway.
Clowns, all of ’em!
commonsense says
So, if you’re correct, Buraq, you have provided us with the fundamental reason why “As-salaam aleikum” must be used as a greeting to Muslims only: each Muslim has two angelic companions, ever-present, while the non-believer never enjoys this celestial protection, and is alone. Thanks.
James says
I do not see these women as Americans or representing any American interest. They seem more like the start of an Islamic invasion of our institutions in the Gramscian sense. I would never want to live in their district and I would not expect them to reprsent any interests of mine. This should be a wakeup call to stop mass immigration of Muslims or other groups that behave that way.
Jplynch45 @gmail.com says
James – you are 100% correct! Why were they allowed to use the Koran to be sworn in on?
Isn’t that against our constitution – using sharia law?? I live in Michigan and certainly did not vote for
the foul mouthed democrat that chose to call a sitting president the most fowl name and then laugh
and dance afterwards! Where is the outrage ? Can you imagine if a conservative republican disrespected obama in that manner? It’s complete insanity. If you don’t want to be American and follow our constitution then take your anti American sharia crap ☠️☠️☠️and leave the USA! You will not be missed!
God save America!
Trump 2020 ????????????
Indiana Tom says
I do not see these women as Americans or representing any American interest.
But the Marxist Leninist Liberals will love them for they are nihilists at heart.
Wellington says
Accurate and well said, James. In complete agreement with you.
In effect, not legally but a reality nonetheless, there is no such person as a Muslim-American but rather a Muslim in America. Huge difference and in no way good for this country.
Sam Delite says
Please join me in a new campaign called Make a Joyful Noise to bring worship other than Islam into the public sphere. There are many public spaces where Muslim pray – on the street, in malls, in airports, at the United Nations, in downtown squares and on and on. Christians, Jews and others can also go to these spaces and Make a Joyful Noise. Christians can sing Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, Oh Happy Day etc. and pray aloud to God. Jews can do likewise in their fashion and humanists can devise joyful groups to exhibit their beliefs. We need to show Muslims and the world that in America there are other people of faith than Muslims. We hide, but we need to come out of the closet. I don’t know if Muslims have to have permits to pray in large groups. If they do not, then we do not either. If airports or malls ask us to leave, we will want to know if they asked the Muslims that were there yesterday to leave. If not, we will inform them they they are discriminating. Muslims are given a pass because people are afraid to confront them. We must not be afraid. We must stand up for our beliefs. Thank you.
Indiana Tom says
It is most uncommon for Christian politicians to “praise God” or claim that “to God be the glory” of a political victory. When was last time you heard a “Christian politician” at a victory rally “praise God” or say “to God be the glory”?
If you ever have actually been in a political campaign; the words Christian and Politician tend to be mutually exclusive.
Virtuous rattlesnakes are in the snake pit.
Brigitte from Germany says
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/removal-rashida-tlaib-d-mi-office-do-inappropriate-and-unstable-actions-becoming-congresswoman
Sign this important petition please.
And when you can, share it.
Thanks.
Indiana Tom says
You must not initiate the (greetings of) salaam with Jews and Christians,”. They say, salaam is a greeting of honor and a non–Muslim (kafir) does not deserve to be honored.
Of course a Muslim politician can still perform greetings if it is done under the guise of Taqiyya. Lying to advance islam is always permissible.
Wellington says
Yuck.
Walter Sieruk says
It may be likely the Margret Hill had won the election not only because of the Muslim vote but the because of the left wing vote. Which is sort of a reflection of the new political phenomena called the “Red –Green Alliance.”
Nevertheless ,Margaret Hill had given and declared “All praise to Allah” For her election victory So even through Hill is ,no doubt , too ignorant and blinded by deception to know it ,by her giving credit and praise the Allah , the god of Islam . She is actually giving credit and praise to a Moon goo, a false god from and of ancient pagan religion
This because the God of the Bible is not really Allah the god of Islam. To explain, through the passing of time it has become widely accepted that the word “Allah” is just the Arabic word for God. This started when truth compromising Bible “translators” substituted the word Allah where the word God should have had been uses in the Arabic translation of the Bible. Furthermore, in the glossary in the book ASSASSINS! By Dr. Haha Lung it defines Allah as the “Pre-Islamic Lunar god : the god of Islam. “ Likewise, in the book entitled INSIDE ISLAM by a former Muslim who is now a Christian, Reza F. Safa on pages 22, 23 it reads “In pre-Islamic times both Allah –worship and Baal-worship involved the worship of the sun, the moon and the stars which h defines them as astral religions. [Which are condemned in the Bible, Second Kings 23:5] The crescent moon, which was the symbol of moon worship, is also the symbol of Islam.” In conclusion the Islamic god, Allah, is not the God of the Bible.
The words in brackets are my own. In addition other some other books that expose this little known truths are WHO IS THIS ALLAH ? by G..J.O.. Moshay also UNVEILING ISLAM by Ergun Mehmet Caner and Emir Fethi Caner and THE ISLAMIC INVASION by Robert Morey . There is also PHILISTINE by Ramon Bennett and ANSWERING JIHAD by Mabeel Qureshi
WPM says
When she goes to congress will see demand a special Islamic pray room in the building? Will she interrupt her attendance at congress to pray 5 times a day and expect all other congressmen and woman to stop what they are doing as she prays ,not to offend her? Will the call to pray be broadcasted in congress, not to offend her ? What part of sharia law will she first try to past in congress first? Will she feel insulted if congress man and woman of the Christian faith wear crucifix or Jewish members the star of David where she could see them ,might offend her? Will she request a special area to perform that special washing of here face, feet and hands ?Will other members of congress be expected to defer all business on all Moslem holidays not to offend her ? No eating by congress in front of her on Moslem fasting days? Will the congress cafeteria have to stop serving anything with pork in it and other dietary requirements force on all to not offend her ? So many demands waiting for the good members of congress to fulfill not to look on as racist, even though Islam is not a race. It should interesting in the least as every demand gets greater with each one granted .
James Lincoln says
WPM,
Her first demand has already been met – reversal of a 181 year ban on the wearing of any headgear on the floor of Congress.
Your list is accurate.
WPM says
I am sure the other demands that I listed will be made in time ,we must appease the” best of people” or we look “racist”.
KWJ says
It would likely be a blasphemy law. The Democrats already have done a blasphemy resolution that many aren’t aware of, but since the OIC is adamant about universal blasphemy laws, that’s high on the list of anti-American things to do…kill free speech. At the moment, a blasphemy law is unconstitutional. Criticizing Islam and its prophet is no different than criticizing any ideology and a leader of an ideology. Muhammad wasn’t some walk-on-water Jesus-like figure, he was a general of an army and tribal chief. (Initially he was a leader of bandits.)
Male female genital mutilation legal? What did she campaign on besides the vague ‘represent the Muslim community’?
Some of these new Congresspeople are making the Democrat party look like a clown car: Out pops a clown, then another, and another…how many m@&!*#f$@#%!& clowns are squeezed into that VW Beetle?
dan christensen says
If an atheist is sworn in, can he swear on a copy of “On the Origin of Species”?
WPM says
I am sure their are atheist in congress and they get along fine with Jews and Christians and follow the dress code of other congressmen and women.
Wellington says
Uh, dan, many Christians (most actually) have no problem with Darwinian evolution. As early as the late 19th century the Catholic Church under Pope Leo XIII effectively accepted what there is MASSIVE evidence for (e.g., over 80,000 Neanderthal skeletons alone as well as hominids dated as far back as 7 million years ago).
gravenimage says
True, Wellington.
KWJ says
I would swear on the copy of my old American Citizens Handbook which has in it the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, list of presidents and short bios, the Pledge of Allegiance, the Flag Code, American patriotic songs, how our governments works, famous speeches, and so on.
It makes more sense to swear on the documents that you are swearing to uphold rather than a Bible or any other book. If you feel that Judeo-Christian values played a part in all that is in my American Citizen Handbook then that takes care of that and more.
To be an American is to believe in those documents. When some Muslims have said to me that “I’m American too so I can campaign for sharia laws,” I would argue that they are legally an American citizen but not really American, if you know what I mean. They are not of the American spirit. We did well without Islam unlike Islamic countries, so there isn’t a great
track record except for piracy.
abad says
““salaam aleikum” should not be used to initiate a greeting with a non-Muslim”
I prefer “Salaam, hale shoma chetowre”
🙂
KWJ says
Well, yes, that’s a typical Farsi/Iranian greeting, more formal. “Hello, how are you?” or specifically “Hello, how is your health?” “Hooban mersi.” Farsi-Frenchified: Merci beaucoup, et vous?
Mortimer is right, she isn’t talking to her constituents, but rather international ummah-speak. Newspeak, Ummahspeak…
gravenimage says
Alhamdulillah: For Ilhan Omar, All Praise Be To Allah For Her Victory (Part Two)
………………..
More appalling Muslim supremacism.
KWJ says
Given that two new Muslims have been elected to Congress besides Keith Ellison, though he’s now an Attorney General, I wish someone such as Robert or other writers here discuss the mostly Democrat supported H.Resolution 569 and the UN resolution 16/18 regarding free speech and Islam. The OIC is being relentless about this and as we’ve seen with Human Rights Council of Europe being sharia compliant and Canada’s resolution that was sponsored by a Pakistani-Canadian, this can’t be stressed enough.
This guy parsed it in detail:
https://ruleofreason.blogspot.com/2015/12/a-congressional-overture-to-censorship.html?m=1
The UN/OIC Resolution 16/18 regarding anything anti-Muslim or anti-Islam:
https://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/16session/A.HRC.RES.16.18_en.pdf
Both are somewhat vague on what constitutes religious hatred that could incite violence. Considering Muslims have mental fits against movies, books, speeches, etc., they don’t have to watch and “extremist organizations aimed at perpetuating negative stereotypes…”
HR 569 also provides a list of politicians who are anti-free speech. Some people wrongly think resolutions are harmless, but as we are seeing, they are not harmless as they become foundational (a blueprint) for next steps with “hate speech” laws, England being one example of how bad it has become and police state-ish measures.