“Muslim students to discuss hijab, jihad during ‘Islam 101,’” by Amie Steffen, The Courier, November 12, 2018:
To someone who isn’t Muslim, or doesn’t know anyone who practices Islam, the concept of “jihad” may sound bad.
To Muslims, “jihad” isn’t negative at all. But despite more Muslims joining the Cedar Valley [sic] each year, the disconnect between Islamic and non-Islamic communities persists.
We can guess exactly how “Jihad” will be presented to a non-Muslim audience at the lecture called Islam 101. Attention will be focused on the spurious hadith in which Muhammad, returning home from fighting, is said to have exclaimed that he was returning from the “lesser” Jihad of combat to the “greater” Jihad of personal moral struggle. Muslim apologists love to quote these words attributed to Muhammad, but they never tell us it’s based on a very questionable hadith, with a weak chain of narration (isnad).
Nadir Khan believes a lack of education is the issue, and his group has come up with a solution.
Islam 101, organized by the Muslim Students Association of the University of Northern Iowa, will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday [November 14] at the Mocker Union Ballroom on UNI’s campus.
The lecture will feature two speakers: Dem Kazkaz, a Syrian-American activist and president of the Masjid Al Noor Islamic Center in Waterloo; and Miriam Amer, a Lebanese-American activist and founder of the Iowa chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
“The community is getting bigger,” Khan, president of the 25-member MSA, said. “Due to the political climate, and seeing all that is happening, this helps to bridge the gap between groups.”
Topics discussed will include the actual meaning of jihad, the importance of the hijab, fasting during Ramadan, what Islam teaches about humanity and the shared brotherhood between Christianity and Islam.
The “actual meaning of Jihad” to be conveyed will of course not be that which is accepted both by Jihadis around the world, and by mainstream Muslims, too. Nor will it be that presented by thousands of Qur’anic scholars and commentators. For Jihadis, mainstream Muslims, and Qur’anic commentators, Jihad means warfare against the Infidels, until they are killed, or converted, or they accept the permanent status of dhimmis, subject to a host of onerous conditions, including payment of the Jizyah. The “actual meaning of Jihad” the Muslim speakers will offer will be that of a “personal moral struggle,” based on that single weak hadith in which Muhammad returns home from the battlefield, declaring that he has returned from the “lesser” to the “greater” jihad of domestic life.
The “importance of the hijab” presentation will discuss the function of cover — from the simple hijab, a kerchief or foulard that covers only the hair, to the full covering provided by the chador (in Iran), the burka (in Afghanistan), and the niqab (in Saudi Arabia), where a woman is totally covered save for a cloth grill over her face (with the burka), or eye-slits (with the niqab). These types of cover will be discussed as the means to prevent Muslim men from being unduly aroused, by hiding the wearer’s physical beauty. These various covers will be presented, unsurprisingly, not as being anywhere imposed on women by men, but as freely chosen by Muslim women.
As for the fasting during Ramadan, there is no need to misrepresent it. Ramadan is simply a way for Muslims to demonstrate, by observing a month of strict day-time fasting, the strength of their commitment to the faith.
In discussing “what Islam teaches about humanity,” the Muslims delivering the Islam 101 talk will pass over in silence the Qur’anic division of all mankind into Believers and Unbelievers, Muslims and non-Muslims. According to Qur’an 3:110, Muslims are “the best of peoples,” while Qur’an 98:6 calls non-Muslims “the most vile of creatures.” That is the most significant “teaching about humanity” to be found in Islam.
The discussion of “the shared brotherhood between Christianity and Islam” will of course require that many more Qur’anic verses be ignored. The verses that command Muslims “not to take Christians or Jews as friends, for they are friends only with each other” (5:51) paints quite a different picture of the so-called “shared brotherhood” between Christianity and Islam; indeed, it undermines the idea completely. So do 3:110 and 98:6, with their stark distinction between Muslims, called “the best of peoples,” and non-Muslims, called “the most vile of creatures.” A “shared brotherhood” could only be achieved by ignoring important verses in the Qur’an. How likely is it that devout Muslims would do that?
mortimer says
It’s time for an accredited university course in JIHADOLOGY from 101 to PhD level.
With 100 scholars well-versed in counterjihad polemics, we can save the world from Islam and its dysfunctional, totalitarian agenda.
Or Else! says
The irony? The truth about Islam can be studied at Internet University….for FREE! (For now….)
But ignorant, misinformed, leftist parents will pay through the nose to indoctrinate yet another generation to be led by the nose.
J D S says
What a normal person calls murder a Muslim calls jihsd and murder is authorized in writing.
Now if I wrote a book as the Koran is written and had it published..got some following preached what I wrote …I would be thrown under the jail…..
BC says
As I have said many times if Islam is so good for humanity (where is its humanity BTW?) I would like to know where is the country in the world which demonstrates such virtue. Even so called ‘moderate states are repressive to varying degrees especially to those who who do not toe the strict lines. Also in the world index of corruption all the Islamic governed countries fall in the bottom third of the ranking.
The vast majority of so called honour killings are also committed by Muslims. FGM is also only done by Muslims to their daughters, as is child marriage. Many Muslims put on weight during their so called fasting and not drinking leads to dehydration which is also unhealthy in hot countries.
These are the questions people should be asking Muslims. Where are the standards we should be asked to follow.
infidel says
India is almost a lost case for Hindus.. in that the only thing standing between a massive Jehaadi street attack on its mostly Dhimmi Hindus and their families with help from Pakistan and Bangladesh.. is the Indian Army.. one of the most disciplined and fearsome fighting force. Muslims in India have lost complete respect for the police and the para-military… and the only thing standing in their way towards their aim of GHAZWA HIND is the Indian army…. and herein lies a lesson for the Greater West. Cherish Ur respective national armies as they too will be the last bulwark against these violent koranimals obsessed with mass murder of infidels.
Ravi says
Here is a cliff note for all North Iowa students ‘Islam is filth, a sewage flow, a drop of it can turn a clean river into toxic slush’ and that’s all you need to know.
World@70 says
Yes Mr. Fitzgerald these Muslim activists’ speakers will do all you have mentioned and more. They will claim Islam is the religion of peace quoting George Bush and probably claim the translation of Islam means peace.
The MSA would never schedule a debate with someone like your, Robert Spencer or Pamela Geller. They know they would loose.
eduardo odraude says
Strange beliefs are not the problem. The problem is belief in expansionist totalitarianism, such as is demanded by the core Islamic texts. The US is sleepwalking into a situation from which it will be hard to go back.
Here’s an immigration policy that would not mention any religion and thus would not raise endless First Amendment controversy:
Call for a moratorium on immigration from any nation that does not protect freedom of speech and religion, with exceptions for dissidents, oppressed minorities, perhaps for scientists. That moratorium would affect many nations (including in Europe!) besides the Islamic ones. It would exclude most Muslim immigration, it would pressure Europe to expand speech rights, it would pressure authoritarian nations everywhere to liberalize.
rubiconcrest says
I think that is an excellent idea which helps the common man separate friend from foe, double talkers from straight talkers.
Or Else! says
Geert Wilders, debating a Leftist politician in the Netherlands, 2010.
“Mr. Cohen says that Islam is no different than other religions. Mr. Cohen, how is it possible that I am forced for almost six years now at any public appearance–even now as I stand before you–to debate with a bulletproof vest….and not you? Do you know why this is so, Mr. Cohen? Because people who dare to criticize Islam are either killed or they receive hundreds of death threats per year. And the people who do not–the people who fondle Islam–can enjoy their freedom. Islam is not a peaceful and comfortable religion. Islam is a totalitarian, violent, and intolerant religion.”
Islam 101. Now…let’s get to the roots and the history….wherein lies the proof.
Geoffrey de Brito says
Muhammad said that “War is deceit”. Islam has and is permanently at war with all non-believers who have yet to be conquered and subdued. This is just another attempt to deceive their enemies, the non-believers.
thebigW says
It’s mostly working, from what I can tell
thebigW says
“Islam 101, organized by the Muslim Students Association of the University of Northern Iowa…”
IOWA??? The cloaked dagger deep into the heartland eh…
Wellington says
Further indoctrination, this time about Islam, and not education. The state of learning in America’s educational establishment from pre-K through graduate school is arguably the single worst thing that has happened to America over the past half century. Get a young mind full of mush and indoctrinate it, not educate it, and you have the ultimate “recipe” for the ending of a free and strong America.
Or Else! says
Exactly. We were never exposed to ANYTHING about Islam, let alone its horrors.
Teachers were also clueless….just following the curriculum.
The West has been fed “multiculturalism” under the pretext that white people are racists and bigots and need to be ashamed.
100 years of Marxism’s flawed, destructive, murderous principles are still alive…look at the Dems. And, naturally, they’re allying themselves with other enemies of freedom.
gravenimage says
Hugh Fitzgerald: At the University of Northern Iowa, It’s Time for Islam 101 (Part One)
…………………….
Taqiyya.
Ed says
Maybe we should teach these students the history of the world and the history of America. It seems that teaching student the truth about the horrors of Dictators, Communism and Socialism would be more appropriate. While America is not perfect, it is a hell of allot better than anything else. If you think living under Islamic rule would be ok I suggest you try to book a vacation to Saudi Arabia as a non Muslim or non Saudi Arabia Citizen. I bet they won’t teach that in 101.