More Questions about Islam from CNN

How do many Muslims feel right now?

According to the Pew Research Center (April 2013) 86% of Muslims in Malaysia, 77% in Thailand, 99% in Afghanistan, 84% in Pakistan, 82% in Bangladesh, and 91% in Iraq support sharia law as the official law of the country just to give examples.

Why is Mohammed so important to Muslims?

He is their prophet. According to alim.org: Muhammad was chosen by God to deliver His Message of Peace, namely Islam. The revelation that he received is called the Qur'an, while the message is called Islam. Muhammad is the very last Prophet of God to mankind. He is the final Messenger of God. His message was and is still to the Christians, the Jews and the rest of mankind. He was sent to those religious people to inform them about the true mission of Jesus, Moses, Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham.

Does Islam need a Reformation?

Yes, I believe it does. The Jewish and Christian faith had reformations. Why not Islam? There was a Protestant Reformation where Martin Luther nailed his 95 Thesis on a church. If a moderate or traditional Muslim nailed his “95 thesis” on a mosque he might want to go into hiding afterwards especially if he signed the thesis. There might be a fatwa on him. Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser, a moderate Muslim, wants to reform Islam. In his book, A Battle for the Soul of Islam (2012) suggested these reforms:

1. An Islamic narrative that does not constrain universal principles.
2. Muslim leaders who support the separation of mosque and state, even as they take strands on social or political issues.
3. The affirmation of an egalitarian approach to faith beyond the constraints of simple tolerance. Tolerance implies superiority, while pluralism implies equality.
4. Recognition that if government enacts the literal laws of God rather than natural or human law, then government becomes God and abrogates religion and the personal nature of the relationship of God.
5. Creation of movements and organizations that are specifically opposed to such radical or terrorism-supporting groups as Al Qaeda, Hamas, etc. by name, rather than simply being against undefined, generic  notions of terrorism.

Following these suggestions (there are ten in all) would be good start to reform Islam. But as long as the Islamists don’t respect women there probably will never be a reformation. The Jewish and Christianity religions are maternalistic by nature—that’s how they were to reform themselves.

Why have there been so many recent attacks by extremist Muslims?

It could be to bring back the Mahdi. When he comes back, according to Islamic theology, those will we be the last days. They want another world war. Add to the fact the Islamists feel emboldened by America having a weak president.

How can the extremists be stopped?

A much harder question to answer. We must destroy their bases and kill them much as possible. But this takes leadership. It would help if the NATO would go after the extremists too. I thought France invoke the “attack one, attack all” clause but they didn’t. Maybe because they are waiting for an adult to be leader of the America. Don’t know. It would also help if the moderate leaders in the Muslim community spoke out against the extremists but again that is wishful thinking.