Muslim Scholar: Don’t Build Mosque at Ground Zero
- Posted on September 11, 2010 at 1:32pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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A protester's sign at Ground Zero on September 11, 2010 (Photo: AP)
Appearing on CBS’s “The Early Show on Saturday Morning,” Muslim scholar Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, who’s also the president of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy and a former U.S. Navy Officer, called on fellow Muslims to drop their bid to build a mosque just blocks from Ground Zero.
“It’s time for Muslims to look less about promoting ourselves, [have] less of a victimology and [be] more about feeling the pain of the families of 9/11 and understanding what we have to do to repair the house of Islam,” Jasser said this morning.
In his view, the plan to build the controversial mosque is about political gain more than anything else. Writing in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal, he claims that “Imam Rauf and his supporters are clearly more interested in making a political statement in relation to Islam than in the mosque’s potential for causing community division and pain to those who lost loved ones on 9/11.”
He reiterated the difference between religious and political Islam this morning: “I think we’re getting a crash course on Islam,” Jasser said, “and we Muslims have to do more work to separate spiritual Islam of the faith we love from political Islam that creates the [accused Fort Hood gunman] Nidal Hasans … and has a continuum from moderate to radical.”
Taking a sharply critical tone over the last two days, Jasser has some strong words, and difficult questions, for those leading the charge behind the mosque.
“Where is your sense of fairness and common decency?” Jasser asked in his op-ed. In his eyes, those Muslims behind the mosque have forgotten who they are: “In relation to Ground Zero, I am an American first, a Muslim second, just as I would be at Concord, Gettysburg, Normandy Beach, Pearl Harbor or any other battlefield where my fellow countrymen lost their lives.”
And according to Jasser, Rauf’s continued commitment to the mosque and his politicization of the issue raises questions about his intentions: “Imam Rauf may not appear to the untrained eye to be an Islamist, but by making Ground Zero an Islamic rather than an American issue, and by failing to firmly condemn terrorist groups like Hamas, he shows his true allegiance.”
For Jasser, those questions are exacerbated by Rauf’s deceleration, in his book What’s Right With Islam, that the Muslim Brotherhood’s radical longtime spiritual leader Imam Yusuf Qaradawi is a “moderate.”
In light of the 9/11 anniversary, Jasser also questions whether the mosque will aid or hamper counterterrorism efforts:
Imam, tell me if you can look into the eyes of children who lost a parent on 9/11 and convince them that this immodest Islamic center benefits them. How will it in any way aid counterterrorism efforts or keep one American any safer? You willfully ignore what American Muslims most need — an open call for reformation that unravels the bigoted and shoddy framework of political Islam and separates mosque and state.
He also said this morning that he “absolutely” doesn’t think America has become Islama-phobic since 9/11, and he said Florida Pastor Terry Jones’s one-time plan to burn Korans shows “complete disrespect.”
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Comments (70)
parmajohn
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 3:28pmCommon Sense…It still exists Thank-you Sir and God Bless
Report Post »chinchokma
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 3:22pmGreat Op-ed Doc. Thank You
Report Post »GunDoctor
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 3:20pmI wish there were more like him willing to stand up for what’s right instead of political pandering.
Report Post »rance
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 3:20pmTango is right, while I agree with Dr. Jasser on his mosque views, either he doesn’t know his own religion very well or he is deceiving everyone. I would advise everyone to research Islam for yourself and read a true Arabic translation, it is very violent in nature and allows muslims to participate in peaceful forms of Jihad that contribute to and eventually lead to violent Jihad toward their perceived infidels. Remember, 80% of muslims do not speak or read Arabic fluently, which is what they must study the Koran in, this can lead to a lot of misunderstood teaching and learning.
Report Post »rance
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 6:00pmI would also like to add that when Islam says they are peaceful religion, according to the the true Arabic Koran and Hadith translations, that can only take place once Islam is considered the one true religion in all of the earth. If you would like to enlighten and educate yourself on Islam, read Robert Spencer’s “Islam Unveiled” and/or watch the DVD “Islam: What the West needs to know.”
Report Post »MCGIRV
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 7:30pmPerhaps Dr. Jasser as a modern Muslim rejects the violent versus of the Koran?
Report Post »Hadassah
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 8:38pmAnother fine option is Spencer’s book, “Religion of Peace?” Why Christianity Is and Islam Isn’t.
Report Post »jrichardson
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 3:04pmGod Bless Dr. Jasser
Report Post »Mirimichi
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 3:03pmNow, I fear for his life.
Report Post »Debrabate
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 4:23pmLet’s all pray that God (by what ever name you choose) keeps him safe from harm.
Report Post »smartypoop
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 8:01pmAmen
Report Post »V-Forge
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 3:01pmGood for this guy. he is why we don’t mind a mosque being built anywhere else. If he had been the one building the thing near ground zero I really would not have had a problem. We all know what the motives of the builder are. He has no money to build the thing and never did. The entire thing was meant to stir things up so we didn’t want it built. This man’s voice of reason is all we really wanted from the other side of the argument. We don’t hate islam we dislike a mad man that calls himself islamic.
Report Post »Wembeley
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 5:26pmI just want to reply to the part of your comment where you say this imam hasn’t the money to build. According to Donald Trump an offer, made by Mr. Trump himself, to pay the price paid for the property plus expenses plus a 25% return was turned down. To me that says that a) money is not an issue for this imam and b) he is determined to build at THIS location no matter.
Report Post »GulfPeg
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 2:57pmDr. Jasser: only you and two others have spoken out about not building close to ground zero in one entire week. If only there were more of you. Imam Rauf is the kind of Muslims we hate.
Report Post »Thank you for speaking out!
Tango
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 2:54pmI would like to believe that Dr. Jasser represents the “silent majority” of Islam because there are too few examples of Islamic moderation. His goal of achieving a separation of Muslim church and state is laudable and I commend him and wish him full success. But in seeing how Sharia law operates around the world, even to the problems it creates in England and France, shows that it is as much a formula for totalitarian religious rule as it is a guide for personal salvation. I hope I’m proven wrong but I fear the good Doctor is a very small voice.
Report Post »Hadassah
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 8:08pmI would have to agree with you. Islam is a reckoning and one we will all come face to face with again. Not only on a global scale but in our personal lives as well. I am so thankful there are moderates like Dr. Jassar who are brave enough to speak their convictions.
Report Post »The Bees
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 2:53pmWell it sure took you guys long enough.
How about doing a little preventative work with your public relations people to avoid the perception that there are no moderate Muslims!
Report Post »TeaPartyTim
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 2:51pmI respect his view, but does it take a man with “Dr.” next to his name to make a point? What about the millions of Americans with and without “Dr.” next to their name…. Why should his voice be heard louder? Sad..
Report Post »drivedog
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 2:18pmEveryone please chk this article from the NY Post on the actual reasoning for the “mosque”
Report Post »http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/islam_center_eerie_echo_of_ancient_iRTMW6TprkULnaA1Nqi9xM
veritas51322
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 2:14pmThank you.
Report Post »K.G.
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 2:14pmIslam needs to reform itself into a modern-day, civilized religion. The Jews “utterly destroyed.” Christians did the same in many ways–thousands or hundreds of years ago. It’s time for Muslims to step up and come into the 21 century.
I applaud the sanity, humanity, godliness and courage of Dr. Jasser the same way I applaud the courage and common sense of Americans of color who support the Tea Parties and similar events.
As a few courageous pioneers step and speak out, perhaps others will join them.
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 9:24pmWhy ever would they want to change? It’s such a religion of peace, since the imans and the tribal leaders control everything.
Don’t like what your daughter is wearing? Kill her and claim she dishonored her family. Your wife says or does something you don’t like? Claim she committed adultery and have her stoned to death. Someone has their hair cut in the manner you feel is “Western”? Okay, let’s toss him in jail and let him rot. Someone tell you he saw a female relative speak to a male she isn’t related to? Claim dishonor on the family and kill her.
Modern life has nothing to offer Muslims.
Report Post »WISEPENNY
Posted on September 12, 2010 at 12:29amAmericans of WHAT color, K.G.? Peabrain!
Report Post »Joseph
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 2:12pmBless him for sticking his neck out, “Literally” Lets pray for his safty and also that his heroic act will spur more Muslim in speaking the truth.
Report Post »FREEDOMFOX
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 2:05pmPlease honor the victims familys, and don’t hurt them anymore, by insulting them by building a mosque at ground zero!
Report Post »capnjack
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 2:05pmTHE OLD DAYS…In the old days, the Imam for the ground zero mosque would have gotten a visit by the boys from the neighborhood, either Gino or Paulie and that would have ended any question of putting a mosque where almost 70% of the American people do not want it. Maybe we need to have a couple of the boys pay him a visit…and soon.
Report Post »wingedwolf
Posted on September 12, 2010 at 11:22amOK CAPNJACK. Hooray for the old days, but we are up against degenerates who don’t value life, much like those who authored the medical takeover dictatorship law that was passed in April. If Dino and Guido “persuaded” rauf, another would come and another and another. The thought of becoming a martyr has these dirt dwellers making party in pants. They would line up to be “persuaded.“ Perhaps we would line up to be ”persuaded” as well if we had been brainwashed into believing that was the only way to either get a virgin or get the hell out of that culture. I‘m surprised we don’t find more of them hanging in closets.
Report Post »brandonhxc
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 2:03pmI’m sure I disagree with Dr. Jasser on most fundamental issues but thank God he has properly identified Islam as a political movement. I believe Islam still has religious followers but the leaders anymore are purely political. I’m glad a leading muslim has exposed the true character of Imam Rauf that most of us have known for sometime and I pray that the still blind Americans will notice this. The only way this progressive gov’t machine will be stopped is by the TRUTH.
Report Post »prodigy
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 2:00pmis Dr. Jasser the only sane Muslim out there or is it that the others are not brave enough to speak out? we always only hear from the radical ones and unfortunately that makes them all look bad.
Report Post »w4jle
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 1:59pmDr. Zuhdi Jasser, Thank you! You have explained exactly what is wrong with the ground zero Mosque. Your insight in to the political vs the religious needs to be understood by all.
Report Post »The Islamo apologists have failed to grasp this simple fact and are more interested in shouting “bigotry” than separating the two.
honestyplease
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 2:37pmwell said…
Report Post »VM
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 1:56pmInstead of Rauf the State Department should have considered sending Dr. Jasser to the Muslim countries. A medical doctor and a veteran of the US troops, Dr. Jasser is an American who should be promoted by all and we need more like him in the Muslim community to show the world how free and fair America is.
Report Post »Tango
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 3:03pmPerhaps Dr. Jasser is too “americanized” and wouldn’t play well overseas, but you’re right in recognizing his is the type of voice we need representing Islam in the U.S.
Report Post »WISEPENNY
Posted on September 12, 2010 at 12:22amYeah right! That would be like throwing a cat into a pack of Pitbulls. Diplomacy “this”! would be their response over anywhere other than good ol’ “succerpunched” USA. I commend Dr. Jasser for his intestinal fortitude and all, but his best bet now, is to give his heart to Jesus Christ, quickly!
Report Post »Alexandra1214
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 1:52pmThank YOU Dr. Jasser….. we GREATLY appreciate your words …. and let us hope that we can all live in peace and harmony!!
Report Post »texasfarmer
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 1:51pmWhen are other Muslims going to raise their collective voices and think of other first?
Report Post »tatankachief
Posted on September 12, 2010 at 8:04amI don‘t think you’ll ever hear the vast majority of the ‘Peaceful Muslims’ saying a word. The fact is that I’m sure the brave Dr. Jasser and his entire family have already been threatened with death. I pray he can stand firm and continue to shout down his extreme brethren, but in honesty I doubt he’ll be able to. Their Koran dictates to them that Christians, Jews and folks of other religious persuasions are to be killed if they don’t bow to their false god allah. The ‘Peaceful Muslims’ know this very well and won‘t risk falling under the same death sentence for betraying ’allah’.
The Doctor is a brave and man and I wish him well, but I won’t be surprised if his voice silenced.
Report Post »aesaac
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 1:47pmDr. Zuhdi Jasser represents the true voice of islamic reason, no doubt he is literally targeted for his audacity to reason. thanks for speaking out.
Report Post »Hadassah
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 7:48pmDr. Jassar was brave to speak such truth in the face of his countrymen. To say that he would first be an American and then a Muslim is the reality we should be hearing fromour President.
Report Post »drivedog
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 1:44pmBravo Dr. Jasser! You have said what millions of americans have been hoping a respected follower of Islam would say. Thank you from a Christian who still believes that tolerance and respect will win the day everytime. God bless you Dr.
Report Post »Debrabate
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 1:51pmmy thoughts exactly
Rubicon
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 2:50pmBravo Drivedog!!! Excellently worded, you have conveyed my feelings into your post exactly. Thank you for your words of wisdom
Report Post »T.JeffersonWasTheBest
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 3:08pmGreat job Dr. Jasser!
Report Post »PeterBreitholtz
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 3:49pmok…alright…
Report Post »David Foxfire
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 4:25pmDittos here. Both this Scholar and a former friend of OBL who wrote an open letter criticizing what OBL has done to Islam as a whole is something that we should have heard on 9-11, not the global Epic LULZing that we did hear that sad day. You take a look at what was shown from around the globe by the end of that day, especially by some quarters of the Islamic world, and you wonder why we turned two countries into our own private Columbine.
Report Post »A Man For All Seasons
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 5:37pmhttp://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/islam_center_eerie_echo_of_ancient_iRTMW6TprkULnaA1Nqi9xM
Report Post »inforodeo
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 5:47pmAs a Christian also, I would like to say that I would vote for Dr. Jasser if he ran for President. America needs that kind of sense – we don’t hate Islam, but there is a time and a place for everything in our society, and we must all be mindful of each other’s feelings.
smartypoop
Posted on September 11, 2010 at 7:59pmWell said
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