Is there any merit to this?
Every believing Muslim says Allahu Akbar every day during prayers. We cannot criminalize "God is great." Prosecute the criminal not a faith.
— Linda Sarsour (@lsarsour) October 31, 2017
I don’t know of any plans to “criminalize” saying “Allahu akbar,” or to prosecute the religion that says it. On the other hand it does get pointed out when guys who drive trucks onto bridges or bicycle paths or shoot up editorial offices shout the phrase as they do so. Should journalists suppress that fact?
No. It’s evidence of motive, for one thing. The perpetrators themselves want us to know that that’s their motive; that’s why they shout it. We’re supposed to be converted, or frightened, or deeply impressed.
But for another thing it’s part of the picture. No doubt Linda Sarsour is worried that it’s not flattering to Islam, and of course she’s right, it’s not – but that’s not the fault of reporters who report the phrase or the rest of us who discuss it.
It’s fucked up. Thinking a shout that “God is great” equals a reason to murder a lot of random people is very fucked up. Human beings need to think about that fact. We need to understand that kind of god so that we can avoid it, and urge other people to avoid it. Sarsour doesn’t like that, because she likes her religion, but that’s not a good reason to expect the rest of us to shield it.
Comments
9 responses to “People say all sorts of things”
What a waste. And I can’t help feeling for all that crazy mixed-up kid’s victims.
After those US Navy Seals shot bin Laden, the Muslim world was appeased and satisfied in part when his body was consigned to the deep sea with Islamic ritual pronounced over his body by an imam. I believed at the time, and still do, that a far better routine would be to put him in a coffin and fill the rest of it up with pig shit, thereby disqualifying him (according to my understanding of Islam) to be locked forever out of Paradise and forever out of reach of those 72 virgins he probably fervently craved as the great prize of martyrdom: almost certainly in his view sealed with the cry of ‘God is Great!’ on his lips as he bought his misguided end. That just might deter the randy young Muslim would-be copycats.
Islam is always, one way or another, involved in every modern terrorist act (cue whataboutery) and qualifies thereby as the world’s most godawful religion.
Can’t help but wonder sometimes whether Linda Sarsour is in the employ of the Trump 2020 campaign
@1
…the world’s most godawful religion
Yes, well put.
Jib @#2:
Probably not. Otherwise it would have to be amended to “Trump is great!”
“Human beings need to think about that fact”. It’s important to not avoid this issue. Just like when white supremicists shout for Trump. Human beings need to think about that fact.
Islamic prayer rituals, including vocalisations, are heavily constrained.
Simply yelling “Allahu akbar” is not prayer.
It might even be blasphemy.
@1:
Now imagine that the Enlightenment had never happened…
@37: Or that the allies had lost WW2.
@#7: Or that the allies had lost WW2. ;-)