Gramfan: Khalim, you have done several interviews already stating how you feel about Islam in a political and theological context, for example:
"Islam in its present form either perceived or real, is incompatible with the norms of modern society. There are many outdated traditions and practices that are inhumane or plain barbaric. Unfortunately, Islamic fundamentalists use those traditions to wage war with the non-Islamic world. We believe that, if we purify Islam form its medieval practices and remove the theological basis of modern terrorism, the clash of civilizations will be averted and Islam could become a part of the free and democratic world."
Source: All-American Blogger. And more here: Libertarian Republican.
On these sites you also clearly define the differences between Muslims and what you call "Islamists".
I would like to ask you a few questions of a slightly different nature, but some that still touch on what you have already told us.
Q: How would you describe your life so far: - similar to any American, or quite different, and if so, how?
Both. My personal life is similar to any American, probably an average statistical model, white picket fence, 2.2 kids, that sort of thing. The difference is that, unlike most Americans, I take the war on terror very seriously. I have first-hand knowledge of what's going on in American Muslim community, of what's occurring just under the surface, in mosques and community centers, something that is not seen by the "infidel." And what goes on there scares the hell out of me.
Q: Did you have a traditional Muslim upbringing, or would you say it was more "assimilated" or liberal?
If by traditional you mean mandatory attendance of a madrassa and memorizing the Koran, then I'd say it was liberal. My parents never been to Mecca and daily prayers were encouraged but not mandatory.
Q: What do you consider to be the best thing you have learned from Islam?
Inner-peace. That God is watching over me and guides me to do the right thing.
Q: When did you become politically aware, and what brought that on?
September 11, 2001. And if I have to elaborate about what brought that on, it was the image of a plane crashing into the World Trade Center.
Q: What was the "tipping point" that lead you to establish the MASH blog and did you have any friends who were like-minded?
The tipping point was that me and my like-minded friends got fed up with the feeling of helplessness. We couldn't find a forum to speak our minds. Some of us tried to bring up our feelings in our mosques, but our imams would have none of that. In their views both Islam and Ummah (Muslim society) are above reproach and no matter what other Muslims do, even if they commit despicable crimes, we have to present united front against the infidel, because infidel is the real enemy. But I live in America. Most of my friends are non-Muslims. They're not my enemies. Just because we worship in different houses of God, or in a different manner, it doesn't make them my enemies; different doesn't mean bad. I believe that we are all God's creations. I also believe that God wants us to live in peace regardless of which way we choose to worship him. The idea that we need to kill infidels because they choose to worship God in a different manner or refuse to acknowledge God's existence is preposterous. If someone's feelings are hurt because he is ignored or worshiped improperly that wouldn't be The Almighty God, that would be a narcissist with self-esteem issues. If this is how Islamists see their God, I want nothing to do with that. My God is loving and merciful. My God is the true God of Islam, not the caricature that Islamists are trying to pass as God.
Q: How does your family feel about what you are doing, given the enormity of the task, and the dangers involved?
As long as my face cannot be tied to what I do, my family is OK with it.
Q: How would you rate your achievements with the site to date?
If we're speaking in terms of Internet ratings, it's pretty good. The site has been operational for just under a year and our ratings are comparable the www.coke.com. We have thousands of people who took our polls (http://www.reformislam.org/polls/). Our campaign to stop honorcide (http://www.reformislam.org/honorcide/) is gaining steam. We get requests for media interviews (unfortunately we have to decline TV and radio interviews for security reasons - http://muslimsagainstsharia.blogspot.com/2008/08/shariah-approved-banking-allyson-rowen.html). Our goals are to educate Muslims about dangers presented by Islamic religious texts and why Islam must be reformed; to educate non-Muslims about the differences between moderate Muslims and Islamists (a.k.a. Islamic Religious Fanatics, Radical Muslims, Muslim Fundamentalists, Islamic Extremists or Islamofascists); to educate both Muslims and non-Muslims alike that Moderate Muslims are also targets of Islamic Terror. On the one hand, it's a long, painful process and we are changing one mind at a time. On the other hand, we are changing minds.
Q: Does it bother you that many non-Muslims who have read a lot about Islam readily support apostates – e.g. Walid Shoebat, yet seem to tend to not take you as seriously, and are sometimes rather hostile to you?
Not really. Non-Muslims who are hostile to us are usually Islamophobic bigots, so we don't want their support to begin with. But most people are not like that. And if they are open-minded enough to understand that different doesn't mean bad or inferior, we can always explain to them the differences between Islam and Islamism. Unfortunately, most Muslims that you see on TV represent radical Islamic establishment and they create the impression that al Muslims are the same and Islam and Islamism are the same thing. To claim that is just as ridiculous as to claim that Christianity and Christian Identity Movement are the same thing. In fact, one is a religion, the other is a repulsive political ideology based on supremacy.
Q: What do you feel is the most obvious thing you have in common with the "average" American? For example: enjoying the free lifestyle and what this entails? Sports? Entertainment?
Probably all of the above. In fact, if a dictionary had a definition of a typical American family, it would define my family pretty well.
Q: What is your favourite pastime?
Traveling across America.
Q: What are your favorite places?
Niagara Falls. #1 hands down. Daytona Beach. You can drive on the beach. Coastal Maine.
Q: Who is the person you would most like to meet – from the present or the past?
Does God count as a person? I have so many questions for him.
Q: Who is the second person you would most like to meet?
The person who compiled the first copy of the Koran
Q: Finally, what would you most like to see happen in your lifetime?
Eradication of Islamism and other supremacist ideologies.
GF: Thank you so much for taking the time to give us a little insight into yourself and your work.
"Islam in its present form either perceived or real, is incompatible with the norms of modern society. There are many outdated traditions and practices that are inhumane or plain barbaric. Unfortunately, Islamic fundamentalists use those traditions to wage war with the non-Islamic world. We believe that, if we purify Islam form its medieval practices and remove the theological basis of modern terrorism, the clash of civilizations will be averted and Islam could become a part of the free and democratic world."
Source: All-American Blogger. And more here: Libertarian Republican.
On these sites you also clearly define the differences between Muslims and what you call "Islamists".
I would like to ask you a few questions of a slightly different nature, but some that still touch on what you have already told us.
Q: How would you describe your life so far: - similar to any American, or quite different, and if so, how?
Both. My personal life is similar to any American, probably an average statistical model, white picket fence, 2.2 kids, that sort of thing. The difference is that, unlike most Americans, I take the war on terror very seriously. I have first-hand knowledge of what's going on in American Muslim community, of what's occurring just under the surface, in mosques and community centers, something that is not seen by the "infidel." And what goes on there scares the hell out of me.
Q: Did you have a traditional Muslim upbringing, or would you say it was more "assimilated" or liberal?
If by traditional you mean mandatory attendance of a madrassa and memorizing the Koran, then I'd say it was liberal. My parents never been to Mecca and daily prayers were encouraged but not mandatory.
Q: What do you consider to be the best thing you have learned from Islam?
Inner-peace. That God is watching over me and guides me to do the right thing.
Q: When did you become politically aware, and what brought that on?
September 11, 2001. And if I have to elaborate about what brought that on, it was the image of a plane crashing into the World Trade Center.
Q: What was the "tipping point" that lead you to establish the MASH blog and did you have any friends who were like-minded?
The tipping point was that me and my like-minded friends got fed up with the feeling of helplessness. We couldn't find a forum to speak our minds. Some of us tried to bring up our feelings in our mosques, but our imams would have none of that. In their views both Islam and Ummah (Muslim society) are above reproach and no matter what other Muslims do, even if they commit despicable crimes, we have to present united front against the infidel, because infidel is the real enemy. But I live in America. Most of my friends are non-Muslims. They're not my enemies. Just because we worship in different houses of God, or in a different manner, it doesn't make them my enemies; different doesn't mean bad. I believe that we are all God's creations. I also believe that God wants us to live in peace regardless of which way we choose to worship him. The idea that we need to kill infidels because they choose to worship God in a different manner or refuse to acknowledge God's existence is preposterous. If someone's feelings are hurt because he is ignored or worshiped improperly that wouldn't be The Almighty God, that would be a narcissist with self-esteem issues. If this is how Islamists see their God, I want nothing to do with that. My God is loving and merciful. My God is the true God of Islam, not the caricature that Islamists are trying to pass as God.
Q: How does your family feel about what you are doing, given the enormity of the task, and the dangers involved?
As long as my face cannot be tied to what I do, my family is OK with it.
Q: How would you rate your achievements with the site to date?
If we're speaking in terms of Internet ratings, it's pretty good. The site has been operational for just under a year and our ratings are comparable the www.coke.com. We have thousands of people who took our polls (http://www.reformislam.org/polls/). Our campaign to stop honorcide (http://www.reformislam.org/honorcide/) is gaining steam. We get requests for media interviews (unfortunately we have to decline TV and radio interviews for security reasons - http://muslimsagainstsharia.blogspot.com/2008/08/shariah-approved-banking-allyson-rowen.html). Our goals are to educate Muslims about dangers presented by Islamic religious texts and why Islam must be reformed; to educate non-Muslims about the differences between moderate Muslims and Islamists (a.k.a. Islamic Religious Fanatics, Radical Muslims, Muslim Fundamentalists, Islamic Extremists or Islamofascists); to educate both Muslims and non-Muslims alike that Moderate Muslims are also targets of Islamic Terror. On the one hand, it's a long, painful process and we are changing one mind at a time. On the other hand, we are changing minds.
Q: Does it bother you that many non-Muslims who have read a lot about Islam readily support apostates – e.g. Walid Shoebat, yet seem to tend to not take you as seriously, and are sometimes rather hostile to you?
Not really. Non-Muslims who are hostile to us are usually Islamophobic bigots, so we don't want their support to begin with. But most people are not like that. And if they are open-minded enough to understand that different doesn't mean bad or inferior, we can always explain to them the differences between Islam and Islamism. Unfortunately, most Muslims that you see on TV represent radical Islamic establishment and they create the impression that al Muslims are the same and Islam and Islamism are the same thing. To claim that is just as ridiculous as to claim that Christianity and Christian Identity Movement are the same thing. In fact, one is a religion, the other is a repulsive political ideology based on supremacy.
Q: What do you feel is the most obvious thing you have in common with the "average" American? For example: enjoying the free lifestyle and what this entails? Sports? Entertainment?
Probably all of the above. In fact, if a dictionary had a definition of a typical American family, it would define my family pretty well.
Q: What is your favourite pastime?
Traveling across America.
Q: What are your favorite places?
Niagara Falls. #1 hands down. Daytona Beach. You can drive on the beach. Coastal Maine.
Q: Who is the person you would most like to meet – from the present or the past?
Does God count as a person? I have so many questions for him.
Q: Who is the second person you would most like to meet?
The person who compiled the first copy of the Koran
Q: Finally, what would you most like to see happen in your lifetime?
Eradication of Islamism and other supremacist ideologies.
GF: Thank you so much for taking the time to give us a little insight into yourself and your work.
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