What are Islamic Values?

Recently, Afghani TV host Shaima Rezayee was found shot to death in her home after complaints by conservative Muslims, both leaders and laity, due to her adoption of Western-style dress (no headscarves) and position on a modern, popular culture show called "Hop". Apparently, she was murdered by Muslims who disagreed with her show. In effect, Islamic scholars condemned her show, saying that it was "contrary to Islamic values."

But within the last month as well, before (and not connected with Rezayee's death), the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) began broadcasting a commercial saying the Islam supports Western values. In fact, it has a white man, a hispanic woman, and a black man, all who profess to be Muslims, suggest that Islam supports Western culture and society.

This raises an interesting question- What are Islamic Values? I don't mean the individual values adhered to by a particular person, but rather I speak of the global picture. If I were to pick up a copy of the Koran and the Muslim Hadeeth (a series of "non-inspired" (from Allah) statements by Mohammed), what would they suggest about what Islam?

To do this, I pulled some familiar sayings from the Koran. Placing them in HISTORICAL ORDER (I will give approximate dates), I found the following:

ON FORGIVNESS:
Time: 616-621 AD
"We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them save with truth, and lo! The hour is coming. So forgive (O Mohammed), with a gravious forgiveness -Surah 15:85

Time: 628-629 AD
"O Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites! Be hearsh with them. Their ultimate abode is Hell, a hapless journey's end" - Surah 9:73


ON SAVING
Time: 617-618 AD
"Lo! Those who believe, and those who are Jews, and Sabeans, and Christians- Whosoever believeth in Allah and the Last Day and doeth right- there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve: -Surah 5:69

Time: 626-627 AD
"And whosoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will not be accepted, and he will be a loser in the Hereafter"- Surah 3:85

Time: 628-629 AD
"Verily, those who disbelieve in the religion of Islam, the Koran, and the Prophet Mohammed from among the Christians and Jews (Arabic "people of the book") and the Polytheists will abode in the Fire of Hell. They are the worst of creatures"- Surah 98:6


Well, from these basic statements alone (I don't wish to quote endlessly), one can see that the Koran is immediately contradictory unto itself. It seems as thought the values of the religion actually changed over time. However, one should wonder that the later the revelations became in Mohammed's life, the more violent and dispising of non-Muslims they became.

So, for values, we have one already: Orthodox Islam seems to be intolerant of other religions on a religious basis.

Second, consider the development of terrorism. In 1927, the Islamic Brotherhood (Arabic: Ikhwan al-Muslimun) was founded in Egypt to combat the English presence in the Middle East. Prior to this, in the early 1800's a gentleman by the name of Mohammed Ibn Wahab founded an extreme religous movement in Saudi Arabia known as Wahabbiism, which supports a literal reading of the Koran, a return to Orthodox Islam, the destruction of all non-Muslim ideas and values, and (basically) a return to the 8th century of Arabia.

The Wahabbi's control Saudi Arabia, as their leaders are Wahabbi's themselves. Saudi Arabia was rated last week as the worst nation for women's rights, and continues to face criticism for torture, murder, and expulsion of Christians and Jews (it's illegal to convert or be a religion other than Islam in Saudi Arabia if you are a citizen; travelers and seasonal labourers are exempt).

Today, the Muslim Brotherhood is still alive in numerous forms, including the group al-Qaida. A few days ago, Egyptian police arrested seven Brotherhood leaders, but there still are many in the Arabian world.

So, for a second option, we can see that a wholesale rejection and destruction of all non-Muslim values and ideas are a part of the modern values held by certain groups.

Finally, I will draw off a personal experience to explain the last reason, and that is the willing exploitation of Western Values by these same fanatical Muslims, who use them for their own benefit and then backstab those who provided the services.

Again, turn to Saudi Arabia. In that nation, women aren't allowed an education after eigth grade. Furthermore, Muslim women in Saudi Arabia are forbidden to leave the house (in unmarried) unless their entire body except the face is veiled. After marriage, the woman is forbidden to leave the home unless accompanied by another male relative, must veil herself fully (except for the eyes), and is in many cases subjected to the mercy of her husband.

Last year, I worked a job as a janitor at a rich girl's private school. In one particular room which I was assigned to clean (it was a mess, by the way) was actually the daugher of the Head of the Saudi Arabian Education Ministry (no joke)!

In her room, she was dressed fully in Western Clothing (like any American girl), had an array of shampoos and perfumes to make a skunk blush, and tons of skimpy (low-cut, hip-hugger, two-piece) outfits strewn about the floor of her room. I saw nothing Islamic or even Muslim for that matter in her room.

It was then that it hit me- this is a big lie.

We have heard about bigotry and prejudice against non-Muslims in the Koran. We have seen the development of fanaticism by the Muslim Brotherhood and the Wahabbis. But this was the smoking gun- these same people who support terrorism in the name of God and are attempting to alter Western and World history by fashioning it into an Islamic state are more than fanatics, but exploiting the good which Western Society has created for everybody, trying to take it for themselves at the expense of others.

I cannot speak for what is happening, but I pray that we have the strength and the courage to stand up and defend what is right by showing what modern values of Islam really are:
-Prejudice against non-Muslims (in contrast to Western pluralism and tolerance)
-Fanaticism against progress and a rebellions (in contrast to progress and growth)
-Exploitation of others for gain (in contrast to love and working with each other)

I don't dare speak for God, but I pray that through this writing I speak the truth about what I see happening. If I have erred, than I humbly and with deep shame take back any error which I have made. Amen.