US Fatwa: Not Far Enough

Six weeks shy of the fourth anniversary of Sept. 11, leading American Muslims did what they should have done on Sept. 12, 2001: issued a Fatwa, or religious edict, condeming terrorism.

While it's a good thing and one we should appreciate, it is also too late, for sure. Worse, it is too little.

If the teachings of the Koran are as clear as the Fatwa says they are -- "We issue this fatwa following the guidance of our scripture, the Qur’an, and the teachings of our Prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him." -- why did it take America's Muslim leaders nearly four years to issue this Fatwa? I'll tell you why: Because the London terrorists were British natives, that's why.

Knowing that it is inevitable that an American-born Muslim will sometime soon kill Americans -- remember the Lodi Loser -- American Islamic leaders decided it was time to turn up the PR machine. CAIR, which led the charge, is more concerned about stopping the profiling of suspected terrorists than it is in stopping terror, and they know once one of them strikes us, they'll need something like this to slow the profiling tsunami that will follow.

It is too little because only 145 U.S. Muslim organizations and mosques signed on. There are over 2,000 mosques in the United States. Where do the other 1,855+ mosques stand on this Fatwa? And what will the clerics who signed it do to clerics at US mosques where hate is preached?

It is also too little for what it says. This is as strong as the statement gets:

Islam strictly condemns religious extremism and the use of violence against innocent lives. There is no justification in Islam for extremism or terrorism. Targeting civilians’ life and property through suicide bombings or any other method of attack is haram – or forbidden - and those who commit these barbaric acts are criminals, not “martyrs.”

It should have gone on to say that guilty of terrorism will not be received in heaven, and should be banned from taking Hajj to Mecca. This is not my idea, it's been batted about quite a bit lately.

Why, then, did the writers of this Fatwa not say it?

Update: The Left, of course, is angry at us, not the Muslims. Obsidian Wings quotes this letter to the NYTimes:

[T]he New York Police Department has advised subway riders to be alert for "people" in bulky clothes who sweat or fiddle nervously with bags.

Well, a lot of people wear bulky clothes. A lot of people fiddle with their bags. And for that matter, a lot of people sweat. Could the Police Department be any more general in describing the traits of an Islamic suicide bomber? Could its advice be more useless?

Truth be told, commuters need to be most aware of young men
praying to Allah and smelling like flower water.

To which he adds:

Excuse me, sir. I don't understand what you're mumbling...are you praying to Allah? And what's that cologne you're wearing?

If there's one sure way to ensure more moderates join the radicals, it's ill-concieved, fear-mongering crap like this. America's Muslims are doing their part. The least the rest of the nation can do is agree to the minor inconviences that show our fellow citizens we're all in this together.

It's just too rich, and too stupid, to believe. Does Edward, who authored this post, really think that if we don't talk about the fact that every terrorist is a Muslim, they will suddenly forget jihad and be our buddies?

Does he really think that stating the obvious is "fear-mongering crap?" Then "the sky is blue" is fear-mongering crap.

Does he really think that getting about 1/18th of American mosques to actually say out loud that terrorism is bad constitutes "doing their part" for American Muslims? I'll believe that when they start turning in the firebrands and bomb-builders, and not a moment before.