My words to Jasser Zohdi

My words to Jasser Zohdi
By: Dr. Mohsen El-Guindy

Jasser Zohdi is a Muslim of Syrian origin whose parents immigrated to the United States in the early 1960s.

Jassir Zohdi is the founder of The American Islamic Forum for Democracy (AIFD). He claims that the objective of his foundation is to advocate the preservation of the founding principles of the United States constitution, liberty and freedom. Jasser is leading the fight to shake the hold that the Muslim Brotherhood and their network of American Islamist organizations and mosques have on organized Islam in America. The man is seriously concerned with political Islam as if the Muslims are a political movement that is about to devour the world. He regularly briefs members of the House and Senate congressional anti-terror committee on the threat of political Islam.

Jasser’s organization supports state wide legislative bans on Muslim personal religious practice relating to: marriage, prayer, wills, etc.

Jasser allies himself with and receives funding from anti-Muslim organizations and personalities who work tirelessly to curb the religious and civil liberties of Muslims in the USA. According to the Washington Post, Jasser received a $100,000 donation from Christian conservative financier Foster Friess, who is now bankrolling the super-PAC supporting Rick Santorum’s presidential bid.

Jasser supports a secret surveillance program targeting Muslims for monitoring at their houses of worship, businesses and universities.

It seems that Jasser Zohdi had been so Americanized as to forget his Syrian roots and maybe his Islamic tradition. Now he sinks deeply and deeply in the mire of Zionist and Christian organizations which are financially supporting him in order to implement their political agendas against his Muslims brothers.

In his biography Jasser calls himself a devout Muslim, but I see him a bad example of American Muslims in the United States.

Jasser is so blind as not to see the abyss he is falling into. His sponsors are financing his foundation and in return he is executing their plan which is directed to attack Islam by depriving Muslims from living according to the principles of their Islamic law. The man is so patriotic as to care for the preservation of the principles of the American constitution, but to Hell with the principles of the Islamic Law which he and his sponsors think that it threatens the security and peace of the American society.

Is Jasser’s attitude towards his Muslim brothers sincere patriotism or glaring hypocrisy?

Muslims living in foreign countries respect their own values and in the mean time submit to the law of the host country. Muslims in America live willingly under the American constitution, but at the same time we must not neglect the fact that some important aspects of a Muslim life should be dealt with according to the Islamic Law, such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, women and men rights in Islam, custody, guardianship, Halal food, commercial transactions devoid of usury and so forth. As for capital punishment, Muslims submit completely to the articles of the American constitution concerned. They don’t use the Islamic capital punishment in the host country at all.

Muslims in the United States and Europe have the right to live in piety according to their own law. In the west Muslims are surrounded by all sorts of temptation and dissipation. To mention just a few: sex outside marriage, fornication, gambling, pornography, nakedness, severed family ties, narcotics, trafficking, wine, pork, using usury in transactions, crime, rape…etc. If Muslim youth are subjected to such temptations and social ills they might be driven to a total ruin that has no end.

So why all this senseless uproar we see from Jasser Zohdi and the hate mongers using him? Although he claims that he is a devout Muslim, evidences show that he doesn’t care a bit about his Islamic religion and the well-being of his Muslim brothers, but rather to satisfy his sponsors in order to get high positions, and enjoy social distinction on the expense of his religion.

All Jews in the United States are allowed to abide by their Jewish beliefs and law. If you happen to drive by in New York City in Brooklyn in the Williamsburg, Boro Park or Crown Heights area, you can easily notice Jewish groups living together in neighborhoods where they could continue with their Orthodox Jewish Traditions, Customs and Culture. Most of them are wearing long black garbs, black hats and long beards. Men have curls by their side. The women will be dressed according to their Jewish Tradition. A custom called Tzniyus (modest). No part of their body will be exposed except from their palm and face. They will only wear skirts or dresses, for pants are forbidden. Married women will either wear a wig or Tichel (head-scarf) to cover their hair.

On the other hand, we see veiled Muslim women are being attacked in Europe and the United States, the Sharia law is attacked, Muslims are considered as terrorists… etc.

The Jews enjoy eating their Kosher food, while a big fuss is made over Muslims’ Halal food!
Why then this detestable double standard?

The Islamic Law (Sharia) has been operating in UK in parallel to the British legal system, since 1982. Sheikhs issue religious rulings on matters of Muslim personal or civil law such as divorce, marriage, inheritance and settlement of dowry payments.

By prohibiting Muslims from applying certain rules of their law is exactly as taking Allah as a rival. Are Jasser and all those standing behind him match to Allah? Allah defends his religion and fights with the believers.

The Koran says:

Lo! Allah defendeth those who are true. Lo! Allah loveth not each treacherous ingrate (Al-Hajj, 38).

Those working hard to prohibit Muslims from applying their peaceful law have earned evil deeds, they have chosen a dangerous path, they are but bringing the wrath of Allah over their heads.

As we read in the Koran:

For them is chastisement in the present life; and the chastisement of the world to come is yet more grievous; they have none to defend them from Allah (al-Ra’d, 34).

Jasser Zohdi and his sponsors claim that they are fighting the big threat “Political Islam”. They say that through political Islam Muslims are going to devour the world and impose their religious system on non-Muslims! Can we believe this pretence and most of the Muslim countries are already poor and weak or occupied by the west!

What we should fear of is political Christianity and not political Islam. The religious political fabric of the United States is the reason behind all the mischief the Muslim world is suffering from.

The neoconservatives since the time of Ronald Regan until Bush the son, were the architect of the Iraqi war. They were able at the time of Bush to convince him to invade Iraq and also Afghanistan. To mention few names: Paul Wolfowitz, Richard pearl, and Douglas Feith.

After September 11, the conservative Protestant Christian leaders instead of showing their disapproval at the events of the World Trade Center, they impudently attacked Islam as a religion, belied the Koran and slandered the Prophet. Their ugly words are registered and documented. To mention few names: Pat Robertson, the deceased Jerry Falwell, Jimmy Swaggart and Franklin Graham. Even two months before the events of September 11, the priest Peter Ruckman attacked the Koran and the Prophet with obscene words.

As for the false prophets who deceive their American audience by claiming that God talks to them, I mention Benny Him and Pat Robertson. They both insolently attacked the religion of Islam without reason.

Then I move to the Christian Right. The religious Right has had a direct and damaging influence on U.S. foreign policy. The Christian Right and Zionists worked together to make a political and religious alliance called ‘Judeo-Christian coalition’ or sometimes called ‘Christian Zionists’. Because of the strength of their numbers, and their passionate commitment to Israel, the Christian Zionists have become an extraordinary powerful force on Israel’s behalf in many ways even more powerful than AIPAC.

Many Christian Zionists feel that Palestinians should simply be brushed aside by destiny, and be transferred to Jordan or some other Arab country. Due to a distorted reading of the Bible, the Christian Right believes that in order for the second coming of Jesus to happen all the Palestinians must be kicked out of Palestine and leave it to the Jews. All the Palestinians must be expelled to the neighboring countries or adjacent Sahara. In order to hasten the second coming of Christ, they collect from their followers (80 million Americans) 200 million dollars every year. The money is sent to Israel to build settlements for the Jews on the Palestinian land. The Israelis demolish the houses of the Palestinians with bulldozers in order to build their settlements, and if the Palestinians object, they are killed or put in prison because they are terrorists! And of course the biased American media pictures the Palestinian corpses as the dead bodies of the terrorists who deserved to die!

In 2002, George Bush initially urged Ariel Sharon to withdraw from key West Bank towns that Israeli troops had occupied when the second Palestinian uprising began. But within 48 hours, Bush suddenly reversed himself and gave a green light to the occupation. What had happened was that Christian Zionists who brought Bush to power had flooded the White House with a hundred thousand e-mails and phone calls.

A similar reversal happened when Bush’s press spokesman expressed concern over Israel’s assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yasîn (blind and crippled – sitting on a wheel chair) the spiritual leader of Hamas. His statement provoked another firestorm of Evangelical protest and another volte-face – this time an endorsement of Israel’s policy of selective assassination – a policy that violates the Geneva Conventions and which the U.S. was alone in supporting in the UN Security council.

In Congress, more than a hundred members of the Religious Right are active Christian Zionists. They oppose final status peace negotiations with the Palestinians, and dismissed the Road Map process.

Under the influence of the Israelis and the Christian Right Bush has acquiesced in the building of the Israel security wall that divides the West Bank, and he has given the green light for the steady expansion of Jewish settlements there that make a peace agreement less likely every day.

Many in the Muslim world wondered about the extent to which the Bush administration was influenced by their hard-line Zionist Christian roots supporters. The tendency of some Christian fundamentalist missionaries to celebrate the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan as an act of God, and rush to convert Muslims exacerbated the belief that American foreign policy was fulfilling a Christian fundamental agenda.

Moving to the Tea Party we see Judson Philips its founder says: ‘A majority of Tea Party members are not fans of Islam.’ Philip sent out an e-mail asking voters of Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District to vote for Republican candidate Lynn Torgesson against Republican Keith Ellison because he is a Muslim.

There are also Republican Senators in the Congress attacking Muslims and Islam. The Republican Senator Allen West considers Islam not a religion but a “theocratic ideology’ that is a threat to America.

Republican presidential and Tea Party candidate, Newt Gingrich, in order to beg for the Jewish votes announced that the Palestinians are an invented people. He also called them terrorists.

In all these ceaseless battles against Islam Jasser Zohdi hadn’t participated in any of them. He just sided with the groups and sects attacking the religion of Islam and its Prophet. He even made several appearances on Fox News where he frequently bashed the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and any other group or individual whom “the network” has identified as suspect.

The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) is the rock which defends Muslims and their rights in America. Since its establishment in 1994 has worked to promote a positive image of Islam and Muslims in America. Through media relations, government relations, education and advocacy, CAIR puts forth an Islamic perspective to ensure the Muslim voice is represented.

We have seen the battles of CAIR with the above mentioned groups and factions in order to mediate and advocate on behalf of Muslims and others who have experienced religious discrimination, defamation or hate crimes. We have seen how CAIR worked in order to protect and defend the constitutional rights of American Muslims, thereby supporting the rights of all Americans.

Where were you jasser Zohdi in all these battles? You were running after you own career, your own interest, your own glory. You don’t care about Muslims’ interest or well-being, your goal is to please the hate mongers and bigots who happened to be also your sponsors. You don’t mind if your sponsors be Christian Conservatives, Christian Zionists, Right Wing, or Senators and governors belonging to such groups and sects – groups known by their enmity to Islam.

A devout Muslim is not the one who stabs Muslims in the back by claiming that he has inside knowledge of radical Islam which allows him to validate and authenticate manufactured myths about Muslims and Islam.

A devout Muslim is not the one who falsely labels mainstream Muslim American organizations as “subversive, disloyal proponents of a radical-Islam takeover.”

A devout Muslim is not the one who supports the Islamophobic/Fox News attacks on the Ground Zero Mosque.

A devout Muslim is not the one who validates GOP Rep. King’s hearing on American Muslim “radicalization.” And now you are back to play the fear of radical Islam card in smearing the Muslim American Society on Fox’s morning show for “coffee, smiles, fear, and terror.”

As it shows, you are interested in the material life and not the Hereafter. You forget that the life of this world is nothing but play and amusement, and far better is the house of the hereafter for those who are god-fearing. You have been swayed by ignorance and Satan made your sinful acts seem alluring to you. By attacking Islam under any pretext you destroy not bu yourself, yet you perceive it not.

Now Allah opens for you the gates of all good things, until in the midst of your enjoyment, He takes you in punishment, and here, in the present life, you will be plunged into destruction with deep regrets and sorrows. And on the Day of Resurrection before the Seat of your Lord you will bear your burdens on your back. Your sponsors and hate monger supporters will avail you nothing. They will be standing beside you in humility to receive their punishment as well.

Allah says in the Koran:

That they may bear their loads complete on the Day of Resurrection, and some of the loads of those that they lead astray without any knowledge. O evil the load they bear (Al-Nahl, 25).

What are you trying to do Jasser, fighting your Creator? It is His will that His religion prevails, and why not, Allah is always the Victor. Haven’t you read the following verse?

Allah has written, “I shall assuredly be the victor, I and MY Messengers.” Surely Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty (Al-Mujadilah, 21).

Are you fighting radical Islam? What is wrong with commendable radicalIslam? Do you understand the meaning of the word? I doubt very much! The word radical means: the most basic and important parts of something. Consequently, Radicalism means: belief in radical ideas and principles. In other words, radical Islam means: Living according to the principle of the Koran and the authentic teachings of the Prophet. And this what most Muslims do. By sincerely following the principles of their religion, they spread piety and decency in any society they live in. They cause no harm to their non-Muslim neighbors or the constitution of the host country.

Are you fighting fundamental Islam? What is wrong with commendable fundamentalism? Do you understand the meaning of the word in the first place? I again doubt very much. The word fundamentalism means: the practice of following very strictly the basic rules and teachings of any religion. What is wrong with that? Most of the pious Muslims strongly adhere to the principles of their religion without harming the society they live in. Does this offend you or hurt your feelings?
Or do you prefer more radical and fundamental Christianity which already penetrates your society like cancer and distorts it in every way!

Muslim Americans and Muslims in general disown you for such glaring hypocrisy. It is hypocritical of you to talk by the name of Islam when you don’t understand what Islam truly is! By pretending to have moral standards or opinions that you do not actually have, you have in fact chosen hypocrisy as a way of life.

In this connection I remind you of the Koranic verse which states the abode of hypocrites in the Hereafter. Allah will place them in the lower rank of Hell:

Surely the hypocrites will be in the lowest reach of the Fire; thou wilt not find for them any helper (Al-Nisa’, 145).

However, there is still hope for you if you repent, correct and amend:

Save such as repent (from hypocrisy), and make amends, and hold fast to Allah, and make their religion sincerely Allah’s; those are with believers, and Allah will certainly give the believers a mighty wage (Al-Nisa’ 146).

Whether you or those using you like it or not, Islam is going to prevail because it is the only religion that Allah will accept from His servants on the Day of Resurrection. It will spread in pagan societies like fire when it spreads in hey. It is the will of Allah that His only religion – Islam – the last Testament to the world, reaches all people entire.

And this is actually happening.To give just an example, in England the Sharia is now applied in several aspects of Muslims’ life. Regarding financial matters based on Sharia, more than 265 Islamic banks and other financial institutions are now operating in some 40 countries, with total assets that top $262 billion. Recently, Islamic banking has broadened its appeal well beyond the confines of faithful Muslims. Indeed, nearly one-quarter of all Islamic banking business is being transacted by non-Muslims.

Because Islam is a true religion, people from every walk of life embrace it. Islam is the fasted growing religion in Europe and America. Now we have in America 7 million Muslims, a number that surpassed that of the Jews. The total number of Muslims in the world is dramatically increasing to reach one billion and five hundred million Muslims.

I wonder what the groups of hate mongers and bigots I mentioned above are going to do about this huge increase in Muslims numbers but to stand dumbfounded! The more Islam is attacked the more it flourishes and propagates. Was it not that Islam started strange and weak? One weak man with a divine Message confronted alone thousands of his enemies! They persecuted him and tortured him. But Allah was there always with him. He supported him, and made people gather around him. In the end Allah defended His religion and made His Prophet victorious over his enemies. So Allah makes clear the signs to His servants; haply they will reflect.