In her now-infamous interview of Reza Aslan (July 26, Fox News) Lauren Green raised the absurd suggestion that Mr. Aslan, an accomplished Biblical scholar, was disqualified from writing about Christianity due to his Islamic faith. She has since been the butt of mockery for her arrogant bigotry, and rightly so. After all, religious adherence is not required for objective, academic study of religion. Adherence is, however, required for the religious study of religion; a pursuit which, by definition, is not objective. A reasonable argument can be made that professors in universities have more reliable knowledge of religions than the priests, rabbis and imams who are held as the experts. However, to dismiss the adherent’s knowledge as biased is absurd. Religion IS bias. It is I who know what I believe and practice as a Muslim, not some professor. Religious studies are like anthropology or zoology. It cannot be done from the classroom. You must spend time with your subjects.
However, to dismiss the adherent’s knowledge as biased is absurd. Religion IS bias.
A bizarre and ugly phenomenon has erupted and spread since Sept 11. It is a body of anti-Islamic pseudo-knowledge. Its pseudo-experts are as biased and religiously motivated as any clergy. Yet their pseudo-intellectual pursuits occur in a Muslim-free vacuum; a closed, removed environment akin to the university. Thus it is the worst of both worlds, a freaky offspring. There is no better example of it than Andrew C McCarthy’s article Thank God for McCain -- Allahu Akbar! (National Review Online, 9/3/13). In it, Mr. McCarthy calls Senator John McCain “moronic” for McCain’s assertion that the phrase “Allahu Akbar” is used by moderate Muslims, and that it is similar to saying “Thank God.” In a radio interview (Mark Levin, 9/3/13), he went on to snicker about McCain’s “ignorance.” Thus we are through the looking glass, as McCain’s description of the phrase was close to reality and McCarthy’s was stunningly ignorant.
Andrew C McCarthy has written two books about Islam but does not know any Muslims. If he had even a casual Muslim acquaintance, he would have an understanding of the phrase “Allahu Akbar”. He basically makes two assertions about it: That it is used by extremists in violent situations, and that it essentially means “my god is greater than your god.” Yes it is used by extremists. It is also yelled by soccer fans after a goal. It is also said by every Muslim multiple times per day in multiple situations, including prayer. In fact, five times per day during prayer, the Muslim may not move until he says it. It is that essential to the religion.
Five times per day during prayer, the Muslim may not move until he says it.
Mr. McCarthy’s second assertion is just as silly. Prophet Mohammed (saaw)* did not rise to power in opposition to Christians or Jews. His problem, like that of Moses, Abraham and Jesus before him (saaw)*, was polytheistic paganism. “Allah” is not a proper name. Proper names are used to distinguish like things. “Al” is Arabic for “The” (E.g. Al-Jazeera, Al-Quaida). “Allah,” meaning THE God, is a phrase; a statement of monotheism. The first rule of Islam is to swear the following: There is no god but THE God, and Mohammed is His Prophet. Thus, there is no concept of my god or your god in Islam, and no such implication with Allahu Akbar.
“Allah” is not a proper name. “Allah,” meaning THE God, is a phrase; a statement of monotheism.
Allahu Akbar essentially means Allah is the greatest. It is testimony that there is no higher authority: not our desires, our families, our nations. Not wealth, celebrity or any other false idol. Take it from me; I’m a Muslim.
Saleh R Shahid
* SAAW is a commonly used abbreviation for an Arabic phrase which means “May peace be upon him.” It is Islamic etiquette when using the name of a prophet.
