E Pluribis Islam?

You can take Islam out of the desert, Irshad, but you can't take the desert out of Islam.

Salafism and Wahabism has overtaken the moderates . Islam has missed out on a reformation movement except the Sufis who spread Islam preaching tolerance and respect for all religions . The rise of militant Islam is erasing Sufism , which was prevalent in Pakistan too. The Saudi sheiks live in extrvaganza , yet promote Wahibism . The US support to their double standards fueled anti--amercanism , and gave impetus to militant Islam . Yet there are moderates in India , who shall remain steadfast against wahabism and set an axample for others to follow.!

"In only 10 years, Islamism has gone from being a joke to a force" I think the author might want to examine this line.

I would never have considered Isamism a joke by any stretch of the imagination and any muslim reading thisshould be offended to the highest order. Its an immature and nearsighted statement lacking any historical perspective.

In Malaysia, before the mass conversion to Islam, the Malays used to be a matriachal soceity where women's rights were equal to if not supercede the men's. Only one of those tibes still retain the status. Nowadays, instead of honoring a marriage vow, a man may go to court ( or not) and take a second wife with no regards to the feelings of the first wife. All Malays MUST be Islams, and no coversion to a different religion is allowed. There is no distinction between race and religion. So much so that a non-Malay who converts to Islam "becomes" a Malay and is awarded the special previledges that the Malays have... as if it is possible to discard the race one was borne in. Some very religious groups continually try to erase the Malay traditions that they consider not appropriate... never mind that these very songs, dances and ceremonies are the ones that define the Malay culture - which is not the same as an Arab-culture. Historically, the Malays were a peaceful group of people who lived harmoniously with each other and with nature and enjoyed what-ever life had to offer. It was never in our culture to bury our newborn daughters like the Arabs used to. There is no need to be ashamed of our beautiful culture.

Good article . Gives some insight into why muslums aren't intergating and assimilating into our culture as other immigrants have. Why they don't raise their voices and fight their own fundamentalist. Why we should be worried that there are now 50 million in our country with the idea that they will change us from the inside without a shot fired or a suicide bomber needed. Take a look at this.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-3X5hIFXYU

what exactly is a "kafir" and are all or mostly all non-muslims kafirs? if kafir means that someone is in a seriously deficient
spiritual state in relation to his fellow man/woman and a supreme being, and if most followers of other faiths are deemed to be kafirs, then I think Islam will continue to have a major problem learning to live with and respect other religions..

First of all - thank you to the author for a thoughtful article. While I might disagree with his religous choices in our pluralistic society I will defend his right to worship as he see's fit.

That being said - the problem with Islam is the religion itself. There is no central authority as we Catholics have. It is up to every iman to interpert the Koran in their own way. Who is to say that the more **consertative** (Saudi) version is not the correct one? This is simular to **Bible-only** Christians. When there is only a book as one's final authority then anyone's interpertation could be correct.

The authority issue is the reason I am Christian and Catholic. We (Cathiolics and to a lesser extent the orthodox) have a 2,000 year tradition (Sacred Tradition), Sacred Scripture (which was determined by the early Church) and the magestrium (which is a fancy word for the teaching authority of the Church). These three together point to Jesus as being God incarnate who died at the hands of the Romans and who rose from the dead. Jesus is not just a prophet (as claimed bu Muslims) but he claimed to be God (... before the Father was, I am...).

Peace.

Islam is at a brink. It's numbers have fallen and youth are in greater numbers rejecting it as they are embracing it. What comfort is there in a religion so lacking in love for it's neighbor religions and treats it's women half as second class members. Islam was once noble but has been consumed by the heartless. It's reputation shall forever be stained by the actions of a small minority. So sad.

There is no such thing as Muslim diversity, oppose them and they cut your head off!!

I take offense at the recent push to recognize this heinous belief.
You can stick it up where the sun dont shine!
This insidious machinations of corrupted minds and manipulative skulduggery is reprehensible.
Go away! The new world does not want this ridiculous archaic bullshit.
In fact, all religeous belief needs to be ended, as it is, and always has been lies, deciet, and simply stupid.