The Hajj's "Pilgrimage Sermon" Calls the Muslim World to Arms
12 Jan 2006
Despite eminent scholar Bernard Lewis’ assertion that we are in a “clash of civilizations,” and Salman Rushdie’s insistence that “it is about Islam,” our President continues to portray our war on terror as having nothing to do with religion or clashing civilizations. The President’s soft-soap appears to be selling well in America, since America is awash with it. The Muslim world is a different story; however, they ain’t buying what the president is peddling.
During this week’s Hajj—the annual pilgrimage to Mecca that every Muslim is obligated to make once in their lifetime—Sheik Abdul-Aziz al-Sheik said, “Oh Muslim nation, there is a war against those of our creed, against our culture under the pretext of fighting terrorism. We should stand firm and united in protecting our religion.” Since this Muslim call to arms was made to more than 2 million Muslim pilgrims by the kingdom’s grand mufti during the annual “Pilgrimage Sermon” on Mount Arafat, and not by some cave dwelling al-Qaeda member on an audiotape aired by Al-Jazeera, it’s going to be mighty difficult for the Bush Administration to spin it as nothing more than the words of a nut case representing a few throat slitting terrorists trying to hijack a peaceful religion.
Meanwhile, in Iran, the U.N. seals on the Iranian nuclear enrichment facility have been broken by the government in Tehran. The Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad—who I think looks like Gilligan on Gilligan’s Island—has vowed not to be “bullied” by America, but to proceed with Iran’s nuclear program. The thought of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons should send chills up and down the world’s spine, especially when you consider that Iran is 90% Shiite. Shiite Muslims believe that jihad (Holy War) is the sixth pillar of Islam. They are also awaiting the arrival of the twelfth Imam, that is, the “Mahdi” or Shiite messiah, who they believe will lead them to world conquest.
While the “Pilgrimage Sermon” of the Hajj is used to call the Muslim world to arms, and Iran attempts to arm itself with nuclear weapons, our president continues to sell his soft-soap, assuring the American people that Islam is a peace loving religion. Well, try as he may, Mr. Bush will never be able to cleanse Islam of its militancy with his soft-soap. Neither will he be able to wash away the words of Islam’s founder, the Prophet Mohammed, who said, “The sword is the key to heaven and hell; a day of blood shed in the cause of Allah, a night spent in arms, is of more avail than two months of fasting or prayer: whosever falls in battle, his sins are forgiven, and at the day of judgment his limbs shall be supplied by the wings of angels and cherubim.”
Don Walton
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