Islam being 'hijacked'??

(This is a letter written by a reader to the local newspaper that I found interesting)

Muslims have often complained of Islam being hijacked by a minority of fanatical followers, bent on waging a holy war against 'The West'. If Muslims feel that way, then they have only themselves to blame for leaving the door wide open and falling asleep.

A short while back, Canadian-based Irshad Manji published what was hoped to be the ultimate controversy in the North American Islamic Community. In her book, 'The Trouble with Islam', Irshad stressed 'reformation' ideas that seemed to revolve mostly on agitating practicing Muslims, rather than genuinely proposing any change.

After the book-launching and promotional kick-offs, her publishers had hoped for a much anticipated public backlash, Muslims burning her books, rallies and riots. Much to their disappointment, there was not so much as a momentary yawn from the Muslim community, conferences where the turn out was so small that they had to be cancelled, and community leaders who did not have the time of day to accept several invitations from Irshad Manji to debate on talk shows.

Muslims in North America have learnt that in such times, riots and rallies only serve the cause of extremists such as Irshad Manji, and the best way to deal with them is to counter their arguments with silence. At the same time, a thorough self-study of what reality is, so that we have answers to give to our children who are approached by the filth strewn from the likes of Irshad.

When we do not educate ourselves on Islam and put it into practice, we allow all elements of extermism - both from the left and the right - to take over the empty stage.

- Zeeshan Dogar, Mississauga, Ontario, Cananda