IJTIHAD
A Return to Enlightenment
Muqtedar Khan's Column on Islamic Affairs

Dr. Muqtedar Khan is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Adrian College in Michigan.   He is on the board of the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy, Center for Balanced Development and the Association of Muslim Social Scientists.
 
He earned his Ph.D. in International Relations, Political Philosophy, and Islamic Political Thought,  from Georgetown University in May 2000.

For a comprehensive resume click here:   Resume

American Muslims:
Bridging Faith and Freedom

Recent Articles

American Muslims and the Politics of Block Voting:
This article argues that American Muslims must vote their conscience and not indulge in the politics of block voting. It also discusses the role of American Muslims in current American politics.

Let the Elections be about the Future of the Free Society: This article argues that the key issues that are facing America today are its declining economy and its shrinking democracy not gay marriage or politicians military records. 

The Politics and the Promise of Civilizational Dialogues: This article explores the politics that underpin and undermine civilizational dialogues. It also examines their promise and necessity.  These reflections are in connection with two recent Islam-West dialogues that took place in Doha and Paris. 

The Myth of Secularism:  This article argues that secularism is an important myth of modernity. It explores the tensions between religion and politics in multi-religious democracies and reflects on the commentaries of Governor Mario Cuomo and Congressman Mark Souder made at the Pew-Brookings Forum on Religion in Public Life. 

Liberal Islam, Radical Islam and American Foreign Policy: This article distinguishes between the positions that liberal and radical Muslims take with regards to the US, towards democracy, modernity and Islam. It argues that both liberal Islam and America have a lot of common interests and supporting liberal Muslims should be the top priority of American foreign policy. The paper also advances a liberal interpretation of Syed Qutb arguing that Syed Qutb can also be read as the John Locke of the Muslim world. 

Putting the American in "American Muslims" This New York Times Op-Ed discusses how the American Muslim community is changing as a result of the changing condition in America. 

"A Rare Moderate Voice" Khaled  Ahmed on American Muslims: Bridging Faith and Freedom.

Dr. Muqtedar Khan Debates Dr. Daniel Pipes on Islam and Democracy

The debate was originally posted on PBS' Wide Angle and includes topics such as Islam and modernity, women, democracy, Shariah and more.

American Muslims and the Season of Change
Substance of the luncheon lecture giving to the National Imam’s Conference in Washington DC on June 7^th, 2003.

The Legacy of Prophet Muhammad and the issues of Pedophilia and Polygamy
This article discusses how Muslims and others remember and imagine the Prophet of Islam. The article also attempts to negotiate the difficult terrain of pedophilia and polygamy.

The Priority of Politics: A Response to Khalid Abul Fadl
Past legal opinions must not subvert contemporary political reflections. We will be free only when we can freely determine for ourselves what is the Shari‘ah. There is no mediation in Islam and the Islamic jurists must step aside. As long as the colonial tendencies of Islamic jurisprudence persist there will be no Islamic democracy. 

A Memo to Mr. Binladen: Go to Hell! 
 Muslims from all over the world who wished to live better lives migrated to America and Muslims who only wished to take lives migrated to Afghanistan to join you......More

Islam, Postmodernity and Freedom
Excerpts from an interview given to Discourse Magazine.

Islam between Culture and Politics
This is a book review of the latest book by Bassam Tibi, Islam between Culture and Politics.

Who are Moderate Muslims?
The term moderate Muslims is not only becoming important in the post September 11 discussion of Islam and the West, it is also becoming highly contested. What do we really mean when we brand someone as a moderate Muslim?

American Muslims: In search of a Third Discourse: This article discusses the implications of September 11th and its aftermath on American Muslim aspirations. It laments the crash of American Muslim dreams and calls for a more intellectual and less political leadership.

Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam Esposito speaks to the West as well as to Muslims. He strongly advocates that Western powers rethink and reassess their foreign policies and their support for authoritarian regimes. He also insists that mainstream Muslims worldwide must also aggressively address the threat to Islam from religious extremists.  Esposito’s message is clear. It is not Islam; rather it is the plight of contemporary Muslims aggravated by American meddling in Muslim affairs that has made both Islam and America a victim of radical Muslims.

America and the Crisis of Integrity
This article identifies a central theme that runs across the Enron scandal, the Catholic Church's problems and several recent crises and argues that all of them point to a crisis of integrity in American society.

Islam, Hindiusm and Truth
India as a nation cannot fulfill its promise until its two most important socio-cultural pillars, Islam and Hinduism, work in tandem, developing a relationship not just of tolerance, but also of mutual appreciation and respect. This article shows how Islam and Hinduism share a common appreciation for truth through the Truth loving personalities of Muhammad (pbuh) and Dhramraj.

Islamic State and Religious Minorities 
The Taliban have gone but they have left behind serious questions about the nature of an Islamic state and the status of religious minorities in them. This article draws lessons from the State of Medina and argues for a co-equal status for non-Muslims in Islamic states.

Muslims Must Develop an Intolerance for Intolerance  
This article argues that in order to disassociate Islam and Terrorism, moderates Muslims must seek to marginalize and delegitimize extremist voices within the community.

Memo to Americans
This memo is addressed to Americans and it seeks to answer two fundamental questions that most Americans are presently struggling with; Why do they hate us so much and how can Islam sanctions such evil actions? This memo is a humble attempt to answer these questions.

Memo to American Muslims
The worst exhibition of Islam happened on our turf. We must take first responsibility to undo the evil it has manifest. This is our mandate, our burden and also our opportunity. It is time for soul searching. How can the message of Muhammad (pbuh) who was sent as mercy to mankind become a source of horror and fear? How can Islam inspire thousands of youth to dedicate their lives to killing others? We are supposed to invite people to Islam not murder them.

US Under Attack: Implications for Muslims Everywhere
What has happened today is catastrophic. It is even bigger than pearl harbor. Words cannot describe the magnitude of the human tragedy that has taken place. The consequences of this event will be far reaching and will necessarily have global as well as local impact on Muslims.

Peace, Justice and Change in Islam
This article examines how the Quran reconciles the tension between peace and justice. It also discusses how violence can be minimized if not eliminated from the process of change and Islamization.

Ideas and the Decline/Revival of Islamic Civilization
This article argues that the decline of the Ummah's ability to generate new contingent ideas based on the divine idea of Islam is the fundamental cause for its present condition.

The Compact of Medina: A Constitutional Theory of the Islamic State
This article reviews the compact of Medina signed by Prophet Muhammad SAW in 622 CE and examines it as a foundational text for a constitutional theory of the Islamic state.

Islam's Compatibility with Democracy
This article examines some issues that vindicate Islam's compatibility with democracy.

Islamic Law and its use in Muslim Politics
This article seeks to understand the central role the Islamic law now plays in Muslim political debates. It critiques the new tendency that makes interpretation of Islamic law and not the welfare or public interest of Muslim communities the criteria that determines political actio

MEMO TO MR. BIN LADEN: GO TO HELL!

 Muqtedar Khan, Ph.D.  

This article has so far been published in Washington Post (02.16.03), TheGlobalist (02.14.03), Outlook India (02.15.03) The Arab News (Saudi Arabia  02.18.03), The Age (Melbourne, Australia 02.22.03), Afghan Times (02.23.02) Times of Central Asia (02.22.03) Iran and World (02.22.03) Tampa Tribune (02.21.03),  Euthanesia News (02.22.03) DestinyWalking (02.22.03), St. Petersburgh Times (02.21.03). This Memo was also read by the author on the Roy Green Show (Ontario, Canada 02.20.03).

This is an American Muslim’s response to the Tape recorded message dated February 11^th, 2003 by fugitive-terrorist Osama Bin Laden.

Mr. Binladen,

In the name of Allah, The Most Merciful, the Most Benevolent.

I begin by reciting some important principles of Islam to remind you that there is more to Islam than just a call to arms.

1. Islam was sent as mercy to humanity (Quran 4:79).

2. Do not make mischief on the earth (Quran 29:36).

3. People, We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes that you might know one another. The noblest of you before God is the most righteous of you. (49:13)

4. There are among the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) upstanding nations that recite the message of God and worship throughout the night, who believe in God, who order honor and forbid dishonor and race in good works. These are the righteous. (3:113-114).

I am writing this to make it clear that there are Muslims in America and in the world who despise and condemn extremists and have nothing to do with Binladen and those like him for whom killing constitutes worship. 

Islam was sent as mercy to humanity and not as an ideology of terror or hatred. It advocates plurality and moral equality of all faiths (Quran 2:62, 5:69). To use Islam, as a justification to declare an Armageddon against all non-Muslims is inherently unIslamic – it is a despicable distortion of a faith of peace. One of Allah’s 99 names in the Quran is “Al Salam” which means Peace. Thus in a way Muslims are the only people who actually worship peace. Today this claim sounds so empty, thanks to people like you, Mr. Bin Laden. You and those like you are dedicated to killing and bringing misery to people wherever they are. God blessed you with the capacity to lead and also endowed you with enormous resources. You could have used your influence in Afghanistan to develop it, to bring it out of poverty and underdevelopment and show the world what Islam can do for those who believe in it. You chose to provoke and bring war to a people who had already been devastated by wars.

Yes many innocent people lost their lives in America’s war on Afghanistan and many more might lose their lives in Iraq. This is indeed regrettable. But we must never forget as to how the West is divided over this and how nations and people within nations are agonizing in Europe and in America over this decision to go to war in Iraq. While many Americans and Europeans oppose the war, Muslim nations have already agreed to cooperate in this war.  No Muslim leader has tried to play the role of a statesman on this issue. It is a tragedy that there is not a single Ted Kennedy, Jimmy Carter or Nelson Mandela in the entire Muslim world who would stand up and speak for justice!

Before we rush to condemn America we must remember that even today millions of poor and miserable people all across the world are lining up outside US embassies eager to come to America, not just to live here but to become an American. No Muslim country today, can claim that people of other nations and other faiths see it as a promise of hope, equality, dignity and prosperity.

Yes, we American Muslims will continue to challenge the Bush administrations’ proposal to wage war against Iraq. We think a regime change in Washington is as necessary as a regime change in Baghdad, but that is an intramural affair. Once the war is declared, make no mistake Mr. Saddam Hussain and Mr. Bin Laden, We are with America. We will fight with America and we will fight for America. We have a covenant with this nation, we see it as a divine commitment and we will not disobey the Quran (9:4) – we will fulfill our obligations as citizens to the land that opened its doors to us and promised us equality and dignity even though we have a different faith. I am sure Mr. Bin Laden, you can neither understand nor appreciate this willingness to accept and welcome the other.

Sure at this moment out of anger, frustration and fear, some in America have momentarily forgotten their own values. I am confident that, God willing, this moment of shock and insecurity will pass and America will once again become the beacon of freedom, tolerance and acceptance that it was before September 11^th.  On that day Mr. Binladen, you not only killed 3000 innocent Americans, many of whom were also Muslims, but you signed the death warrants of many innocent people who will die in this war on terror and many more who will live but will suffer the consequences, the pain and the misery of war.  Before September 11^th, the US was giving aid to Afghanistan and was content to wait for the Iraqi people to free themselves and the rest of the world from their dictator. On that day you changed the rules of the game and Muslims in many places are suffering as a direct consequence.

When the Prophet Muhammad (saw) and his companions fought in the name of Islam, Allah made them victorious and glorified them in this world. They made Islam the currency of human civilization for over a millennium. You and your men on the other hand face nothing but defeat, global ridicule and contempt and run and hide like rats in caves and dungeons. You live in the dark. Your faith neither enlightens you nor enables you to live in the light and you have made Islam the currency of hate and violence.

Let me tell you that I would rather live in America under Ashcroft and Bush at their worst, than in any “Islamic state” established by ignorant, intolerant and murderous punks like you and Mullah Omar at their best. The US, patriot act not withstanding is still a more Islamic (just and tolerant) state than Afghanistan ever was under the Taliban.

Remember this: Muslims from all over the world who wished to live better lives migrated to America and Muslims who only wished to take lives migrated to Afghanistan to join you. 

We will not follow the desires of people (like you) who went astray and led many astray from the Straight Path. (Quran 5:77).

I conclude by calling upon you Mr. Bin Laden and your Al Qaeda colleagues and Mr. Saddam Hussain to surrender to International Courts and take responsibility for your actions and protect thousands of other innocent Muslims from becoming the victims of the wars you bring upon them.  

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