I'm Sorry Osama

So, as part of my research on religion and the bomb in South Asia, I've been reading this fascinating book called "Islamic Political Ethics." Edited by Sohail H. Hashmi, it is a collection of essays about the relationship between politics and religion in Islam.

Anyway, so the essays quote the Qur'an often and at length. One of the essays, titled "Interpreting the Islamic Ethics of War and Peace" (by Hashmi), deals with - as the name suggests - war and peace. Hashmi speaks mostly about the concept and types of jihad through an analysis of classical and medieval Islamic theories and constructs/deconstructs these particular theories with the aid of the Qur'an.

I came across this particular ayat from the Qur'an and realized that it had the ability to deligitimize what most people usually call Islamic terrorism. Apologies Osama, looks like your entire legitimacy has gone down the drain. Funny how the Bush admin hasn't looked at this particular verse and denounced Osama and al-Qaeda for being kafirs. I would have. But then again, it is the Bush administration - so I'm not really surprised.

If your Lord had so willed, all those who are on Earth would have believed;

Will you then compel mankind against their will to believe?

- 10:99

That's all for now...ciao, adios, au revoir...and remember...to be born again first you must die...

~me