Was Obama invited to return to Islam last year, by the president of Iran?

Submitted by Doc Tater (United States), Jan 9, 2008 at 11:31

As I understand it, from reading Spencer and Trifkovic, et al, Twelver Shiite clerics hold that the "invitation" must be repeated, and must be explained, stating that it is a matter of free choice, including a statement that the consequences of declining the invitation can involve dire consequences. This is the way Muslims get away with denying the charge of conversion at the point of a sword. Having followed the prescription for the proper "invitation", it is "legal" for them to either impose dhimmitude or kill anyone who declines the "invitation", or who merely fails to respond to the "invitation".

Mahmoud Ahmedinejad spent about 6 months following that script, addressing the "invitation" to President Bush.

By addressing the invitation in public, in writing and over broadcast media, directing the "invitation" in precisely the way it was directed, one line of Shiite clerical reasoning could hold that everyone in the USA was given the "invitation". As a prominent Muslim, or apostate, or just as a US Senator, Obama could be said to have been given the invitation already.

Has anyone heard Obama address the issue of that "invitation"?

Has anyone heard Obama state that he is not Muslim, and that he refuses to follow sharia, and that he refuses to accept the status of dhimmi?

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".