Dearth of Islamic dawah?

Submitted by sara (United States), Jun 9, 2012 at 17:44

Hello Plato, I must disagree with you in your assessment. I continue to note that Muslims and apologists come to peddle their Dawah and they all seem to use similar tactics. If you want to refute some hype, there are a few currently that I have been reading. DNM is dialoguing with Mr Ben Othman for example, see here: http://www.danielpipes.org/10312/friendless-in-the-middle-east

By and large I have observed a predictably tedious pattern (currently on exhibit by Mr scottindallas here http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/2012/06/twenty-years-of-illusion-about-islamism )

Step 1. The first comments are either flattering or neutral, or at times they may try to appear as a non-Muslim who just happens to want to defend Islam.

Step 2. After a few interactions, they will begin to show their true motive. They will either

a) preach about the Quran (this includes several stages in itself:

- you don't understand the language, it is lost in translation

- you need to read it in the original Arabic or you cannot get it

- oh, you know Arabic? well then you are taking it out of context

- you have to read the whole passage and not criticize, and anyway, Allah is the best and Islam is the best religion

- refutation? Then resorts to name calling and condemning to judgement day

b) accuse you of Islamophobia and play the tolerance card, all the while defending Islam

c) resort to name calling and condemn you to hellfire and awful things that will happen to you on judgement day

While this makes me sad, as I would sincerely like to see real dialogue and interaction happen if there is ever going to be a solution, there is a rare occasion of someone being honest. I thought this was a great read here: http://www.danielpipes.org/comments/195864

There is an amusing discussion posted on youtube with Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Douglas Murray debating the topic : 'Is Islam a Religion of Peace'. Mr Murray wittily sums it up with his point that if we are here to question the premise then it probably is not.

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