ISIS attackers in Dhaka and a light of hope

Submitted by Prashant (United States), Jul 3, 2016 at 12:18

Dear Dr Pipes,

In the context of your blog "Passing as Muslim", I will like to draw your attention to the recent attack by ISIS on a cafe in Dhaka reported in this Independent newspaper article (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/dhaka-attack-shooting-bangladesh-muslim-victim-terrorist-hostage-latest-bakery-a7116746.html). About twenty people from various countries were killed. It is reported that the women who wore Hijab and people who could recite a verse of Quran were let go.

It might be pragmatic but it would be immoral to recite a verse of Quran to save one's life. But that is not why I am writing this note. I am writing this note because I believe the process of creating a private, non-political, secular and democratic version of Islam has already began. In the same Dhaka attack we also discovered a hero (who unfortunately was killed). It is reported that a Muslim student Faraz Hossain was offered a chance to escape from the mayhem but he chose not to go because he did not want to abandon his non-Muslim and/or non-Hijabi female companions.

How will the story of Mr Hossain's sacrifice change the Islamic world? Will his friends and family be less inclined to follow Quran and Sharia literally? Will they be more open to the idea of a liberal interpretation of Quran? Will they be open to the idea that the 19 year old Hindu/Jain girl from a small town in India and the other people who were killed were not sinners in any sense of the world? Will they instead agree that calling them sinners is a sin? Islam is creating a unique brotherhood among infidels and sinners from Orlando to London, Brussels, Tel Aviv, Mumbai and Dhaka! The story of Mr Hossain's sacrifice will make a difference. It will. One listener at a time. That day, the dead in Ankara and Baghdad will also join this brotherhood of sinners.

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