Suggestion for an article for Dr. Pipes

Submitted by Kevin M (United States), Jul 4, 2006 at 09:14

This may be slightly off-topic, but in my reviews of this site and others dealing with Islam, two terms are frequently mentioned and discussed: Al-Taqiya and kitman. Each has been given a number of definitions, but they all deal with the philosophy or policy of deception and deceit.

Having lived in Saudi Arabia as an expat worker for four years, I experienced countless instances in which my Saudi co-workers and students made unambiguous statements which were later denied, refuted and proven false. Frankly, I was lied to on a daily basis and came to the conclusion that, for one reason or another, Muslims (perhaps only Saudis, though I doubt it), considered the spoken work to be of little consequence, particularly when in conversation with a non-believer.

Dr. Pipes's expertise in this matter prompts me to suggest he compose an article or web log detailing the history or background of Taqiya and kitman. Most of the other web sites are either Muslim-apologist in nature, or rather biased in their contempt for Islam. Something more balanced and scholarly would be, in my view, a welcomed contribution to the current discourse.

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