Discussions on the Complexity of Diverse Sunni Islamic Interpretations

To Commander Youssef Aboul-Enein,

Your book on the "Militant Islamist Ideology" (Naval Institute Press) will be read and placed on my library shelf shortly, as I do hunger for knowledge, intellectual stimulation and debate, about the 'Militant Islamist narrative'. US military forces, the American public at large, and myself included, are far behind the curve when it comes to understanding Middle Eastern history and Islamic studies in general. It has been very hard for people outside of academia, like myself, to find these answers about the 'radical Islamic narrative'.

My limited course work on Sunni Islam, and many re-readings of the Holy Koran, (including TE Lawrence's - Seven Pillars of Wisdom, etc.) have all been (limited) failed attempts in trying to understand, and to educate myself, about the 21st century Muslim world. It has been a long road this past decade trying to seek answers, and insights, into this 'radical Islamic narrative'. You alone have open the door of understanding that I have sought after these many past years.

You are to be congratulated and praised for good reason, Commander Youssef Aboul-Enein.

If I could only get Secretary Gates, Admiral Mike Mullen, "King David" Petraeus, and friends, to issue a radical Islamic narrative 'hand book', simplifying your complex work as it were, for our troops who are heading out to the Middle East? I truly believe it would be to their advantage, and to our greater interests at large, for our mission to deflate this 'radical Islamic narrative' in the Muslim world.

Once again Commander Youssef Aboul-Enein,
Bravo, Braviste, Bravissimo !

Thank you Stephen for your comments. The whole purpose of my essay is to enlighten and to stimulate debate, in order to better defend and advance America's interests. I learn much from the exchange of ideas on this subject. While I disagree with Betty's views, it pleases me that it stimulated her towards articulating her position. If my work left you hungry for more, and you wish to delve deeper into the Militant Islamist narrative and nuances of Islamic interpretations, you may wish to check out my book "Militant Islamist Ideology," published by Naval Institute Press. It is the product of several years of discussing, lecturing, and taking questions from deploying units.

Excellent article Commander Aboul-Enein !

This is the first real analytical/historical breakdown behind the Bin Laden/Zawahiri philosophy of Al Queada (and terms used in radical Islam) that I have ever read.
Out of the hundreds, if not thousands of articles, I've researched on Islam in general, you are the first person to give me any insight, at all, to the complexities behind the history of radical Islam, and misuse of these terms that are used in the radicalization of the Muslim youth in the Middle East, and the world at large.

The majority of the articles that I have read are like the @Betty Smith comments . They are very simple analysis of Islamic scripture with a dose of popular history. Totally irrelevant for the soldier, or statesman, who is seeking any understanding at all to what is really going on behind this radical movement.

I am so thoroughly impressed with your knowledge of the region and history. Your analytical break down behind the history of the Caliph/Egypt/Ottoman etc., and other terms that are used by Bin Laden/Zawahiri, are extremely impressive to me. I can't say it enough Commander Aboul-Enein on how much you have enlighten me on this subject. This is collegiate level course work that can not be understood by your six page piece alone.

Wow!

It is going to take me a couple reads through to get a grasp behind your piece. I am finding it very hard to get a my head wrapped around your work.

Your piece is an absolute must read for any US Officer/NCO heading out to the Middle East. I encourage all US Officers to take your course if they have the chance too.

(I wish, I could find someone like you, who could educate me on the Pashtuns-Af/Pak, and the history behind the Durand line, etc...)

You, and Dr. David Kilcullen, should be on the State Department payroll.

If I was in charge?
I would have you on the road teaching at all of our US Military Academies and War Colleges.

This is a job well done.

A+

There are so many problems with how the US, West, and 'Westernized Arabs' who dont speak Arabic well enough to interpret Islam, everyone is too busy trying to prove one agenda or another, that the facts are lost.
I will not try to force the concepts of Islam to match the UN Human Rights Charter, or prove that "Bin Landin's Islam" is what all Muslims believe (and hence we should hate them all, if one consults youtube or facebook.)
In Islam, the facts are clear, it is the English speaking "experts" or practicing westernized Muslims who are half educated, or do not speak Arabic that are creating the 'muck' that surrounds Islam today (in the west.)
Sunni Islam is very clear, the acts of terrorists, the promotion of suicide (for any reason, punishing "one soul for the acts of another", and those who call for mass violence against human kind / " , conflicts directly and severely with the teachings of the Koran. The Koran is the backbone of Islam, it is very clear, and can NOT be quoted out of context. Each verse has a specific 'story' behind it- these need to be stated when verses are being quoted. Second in line is the Hadith, which have different levels, after that is 'measurement' or Qiyas, LAST are Fatwas (scholars opinions are not absolute, do not have to be followed by Sunnis, unlike Shia, and must obtain agreement from 'most' scholars (called Ijma'a) before they mean anything or can be followed by even a small portion of the Muslim society- this is not 'complex' is it just no one on this side of the globe knows how Islam works.
The Koran and Hadith are being quoted out of context by both experts and terrorists, What terrorists are doing would be as if I remove the "thou shall not" when quoting the Ten Commandments, then use "kill, commit cover thy neighbor's wife, etc.
Bottom line- one can not interpret Fatwas as if they were 'gospel' when they are 'only an opinion' as the Hadith says "if the scholar is right, he gets two reward, and if he is wrong, he gets one"
I am tried of all this 'making this harder than it is'- the push behind terrorism started as a reaction to what is going on in Palestine, where Israel, in its 'right to defend itself' can do what ever it feels like, disregarding international laws, or human rights, and demands the world accept their country as a democracy where only half its citizens have rights or even a say- and the US denounces any kind of correcting action, allowing massive violations of human rights, with US weapons and US tax dollars. One would go back to Gen Petraeus' comments last year "Israel's action ARE the problem," as usual he was the only one who stood up and pointed out the truth everyone knows but no one dares to point out.
Although Israel's action are not a justification for terrorism against the US, it is about time someone pointed out the elephant sitting in the living room, stop talking about the 'complexities of Islam' and start talking about how to stop these psychopaths from recruiting young men with no hope, using Israel's crimes as a motivator. No one in the US would tolerate even a small portion of Israeli policy here in the US against any section of our citizens.
Although Afghanistan was more than justified, Iraq was not, we destroyed Iraq, but never caught Bin Laden, I am still trying to understand why this is accepted as 'that is the way it is' with no questions asked...
Sadly, this might have a lot to do with the fact that Americans (including congress) have no idea about geography, that Iraq is not Afghanistan. Maybe before we try to 'change the world' we should learn more about what the world outside the US looks like!