'Allah Akbar'
In Pakistan, a courageous and noble man, Shahbaz Bhatti, is gunned down by Islamic zealots who cry out "Allah akbar!" He was Pakistan's sole Christian member of parliament. His crime: speaking his mind about a blasphemy law that is an affront to human dignity.
In newly "liberated" Egypt, a mob of Muslims attacked a Christian Coptic church and set it on fire. The parish priest and three deacons may have died in the blaze. The perpetrators yelled "Allah akbar!"
In Iraq, Christians are being terrorized and pressured to leave by Islamic zealots. This ethnic cleansing is done to the chorus of "Allah akbar!"
The English translation of "Allah akbar" is "God is the Greatest." To me this begs the question -- a question I would pose to these brave assassins who murder unarmed victims: if Allah is so akbar why does He need you to do His dirty work?
Why does the Creator of the universe, the Builder and Destroyer of galaxies need you to silence a blasphemer? Does not Allah have the power to shake the world if He so desires? In His greatness, can He not change the orbit of the moon around the Earth, or the Earth around the Sun? Can He not level the highest mountains or empty the deepest seas?
If Allah is displeased with Man, can He not wipe him out with a deadly plague? Or consume him in a firestorm? Or starve him by obliterating his crops with endless drought? Can He not strike down the blasphemers that dare mock His might? Can He not cleave out their tongues and fill the valleys with their offending organs? Or punish them with perpetual blindness or illness?
Cannot the Author of Life and Death remove life from any of His creations, at any moment? Who can resist His power or His wrath? For Allah is the Greatest and all creatures exist at His pleasure.
Then why do YOU pretend that Allah, who is omnipotent, is in fact so helpless and must rely on your puny hands to shed the blood of His enemies?
Is this not an insult to Allah's greatness? An affront to His supremacy? Do you not bring shame unto His hallowed name by pronouncing it when you usurp His role as Judge of Creation? You dare to raise the sword against His enemies, as if He was an old helpless king lying on a sick bed. You are like a mouse that would defend the honour of a lion.
And when you slay an unarmed man, a woman, a child, with bullets and bombs, does not their blood stain the name of Allah? For it is in His blessed name you commit such acts of cowardice. As displeased as Allah may be with those that blaspheme against Him with their words, how much more will He be of those that blaspheme against Him in their self-righteous actions?
You presume your place in Heaven because you have shed infidel blood, but what surprise awaits you when your soul stands before Allah? Will He be pleased with your appropriation of His name, His righteousness, and His greatness? Will He reward you for turning a prayer praising Him into a mock jest? Will He smile upon such slander?
Would it not be wise, after you reflect on these few questions, to repent of your insolence? So that the next time the holy words "Allah akbar" escape your lips they are indeed a blessing on those around you -- rather than a curse that will bring a terrible judgment upon your soul.
Allah akbar, indeed.
aina