This is a MEMRI article that came in toto via Email. It is about the Website that the Saudi Islamic Affairs Department at the Embassey in DC. The website is posted here if you want to read further.
Special Report - Saudi Arabia
November 26, 2003
No. 23
The "Islamic Affairs Department" of the Saudi Embassy in Washington, D.C.
By Steven Stalinsky*
Introduction
Saudi Arabia's embassy in Washington, D.C. recommends the homepage of its Islamic Affairs Department (IAD) to Americans who want to learn about Islam and Muslims. The website contains hundreds of pages of information about Islam and is linked via the Internet to branches of the Saudi government worldwide, including embassies in London and Rome.
Officials of the Saudi government working at the IAD in Washington, D.C. and its worldwide offices have been mentioned in media reports in 2002 and 2003 for suspected connections with terrorist activities. During the past week, it was reported that the FBI has subpoenaed records and documents of Saudi government bank accounts in the U.S., including accounts from the IAD.
The website of the IAD is divided into the following subjects: Islam, Qur'an, Pillars, Sunna, Multimedia, and Languages. The center of the homepage has an interactive section titled "What is the religion of Islam?" which opens to a content list of the website, with the following subjects: Allah, Faith, Rights, Women, Islamic Law, Tolerance, War, and Human Rights. The front page of the IAD's website displays the official flag of the Saudi government, which bears a sword beneath the Muslim creed: "There is no God but Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah." The IAD states, "Islam is not, as some imagine in the West, a religion of the sword nor did it spread primarily by means of war."
This report focuses on how the following topics are presented by the IAD of the Saudi Embassy in Washington, D.C.: Jihad and Martyrdom, Teaching Islam's Superiority over Christianity and Judaism, Rights in Islam of Dhimmis (non-Muslims under Muslim rule), the Punishment of Non-Believers, the Superiority of Polygamy in Islam to Western Monogamy, and the Rights of Women.
The website contains information that is anti-Western in general and anti-American in particular. In one instance for example, the IAD states, "Today's false idols, which dominate over the entire world, are Democracy, Capitalism, Socialism and Communism. Islam instead calls for a Khilafa (Caliphate) based on consultation, and a just economic system based on Zakat and a prohibition of usury."
The website also contains many documents answering Western criticism of Saudi Arabia and Islam. One example states, "Islam is not a terrorist group as the stereotype would have one believe... We are told that Muslims are terrorists, barbaric and what not. But let us recall what the Christian authorities did... over 12 million people were put to death through the authority of the 'Inquisitions.' Such barbaric act has never been committed by any Islamic authority in the history of Islam. Where was the media then and where are they now - let us judge. Who is barbaric, who chops heads?..."
All material in this report appears in its original English as published by the IAD. The following is a summary of MEMRI's report. To view the full report, including citations, please visit
http://www.memri.org/bin/opener_latest.cgi?ID=SR2303
Part I: Jihad, Martyrdom, & The Rewards of the Martyr
The IAD explains the concepts of Jihad and martyrdom in Islam. Excerpts from the Qur'an and Hadiths are provided as evidence to foster these concepts in the contemporary Muslim world.
*'The Muslims are Required to Raise the Banner of Jihad in Order to Make the Word of Allah Supreme in this World'
The IAD explains that any system opposed to Islam must be fought by Jihad: "The Muslims are required to raise the banner of Jihad in order to make the Word of Allah supreme in this world, to remove all forms of injustice and oppression, and to defend the Muslims. If Muslims do not take up the sword, the evil tyrants of this earth will be able to continue oppressing the weak and [the] helpless..."
*Hadiths Exalting Jihad & Martyrdom
The IAD cites many Hadiths on the importance of martyrdom as well as the rewards of the martyrs in order to inspire Muslims. Among these are some of the most widely associated with Jihad:
"Narrated Anas: Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said: 'A man from among [the] people of Paradise will be brought forward. Allah will ask him: 'O Son of Adam! How did you find your home?' He will reply: 'O my Lord! It is the best home,' then Allah will say: 'Ask and wish anything you like.' The man will say: 'I would ask You to send me back to the world in order to be killed in Your way ten times.' (This is because of the superiority of the martyrdom and the high position which martyrs would have in heaven)... We are alive in Paradise where we are provided with sustenan |