Series On Islam: "THREE FACES EAST Part 40" - By HJS

Mani (Mainstream): Good morning, Modi. I like my new job.

Modi (Moderate): I thought you would. Not much to it.

Mani: Well, I am guarding tons of munitions and am just a little apprehensive. A lot could happen.

Modi: Not to worry. You have a good group behind you. It is Hamas-Iraqi. Not even al-Qaeda wants to take them on with a level playing field.

Mani: I thought they fought on the side of AQ?

Modi: They did. You know, a few of us Sunnis answered some hard questions truthfully and determined that we are in real trouble whenever the coalition leaves. You see, we want the democracy; we just want to ensure that we are not departing from the religion. We are not looking for the religion of the Wahhabis and Salafists. We are looking for a comfortable and merciful view of life and death. We want an end to the killings and the bickering. So now Hamas Iraqi is working with the coalition instead of against it.

Mani: What? Am I working for the coalition?

Modi: The way things are now, Mani, if you are not with al-Qaeda, not with Iran, and not in training at one of the camps in Lebanon, Syria, or Pakistan, you are with the coalition.

Mani: It is going to take me awhile to reconcile with that news.

Radi (Radical): What news are you talking about?

Mani: Modi and I were talking about Hamas-Iraqi taking on al-Qaeda.

Radi: I saw that in the press. I had to look closely to make sure it wasn’t Modi writing it.

Modi: You seem to be taking it in stride. I thought you would be quite angry about that.

Radi: I do not like the idea. I am more concerned with maintaining the strictness of our faith. If we are all as fervent as we are supposed to be, then it would not matter what type of government we have. If the group that fights is not Salafi, it is not fighting in the way of Allah; thus, I will not support it and Allah will strike them dead.

Modi: Just who do you suppose should be the authority on how fervent a Believer should be?

Radi: It would have to be the most fervent of the sects, as long as they were Salafists. Anyone less would weaken the religion.

Mani: What is this “weaken the religion” idea?

Radi: After the death of our Most Beloved, peace be upon him, our religion underwent a terrible upheaval and whenever the smoke cleared and the Caliphate came into control, they simply were not strict enough and the people were descending into the horrors of laxity. For centuries the religion became weaker and corrupt. Once they became lax in their religious duties, the laxity permeated everything.

Modi: Laxity? What you are trying to say and doing it so badly, Radi, is very important. Our religion was undergoing the same growing pains that other religions had undergone. We were not sliding into laxity, but adjusting ourselves and our beliefs to a less rigid and more flexible system, similar to that of Christianity and Judaism. Rigidity and inflexibility should never be norms when dealing with humans.

Mani: Modi, if Allah established the rules, how can we dare change anything?

Modi: That is the radical viewpoint, Mani. They fervently believe that Allah is the author of the Qur’an. Because they do, no change can ever be suggested, let alone started. The Qur’an, of course, is not the total religion. The Hadiths and the detailed life of Muhammad may be just as important in the lives of the faithful. What our Most Beloved has said in his lifetime the faithful hear almost every day in one way or another—in Mosque or on the street. I know I do not have to remind you that we are constantly told that our Most Beloved led a perfect life and we must emulate him in all things.

Radi: Modi, you have that correct. You surprise me.

Modi: Radi, the idea you just do not seem to get is that the world has changed. Everything has changed, including the way we look at everything. The world has moved on. Christians have changed and so have Jews. We have many more people in the world and there are more important questions than what our imams are discussing with us. We can not keep fighting against the Meccan polytheists and the Yathrib Jews! They are all gone.

Mani: What type of questions do you mean?

Modi: One might better ask questions such as how do we help establish peace in the world without trying to destroy every other nation and religion and enslave everyone except our Believers. We could also ask how we might get together with the rest of the world and find cures for diseases and more food for the starving. When our people were starving in some places, the West rushed in with food and medicine. What did we ever do for them? Christians and Jews have helped us everywhere. Look at what they did for us in Bosnia, for example.

Radi: Allah made them… (Modi interrupts)

Modi: I hate to stop you, but I know you are going to ask us to believe something that we have tossed out a long time ago as rubbish. Allah did not send any angels down to blow dust in the West's eye to make them do what they did. Look, whenever we discuss what people do, you must assume people are doing it for a reason. If you continue to believe that our God actually creates miracles to make Western people do things to help us, you lose sight of humanity. Loving and serving Allah is only part of the equation, Radi. It is just as important to love and help our fellow man. Religion is Part of Life; IT IS NOT THE WHOLE OF LIFE. If so, there would be no sense in being born on earth to enjoy earth's fruits and the comforts and joys of earth's humanity. Many people here hate Jews and they never even saw or met one.

Radi: You are the one who missed the point, Modi. Loving and serving Allah and taking the entire world for Allah IS ALL THERE IS.

Modi: You and people like you are the problem; you have no understanding of your own religion, because you never got beyond your rituals, your seventh century rulings, and your complete disdain for everyone not a Believer. A non-Believer to your group is just an animal.

Mani: I can understand that, Radi. Do you still call Jews and Christians apes and pigs?

Radi: Of course we do. That is what they are.

Modi: Would you say, Radi, that apes and pigs make good Believers.

Radi: Why would you ask such a question? Apes and pigs do not make good anything.

Modi: Well, Radi, why do we recruit new Believers from the apes and pigs?

Mani: I saw that one coming, Modi. You need to be more subtle.

Modi: With Radi?

Radi: I know what you two are saying. Of course, Allah gives them the gift of faith and when they accept His gift, he changes them from apes and pigs into good Believers.

Modi: I guess there is no convincing you that there is more to life than dreamt of in your philosophy. You cannot enjoy life, you long for death, and it is necessary that you ruin it for everyone else.

Radi: There is only our religion. Nothing else matters. WE ARE NOT HERE TO ENJOY LIFE. We are here to suffer through it and hope it comes to an end quickly. Kill me now and make me a martyr!

Mani: I guess that means you don’t want to join us for lunch then.

Radi: Hey! I didn’t say that. Who is buying?

HJS

Series on Islam -"THREE FACES EAST Part 39" - By HJS

Mani (Mainstream): Modi, have you seen Radi this morning?

Modi (Moderate): No. Is he still playing executioner with those friends of his? If so, he may sleep late.

Mani: Aha! He will miss prayers. We can chide him for that. Missing prayer brings on a death penalty[1]. I was reading over the law last night and I saw it. That surprised me; I must be more observant about the time.

Modi: We cannot chide him too much. If he were out all night killing people that have been denounced as heretics, blasphemers, apostates, or whatever; assuredly, he would not miss the Evening Prayer (Isha), but if he slept at all, he might miss the early Morning Prayer (Fajr). If you look at the next subparagraph to what you read last night, you will see that Radi would have an excuse for missing it[2]. If he is awakened by sunlight, he knows he is too late. He might even forget to make it up.

Mani: Of course, we are only speculating. He may have gotten a job somewhere.

Modi: (Laughs) Do they have jobs for throat-cutting specialists.

Mani: (Suppresses his laughter) Modi, you can be cruel sometimes.

Modi: (Very serious) But everyone survives MY cruelty. I choose my words to hurt people who hurt others with more than words.

Radi (Radical): Good morning, friends. What are we discussing today?

Mani: I guess it is hurting people with words.

Radi: Ha! Is that ever a waste of time. If you want to hurt someone, use a stout stick or a sharp knife.

Modi: Radi, I know about the knife. What’s the stick for?

Radi: For women. You know yourself you must beat them occasionally.[3]

Mani: The Qur’an is talking about married men beating their wives, Radi. You are not married, so it lets you out.

Radi: If I see a woman doing something she should not do, I can beat her on the spot.

Mani: You are referring to the Taliban, and the Saudi Ethics Police, or whatever they call themselves now. You have not been appointed as police here.

Modi: Yes, Radi. You beat some woman in Iraq and her husband or brothers will be coming after you. They will not be pleased.


Radi: After me? For doing my duty?

Mani: They may not consider it your duty and bring you up on charges, seeking retaliation.[4]

Radi: I will have to check on that a little closer.

Mani: Yes, Radi, you may have people looking for you.

Radi: (Laughs) I might at that. I must be on my guard.

Modi: You know, Radi, our new laws do not allow you to run around with that pack of wolves, killing people because you heard they were violating some religious law.

Radi: Our religious obligations are sacred and transcend those of the government.

Mani: Not any more, Radi. In and around Baghdad, people are complying with those new laws. The only exceptions are al-Qaeda and a few insurgent groups that are considered outlaws anyway. Compliance is spreading into the outer districts. You can complain about the unfairness of it all from your jail cell.

Modi: Mani is right. You may have to find something better to do.

Radi: What could be better than killing people for offenses against Allah? I can lift up my heart to Allah and rejoice when my hands are covered in honest blood.

Modi: I believe there is a better word for that, Radi. The short term is “murderer”. The longer term is “psychogenetic killer.”

Radi: I think I have been insulted. Mani, what did he say?

Mani: I think Modi is wrong. He said in effect that you have become psychotic because of mental conflicts. That can’t be right.

Radi: Thanks, Mani, for coming to my defense. You are a good friend.

Mani: You are welcome, Radi. However, I have not finished my analysis yet.

Modi: I can hardly wait.

Radi: Modi, let my good friend Mani speak. He will tell you I am not psychotic.

Modi: On the contrary, Radi. You are indeed psychotic; but not because of mental conflicts. You are psychotic because of mental deficiency. You have a one-track mind, going the wrong way, and the track is not finished yet.

Radi: I don’t know what any of that means, but you two are now on my doomed list.

Modi: Well, before you put us on your dumb list, Radi, look at the time.

Radi: That is DOOMED List, you heathen! You will die for your last insults. You too, Mani.

Mani: Fine, Radi, but you will have to defer all executions until later. It is time to answer Bilal and see to our ablutions.

Modi: And Radi, please don’t break wind until after prayers.

Radi: Ooops! Too late.

Modi and Mani laugh, both calling him a heathen.

HJS


[1] Sacred Law (Reliance of the Traveller) f1.4 “A Muslim who holds the prayer to be obligatory but through lack of concern neglects to perform it until its proper time is over has not committed unbelief.” [See W18.0 for related arguments]. “Rather, he is executed, washed, prayed over, and buried in a Muslim cemetery.” [It is not obligatory that he is asked to repent, in which case he is not executed].
[2] Ibid, F1.5 “No one has an excuse to delay the prayer beyond its time except:
(1) Someone asleep, (2) Someone who forgot it, (3) or someone who delayed it to combine two prayers during a journey.” [Discussion also in F15.12 et al.]
[3] Qur’an 4:34 “Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband's] absence what Allah would have them guard. But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance - [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted and Grand.”
[4] Sacred Law o3.1 [et al] “Retaliation is obligatory when there is an intentional injury against life or limb.”

SPECIAL VERSION: "THREE FACES EAST Part 38" - By HJS

Again, I am departing from the standard theme to bring attention to another issue just as important and which may impinge on troop morale.

In a U.S. military base somewhere in Iraq… sometime in the near future.

Commander: (hears knock at the door) Enter.

Sergeant: (head and arm bandaged) Reporting as ordered, sir.

CO: Oh, yes, Sergeant; come in and sit down.

Sgt: Thank you, sir. I am glad to be out of the hospital.

CO: (pushes his work papers aside) I can well understand that. I have put you in for another medal—will not tell you what it is yet—because you saved many lives with your heroic actions last week. I am not interested in denials, so save your breath.

Sgt: Yes, sir.

CO: But now I have bad news for you and I want to go over it with you myself. (The CO leaves his desk and pulls over a nearby chair, facing the Sergeant).

Sgt: (Appears startled) Is it my family? Are they all right?

CO: Your family is fine; it is not about them. I understand that you are a hunter and a target shooter when you are back in the States.

Sgt: (Smiles weakly, still nervous) Yes, sir. My grandfather, father, and two uncles make it an annual even back home. It is always a wonderful experience. As for target shooting, it relaxes me and helps me develop the patience I need in dealing with stress. Besides, it helps me a great deal in combat situations in which I do not have time to aim.

CO: I can understand that. Both are great American pastimes, I am a hunter myself. My family was a family of farmers and hunters. If they did not hunt, we did not eat meat. That brings me to my unpleasant task, Sergeant.

At home, you have a perfectly clean well-oiled hunting rifle and target pistol, both in locked cases, secured from your kids.

Sgt: That’s right. Did something happen? (Slides forward to sit on the end of his chair)

CO: I am going to give it to you straight, Sergeant. Yesterday afternoon, Federal Marshals with a search warrant entered your home and confiscated your hunting rifle and target pistol. (He watched the Sergeant’s eyes carefully)

Sgt: (After a moment’s hesitation) Why did they do that, Sir? I have never done anything to anyone, never broke any laws, and do not even have a parking ticket.

CO: Sergeant, apparently the American people do not watch Congress closely enough. The House passed the McCarthy Act HB 2640 a little while ago[1]. The Act has many indecent parts, one of them affecting you. You have just been wounded in action and the medics say that you and your team were subjected to some vicious mortar and RPG attacks. According to Stateside doctors, that was enough for them to conclude you had a concussion and that you undoubtedly suffered from depression following your medevac after the fighting.[2]

Sgt: But what has that to do with my hunting rifle and .22 target pistol?

CO: According to the new bill, the old HR 2640, passed by the Senate and signed into law by the President, because of your wounds, concussion, and possible depression, you have been placed on the list of people ineligible to own firearms.

Sgt: They put me on the Criminal and Crazy list?

CO: I am afraid so, son. The base commander back there assured me that they did everything they could to prevent the seizure. When the marshals showed up, your wife called and the C.O. sent SJA attorneys to see what they could do. The marshals only ignored them and warned them to stay outside the taped perimeter they set up. I imagine your neighbors thought it was a drug raid or something.

Sgt: My poor wife and kids. It must have been a horrible experience for them.

CO: Well, it did not stop there. The SJA people called the MPs and they sped to your house and pulled down the tape. The marshals threatened them with arrest, but the MPs told them they did not have enough people for that, even though they were outnumbered. Why it took a dozen marshals to confiscate two firearms while you were overseas recovering from wounds, I will never know.

The marshals called the city police, who managed to fill your street with police cars. The SJA people described your house and grounds as Grand Central Station with people in black clothing, boots, and guns.

In the end, the city police took the two firearms as evidence, over the objections of the marshals who claimed them because they were the ones who confiscated them in the first place.

Sgt: All of this craziness going on in my house! Was anything worth all of this? My poor family! Who caused all of this?

CO: Son, some nitwits in our society think that taking the option of self-defense away from people is worth any price they have to pay. People are making laws when they themselves are not grownups mentally. They have a child’s view of the world and probably always will. While you are overseas fighting for their lives and rights, they are at home watching Teletubbies, Sponge Bob, or the Cartoon Network.[3]

Sgt: My kids watch them; at least, I think they still do.

CO: Well, I cannot say anything more about our civilian leadership.

Sgt: Can I ever get re-instated and off the Criminals and Crazies list?

CO: Not without 86-ing the law.

Sgt: And what about my two firearms? What happens to them? They were both very expensive.

CO: I wish I could tell you. I do know that the marshals did not get them. It seems the police misplaced them somewhere between the time they took them from the marshals and the time they reached the police station. By the way, your wife says to call your brother.

Sgt: What kind of country is this I am trying to defend?

CO: It is not the country that is doing it son; it is the crazies! They have taken over the asylum.

HJS

[1] It has not passed the Senate yet. However, it is a very popular bill, also apparently approved by a leading gun-rights group (Not GOA).
[2] The bill does not specify field reporting by frontline medics…yet. But any medical authority recognized by the authorities can certify the possibility of future potential danger of the person hurting himself or others,
[3] The Death of the Grownup, by Diana West, pp 1, 2 and 6 Also The Children Who Won’t Grow Up, by Frank Furedi (www.frankfuredi.com)

Series on Islam - "THREE FACES EAST Part 37" By HJS

Mani (Mainstream): I see that another patrol was ambushed again in Afghanistan. It seems to be almost as bad there as here.

Modi (Moderate): It would seem so. Remember, though, that the old rogue, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar is back in the country. During the anti-soviet campaign, he considered it important that his forces owned the night, and eliminated patrols during the day. He always led a superior fighting force.

Radi (Radical): I have heard that he and the Taliban have merged and that the new insurgency is much more powerful than before. They should make short work of the occupation of Afghanistan.

Modi: I would agree that together they might be numerically superior to just the Taliban alone; however, his HIG (Hezb i-Islami Gulbuddin) still hates the Taliban from the old days. I do not see them merging or even fighting together if they can avoid it. Nonetheless, I agree that if the coalition forces do not know they are fighting two groups instead of one, they are in for a surprise.

Mani: How does the HIG stack up to the Taliban?

Modi: They will always be inferior in number. The Taliban are always able to recruit more people. I am surprised that the HIG still exists. It was a larger group once, but many of the secondary leaders opposed Hekmatyar and took advantage of the government’s renewed offer of amnesty.

Mani: Is that the Hezb i-Islami Kabul (HIK)?

Radi: I have heard of them. They are treasonous rabble.

Modi: As usual, Radi, you are far off the mark. The HIK leadership simply decided to work for a form of democracy within the government. Although they have the same root name, Hezb i-Islami (Islamic Party), the Kabul group is now a recognized and accepted political party, while the Gulbuddin group has been identified as a terrorist group.

Radi: I understand, though, that the cooperation of the Taliban and HIG make them very powerful. I know that the multinational forces there are taking a beating.

Modi: Not to worry, Radi. The HIG depends too much upon their leader. They love him and support him; however, if something should happen to him, they will disappear. It is he, not the Taliban, who understands what it takes to fight the Americans. He studied the Vietnam War very closely and actively fought the Soviet military machine. The Taliban is learning by watching how his group operates. He is probably smarter than anyone they know.

Mani: I do not understand how he can do all that; he hates the Taliban more than he hates the government. He has many of his friends in government.

Modi: Mani, he was defeated by the Taliban, thanks only to the post-soviet government that would not support him against those idiot students. Many of those people went to the Northern Alliance, which in turn defeated the Taliban after 9/11—with American help. He wanted an Islamic nation, similar to Iran, but without the mullahs. He was not fond of Wahhabis and his relations with Al-Qaeda and the Taliban naturally will be strained. He does not like Iran, although Iran hosted him when he was on the run. He certainly does not like Karzai.

Radi: Ha! So, the Americans are close to losing in Afghanistan!

Modi: I cannot agree with that assessment. HIG is losing important commanders almost every week. Those people cannot be replaced. Some are saying that Hekmatyar himself is doing some of the killings because of the appeal of new amnesty offers. Some of those people are simply tired of fighting. They want to spend time with their grandchildren.

Mani: You are saying that he is losing important people he cannot replace and that he only has his original followers and cannot recruit more. Moreover, if something happens to him, poof! They are all gone.

Modi: That is about it. Additionally, without Hekmatyar the Taliban has no alternative but to rely on Iran for brains and military support. The Saudis have become a little less reliable.

Radi: After what you said, even you must admit that it is much more important that ALL BELIEVERS STAND UP AND JOIN JIHAD or they will be hypocrites, hated and warned by Allah[1]. Modi, you are called by Allah to jihad and you know it.

Modi: My jihad, Radi, is making myself a stronger and better Believer. That, my friend, is what is known as “The Greater Jihad!”

Mani: I do believe he has you there, Radi. You and I know that fighting, even in the way of Allah, is the minor jihad.

Radi: You are both saying nothing. Know you that the lame, the blind, and the sick can be excused from jihad; those that join jihad, God will admit to Gardens through which rivers flow. He who turns his back on Allah and jihad will be punished with a grievous penalty.[2]

Mani: Note, Modi that he talked about Gardens and not Paradise and he said nothing about the virgins. Maybe he has been learning something.

Radi: Both of you will loose your heads today.

Modi: Radi, you must heed what I am saying. As Believers, we can choose the government we want, as long as it does not disregard the true laws of Islam. The government that we chose here in Iraq is one that will fairly and equally serve both Sunnis and Shi’ites. The insurgents, including Al-Qaeda, are fighting against that government. Although they try to sell us on the idea that they are trying to establish a strict, Islamic, government we do not really know this because deception is no longer just a tactic of war, it has become a political tradition of Arabs to get their way.

Mani: Be careful, Modi, Radi is getting mad.

Modi: Remember, Radi, if you insist on helping to wage war against Allah, or hindering His works, and continue to sow mischief throughout the land, your punishment is execution, crucifixion, or having a hand and foot cut off from opposite sides, or exile. And it may not be your choice. Besides that, your punishment in this life will be followed by a heavier punishment in the next[3].

Mani: Uh-oh! I have never seen his face so scarlet.

Radi: I will talk that one over with my imam. I have never heard such outrageous talk against fighting in the way of Allah.

Modi: Please, Radi, try somebody other than that nit you have been following. Two weeks ago, someone told him a joke about a Syrian naval vessel falling off the edge of the ocean, and he did not know it was a joke.

Radi: Well, what was so funny about that? (They both looked at Radi and he smiled)

Mani: Modi, Radi got you that time.

Modi: Okay, he got me. I am buying breakfast.

HJS







[1] Qur’an 63:7 “They (the hypocrites) are the ones who say ‘Spend nothing on those who are with God’s Apostle, to the end that they may disperse.’ But to God belong the treasures of the heaven and the earth; but the Hypocrites understand not.”
[2] Qur’an 48:17 [Loose translation]
[3] Qur’an 5:36 [Loose translation]

Series on Islam: "THREE FACES EAST Part 36" - By HJS

Mani (Mainstream): Modi, did you hear about President Jady’s (Ahmedinijad) speech at the UN the other day?

Modi (Moderate): Oh, Yes. But the electricity was off for a while and I missed the beginning. Since I missed the beginning, I thought all of his ranting and raving was a self-confession.

Mani laughs so hard, he bumps into Radi, almost knocking him down.

Radi (Radical): The president was ranting about the Western nations, especially America.

Modi: I know that now. However, it certainly appeared to me to be a world-class confession of his own crimes.

Mani: (Finds it hard to stop laughing) Modi, you need to curb your comments; you get too funny.

Radi: I do not think he’s funny.

Modi: You don’t think anything’s funny. You remind me of the Ayatollah Khomeini.

Radi: Life is too serious for levity or laughter.

Modi: The ayatollah said something just like that. As I recall, the only person who ever struck him funny was the late Oriana Fallaci. However, the Believers in Denmark, Italy, and other European cities had a big price on her head—and I mean head. They didn't think she was funny.

Mani: I remember something about that. What did she do that was so evil?

Modi: Nothing evil. She wrote two books about the attitude and the actions of our Believers that immigrated to Europe and trashed many of the places where they settled. She also complained about the eagerness of the Leftist officials to accommodate the Believers at the expense of the citizens. It is something akin to the way the American administration is treating illegal aliens at the expense of their own American workers.

Mani: I saw some of that on CNN. It was sandwiched somewhere between some stupid half-dressed urchin named Brittany and giving bail to an illegal alien murderer. I have problems understanding American news programs. Out of ten minutes, they gave about a minute to the two problems and the rest of the time to the urchin.

Radi: The Americans are all messed up and will have to deal with the flames.

Modi: I wish you would get real. The Americans are not the Meccans of the 7th century, and we are not raiding their caravans and making deals with other tribes against them. We are in the 21st century now. Everything has changed. Get over it!

Radi: You are wrong, Modi. I told you before that the Americans are the polytheists—they worship their saints, Jesus Christ, and his Mother[1]. They say there is only one God, but they worship more than one. We must kill them wherever we find them.[2]

Mani: Whatever your opinion is of the Americans, Radi, they have helped us here in Iraq. They have not tried to steal our oil and they have given us the opportunity to vote our own people into the government. Except for the problem at Abu Graib, that was more hilarious than anything else, and a few unfortunate incidents during firefights with people firing at them, they have not tried to intimidate us or exploit us.

Radi: You are wrong, Mani. They tried to set up their own style of government that will endeavor to make us more like they are.

Modi: That statement is rubbish, Radi. How about keeping this subject on a higher level than that? Besides, we were talking about your buddy Ahmadinejad, President Jady!

Mani: Radi, I can hardly wait to hear your analysis of his reference to the Mahdi. I noticed he did not specifically mention the Twelfth Imam, but he had a reference to his coming.

Radi: I do not see anything wrong with his reminding everyone of the end-of-days. Perhaps he has the foresight to see the coming of the Mahdi. The Mahdi and Jesus will appear right before the Judgment. Not long after that, we will see who is flung into the fire and who sees paradise and the virgins. (Notices Mani laughing) What are you laughing at now?

Mani: Modi and I had a minor argument about that. Apparently, we are not the only ones arguing about what one sees after death or martyrdom. You say it is PARADISE with FIAR-SKINNED VIRGINS. Modi has it on good authority that it is a GARDEN with lots of WHITE GRAPES.

Radi: (Turn red with anger) Today you definitely will die, Modi. You dare to challenge the word of Allah, the All-Knowing.

Modi: It is a translation, Radi. It is someone's translation of what he thought he read or heard. We do not know exactly what was said, only what was written on a banana leaf. The early Believers who were tasked with assembling the Qur’an, Allah bless their efforts and give them peace, had an almost impossible task. Arabic writing, given to us by Christian monks, was not perfected yet and was not as reliable as it is now. Remember, the imams always said that in those days memorization was always superior to writing. Nonetheless, it should also be taken into consideration that many of our blessed people who memorized parts of the Qur’an, had been exposed to terribly violent battles and arduous campaigns before they were called upon to regirgitate what they had committed to memory. Some of these people were also rather long of tooth, and memories could not always be verified. The ancient one may have had a choice between paradise and garden (in the Torah, it is garden), and between virgins and white grapes. I am not even going to ask you, Radi, which translation you would have given.

Radi: Prepare to die!

Mani: Radi, you will have to take Modi’s head off some other time. I am starved and am ready for breakfast.

The three friends forget their arguments and amiably saunter down the pockmarked road toward the restaurant.

HJS

[1] Qur’an 4:171 O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, "Three"; desist - it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs.

[2] Qur’an 2:191 And kill them wherever you overtake them and expel them from wherever they have expelled you, and fitnah (disbelief) is worse than killing. And do not fight them at al-Masjid al- îaram ( vicinity of Mecca) until they fight you there. But if they fight you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers.

SPECIAL EDITION: Series on Islam - "THREE FACES EAST Part 35" - By HJS

Modi (Moderate): I guess you all saw or heard “President Jady” in the United States.

Radi (Radical): I was expecting any minute for an RPG or roadside bomb to destroy his limousine.

Mani (Mainstream): They do not have those types of attacks in the United States. “Jady” was welcome there.

Radi: They don’t have politics in America?

Mani: Of course, but RPGs and bombs are not part of it.

Radi: Politics there must be terribly boring.

Modi: I wouldn’t say they’re boring; not with that one Leftist party not always knowing what side they’re on.

Radi: I know about that; they are funny; especially those two senators from Massa-something. They remind me of some movies I saw of Laurel and Hardy.

Mani: Did you notice Jady’s use of deceit as a tactic at that university?

Radi: You bet! I was proud of him. Can you imagine, though, no homosexuals in Iran? Ha! Some of those chaps hold hands and kiss more than we do.

Modi: I would bet more than a few Iranian women would love to scratch his eyes out after his comments about all their freedoms.


Mani: Most of the Americans will dismiss his talk and dismiss him as a dolt. Even the host at the university denounced him.

Modi: Yes, you are right. Sadly enough, I remember that some upstanding Americans were greeted with violence and were not allowed to speak. Yet Dirty Jady was treated with dignity. Calling him a few names does not rise to the level of what happened to those upstanding Americans.

Mani: There is just no telling about Americans.

Modi: Leftists, Mani, Leftists the world over are like that.


Radi: I noticed that also. I cannot figure out whether to hate them or love them. They always seem to be on our side, but they kill their babies and send their daughters out looking like prostitutes.

Modi: I know; the Leftists love their porn. No wonder their minds are all screwed up.

Radi: It is better for us, so I cannot complain. Without them, we would have an even harder time fighting their armies.

Mani: We also have Iran to thank for their training and their newer weapons. I heard on the news, though, that Iran is getting a little angry about losing some of their people over here.

Radi: Well, too bad! I love getting their weapons and their training, but I still hate them.

Modi: This hatred between the Shi’ites and Sunnis has been going on for too long—1,327 years, when our beloved Ali ibn Husain was murdered on the site of Karbala.

Mani: It is still in my mind and in my heart. He was leading a procession to protest the unholy perfidies of the Caliphate at the time. The soldiers of the Caliph, as usual, beheaded all of the men, despite the status of some of them as relatives of the Prophet.

Radi was about to say something, but Modi stopped him.

Modi: We already know what you think, Radi, but sometimes you must learn to shut up when you are among friends.

Radi: The Shi’ites would have forced priesthood on us.

Modi: WHO THE HELL CARES? IS THAT ANY WORSE THAN THE MESS WE HAVE TODAY?


Mani: Modi has told us time after time, Mani, that many of our imams are no problem leading us in prayers, but when they have the temerity to man the pulpit and try to explain our religion to us, their lack of education and lack of wisdom shows. They incite the people that are as dumb as they are and foment too much trouble.

Radi: You people who do not join the jihad are the troublemakers. Because we are not all united in an all-out fight against the infidels, we do not have the power yet to take American and then the rest of the world. I must add, if you don’t think we can do that, remember, we are pretty closing to owning Europe as we speak.

Mani: I don’t know about that, Mani. The newspapers are reporting more than just a few anti-Islam laws in Europe.

Radi: You are reading rumors. Our friends on the Left, foolish as they are, will never allow the Europeans to defend themselves from us.

Modi: Not all European leaders are Leftists now, Radi. Europe again is changing.

Radi: Well, we will always have London.

Mani: Not so fast. Many of the polls show that the young Brit Muslims would rather see themselves more as Brits than Muslims. The British as a people now are getting a little tired of bombs and shootings. They welcome the comments and activities of the youngsters.

Radi: All of that will change when we toss the Americans out of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mani: I am not so sure you can do that. The Americans are tough and smart.

Radi: Both governments, Iraq and Afghanistan are corrupt and close to folding. Afghanistan may fold first. The next martyr may do the job. Many of the people surrounding Karzai are closer to Iran than to the Americans.

Mani: That is right, Modi. Do not forget, the Northern Alliance that helped the Americans win over the Taliban had always been hand-in-glove with Iran.

Modi: Radi, if the Americans did lose Afghanistan, it may be controlled by Iran and not the Taliban. The Taliban may be destroyed—the usual fate of so-called “useful idiots.”

Radi: What did you call me?


Modi: Oh, hell, not again. Radi, take that knife and…

Mani: Calm down, Modi. Listen, Bilal calls.

Radi: Yes. Let us put all of our disputes aside for a little while.

Modi: Allah bless both of you for your concern.

Radi: Ah, nuts!

Mani: What is the matter now, Radi?

Radi: Gas.

Mani and Mod laugh because upon wakening, Radi had to undergo a Ghusl, a full body wash. Ordinarily, for the next prayer, he would need only a partial wash; however, since he had a problem with gas, he now has to take the time to take a full bath again.

HJS

Series on Islam: "THREE FACES EAST Part 34" By HJS

Mani (Mainstream): Modi, where were you last night? I thought we were going to your cousins’ together. We waited for you.

Modi (Moderate): I am sorry about that. I was on my way, but was stopped by the boss; I had to write two articles for the newspaper. Did you guys have some fun?

Mani: There was some shooting and a few people died out there.

Modi: Wow! That’s not good. What happened?

Mani: We were on our way to that village where we stored the new IEDs we stole from the Iranians and the driver took a wrong turn. We thought we were entering a friendly village, but it turned out to be something other that what we expected. Everyone who lived there was Iranian.

Modi: At Anbar? That is very strange.

Mani: It gets stranger. They had a bomb-making school there. And get this--one of the instructors was trained in North Korea. The students were from everywhere, even the U.K.

Modi: Now I wish I had been there. You had a fire fight?

Mani: Very briefly. We went through hidden guard posts without knowing they were there and the guards came out and started calling for us to give them the password. None of them really wanted to start shooting--they were students--so we jumped off the trucks and tried to talk to them. Other guards showed up, concluded we were not part of their organization, and started spraying 7.62s. When they started running at us, shooting, we hit the dirt quickly and only their friends were hit. The guards ran past our men on the ground, leaving them for dead, but our men overwhelmed them before they could reload.

Modi: I am glad. Nobody else came out to challenge?

Mani: An instructor came out with one of those old Soviet Makarovs, the 9X18 type, but a driver took it away from him before he could rack the slide. He was rather inept with a pistol--a round was already chambered and the first shot could have been double-action. He would have done some damage if he had known more about it. When one of your cousins asked him about the Makarov, he said he picked it up in North Korea. That started an entirely new line of questions. That is how we found out about the North Korea training.

Modi: Obviously, the residents were Shi'ites. But what about the trainees?

Mani: Typical Wahhabi trainees, but not yet confirmed killers. Because of that, we had an easy time with them. There were so many, though, that Baghdad had to send two trucks to cart them away. They also needed some troops and police to clear up the Iranian problem. I hope they notified the coalition people. They are finally getting a little sensitive about the Iran connections.

Modi: The government has a big enough job trying to curb Wahhabism and Salafism. This business about not recognizing any laws or rules after the death of our Most Beloved is turning this country into a war zone within a war zone. If we now have Iranians in our own country training Sunnis, it compounds the problem. Wahhabism is the culprit in this mess and everybody is afraid nobody wants to do anything about it. Without the Wahhabis, we would not have this mess.

Mani: Modi, we cannot fault them for their beliefs.

Modi: We certainly can. The Muslim umma approved many laws and rules after the death of our Most Beloved; and because of some relaxation of the strictness, we were able to live and prosper. As long as nobody made waves, we were mostly left alone. During the time of the Ottomans, however, those Wahhabis continued to be a thorn in the side of the umma. The Caliph in Turkey had to send in troops to teach them a lesson once.

Mani: I remember the history lesson. For some time then it looked as if the Al-Saud were finished, but they hung on for dear life until the British came along and gave them legitimacy. The Ottomans chose the wrong side in a European war.

Radi (Radical): Good morning. Are we in the middle of something?

Modi: We were talking about how the Ottomans crushed the Al-Saud once, but the British rescued them from oblivion.

Radi: That is a lie. The Western powers launched a sneak attack against the Ottoman Empire.

Modi: Oh, yes. I forgot. They sent dive-bombers to strike the Turkish naval base at Pearl Harbor and sank all of their battleships.

Radi: What?

Mani: Radi, Modi is ridiculing your selected interpretation of history. I have to agree with Modi. Whoever teaches you history must have re-written it first.

Radi: I know the truth! You are just repeating Western lies. The Western powers tried for years to destroy Islam as a religion…

Modi: (Interrupted Radi) Radi, please don’t insult our intelligence. We are friends here. We need to talk all of this out among ourselves and come to some kind of an understanding. We Believers in the Middle East are becoming more and more isolated in the world because of our unnecessary violence. We are poor and getting poorer, even with all our oil wells. The Saudi wells, by the way, are getting much older and it is taking millions of petro dollars to continue repairing them. We really need to come to an understanding with the West before our petro power corrupts like everything else around here.

Radi: No, we do not. I have my truth. You have your lies. I am not Wahhabi, but I agree with the Salafists. They know the truth. You know the truth also, but you claim it may have been the truth once, but it is not the truth any more. You are saying that Allah is either stupid or a liar! For even thinking that you should die.

Modi: Radi, that is nonsense! You know that Mani and I love you like a brother. We do not care what you believe. We argue with you because we want you to know that you are worth saving. People all over Iraq and elsewhere believe different things, most of which are of no interest to anyone. But the Salafists are busybodies that have to know everything that is going on and are going crazy over things that mean little or nothing. The Salafists, especially the Wahhabis are killing their countrymen and others simply because of minor religious differences. Lately they have been killing people simply because they want to live and let live.

Radi: Yes. There are differences and there should not be. People should conform to our way of worshipping Allah or they should die, every one of those heretics!

Mani: Modi, you are wasting your time with him.

Radi: Mani, if you so-called Mainstream Muslims don’t come back into line with the real Islam, Allah will come down on you on the Day of Judgment, flinging you into the everlasting flames to writhe and scream forever. You are the hated ones, you turned away from righteousness and would lead others to disbelief with you [1]. Allah has set a seal over your hearts; you will taste the fire [2]. Because of that, the faithful can kill you.

Mani: Radi, you cannot possibly know what you are saying. Modi and I do not condemn you for believing what you do. We are both trying to give you something else to think about. We both think about what you say; it is time you thought about what we say.

Radi: Allah damn you both to the fire. Unless you accept the way of the Salafist, you have nothing worth saying.

Modi: Well, Mani, I guess you have your answer.

Mani: I guess I do. How are we ever going to get anywhere ever, if people like Radi are simply incapable of replacing their worn, torn baggage with newer ones, easier to handle—with wheels even? If we cannot rescue them from themselves, then we are looking at years of misery, gloom, and violent deaths.

Modi: Mani, Why do we put up with Radi?

Mani: (Mani thinks for a moment) Because he is so cute. Look at those bedroom eyes.

Modi: Lookout! He’s pulled his knife. (They both run)

Radi: I will kill you SOBs! (They all laugh as they run, unmindful of the people staring at them).

HJS

[1] Qur'an 4:140 "And it has already come down to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah [recited], they are denied [by them] and ridiculed; so do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Indeed, you would then be like them. Indeed Allah will gather the hypocrites and disbelievers in Hell all together."

[2] Qur'an 2:7 "Allah has set a seal upon their hearts and upon their hearing, and over their vision is a veil. And for them is a great punishment

Series on Islam: "THREE FACES EAST Part 33" - By HJS

Modi (Moderate): That was some operation last night, Mani.

Mani (Mainstream): I could not figure out what I was doing. It was all manual labor. We were just transferring crates from one warehouse to another. I should have left my AK home. I thought we were on a raid.

Modi: We were. It just so happens that three warehouses were involved on one side and two on the other. Hezbollah separated the material so that if the coalition bombed one site, they still had 66 percent left.

Mani: I do not understand why it was not guarded.

Modi: It was guarded. Hezbollah is not the only group that can infiltrate. Iran wants them to train us in guerilla warfare. I have an idea they just learned a lesson from us last night. How can you train the people who invented it?

Mani: That is another problem for me. I do not understand the Iran-Sunni connection. I thought they hated us as we hated them.

Modi: I keep telling you, Mani, our Most Beloved said that war is deception. What is more deceiving than arming an enemy? I know you have heard that the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Mani: Yes, I am aware of that. I am still a little shaky on why we stole it if they were giving it to us anyway.

Modi: It is a matter of sovereignty. If Iran gave it, Iran wants us dependant on their largesse. We would become pawns. By stealing it, we show them that once the material is on our land, it is ours and thank you very much for delivering it. By the way, our people did turn over a bunch of Iranian technicians to the government.

Mani: So, Iran may not give us any more arms or equipment.

Modi: That is where you are wrong. Iran wants the Iraq war as muddied as possible so that they can find an opening to move in. They will do whatever it takes, no matter how bad it tastes, to muddy those waters.

Mani: They believe that Iraq will oblige them by allowing them to do that?

Modi: It is their error. However, they believe that by sending in Hezbollah—and they think Hezbollah cannot be defeated—they can simply plant their flag on Iraqi soil after that.

Mani: If Iran and Iraq fight each other, which one is fighting in the way of Allah?

Radi (Radical): Good morning, friends. Mani, I can hardly wait for Modi’s answer to your question.

Modi: Neither. To fight in the way of Allah, you must be defending yourself and Islam from an enemy or enemies wanting to destroy Believers BECAUSE THEY ARE BELIEVERS, and wanting to destroy ISLAM AS A RELIGION. If a Western power becomes peeved because we are blowing up its embassies, for example, and our reasons for such destruction are not in defense of Islam as a religion, anyone could readily argue that we are not fighting in the way of Allah.

Radi: The Americans are trying to destroy Islam as a religion!

Modi: Allah forgive you for your muddled thoughts. AMERICANS COULD CARE LESS ABOUT OUR RELIGION! They did not like attacks on their embassies and the attacks on their World Trade Center. That is common with Americans--they don't like being attacked.

Mani: But bin Laden attacked America for many reasons, including the fact that American troops were on Arabian soil. Our Most Beloved said on his deathbed that there should not be two religions in Arabia.

Modi: But he did not say that people from other faiths could not visit Arabia. THE AMERICANS PROTECTED ARABIA FROM ITS ENEMIES AND FROM OTHER STATES THAT WOULD ATTACK ARABIA AND SECURE ARABIA’S OIL AND ALSO SECURE THE KAABA. I would call that defending Islam, not attacking it. Almost any nation in the Middle East has the power to seize Arabia—if the Americans left. Most assuredly, the primary goal would be the power of oil, not to secure the Kaaba. Saudi oil would make any wannabe a bigger player in world politics. Bin Laden is wrong; he should stick to business. He is on shaky ground when he speaks of politics or religion.

Mani: How can he be on shaky ground when Zawahiri is coaching him?

Radi: Dr. Zawahiri is an expert scholar on our scriptures.

Modi: That good doctor is one of the Brotherhood nuts. He should get an award for over-acting. Dr. Z (Modi smiles) always reminds me of the lovable American character Yosemite Sam. Yosemite is always first to come to the rescue, verbose and loud, but he always missed one of the main points and came to the wrong conclusion. Nevertheless, he was very popular. One of the unfortunate aspects of our scriptures, like almost all other scriptures, is that you can lay out the most evil scenario and find verses to support it. You can actually get things backwards.

Mani: You said that more than once before; however, I still don’t understand that concept.

Modi: In the 7th century, whenever certain ayats (verses) were finally written down, words usually had one specific meaning. With the passage of time, however, almost all the meaning could be expanded or changed because the words now had alternative meanings. Sure, the scriptures have remained unchanged, but perhaps it was not exactly a good thing if they are now not as clear as they were when they were accepted as official ayats.

Radi: Our imams know the original meanings and are careful to lead us in the right direction

Modi: You know how I feel about some of the imams, Radi. Some of those guys do not know the scriptures and listen to people like Zawahiri—who has more than one axe to grind. If he is against a certain idea, he believes everyone else should be against it also.

Mani: When I listen to him, he makes sense.

Modi: Of course he does. He speaks with a backdrop of our ayats that can be interpreted to agree with what he says. Zawahiri knows that most Arabs feel guilty that they are not stricter in their religion. He is a snake-oil salesman.

Radi: I thought he was a doctor.

Mani: Radi, a snake-oil salesman is a smooth talker trained to convince people to take a certain action despite their better judgment. Usually, only rubes or dummies fall for that junk.

Radi: I guess snake-oil salesmen should all be killed.

Mani: Why? They are only making a living. Allah help the innocent or stupid dolt that spends his dinars for that swill.

Modi: Radi, if everyone with whom you disagreed were killed, there would be very few people left on earth.

Radi: Hey, that is a great idea. How do we go about it?

Modi: Forget it. Your are too eager. Let’s go get some breakfast.

Radi: I am for that.

Mani: Radi, what is that you tossed away?

Modi: (Reaches on the ground and reads the label) It’s a bottle of snake oil!

Mani: Radi, sometimes you really disappoint me

Radi: Oh, yeah? Well what are friends for?

HJS

Series on Islam: "THREE FACES EAST Part 32" - By HJS

Mani (Mainstream): Shall we mention last night at Anbar to Radi? It may start a fight if he knew we fought against Al-Qaeda.

Modi (Moderate): I would not say anything. Perhaps he will bring it up and have something interesting to say.

Mani: I really tasted fear there for a while, but it went away when those bullets started whizzing past. I couldn’t hear anything after the first few shots.

Modi: I know how that goes. Carry a few spent bullets with you next time and stick them in your ears, point out. That will help. According to the Sheik, we stopped Al-Qaeda and they lost a few fighters. We suffered a few wounded, but nothing serious. I guess we surprised them. They will not be surprised next time. I tried to give my AK back, but they told me to hang on to it. They may call us back. Besides the other raid they discussed, they want to build a border militia to plug the foreign fighters gap.

Mani: I am hanging on to mine also. I could not dedicate enough time for a militia. I think that is definitely a no-go. Oh! Here comes Radi.

Modi: I see him. I have that newspaper job, so I cannot spare the time either.

Radi (Radical): Good morning. Are we on for coffee?

Modi: We were just heading that way. What’s new?

Radi: You are usually the one with news. What is going on?

Modi: I visited some relatives last night and did not listen to any news or read anything. I had to visit; I had not done so for months.

Radi: I understand. I heard that one of the villages in Anbar was attacked by Baathists last night and Al-Qaeda had to come to the rescue.

Modi and Mani look at each other knowingly.

Modi: Did you get any details on that attack?

Radi: I did not get anything yet, other than that summary.

Mani: I suppose we should check into that. It is not like the Baathists to attack villages in Anbar. Radi, do you have a cousin or someone there?

Radi: Actually, Modi, I do not. However, I could have had cousins on either side. I have loads of relatives. I am constantly ducking marriage with cousins.

Mani: I can understand that. I think everyone has relatives on both sides of that street. Radi, did you ever join Al-Qaeda?

Radi: I thought about it. It takes awhile for everyone to be checked out. You have to be a pure enough Believer to join their ranks. They have a long line of wannabes.

Modi: And to be pure enough means you either have to be crazy enough or stupid enough.

Mani: You are not being nice, Modi.

Modi: Sorry, Radi. I become a little rattled when I see what AQ and others are doing to my country. I feel like joining the fray also, but not on the side of AQ.

Radi: If you are not on the side of AQ, you are fighting against Allah!

Modi: B/S, Radi. Allah does not take sides.

Radi: Are you really saying that we are not his chosen people?

Modi: How would I know that? Nobody knows. Those that do are lying to themselves. Perhaps we were at one time, but we have been killing our own people and others for decades, centuries, for the flimsiest of reasons. We kill our children to gain a tactical advantage and many times fail to gain the advantage. A terrible waste! No one but stupid leaders would want to sign treaties with us because it is obvious treaties and negotiations mean nothing. We are at war with the entire world, but all they want us to do is cut out all the B/S and take our places in a peaceful world.

Mani: Radi, if you had tribal relatives in Anbar and AQ was attacking the village, would you help them?

Radi: If they insisted, I would have to go. But I could not fight against AQ. They are my friends.

Modi: But the people in Anbar would be your tribesmen. What about my cousin and I against my friend?

Radi: Now you are confusing me. I am a pure Believer; I fight for Allah against the enemies of Allah, whoever they may be.

Mani: If I helped relatives in Anbar against AQ, would I be an enemy of Allah?

Radi: I will have to think about that. You have an obligation to your tribe and to your family; however, you also have an obligation to Allah to be the best Believer possible—Al-Qaeda brings with them the purest form of Islam. To fight against pure Islam has to be against Allah.

Modi: Well, Radi, what if we do not believe that AQ’s or the Taliban’s versions are pure?

Radi: What? How can you not believe it?

Modi: INFLEXIBILITY NEVER MADE ANYTHING RIGHT WHEN DEALING WITH PEOPLE! I am sure that our most caring and merciful Lord wants us to be happy in our religion, not suffering under the yoke of slavery. AQ and the Taliban bring only slavery, suffering, and death. That, Radi, is evil and sinful. If you truly are for Allah, you must never help AQ! You must fight them.

Radi: You cannot be right. Allah requires strict obedience.

Mani: That is an interpretation, Radi, of imams who want power over us to direct our lives. There should be no compulsion in religion. No one should ever step between Allah and us.

Modi: Do not forget, Radi, many of those imams have no right to guide people. Many are uneducated and simply self-serving. Some are sadists who like nothing better than to uncover some offense, no matter how trivial, that gives them the opportunity to punish someone. They have no idea what our scriptures say and probably never will know.

Mani: Many of the names of Allah include the Compassionate, the Merciful, the All Knowing, the All Forgiving, the Wise, and the Generous, among others. People are human, the All Knowing knows this and He knows that humans are frail and sometimes give in to some minor temptations. If He really wanted you to punish people who you believe have sinned, where is the compassion, the all-forgiving, the mercy, and the generosity?

Radi: When he is punished, he is no longer a sinner.

Modi: He is no longer a person. Allah now has one fewer person to love and worship Him. You have robbed Him of a worshipper as you have robbed his children of a father and his wife of a husband. You have robbed a tribe of a member, weakening that tribe by one person. You have robbed his friends and his work. You have robbed the local shops of a customer. You robbed Allah and all of these others for what? Sin had nothing to do with it. You did it to satiate your own blood lust.

Mani: Radi, it seems to me that you are guilty of more than the sinners you punish.

Radi: I know you are both wrong, but my head hurts. I need some coffee.

Mani: Modi, looks as if you get the last word.

Modi: Donuts?

HJS

Series on Islam: "THREE FACES EAST Part 31" - By HJS

Mani (Mainstream): What on earth are we doing in this hot desert at midnight? Are we nuts? I should be home in bed, snoring.

Modi (Moderate): We are waiting for Al-Qaeda. Remember, a relative asked family and friends to help defend against an expected attack on their village. We just volunteered to help. How could we refuse?

Mani: I sure wish Radi (Radical) was here. Why isn’t he taking part?

Modi: Al-Qaeda is not his enemy. He identifies with both AQ and the Taliban. He thinks our new government is evil.

Mani: But you did ask Radi, didn’t you?

Modi: I could not do so. If I had explained what we needed to do and where we would be, he might let his buddies know about it and they would turn the tables on us.

Mani: But would he do that if he knew we were going to be here?

Modi: Would you take the chance?

Mani: What is that over to the left? Something is moving.

Modi: I see it. Ah, it is only a truck. I hear the motor now. I do not see anything behind it. Perhaps the AQ are not coming tonight.

Mani: It’s early yet. Modi, if we are involved in some shooting and get killed, are we martyrs?

Modi: We will have the same claim to martyrdom as those walking into a kid’s school with a homicide vest. Perhaps a better claim.

Mani: I don’t understand. If you die on God’s side in the battle, you become a martyr and see Paradise. The AQ and Taliban are always bragging about their martyrs. If we are fighting the AQ, are we on the side of Allah? The AQ said they are on the side of Allah.

Modi: IT IS NOT THE GROUP OR THE NATION THAT ALLAH SIDES WITH. Allah loves us all, the saints and the sinners. Allah gives us intellect and free will; He lets us choose what to believe and what to follow. If you truly believe that you are fighting for love of Him, then you are indeed a martyr. It does not matter what side you are on, or what religion you profess. Many coalition soldiers were killed to help us. If Allah is all knowing and fair, then the coalition troops can be martyrs also.

Mani: Are you saying that the Americans can go to Paradise to enjoy those 72 houris?

Modi: I cannot give you my opinion until you let me know what your definition is of the houris.

Mani: Why, virgins, of course. That is what is written.

Modi: Mani, I hate to say this; however, scholars have been whispering about that translation for centuries. Almost everyone wants the translation to be virgins, but the most likely translation is WHITE GRAPES. The Torah discusses the identical situation, but the Torah talks about Paradise and grapes.

Mani: What! (He jumps to his feet)

Modi: Hey, get down and for Allah’s sake shush. You will get us killed.

Mani: You are fooling with me. You can’t be serious!

Modi: Call my bluff. When you see AQ coming over the ridge, run over to them and start shooting.

Mani: How could anyone make such a mistake?

Modi: When Abu Bakr’s crew began putting all those ayats together, some were written down on banana leaves. The Arabic they used at that time did not have the extra marks we use today. Without those marks to indicate vowels, one word, for example, could be BAN, BIN, or BUN. If a dot were missing, the BAN word could be BAB, NAB, NAN, TAB, BAT, NAT, and on and on. Even now, if you forget a mark or misplace one, it is not that easy to determine what the word is. Back then, memory was considered more reliable than writing for that reason. Don’t fault the people trying to do the right thing; they had a very difficult, almost impossible task. Virgins and grapes are not that far apart in our writing.

Mani: You are making me ill.

Modi: Well, cut off the talk and keep watching the road.

Mani: Should we have something bigger than these AKs?

Modi: Well, personally, I’d like to have a field piece on one side and a tank on the other. Some of the others have RPGs and some light machineguns. I just hope AQ does not bring any heavy stuff with them. They usually travel light so that they can travel fast, strike, and get out. They may have some grenades.

Mani: Someone’s coming up behind us. (He re-directs his AK)

Fighter: I brought some coffee. It may be a long night.

Modi: Thank you for that (Shukran), believe me, it is welcome. Is there any sign of the AQ?

Fighter: Nothing so far. We sent out some people in different directions. They saw nothing. They are Bedouins who know this desert. If Al-Qaeda were there, they would know.

Mani: How many people are defending?

Fighter: We have not finished counting, but we expect about 200. It is many more than we anticipated. Fortunately, quite a few brought their own AKs. I would guess that a lot of people have had it with Al-Qaeda here. I have some more people to see. Allah protect you.

Mani: What you told Radi the other day appears to be correct. AQ is not as popular here any more. Why is that?

Modi: Too many failures and then killing other Sunnis to make their points.

Mani: What do we do if they don’t come tonight?

Modi: That depends. Would you like to make some good money?

Mani: (Perks up) Doing what?

Modi: I talked to our hosts before we came out here to watch. It seems they have a Shia trans-shipment place staked out. They need a few good fighters to raid the place.

Mani: Oh, yeah? What’s there?

Modi: Guns, ammo, RPGs, grenades, explosives. Lots of supplies.

Mani: I can guess it is from Iran, but who is supposed to get it all?

Modi: Us.

Mani: What?

Modi: Yep. However, we are not going to let them distribute it to us; we are going to take it from them and then turn anyone involved, especially Iranians, over to the government. We will pass out the arms to our own people, including a few Baathists on our side who know what they are doing and want to help keep this country unified and free of the Taliban and Wahhabis.

Mani: You talked me into it. You are a devious salesman. Okay, I am in, you SOB, even though I know that you are going to get me killed—with nothing more to look forward to than GRAPES!

Modi: Louie, something tells me this is the beginning of…

Mani: Shut the hell up you damned fool! (They both laugh)

Modi: Shh! Did I just hear an RPG launch? (Explosion)

Mani: Look! They are shooting up on the right.

Modi: Look straight ahead. Here they come. (Mani and Modi begin shooting)

HJS