Dear Christian, I am a Muslim
My faith too commands me not to kill, to steal, or to commit adultery. It too tells me to love my neighbour and to honour my parents.
I uphold virtue and cast aside vice. I turn to God and shun the Devil. I seek Heaven and fear Hell.
And I am not like you.
I believe in an Absolute indivisible, un-containable, infinite entity as my God, not a Trinity.
I believe in Muhammad as the Seal of the Prophets and in the Qur'an as the Seal of the Books - not different from past books or messengers but the final edition of both. I see the similarities in all faiths because I consider them my predecessors in Time.
I follow the 12 Divine Imams (leaders) after the Prophet who brought no new laws or revelations but were protectors and preservers of the true Islam.
I pray 5 times a day facing the Holy Kaabah in Makkah, I fast for a whole month every year and follow the laws of my own faith.
Tell me, am I any different from a Christian than a Jew is? Is that not the reason why there are 3 monotheistic faiths and not one? We share the same concepts but follow different rules.
Why then is my faith singled out for disfavour?
If you don't believe me, then tell me why ...
... when a monster mutates the law of Islam and commits horrors against the innocent, he is called a Muslim Militant - is it the alliteration that makes it look good in print?
... when terrorists usurp the rights of citizens and behave in a beastly fashion, they are part of an Islamist faction - is there some rhythm in these syllables that raises viewer ratings?
... when an offshoot of Christian fundamentalism commits a crime in the name of Christ, it is immediately reduced to the level of a cult, a term that clearly severs it from the main body of faith, yet Islam is not allowed the same freedom?
Where do I need to apply for such a respect to be given to Islam? Who do I ask for answers to my questions? Who will trust my claims that Islam is peaceful when the world is taught over and over again the words that brand it as violent and unreasonable?
I am an orthodox Muslim, a follower of the fundamentals of my faith but dare I call myself a 'fundamentalist'? Not unless I
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