I sent the following message to AMA, AMC, CAIR,
ICNA, ISNA, Hesham Reda, MPACDC1 and the
world forum ministry. I'll let you know if I receive any
responses...

-- Bahauddin

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As-Salaamu 'alaykum,

I am an American convert to Islam. For a long time, my appreciation and
practice of Islam was stagnate. This was due in part to the impression
our media has created that Muslims are intolerant, misogynistic fanatics
that hate America. Under this delusion, I was embarrassed to admit or
practice Islam.

Over a year ago, my wife asked me to visit a mosque in our area with the
hope that my heart would open up to Islam. Alhamdullilah, it did. The
message I heard from the Shaykh of this mosque was that Islam is the
religion of love, tolerance and peace. That by abiding by the Koran and
the Sunnah of the Prophet (saw), ones life could be transformed and
insha Allah return to “siraatal mustaqeem, siraatal ladheena an 'amta'
alaihim.” Suban-Allah, for over a year now, I have been in the company
of brothers and sisters who are friendly, kind, generous and above all
sincere in their Islam. Although I still know so little about Islam, I
do believe their sincerity is rubbing off and I feel that I am returning to
the straight path, to Islam.

Just as I was beginning to stand up and be proud that I had transcended
the madness of our media’s stereotypes of Islam, your organization and
several others have signed a condemnation of a Mr. Kabbani whose
message is that “traditional Islam, which is moderation and tolerance
and love - loving and to be loved – and living in peace with all other
faiths and religions.” Mr. Kabbani says “Islam, in general, is a religion that
calls for respecting everyone and living together with everyone.”

The condemnation your organization signed alleges that: “Mr. Kabbani is
telling government officials that the majority of American Muslims pose
a danger to our society.” The basis for this allegation is your claim that

Mr.
Kabbani “Alleged that the ‘ideology of extremism has been spread to
eighty percent of the [American] Muslim population.’ Having also stated that
‘extremists’ gained control of American mosques through elections, Mr.
Kabbani further strengthens the impression that the Muslim community as
a whole is extremist.”

If you take the time to read what Mr. Kabbani actually said you find the
following:
"Because they are very active [extremists] they took over the mosques;
and we can say that they took over more than 80% of the mosques that
have been established in the US. And there are more than 3000 mosques
in the US. So it means that the methodology or ideology of extremist has
been spread to 80% of the Muslim population, but not all of them agree
with it…. This is what I want to say to you, to present to you from
within the Muslim community. We want to tell you that the Muslim community
as a whole is innocent from whatever extremism and extremist ideology
is being spread around the world."

These actual statements by Mr. Kabbani directly and unequivocally
contradict your organization’s claim.

As an organization that is trying to defend Islam and protect American
muslims, your allegations have villified this Mr. Kabbani; inspiring
some misguided brothers to actually insult and threaten his life!
(May Allah forgive us all).

It seems evident to me that what is dividing our community is not
Mr. Kabbani who says “the Muslim community as a whole is innocent
from whatever extremism and extremist ideology is being spread
around the world." But rather organizations that condemn him for
saying it!

By condemning a fellow Muslim, you have done more to reinforce
the American lay person’s image of muslims as being intolerant then
anything this Mr. Kabbani said. For me, as an American convert who
was beginning to feel proud to be a muslim, your actions have made
me think twice and it sickens me to see how our muslim community
treats one another. Is the condemnation of another muslim Islamic?

I believe that as a muslim organization you are asking Allah to guide
you to Al-h Haqq. May Allah forgive us all, and keep us from making
accusations against our brothers and sisters that cause others to fall
away from “siraatal mustaqeem, siraatal ladheena an 'amta' alaihim.”

If I have said anything in error, may Allah forgive me, and please,
would you explain my error?

Was salam,
        Bahauddin