Top Muslim declares all Christians ‘Infidels’

By Rymond Ibrahim

Quoting the Quran (correctly) may be fueling the recent slaughter of Christians in Egypt.
To what extent was Egypt’s Maspero massacre, wherein the military literally mowed down Christian Copts protesting the ongoing destruction of their churches, a product of anti-Christian sentiment?

A video of Sheikh Ali Gomaa (or Gom’a), the grand mufti of Egypt, which began circulating weeks before the massacre, helps elucidate.  While holding that Muslims may coexist with Christians (who, as dhimmis, have rights), Gomaa categorized Christians as kuffar — “infidels” — a word that connotes “enemies,” “evil-doers,” and every bad thing to Muslim ears.
After quoting Quran 5:17, “Infidels are those who say God is the Christ, [Jesus] son of Mary,” he expounded by saying any association between a human and God (in Arabic, shirk) is the greatest sin: “Whoever thinks the Christ is God, or the Son of God, not symbolically — for we are all sons of God — but attributively, has rejected the faith which God requires for salvation,” thereby becoming an infidel.

Gomaa then offered a hypothetical dialogue between Christians and Muslims to illustrate further:
Christians: You have the wrong idea about us; we don’t worship the Christ.
Muslims: Okay, fine; we were under the wrong impression — but, by the way: “Infidels are those who say God is the Christ, son of Mary.”
Christians: But these are philosophical matters that we are unable to explain.
Muslims: Okay, fine; God is one—but, by the way: “Infidels are those who say God is the Christ, son of Mary.”

As a graduate of and long-time professor at  Al Azhar  university before being named grand mufti, Ali Gomaa represents mainstream Islam’s — not “radical Islam’s” or “Islamism’s” — position concerning the “other,” in this case, Christians. Regardless, many in the West hail him as a “moderate” — such as this U.S. News article titled “Finding the Voices of Moderate Islam“; Lawrence Wright  describes him as “a highly promoted champion of moderate Islam”:

He is the kind of cleric the West longs for, because of his assurances that there is no conflict with democratic rule and no need for theocracy. Gomaa has also become an advocate for Muslim women, who he says should have equal standing with men.

How does one reconcile such sunny characterizations with reality?  The fact is, whenever top Muslim authorities like Gomaa say something that can be made to conform to Western ideals, Westerners jump on it (while of course ignoring more “extreme” positions).  It is the same with Gomaa’s alma mater, Al Azhar, the “chief center of Islamic and Arabic learning in the world.”

MEMRI, for instance, recently published a report titled “The Sheikh of Al Azhar in an Exceptionally Tolerant Article: Christianity, Judaism Share Basic Tenets of Islam.”  Of course, the day after this report appeared,  the same sheikh insisted that the American ambassador wear a hijab when meeting him: just as Muslim “radicals” compel Christian girls to wear the hijab, “moderate” Al Azhar compels U.S. Diplomats.

In short, yes, there are commonalities, but they are secondary to the differences, which are more final and define the relationship. Or, to put it in Ali Gomaa’s paradigm: Fine, Christianity and Islam share similar tenets — but, by the way: “Infidels are those who say God is the Christ, son of Mary.”

The fact is, this Quranic verse is as much a cornerstone of Islam’s view of Christianity as the unity of God and Christ is a cornerstone of Christianity, articulated some 1700 years ago in the Nicene Creed. The issue is clear cut for all involved.

Accordingly, how can one fault Gomaa? As grand mufti, he is simply being true to Islam’s teachings. Indeed, his consistency is more commendable than the equivocations of Western ecumencalists who, by falling over themselves to assure Muslims that they all essentially believe in the same things, demonstrate, especially to Muslims, that they believe in nothing.

Incidentally, if Gomaa upholds the plain teachings of the Quran concerning who is an infidel, is it not fair to assume he also upholds the Quran’s teachings on how to treat them, as commanded in Quran 9: 29: “Fight … the People of the Book [Jews and Christians] until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.”  Of course, prudent Muslims, undoubtedly like Gomaa himself, know that now is not the time to talk openly about such things.

Either way, here is another reminder of how Quranic verses and terms that Western people brush aside as arcane or irrelevant have a tremendous impact on current events — such as the Maspero massacre: For the same word Gomaa used to describe Christians is the same word Muslim soldiers used when they opened fire on and ran over Christians; the same word twenty Muslim soldiers used as they tortured a protesting Christian; and the same word Muslims hurled at Christians during the funeral procession for their loved ones slain at Maspero: infidel.

Who hijacked who? Why?

Muslims worldwide are on a proselytizing campaign. They have joined the ranks of the J.W's, and the Mormons in "picking off" poor ignorant "almost Christians", and uninformed naive Christians.

Many different types of Muslims claim to be true Muslims. Some Muslims make the claim that other Muslims are not really Muslims. The fundamentalist Muslims issue religious proclamations, or fatwas, against secular and moderate Muslims. Sunni True Muslims kill Shiite True Muslims, and Shiite True Muslims kill Sunni True Muslims, while the "lost" Muslims, the Bahai, have to be slaughtered by ALL TRUE Muslims.

Meanwhile moderates of various stripes claim that the fundamentalists have "hijacked Islam," which is a rather strange concept when you think about it for a while. Understanding different kinds of Muslims within the theological and ideological framework of Islam is a way for non-Muslims to gain perspective and insights about the Islamic world-view as lived out by Muslims today.

The following list is intended to be a starting point and a frame of reference for non-Muslims to gain awareness and understanding about different types of Muslims. The list does not cover the various sects of Islam (Sunni, Shia, Ahmadiyya, Bahai, Druze) nor the schools of thought (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi, Hanbali).

The loyal, well-informed fundamentalist

This type of Muslim supports his views with detailed explanations from the Quran and gives examples from the life and teachings of Mohammed as recorded in the Hadith. He tries to live a life which is consistent with the character and life example (sunna) of Mohammed, which include details of how to dress, bathe, and groom among other things. These Muslims include the religious leaders. They are considered to be conservative in their theology and world-view.

The savvy fundamentalist

This is the Muslim who pretends to be a well informed moderate. At best they “proof-text” some of their claims by emphasizing certain verses and texts from the Quran. They try to position Islam as compatible with freedom and democracy and seem very intellectual. They are often well spoken. well educated and very pleasant personalities. The savvy fundamentalist understands the non-Muslim mind and culture very well and can present Islam effectively in it's best light to the non-Muslim audience. They will use vague generalities about what is or is not Islam. They attempt to make Islam seem benign. These are often Muslim leaders in the west and are held up as moderate Muslims. They are quick to make the point that Muslims are victims and they have conspiracy theories to explain how Muslims are innocent.

The ignorant fundamentalist

This type of Muslim can’t always point to chapter and verse in the Quran and Hadith, but believes the teachings of the loyal, well-informed fundamentalist. Can be easily manipulated by both the fundamentalists and the moderates depending on the context of an issue.

The well-informed moderate

The well-informed moderate understands fundamentalist Islam and understands that a moderate form of Islam is contradictory to the orthodox teachings of Islam. They don't want to have anything to do with fundamentalist Islam, are often secular in their lifestyle, and trying to position Islam and influence the Muslim masses into a moderate and tolerant world-view. They are often highly educated in the west and may view Islam from a cultural rather than a religious perspective. Some Muslim political leaders are in this category and they struggle to keep the loyal, well-informed fundamentalists from gaining too much power by opposing them at times and appeasing them at other times. The savvy fundamentalist tries to position himself as the well-informed moderate, and thus the two are often difficult to distinguish from one another without a careful examination of their statements and actions.

The self-deceived moderate

This is a non-religious, secular Muslim who doesn’t like Islamic theology. He is self-convinced that his view of Islam is the correct view and believes that his view ought to be developed by Muslims in the non-Muslim world. He has given some serious thought to his world-view and if pressed would be shown to be one who has actually broken his ties with Islam. He may not really believe Mohammed is a prophet of God but would never say so. Will often go along with the well-informed moderate, sometimes an active opponent of the loyal, well-informed fundamentalist, and sometimes ignorantly works in partnership with and lends credibility to the savvy fundamentalist.

The ignorant moderate

This type of Muslim has a belief system, world-view, and life-style which is unsubstantiated by the Quran and Hadith. The vast majority of Muslims in a non-Muslim majority country fit into this category. They are often very friendly, nice, easy-going. They don't want to give too much time and attention to understanding Islamic theology. Neither an active opponent of fundamentalist Islam nor an active supporter of secular forms of Islam. They just want to be left alone and live in peace. Although they are somewhat theologically and ideologically passive, they will sometimes go along with the self-deceived moderate when required to take a stance.

There are a few things in common between these different types of Muslims. The biggest commonality is that they all are sensitive about protecting what they perceive to be the honor of Mohammed, the one Muslims call a prophet. Even the well-informed moderate is reluctant to say anything that could be construed as dishonorable to the prophet of Islam. On a practical level, one of the greatest sins a Muslim could ever commit is to deny the prophethood of Mohammed, especially by becoming a Christian. For this reason, even moderate Muslims never speak out for freedom of religion to the extent that they support Muslims leaving Islam.