The Obama Project@WindonWater.net

A critic of Obama’s speech took issue with the President extending the greetings of peace, writing:

According to Islamic law, a Muslim may only extend this greeting — Peace be upon you — to a fellow Muslim. To a non-Muslim he is to say, “Peace be upon those who are rightly guided,” i.e., Peace be upon the Muslims. Islamic law is silent about what Muslims must do when naive non-Muslim Islamophilic Presidents offer the greeting to Muslims.

Really?  Is that also the rule when Jewish people address one another with Shalom Alechem? (Essentially the exact same phrase, but in Hebrew instead of Arabic)?

Even if this nonsensical criticism made sense, here’s what the President said:

I am honored to be in the timeless city of Cairo, and to be hosted by two remarkable institutions. For over a thousand years, Al-Azhar has stood as a beacon of Islamic learning, and for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt’s advancement. Together, you represent the harmony between tradition and progress. I am grateful for your hospitality, and the hospitality of the people of Egypt. I am also proud to carry with me the goodwill of the American people, and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country: assalaamu alaykum.

In other words – he’s sending a message from Muslim to Muslim.  I think some of the critics should slow their fast fingers and think first…

QT

Trackback URI | Comments RSS