[ShiaHazara]

according to muslim blogger here:

American-Muslims Looking at Cali Fires from Two Different Vantage Points « Umar Lee

As American-Muslims we are presented with a choice; we can remain isolated in this society and either yearn for a return back to out homelands or yearn for hijrah if we are converts or we can fully embrace our status as Americans. If one makes the decision, as I have, to be fully American and full Muslim at the same time, and to be a person that eagerly awaits Ramadan and Eid as I eagerly look forward to the World Series and Super Bowl every year, then you have another decision of whether you will be a “in the closet Muslim” or be a Muslim on the offensive proudly declaring your Islam to all.I have chosen to be a Muslim on the offensive and an American who is comfortable in my skin and I look to support those Muslim leaders and organizations that are like-minded. I do not want to work with Muslims who live in an Islamic fantasyland and do not want to recognize the complexities of the world we live in and therefore cannot work to formulate any solutions to solve the problems we are facing other than regurgitating some fatwas from long dead people or people who have never lived in this country.

Since I posted the words of Imam Mahdi Bray of the MAS Freedom Foundation yesterday in which he encouraged all Muslims to donate and volunteer in the effort to help the victims of the fires in California and to help with the MAS Service Corps if they can in addition to their prayers some other deranged Muslims have attempted to post comments on my blog critical of Mahdi Bray and myself.

These Muslims have said that the fires are a blessing from Allah as a punishment to the American people and specifically prayed for the fires to reach those marines at Camp Pendleton in Southern California ( where my grandfather was once stationed). These deranged Muslims (coming from the same source as those highlighted in the New York Times article recently who I have clashed with before, namely Sameer Khan) represent an extremism that runs counter to the spirit of Islam and a danger to the American people while Imam Mahdi Bray represents a spirit of Muslim activism combined with American patriotism born out of his experience as an African-American Muslim.


Active Muslims in America have a choice; do we follow the path of sanity and logic as offered by Mahdi Bray and others in the mainstream or do we follow the path of extremism and hate as offered by Sameer Khan and those who think like him and if we choose the way of Khan, as a very tiny percentage of Muslims do, then isn’t your presence in America an act of hypocrisy in and of itself?

If we are going to be in this country we must love it and want what is good for it and care for our neighbors whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims, and if this is not what we want, then there is an option to leave if you hate this country so much (after all no one is forcing you to be here and you can denounce your citizenship at any time).

This spirit of an American-Muslim does not mean that we cannot be critical and oppose those polices that are unjust in America as those such as Mahdi Bray do in opposing the war in Iraq, a policy of confrontation with the Muslim World, racism, economic injustice, the lack of universal health-care and the attacks on civil liberties we face in our country. It simply means that we want to make America a better place for us all.

[ShiaHazara]

Here's Samir's thoughts on the Cali fire, and yet some would call him a "brother"

The Ignored Puzzle Pieces of Knowledge » The California Fire and Allah’s wrath

[nooni]

its not just few muslims who do this but non muslims have done this as well.

When hurricane katrina happened, there were many americans who were saying that its God's punishment to the city of New Orleans for for holding Mardi gras.

[roberto]

Originally Posted by ShiaHazara

according to muslim blogger here:

American-Muslims Looking at Cali Fires from Two Different Vantage Points « Umar Lee

Ridiculous, but why am I not surprised

[LEGALEAGLE]

Originally Posted by nooni

its not just few muslims who do this but non muslims have done this as well.

When hurricane katrina happened, there were many americans who were saying that its God's punishment to the city of New Orleans for for holding Mardi gras.

and Ronald Reagan's former speech writer believes that that america is 'the wh$re of babylon'

why are the views of a few muslims being held up for scrutiny when the views of millions of christians running the white house aren't ?

[Shahnawaz]

Natural Disasters are one of two things: Punishment from Allah or Trials/Tests of faith.

I don't see many faithfulls in that pertcular area, so I know what ths must be.
Anyone care to contest on Islamic grounds? Go on... I dare you...

[Variable]

I think the fires are caused by a combustion reaction involving a dry source of fuel and large quantities of oxygen.

[nooni]

Originally Posted by Variable

I think the fires are caused by a combustion reaction involving a dry source of fuel and large quantities of oxygen.

LOL same here!

[Kaminyu]

Originally Posted by Shahnawaz

Natural Disasters are one of two things: Punishment from Allah or Trials/Tests of faith.

I don't see many faithfulls in that pertcular area, so I know what ths must be.
Anyone care to contest on Islamic grounds? Go on... I dare you...

Well, you need to prove that this is the case on Islamic grounds first.

The fact that natural disasters can and do happen where there are no people around, is evidence enough for me, that the reasons you've given aren't the only reasons they happen. Also, the fact that they're sometimes seasonal (and hence somewhat predictable) says a lot as well.

Wildfires are a natural part of the ecosystem in many, but not all, forest types, as it is sometimes essential for forest regeneration. You can't claim an ND is always part of God's trial or punishment for people, when it can't be substantiated through authentic Islamic sources and it may in fact be (and most likely is) just part of the local/regional/global ecosystem, or the risk of living on an ever-changing Earth.

It may act as a trial for some and/or a punishment for others (something every human being is bound to encounter in their lives), but that doesn't mean that's the only reason they exist.

[Wolfn]

Originally Posted by Variable

I think the fires are caused by a combustion reaction involving a dry source of fuel and large quantities of oxygen.

And Al-Queda (or so says Fox News)

[Shahnawaz]

My friend, if such a thing occurs in an area where there is no one around nor are there property belonging to poeple, how then can it be termed a disaster???
Is it not just a natuaral occurence?

A disaster which affects poeples life, be it natural or inadvertatly caused by poeple, are either of the two. Punishment or Tests.

As for references, I thought it was well-known. Are you not aware of what happened to Qowm Lut, Aad, Thamud or the People of Nuh? These are disasters that befell poeple because of their rebellion.

[Kaminyu]

Originally Posted by Shahnawaz

My friend, if such a thing occurs in an area where there is no one around nor are there property belonging to poeple, how then can it be termed a disaster???
Is it not just a natuaral occurence?

A natural cataclysm does not need the involvement of people nor their properties to be considered as such.

A disaster which affects poeples life, be it natural or inadvertatly caused by poeple, are either of the two. Punishment or Tests.

It can also simply just be their destiny/fate, like so many other things are.

As for references, I thought it was well-known. Are you not aware of what happened to Qowm Lut, Aad, Thamud or the People of Nuh? These are disasters that befell poeple because of their rebellion.

But they do not demonstrate that all natural disasters only occur as a punishment or a test for people.

[FMROMMEL]

Originally Posted by Variable

I think the fires are caused by a combustion reaction involving a dry source of fuel and large quantities of oxygen.

Do you have proof?~

[Kaminyu]

Originally Posted by FMROMMEL

Do you have proof?~

When he says "I think...", it means it's his opinion. Personal opinions do not need proof to be as such.

[farah]

Originally Posted by Shahnawaz

I don't see many faithfulls in that pertcular area, so I know what ths must be.
Anyone care to contest on Islamic grounds? Go on... I dare you...

amazing! i didn't know you had the ability to see or judge a person's level of faith!

oh. oh wait...