and Jazak Allah for these links! :-)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4304922.stm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timbuktu#UniversityofSankore

What’s also hardly mentioned is the Habshi Dynasty who ruled in what is now Bangladesh. The Habshi’s were Ethiopian slaves who were brought into Bangladesh in the 1400’s and eventually worked their way up the political ladder to become Sultans. The Habshi Ethiopian rulers are as follows: Barbak Shah Shahzada, Saifuddin Firuz Shah, Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah II, Shamsuddin Muzaffar Shah. (Source: http://banglapedia.search.com.bd )

The slavery in Muslim lands is far more benevolent than in Christendom. Slaves were treated much better, had a right to manumit themselves, and in many instances rose to become leaders of the country, e.g. Mamluks, Habshis etc.

Fair question, but one which could be equally applied to Christianity or other beliefs.”

Well, it was meant to apply apply to every set of beliefs- political or religious or other- actually. If you believe something irrational for irrational reasons then the rational thing to do is to behave irrationally when it’s threatened rather than trying to intellectually justify it.

I’m sorry, but I read some of the comments to that post. Gee, according to them, I’m lazy, a victim, and a needy minority with a inferiority complex. I guess all that’s left is to change my name, move to Morocco and marry some jerk named Mumar who will pimp me out to the highest bidder. :-)

I do get tired of this assumption that Blacks become Muslims because we are trying to reconnect with our African past. I can reconnect in a number of ways—wearing West African clothing, learning Fulani or Swahili or studying African culture and history. Many Black people remain Christian and recognize their African roots at the same time. After all, aren’t Africans a multitude of religions—including Christianity?

Prof. Sherman Jackson has labeled this accusation of Islam as being the main oppressor of Blacks as “Black Orientalism”. I became a Muslim because of la ilaha ill Allah, Muhammad rasul Allah, period. After studying Islam for about 4 years, I decided it was for me. And will he admit that fact that slavery has existed in one form or another in every society? Europeans oppressed other Europeans under the surf system. The majority of the slaves of the Muslim past were Turks, not Blacks, and eventually the Turks rose to power and eventually conquered their former masters.

As Shamil stated, West African mosques look completely different from mosques found in the Arab world. When Africans converted to Islam, they interpreted Islam in their own way. Too bad Fitzgerald didn’t bother to study any West African or Black American history to know the difference. Then again, it’s not as if Fitzgerald wrote that essay because of his abiding love for Black people.

It’s like he’s saying, “Well, Black people were only oppressed by their Christian brothers for a little bit while Arab Muslims oppressed Blacks for amillenia.” Like that makes it okay. By the by, last week I met a Liberian Christian woman who’s father lived in Egypt for years. Apparently he liked it so much that he remained there to become fluent in Arabic and he’s not even Muslim. So Fitzgerald can cut the crap about the rabid Arab racism towards Blacks. If a dark-skinned Liberian Christian man can feel at home in the Arab world, so can I.

Love the title. I didnt know you white Brits knew how to use slang. Ha Ha Ha.

I am certain that that is the case. Consider the way they speak about “black” Africans. Before the Europeans or the Arabs came they werent black but Hutu, Tutsi, Zulu, etc. etc. etc. But because of ignorance and racism they are now “black” Africans. If anything disregards the history of African people its the disregard that their distinct language, hsitory, tribe, religion, folklore is given.

People today only regard “black” Africans as European or Arab slaves, not having any control of their destiny. How contemtptuous. Particularly in West Africa what about the Empires of Mali and Timbuktu, Shanghai? Does Fitzgerald know anything about them? Ofcourse not, all he knows is blacks were slaves to Arabs. How insulting. No one needed to teach “black” Africans slavery, polygyny, warfare, religion, literature, state craft etc.

I mean if the Hutu and the Tutsis can go after eachother with machettes in an ethnic rivalry, why is so to hard to believe that they would have enslaved each other, or sold their rivals into slavery?

Wouldnt that speak to their humanity better than them just being some invaders slave?

Fair question, but one which could be equally applied to Christianity or other beliefs. There comes a point in my own belief in Christianity where I can’t argue it rationally. And that is fair enough, if you respect other people’s beliefs.

Yusuf is an example of a Muslim who argues his opinions rather than resorting to violence. I wish that the people torching the embassies had the same attitude.

I know which approach I respect more.

(Now wait for DrM to come at me with his potty mouthed insults…)