You’re right, of course. But surely, in spite of the exigencies of free speech, can one really endorse such passages and still remain committed to the modern concept of citizenship in an overtly secular, pluralistic society?

“You have been going round various blogs using this name, but generally shaikhs do not announce themselves as imam so-and-so, or even shaikh so-and-so…”

I am not an ‘imam’, at least not on a clerical, scholarly level. Ones name can be ‘Imam’ for the same reason that one can find Muslim women called Shaykhah.

In my experience, Islamic religious scholars usually include their honorifics and titles in written communication. Though, I doubt they’d introduce themselves as such in the street.

You’re unlikely to find my name on the Net…perhaps if you ask a Yemeni…

My full title Should be Imam Abu ‘Ali Husayn bin Yahya Badr ud-Deen al-Huthi, but I get tired of writing all that out.

No doubt you’d like to pidgeonhole me as a deceiver or some such mischievous trickster using false credentials. Well, I quite enjoy reading your articles and others on the Net, and see no reason to use a pseudonym just because I disagree with something that somebody writes.

No doubt if you do a bit of research you will retrieve some of my comments and you will remark that:

1) I never use bad language.

2) I never belittle or mock.

3) I ‘reward’ insightful, erudite and piquant prose with salutary comments and appraisals.

4) I prefer frank and honest debate to weasel words and euphemism.

If you would rather I didn’t comment in future, I will respect your wishes but continue to patronise your site in a ‘read-only’ capacity, if you so wish.

Oh, and one more thing, if you’ll indulge me…

From where did you glean the information that Dr Rashad Khalifah RIP was once a Copt? It’s the first time I’ve heard about it…not that I’m a ‘submitter’ you understand.

Who are you, anyway? You have been going round various blogs using this name, but generally shaikhs do not announce themselves as imam so-and-so, or even shaikh so-and-so; it is others who call them that. Where are you an imam and what is your proper name?

Isn’t law-abiding UK citizenship predicated on being anathema to domestic violence?

http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-faith-column/2008/08/women-beating-quran-chapter

This is standard practice to promote fringe groups. I wonder who they’ll find next!?

“Nevertheless, I have found a community where I can read and reflect on the Qur’an and decide for myself, as well as put in to practice what I have grasped, namely the UK Community of Submitters.”

What can you expect from people who have no sense of irony?

wasalaam

Ismaeel