[nancywind]

Well, there is a rather huge degree of difference between a non-Muslim who does not believe in Islam, but who otherwise has no ill-will towards Muslims versus a non-believer who goes out of his or her way to attack Islam, insult Muslims, and who actively seeks to destroy all Islamic influences in the world. Should both be treated as one and the same and both hated? Oh I should point out that I was not inferring that all Muslims believe in randomly killing kufr (only that many non-Muslim secular extremists in the West do make that generalization). Regarding secularism, I understand the arguement. However what I have not seen is any agreement amongst Islamic scholars on what things or ideas in the modern world should be classified as "secular". I have also never seen any agreement amongst scholars as to what a truly Islamic nation should look like in the modern world. If you know of any Islamic scholars who have wrote extensively on that issue I'd greatly appreciate any information on them and would very much like to study their writings. So far the closest I've seen so far is Shaykh Hamza Yussuf, but he's rejected and ridiculed by many Muslims.

By the way, as it shows to the left, I am not a Muslim, but rather a Theist (I believe in One God, but do not follow any organized religion so basically I'm a Unitarian more or less). I have however spent the last decade studying Islamic theology on and off as a anthropologist in the field of peace and conflict studies and have lived in several Muslim countries during my life. It may be a fools errand and completely hopeless, but I'm trying to understand how Western non-Muslim societies and Islamic societies can peacefully coexist as equals from not only a religious standpoint, but also from an economic standpoint as well.

Most Americans for example have absolutely no wish for the U.S. to be further involved in meddling in the affairs of other countries (especially Muslim nations). However economic powers often overide what the citizens of a country want (and as such, threaten democracy as we see in America where corporations have the most control over the government). I'm also looking at Islamic economic organizations and whether realistically they can be be self-sufficient or whether they are forced to rely on non-Muslim economic powers. There is also the issue of whether certain forms of capitalism are compatible (or not) with Islamic values and the shariat. Finally, I'm also looking at whether there are alternatives to fighting Western hegemony using non-violent forms of Jihad that are more effective in the long-term then violent strategies. That is actually an issue not just for Muslim countries, but also for many cultures around the world that fear that their values and traditions are being wiped out by the onslaught of Western culture, technology, and economic power. At any rate, I see all of these issues as key to peaceful coexhistence, but sadly few people seem to be interested in such things these days. At any rate, I'm stating these things just so that you know my intentions.

While your research is indeed important, we the Muslims have been warned about all the calamities and war which if Allah Wills will happen between Muslims and non-Muslims allied forces. What I find as fascinating is the US's obsession in stopping any Muslim country from implementating the sharia law. Is there any particular reasons on why the US through CIA and other secret agencies would go to the extreme length to prevent the implementation of sharia law? If the US and the West still adamant of not letting the Muslims to implement the laws of our choice, then we don't have much option but to enforce it, thus can be the catalysts of a major war.

While studying about Islam, I believe you may have come across several hadiths from the Prophet regarding the major wars before the end of time?

I believe you've read the hadith about Khorasan wars. And most probably you've read about the hadith on the phases of Muslims ruling era?
"There will be Prophethood for as long as Allah wills it to be, then He will remove it when He wills, then there will be Khilafah on the Prophetic method and it will be for as long as Allah wills, then He will remove it when He wills, then there will be biting Kingship for as long as Allah Wills, then He will remove it when He wills, then there will be oppressive kingship for as long as Allah wills, then he will remove it when He wills, and then there will be Khilafah upon the Prophetic method" and then he remained silent.

Are we in the transition era from the oppresive kingship/rulers to the Khilafah upon the Prophetic method? When combined with all other hadiths (sufferings in Syaams and Iraq, Abyan Aden, tribulations in Egypts, etc), though we don't know for sure, but there are signs that we may be in this transition period.

And if you observe the reactions from some groups in the West, those who are afraid of Islam are becoming more reactive to spread the message of Islamophobic. I bet nobody in the West would believe that Afghanistan would be a burden to the major powers considering their weapons technology and how poor the country is, except the Muslims since we've been told that the people of Khorasan who are poor will be attacked by an alliance of major non-Muslim power but they will prevail.

Now if we can apply the same confidence level of non-Muslims towards any movement who is trying to establish sharia law, then we might have the same kind of confrontation but at a much bigger scale, since it is absolutely necessary for us to uphold the laws in the Quran in our everyday's lives.

Allah Knows Best.