Anwar al-Awlaki is a radicalized imam who was born in the US but who is now living in Yemen and who has made a name for himself as a sympathizer to Al Qaeda and violent extremism. He was one of the staff imams at the Dar al Hijrah Islamic Center in Virginia back in 2001, and it seems that three of the 9-11 hijackers attended his services. It seems now that Major Nidal Malik Hasan was also a fan of al-Awlaki's teachings and attended some of his sermons - and al-Awlaki has now seized upon the actions of Hasan to pay homage to and glorify the Fort Hood attacks. This comes on the heels of news that Hasan reportedly tried to contact Al Qaeda.
What is there to say about al Awlaki? Though once a mainstream, moderate Imam, today he's a radical extremist islamist. On his website, he calls all muslims who have condemned Hasan's attack at Fort Hood "traitors to Islam" - I guess he's talking about me, and frankly I am proud to be labeled a traitor by the likes of scum such as he.
Al Awlaki is far outside the mainstream of the muslim American community. The Dar al Hijrah center has completely repudiated al Awlaki's statements and disavowed any relationship to him - here is their statement:
VA. MOSQUE REPUDIATES PRAISE FOR FORT HOOD KILLINGS - TOP
(FALLS CHURCH, VA., 11/9/09) - Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church, Va., today repudiated hate-filled statements made by a former imam who praised the recent killings at Fort Hood in Texas.
In its statement, the mosque said:
"As we understand the teaching of the scriptures, our mission and method as Americans of faith is to enrich our society with service, wisdom and beautiful preaching of God's love and mercy to all of mankind.
"We openly denounce the statement of Mr. Al-Awlaki as posted on his website. During Mr. Al-Awlaki's short employment at our center, his public speech was consistent with the values of tolerance and cooperation. After returning to Yemen, Mr. Awlaki now claims that the American Muslims who have condemned the violent acts of Major Hasan have 'committed treason against the Muslim Umaah [community] and have fallen into hypocrisy.'
"With this reversal, Mr. Al-Awlaki has clearly set himself apart from Muslims in America. We continue to send our condolences and prayers for recovery of all the victims of this godless act."
Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center is one the largest and diverse Islamic Centers in the nation. We are committed to service the community as a place of worship, education and social service. Learn more at www.hijrah.org.
CONTACT: Imam Johari Abdul-Malik, Director of Outreach, (202) 345-5233
Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center
3159 Row Street NW
Falls Church, VA 22044
Tel: (703) 536-1030
Fax: (202) 536-1035
URL: http://www.hijrah.org
Email: dardirector@hijrah.org
Al Awlaki's ideology is well beyond the bounds of even the most conservative muslim groups - for example, here is a two-part video refutation of al Awlaki's ideologies by salafi muslims:
Part 1 -
Part 2 -
Lots more information about Anwar al-Awlaki and Nidal Malik Hasan at Talk Islam, in addition to the ongoing Fort Hood attacks coverage.
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I am very glad that I am not the author of this article. It's one thing to disagree with a sweeping statement that another Muslim might make in public. But, it is a huge injustice to call another Muslim a "self-promoting coward", a "scum", and a "radical extremist islamist". Doing so is called slander and it is transgressing the limits set by Allah.
I thought you followed the Salaf? Why is your picture displayed openly then? I thought Allah has cursed the picture maker? Did you hire a Hindu to take your picture? You seem no different than a Christian propaganda lover in this article. Islamist....come on....what does that even mean, really?
Islam + ist= One who practices Islam. Get a dictionary! You are using the propaganda of the western media against Muslims. This isn't the first time Muslims have been mislabeled either. Christian missionaries used to call us "Mohammadans" as well.
I suppose God's love is found in the bullet hole covered bodies of Iraqi and Afghan women and children for the past 10 years? When will it be Halal to fight back in defense? How many Muslims must die before the Ummah cannot sit down and just pretend to smile about it?
Why can people not defend their homes, wives, children, and neighbors, from aggressive murdering rapists?
I have a neighbor with a mentally retarded son, and even this child knows that it is wrong to hurt others....but I guess Muslims with your methodology know less than a retarded child.
Salaam Alaykum,
It is hurtful and disturbing that so many Muslims jump to defend Anwar Awlaki even though he has himself became an oppressor. In Islam, we do not have ultimate allegiance to one tribe or another, rather our ultimate allegience is to the principles of Justice.
Anwar Awlaki supports al-Qaeda, who in turn support killing civilian non-combatants, support suicide bombings, and support hateful rhetoric which has only brought more misery upon the Muslims. If they really care about helping oppressed Muslims, they would use the non-violent, legal means of protesting injustice. Bombings beget bombings, and every suicide bombing is followed by an air strike. We need Wisdom; the Wisdom to break the cycle of violence and to promote a peaceful world; the Wisdom to understand that not every American is our enemy and, in fact, many Americans share the same values as Muslims. We can come together on these values and marginilize the extremists on both sides of the ocean.
Anwar Awlaki offers the world a message of hate, killing, and violence. He promotes war and revenge instead of peace and reconciliation. He demonizes the United States just as Islamophobes demonize Muslims.
Dear Muslims, support the Amman Message and A Common Word. We need these initiatives now more than ever.
If you can not serve due to your phony religion and its ideas then dont join. The US would be way better off had they never led the middle eastern people immigrate in the first placed.
Islam as well as all other religions is a sham and only simple minded people would truly believe in the Koran.
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did nadal killed innocents, as its alwayz a big up-roar from media and mouth piece of kufaar......we don't see any statements when millions are killed in iraq,afghanistan,palestine,kashmir but alwayz see the statement when even a dog of enemy of Allah dies. where is concept of one Ummah, Al wala wal bara.
sold for dollars and don't want to loose luxuries of west.
from a brother
Jazak Allah
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