Muslim Leaders Explain Sharia Law Amid Mosque Concerns

The Brookfield Common Council may vote Tuesday night on preliminary and final approvals for a mosque.

By Lisa Sink
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May 15, 2012

Local Muslim leaders address concerns about Sharia law at an April 23 public information session at Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church.

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Brookfield physician Mushir Hassan answers questions about a proposed mosque at a presentation held at Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church.

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A crowd of about 100 gathered at a presentation by the Islamic Society of Milwaukee on a proposed mosque in Brookfield. Many backed the plans, with some raising concerns and not joining others' applause for supportive comments.

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Three Muslim women from Brookfield said they are part of the fabric of the community — soccer moms, working moms and local volunteers. (Left to right) Ayesha Siddiqui, Orusa Hassan and Masarat Allagaband.

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This City Hall hallway was one of two overflow areas filled after the main Common Council chambers was packed with a standing-room-only crowd for Monday night's public hearing on the proposed mosque.

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Local Muslim leaders address concerns about Sharia law at an April 23 public information session at Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church.

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With Brookfield aldermen poised to vote Tuesday on a proposed mosque, one concern raised by critics has been Sharia law.

At a public information session held at Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church, leaders of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee explained how Muslims use Sharia law, that they do not apply it to non-Muslims and they obey the U.S. Constitution. Some residents were not convinced.

Mushir Hassan, a Brookfield resident, physician and a project leader for the mosque, also addressed Sharia law among other concerns in a Q&A interview with Patch.

City officials say they can not consider religious concerns when they vote on the mosque request and must stick to site, traffic and zoning issues. The city Plan Commission last week unanimously recommended the project be approved, after listening to overwhelming support from residents and Islamic Society members.

The council meeting starts at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 2000 N. Calhoun Rd.

For more information on the mosque, see Patch's previous stories.

Related Topics: Brookfield Mosque, Islamic Society of Milwaukee, and Sharia Law

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Carol Reigle

2:51 pm on Saturday, May 19, 2012

Unlike Catholic Canon Law and Jewish law, which apply only to believers of those faiths, Sharia (Islamic law) assumes governance over all non-Muslims. While sharia has an eithical and moral aspect to guide believers in their personal behavior, sharia is at the same time, a social, legal, political, and millitary authority for Muslims. According to Imam Rauf, "Since Shariah is understood as a law with God at its center, it is not possible in principle to limit the Shariah to some aspects of human life and leave out others." It is all of one piece. If a little sharia is introduced, there will always be those who will agitate for more.

Politically, according to sharia (Reliance of the Traveller, a sharia manual
available at bookstores), it is "invalid to appoint a non-Muslim (kafir) to authority,
even to rule over non-Muslims."(p. 602)

As a war manual, on p. 599 is the definition of Islamic war: "Jihad means to war against non-Muslims, and is etymologically derived from the word 'mujahada,' signifying warfare to establish the religion." Islamic war policy is based not only on Koranic verses ("Slay them wherever you find them," [4:89], "Fight the idolators utterlÿ," [9:36], but also on Muhammad's words: "I have been commanded to fight people until they testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah...."[p. 599). Islamic war is to last until the day of Judgment. (p. 602)
Sharia is barbaric. It has no place in U.S. courts.

Michael

5:51 pm on Saturday, May 19, 2012

Well, the Islamic Society of Milwaukee's mission Statement says
"Our mission is to serve the religious, educational and social needs of our community and to promote good citizenship; to advocate for social justice, to build relations with other communities and to assist those in need, all according to the Qur’an and Sunnah [the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)]." In essence ISM is saying our religion is based on the Koran, our personal life is based on the Koran, our social justice is based on the Koran, our relations to other communities are based on the Koran, and our political life is based on the US laws and constitution and not based on the Koran.