In the 200 Palestine uprising, I was shocked and disturbed to see how the Israeli soldiers were indiscriminately killing unarmed protesters in Palestine. By seeing the atrocious acts of Israeli soldiers, I thought to do something about it. My mind was filled with many thoughts. First, I thought guerrilla war is not an answer to this situation. Second, I thought a conventional war against Israel is unrealistic and third I thought by marching and protesting against these atrocities in the Untied States of America and creating pressure on America’s political leaders could achieve good results and also I kept in my mind that America has an unbreakable relationship with Israel. So I started walking door to door of Islamic organizations to organize a demonstration.
I believed since I was young, none of Muslim organization showed interest in the idea but ICNA respected my opinion and asked its Majlis Shura to hold an emergency meeting on the Palestinian issue. ICNA was seriously committed to deliver what I desired to have the largest Muslim demonstration in America and ICNA was able to unite five different Muslim groups for the demonstration.
The rally taught me a lot. It was astonishing to see all kind of Muslims at the rally but most of the participants did not seem to know why they are at the rally and what was actually going on in Palestine. Some of them were giving TV and Radio interviews without consulting with the organizers. To me it was an amazing experience. I was also hearing their gossip and witnessing their attitude. By seeing all these I have lost hope and believe that these people will not be able to keep Muslim honor because I was expecting high morals and high quality of participation to demonstration to the world that Muslims are well-mannered individuals.
The more interesting thing is that they were chanting with so many funny phrases. I think, some of them truly believed that America is God and America will rescue them from all kind of troubles in the Muslim countries. I started realize that the rally was a waste of time and nothing will come out from it. For example, New York Post reported on 14 November 2000 that some people were chanting at the rally “Children are dying, where is the USA"?” Those reports gave me a clear understanding that my ambition to create pressure on American political leaders will never succeed because most of the organizers do not have any political understanding or the correct Islamic knowledge. The organizers were in acting as helpless beggars.
They failed to realize that America is an unbreakable ally of Israel and that a high level intellectual and political approach is required to achieve any good result to Palestine situation instead they were directing finger at America and also they were asking American help in the matter. On one hand they were accusing America for supporting Israel and on the other hand they were asking America to help them. I was really confused. What were they actually saying? Were they insane? They were cursing America and wanted to get help from America. What a stupidity.
After the rally, I was walking toward 42nd subway station, I met with two Israelis who work for Israeli government and they were observing the rally. In my point of view, they were at rally for the intelligence assessment. After a lengthy discussion with them I really sensed something very deep: that the rally was really a good thing for Israel to get more aid to fund their Army and the rally was an evidence to prove a strong anti-Israeli movement.
From then on, I decided to understand Islam. First, I bought a book “Toward Understanding Islam” written by Sayyid Abul A’la Mawdudi. Actually Mawadudi never wrote this book in English, the original book is in Urdu and someone else translated it but the book never mentioned that the book is translated from Urdu; this is kind of a deception. This was the first book I have read in English on Islam. However the book was not convincing to me since then I have made a habit of reading Islamic books in English.
September 11, 2001, a real surprise. I can’t believe it was coming but I felt in my heart after the rally that there might be a chaotic retaliation coming from the anger of the Muslim youth but I never expected that big. Of course, some Muslim intellectuals deny that the September 11 attack was done by Muslims and some remain silent.
But I always believed that it could have been done by angry Muslim youths to retaliate against Americans for supporting Israeli massacre. I judge it from myself. I was controlling my anger September 28-29, 30, 2000 by rationalizing the possibility that Muslim youths who were deeply angered by Israeli atrocities retaliated on September 11, 2001 that seems to me to be more rational explanation but the act was a cowardly act and a heinous crime. There is no Islamic justification whatsoever to kill unarmed men and women.
Well, September 11, 2001 was a lesson for Muslim states but they learned nothing rather they fell into a cat and mouse game. They failed to promote Muslim values and spread Islamic knowledge in Muslim states as well as in America and Europe. On the contrary some of the Muslim states run to America for aid money in the name of war on terrorism to tackle the growing unemployed and uneducated youths who are getting angry at the corrupt regimes.
I have very carefully scrutinized the whole-thing and have decided to create a new form of strategy to make Muslims aware of their weakness and bring them into right path of Quran and Sunnah and that’s how “The Muslim Intelligence review” (TMIR) was born May 6. 2002.