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1. Islam Forbids Terrorism

You’ve claimed that Islam itself promotes terrorism, violence and extremism.. But let’s actually see what Islam says….in the Quran (our holy book which we believe to be the verbatim word of God) it says:

“…and do not kill a soul that God has made sacrosanct, except lawfully.” (Quran 6:151)

“…whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely.” (Quran 5:32)

Thus, committing acts of terror is very clearly forbidden in Islam, hence why the overwhelming majority of Muslims around the world do not support or engage in terrorism.

2. Muslims Have Condemned Extremism for Years

If you truly want to hear about what Muslims believe about extremism and Islam, just ask a Muslim! I’m sure they’d love to take you to their local masjid to get your questions answered!

Condemnation of ISIS

ISNA Position Terrorism

Fatwa Against Terrorism

Fiqh Council of America Fatwa Against Terrorism

Muslims Condemn Terrorism

3. Jihad Actually Means Struggle

I’m not sure why you keep on using words like “stealth jihad” and “the jihad” (as if it’s some punk rock band). Jihad is Arabic for struggle and does not mean holy war or violence. In fact, the peaceful protestors in Baltimore, MD are arguably conducting jihad against oppressive police measures and police brutality. One can also have an internal jihad against bad habits, bad thoughts, and even stopping one’s self from smoking or drinking.

4. Muslims Are Not Anti-Semitic

First, let’s note what should be obvious. Arabs are as Semitic as are Jews. So when you make racist and bigoted statements about Muslims and Arabs being savage, you are in fact being anti-Semitic.

Secondly, in Islam, all religions are respected. Once, during the life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), a Jewish funeral procession was passing by him. He stood up out of respect when the procession passed by. One of the Muslims told him that the deceased person was a Jew. He responded: “Was it not a soul?” Not to mention the fact that Muslims revere Moses, David, Solomon (peace be upon them) and other Israelites as Prophets of God.

Thus, your statements about Islam being anti-semitic are unfounded and have no basis in Islam. Islam respects all faiths, especially Judaism.

5. No one Can be Forced to Convert to Islam

There is no forced conversion to Islam. In the Quran it says:

“There is no compulsion in religion. The right way has become distinct from error.” (Quran 2:256)

6. Shariah Actually Isn’t a Threat to America

Shariah, which means “the path to water” in Arabic, is the legal practices and commandments which Muslims follow. Shariah cannot be enforced or forced on people who are not Muslim--just as it wouldn’t make sense for Christians, Muslims, Hindus or Buddhists to follow Talmudic law.

In fact, the Quran actually encourages Jews and Christians to obey the laws God gave them in their holy books. Also, in the US we have something called the First Amendment so Shariah cannot supersede the U.S. Constitution or American law.

7. Muslims Are Loyal and Patriotic Citizens

Questioning the loyalty of American Muslims is almost laughable. Numerous American Muslims have fought bravely in the US military to defend America and have given their lives for America.

You may talk about your supposed patriotism and love for America, but American Muslims have shown their love by making the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Here are a couple examples:

Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan

Atlanta Muslim Military Veterans

8. Muslims Are Far from Savage

Muslims actually invented coffee, algebra, the toothbrush, surgical instruments which are still used today in hospitals. Check out more inventions here: 1001 Inventions

In addition to this from 2003-2014 the Nobel Peace Prize Winners have all been Muslim.

9. Muslims Love Freedom of Speech, Too

Just as you exercise what you call “freedom of speech,” Muslims have every right to vocally--but peacefully--express disagreement with you when you spew hatred, bigotry, and racist statements about Muslims. You have the right to be offensive in public. Just as the Supreme Court upheld in National Socialist Party of America v. Village of Skokie the NPSA’s right to march through a predominantly Jewish neighborhood in Skokie, Illinois, you had the legal right to hold a purposefully provocative and inciteful event in Texas.

But imagine an anti-Semitic organization in Texas organized an event to draw cartoons about the Jewish community in a predominantly Jewish area. Not only that, they flew Nazi swastikas at the event. Just because they have that freedom, does it necessarily mean they should exercise it at the expense of hurting or promoting negative stereotypes of an entire ethnic, racial or religious group? Would you support such an event?

10. Muslims Respect People of All Faiths

Much of your rhetoric centers around the supposed intolerance of Islam toward other religions. But in the Quran, God says:

“Do not revile those they call on beside God, so they, in their hostility, revile God, without knowledge” (6:108)

The Quran also says:

“Indeed, those who believed and those who were Jews or Christians or Sabeans and those who believed in Allah and the Last Day and did righteousness - will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve. (Quran 2:62)

Finally, Ms. Geller, know this: the overwhelming majority of Muslims do not and will not retaliate against you with you using the same vile words which you used to offend the Muslim community.

And the reason for our restraint, ironically, is the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who reportedly said: “Do not be people without minds of your own, saying that if others treat you well you will treat them well, and that if they do wrong you will do wrong to them. Instead, accustom yourselves to do good if people do good and not to do wrong (even) if they do evil.”

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