Imam Suhaib Webb Apologizes for Demonizing ISIS

Apparently, some Western Muslim leaders are warming up to the Islamic State.

Suhaib Webb is a convert to Islam and the imam at the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center.

Webb had been mocking ISIS, but he recently had a change of heart. Here's what he wrote:

Suhaib Webb

ECI—“Accountability is a lighthouse when the fog of life sets in.”

These days are hard. From Gaza, Ferguson and ISIS, it is difficult to have insight into where the world is today. That question is important. But of more importance is asking where it is now. After all, the answer to that question, is the answer to the first one. However, there are times when the fog of the future blinds us from seeing the demands of today.

I woke up the other day and decided to skim through my body of work over the last few years. Boy was I surprised at some of my posts and talks – the tone and the demonization of others – I compared ISIS to Ebola.

While I don’t agree with ISIS, al-Qāida, certain progressives and others, I‘ve decided to apologize to anyone that I have spoken ill towards or demonized. I ask Allah to forgive me and to guide me to observe better character in the future. I asked myself, “Suhaib did you forget the 49th chapter of the Qur’an, Surah al-Hujurāt?” (Continue Reading.)

The appeal to Surah 49 is disturbing, because the most relevant verse (given Webb's comments) is this:

Qur'an 49:11—O ye who believe! Let not a folk deride a folk who may be better than they (are), nor let women (deride) women who may be better than they are; neither defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. Bad is the name of lewdness after faith. And whoso turneth not in repentance, such are evil-doers.

Think about that. Muslims aren't supposed to insult other Muslims, because the other Muslims might be better than they are. Is Suhaib starting to wonder if Islamic State jihadists are better than Muslims living comfortably in the United States? Actually, that's exactly what Allah declares:

Qur'an 4:95—Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home), except those who are disabled (by injury or are blind or lame, etc.), and those who strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred in grades those who strive hard and fight with their wealth and their lives above those who sit (at home). Unto each, Allah has promised good (Paradise), but Allah has preferred those who strive hard and fight, above those who sit (at home) by a huge reward.