From: joad@max.u.washington.edu
Subject: RE: iran & IMW (for Ridha and Ilyas)
Organization: 
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 07:34:38 GMT

I cannot understand what does Br. Ilyas ( excuse me if I spelled your name
wrong) mean by his "10%" that he is using to score some points against Shias!
First, I don't know from were have you come up with this figure! Some Muslim
countries are still unable to have an accurate estimate of their populations,
and you were already ahead of them to determine the ratio of shii/sunnis!!
Second let's assume that your figure is correct, then what can you prove
and where do you want to go from there?? are you implying that because they
are `minority' they are not Muslims or they are a lesser `Muslims'?
I'm one who will be classified by people like you as a `sunni' but I'm sick
and tired of these attitude of people who claim a sect and look at others
as inferior Muslims. It is our action that determine what we are not the label
we claim.  It seems like living in the west have a great affect on our 
attitudes and perceptions.  I challenge you to justify the of use terms like
`minority' and `majority' from the Quran or/and the sunnah! even the Jews
and Christians who were a small group living in the Islamic state during
the time of the prophet (PBUH) and the KHulafahs were referrd to as the
people of the book and not ` minority'!!  You know why? because Islam does not
`look at the faces and distribute the prizes' that is, look at the numbers and
grant the rights, but Islam bases the rights/duties on the respect of the 
Fundamental rights and dignity of the being. Even if there is ONE individual
he will still enjoy the rights granted to him by Allah not by the `majority.'
The other possible thing that you may implyed could be that you are suggesting
that since shias are minority, they cannot lead the Muslim Ummah. I hope this  
was not your intentions because the Muslim leader should be elected
based on his fulfillment of the Islamic requirements (justice, honesty,
knowledge....) and not on his ethnic/national backgrownd. 

I personally have come to have more respect to those who say that shias are 
`Kafers' than people like ridha and Ilyas who, on one hand say I have no
problem with shiism, and on the other they say; every thing but a shii leader!!!
at least the first group did not know any better, but the latter did not defeat
that string of nationalism or sectarianism deep inside them.

As for ridha who is being tired of `just talk with no action' let me ask you few
questions and you don't have to answer them on the net. Let's say that iran
would open a list for volunteers to go to jihad in Bosnia will you go?
will you sponsor a family of a Mujahid who might die or come back handicapped?
will you do your part in general? 
That is the question. Allah Tala says, "Allah will not change a situation of 
people unless they change their attitudes" and Muslims today myself included
did not develope yet that Islamic spirit. In fact it is the attitude like
yours that make the Iranians hesitants to go in full confrentation with
any un-Islamic regimes. After all for 8 years we even hesitated to publicly
condemn Saddam's regime who started the war!!! 

Finally, I hope Ridha has sent his views to IMNET if his intention were to
advice them. Otherwise I really question your intentions and instead of 
encouraging these people and tap on their back for a job well done and
ask them if you can help, you just pour a bucket of cold water on them as if
they are working for you.