Although Dr. Tawfik Hamid, the author of The Roots of Jihad, won't allow his face to be photographed and refuses to divulge where he lives, he speaks throughout the U.S. on understanding -- and challenging -- radical Islamic ideology.
Dr. Hamid fled his native Egypt because he espouses a peaceful interpretation of Islam based on the Koran. Today he is one of the leading authorities on the Islamic texts (Sulafi) which are responsible for the spread of jihad in the Arab world.
Before he embraced this new way of seeing, Dr. Hamid was an ideological extremist on the fast track to becoming a terrorist.
"I was eight when I first heard the teaching that says, ‘When you die a martyr, you are not dead -- you are alive,'" says Dr. Hamid, who was raised in a secular Muslim family. "Dying for Allah was the only guarantee that we would not go to the grave.
"For us, the grave was frightening. Sulafi Islam teaches that only punishment awaits us in the grave. So to me, and many kids around me, the idea of dying for Allah and going to Paradise was wonderful. For me, a child, that meant eating lollipops and candy and chocolate. Believe me. This was my dream!"
The dream later changed.
During medical school, Dr. Hamid joined JI (Jaamma Islameia), an outlaw fundamentalist group calling for jihad against Muslims who have abandoned their faith (apostates) and non-Muslims.
He met Dr. Aiman Al-Zawaheri -- now Al Qaida's second in command under Osama bin Laden -- in JI.
"Al-Zawaheri was a very nice man on the personal level," Dr. Hamid says. "He was very dedicated to the concept of jihad against the U.S. He often came to the mosque I went to. We prayed together. We talked."
Dr. Hamid describes his metamorphosis. "At first I followed the teachings of Sulafi Islam. I changed into a person that justified the killings of innocents. I thought in a totally distorted manner. I became like a beast.
Thinking is probably what saved me. I began to question.
"When it came time to go forward and commit certain acts -- I was invited to go Afghanistan, to train for jihad, to die for Allah -- I felt this struggle between my conscience and the religious teachings. I started to think.
"And this word, thinking, is probably what saved me. I began to question. You see, at the theoretical level things seemed okay. But at the practical level, when I was about to act...
"A friend introduced me to another form of Islamic thinking that was relatively peaceful. This sect was primarily based on the Koran. I began studying Koranic verses in a totally different manner. There are many verses in the Koran that praise B'nai Yisrael; that grant the Israelis the land. Soon I started to preach this new understanding."
One day, he was called to preach at the mosque. "I gave a lecture, and people listened peacefully. It was good. But afterward, some fundamentalists surrounded me. They said, if you come here again we will kill you. Then they attacked me and my friend. We ran. But soon they began stoning me."
Dr. Hamid looks at me with pained and furious eyes.
"Unfortunately, this resistance to peaceful teaching is not limited to fundamentalists. It is now at the level of the people."
The three dominant beliefs encouraged in the popular Sulafi Islamic teachings are killing the apostate, beating women, and declaring war on non-Muslims.
"Clearly," Dr. Hamid adds, "most adherents believe Jews are apes and pigs."
"It is vitally important to confront Islamic organizations in the U.S. on these points. They should clarify their positions in an unambiguous manner. Of course, they will say what they say. But you must put your questions to them in a clear manner. Do not give them a chance to blame the world for their own actions. They know how to play with the words. I know, because I was one of them.
"For example, a Nazi can say Nazism is peaceful. But if they don't denounce the Holocaust or the killing of Jews, what they say means nothing. Ask them, ‘What do you think of killing apostates? Is it correct, or absolutely wrong?' If they say it is absolutely wrong, take them to the next question. ‘Clarify what Saudi Arabia says about killing apostates.' (The punishment for apostasy in Saudi Arabia is death.) Tell me whether this is wrong. If they say it is wrong, ask them to please put this up on their website, or post it in their mosque, or have them sign a document stating that this is what they believe.
"The same is true of beating women: ‘Is it correct or absolutely unacceptable to beat women?' Ask me. I could say to you, ‘Islam generally recommends dealing in a good manner with women.' Or you may hear, ‘Oh, it's only in rare instances.' I know how they trick the world. I was one of them. Don't let them betray you."
He leans forward on the table.
"Ask Muslim kids what they think about Jews. Kids do not lie. They will tell you what they are being taught. If they say, ‘Jews are nice people and we can live with them in harmony,' I will be the first person to congratulate their parents. But I assure you, if you ask Muslim kids living in the U.S. what they think of Jews, you will be shocked."
"Dr. Hamid, do you hate your own people?"
For the first time, he hesitates -- briefly.
"I am against them," he says. "When you preach peace, and the whole community boycotts you and your wife and your children, it is painful. Just because you preach that killing apostates is absolutely wrong and is not mentioned in the Koran, and that Jews are not ‘pigs' and ‘monkeys,' and the community threatens you, it is painful. But forget my passion, my emotions. Follow the logic."
With the publication of The Roots of Jihad and subsequent speaking engagements to large audiences throughout the US, does he fear for his life?
"Yes. But I feel obligated to expose the truth. I am morally obligated to help Muslims understand the Koran in a peaceful manner. Enabling Muslims to live in harmony with the rest of the world is far more important to me than my life. I always say that in certain times in history, there are people who stand against evil. I am honored to be among them."
This article originally appeared on Frontpagemag.com
(15) M.Raman Panicker, July 31, 2013 10:26 PM
I wish Dr. long life & success in his mission
Like in any other religion, majority of Muslims are peace loving, because we all born by default in a religion and live just that way. But in Islam what matters is the teaching by Mullas, the wrong interpretations in mosques, to young muslims as young as five, planting seeds of hatred to others. As Dr. Hamid says this should be iradicated. Not an easy task at all. Mullas catch them too young lest kids will think otherwise.
(14) john, July 16, 2009 11:13 AM
Peace or Deception
Any true muslim cannot but be in confusion, for on some places in Koran they speak of peace but at other places the advantage of jihad, please try to understand a true follower.
(13) M, April 9, 2009 7:10 PM
Tawfik you have brains & courage - a rare combination in this part of the world
Your parents must be commended for giving life to a very courageous man who is able to think by himself. You are also unique in that you haven't converted but merely changed school of thought!
(12) BB, January 4, 2009 6:35 AM
Salute to peace-loving man
I respect you for everything you are doing sir. Wish you are successful. Wish you become the true muslim leader.
(11) Anonymous, November 6, 2006 9:37 PM
Good on you Man...
There is enough evil in the World Pigs are pigs... dog are dogs... and Jews are Jews... Muslims are Muslims and Christians are Christians... each with their own seperaste entity...name calling is inflammatory....
(10) Anonymous, November 3, 2006 2:46 AM
this man, if he is killed for speaking truth....
he would be truly dying for G-d. he would be doing what the extremists only think they are doing. and his life is in G-d's hands, completely.
(9) CarolynLesh, November 2, 2006 1:29 PM
I salute Mr. Hamid in his courageous effort to win the hearts and minds of fellow Muslims by teaching them of the peacefulness of the Koran. He is one among the masses....by his work, may there be many that share his belief.
(8) Margarita, November 2, 2006 5:17 AM
religion and peaceful living
i don't think that people should change their religion just because it is used to justify murdering. i think that there's good in every religion and it's the matter for people to question their believes. i hope that there would be more and more muslim cousins who would teach peace to their children and we will do the same.
(7) cg, October 31, 2006 7:50 PM
Praise to Dr. Hamid
wow!!!!!! what a powerful page !now if only other muslims were like that we would have a safer more peaceful world .i dont care what they believe in. as long as they are not killng or bothering jews or people ,in fact .i give my praise to Dr.Hamid and may g-d protect him!
(6) JoeWhitehead, October 31, 2006 6:18 PM
I disagree
I disagree with Dr. Tawfik Hamid though I very much admire him for the stand he has taken. The Koran is not a peacful book - Jihad is very much a set standard through out:
"Those who believe fight in the way of Allah, and those who disbelieve fight in the way of the devil. So fight against the friends of the devil; surely the struggle of the devil is ever weak." Sura 4:76- The Koran
"And fight with them until there is no more persecution, and all religions are for Allah." Sura 8:39
The sad fact is the Koran was written by a warrior-dedicated and warrior-inspired prophet who concider conquest the best way to spread his religion!
(5) Anonymous, October 31, 2006 5:53 AM
what do you feel about other races as a Jews and Christians
If Islam was not hostile to the Jews and Christians, what would be our treatment to them? Were we going to live and respect them as Gods creation too.
(4) MartinJ.Pine, October 30, 2006 11:05 PM
Talk to US Muslims
Jewish organizations should make contact with Muslim organizationss in their relative cities and ask them: 1. What do you personally feel about fundamentalist Muslims in their attitudes towards Jews, and if they are negative is it possible for you to ask whether they would permit a Jewish spokesman to visit them and talk to them individually, give them literature and ask them for other Muslim contacts who could be approached, Madrassas that could be contacted etc. These societies seem to be hermetically sealed against reality and think disfunctionally as a group. The key might be to cultivate the individual Muslims who show glimmerings of intelligence, give them literature that they can pass on to Muslim libraries, madrassas, book sites, other Muslims who have a glimmering of worldly intelligence.
(3) DesmondSlade, October 30, 2006 7:52 AM
Pull it out by the roots
If this guy doesn't like the way islam is, why does he stay in it? He is in hiding anyway, so why not just get out? Others have done it. The idea that one can "change it from within" is self-hynosis.
(2) Anonymous, October 29, 2006 3:48 PM
Too few & far btwn are the out-spoken peaceful Moslems.
I met my best friend (and now my employee) in January of 1992 when we were working in Kuwait just after the 1st Gulf War. I am an American Jew, probably the only one with a Kuwaiti Resident ID, and he is an American citizen born in Syria. It is too long a story for now, but suffice it to say that we both had moved to Kuwait with our wives and were committed to building successful businesses out of the ruins of Kuwait City.
After 4 yrs and each of us being cheated out of our investment in those businesses by our so-called Kuwiati partners, we both were broke and returned to the USA with the realization that the Islamic Jihad was growing & growing, stronger & stronger throughout the Arabian Gulf.
Less than one year after Kuwiat was liberated, my friend would tell me of the hateful sermons he listened to every Friday in any mosque you went to worship in Kuwait City. Not just anti-Jew or anti-Israel, abhorrently Anti-American.
I had visited Kuwait a number of times in the 80's and the most of the women wore western clothes. After the Gulf War most of the Kuwaiti women wore abayas concealing their western clothes until they were at home. This was very telling of what the future would bring.
(1) Nehamashira, October 29, 2006 11:18 AM
Roots of Jihad
May G-d BLESS Dr Hamid, and may he know that he has JEWISH friends who will stand for him. May the love of G-d surround and protect him.