Amr Khaled: Reforming Provocateur

Amr Khaled: Reforming Provocateur

Imagine a prominent Arab Muslim cleric calling for "a new approach by Muslims, one of reform and dialogue with the rest of the world." An Islamic Martin Luther.

Imagine that the Muslim Reformation has already begun. "For the past three years,with youth across the Islamic world we've been working for a faith-based renaissance in this region, which will not take place by clashes but by coexistence."

It is brave, rational, visionary leaders that Islam must have right now because it is doomed in a clash of civilizations with the West. It is also brave, rational, visionary Muslim leaders that Americans, of all, want now. Because it is we who will be the West's vanguard in the clash, and we to whom war is so execrable and every individual human life so dear.

The utterer of the words above is Amr Khaled, an Egyptian, Islamic televangelist, "young,[38] smiling, teach[ing] love and mercy and ...so popular he's credited with inspiring thousands of women--turned off by dour, traditional clerics--to take on the veil."

The report from which the above quotes was taken was on CNN.com tonight.

CNN writes that Mr. Khaled is using his star power "by trying a new role, as a bridge between Islam and the West at a time when many (Here!) are talking about a clash of civilizations.

Mr. Khaled has taken the Danish cartoon causis belli and turned it into an opportunity for Islamic introspection. This is what can happen if a policy of continual, constructive provocation as advocated here on March 6 is pursued.

"In his sermons, he has avoided politics [separation of mosque and state] and stressed God's mercy, seeking how one can be a good Muslim while still enjoying the activities of modern life," the report states.

"He is so tolerant and friendly,he makes you feel good about your religion and yourself," a young Egyptian woman is quoted as saying.

Khaled as Martin Luther, the beginning of the Islamic Reformation: Mountains out of molehills at this point. And Martin Luther King was murdered before he could over the mountain. But he saw the racial tolerance that lay in the valley beyond.

The Egyptian government banned Mr. Khaled from preaching in 2002. He decamped to England, getting a PhD with a thesis titled "Islam and coexisting with the other." Now he is back in Egypt. "For good," CNN reports hopefully.

We'll see, but eventually Mohammad must go to the mountain. The mountain cannot be brought to Mohammad.

Amr Khaled at least has started the trek. Godspeed to him. This is Public Occurrences.