The First Muslim College In America

I have no problem with the idea of a Muslim college in the U.S., we have colleges sponsored by other religions.  When the idea becomes reality and we put a microscope to the agenda, to the professors, to the curriculum, then it's time to say whether this is a good idea for America or not.  Dr. Paul Williams has done just that and if his reporting is correct, there is big trouble on the horizon:

CLASSES BEGIN AT AMERICA’S FIRST ISLAMIC COLLEGE ON AUGUST 24

Zaytuna College, which has attracted applications from Muslims throughout the world and substantial financial support from Saudi Arabia, is located in Berkley, California.

With the motto “Where Islam Meets America,” Zaytuna upholds the goal of cultivating Islamic scholars.

What kind of Islamic scholars?

The examples have been set by the three Islamic radicals, who serve as founders of the college.

Sheikh Hamza Yusuf , one of the founders, was born in Washington state and raised in northern California as Mark Hanson, became he converted to Islam in 1977. Writing to an Islamic group, Sheikh Yusuf said: “America is a country that has little to be proud of in its past and less to be proud of in the present. I am a citizen of this country not by choice but by birth. I reside in this country not by choice but by conviction in attempting to spread the message of Islam in this country. I became Muslim in part because I did not believe in the false gods of this society whether we call them Jesus or democracy or the Bill of Rights or any other element of this society that is held sacrosanct by the ill-informed peoples that make up this charade of a society… Fundamentals of Islam are being compromised… Convention resolutions are meaningless Masonic exercises (sic) devised by men who desire to engage people in forums that would insure nothing changes… There should be no voting or debate… We have no room for ayes or nays.”

Imam Zaid Shakir, another founder, serves as an adviser for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and is a frequent speaker at CAIR gatherings. On one occasion, Imam Shakir ruled that Islamic law permits Muslims to attack C-130 military transport planes carrying the 82nd Airborne out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. “Jihad,” he said, “is physically fighting the enemies of Islam to protect and advance the religion of Islam. This is jihad.” He added that acceptable targets of jihad are U.S. military aircraft.

Hatem Bazian, the third founder of the new college, holds a Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from the University of California. He is ardent supporter of intifada (the militant uprising of Muslims) not only in Palestinian territory (in which he was born) but also throughout the United States. He addressed a cheering crowd of fellow jihadists by saying: Well, we’ve been watching intifada in Palestine, we’ve been watching an uprising in Iraq, and the question is that what are we doing? How come we don’t have an intifada in this country? Because it seem[s] to me, that we are comfortable in where we are, watching CNN, ABC, NBC, Fox, and all these mainstream… giving us a window to the world while the world is being managed from Washington, from New York, from every other place in here in San Francisco: Chevron, Bechtel, [Carlyle?] Group, Halliburton, every one of those lying, cheating, stealing, deceiving individuals are in our country and we’re sitting here and watching the world pass by, people being bombed, and it’s about time that we have an intifada in this country that change[s] fundamentally the political dynamics in here. And we know every– They’re gonna say some Palestinian being too radical — well, you haven’t seen radicalism yet!”

The incoming students at Zaytuna College must pass a proficiency exam – - not in English – - but Arabic. Those who fail must enroll in the school’s “Arabic Intensive Program.”

The courses at the college consist of Islamic History, Islamic Theology, Arabic, Islamic Law, economics, and composition. No classes are offered in English/American Literature, U.S. History, European History, foreign languages (other than Arabic), chemistry, biology, physics, psychology, philosophy, earth science, sociology, anthropology, or mathematics.

At the completion of their Islamic training, students, who specialize in Islamic theology, must pass an exit exam in tajwid – - the proper recitation of the Koran.

The founders of the school have applied for accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. As soon as the accreditation is approved, students at Zaytuna will be eligible for federal and state aid.

Jan Markell, founder and director of Olive Tree Ministries, says the new college is unfortunately symptomatic of a nation drowning in political correctness.

She adds: “As long as the left controls all of the media — except for Fox News and talk radio and some Internet sites — this kind of evil will continue to prosper…particularly in light of this current pro-Islamic administration.

I'm not in education, but it is my understanding that in order to be accredited a college or university must teach certain courses and students must be proficient in those courses in order to graduate and obtain degrees.  Even in Baptist colleges and universities students are required to take certain courses in math, science, psychology, world and American history, English and foreign language, in order for them to be well-rounded individuals and citizens. 

The  Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accreditation requirements (found here in pdf) are very general, but state:

8. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
The institution's principal degree programs are congruent with its mission, are based on recognized higher education field(s) of study, are of sufficient content and length, are conducted at levels of quality and rigor appropriate to the degrees offered, and culminate in identified student outcomes. At least one degree program must be of two academic years in length.

9. ACADEMIC CREDIT
The institution awards academic credits based on generally accepted practices in degree-granting institutions of higher education. Public institutions governed by statutory or system regulatory requirements provide appropriate information about the awarding of academic credit.

Apparently graduates of this college will be well-rounded in one thing, and one thing only, the radical version of the Koran.

Welcome to the new America, where anything goes because we certainly wouldn't want to offend anyone, now would we. With so many of American colleges and universities overrun by Liberal/Progressive professors our American way of life and history is already being destroyed from within.  But this college will set a very bad precedent for our future.   I wonder what Don Rickles would say.  If readers have any more information on this, please leave it in a comment.

Comments

[Mystical Time Traveler]

The only college in the US where you can major in Bomb Making and minor in Hijacking.

[Always On Watch]

In Berkley, California?

Figures.

[GW]

Great post, Debbie. This is a troubling development indeed. Saudi money has already gone far to corrupting virtually every middle east studies program in our major colleges. We have already seen what is being taught in Saudi primary education schools in America - and its horrifying. It is more violent and racist than screed from your average KKK branch. The only reason a Saudi funded college can be built in the U.S. is because our government is treasonously failing to identify the enemy our nation. And that enemy starts with Saudi Wahhabism. This would be like inviting Hitler to open up a German studies college in the U.S. during WWII. What traitorous asses.

[Richard Olsen]

You're all a bunch of ignorant bigots. Name one religion or movement that didn't come with bomb making and hijacking? Islam is nothing new to the US and was quoted, frequently, by the Founders as an exampe of the aspirations of civilized people. The more racists and bigots in this country try to characterize Muslims by the actions of a few radicals, the more moderates will be inclined to reach out and push back. These are the Muslims you claim are silent in the face of terror. They aren't, but you're to frightened of shadows to see that the terror they're fighting is coming from all directions.

[True Religion Brand Jeans]

Writing to an Islamic group, Sheikh Yusuf said: “America is a country that has little to be proud of in its past and less to be proud of in the present. I am a citizen of this country not by choice but by birth. I reside in this country not by choice but by conviction in attempting to spread the message of Islam in this country.

[Stuart Parsons]

Islam is the invention of the delusional and narcissistic self-proclaimed 'Prophet and Messenger' He murdered all who spoke out against him and with his booty and sex motivated followers he lied, plotted, tortured, killed, robbed, ransomed and raped his way to absolute power. The Quran calls for the death, conversion to Islam or total subjugation of all non-Muslims.

Islam is a far greater threat to the well-being of mankind than Fascism, Communism and the Hordes of Genghis Khan ever were.

[New Attitude.]

To Richard Olsen. Please don't leave me in ignorance. Please give me the "frequently" quoted "Founders" writings where I can read them for myself.

[Barr L Khan]

Among the blessings and favors that God has bestowed upon humanity is that He endowed them with an innate ability to recognize and acknowledge His existence. He placed this awareness deep in their hearts as a natural disposition that has not changed since human beings were first created. Furthermore, He reinforced this natural disposition with the signs that he placed in Creation that testify to His existence. However, since it is not possible for human beings to have a detailed knowledge of God except through revelation from Himself, God sent His Messengers to teach the people about their Creator Who they must worship. These Messengers also brought with them the details of how to worship God, because such details cannot be known except by way of revelation. These two fundamentals were the most important things that the Messengers of all the divine revelations brought with them from God. On this basis, all the divine revelations have had the same lofty objectives, which are:

1. To affirm the Oneness of God - the praised and glorified Creator – in His essence and His attributes.

2. To affirm that God alone should be worshipped and that no other being should be worshipped along with Him or instead of Him.

3. To safeguard human welfare and oppose corruption and evil. Thus, everything that safeguards faith, life, reason, wealth and lineage are part of this human welfare that religion protects. On the other hand, anything that endangers these five universal needs is a form of corruption that religion opposes and prohibits.

4. To invite the people to the highest level of virtue, moral values, and noble customs.