Alina Kanaan

Chapter 10

Assalamu alykoum! I just want to warn you that this chapter is what makes this book PG-13. It's a very intense chapter filled with many powerful emotions. It does contain a haram situation, but as I'll explain at the end, it's in this book for a reason. I just thought to warn you guys ahead of time. Enjoy! :D
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"Be steadfast, enjoin kindness, avoid ignorance, and bear with patience whatever befalls you." (Quran 31:17)

My heart is racing. I'm waiting in the LA studio of Fox News. They called American Idol yesterday to ask if I could go on the show to talk about how the recent terrorist attack on San Francisco has affected Muslims and Islam. I'm scared because I've watched the show before and I know how these people can be crazy, especially when talking about Islam. I actually hate this show, but I want to defend Islam. I also want people to know the truth about it.

I will be talking to Ray Rodgers, one of the most famous people on the show. He is at the main studio in New York, but I'll still be able to see and talk to him.

"Alina, you have two minutes until showtime." one of the crew members tell me. I take deep breaths. The makeup artists touch up my makeup and hair very quickly. I remember everything that I'm going to say. I've been on live television before, so I have no need to be nervous, yet I still am.

One of the crew members stands me in the spot I need to be in to talk to Ray. I hear as the crew members counts down from five. Quickly, he says one and I hear and see Ray Rodgers.

"Hi, Alina. How are you this evening?" he asks me.

"I'm fine, thank you. And yourself?" I ask him.

"I'm fine as well, thank you. So, tell me, you're very familiar with what happened in the terrorist attack on San Francisco, correct?"

"Yes, San Francisco is an hour south of Santa Rosa, where I've been living for four years."

"Why do you think that these Muslims did this awful thing?"

"Firstly, I don't even call these people Muslims because they don't follow the principles of Islam at all. They are mentally disturbed and filled with a lot of hate for wanting to kill innocent people. That's the reason why these people did this."

"But doesn't it say in the Quran to kill the disbelievers?"

"This has been the subject of many debates, no doubt. The Quran was revealed when the Prophet Muhammad was being stoned, threatened, etc by non Muslims. The non Muslims waged war against the Muslims. The verses are talking about that. Of course we can't kill innocent people, no matter what religion they are."

"I see, but why are all of these big attacks done by Muslims? If Islam is supposed to be a religion of peace, why are these Muslims doing this?"

"Like I've said before, these individuals, I can't even call them Muslims, are mentally disturbed. Some people also misunderstand the verses of the Quran like you did regarding the killing of non believers. Many scholars have researched the context of the verses and the explanations are in numerous Quran translations. Also, since Arabic is my native language, I can understand the exact words of the Quran. There are some words in Arabic that can't be explained fully in English. There are always people from every religion that do these attacks on people. The ones Muslims do are shown on the media more. For some reason the media doesn't show the other attacks."

"Explain Saudi Arabia. Explain the stoning of women. Explain the beating of women. They won't even allow women to drive. Why is the main Islamic country like this if Islam is peaceful? It doesn't make sense to me."

"Saudi Arabia is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. They don't follow true Sharia, Islamic law. The monarchy is only concerned with power and oil. They don't care about the real Islamic principles. I've read so many books about Saudi royalty and they talk about the men going to brothels in other countries and trapping women inside the house. I hate it and it's not the true Islam. Women can have jobs and make their own money. Women can be independent. Islam gives respect to women. I mean look at-"