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Carole Mikita ReportingWith the kidnapping of an American Marine who is a Muslim come questions about what he and his captors believe, questions that are clouded by what's become a blurry line between religion and politics.
Shuaib-ud Din, a Muslim leader here in Utah, called an Imam, is recites from the Holy Book of Islam, the Koran. He says most Christians don't know how much Muslims revere Jesus as a prophet, and there are many other Islamic beliefs that are misunderstood. In true Islam, he says, there is no terrorism.
Shuaib-ud Din, Imam of Khadeeja Masjid: "Creating fear in the hearts of innocent people, creating fear in the hearts of a civilian population cannot be condoned by any religion. Individuals taking up arms against the government would be considered rebels and no more than that."
The insurgents we see in Iraq, he says, are using religion as a scapegoat. Islam does not permit suicide, and Saddam Hussein's followers actually scoffed at religion.
Shuaib-ud Din "The Baath party, which is purely a secular party, had no connection whatsoever with religion, as a matter of fact, they are anti-religion."
Another misconception, the Imam says, is that Westerners or Americans feel Arabs see themselves as superior, that they hate those of other faiths. Their beliefs actually state that no Arab is better than a non-Arab and no non-Arab is better than an Arab.
Shuaib-ud Din: "If any religion is truly colorblind, I believe it is Islam."
The Imam says he knows people of many faiths are praying for the captive Marine and reaching out to his family in West Jordan.
