Earlier this month, the new Islamic Center of Murfreesboro opened its doors after a two year feud with a few concerned citizens. Some of the members of the Islamic Center have lived in Murfreesboro for over thirty years and always felt at home; that is until they needed a larger mosque. A soon as they broke ground, they became the subject of protests, vandalism, arson attacks, and a bomb threat, as well as being dragged into the courts to defend their religion. The source of the contention was summed up by Joe Brandon, the attorney representing the anti-mosque contingency, “We don’t want Sharia law.”

Sharia law refers to the rules in the Quran that cover a wide range of topics, such as fasting, prayer, pilgrimage, trade, inheritance, marriage and divorce. It’s the most sensational parts of Sharia that get the most publicity, i.e. men’s right to unilaterally divorce or cutting off hands for a robbery. Of course, the Bible has many extreme rules in it too (stoning adulterers and rebellious children to death) and, like the Bible, Sharia is interpreted and followed to varying degrees by Muslims. Never-the-less, the word “Sharia” conjures up fear in the hearts of those who are bracing for an all out jihad. (more…)