This is one of those stories that the major media refuses to acknowledge even after American parents of fallen Seal Team 6 members have conducted combined press conferences to air their complaints.

It all started with an attack on a helicopter in Afghanistan on August 6, 2011 that took the lives of 25 American special op personnel, including members from SEAL Team Six, five from the National Guard and Army Reserve crewmen, and eight Afghanis.

The part of the story that I am particularly interested in is the claim that during a joint funeral that included the fallen Americans and Afghanis, an Imam proclaimed in Arabic a condemnation upon all non Muslims which would have included the fallen American heroes. The American parents were naturally offended by that Koranic declaration and upset with the government for allowing it in the first place.

There are differences of opinion over whether the Imam intended to get away with an offensive recitation against non-Muslims in Arabic or whether he was merely presenting a traditional Muslim funeral prayer over the fallen Afghanis.

The following is a less controversial translation of the statement:

“I announce the evil by all-aha. By the name of  the merciful all-aha. People of hell and people of heaven are not equal (even, not the same), people of  heaven are the winners, if we [unintelligible word] the Koran on the mountain, you will see, you will see him in submission and humble of alla-aha’s fear. Those (who are in submission) are examples for the people (the public) may these people (the public) remember, praise alla-aha. Alla-aha God of glory, of the people behaviors (he is wondering or questioning the people’s behaviors). And peace to the Prophets, thanks to alla-aha, please (asking alla-aha) to forgive him, comfort him and accept him in paradise. [The prayer ends, however this subject was talking to some audience he was telling them I LOVE TO….then the audio ended].”

Here are the verses in the Quran that it was based upon:

And be ye not like those who forgot Allah; and He made them forget their own souls! Such are the rebellious transgressors!  (Koran 59:19)

Not equal are the Companions of the Fire and the Companions of the Garden: it is the Companions of the Garden, that will achieve Felicity. (Koran 59:20).

Had We sent down this Qur’an on a mountain, verily, thou wouldst have seen it humble itself and cleave asunder for fear of Allah. Such are the similitudes which We propound to men, that they may reflect. (Koran 59:21)

Regardless of whether the Imam actually intended to offend non-Muslims or not it was divisive.  At the very least his statements were highlighting real Islamic teaching that recognizes a difference between the fallen Muslim Afghanis who were ‘winners’ and destined for Heaven and the dead American non-Muslims who were destined for hell according to that reference from Quran. I believe that the parents of our fallen heroes here have a right to complain.              *Top

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