Would you believe, Muslim stand-up comics? Other oxymorons come to mind: jumbo shrimp. Military intelligence. Free-market Democrat. Not so fast. This story, from the Washington Post (I read it at the Fort Wayne online edition), is worth a read. Consider: did you even know that there is a network of Muslim comedians in America? I didn't, and it didn't sound to me like something even possible. But that was simply silly of me: with generations of American comedians mining their Jewish and Catholic and Southern Baptist backgrounds for material, it should have been obvious to me that it was only a matter of time before American Muslims would stand up and try providing laughs. I don't respect Islam as a system of thought, nor the Koran (which I have twice read) as a source of wisdom--but I don't respect Judaism or Christianity or the Bible, either. But being secular is no guarantee of being funny, either: Lenny Bruce was a free speech/civil liberties icon, but he wasn't funny. So I find some of the bits in this story funny, and some not. But that's not due to Islam: it's true of all humor that I've ever heard or read. Some is funny, some falls flat. Nor am I assuming the multicultural position here, not at all. But--why not Muslim comics? Laughter is fun, and humor has always been a potent weapon against evil of all kinds. Of course, that means that as always, there are those who consider it a threat:Usman, 28, who is strictly observant, does not use foul language in his routine, which was recently cited as "praiseworthy" by a Muslim religious scholar discussing whether "stand-up comedy is permissible in the Shariah," or Islamic law. He ruled that stand-up is allowed if it is "to make people laugh" and "accompanied by noble intentions."
Although the prophet Muhammad is said to have liked smiling and jokes, Usman said, "there are a lot of very conservative Muslims" who don't approve of having fun.
You knew that was coming, didn't you? The remark that "stand-up comedy is permissible (emphasis mine)" is simply odious, which is why, to most Americans, Islam smacks of "everything that is not required is forbidden!" It's hard to forget that little boys and girls in Afghanistan weren't even allowed to fly kites until the Islamist Taliban regime was overthrown.
But subversion of such evil stupidity is only part of why I applaud the idea of Muslim comics. The larger reason is given by the length of the Humor category to your right, dear reader: bring on more comedy. Make me laugh. Humor is good.
(Hat tip: WorldNetDaily)