The 2010 Islamic Circle of North America Handbook

Steve Emerson's Investigative Project on Terrorism has obtained a copy of the 2010 handbook of the Islamic Circle of North America, an organization which purports to be peaceful. Emerson has his doubts. In the below link, he shows the handbook itself and its text, but also points out certain points where it would appear that the ICNA has as its goal a world-wide Islamic caliphate, which is Emerson's basic premise.

http://www.investigativeproject.org/2373/hand-book-shows-icna-true-goals

Most of the (handbook) reading is ponderous. It is highly detailed as to what is expected of a Muslim living within a Muslim community. It talks about setting up organizations, prayer meetings, good works, carrying the message of the Prophet Mohammed to non-Muslims, and many other minute details of life. It is an example that Islam controls every aspect of a believer's life.

In many respects, Christian organizations might put out a handbook that is similar in text. After all, Christianity stresses witnessing and trying to get the message of Christ to every living person on the planet. Yet, the purpose of witnessing is to "save souls'. It is not an effort to establish a world wide theocratic system of government based on the teachings of the Bible. Any Christian who envisioned that would be rightly called an extremist.

In the links, Emerson points out that much of the recommended reading refers to some questionable writers who indeed preach the idea of a world-wide caliphate.  And the handbook has a lot of recommended reading, including works by Hassan al Banna  (founder of the Muslim Brotherhood) and Yusef al Qaradawi, the major  Muslim Brotherhood spiritual voice. There are also references to Mawlana al Mawdudi and his (Pakistan-based) organization Jama'at e Islami, established in the 1940s.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abul_Ala_Maududi

If the ultimate vision of the ICNA is that every person convert to Islam, that is fine as long as it is a result of witnessing and honest persuasion. That is also a Christian goal. However, any vision of a world -or an America- governed by religious rule is anathema to our very ideas of freedom. If this major Muslim organization, indeed, subscribes to that latter vision, then they are something we need to be concerned about.

So I invite you to read it, check the links, and come to your own conclusions.