I began the discussion with a speech emphasizing the need for Muslims to be considerate of one another, especially during the sermons. In my opinion, the best course to follow was that of the prophet, who simply read a passage from the Koran and offered an interpretation. Even when speaking of politics, one ought to deliver the sermon tactfully, in such a way as not to alienate of offend anyone.

My Muslim brothers contended that what they were espousing in their sermons was fully within the norms of acceptability, and that they could not comprehend why anyone would take their message as an affront. Did not everyone in our Society agree that the bombing of Iraq was a brutal attack against the Islamic nation? Who possibly could deny that the oil-rich sheikhs of the Gulf and their followers are bastardly hypocrites who pay off their imams? And who could possibly be offended if this "truth" were articulated?

I was, as were my Muslim brothers from Saudi Arabia, and as would be every Muslim from the Gulf by this intolerable and inexcusable trivialization of our religious integrity by a jaded, ignorant pair whose holder-than-thou attitudes are pestiferous to all Muslims.

Taken aback by my deviant stances concerning these issuse which they believed were manifestly inarguable, my Muslim brothers declared that my arguments were invalid, and that my objective in this discussion was to censor the "truth," to revile Islam by dictating what is acceptable--a sin comparable to those of the sheikhs they despise. Then, in front of three fellow Muslims, I was declared a "munafiq," a hypocrite in the faith, perhaps the most vicious insult to a Muslim.

The discussion was over.

AS A MUSLIM, I am compelled to provide my Muslim brothers in the Harvard Islamic Society with a few tips in Islamic etiquette which can be found in A1-Kaysi's book, Morals and Manners in Islam:

1. Disgracing or reviling others' beliefs, directly or indirectly, is forbidden.

2. Character assasination through insinuation, backbiting or undesirable conjecture is prohibited.

3. There is a specific topic related to every occasion. Decorum and appropriateness should exist between the topic being discussed and the occasion.

I should also warn the brothers that the punishment for unjustly declaring a fellow Muslims, a "munafiq" before three or more Muslims, as stipulated by sharia, the Islamic code of law, is death.

I wouldn't want anyone to lose their heads over this.

The story of my run-in with Harvard's newest thought police officers: the Islamic Society.

Bader A. El-Jeaan '95 hasn't attended a Friday service since Orientation Week.