As we shared a meal the other day, my Afghan friend, who deplores the violence and killings that have wracked his country, reminded us of one of the suras in Q'uran, the oft-debated sura 5:32 - "...if anyone killed a person...it would be as if he killed all humankind; and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all humankind". Regardless of the interpretations of various scholars, many muslims believe it at face value: Saving life is a virtue; taking it is a vice. I asked my Afghan friend, "Do your mullahs speak out against violence like suicide bombings?"

He shook his head, dejected. "Our mullahs are weak. They are corrupt. They get pay and nice gifts from violent people. And the people here are uneducated country people. They listen only to mullah."

We talked about how that in times of crisis and necessary change in our country, it was often religious leaders who served as the conscience of the country, leading us to what we ought to do. Where is the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. of the Muslim world? Where are the outraged mullahs who condemn violence? Where is the courageous one? Not a word. Not a peep.

I found this article on life in Khost online. It's worth a read.