This absolutely blew me away when I read it:
Dear Brandon Wright, Josh Kurkjian, and Justin Humphrey;
My name is ***** ***** [to protect their identity], I am a (non-practicing) Muslim from London, England and Stockholm, Sweden, though my family is originally from Iran. The reason I write to you is about your song Infidel. I write not in anger or hatred, but in gratitude. You see, I come from a very strict Muslim home and although my siblings and I attended an English public school, my family was rather devout in their practice of Islam.
Around 2005 a secondary school teacher introduced me to the wonders of science, biology in particular. As I began to develop a passion for the way the human body functions, and after being introduced to an elementary dosage of Darwins splendid work, I began questioning my faith. A year later when The God Delusion became a bestseller, a friend gave me a copy which remained hidden in my locker or under a desk at home and read sparingly, not to be caught dead with it by my friends and family. At first my conscience got the better of me, but as I delved into the book, Professor Dawkins words provided an endless supply of reason and comfort to my now heretical beliefs (by the way, are you familiar with his work? Given the words in Infidel it would not surprise me in the least if you were).
In 2007 I graduated secondary school. My father recommended I take biology at a lowly Muslim institute for science near London, which was far less about science than unscientific indoctrination. I started to look elsewhere for schools, though I had told my father I would strongly consider his request as to not disappoint him. I applied at Stockholm University and was accepted in the summer, and hadnt bothered to apply for the Muslim institute. When accepted, I told my father I simply wasnt accepted into the institute and said I would take biology and religious studies at Stockholm University. I remain there to date, as science appeases my mind and soul, while Islam fails again and again to match the awe I witness before me with a microscope.
Upon return home from school in the winter of 2007 for the holidays, I began to notice a few changes in my family. My mother, already quite timid, appeared more so. My father was quicker to anger; my sister seemed frightened at the mere mention of his name. It was only a year later I would learn he was beating the two women I hold near and dear to my heart. When my two younger brothers would object, he felt no remorse to beat them too, for he had recently re-read the Quran and made sure to apply its teachings as though it were the 7th century. To date I still fear for my family and the terror they incur from the wrath of my once loving father. Though I miss them dearly, the worries of my fathers actions upon learning of his own heretical kin ensure that I am at school as much as possible.
When I returned to school in January 2008, my new roommate listened to heavy metal music. It was through him that I discovered your CD Through the Mirror. Admittedly, I was not familiar with metal music, my father preferred classical or Arabesque music and I knew of no rock music outside of Led Zeppelin and Linkin Park, which my Christian friends had played for me. To be honest, at first I did not enjoy your music. I guess you could say it wasnt my thing. That sentiment changed, however, weeks later when he has playing your album again, and I happened to walk in on the track A Prayer Away. Upon hearing the Hail Mary (which is a respected prayer in Islam), I began scolding my chum for I thought heavy metal was supposed to blaspheme the mother of God, not praise her. Thirty seconds later, I was proven wrong.
This is why I wrote to tell you my story; your song has had a profound impact on my life in the last 400 days or so. Ive read and re-read the lyrics to the song a dozen times over. The lyrics forced myself into deep introspection of my own faith, my community and my family. While Professor Dawkins was an eye opener for myself, your song hit home with my repressed misgivings Ive bottled up for several years in regards to Islam. You can no doubt understand my predicament, as leaving Islam is the worst offence one can commit, punishable by death.
To be terser, I liken Infidel as my personal Quran. In 5 minutes in 27 seconds youve managed to collect my thoughts toward an ongoing tyranny more eloquently than I am capable of doing. Ive since discovered that the government of Dubai banished the song I cherish, for that I am sorry that the people of Dubai cannot hear such beauty which could free them from their shackles of oppression.
If my story has bored or offended you, I humbly apologize for taking up your time. But, it is a thanks I sincerely wish to have removed from my chest after all this time. I express the utmost gratitude for your music. I have since memorized the music on Through the Mirror.
As instructed by my boisterous roommate to close the letter,
Loudly yours,
****** *****
P.S. I would like to know if you intend on playing Sweden in the future. Allah himself could not permit me to miss the event.
Dear Brandon Wright, Josh Kurkjian, and Justin Humphrey;
My name is ***** ***** [to protect their identity], I am a (non-practicing) Muslim from London, England and Stockholm, Sweden, though my family is originally from Iran. The reason I write to you is about your song Infidel. I write not in anger or hatred, but in gratitude. You see, I come from a very strict Muslim home and although my siblings and I attended an English public school, my family was rather devout in their practice of Islam.
Around 2005 a secondary school teacher introduced me to the wonders of science, biology in particular. As I began to develop a passion for the way the human body functions, and after being introduced to an elementary dosage of Darwins splendid work, I began questioning my faith. A year later when The God Delusion became a bestseller, a friend gave me a copy which remained hidden in my locker or under a desk at home and read sparingly, not to be caught dead with it by my friends and family. At first my conscience got the better of me, but as I delved into the book, Professor Dawkins words provided an endless supply of reason and comfort to my now heretical beliefs (by the way, are you familiar with his work? Given the words in Infidel it would not surprise me in the least if you were).
In 2007 I graduated secondary school. My father recommended I take biology at a lowly Muslim institute for science near London, which was far less about science than unscientific indoctrination. I started to look elsewhere for schools, though I had told my father I would strongly consider his request as to not disappoint him. I applied at Stockholm University and was accepted in the summer, and hadnt bothered to apply for the Muslim institute. When accepted, I told my father I simply wasnt accepted into the institute and said I would take biology and religious studies at Stockholm University. I remain there to date, as science appeases my mind and soul, while Islam fails again and again to match the awe I witness before me with a microscope.
Upon return home from school in the winter of 2007 for the holidays, I began to notice a few changes in my family. My mother, already quite timid, appeared more so. My father was quicker to anger; my sister seemed frightened at the mere mention of his name. It was only a year later I would learn he was beating the two women I hold near and dear to my heart. When my two younger brothers would object, he felt no remorse to beat them too, for he had recently re-read the Quran and made sure to apply its teachings as though it were the 7th century. To date I still fear for my family and the terror they incur from the wrath of my once loving father. Though I miss them dearly, the worries of my fathers actions upon learning of his own heretical kin ensure that I am at school as much as possible.
When I returned to school in January 2008, my new roommate listened to heavy metal music. It was through him that I discovered your CD Through the Mirror. Admittedly, I was not familiar with metal music, my father preferred classical or Arabesque music and I knew of no rock music outside of Led Zeppelin and Linkin Park, which my Christian friends had played for me. To be honest, at first I did not enjoy your music. I guess you could say it wasnt my thing. That sentiment changed, however, weeks later when he has playing your album again, and I happened to walk in on the track A Prayer Away. Upon hearing the Hail Mary (which is a respected prayer in Islam), I began scolding my chum for I thought heavy metal was supposed to blaspheme the mother of God, not praise her. Thirty seconds later, I was proven wrong.
This is why I wrote to tell you my story; your song has had a profound impact on my life in the last 400 days or so. Ive read and re-read the lyrics to the song a dozen times over. The lyrics forced myself into deep introspection of my own faith, my community and my family. While Professor Dawkins was an eye opener for myself, your song hit home with my repressed misgivings Ive bottled up for several years in regards to Islam. You can no doubt understand my predicament, as leaving Islam is the worst offence one can commit, punishable by death.
To be terser, I liken Infidel as my personal Quran. In 5 minutes in 27 seconds youve managed to collect my thoughts toward an ongoing tyranny more eloquently than I am capable of doing. Ive since discovered that the government of Dubai banished the song I cherish, for that I am sorry that the people of Dubai cannot hear such beauty which could free them from their shackles of oppression.
If my story has bored or offended you, I humbly apologize for taking up your time. But, it is a thanks I sincerely wish to have removed from my chest after all this time. I express the utmost gratitude for your music. I have since memorized the music on Through the Mirror.
As instructed by my boisterous roommate to close the letter,
Loudly yours,
****** *****
P.S. I would like to know if you intend on playing Sweden in the future. Allah himself could not permit me to miss the event.
