Hugh Fitzgerald’s ‘Supermarket Tabloid’ Islamophobia is Showing

by Sheila Musaji

It seems that there are some people who are so blinded with hatred of Islam that they insist on denigrating and insulting everything about Islam and Muslims.  All of these folks claim that they have no problem with “moderate Muslims” only with extremists, but their definition of moderation requires nothing less than becoming a non-Muslim. And, their tactics and rhetoric stirs up those among their readers who are much more extreme. 

As I noted in a recent article If Muslims Are So Terrible, Why The Need To Make Up So Many Lies? “The fact that these “news stories” and articles are simply wrong doesn’t change the fact that they are “out there” and that they will be read and believed by many of the same folks who believe the supermarket tabloids.  They will be forwarded or passed on, and commented on, and the stories will grow and more and more people will accept them as “facts”.

In a recent article, Hugh Fitzgerald of Jihad Watch calls the Zebibah a “bathetic bruise of piety” .  Bathetic is not a common word, so I needed to look it up.  It means Affectedly or extravagantly emotional - characterized by bathos (bathos means 1. An abrupt, unintended transition in style from the exalted to the commonplace, producing a ludicrous effect.  An anticlimax.  2. Insincere or grossly sentimental pathos).

In the article he says, “Of course, the notion that only those with telltale zebibahs need worry us is comforting, but because it offers false comfort, it is itself a source of worry. It is not only those who flaunt that bathetic bruise of piety who are deeply committed to the duty of Jihad, but hundreds of millions of Muslims who take that duty seriously, but need have no zebibah as an outward sign of an inward determination.”

The Zebibah is a mark or bruise that is sometimes seen on the foreheads of individuals who spend a great deal of time in prayer with a person’s forehead pressed to the ground. 

A Muslim who follows the Islamic practice of praying five times a day will press their forehead to the ground at least 34 times each day (if they also say the Sunna prayers this number will increase).  Although many Muslims pray regularly, not all have this mark.  It is considered to be a gift from God and is much respected.

Fitzgerald points to the infamous Ayman Al-Zawahiri having a zebihah on his forehead as if this proves his point that only fanatics would have such a mark.  Actually, most of the zebihah’s that I have seen have been on the foreheads of Sufi’s and other pious and gentle souls. 

The only positive thing about Fitzgerald’s drivel is that it shows just how desperate the Islamophobes are becoming when they have to stoop to such tactics in order to continually stir up the emotions of their readers.  At this point, just like the shocking supermarket tabloid headlines it begins to look bathetic.

Shame on you Mr. Fitzgerald!