h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've been reading Tarek Fatah's very encouraging 'Chasing a Mirage: The Tragic Illusion of an Islamic State.' I was first struck by his remark in the preface that Muslims should be concerned with achieving a state of Islam within themselves rather than pursuing an Islamic State. But then I idly leafed forward to the acknowledgements and was surprised to find a Manufacturer's Waranty, not something you usually find in a book. Here is that Waranty, including the smiley with which it concludes:

'All express and implied warranties made by the manufacturer will be considered void if any unauthorized third-party add-ons are installed on top of the basic operating system of Islam. Such add-ons are causing a worldwide system failure. The manufacturer is warning the general public to be wary of unscrupulous vendors who are marketing bootleged versions of the product to unsuspecting customers. Users are hereby warned that the manufacturer does not guarantee the proper functioning of Islam if these add-ons are installed over the basic operating system. The manufacturer also cautions all users that there has been no new version of Islam since the last upgrade in 632 CE. Speculation that the manufacturer plans to release a new Service Pack is without foundation.

Access to the manufacturers' on-line Help Desk and Call Center is limited only to users of the original product, not the bootlegged versions. Unless callers can demonstrate that they have uninstalled all add-ons sold by third-party vendors, their calls will not be returned.

Users are warned not to install any upgrades to Islam being marketed by the following unauthorized vendors: Ibn Taymiyah Inc., Al-Wahhab Ltd., The Syed Qutb Corporation, Hassan Al-Banna Enterprises, Khomeini & Khamenei PLC, and Maudoodi Associates. The manufacturer reserves the right to prosecute all third-party vendors who tamper with the original product under chapter 5.0, verse 003 of the Quran, which states explicitly the perfection of the product and the guarantee of no further upgrades or add-ons: "This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion."


'

They might consider the benefits of open sourcing it..

heh, like it!

I'd love to see a version that dealt with *The Tragic Illusion of a Christian State*

Actually, I think that Fatah's point is that the open source versions have caused nothing but problems.


of course, wouldn't we all agree that religion is always open source, no matter the public protestations of believers that they are in possession of the unadulterated original product?

bootleg != open source

biiiig difference!

This is rather brilliant. I think I'll quote it elsewhere.

TRiG.

I quoted that to a christian I get on well with - and the response was quite interesting - I quote here -

"Actually, for me (if we're pigeon-holing - I'm a relativist!) - there's a very significant issue here about strict rationalist thinking and religion - not a good mix "

He's quite right - it's just he decided that the relativist religious approach is the one to go with and not the rational approach. But interesting to see comment made by a person of faith.

Anhaga, I do believe you have a fan!!