Ignorance About Islam in Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat. Amir Taheri does not mind switching allegiances. From a fan of the Shah to a fan of the House of Saud. There are people who write on the Middle East and who--I can tell--has only read Bernard Lewis. Taheri is one: "The idea of religion as a private affair is abhorrent to most Muslims. For Islam aims to rule every single aspect of individual and collective life, from the most mundane to the most sublime." It is NOT amazing his ignorance is carried in Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat. House of Saud would do anything these days to please US. I would not be surprised if the House of Saud appoints Ann Coulter as Mufti of Saudi Arabia.