He says that we can draw our inspiration from our scriptures but we have to translate the message into a language that is understood by other fellow citizens from different religions.
One of the points President Barack Hussein Obama makes is that the scripture has to be translated into a universal message by the believers, one that is befitting the realities of our global village.
To hear President’s Obama’s explanation:
The Holy Quran has a dynamic and universal message and Sir Zafrulla Khan has explained this issue, in some details in his book titled: Islam and Human Rights.
On a different occasion, President Obama defends right to build mosque near 9/11 site
Source BBC 2010
But let me be clear. As a citizen, and as President, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country. (Applause.) And that includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in Lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances. This is America. And our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country and that they will not be treated differently by their government is essential to who we are. The writ of the Founders must endure.
US President Barack Obama has staunchly defended controversial plans to build a mosque near Ground Zero in New York.
Opponents have protested against the construction of an Islamic cultural centre and mosque several hundred feet away from the site of the Twin Towers.
Mr Obama acknowledged “sensitivities” surround the 9/11 site, but said Muslims have the same right to practise their religion “as anyone else”.
“Our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakeable,” Mr Obama said.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
I suppose that in the land of the free, people are free to build a mosque”
End Quote Len Day
Since a New York developer announced plans to build a 13-storey Islamic community centre and mosque about two blocks from the former World Trade Center site, prominent Republican politicians and a host of conservative pundits have attacked the project.
Some relatives of people killed in the terror attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 are also opposed to the plan.
‘Stab in the heart’
In a speech at a White House dinner celebrating Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, Mr Obama waded into the row, saying:
“We must all recognise and respect the sensitivities surrounding the development of lower Manhattan, Ground Zero is, indeed, hallowed ground. But let me be clear, as a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practise their religion as anyone else in this country.
“That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community centre on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances. This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakeable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country, and will not be treated differently by their government, is essential to who we are.”
The site of the proposed mosque is about two blocks from the former World Trade CenterHe told the group of US Congressmen, government officials and foreign dignitaries that America’s tradition of religious tolerance distinguishes it from “our enemies”.
“Al-Qaeda’s cause is not Islam,” he said, “it is a gross distortion of Islam”.
Until now Mr Obama had not commented on the mosque row, with the White House saying that the matter was a local issue.
In voicing his support for the right to build the centre, Mr Obama joins New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who had been the only prominent politician to endorse it.
Opponents of the building project have called for investigations into its backers and financing. In New York, opponents sought unsuccessfully to have the building currently at the mosque site granted landmark protection status, in an effort to hinder development.
Former US House of Representatives speaker Newt Gingrich dubbed the plan an “assertion of Islamist triumphalism” and has denounced it in speeches.
Former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin wrote that “to build a mosque at Ground Zero is a stab in the heart of the families of the innocent victims of those horrific attacks”.
President Obama
Categories: Highlight, Secularism, Separation of Church and State, Uncategorized, Video
nice. A very realistic and sensible approach.
PRESIDEN OBAMA HAS CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD RELIGION OF ISLAM AND EXTENDED HIS SUPPORT TO BUILD THE MOSQUE AS ENDORSEMENT OF RIGHT OF MUSLIMS TO PRACTICE ISLAM AS OTHER RELIGIONS.
MAY OBAMA LEAD OTHER MISGUIDED NON MUSLIM CRITICS OF TRUE ISLAM TOWARDS A BETTER UNDERSTANDING
-M.Y.M.MEEADH
SRI LANKA
In the Name of Allah the Most Gracious Ever Merciful
As Mullahs of to-days have become the worst creature on earth, even merciless than a butcher or the beast of a jungle and same is the case almost in every Religion, so the religion in this scenario has become ones personal affair. In any state where church/temple or any religion is attached to state that state is most likely to become a butcher state, a very bad example is the Islamic Republic of Pakistan where manslaughter is a daily routine. In this state not only Ahmadies are the victims of target killing Shias are also brutally slaughtered. The President of US Barack Obama is very wise Having this policy of Separation of state and church. God Bless the America and God Bless the President.
Zarif Ahmad