Source: Huffington Post
Sufi shaikh and author
This is meant to be the first of seven articles being composed to reach out to all Americans to express support for the fundamental values of pluralism, tolerance, freedom, and human dignity. The vast majority of American Muslims unequivocally condemn terrorism in all forms, support freedom of conscience, and feel a kinship with all who wish to make a positive contribution to American society. As a nation and as a human race we face many complex challenges. We cannot afford to misunderstand each other or be unnecessarily divided.
Why is a message like this necessary at this time?
It is essential at this time in history that we establish a genuine dialogue, not as Muslims speaking to Americans, but as Americans speaking with Americans. I and the vast majority of Muslims believe that what Islam really teaches has been gravely misunderstood and quite often distorted. If the word “Islam” gives rise to fear or mistrust today, it is urgent that American Muslims clarify what we believe Islam stands for. In our view there is a constructive harmony between the best values of Western civilization and the essential values of Islam.
The so-called “clash of civilizations” is a dangerous myth. We wish to dispel the idea that there is any inherent tension or conflict between the best Western values and Islam. In this series of articles I intend to clarify that Islamic civilization, which developed out of the revelation of the Qur’an in the seventh century, confirms the truth of previous revelations, affirms religious pluralism, cultural diversity, and human rights, and recognizes the value of reason and individual conscience.
This text is written for the general public that has a limited amount of time to consider these issues. I will use quotes from the Qur’an to substantiate and illustrate our conviction that Islam affirms universal spiritual values: peace, justice, impartiality, love of our neighbors, and love of God.
Stories in the news or media that portray problems and injustices in some Muslim societies may give the impression that these problems are inherently associated with Islam. Injustices toward women, for instance, may exist and may even be given a religious justification. A superficial understanding of the situation might lead one to condemn religion itself. Yet female genital mutilation and child marriages also occur in non-Muslim communities and have no justification in the Qur’an, and women in the Muslim world are working to retrieve certain rights and correct injustices using Islamic scriptural sources.
Another example is the problem of violence. When any act of violence, especially terrorism, is given a religious justification, it is necessary to distinguish whether the violence is inherent in the religion or ideology, or whether the religion is being distorted to justify the violence for political purposes. If the latter is the case, then it is the obligation of the larger community to condemn the use of religion to justify immoral or criminal acts. Thousands of Muslim institutions and leaders, the great majority of the world’s billion or more Muslims, have unequivocally condemned the hateful and violent ideologies that kill innocents and violate the dignity of all humanity.
Who has the right to speak about Islam? If Islam has no Pope and no central authority, are there any criteria to determine what is authentically Islamic?
All Muslims accept the Qur’an as their reference point. Historically there has been considerable agreement on the general principles of morality, social justice, and Divine benevolence. The Qur’an is analogous in the religious sphere of Islam to the Constitution in the American political system. However, to avoid a possible understanding, we should clarify that the Qur’an does not prescribe any one political system. It does not, for instance, propose that people should be governed by religious authorities. Traditionally, even in lands that had a large majority of Muslims, political and religious authority were separate and distinct. In general, Muslims have been counseled to be good citizens and follow the laws of the land.
Categories: Islam, The Muslim Times