Islam and peace
Islam and peace
Posted 10:43pm (Mla time) Jan 25, 2005
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on page A12 of the January 26, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
ONE of the five pillars of Islam is the hajj, or the pilgrimage every good Muslim is encouraged to take to Mecca at least once in a lifetime. On the last day of this year's hajj, Sheik Abdul-Aziz al-Sheik, speaking at a mosque near Mount Arafat on the climactic day, denounced the violence waged by Muslim militants against Saudi Arabia.
"The greatest affliction to strike the nation of Islam came from some of its own sons, who were lured by the devil," al-Sheik, who is the Grand Mufti, or senior Sunni imam (teacher-scholar) in Saudi Arabia, said. "They have called the nation infidel, they have shed protected blood and they have spread vice on earth, with explosions and destruction and killing of innocents."
He asked young Muslims, in particular, to ponder the consequences of their actions: "How would you meet God? With innocent blood you shed or helped shed?"
The importance of al-Sheik's most recent statement is best understood in terms of the role individuals such as he play in Islam. There are three major interpretations of Islam as a consequence of the schisms that took place during the 7th century: Sunni, Shia and Khariji. Of these, the most prominent are Shia and Sunni. The Sunni (which means "The Way") interpretation of Islam has the largest number of adherents in the Muslim world: about 90 percent of Muslims are Sunni. Sunni Islam is hierarchical, devoted to Islamic law (Shari'ah law), as interpreted by Muslim scholars and teachers. Of these scholars and teachers, the most senior and influential is the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (although there are muftis in other Islamic countries), who not only makes sermons but also issues statements that define and explain the proper interpretation and relevance of Islamic law to current events. Indeed, among his titles is "President of the Committee of Major Scholars and the Center for Knowledge Based Research and Verdicts."
When the World Trade Center was destroyed in 2001, the Grand Mufti swiftly issued a statement declaring the violent attack to be an abomination to Islam. Said he: "These matters that have taken place in the United States and whatever else is of their nature of plane hijackings and taking people hostage or killing innocent people, without a just cause, this is nothing but a manifestation of injustice, oppression and tyranny, which the Islamic Shari'ah does not sanction or accept; rather it is expressly forbidden and it is amongst the greatest of sins."
The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, then, reiterated to the two million Muslims listening to his sermon that terrorism and terrorist means are incompatible with Islam. He clearly placed the interpretation of Islam that permits terrorism for political ends firmly beyond the pale for 90 percent of practicing Muslims. This is an important teaching that non-Muslims must be aware of.
As the Grand Mufti himself said in 2001, "It is upon the media outlets and whoever is behind them, from amongst those who make accusations against the Muslims and who strive to revile this noble and upright religion, and describe it with that which it is free from, all in order to kindle tribulation and to harm the reputation of Islam and the Muslims and to separate the hearts and constrict the chests-it is obligatory upon them to refrain from this misguidance and to realize that every sane and just person knows of the details of Islam, and knows that it is not possible for him to describe it with these descriptions, and that he cannot make these types of accusations against it. This is because, on account of the passing of history, the nations have not known the followers of this religion and its adherents except to be those who fulfill their rights (due to others) and their absence of injustice and oppression."
It is reassuring at this time that Islamic leaders are channeling the faith of their co-religionists to peaceful ends. But it is equally important for non-Muslims to understand the teachings of Islam, and the interpretation of the same according to its leaders.
Once again the world has been reminded that the Islamic religion is peaceful and non-violent; and that the millions who went to Mecca in recent weeks did so in accordance with the teachings of a faith that does not profess, or condone, sectarian violence and hatred.
Posted 10:43pm (Mla time) Jan 25, 2005
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on page A12 of the January 26, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
ONE of the five pillars of Islam is the hajj, or the pilgrimage every good Muslim is encouraged to take to Mecca at least once in a lifetime. On the last day of this year's hajj, Sheik Abdul-Aziz al-Sheik, speaking at a mosque near Mount Arafat on the climactic day, denounced the violence waged by Muslim militants against Saudi Arabia.
"The greatest affliction to strike the nation of Islam came from some of its own sons, who were lured by the devil," al-Sheik, who is the Grand Mufti, or senior Sunni imam (teacher-scholar) in Saudi Arabia, said. "They have called the nation infidel, they have shed protected blood and they have spread vice on earth, with explosions and destruction and killing of innocents."
He asked young Muslims, in particular, to ponder the consequences of their actions: "How would you meet God? With innocent blood you shed or helped shed?"
The importance of al-Sheik's most recent statement is best understood in terms of the role individuals such as he play in Islam. There are three major interpretations of Islam as a consequence of the schisms that took place during the 7th century: Sunni, Shia and Khariji. Of these, the most prominent are Shia and Sunni. The Sunni (which means "The Way") interpretation of Islam has the largest number of adherents in the Muslim world: about 90 percent of Muslims are Sunni. Sunni Islam is hierarchical, devoted to Islamic law (Shari'ah law), as interpreted by Muslim scholars and teachers. Of these scholars and teachers, the most senior and influential is the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (although there are muftis in other Islamic countries), who not only makes sermons but also issues statements that define and explain the proper interpretation and relevance of Islamic law to current events. Indeed, among his titles is "President of the Committee of Major Scholars and the Center for Knowledge Based Research and Verdicts."
When the World Trade Center was destroyed in 2001, the Grand Mufti swiftly issued a statement declaring the violent attack to be an abomination to Islam. Said he: "These matters that have taken place in the United States and whatever else is of their nature of plane hijackings and taking people hostage or killing innocent people, without a just cause, this is nothing but a manifestation of injustice, oppression and tyranny, which the Islamic Shari'ah does not sanction or accept; rather it is expressly forbidden and it is amongst the greatest of sins."
The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, then, reiterated to the two million Muslims listening to his sermon that terrorism and terrorist means are incompatible with Islam. He clearly placed the interpretation of Islam that permits terrorism for political ends firmly beyond the pale for 90 percent of practicing Muslims. This is an important teaching that non-Muslims must be aware of.
As the Grand Mufti himself said in 2001, "It is upon the media outlets and whoever is behind them, from amongst those who make accusations against the Muslims and who strive to revile this noble and upright religion, and describe it with that which it is free from, all in order to kindle tribulation and to harm the reputation of Islam and the Muslims and to separate the hearts and constrict the chests-it is obligatory upon them to refrain from this misguidance and to realize that every sane and just person knows of the details of Islam, and knows that it is not possible for him to describe it with these descriptions, and that he cannot make these types of accusations against it. This is because, on account of the passing of history, the nations have not known the followers of this religion and its adherents except to be those who fulfill their rights (due to others) and their absence of injustice and oppression."
It is reassuring at this time that Islamic leaders are channeling the faith of their co-religionists to peaceful ends. But it is equally important for non-Muslims to understand the teachings of Islam, and the interpretation of the same according to its leaders.
Once again the world has been reminded that the Islamic religion is peaceful and non-violent; and that the millions who went to Mecca in recent weeks did so in accordance with the teachings of a faith that does not profess, or condone, sectarian violence and hatred.
posted by Dante at 12:00 AM
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