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Name
Adel
-
Profession
Question
I think every Muslim or even every person with good conscience has denounced and condemned the latest bombings that took the lives of so many innocent people. But even with this state of ambiguity in knowing the masterminds, everybody is thinking of Muslims. Why only Muslims, and why Islam this time? Is a mere statement in an unknown website considered to be a valid evidence to launch this attack on Muslims?
Answer
Unfortunately the image that is being shown of people with banner of Qur'an behind them and quoting verses and invoking the name of Islam in whatever they do is inevitably going to create negative perception about Islam. So the idea is not an evidence in a court of law; the problem is a perception in the court of public opinion.
Name
Shukri khan
- Brazil
Profession
student
Question
Looking at the world today causes one with state of anxiety and frustration on account of the untold injustice done against Muslims in every country, including Europe and North America. Do you agree that extremism is a natural response or reaction to global injustice or not? And if you agree, which one should be tackled firstly?
Answer
Let me answer the last part. Both should be tackled together. However, injustice should illicit a positive, constructive effort to correct it, but actions based on anger, despair and frustration make the problem much worse. We also should know that our reaction should be controlled by the teachings of Islam. So if somebody is doing something bad to me, I am not allowed to do the same, otherwise there will be no difference. The Qur'an teaches in Surah 5 what means to "be fair and just even with your enemy." Also the Qur'an teaches: "deter evil by what is good."
Name
Mohamed
- Canada
Profession
Civil Servant
Question
Assalaamu Alaikum
A link is being made between extremism and Islamic activism. How can we refute this odious linkage?
Answer
The best way is to pursue and even increase Islamic activism that is constructive and offers goodness and help to all people, Muslims and non-Muslims alike. We cannot refute this notion by talking, but only by constructive action and productive effort that makes life better. For example, when Islamic activism join other activities to protect the environment, the human rights of all, the animal right, to combat drugs, pornography and exploitation through projects that are done by people and we join them, this will refute the notion we are concerned about.
Name
khalil
- Afghanistan
Profession
electrician
Question
dear sir
some called them good muslim and issue fatwa aginst afghan govt are muslim are allowed to join them
Answer
In general, Muslims are supposed to verify any information before forming any opinion or judgment about it. And a person who does not fully understand the issue you are talking about I ask Muslims not to join anything they don’t fully understand.
Name
Assaf Taha
-
Profession
Question
What do you mean by extremism? Do you mean bowing down and listening to all the demands of west? If sheikh al-Qaradawi, the leader of moderation in today's world is still considered an extremist in the west, who else is moderate? I think we have to state clearly and define certain terms before we go into detailed discussion.
Answer
Of course we should not allow others to define us. We have the right and the duty to define ourselves. And there is a mainstream middle of the road, critical mass of Muslims who have their own disagreements but notherless they all represent ideas that abide by the spirit of the Qur'an and make Muslims contributors to the human civilization. Those who cross this line and say or do things contradicting the main teaching of Islam or its spirit or put Muslims outside the frame of human civilization may be described as "on the extreme".
Name
Haris
- United Kingdom
Profession
student
Question
How have we lapsed that a number of mosques are managed by un-educated men who are completely out of touch with concepts of debate, scholarship and cool-headedness which are so integral to Islam. Why are a portion of our imams discussing poltical issues in Friday sermons instead of concentrating on Islamic spritual issues?
Answer
As to the first part of the question, Muslims in the west are in a state of evolution and hopefully we will have leaders of mosque who are more integral part of the society in which they live and things will insha'Allah improve.
As for the second part of the question, there is no doubt that political concerns are part of the concerns of life and they cannot be ignored in Muslims discourses. However, it should be pertinent to the future of Islam and the interests of Muslims in the societies in which they live and should be guided by the spirit and teachings and ethics of Islam.
Name
Funshyboy
-
Profession
Question
How do you think we can tackle lot of extremist views of some Muslims, scholars, Imams, students...etc especially that these extremist views are damaging the image of Muslims worldwide?
Answer
This is a challenge that all of us should take. The Qur'an in its totality and the model of the Prophet, peace be upon him, are enough to refute the extremist rhetoric. The problem is when leaders are not willing enough to jump into the ideological battle to keep themselves looking good, I think this is a major mistake and a luxury that we cannot afford any more.
Name
musa
-
Profession
Question
I understand that a lot of Muslim youth feel unmotivated and disillusioned in the west. but the simple fact is that we simply have no real role models. of course muhammad (pbuh) is our guide, but at the same time we desperately need somebody who lives in our culture and understands the many many temptations and desires we have to combat on a daily basis. Many times the people who give khutbah are from other countries and can't relate to american teenagers. What do you think can be done to remedy this problem
Answer
I have to 100% agree with this statement. The imams, particularly if they are not brought up here, and if they don't know the language of the culture are totally alienating the youth. However, things are not completely bleak and I ask the caller to communicate with us at AMPAC and he will find something different.
Name
Ali
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
Some organisations such as Hizb Tahrir and al muahjiroon are giving a bad name to Muslims by spreading hatred. They don't believe in dialogue with Christians and other religions. What should we do to tackle this?
Answer
I think we should keep doing our job. It is an open market for ideas, and as the Qur'an said: "The scum and froth will be swept away while what is good for people will stay on earth." (Surat Ar-Ra'd)
Name
Muhammad
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Profession
Question
Don't you see any trace or link between cultural practices, traditions...etc of some Muslims and extremism in today's world? Take for instance, the Imrana case in India, and the case of that Pakistani woman gangraped as a punishment, cases of honor killings in some Muslim countries, ...etc examples abound. How do you think Muslims can get out of this bloody circle?
Answer
Let me say that the concern and observation are correct. We should illustrate the difference between Islam which comes from the Book and the model of the messenger versus the accumulation or man-made customs and traditions that are sometimes completely opposite to Islam. We should escape from the bloody cycle, as you said, to the bright circle of Islam.
Name
Aisha
-
Profession
Question
As a medical doctor and well-experienced preacher for more than thirty years in North America, what are real causes of such state of extremism in the world, especially among Muslims?
Answer
I think due to feelings of injustice and because of political agendas Islam has been introduced especially to the young people in a form of anger and protest. We failed to introduce Islam in its totality with the first mission statements of the prophethood of Muhammad, peace be upon him, is to be mercy to all creatures and with the values of fairness and justice to all.
We also ignored the emphasis on decency, good manners and loving nature that the Qur'an stressed and the Prophet, peace be upon him, exemplified. So at the end of the day we offered only one side of Islam, out of the context, which is holistic in its nature, and this led to the extreme ideas and feelings that ought to be dealt with.
Name
Denis
-
Profession
Question
How do we reach out to others only in times of crisis? They will understand that we try to hide or cover up our mistakes by taking a hypocritical stance.
Answer
We are reaching out to people even years before 9/11, and we are not taking any hypocritical stance because we are just explaining what Islam teaches and we are also very critical about policies and behaviour that we do not like. So we cannot be perceived as hypocritical as long as we are consistent in criticizing the wrong if it is done by others or by ourselves and in supporting the good whether it is done by others or by ourselves.
Name
Rami Aboughawsh
-
Profession
Question
I don't know if you heard about the declaration signed by 120 imams in Canada against the latest bombings and terrorism in the world. The media made a big deal of it on how only 120 imams sign the agreement and not all the Muslims. The primes minister today is calling on an immediate meeting of imams across the country to discuss a way of taking a nationwide stance. My point is: even when we define who we are and what we stand for, we are often misquoted or misinterpreted. How can we deal with such things.
Answer
Of course they are pockets in the media and in the society that no matter what we do they will spin it against us. This should not make us less determined in sending out our message with consistency and confidence. Eventually the truth will prevail; this is our destiny as people who are standing on the side of the truth and we should just keep going.
Name
Marwa
-
Profession
Question
What message do you give to next generation and Muslim youth to keep up their faith and preserve their identity and at the same time avoid extremism?
Answer
I would like to refer the sister to my latest Khutbah on islamonline: Islam, a call to life not a call to death. Click here to listen to it: Islam, A call for Life Not a Call for Death
Having said that, I would like to emphasize in a nutshell the following points:
1. Our religion is based on ability to think clearly. The Qur'an says: "It is for the people who think". Those who do not use their minds to the best of their capability are amenable to be misled to the extreme right or the extreme left.
2. We should focus on the highway of Islam not on the side street. This highway means (1) oneness and supremacy of God with whom you can communicate directly; (2) mercy as the main feature of the message of Muhammad; (3) justice that does not bend neither for the clause nor against the foe; (4) dignity of all human beings as Qur'an taught that Allah says, "We (God) have bestowed dignity on the children of Adam"; (5) freedom as there is no compulsion in religion, which is the most important issue. So it is needless to say that there should be no compulsion in anything.
3. In Islam we are individually responsible and accountable to God Almighty. Each one alone up to his or her own capacity or understanding and intention to do well.
4. We are ordered in our religion to question and verify all statements and information. We should never blindly follow a person because he can puzzle us by his words.
If we follow these main items I think that our bright youth will give Islam a bright future.
Name
Confused student
- Germany
Profession
Question
Dr. Hathout, I am a young Muslim who grew up in Germany. I love Islam and try my best effort to live by it. However, I find myself hypocrite sometimes when I shut my mouth against atrocities committed against Muslims because I am afraid of being accused of anti-Semitism. Should I leave to any Muslim country or what to do?
Answer
To be very frank with you, my dear son, if you go to Muslim countries you will have to shut your mouth much more!
Remember that wisdom is needed in our preaching and it is important to differentiate between objecting on certain policies or the conduct over government versus expressing hate against a race or a religion.
Name
Fatih
-
Profession
Question
Is it almost the first time bombings are masterminded by Muslims living in the west, which is quite shocking and agitating? How do you see this in light of the performance of Muslims in the west? Does this reflect a new movement that is backed by certain anti-Islamic agencies or organizations? Or this is a Zionist-led attack to taint the image of Islam and counter their political engagement in the West?
Answer
I warn against us escaping to conspiracy theories. I rather see us looking to the problem in the eye and put it in the broad day light and deal with it. We cannot and we should not blame everything on others even if others are taking stance against us. Our responsibility is to refute these false teachings and this dangerous ideas that distort the minds of our young people regardless to the source and we should share with our youth their concerns, deal with their doubts and questions and be very close to them so that the false teachers no matter who they are will not tamper with their brains.
Name
Concerned Muslim
-
Profession
Question
Dear Dr Maher, Salam
In light of the latest bombings in London and other Western countries, including that of Sharm el-Sheikh with Muslim scholars condemning these incidents as heinous crime as against innocent civilians, whereas when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, these scholars use different rethorics. Don't you see this as a problem in the Islamic ideology of classifying and protecting "innocent people", and this also represent a hidden agenda of extremism that Muslim scholars need to review?
Answer
I don't know about hidden agendas. But as far as I know, Muslims scholars that I know of, all condemned Israeli atrocities against Palestinians. We have to be fair even if we are frustrated. We think that according to Islam acts of brutality should be condemned no matter who victim is and who the perpetrator is.
Name
Comment
-
Profession
Question
Extremism and terrorism are two terms that almost exclusive to Muslims. I heard so many khutbas you gave and read articles and statements you made since 9/11 stating that Osama Bin Laden is a terrorist and extremist, while at the same time I never heard you stating clearly that Sharon is a terrorist? Are we Muslims having double-standard policy too?
Answer
I hope not, and if you review the record you will read and hear our very strong statements against the terrorism of Sharon even before the first intifada and consistently up till today it will be a mistake though if we ignore what is happening from bombing the towers in New York to beheading people in Iraq to the bombs in Sharm El Sheikh that are all falsely invoking the name of Islam and we ignore all of this and we keep talking about Sharon. If we do that we will be offering a great service to Sharon himself.
Name
Khadija
-
Profession
Question
What is the responsibility and role of Muslims living in the west especially the Muslim institutions and organization in fighting terrorism and extremism? Can you suggest some tips?
Answer
I am at least talking about our institution, The Muslim Public Affairs Council (AMPAC). We propose a grassroot campaign to fight terrorism and this is based on three items:
1. To spread comprehensive Islamic education to Muslims and non-Muslims alike, focusing on the youth.
2. Guidelines to the different mosque in America on how the leadership in each mosque should be in control of the environment and the activities within the mosque so that there will be no place for unknown intruders to sneak in and say something or do something that can lead to the harm of this mosque.
3. To have full opened partnership with the law enforcement so that they can meet openly with the leaders of each mosque and discuss issues and grievances on both sides so that they don't have to listen to informants whom God knows what they say.
We are trying to gather momentous and support behind this plan.
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Answer
Finally, we would like to thank Dr. Maher Hathout for taking the time to answer the questions of Islamonline viewers today, and we also thank all those who participated in this dialogue. We apologize for not being able to accommodate all the questions within the time allocated to this session. If you feel your question is very important, feel free to contact us at EngLivedialogue@islamonline.net and we will try our best to answer your question. We request our readers to join us in upcoming sessions.
