What do you mean by French Islam? Can we talk about British Islam, Swedish Islam..etc?
Answer
Islam is universal. There are not "a lot of Islams", its fundamentals are the same everywhere, but Islam is also adaptable to several contexts in some of its practical aspects.
Name
Akbar Mohammad - Pakistan
-
Profession
Question
What were the results of your last Islamic conference? Did u achieve your goals?
Answer
The question at the heart of the Congress in 2005 was the one of "Islam in France":
We have dealt with several issues:
- The position of Islam towards the republican values (liberty, equality and fraternity - the French devise).
We have come to the conclusion theoretically; these principles and those of Islam are the same, but that as far as practice is concerned, Islam is able to bring us other solutions to put them into application.
- The question of how to practice one's religion in a non-Muslim context: the European Council for Fatwa and Research is in charge of this aspect: how to adapt (according to legal judgments)our practice to the context we live in; the main goal of the yearly meeting is to create a place of meeting for a lot of Muslims from everywhere in Europe, as well as a mood of brotherhood, and a place for buying the last books and cultural Islamic programs; it has really became a yearly rendez-vous for Muslims in whole Europe.
Name
salma
-
Profession
Question
Do you think that the French regret making the law of hijab banning? Will things get worse or better for the French Muslims?
Answer
The French government who voted this law is still obviously in favor of it; therefore some politicians and intellectuals are against it, although they are a minority.
We don't think that things are getting worse, on the contrary: one must notice a positive evolution, for instance as far the building of mosques is concerned, the representation of Muslims in the government (CFCM) (though we know some difficulties); we do all what we can, supported by those who also want that Islam finds an harmonious place in the French society.
Name
Aina Hamadi - India
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Profession
Question
Did you perform any progress in dealing with the case of Hijab in Bourget Conference?
Answer
There were two round tables in this meeting:
-The first one drew up a statement after one year of application of this law (since it came into application on 2004, March 15th); three women were present:
Louiza Hendaz , writer of a book ("le voile humilié") compiling witnessing of young girls excluded from school, as well as Noura Jaballah , from the "15th March committee" (from the date of the law)which published also a book ("rentrée 2004, une vérité dévoilée"), as well as Magali Saneba, from the French Muslim Woman League.
A lot of initiatives were born since one year , and we are full of hope for the future that one can review this law, as far as its applications are concerned; to this extent, a second round table has taken place, with Dr. Abdallah milcent , who gave the word to young girls excluded from their schools; and several associations were also there, such as "G faim de savoir", et le "comité 15 mars" again ; we must underline by the way that some of them are in front of the courts so as to fight against a too restrictive application of the law.
Name
Noha Yahia - United Kingdom
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Profession
Question
We feel that the Austrian Muslims are more compatible with their society more than the French, Why? Do you plan to transcend your current ghetto?
Answer
we must say that integration lays on both the diverse communities (above all when there are in minority), as well as the societies they live in; to that extent, we cannot compare two countries on every point; they have different way of governing, different ways of meaning and their public opinion diverse. As far as France is concerned, a lot of efforts are made towards integration; the question here is the integration of Islam more than that of Muslims, as they are part of the French society since generations, they have now the French nationality. The question is "what place for Islam in France?"
We have not yet achieved our goal, but the Muslim community works for it with our forces.
Name
zaki
- Malaysia
Profession
just graduate
Question
what kind of controversy you are talking about here? Is it about hijab ban or something else?
Answer
May be the only practical difficulty we face today is the one of banning hijab in the schools and job places; but the other controversy existing today is common between all the religions: that is the place of religiosity in our secular societies; some think that is must be contented in the private circle; some others see, that one can express freely its religious orientation without being disturbed in it.
Name
Melik
- France
Profession
Question
As-salâm `alaykum wa rahmatullâhi wa barakatu
What are the factors & limits of adaptation to local context?
What's your opinion on the controversy between the callers to a fiqh of minority (aqaliyat) & those who oppose them (such as Tariq Ramadan) saying that there's no need to think ourselves (Western Muslims) as minority ?
May Rahmatullâh be upon you
Salâm
Answer
First, Islam contains essential fundaments that none can discuss; they do not enter the circle of adaptations we talked about previously; nevertheless, there are other points on which Islam is all the more flexible, and those are the points we are working on.
On the other hand, the starting point of our reflexion is the statute of citizenship of French Muslims, keeping in mind that they are still in minority in a non-Muslim land, but we want to point out the fact the two are not autonomic: being a minority in a non-Muslim land, as well as being a real citizen in the country we live in.
Name
Mu'minah
- United States
Profession
student
Question
As Salamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullah.
Since France's hijab ban, fear of similar actions by other western governments is prevalent among Muslims. Do you think that these fears are justified? What can Muslims do to protect their rights?
Why does there have to be any ethnic Islam, as Islam is not based on culture, ethnicity, gender, or background, but is the Truth, the state of submission to the Creator, that doesn't distinguish between races?
Aren't the guidelines set for all Muslims in the Qur'an and implemented by our beloved Prophet, peace be upon him, and his followers, and the mothers of the believers, may Allah be pleased with them, applicable to all Muslims, regardless of their country of residence or origin?
Wa Jazakum Allahu Khairan.
Answer
First as far as the fear is concerned, it is true that we must be vigilant, and therefore the question is how?
On the
On one hand, by informing others about our religion, the love its ensure, the peace its recommends, and reassure them all the time about its content; on the other hand, by bringing in front of the court all the cases where our rights are scorned.
second, as we have said before, Islam is universal in time and space, without regard to ethnicity or such other criteria; there are fundaments that are not to be discussed; still, we have to make real efforts to adapt on the points that enable us to do it (it is what we call "ijtihad"); for instance, the question of salât: it is allowed to group two prayers in case of necessity, such as can occur in a non-Muslim society. BUT it remains that salât is an obligation for every Muslim five times a day and we could give thousands of examples like this.
