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Name
salma
- Egypt
Profession
teacher
Question
As a teacher to what extent should I teach the children to stick to dialogue with the west even when an issue needs much more reaction e. g. cartoons,insulting Islam...
Answer
Thank you for your question Salma.
First of all, it is vital to differentiate. The "West" is no monolithic bloc and one has to take a closer look: Who, for instance, does what and what is the intention behind the actions. When we talk about the cartoon crisis, we have to take into consideration that a wealth of factors went into the conflict that then got out of hand.
Name
Muslimah
- United Kingdom
Profession
Student
Question
Assalmuleykum!
What do you feel of integration? Do you feel it better to 'go with the flow' so to speak and accept western standards in clothing, food, and overall cultural lifestyles? Sometimes I feel left out: when I wear my hijab, I can never wear the nice outfits everyone else at my University wear. Or in the halal/haram case...is it ok to eat a hamburger at a Burger King or something once in a while?
Please advise. I am living in this Western society, and feel that integration is the best way for acceptance and maintaining my self-esteem. I know people who acknowledge strong Muslims who wear khimar/niqab, and just don't feel they should be doing that. "We live in the west...they should try to become as close to them as possible without violating our religion" people would say.
Is this true?
Answer
Dear Muslima, I am not an Islamic scholar, but my personal opinion is that there is a multitude of ways to dress fashionable without breaching Islamic codes of dress. Surely you can go by your own world view and retain your faith, independent from the way you dress. Some "Liberal" Muslim scholars allow for certain exceptions concerning eating meat that was not butchered according to Islamic law, but we'd better consult scholars for the Halal and Haram issues.
Thanks Muslima
Name
Fareeha
-
Profession
Question
Assalamu alykum wrwb
My question is how can we accomplish the role of the "best nation given to mankind calling to good and forbiding evil"as per holy Quran in the western world?
Answer
Wa Alaykum Assalam Fareeha
Islam is a religion that has a high potential of adapting in relation to various cultural environements and in different historical epochs. Furthermore, Islam is a religion that stresses the importance of using the facutly of reason.
Therefore I feel that Muslims in the West have a very high potential to constructively influence the Western societies they live in.
Name
Ergün
- Germany
Profession
Student
Question
What kind of dialogue does Qantara offer to the Turkish minorities, like the Kurds or Armenians on its website. There seem to be only news about arabic topics and about Iran, but not about the situation of ethnic minorities and news in Anatolia, for example. What do you think about that?
Answer
Dear Ergun, we feature a wealth of articles and sometimes it isn't easy to immediately spot what you're looking for, but we do have quite a lot of articles on Turkey and her minorities - it is one of the central issues in relation to the prospective EU membership.
The Armenian issue really is a hot topic, and what we always try to do is to look at the phenomenon from various angles; we try to feature different points of view - as long as the issue dealt with is looked at with facts and arguments, and not from an ideological viewpoint.
Name
Yousef
- Canada
Profession
Question
Assalamu alaikum,
Part of the process of integration of Muslims within societies is their collaboration and co-operation with other groups who are not necessarily Muslims. To what extent should this co-operation go, even to some groups who are morally different than us? (e.g. Anarchists / Socialists / "Gay" rights groups etc.)
Answer
Dear Yusef, we believe it is possible to act pragmatically without giving up any of one's convictions. It depends also at what kind of organisational level we're looking at.
For instance, an association solely for religious Muslims or a Sufi circle that is interested in spiritual and religious aspects of Islam, they have the liberty of withdrawing from society, up to a certain point.
But if we're talking about, for instance, a Muslim group that organises itself politically, e.g. in the form of a political party then they become and should become part of the respective political system and its society as a whole. In that case you must accept the fact that you have to interact with groups and associations that represent all kinds of points of view. Also, there are even gay Muslims groups that in some cases organise themselves in associations.
Name
Firdousi
- Australia
Profession
house wife
Question
Due to the current situations both here in Australia and overseas, muslims are told to adapt the australian culture. Obviously we are not going to do anything which is against Islam, but can you please suggest how we can strike a balance . Jazak Allah Khair
Answer
Dear Firdausi, freedom of religion is a right inscribed in the Australian constitution. Muslims should organise themselves and make use of their rights in order to represent their interests, just like any other religious, or ethnic, group. In recent years, Muslims in the West have come under considerable pressure to adapt to Western standards. One has to keep in mind, however, that the situation differs greatly, depending on which country we're talking about. Practicing Muslims have to make up their mind how to deal with this pressure and decide in how far they are willing to integrate into the respective societies they currently live in. On the other hand, Western societies must come up with viable concepts for integration and accept that Muslims have in fact long become a part of public life. In the current integration discourse, Western societies, especially in Europe, run the danger of losing the liberal values and the tolerance they demand of Muslims.
Name
Muslim in Spain
-
Profession
Question
We know Muslims can integrate without giving up their values. But how can we overcome the initial barrier of different appearance and tradition to make people understand that we're peaceful despite difference. I mean on a daily basis.
Answer
The best way to overcome prejudices and anxiety is by personal contact and day-to-day encounters. Although one must not be discouraged by failed experiences and disappointments, even when it at times seems difficult to act in good faith.
