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Name
Ziadh
- Sri Lanka
Profession
Student
Question
Salam Allaykum, Can't we take Wilders' film as a big tool for Da`wah. Because he has given a chance for us to introduce Qur'an...Moreover, the verses he quotes are famous misunderstood verses. So it is a chance for us to make the non muslims clear about those verses. Anyhow, some of the clips he shows are happening in the name of Islam...How can we defend Islam if the people say that Qura'n could not shape the muslims in the modern world?
Answer
Yes, it is an opportunity to present Islam, and yes we need to understand and explain verses that deal with war situation.
The fact that some people violate normative Islamic teachings and claim that their wrongdoing is in the name of Islam is not the problem of Islam or the Qur’an – it is actually their problem. People of other faith communities have similar problems among some of their people as well.
The Qur’an did do and can do wonders of changing people to the better but only if they accepted it and implemented its teachings.
Name
Anees
- United States
Profession
Question
Salam Alaikum Dr. Jamal, some people suggest that we should just ignore these attacks on Islam from people like Wilders, rather than drawing additional attention to them through protests, lawsuits, etc. Rather we should focus on our Da`wah, presenting positive representations through grassroots efforts with non-Muslims. What do you think? Jazak Allah Khair
Answer
I agree in principle that overreaction achieves the objectives of anti-Islam forces and gives them undeserved attention. However, many people who are not well-informed are exposed to this hate and fear mongering; as such, there must be some form of peaceful response in the short run. On the long-term, however, we need to deeply understand our faith and explain it to others.
Name
Salman
- United States
Profession
Question
Dr.Badawi,
Could you please give me your opinion as to why there has been such a huge proliferation of anti-Islamic sentiment from those who are in influential positions, across the religious, political and social spectrum? Is there a religious context behind this global campaign of Islam-bashing, or is it mainly political? Could you please elaborate?
Answer
There are complex reasons for the proliferation of anti-Islamic propaganda, some of which may be motivated by economic, political and religious motives. In some cases, it is a cover of the politically incorrect open racism. I do not think it is totally religious since some of the propagandists are themselves atheists or agnostics.
One possible motive and/or result of Islamophobia is to divert the world’s attention away from the many injustices done to Muslims such as the inhumane siege of the Palestinian people in Gaza and possibly to cover up the various forms of brutality meted to them and other oppressed Muslims. Also it can divert attention from more constructive work to restore the proper understanding of Islam, and to focus on the proper Islamic response to modernity (modern day issues and problems and not not modernism).
Name
Bard
- Netherlands
Profession
Question
In a discussion about the Fitna video, one stated: it is in the government's interest to have its citizens afraid. Who benefits most from these radical actions?
Answer
The greatest beneficiaries are the radicals on all sides, for they fan the flames of hatred and fear. However, governments are obligated morally and politically to discourage such destructive and irresponsible use of freedom of expression, and to vigorously prosecute any party that violates the law of the land. Doing so is not to be seen as deliberate frightening of their citizens.
Muslims should understand that in the context of the west, the law does not allow the governments to intervene in what is published unless there is a clear violation of the law. It is true that there is some partiality in the west concerning the limits of freedom of expression. For example, some countries consider questioning even the number of Jewish people killed in the Holocaust as a crime for which some people are tried and imprisoned. However, not until the western laws are changed democratically to be more impartial against any form of irresponsible and hate-inciting material that the present governments can legitimately and lawfully prosecute violators.
Name
Amanullah
-
Profession
Question
Brother Jamal,
I have noticed that the majority of the anti-Islamic polemic--in the realm of media as well as in the arena of policy making--in the western world has been lead by those with strong Jewish/Israeli agendas. I do not mean to dump all those people of the Jewish faith into one basket, but the fact that most of this hate is piloted by Jews, is more than a mere coincidence. Don't you think it's time we Muslims take a stance in the form of an ideological offensive. Is it not time we stop playing the apologist role and start being more proactive in exposing the enemies of Islam in a nonviolent manner: through various types of media,lectures, workshops etc. Is it not time we understand that there are those who want our destruction, and that playing defense is not only relatively ineffective but has now become morally reprehensible? Can we now admit that there is a deep religious conflict between the two sides that cannot be resolved and that it is time to let go of all the niceties and to take a more drastic road towards peace?
Answer
I personally believe that we should not fall in the same trap of painting all the followers of any religious faith with the same broad brush. In the Qur’an, even when it criticizes improper action of any a particular people, it also clearly states that “they are not all the same”. However, we are all free to criticize hostile and/or racist ideologies even if they hide behind the name of religion.
It is fair to say also that I have met and read writings of faithful members of the Jewish faith who stand up in integrity against brutality or wrongdoings by some of their own people. For example, I have seen a recent statement published in a British newspaper that condemns in no uncertain terms the Israeli inhumane siege of the civil population of Gaza. That noble statement was signed by about 245 prominent Jews designating themselves as independent Jewish voices. One must commend such courageous individuals or organizations for their stand in the face of severe pressure (if not threats) of the powerful Zionist ideologues. Judaism is neither Zionism nor oppressive policies of the state of Israel. It is a distortion of facts to equate such policies with anti-Jewishness, and worst, with anti-Semitism.
Name
Ouafaa
- Netherlands
Profession
teacher
Question
salamu Alaikum,
I know that Islam is not a religion of violence and agression, like Geert wilders has claimed. I also know that a person can not compare Islam with fascism or communism. Geert wilders quoted some verses from the Qur'an to explain why Islam is dangerous for Dutch society. Like verses which are about killing the unbelievers and war etc. How can you explain as a Muslim that those verses has nothing to do with the unbelievers of this society at this time?
Jazaka Allahu Khayran,
wassalaam,
Answer
None of Wilders’ quotations has been placed in its proper textual and historical contexts. The verses he refers to such as 4:89, 8:60, 9:5 deal with the known historical contexts of defensive wars imposed on early Muslims, and as such cannot be and should not be generalized to justify doing any harm to other than the aggressive and oppressive combatants.
Secondly, like many others, Wilders does not even quote other verses in the same section that clearly explain that the first verses deal with a war situation. An example of this “cut and paste approach” is his partial quotation of the first part of verse 4 in Chapter 49. He feels free to quote the part that deals with “striking the necks of unbelievers and tying the prisoners of war”, yet deliberately ignores the remaining part of the same verse that states that such prisoners of war maybe either freed as an act of kindness and generosity or in the least through ransom (which includes exchange of Muslim prisoners of war) nor does he quote in the same verse the part that says that all these measures are to seize with the cessation of hostilities or war. Intentional Failure to quote at least the same verse in full in this case leaves the uninformed viewers or readers with the false impression that it is a duty of Muslims to “strike the necks of unbelievers” wherever they find them or whether they are fighting Muslims or not. This is a clear distortion and fear mongering.
Some of the verses he refers to, have nothing to do with any worldly punishments such as Chapter 4, verse 56 which deals exclusively with God’s punishments in the Hereafter of those who deliberately rejected belief in God and His signs and became arrogant and insolent.
He refers to Chapter 8, verse 60 as an evidence to aggression, blood thirst and eagerness to wage war. The reality is exactly the opposite, for this verse simply means that Muslims, like any other community or state, past or present, should have the means to defend themselves against potential aggression and that such preparedness is in itself intended to frighten, or deter in modern language, the enemy from waging war. The result of this is actually to minimize the chances of war and unnecessary bloodshed, which is good for all.
A third example is his claim that some verses in the Qur’an provide Muslims with a license to kill. Nothing is farther from truth. As all such verses deal historically with war situation and only against aggressors and oppressors. Furthermore, the Qur’an is quite clear, as in Chapter 60, verses 8 and 9, that Muslims are obligated to treat all other peacefully coexisting peoples of all faith communities in kindness and justice (not to strike their necks!). These verses were revealed in Madinah where Muslims had their own “city state” not at the time of weakness and persecution in Makkah, as some misinformed claim.
A fourth example of gross misinterpretation is that there are some verses in the Qur’an implying that Muslims should rule the world. Such misunderstanding can be found even among the radical fringe of Muslims. In reality the whole issue is predicated on the expression “liyuthhirahu ‘al-d-deeni-kullihi”. Some apparently understood that expression to mean “prevailing” in the military sense. A better rendering, however, which is also linguistically sound, is to proclaim it, as the famous translator of the meaning of Qur’an, ‘Abdullah Yusuf Ali, translated it. That understanding is consistent with the Qur’anic commands to coexist peacefully with those who do the same (Chapter 60: 8-9)
More particularly in the world in which we live today where we have international bodies and treaties, it is inconceivable to interpret these few verses in the light of the lawless world that existed in the early days of Islam.
While the history of Muslim people (not necessarily normative Islam) is NOT PERFECT, it is generally accepted that when Muslims were in power they were the most tolerant and accepting of other faith communities as compared to any other civilization (e.g. what was done to European Jews or both Muslims and Jews during the Crusades and Inquisitions). The most manifest examples of this tolerance is that for many centuries Muslims ruled in Spain, India, and other countries that still have a substantial minority or even majority non-Muslims such as present-day India.
Name
nada salameh
- Syria
Profession
teacher
Question
Do you think the problem with people who want to spread such media against Islam are only trying to prove that freadom of thought is important, and that muslims are fighting freedom? or do they want to fight Islam for other reasons??
Answer
In fact, the essence of Islam from one perspective is freedom; freedom from the worship of any creature or deity other than Allah (God), freedom of belief and worship (e.g. 2: 256), freedom of responsible expression and freedom in all social, economic, and political pursuits within the ethical and responsible framework. In our time, one of the most pressing problems in the Muslim world is the absence of such freedom and the occupation and oppression that is widely practiced against the Muslim masses by their own authoritarian governments or by external forces directly and/or indirectly. It is in the context of yearning for truly responsible freedom that some individuals or groups on the fringe spouse radical views, erroneous interpretations of some texts of the Qur’an and Hadith, or even manifest their frustration in indiscriminate violence that is condemned by normative Islamic teachings. It should be added that no society or nation in the world define freedom in an unequivocal and absolute sense. For example, freedom of expression is not freedom of slander, which is illegal in the most liberal democracy.
Name
MARY
- United Kingdom
Profession
TEACHER
Question
Salam, Having seen the fitna film I would like to know what are the explanations of the verses of the Quran used in the film. Are they verses revealed to be used now against non muslims or were they revealed because of an event happening at the time of revelation.
Thank you.
Answer
As the famous British religious historian Karen Armstrong, like other historians, states, “Islam was born in a very violent world”; as such Muslims would have been utterly destroyed if they did not stand up against aggression, oppression, sabotage from within and from the nations’ surrounding them. For specific example, please refer to question of Ouafaa from Netherlands.
Name
Mohamed
- United States
Profession
student
Question
First of Geert Wilders is truly have hatred for Islam. He was interview by Fox news channel, he qouted"retardted islamic culture". His nature defines the hate he have for muslims. Plus, his film is absoluty juvinile. The muslim world are not doing actions against Natherland government so far. Whats the best response to this film?
Answer
Geert Wilders can do himself and others a favour by reading fair-minded western historians on Islamic civilization like Karen Armstrong and George Sarton. While Western Europe was suffering from what was aptly called the dark ages, Islamic civilization has been already thriving in various parts of the world and their contribution to all fields of knowledge sparked the European renaissance. Such civilization was the supreme contributor for at least 600 years (see George Sarton’s An introduction to the History of Science). It is beneficial for all people including Muslims to acknowledge their indebtedness to past contributions and to work together to achieve greater development for the benefit of humanity rather than arrogantly ignoring such indebtedness of which they are beneficiaries. For specific examples and facts, please check my paper on IslamOnline:
I am having a lot of trouble grasping one thing.Prophet Said:I have been ordered to fight the people until they testify......''.So does this mean that no matter wat,we have to fight them?And verse 9 Of Sura Tawbah Says The same thing,So do we have to go and just fight all jews and christians until they are Subdued and pay jizya?
Answer
Any hadith must be interpreted in a way that does not contradict the Qur’an which is the highest source of guidance to Muslims. This hadith may be understood to mean that since the main reason the idolatrous Arabs fought against Muslims is their belief and devotion to Allah (God). And since the Qur’an clearly and unequivocally prohibits any form of compulsion in faith it means that if those aggressors are guided to Islam willingly their wars against Muslims will automatically cease. A reminder that Chapter 60, verses 8 and 9 demands just and kind treatment of peacefully coexisting non-Muslims.
Jizya is not a sign of second class citizenship nor a penalty for refusing to accept Islam. A normative Islamic state, like any other modern state, is obligated to care for its citizens for their defence and other needs. That requires funding. Muslims contribute their share through the mandatory zakah. It is only fair that non-Muslim citizens contribute their share as well as it is done today in the form of taxation. Indeed, it is even more respectful that Islam does not require them to pay their share as zakah since the term has its specific Islamic religious connotations. Furthermore, Jizya also implies the freedom of the right of non-Muslim citizens to abstain from the obligation to serve in the military if they do not wish to fight under the banner of Islam, and this is the ultimate of fairness.
As to the expression “subdued” or “feeling themselves humiliated”, there are different linguistically sound renderings that they are required to pay Jizya only if they can afford it (‘an yadin) while accepting the authority of the state (saghiroon).
Name
Megawati
- Indonesia
Profession
Clerk
Question
As salamu alaykum.
In your personal perspective, how far will this movie affect the Muslims as well as non-Muslims around the world? And how should the Muslims respond to this with dignity?
Thank you and salam.
Answer
The effect may not be uniform. There are signs, however, that many thinking and fair-minded non-Muslims rejected the Wilders’ hate and fear mongering. Many Dutch citizens demonstrated with their fellow Muslim citizens against hate-inciting. As to Muslims, while they feel deeply hurt and offended of Wilders’ (and others’) negative and distorted portrayal of Islam and the Qur’an, they have largely responded with dignity and rationality. I pray that this approach continues and that efforts should be exerted to share the true teachings of Islam with others and correct such glaring errors and “cut and paste” efforts which can easily be done with other religious texts, not only the Qur’an.
Name
Mustafa
-
Profession
student
Question
Assalumalikum brother Badawi I simply have a question on what should we do to raise awarness of this film. I must admit that me and my community are not really affected by this attempt to provoke and ignore it. However I understand ignoring it is not what we should do. I just wat to know how a proactive way to tackle this, I feel just dialouge is not enough as we must use some force ie boycott, unfortunatly boycotting destroys dialouge and dialouge cannot take place with boycotting
Answer
We should be proactive and not just respond to such repeated attempts to incite Muslims to react violently or inappropriately. We should all focus on positive, constructive and ongoing dialogue with our fellow citizens.
Name
Amir
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
The movie quotes a young girl saying what many Muslims are saying that the Jews are, as Allah describes them in the Qur'an, apes and pigs. I have three questions: 1) Is it true that the Qur'an mentions that? 2)I heard you saying in one of the interviews that the Jews Allah criticized in the Qur'an were already criticized in the Old Testment. Can you please share some quotations with us 3) Does the Qur'an criticize some of the Jews, all the Jews or only few of them. What does it mean that "they are the most hostile to you". Are we allowed to describe them as "children of apes and pigs"
Answer
The Qur’an never generalizes criticism to a whole community. It is true that the Qur’an states that Allah Almighty punished SOME of the Israelites who broke the Sabbath (which is condemned in the Hebrew Scripture) by “turning them into apes and pigs”. Some commentators on the Qur’an understood it in the physical sense; others interpreted it as an allegory to express the displeasure because of their disobedience to Allah and the violations of their own scriptures. It is erroneous, however, to use the expression that the present-day Jews are dissidents of apes and pigs for the following reasons:
1. The mention of this incident in the Qur’an applies only to the violators of the Sabbath, not all Israelites.
2. The Prophet, peace be upon him, stated that “a mutated person will not have progeny (decedents)”. In fact, this is what science has concluded many centuries after the Prophet, peace be upon him.
3. Given the above reason, it may be added also that using such unjustified expressions about present-day Jewish people is very insensitive, offensive, highly objectionable and utterly un-Islamic. Suffice to say that peacefully coexisting Jewish people today are entitled, according to the Qur’an, to kind and just treatment. There is no justice in stereotyping others as is done to Muslims today and there is no kindness in using unfortunate and erroneous expressions.
You may read the first book of the Bible, Genesis, for further details about the violation of Sabbath.
Name
mutea
- United States
Profession
Engineer
Question
Assamu aliku warahmatu Allh.May Allah reward you our beloved Dr. Jamal.
my question is: what are our duties as Muslims facing this islamophobia? and why all Muslims counties not cutting the diplomatic ties with Denmark. we remember the ex-Western Minister saying " yes Arabs are barking but have no teeth". Thank you very much.
Answer
I personally believe that keeping engaging in dialogue and diplomacy is a more positive approach. Given the fact that even Western countries who object to Islamophobia such as the present Dutch government as well as the European Union, have no legal powers to order the stoppage of such propaganda, bad as it may be, unless it is decided by a court of law that there is a violation of the law in any specific country. Many Muslims who are living under authoritarian regimes where governments can do almost anything that the situation in western system is different because of the disproportionate emphasis on “freedom” than moral responsibility.
It should be noted in fairness that the sole responsibility propagating this film falls squarely on the shoulders on the person or group who initiated such propaganda. Without being sponsored, encouraged or approved by their governments or other institutions that had no involvement in it. It is pointless to require the government who even objected to this film to apologize for something they did not condone, do, and possibly are helpless to stop it given the legal system in their country.
Name
Riyazi
- Sri Lanka
Profession
Student
Question
Dear respected scholar Dr. Jamal Badawi, undoubtedly this activity was extremely condemned and we must resist it is all our duty. But I personally believe that all these strong plot against Islam eventually be positive, for example it encourages non-Muslims to explore Islam and find the truth and Islam become globalised. Allah says in Quran "And I plot a plot against them" (86:16). Is my thinking poor and negative?
Answer
I agree that we need to take opportunity of the negative to spread what is truthfully positive. And as the Qur’an says, "it maybe that you may hate something in which Allah will make something good come out of it". For further details please refer to my paper on islamOnline:
As-Salamu`alykum, just a question what ayah the film referring too and can you give the whole ayah (in English)and a brief tafseer to clear doubts. Thank you.
Answer
The film quotes a number of verses; please refer to the question of Ouafaa to view my response. Also you can refer to my paper on islamOnline:
Finally, we would like to thank Dr. Jamal Badawi for taking the time to answer the questions of Islamonline viewers today, and we apologize for not being able to accommodate all questions within the time allocated for this dialogue. We thank all those who participated in this dialogue, and we encourage our readers to join us in upcoming sessions.
