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Answer
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Name
F
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
Dearest Father Reeves,
I am very thankful to God, for instilling such compassion in people such as you.
What I want to know is, is it a solely Mosque for Muslims. I mean, how about the sermons and talk and activities and such, will you wish to know the content of that beforehand? Or will you leave it solely to the committee of the mosque, Thank you, may Allah guide you and us all the right way aameen.
Answer
It is a Mosque for Muslims alone - what happens once the Mosque is built and open will be for the local Islamic community to decide..
Name
aiman
- India
Profession
student
Question
Peace,
Did a Christianity teaching inspire you doing such a good act?
Answer
Yes, I hope so. The teaching of Jesus about the kingdom of God is very important for me - that will be a world in which everyone flourishes....
Name
Aisha
-
Profession
Question
What about the mosque itself and its architect design?
Answer
Thank you for the question. Perhaps I did not make myself clear in answering other questions. The Mosque to be reconstructed will be exactly as it was in 1579 - a Mosque designed by the School of Sinan. It will be a working Mosque not a Museum - there will be no Christian symbols in the Mosque - although as it happens the design of the Mosque was heavily influenced by Christian churches.
Name
Dina
-
Profession
Question
How can the Religion be a way of integration and not isolation?
Answer
It should be for integration - but so often in the Balkans or Northern Ireland, for example, religion is used to reinforce nationalist values thus helping to create the conditions for isolation. We need to learn how to appreciate each others religions.
Name
Mustafa
-
Profession
Question
Why did you choose Bosnia for launching such a project ?
Answer
Because Bosnia is a home for European Islam, and because Bosnia is traditionally the region where East meets West, where Catholicism meets orthodoxy, and where Islam and Christianity meet. It is therefore appropriate that an example of Muslim/Christian collaboration should find its place in Bosnia.
Name
Belal
-
Profession
Question
How successful is your project?
Answer
It is difficult to tell. We have been working in Banja Luka for 4 years - and we still have not started to reconstruct the Ferhadija Mosque - which was destroyed in May 1993. We have been working with the other religious groups as well to prepare the way for the Mosque - one of 16 destroyed in 1993.
Name
Muhammed
-
Profession
Question
Are there any Muslim groups who cooperate with you ?
Answer
Yes - but it took a lot of time to get the trust of the Muslim community in Bosnia. People in Bosnia are very suspicious of the West, and often distrust us because they feel, especially Muslims that we let them down in the war. So you cannot take anyone's goodwill in Bosnia for granted... you have to work at getting trust.
Name
Abbas
-
Profession
Question
What do you mean by building new Europe and what is your vision of the European stance towards the role of the religion in the public domain?
Answer
Well, this is a difficult question to answer in a few sentences. i wonder what you think about this. My feeling about Europe is that it is a region of the world where the rich are getting richer and the poor poorer. We have all been brought up to think that Europe = business and jobs and flourishing economy, etc. But the reality is different; 40 million people in the EU do not even officially exist - migrant workers, etc. There is a vast underclass of people whose voices need to be heard.
Europe is the most secular of all the regions in the world - the institutional churches are dying. I don't think it is the job of governments to encourage one religion over another. BUT I think all European governments find religion a strange phenomenon something they find odd, and are even fearful of - the discussion about head scarves in France reveals that.
Name
Mona
-
Profession
Question
What is your attitude towards the discussion of religion and the European constitution?
Answer
My view about the place of 'God' in the Constitution is that it should certainly mention our Christian heritage but also include the religion of the Jewish people and Islam. Jews and Muslims have made an enormous contribution to our society and civilization.
Name
Adam
-
Profession
Question
Dear, why do you start your initiative and what kind of challenges did you face?
Answer
A great injustice was done to the Muslims in Bosnia, and therefore as a matter of justice we are working in Bosnia. There are many difficulties - but we cannot stand by and allow the attempt of genocide to triumph.
Name
farrukh
- Pakistan
Profession
a student
Question
what is your opinion about Jihad and terrorism?
Answer
I am not a Muslim scholar but I have always understood Jihad as a form of struggle to be faithful to Islam - historically Islam has been a much more tolerant religion than Christianity. There is, of course, no justification for terrorism but I understand what drives people to terrorism - frustration, humiliation and a complete failure to have their voices heard. But I condemn all forms of terrorism.
Name
Muslim
-
Profession
Question
Do you have a political program or is it only cultural and religious agenda?
Answer
I reckon Bosnia has no future at all outside Europe - and it has to function as a modern democratic state. I am very clear about that and I certainly tell people about this when asked ---we work very closely with the other 2 religions in Banja Luka - the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church...we do have a sort of political program - we have established the Banja Luka Civic Forum - this stands for 'Change happens when those who do not usually speak are heard by those who do not usually listen' - that's about breathing new life into politics - creating opportunities for consultation. Easily said than done in a post communist, post conflict situation.........
Name
abg
- Malaysia
Profession
technician
Question
Are you going to convert to ISLAM after this meaningfull project?
Answer
Sorry we were cut off. So I am starting again ---No I shall not be converting to Islam. But I have learnt to appreciate Islam in its true form in a way I would never normally have done, I like for example the Muslim's observance of Ramadan, the concern for the poor and the family and the way in which religion and life are one. As I learn more about Islam, so I appreciate more about my own religion - I like the way Christianity develops trying all the time to make sense of the world. I think appreciation of another religion is what most people believe by the word reconciliation.
Name
saverly
- Malaysia
Profession
Question
Is there any other Priests against your project?
Answer
LOTS I am sure and I have met a few. What's a Christian doing building a Mosque they ask - so I repeat what I have been saying in all these answers that it is really a matter of justice - that's why I am doing this. I know there are great differences between our 2 religions - and so it is very marvelous when in spite of our differences we can work together.
Name
Salman
-
Profession
Question
What is a priest upto on an Islamic site ?
Answer
Well at the moment nothing because we are raising £3million for the project - it will be a Heritage project. The Mosque will be rebuilt exactly as it was.
The reason why the Soul of Europe is working in Bosnia is because of the INJUSTICE which was inflicted on the Muslim community. I think doing justice is a preliminary to making peace, and these activities transcend our religious labels, although these labels cannot be destroyed or ignored.
Islamonline Live Dialogue Editing Desk
Islamonline.net has hosted Father .Reeves with fully willingness. His courageous project has to be encouraged from all the people who are seeking Justice. Justice is a fixed value in Islam and must be reflected on the Islamic Web sites.
Name
Dally
-
Profession
Question
It seems ,on your website , that you want to give a voice of the voiceless in Europe . Can you explain more?
Answer
Yes, think for a moment of the 15 million Muslims in Europe. Only very recently are they beginning to get organized, and this is a slow progress. Many Muslims particularly those who have come from other countries recently don't feel they matter or belong - they are discriminated against in getting jobs, they suffer appalling harassment from the police, and are regarded with fear and sometime contempt by middle class and working class white people. Their voices need to be heard, and there signs that this happening - through the European Islamic Conference for example. This what I mean by voiceless -
After all Muslim communities all over Europe pay their taxes and are European citizens -so they should have a part to play in Europe and it is in our interest that they do so.
Name
tajudeen
- Nigeria
Profession
accountancy
Question
Good day Father,
What really inspired you for doing this? I am astonished! Not because of your faith as Islam accommodates other faiths too but because in that part of your world sentiments are fast nurtured against Islam.
Please tell "us" what inspired you.
Answer
I think it was just that sense of injustice that has kept me going. When I arrived in Banja Luka I learnt what happened to the Muslims there - some 70000 were ethnically cleansed and 16 Mosques destroyed in 6 months - even though Banja Luka was not a war zone. I leant too of the intention to remove every trace of Islam from Bosnia and Muslims had lived there for 500 years. It seems right to me that there should be an inspirational sign for the world that at least the Ferhadija should be rebuilt as a Christian Muslim action of collaboration.
Name
Tom
-
Profession
Question
Do you have similar activities with the Jewish communities? Do you find any differences between them and the Muslims ?
Answer
No we don't with Jewish communities - in Bosnia now there are less than 2000 Jews - yes there are great differences between Islam and Judaism- and as we all know too well, in the Middle East religion is used so often to encourage actions of revenge and indeed of martyrdom.
Name
Sally
-
Profession
Question
Are you working alone? If you have a team work, can you introduce them to us? Do you need any volunteers in your project?
Answer
We are a very small organization - we have a small team in the UK and a few people in Banja Luka. We are intending to create a patchwork of Ferhadija Associations across Europe - these are groups of Muslims and non-Muslims working together or who would like to work together in Europe - on cultural, educational and social matters and who are also committed to supporting the Ferhadija project -the Ferhadija then becomes a sort of European symbol for this type of collaboration. We need a lot of people to help establish this network - research for example to see where there is the most potential in different countries for such associations to be formed.
The construction of the Mosque will be undertaken professionally and employing local people. But we would welcome the opportunity for people to come to Banja Luka and meet the local Muslim community there.
Name
Salman
-
Profession
Question
Thanks for answering my question "what is a priest up to on an Islamic site". I congratulate you on having such a great feeling about Muslims and people on whom force was inflicted. May Allah help you in the project and other similar projects and give you further Hidaya (Guidance).
Answer
THANKS. I often talk about Shoes - standing in other people's shoes to get a sense of what the other person sees or feels about the world. It's difficult and it's a life time's work. Thank you for your encouragement.
Name
French Muslim
-
Profession
Question
Dear Father, How can you see the hijab issue in France and other European country? Do you agree to be a part of prohijab campaign?
Answer
I think I am an old fashioned liberal on this.....if people wish to wear head scarves they should be allowed to. They should also be allowed not to wear them. It is up to what people themselves feel. I think the whole argument in France about this matter displays incomprehension, ignorance and fear of organized religion - which if you could trace it back goes back to 1789 - the year of the French revolution.
Name
khursheed
- India
Profession
construction contractor
Question
Aslamualekum,
The Quran confirms that you are Ahle-kitab, and have same lineage and same prophets as Muslims and allows even matrimony among us.
Why for Allah's sake, a mosque of Muslim been destroyed by the fellows of same brethren? It is not rebuilding of one mosque but the whole community being destroyed by Jews who are also Ahle-kita in Palestine. Don't you see there is great affinity in Muslims, Christians and Jews? Please elaborate your views
Answer
Yes, you are right. We do belong to one family - springing from Abraham. Yet I can't think of a family which is more dysfunctional than ours. So much hate, fear and sibling rivalry are there, and no one to keep us in order and to stop each other destroying each other.
That's why inter-religious dialogue is so important - though I have to say that in modern Europe only academics seem to have the vocabulary to talk about these deep religious matters.
The worst manifestations of religion which are usually referred to as Fundamentalism arise from fear of being obliterated and fear of the world in which we all inhabit. Therefore it is really important that people like you who ask the question really try and develop friendship leading to trust between those who might seem naturally to be your enemies. We as Christians are told to love our enemies -.
Name
Khalid Jan
- Canada
Profession
Consultant
Question
Respected Father Reeves,
I greatly appreciate your struggle and sincerity in building the Mosque in Bosnia. I just wanted your reflections on the following issue: lots of Christian Missionaries in Muslim countries are buidling Schools, Medical Clinics and other facilities simply to uplift the poor and the needy. However, the other side to their work is that they encourage the same poor and the needy to become Christians by offering them money, paying their tuition fees, marrying them to men/women in the West and so forth. My question to you is that is it fair for these missionaries to take advantage of the poor and illiterate Muslims in this manner?
Answer
It is wrong to take advantage of anyone in this way. Conversion is a very difficult subject - we are who we are from our circumstances.
My view is that we should help people to appreciate what is the very best in their own tradition, and leave conversion in the hands of God. Conversion often causes terrible quarrels in families, etc which shows how different religions are. When I was a parish priest in the middle of London I never consciously went out of my way to convert people, but I did all I could to make the Christian faith attractive - if that is not too odd a word to use here - so that people from no faith at all could have a sense of what Christianity was about, and it worked.
Name
sajjad
-
Profession
Question
As you may have learnt about Islam over the years, do you, in any way, feel that this religion would help to solve major world problems i.e. health, economic situations etc.
Islam is viewed as a religion which actually deals with day to day living, not just as a guide to worship God. As a Muslim l feel what you have undertaken to do is good in its own right, l do not view it odd.
We are also taught to respect 'other' religions.
Answer
Yes I do. But I think we have to be careful - liberal western democracies are starting to dragoon what they call faith communities hoping that they will endorse their own liberal agendas - but religions differ among themselves about say Abortion or Debt and would find it difficult to present an united front.
Religion should help all of us to be active citizens wherever we are - working for the common good.
The difficulty with religion contributing to economics, etc is how you move from generalizations to the particular - loving your neighbour, for example.
My own personal perspective is that we have to give priority to dealing with poverty, and priority to working to save our environment. and always to remember that we will each of us be called to account.
Name
YAKUBU
- Nigeria
Profession
CIVIL SERVANT
Question
I'm really impressed by your efforts, so to what extent are you trying to educate other non-Muslims to have a fair understanding of your struggle?
Answer
I write about it, talk about it and a film will be made about our work - I think the symbol we are creating will be understood by anyone from 10 upwards now we need to spread the word perhaps you can help us.
Name
Kristina
-
Profession
Question
I commend you for doing this. I agree that we are all God's people, and that this is a testimony of that fact. I am Catholic, and my heart goes out to my Muslim friends...they are loyal to Allah. I can understand why you are doing this. You are acting out in faith of what you are called to do. Thank you for following this through.
Peace be unto you.
God Bless You and all who are in this with you
Answer
Thank you for your prayers. The Catholic Bishop of Banja Luka is a good friend of mine - we are working closely with him as well.
Thank you
Name
Red
- United States
Profession
Student
Question
It’s wonderful to see people such as you working to build bridges between different faiths. Did you try to teem up with some Muslim organizations to do some joint projects?
Answer
Last December in the European Parliament in Brussels we gathered together some 40 people - Muslims and non Muslims from 9 countries in the EU - mostly people in their 30s - they are all working on a range of projects, with the Ferhadija Mosque as a sort of symbol of what collaboration could look like. We have called this Networking in a Dark Time.
Name
Mustafa
-
Profession
Question
Why did you choose Bosnia for launching such a project?
Answer
i have just answered that question - basically because Bosnia is the meeting point of East and West,and as I often say if we can get it right there that will be an example for us all.
Name
Kristina
- United States
Profession
Organist
Question
Can the Qur'an be accepted in a house where there are crucifixes of Jesus on the wall?
Answer
THANK YOU for the question. Perhaps I did not make myself clear in anwering other questions. The Mosque to be reconstructed will be exactly as it was in 1579 - a Mosque designed by the School of Sinan. it will be a working Mosque not a Museum - there will be no Christian symbols in the Mosque - although as it happens the design of the Mosque was heavily influenced by Christian churches.
