Why should something considered a provocation or insult to islam or any of christianity and judaism be considered fair game for other religions?
The human experience is such that it is subject to varied intepretations and criticisms!
We can not insist we are part of that historical experience, and then proceed to disdain criticism!
Why should the rest of the world suspend their humanity on account of one religion or ethnic group?
What is unique about the middle east experience that has not and is still not suffered by the African experience?
We should not respond to religious bigotry with a different and even more dangerous brand of religious bigotry!
Regards,
Jaye Gaskia
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN
From: H O <afism3@yahoo.com>
Sender: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2012 12:08:57 -0700 (PDT)
To: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com<NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com>
ReplyTo: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Cc: usa googlegroups<UsaAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com>
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Insult Muslim belief; call for Islamic reformation
Suddenly the internet is full of campaigns for Islam to reform, for Islam to allow criticism of its tenets in order for it to be on the same pedestal with other religions say Christianity. one of the reasons being canvassed for this is that there are negative portrayals of thepersonality of Jesus Christ (a.s) in the internet. If Christians could endure the unwarranted attack on the person of Christ, it is argued, Muslims should be able to tow the same line when Muhammad (s.a.w) is attacked by those who are hell-bent on tearing the world apart based on their hatred or abhorence for Islam.
A Muslim with some knowledge of what Islamic tenets with particular reference to Muslim-Christian relationship would argue that the event of the past couple of days particularly that which purpotedly led to the death of an American diplomat (al-Jazeera just carried a report which shows that the attack on the U.S Embassy in Benghazi could have been planned long before the anti-Muslim film became public knowledge) has no justification Islamic law. Islamic history in which Muhammad (s.a.w) was a hero, leaves no precedent for such.
Having said that i find the unceasing suggestion, or is it a campaign for the reconstruction Islam very curious for many reasons. One, those who are calling for the reformation of Islam based on this recent events are actually not saying something new. there is a huge scholarship and studies, by Muslims and non-muslims, on the 'necessity' for the reformation of the religion. I invite you to read Muhammad Arkoun's book - Islam: To Reform or not' among others.
two, since the early 20th century when this campaign emerged in Egypt, the 'reformers' have always failed to confront the 'first' problem. in other words, a fundamental problem people who want Islam 'reformed' would have to solve is production of a "new' or 'reformed' Quran. This is important because as i mentioned above, veneration of all prophets of God is a cardinal principle of faith in Islam. thus in order to reconstruct the religion of Islam in such a way that will make it amenable to contemporary human taste and fancies, critics would need to first of all 'reconstruct' the Quran which is the fountain of the religion. Over a thousand and four hundred years has shown that this is and remains a big task.
A Muslim with some knowledge of what Islamic tenets with particular reference to Muslim-Christian relationship would argue that the event of the past couple of days particularly that which purpotedly led to the death of an American diplomat (al-Jazeera just carried a report which shows that the attack on the U.S Embassy in Benghazi could have been planned long before the anti-Muslim film became public knowledge) has no justification Islamic law. Islamic history in which Muhammad (s.a.w) was a hero, leaves no precedent for such.
Having said that i find the unceasing suggestion, or is it a campaign for the reconstruction Islam very curious for many reasons. One, those who are calling for the reformation of Islam based on this recent events are actually not saying something new. there is a huge scholarship and studies, by Muslims and non-muslims, on the 'necessity' for the reformation of the religion. I invite you to read Muhammad Arkoun's book - Islam: To Reform or not' among others.
two, since the early 20th century when this campaign emerged in Egypt, the 'reformers' have always failed to confront the 'first' problem. in other words, a fundamental problem people who want Islam 'reformed' would have to solve is production of a "new' or 'reformed' Quran. This is important because as i mentioned above, veneration of all prophets of God is a cardinal principle of faith in Islam. thus in order to reconstruct the religion of Islam in such a way that will make it amenable to contemporary human taste and fancies, critics would need to first of all 'reconstruct' the Quran which is the fountain of the religion. Over a thousand and four hundred years has shown that this is and remains a big task.
three, if the reason we always have this outburst of 'emotional' Muslims shouting 'down-to-America' is because somebody tramples upon what they hold dear, why is it difficult for us to promote respect for our mutual values. why is it difficult for us to stand up in unison to deal with the 'cause' of this incessant violent interface between Muslims and Christians on a open ground? While it is reasonable, urgent and important for us all to deprecate unwarranted killing of innocent lives, the question we always gloss over on occasions like this is when shall those who fan the embers of hate desist from their heinous business of setting Muslims up against Christians? In other words, why does it always appear seemly for the Christian to ridicule what the Muslim believes in and each time this leads to violence, argument often occur as to why the latter should stand up and 'defend' God? How do we say what the producer of the film has done is disgusting and in the same breadth say, as the Americans have said, the producer of the film shall be protected and defended while saying that which is reprehensible? if to say that which is reprehensible and disgusting is lawfuL in America would that not generate conflict once the US say the disgusting must be 'celebrated' outside America?
i empathize with the families of Americans who lost their lives during the past couple of days; i do that because in Islam souls are souls; they lack nationality, race and colour.
i empathize with the families of Americans who lost their lives during the past couple of days; i do that because in Islam souls are souls; they lack nationality, race and colour.
Oladosu
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