Re: Islam: a home of tolerance, not fanaticism

[Elite Club]

"Proudly Serving Islam and AlQuds" <a.musli...@gmail.com> wrote in
message news:4b82d12a$1...@news.x-privat.org...
> Islam: a home of tolerance, not fanaticism
>
> By Yusuf Islam
>
> Media speculation since the horrific terrorist attacks on America has
> pointed the finger at Muslims and the Arab world, and that has meant
> ordinary citizens of the US and other Western countries becoming easy prey
> for anti-faith hooligans. Shame.
>
> Sadly, the latest horror to hit the US looks to have been caused by people
> of Middle Eastern origin, bearing Muslim names. Again, shame.
>
> This fuels more hatred for a religion and a people who have nothing to do
> with these events. This is why I want to explain some basic facts about
> this noble way we call Islam, before, God forbid, another disaster
> occurs -- next time probably aimed at Muslims.
>
> I came to Islam in my late 20s, during my searching period as a wandering
> pop star. I found a religion that blended scientific reason with spiritual
> reality, in a unifying faith far removed from the headlines of violence,
> destruction and terrorism.
>
> One of the first interesting things I learned in the Quran was that the
> name of the faith comes from the word Salaam -- peace. Far from the kind
> of Turko-Arab-centric message I expected, the Quran presented a belief in
> the universal existence of God, one God for all. It does not discriminate
> against peoples; it says we may be different colors and from different
> tribes, but we are all human and "the best of people are the most
> God-conscious".
>
> Today, as a Muslim, I have been shattered by the horror of recent events;
> the display of death and indiscriminate killing we've all witnessed has
> dented humanity's confidence in itself. Terror on this scale affects
> everybody on this small planet, and no one is free from the fallout. Yet,
> we should remember that such violence is almost an everyday occurrence in
> some Muslim lands: it should not be exacerbated by revenge attacks on more
> innocent families and communities.
>
> Along with most Muslims, I feel it a duty to make clear that such
> orchestrated acts of incomprehensible carnage have nothing to do with the
> beliefs of most Muslims. The Quran specifically declares (what means): "If
> anyone murders an (innocent) person, it will be as if he has murdered the
> whole of humanity. And if anyone saves a person it will be as if he has
> saved the whole of humanity." [Quran 5:32]
>
> The Quran that our young people learn is full of stories and lessons from
> the history of humanity as a whole. The Injeel (Gospels) and the Torah are
> referred to; 'Eesaa (Jesus) and Ibraaheem (Abraham), may Allaah exalt
> their mention, are mentioned. In fact there is more mention in the Quran
> of the prophet Moosaa (Moses) than of any other. It acknowledges the
> coexistence of other faiths, and in doing so, acknowledges that other
> cultures can live together in peace.
>
> It states (what means): "There is no compulsion in religion" [Quran 2:256]
> meaning that people should not be compelled to change their faith.
> Elsewhere it states (what means): "To you, your religion; to me mine."
> [Quran 109:6]
>
> Respect for religious values and justice is at the Quran's core. The
> Quranic history we teach our young provides ample examples of
> inter-religious and international relationships of how to live together.
>
> But some extremists take elements of the sacred scriptures out of context.
> They act as individuals, and when they can't come together as part of a
> political structure or consultative process, you find these dissident
> factions creating their own rules, contrary to the spirit of the Quran --
> which demands that those recognized as being in charge of Muslims must
> consult together regarding society's affairs. There is a whole chapter in
> the Quran entitled 'Consultation'.
>
> Communal wellbeing is central to human life, so there is a concept in
> Islam called Istihsaan, which means "to look for the common good". Even
> though the Quran may lay down a diktat, scholars are also supposed to
> consider the circumstances prevalent at the time. Sometimes that means
> choosing the lesser of two evils or even suspending legislation if
> necessary: for instance, a person who steals bread during a famine is not
> treated as a thief.
>
> Once I wrote in a song: "Where do the children play?" Our sympathy and
> thoughts go out to the families of all those who lost their lives in these
> tragic acts of violence, as well as all those injured. But life must go
> on. Children still need to play and people need to live and learn more
> about their neighbors, so that ignorance doesn't breed more blind
> fanaticism. Moderation is part of faith, so those who accuse Muslim
> schools of fostering fanaticism should learn a bit more about Islam.
>
> The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said: "Ruined are those who
> insist on hardship in faith" and "A believer remains within the scope of
> his religion as long as he doesn't kill another person illegally." Such
> knowledge and words of guidance are desperately needed at this time, to
> separate fact from falsehood, and to recognize the Last Prophet's,
> sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, own definition of that which makes a person
> representative or otherwise, of the faith he lived and the one we try to
> teach.
>
> http://www.islamweb.net/ver2/archive/article.php?lang=E&id=117332
>
>
>