Paving Dialog Islam & West
Dialog between civilizations is one of the way to resolve problems, ease tensions as well as increase understanding on others outside your own world. This is the case for Islam and the west, where Christian civilization is based. Islam used to be the big power that rule the world, almost 2/3 of all the continents. It covers from Middle East where Islam starts, goes towards Africa and Asia of Sub-Continent and the rest.
However, Islam received a lot of criticism at the moment, not least of being accused of producing terrorism among its followers.
This is the real problem facing Islam and Muslims worldwide. At one point, Muslims want to prove that Islam does not have anything to do with terrorism, and that Islam is a religion that clearly promote peace.
On the other hand, Muslims seems facing internal problems within themselves, such as tribal clashes which end up with killing, although they are all take Islam as their faith. Looking at some Islamic states and states govern by Muslims, most of them got internal problems.
From knowledge point of view, some of the Muslims subscribe to the 'extreme' understanding of religion. For instance, there are groups within Muslims who would like -and says it compulsory without choice- to establish 'khilafah', the belief that there should be only one supreme leader in the world, Islam is his faith, and all Muslims should follow his ruling.
Although there are number of opinions by contemporary Muslim scholars of accepting democracy as an acceptable method to promote or even to establish Islamic government, some of the Muslims would not accept this idea or democracy at all. Contemporary Muslim scholars also suggest that the division of the world to dar al-Islam and dar al-Harb made by classical scholars should be revised because it seems not applicable anymore. This division means that Muslims can find ways to defeat non-Muslims in order to rule over them with the aim to establish Islamic state.
This idea thus not fair to Muslims who live in non-Muslims states, i.e western countries. How could Muslims want to take over western countries? while at the same time western countries provide more space for Muslims to practice their religion, even some countries give state benefit to people regardless of their religion? And according to my friend, some western countries are much more better than Muslims countries in term of welfare, education, freedom of practicing religion, freedom of speech, freedom of organization, etc, so do Muslims really realize that Islamic states are a bit worst in term of treatment to their own citizens, women are not given enough opportunity, etc?
I believe that some wrong actions, wrong believes and wrong attitudes are the major issues to tackle by Muslims. Ignorance will make things worst, and this is the main reason for some Muslims involve in uncivilize activities that would damage Muslims civilization as a whole. This include those who become 'extreme' in their belief, the root to it is ignorance. Knowledge is a pearl. People said that with knowledge, even if you were thrown into the sea, it will turn to be an distinctive island.
My actual intention is to make a point of paving a dialog between Islam & West. Which I think, the visit of Saudi King to Vatican is one of major steps to decrease pressure on Islam at the moment. Even though one would argue that King Abdullah is not a 'khalifah' -the supreme leader of Muslim world-, this visit could give something positive on the future of Islam and Muslims.
During the prophet Muhamad p.b.u.h time, he wrote a letter to other rulers to invite them and to introduce them to Islam. Nowadays, there are ways to go and engage with them directly -face to face- which shows the 'izzah' -holiness- (even i'm not sure in this case) of Islam.
The other point I want to make is that Islam and Muslims are able to live side by side with others - non-Muslims. This has been shown since the glorious days of Islam, with lots of example. One of those was during the time of Salahudin al-Ayyubi who under his leadership Bayt al-Maqdis has been re-captured , and he assured non-Muslims of safety to live in the region.
My last point for now is certainly there are lot of works facing Muslims in order to explain Islam to non-Muslims and make better relationship with the west. Only with continuous works can Islam be understood by others, hence west would have no phobia to Islam.
my other last point... actually i want to write something else but end up with this comments.
However, Islam received a lot of criticism at the moment, not least of being accused of producing terrorism among its followers.
This is the real problem facing Islam and Muslims worldwide. At one point, Muslims want to prove that Islam does not have anything to do with terrorism, and that Islam is a religion that clearly promote peace.
On the other hand, Muslims seems facing internal problems within themselves, such as tribal clashes which end up with killing, although they are all take Islam as their faith. Looking at some Islamic states and states govern by Muslims, most of them got internal problems.
From knowledge point of view, some of the Muslims subscribe to the 'extreme' understanding of religion. For instance, there are groups within Muslims who would like -and says it compulsory without choice- to establish 'khilafah', the belief that there should be only one supreme leader in the world, Islam is his faith, and all Muslims should follow his ruling.
Although there are number of opinions by contemporary Muslim scholars of accepting democracy as an acceptable method to promote or even to establish Islamic government, some of the Muslims would not accept this idea or democracy at all. Contemporary Muslim scholars also suggest that the division of the world to dar al-Islam and dar al-Harb made by classical scholars should be revised because it seems not applicable anymore. This division means that Muslims can find ways to defeat non-Muslims in order to rule over them with the aim to establish Islamic state.
This idea thus not fair to Muslims who live in non-Muslims states, i.e western countries. How could Muslims want to take over western countries? while at the same time western countries provide more space for Muslims to practice their religion, even some countries give state benefit to people regardless of their religion? And according to my friend, some western countries are much more better than Muslims countries in term of welfare, education, freedom of practicing religion, freedom of speech, freedom of organization, etc, so do Muslims really realize that Islamic states are a bit worst in term of treatment to their own citizens, women are not given enough opportunity, etc?
I believe that some wrong actions, wrong believes and wrong attitudes are the major issues to tackle by Muslims. Ignorance will make things worst, and this is the main reason for some Muslims involve in uncivilize activities that would damage Muslims civilization as a whole. This include those who become 'extreme' in their belief, the root to it is ignorance. Knowledge is a pearl. People said that with knowledge, even if you were thrown into the sea, it will turn to be an distinctive island.
My actual intention is to make a point of paving a dialog between Islam & West. Which I think, the visit of Saudi King to Vatican is one of major steps to decrease pressure on Islam at the moment. Even though one would argue that King Abdullah is not a 'khalifah' -the supreme leader of Muslim world-, this visit could give something positive on the future of Islam and Muslims.
During the prophet Muhamad p.b.u.h time, he wrote a letter to other rulers to invite them and to introduce them to Islam. Nowadays, there are ways to go and engage with them directly -face to face- which shows the 'izzah' -holiness- (even i'm not sure in this case) of Islam.
The other point I want to make is that Islam and Muslims are able to live side by side with others - non-Muslims. This has been shown since the glorious days of Islam, with lots of example. One of those was during the time of Salahudin al-Ayyubi who under his leadership Bayt al-Maqdis has been re-captured , and he assured non-Muslims of safety to live in the region.
My last point for now is certainly there are lot of works facing Muslims in order to explain Islam to non-Muslims and make better relationship with the west. Only with continuous works can Islam be understood by others, hence west would have no phobia to Islam.
my other last point... actually i want to write something else but end up with this comments.
posted by Masjid Al-Mukarramah at 2:14 am
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