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Former Dean of Islamic Law at Qatar University Declares His Support of American Presence in Iraq
Interviewer: "Do you think that modern religious discourse differs from the religious discourse of the Prophet?"Abd Al-Hamid Al-Ansari: "Of course. The proof is in the pudding. Today, there is a lot of extremism, a wave of extremism. This religious discourse has not managed to improve the youth, and this crisis proves it." [...] "This discourse does not address human beings as human beings. We lack what I call the 'culture of humanity.' We want to make our youth love human beings as human beings, before they love them for being Muslim or non-Muslim, Shi'ite or Sunni." [...] "The purpose of jihad is to respond to aggression and to eliminate injustice. The greater Jihad is the Jihad of the soul, of development, of education - so we can live - not just die - for the sake of Allah. Can what is happening in Algeria, Morocco, and Iraq be called jihad? A youth in the prime of life puts on an explosive belt, and blows himself up among innocent people, and you call this jihad and martyrdom?" [...] "The religious discourse generates a crisis. You go to a mosque, listen to the Friday prayer, and you return a bundle of nerves, feeling hostile toward civilization and society, because the sermons focus on the negative aspects of society, and inflate them." Interviewer: "So what needs to be done?" Abd Al-Hamid Al-Ansari: "We need to focus on the beautiful aspects of life and society. Not everything in life is tragic. You should make people love life. I would like the religious scholars, through their religious discourse, to make our youth love life, and not death." [...] Interviewer: "The American invasion of Iraq - isn't it a provocation to Arab mentality?" Abd Al-Hamid Al-Ansari: "That's true. But there have always been international conflicts. Besides, it is not only the Muslims who are subject to these so-called injustices. Since America is a superpower, it intervenes in the affairs of all the other countries, and all the peoples suffer because of this. But the question is how to respond. Should I respond by sending my children to commit suicide and blow themselves up? Let's say we accept that a certain person is anti-American - what are the civilians, children and women in Algeria to blame? Are they Americans? I ask you, who are most of the victims of suicide operations and terrorism - the Muslims or the non-Muslims? They are Muslims. The number of people killed by Muslims carrying out suicide operations is far greater than those killed by the Americans or the Israelis." Interviewer: "Why is this, in your opinion?" Abd Al-Hamid Al-Ansari: "Since you allow him to blow himself up among the so-called enemy, and since he believes you do not belong to the same school or ideology, he considers you to be the enemy, and himself to be a martyr." Suicide Operations Have Nothing To Do With Religion Interviewer: "So the chain extends from one to another..." Abd Al-Hamid Al-Ansari: "If you allow them to blow themselves up among Israeli citizens, they will end up blowing themselves up among Muslims citizens because they hold different views." Interviewer: "Some time ago, you wrote an article in which you call upon the religious scholars to ban all suicide operations." Abd Al-Hamid Al-Ansari: "That's true." More Posted by: tipper 2007-05-18 |
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