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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Former Dean of Islamic Law at Qatar University Declares His Support of American Presence in Iraq |
| 2007-05-18 |
| 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 |
| #4 The greater Jihad is the Jihad of the soul, of development, of education - so we can live - not just die Doesn't seem to be turning out that way with your Global Jihad thingy. Not everything in life is tragic. We, not unless you're a Humiliated Muslim™. "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." Finally located that little snag in Yusuf Qaradawi's sanctioning of bomb vest murderers, did we? So, where's the death fatwa on Qaradawi? Better get one out before they put one out on you, Ansari. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-05-18 15:25 |
| #3 Expect Fatwa and death threats to follow. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-05-18 14:53 |
| #2 Former Dean of Islamic Law at Qatar University Declares His Support of American Presence in Iraq Is the "Former" a result of the views expressed? |
| Posted by: xbalanke 2007-05-18 14:15 |
| #1 Gasp! A ray of sanity...from an islamic scholar? |
| Posted by: anymouse 2007-05-18 14:12 |