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AMP Report – September 17
U.S. Muslims call for dialogue over
Pope's comments on Islam
The Council on American-Islamic Relations called for increased dialogue between Muslims and Catholics over the controversy sparked by remarks perceived as insulting to Islam and the Prophet Muhammad made by Pope Benedict XVI. CAIR is also seeking a meeting with the Vatican's representative in Washington, D.C., to discuss the remarks. In a statement, the Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group said on Sept. 15, 2006:
"The proper response to the Pope's inaccurate and divisive remarks is for Muslims and Catholics worldwide to increase dialogue and outreach efforts aimed at building better relations between Christianity and Islam. This unfortunate episode also offers an opportunity for Christians to learn more about Islam, the Prophet Muhammad and the Islamic concept of jihad.
"Jihad is a central and broad Islamic concept that includes struggle against evil inclinations within oneself, struggle to improve the quality of life in society, struggle in the battlefield for self-defense (e.g., - having a standing army for national defense), or fighting against tyranny or oppression. 'Jihad' should not be translated as 'holy war.'
"The Quran, Islam's revealed text, condemns forced acceptance of any faith when it states: 'Let there be no compulsion in religion.' (2:256) Islam calls for peace once oppression ends: 'Fight in the cause of God with those who fight against you, but do not exceed the limits...If they desist, let there be no hostility except against the oppressors." (2:190-193)
"Muslims are also asked to maintain good relations with people of other faiths, and to engage in constructive dialogue. 'And dispute not with the People of the Book (Christians and Jews) except with means better (than mere disputation). . .but say, 'We believe in the Revelation that has come down to us and in that which came down to you.'" (29:46)
"The Quran also states: '(Rest assured that) those who believe (in the Quran), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians, and the Sabians - whoever believes in God and the last day and performs good deeds - will be rewarded by their Lord. They will have nothing to fear or to regret.' (2:62)
"In Islam, there is no contradiction between faith and reason. The first verses revealed to the Prophet Muhammad included: 'Read! In the name of your Lord. . .Read! Your Lord is the Most Gracious, Who taught by the (use of the) pen, taught man what he knew not.' Historically, whenever Islam flourished, so did knowledge and discovery.
"Let us all continue the interfaith efforts promoted by the late Pope John Paul II, who made great strides in bringing Muslims and Catholics together for the common good."
Along with a request for a meeting with a Vatican representative in the United States, CAIR is urging Americans of all faiths to learn more about Islam and about the life and legacy of the Prophet Muhammad by requesting a free Quran or a book or DVD about Muhammad at www.explorethequran.org and www.cair.com/Muhammad.
The Muslim Public Affairs Council
The Muslim Public Affairs Council has reached out to American Catholic leaders urging them to convene a dialogue between Catholic and Muslim leaders in response to comments this week by Pope Benedict XVI in which he quoted a 14th century Byzantine emperor who said that Islam brought "only things evil and inhuman". The remarks were followed by a wave of denunciations across the Muslim world.
In a letter to Cardinal Roger Mahoney of the Los Angeles Archdioces, MPAC Executive Director Salam Al-Marayati and Senior Advisor Dr. Maher Hathout, stressed the need for the Vatican and Catholic leaders to clarify and explain the remarks. The letter states in part:
"In this spirit of dialogue and understanding that we continue to further, we would like to call for a meeting and dialogue regarding the recent comments made by Pope Benedict XVI. We do not want to allow for those individuals who call for divisiveness at such volatile times to speak on behalf of our communities. We pray that our continued dialogue will bear fruit and that this issue will be clarified in the most appropriate manner."
In the remarks made during a speech in Germany on Tuesday, the Pope quoted a 14th century Byzantine emperor who described core Islamic figures and concepts in absolute and destructive terms. "The emperor comes to speak about the issue of jihad, holy war," the Pope said. "He said, I quote, 'Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.'"
The Vatican said the Pope did not intend the remarks to offend anyone. However, two months ahead his first trip to a Muslim nation - Turkey - the remarks require consideration because they are the first instance in which the new Pope has addressed Islam. While he reportedly intended to explore the differences between Islam and Christianity, and the risk of faith-based violence, citing a poor selection that reflects a hostile Crusade-era paradigm rather than the pioneering legacy of the late Pope John Paul II and the modern Vatican.
"We cannot afford further religious tensions at a moment when extremists on all sides can exploit such incidents with devastating results," said Communications Director Edina Lekovic. "We hope that the statements attributed to Pope Benedict will not compromise the fruitful relationship between Catholics and Muslims in the U.S."
The revelation of the Quran and Islam ushered in the introduction of vast contributions to the field of education, science, philosophy and scholarship. The first five revealed verses of the Quran led to the great scientific revolution pioneered by Muslims. The Prophet Muhammad re-introduced the principles of the one human family, gender equality, the acknowledgement of other religions, the celebration of diversity, and a binding social contract between rulers and the people they were supposed to serve.
The Muslim Public Affairs Council on Sept. 17, 2006 condemned the murder of an Italian nun in Somalia, which reportedly took place as a result of Pope Benedict XVI's remarks on Islam. The MPAC also welcomed the apology offered by the Pope today, in which he said that he was "deeply sorry" about the angry reaction to his recent remarks about Islam, which he said came from a text that did not reflect his personal opinion.
Reaction of North American & European Muslims
The Canadian Islamic Congress expressed its concern about the current pontiff's serious departure from the ecumenical bonding and inter-faith outreach that were hallmarks of his predecessor, Pope John Paul II.
In a letter to the Ambassador of the Vatican in Canada, CIC wrote: "The Pope's ignorant remarks on Islam are rejected. They are already rejected by the Eastern Christian Churches, and should be rejected by other people of faith. They only fuel hatred."
Ejaz Ahmed, a member of an Italian governmental consultative committee on Islam, said: "The Muslim world is currently undergoing a deep crisis and any attack from the West can aggravate this crisis.” "In his speech the pope overlooks the fact that Islam was the cradle of science and that Muslims were the first to translate Greek philosophers before they became part of European history," he added.
Aiman Mazyek, the president of Germany's Central Council of Muslims, said the history of the Roman Catholic Church had violent chapters. "After the bloodstained conversions in South America, the crusades in the Muslim world, the coercion of the Church by Hitler's regime, and even the coining of the phrase 'holy war' by Pope Urban II, I do not think the Church should point a finger at extremist activities in other religions," he said.
Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: "The Byzantine emperor's views about Islam were ill-informed and frankly bigoted.
"One would expect a religious leader such as the Pope to act and speak with responsibility and repudiate the Byzantine emperor's views in the interests of truth and harmonious relations between the followers of Islam and Catholicism.
"Regrettably, the Pope did not do so and this has understandably caused a lot of dismay and hurt throughout the Muslim world. We would hope that the Pope will clarify his remarks without delay."
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