Comments on: The moderate Muslim: An endangered species?

By: Amjad

Amjad — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 07:55:08 +0000

Interesting thought provoking issues raised. being a student of tariq ramadan, i agree with the author.

i do think there is a need for this discussion to take place. i would be happy to hear more of the author’s ideas

Amjad

By: Ghouse

Ghouse — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:17:36 +0000

This forum itself is a moderate forum. So assume the writer also a moderate Muslim/ Jew/ Christian. or married with a non Muslim. She does not know what Islam is all about. Well said Afzal, I appreciate your opinion. Writer has got some material to support her article from the West and Hindu radical views on Islam. Islam is always peace.. and peaceful.

By: Reza

Reza — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 07:27:50 +0000

To ethnichybrid: I can understand your nervousness but again, you may accept or deny the teaching of Islam but you don’t have the authority to alter it in order to go with the crowd. By the way, I am not talking about introducing the Afghan type Burqa’ to the Sri Lankan Muslim ladies or turning the men to Taliban type throat cutters which I believe have nothing do with the teachings of Islam.

By: Gem

Gem — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 06:39:15 +0000

So what you’re saying is that by branding something is such and such, one is only positioning one’s self as far away from God or Godliness as it is possible.

That God or this Higher Force could not have wanted human beings to label ourselves, but only find the truth that’s within us. And accept each and every person for who they are, as equals.

Only humans could have built religions. Only the human race could have come up with caste systems. Only fools believe in this disharmony, this division of society.

Can’t you people see? God is above all this. Why else would God be Godly and humans so not Godly? We humans are such fools.

By: ethnichybrid

ethnichybrid — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 06:31:08 +0000

to answer reza, I am afraid you could not quite understand your rant, it was not very clear what you were trying to convey. Again you use a very extreme image of women being topless to convey what exactly I am not sure. How many people do you see topless here in Sri Lanka? All the people I see are modestly dress and they are not wearing hijab, so perhaps your environment needs to change, rather than asking all of us to change.
K.Anaga, that was a very thought provoking and interesting comment you made. For me religion is very important and gives me some grounding, but no-one should be forced to belong to a religion.
And to allen, I say, it is utterly jobless people who come from house to house requesting people to come to mosque – that bastion of boys clubs!. Ignore, them, tell them to do something useful and don’t let them bother you. They are generally harmless.

By: Mata Hari

Mata Hari — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 06:29:06 +0000

Allen, those supposed muslims who come by houses to pressurise worship in a mosque are narrow minded. Because they only believe Allah – or God or whoever He or She or It is – is available at a mosque!

There is no such thing as haram and halal. Again, that’s division-inducing. Just like religion, any religion. Just like the word ‘muslim’ or ‘jesuit’ or ‘prostitute’.

None who claim to know Islam, really know it.

I only know that religion is man-made. Only faith and love are Godly.

By: allen

allen — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:26:08 +0000

for muslims i ask this – why does mosque committee come to people houses and pressure them to come to mosque? do muslims lease vehicles if interest is haram ?

By: Reza

Reza — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:32:52 +0000

To Ethnichybrid: In essence, your lecture nullifies everything that has been said and discussed in this column, including your very presence in here! What is so extreme in stating the fact that as per the teachings of Islam a woman cannot walk on the street in a miniskirt? And then, what better language I could use to explain a point to a woman than her own? I am sorry, but your agitation only goes on to say how extreme you are!
You said: “So, if we all agree that each Muslim is answerable to his or her own actions to the Almighty, then we don’t have to concern ourselves if someone is moderate, or what they are wearingâ€¦” I wonder what would you resort to if your wife, children or the loved ones goes out on the street top less, forget about the religions, to me it is an extremely personal issue. You agree with this or not I guess they would end up in the jail or prosecuted according to the law of the land that they are living in.

By: K.Anaga

K.Anaga — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:22:10 +0000

Most religious people claim that their religion is the greatest of all religion. and there the controversy commence.Is religion really necessary for mankind? All religions, without exception have contributed to words the destruction of mankind and their properties.
If there is a god he will look after us as he is supposed to know us by name and each ones need.Trying to send petitions by means of prayers and that too through an intermediary serves no purpose. .Hence leave the god alone and he will do the need full to one and all. However, if going to a temple,church or mosque gives you consolation do it, but don”t go to argue which god will give you the best,
If there is no god then you don”t have to worry about satisfying him /her.
“If you do not lie in your heart,you live in the hearts of all”. KURAL.
Never mind if you can”t be of help- but don’t be a hindrance..
Share your wealth,food and happiness and try to mitigate the sorrows and unhappiness of others.

By: ethnichybrid

ethnichybrid — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:43:45 +0000

its funny that whenever men want to refute a statement by a woman it reduces to a comment about dress. Reza makes a comment about ‘You can not possibility be a Muslim and at the same time walk on the street in a miniskirt and call yourself a moderate Muslim?’. Why does it have to be so extreme Reza? Who even spoke about miniskirts. The article is really about acceptance. So, if we all agree that each Muslim is answerable to his or her own actions to the Almighty, then we don’t have to concern ourselves if someone is moderate, or what they are wearing. I say, Reza, you cannot possibly be a Muslim and look at a woman wearing a miniskirt (because we live in a non-Muslim country) for that is unIslamic. So all of you who sat in judgement of what it is to be a moderate muslim and that there is no room for multiculturalism, look within yourselves, judge only yourselves, and the Muslim world will be all the more better for it.

By: Geisha Doll

Geisha Doll — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 07:18:40 +0000

Too right, Mata Hari…too right! And I’m assuming you are a woman? Amidst all this cacophony of men who are misleading everyone. Never mind the other quacks in the Arabian peninsular…

And is there something wrong with hearing the opinion of a housewife? Doesn’t she have a brain? Or does she have only half of?

So I suppose you, Mata Hari, and I – will go to hell? And to the rest will miraculously fall into heaven.

Quote unquote: ‘…you can’t depend on your judgement if your imagination is out of focus.’ – Mark Twain.

By: Mata Hari

Mata Hari — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 06:41:51 +0000

Can we just stop with all the labelling? Can we just stop calling each other ‘bad muslims’ or ‘good muslims’ or ‘fanatics’ or even ‘moderates’? Can we just stop with all the judgements?

I really don’t believe in a God that is as judgemental as the human race. I really don’t believe that Allah is as judgemental as a mere handful of us who portray Allah to be so. If Allah didn’t want us to live in harmony with people of all colours, why did Allah put them here on Earth? If Allah didn’t want us to have babies of all colours, why does Allah make them increasingly beautiful day by day? It is us humans who plaster labels and create divisions. It us humans who have priced the cost of Islam. And you don’t help at all. None of you do. With your egos, pretentiousness, self-claimed superiority…thanks to you, that is what Islam has come to today.

Honestly, what a load of bull. What a load of rubbish all of your learned folk expound to everyone.

YOU are misleading everybody. Just stop. Stop right now.

There is no REAL Islam. There is no FALSE Islam. It is what each of us make it. It is what each of us make OF it. And that lies in your individual INTELLIGENCE. Remember? That fascinating organism Allah lodged inside your head to make you THINK wisely, intelligently, differently? Use it.

Just stop with all the labelling. Be at PEACE. With yourself. And with everybody else. Stop the judgements. Before it’s too late.

By: Reza'

Reza' — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 18:50:54 +0000

We all agree the muslims, everywhere around the globe has to profess the Shahadah( Testimony of faith) to be called Muslims and the religion is Islam.We the muslims believe with certainty that the best guide and example is Prophet Muhammad may the peace and blessing be upon him. So Islam and the Prophet does not belong to any nationality, region , colour etc. And is very unfair and unjust to blame a muslim who is trying to follow and obey the commands of Allah and the teaching of Prophet as fundamentalist, Wahabis, Saudi funded. Later when Islam spread practices which are alien to the teaching of Islam crept in.

So some cultural and regional practices will be compatible with Islam, Some will be direct opposite to the teachings of Islam. As muslims we keep our culture which is compatible with Islam. And leave off which is not accepted by Islam.

2 examples , One in saudi we see cigarrtes being sold so are we assume Saudi Islam allows smoking? No! Islams prohibits smoking as we cannot willfully damage our health.

Two Tabligh Jammath has a big following in Indo, Pak, SL region they have many things which are directly in conflict with Islaam, Like going out on rigid set number of days. Which Our Prophet and his illustrious companions didnt do. So are we to accept them as correct Bcos there from Our region.

What is moderate Islam, Who can or has the authority to explain to us. Is it the Prophet and his companions? Or each and every Islamic thinker or writer like Tasleema Nasrin or Salman Rushdie, Gaddafi , etc etc . Is behaving like westerners and adopting there unislamic behaviour and culture or being easterners/Asians is Moderate?. Or is the moderation taught by the Prophet.

Finally abt Saudis, is Countries that practice democracy like Israel/USa better than saudi.Do not forget Gaza massacre a lot countries made noise and made protests. But Saudis without “marketing” their Image did what most wont do, dig their pockets and gave more than 1 billion riyals bought the warring mulims factions to Kaaba and was told to unite. We sri lankans after jumma pelted stones at vehicles and shops who had nothing to do with killing in Gaza

End of the day we are the best Muslims and Saudi are crazy fanatics its like going to the Chinese to learn Arabic. Please do not label me also a saudi funded supporter, Wahabi etc. I am a patriotic Sri-lankan practicing ISlam taught by the Prophet. Hence a Sri-lankan muslim. Not moderate, or fundermental, regoinal, Educated,secular. modern Muslim.

All succes Lies with Allah

By: Rushdi al Ayad

Rushdi al Ayad — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 05:52:59 +0000

I would like to correct Mr.Roshan its not the Saudis who are fundamentalist
who are creating these confusions, its a sect or should i say fanatics the tabligh
jamaath who are in question, this movement was created by the British during the rule of the moghuls in india, at that time the muslims in india were very powerpul and strong they even had their own armies, so the British were worried about their power so they got hold of a memon man gave him millions of money to start a movement to subdude the muslims, for example Aysha RAH
was on horse back along with the prophet during the wars but she was not covering her face she ws carrying a sword this is a specific example, can a muslim woman perform Haj covering her face Allah will not accept her haj. however, the saudis are not fanatic but very religious, the Saudi govt wants to keep it that way because they want the population of saudi arabia subude to keep their throne, in the same vein of what the british did, as Mr. Afzal say they will die a natural death

By: Reza

Reza — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 05:14:06 +0000

You are absolutely right AFZALâ€¦ you have just put into words what ran in my mind when reading the above article! It is sickening to see how cheap and ill-informed the writer seems to be. As you rightly put it, Islam is not Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Iran or Saudi Arabia it is what the Qur’an says and the Sunna [Prophet Muhammad's way of life]. Either you take or just leave it! You can not possibility be a Muslim and at the same time walk on the street in a miniskirt and call yourself a moderate Muslim?

By: Nicolai

Nicolai — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 16:17:24 +0000

The stuff coming out of Saudi is scary stuff and their fundamental stone age views are taking over Europe. Sri Lanka is not far off if we are not careful.
My poor Muslim friends that I grew up with don’t need this. Some of them are downright embarrassed with what is going on these days.
Pat Condell may be a hardliner, but there are more things about his
“More demands from Islam” youtube video that I agree with than which I disagree with.

By: Reza

Reza — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 11:26:01 +0000

I welcome the intent of the author. However, deplore the cynical, mischievous and misleading way the issues are discussed. Extremism on all forms among all communities must be condemned and dealt with but one must be very careful not to fall prey to the conspiracies of one sect or religion over another.

By: Afzal

Afzal — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 09:59:41 +0000

This is a very untimely, misleading article If you read the comments 1st i would suggest roll over it, not worth reading.

In Islam there is no place for radical or moderate muslim. There is only one type of muslim that is a muslim who follows the Quran and Hadith 100% where ever you live. Of course if you living in a non islamic country you have to respect the culture and rule of the land.

Look at Roshan’s comments ! he say’s People are changing their dress code because they have been influenced by Saudi Concept ? You are not in touch with the reality of the ground.

As Rushdi has said each word in arabic has many meanings, each hadith has a background a place where it is applicable. Imagine you let every Tom Dick and Harry (or Hanif, Nizar or Nilam)
to express their opinion in Jumma sermon what would be the situation ?
writer has added even housewife’s should be allowed to speak their mind.
Even with respected learned Ulama’s conducting the friday sermons there has been so much commotions.

Imagine what would be the situation if we allow moderation as per the writers view ?

A muslim cannot be true muslim unless we follow the Quran and sunna of Prophet 100% but this is a daunting task which many of us may not even imagine to achieve. There are many hadith related to difficulty of following Islam as it should be practice as the time goes by.

Don’t try to be a moderate muslim, strive to be a true muslim, maybe your efforts will be accepted and rewarded.

If I read between the lines the idea of moderate muslim according to the writer is a muslim who adopts the religion according to his/her own surroundings and whims and fancies.

There is only one endangered species, that is “True Muslims” even a hand full will be difficult to find. Any other kind of muslim there is plenty around don’t worry about them they will not go extentic for some time to come.

By: ayub

ayub — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 08:23:45 +0000

What is the definition of fundementalism? Fundementals of any religion do not advocate evil. Fundementals of Islam never advocated terrorism of ill-will against others. But the West uses the term fundementalism in a manner which implies that Islam is a dangerous doctrine.

It is the extremism and taking islamic ideals and teachings out of context lead to terrorism or similar acts. Therefore it is better for Muslims not to use the term “Islamic fundementalism”

By: Roshan

Roshan — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 06:31:36 +0000

Our Beloved President , Oppposition Leader, Priminister, Please read this, Don’t be slaves to the all mighty petro dollars, we have China, India & Japan.