IEP21 Forum

[Author: Dr. Irfan Ahmad Khan. Dr. Khan is founder of the World Council of Muslims for Interfaith Relations (WCMIR). He serves as Chair of the Interreligious Engagement Project (IEP21). He is a renowned Quranic scholar and philosopher, with a long history of commitment to interreligious understanding and cooperation.]

The answers to the two questions by our distinguished participants have further strengthened my claim that the main source of confusion lies in people’s mixing up ‘ideals’ with ‘realities’.I say to all Westerners:

If we are proud of the ideals to which the people of the West aspire – closing our eyes to the failure of many of us in living up to those ideals – then we should also be able to appreciate Islamic ideals, without being obsessed by the destructive action of many so-called Muslims.

Likewise, I very clearly see the fallacy of those Muslims who speak against ‘the West’ with great irresponsibility – who would even see the West as criminal. They would say:

Earlier, the Western powers colonalized the whole world, killed millions of innocents citizens in the First and Second Great Wars and in the Holocast. They invented nuclear bomb and used it on innocent citizens. And today also the West wants to dominate the whole world. It would keep its huge stock of nuclear weapons but would not let other nations develop any ability to produce nuclear weapons.

(And they would add many other charges which will be true of only of some – but never universally true of all – westerners).

So far as reality is concerned, both the Westen World and the Muslim World conduct themselves alike – like degenerated faith communites – always making high claims but remaining below the mark, in their actual performance. Our conduct is full of contradictions.

The job to be done is, therefore, quite clear:

We need a strategy and a plan to answer the following question:

How can conscientious people in both the parties work together for common ideals, counteracting these realities and save the world which is moving toward self-destruction?

This should be the next item in the agenda of the Global Dialogue of Civilizations.

A theological note

In closing, I also to make a theological observation that can provide great inner strength.

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Pseudo-religiosity is leading human civilization toward suicide
In the following few pages, an effort is made to workout an agenda for true religiosity. True religiosity, is seriously concerned with human destiny and it invites all conscientious people _ even those who have, apparently, rejected all religion _ to work together to save humankind. True religiosity is both progressive and authentic. Religion and Science are good friends.

Part I
What is the real issue?

I do not think there is war between the East and the West or between the “Muslim” World and the Non-Muslim World. Nor does there exist, in the real world, such an issue as “Clash between Two Civilizations” i.e. between Islam and the West _ as is some time very ignorantly proclaimed. Rather, the ideals and the higher values in Islam and the ideals and the higher values in the West are very much the same. It is so because Islam stands for the Divine Guidance revealed to Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad and other messengers of God; while “the West” expresses the yearning, in modern times, of the human mind and spirit toward very similar higher concerns. The West as such is a movement which was initiated as an awakening in the geographical west, at a time when the followers of these messengers were failing in their duty to liberate humans from their mutual slaveries and to lead the world toward peace, prosperity and progress.

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On December 11, 2006 National Public Radio aired Terry Gross’ interview with former president Jimmy Carter. The accompanying article reviews the strong reactions provoked by his latest book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid. Access the article and interview by following the link.

NPR : Jimmy Carter’s Book Stirs Criticism, Complaint

“Islamophobia” - intensified by the War in Iraq has left millions of Muslims in the US and in other Western countries fearful of harassment, discrimination and questionable prosecutions, and confused about their place in society. What is rapdidly emerging is “A Clash of Cultures”, Islam vs The West!

Bawa Jain
Secretary General
World Council of Religious Leaders

To me, a great issue that divides the world is the illusion that the only victory is the conquest of the other party. The egotism that infects each new generation of young men: that they should go for death and glory. Freud is not popular today, but his vision of the eternal struggle of EROS and THANATOS seems “right on” as I look at the “death embrace” of Israel and Palestine.

Sam Harris in The End of Faith has a point when he says that faith in individual life after death often breeds war and destruction in this life. Most Muslims and Christian Fundamentalists preach the certainty of individual life hereafter. Even looking forward to a Divine Return in which they will be saved and others be damned. Thus many justify looting this planet because we are not going to be here very long.

Many Christians don’t consider it hatred, as they tell Moslems and atheists, “You are going to hell because you don’t believe as I do.” A BAD beginning
for loving religious dialogue.

“It’s about oil, It’s about greed.” That’s the chant on the war in Iraq I heard chanted in California. It reminded me of a lesson I was taught in college. If you cannot understand what is going on, look for the economic motive. … There are those who love war because they make a profit. Around the world,
in Western, Muslim, African, Hindu, Buddhist, we find greed and the lust for power breeding a culture of death. Ads in the USA say,
WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS IN IRAQ …
PAID FOR BY THE MEN AND WOMEN OF LOCKHEED.
Look at the ad knowing, Lockheed is one of the 3 biggest defence contractors.

Yes, we need defence: but war should be a last resort! Yes, I support 20-year-olds who are following orders. But I cannot support a President who will not take recent committee advice that says, “GET OUT.”

Is there hope for the future? Yes, there is hope when leaders admit they were wrong. Yes, there is hope when Bill Gates and Warren Buffet give billions to the healing of the world. There is hope in democratic victory.

“I have a dream …” that we can stop talking of Moslem and Western Culture and start talking of ONE PLANET: That we can start living on this earth as one people: That we can celebrate the diversity of cultures as we celebrate the diversity of flowers. That Universal Compassion be taught by Imams, Preachers, Priests, Swamis, and Buddhist Masters. That all teachers be daily aware in prayer that the HOLY is greater than any one religion: that all religions are manifestations of a UNIVERSAL POWER that is not fully captured in any CREED or BOOK.

In awareness of the greater HOLY, the greater HOPE, may we build trust with one another. May trust, hope and compassion flow through our lives to transform our WORLD.

Richard Boeke
World Congress of Faiths

1) The West perceives Arab governments as being indifferent to the attacks by Muslim radicals on Western societies. Indeed in some Arab countries, like Pakistan, Madrassas play a major role in the education of the young, and they teach hostility to Western societies. Meanwhile, Arabs perceive the world powers of the West to have attacked two Arab countries with the most destructive of military weaponry, asserting democratic objectives. Arabs could not understand that America would invade another country, Iraq; they believed that this was contrary to American democratic values.

The Arab culture of patriarchy is antithetical to Western values, and in fact to the values of many Arab women. Wife-beating is common and is even material for daytime television serials. Honor killings are illegal and punishable under the law, but the culture still allows them. Meanwhile, the sexual exploitation of women for commercial purposes in the West is offensive to Muslims.

Education in Jordan provides an example of the dominance by men over curricula and teaching methods. While teaching is considered an appropriate occupation for women, courses and classes are not pitched to the needs of girls and women.

2) Muslims are generous, friendly and out-going. They show hospitality to visitors from the West.

Both cultures respect religion, and the West is encouraged to remember the protection afforded Jews and Christians as “people of the book” in the centuries of Muslim dominance of the Mediterranean world.

There could be cross-cultural convergence in the simple recognition that war helps no one and all parties can find agreement in the desire to bring stability and peace to the people of the Middle East.

Betsy Warren, Northbrook, Illinois, USA.
Participant in Common Ground (adult interfaith and intercultural study center)

Assuming that philosophy of ethics has not changed, and therefore definitions of virtue and vice have remained the same, it is possible to imagine the following:

In regards to the first question, it will be always that a vice action will divide the two. It just happened that the current issues which divide the two are of politico-economical nature. The battle of accumulating the dearest natural resources, such as oil, gas, gold, iron and so on, by force, or transactions based on interest!

Secondly, it is the virtuous actions that will always bring the two closer or even together. All actions of worship, such as: praying, working towards equality of race, justice, safety and so on.

Finally, it is very unfortunate that the people of both cultures, especially the Westerners, are going through the process of changing their cultural values. For instance, in the last few years the wearing fashion in the West has dramatically changed, and therefore became unsuitable for Islamic culture and its values.

Assuming that philosophy of ethics has not changed, and therefore definitions of virtue and vice have remained the same, it is possible to imagine the following:

In regards to the first question, it will be always that a vice action will divide the two. It just happened that the current issues that divide the two are of politico-economical nature. The battle of accumulating the dearest natural resources, such as oil, gas, gold, iron and so on, by force, or transactions based on interest!

Secondly, it is the virtuous actions that will always bring the two closer or even together. All actions of worship, such as: praying, working towards equality of race, justice, safety and so on.

Finally, it is very unfortunate that the people of both cultures, especially the Westerners, are going through the process of changing their cultural values. For instance, in the last few years the wearing fashion in the West has dramatically changed, and therefore became unsuitable for Islamic culture and its values.

One may conclude that if this process continues from either side it will be a question of whether there will be any cultures, for much longer?

Sejad Mekic, BA, Islamic Studies, Ph.D., Theology and Religious Studies
Imam and Khatib (Orator), Cambridge Muslim Welfare Society,
Cambridge, U. K.

Nothing divides Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Some circumstances can incite cultural division between some people of these faiths. These include economic inequality, isolation and insulation, visible differences in physical characteristics and dress. Extremists can also encourage attitudes that intentionally divide cultures. Governments have laws, such as immigration barriers and trade issues that may also promote retaliation and divisions. Dependence of the West on OPEC and awareness of much of Islamic world on the economic and military dominance of the U.S. may also promote cultural division. Extremist rhetoric from government and religious leaders feed the fire.

What brings them together is their humanity. Among their common goals are love of family, possibility for a spiritual or religious content in their lives, basic economic well being, and awareness that the other culture has these goals and achieving them benefits all.

Bert Winograd
Lincolnshire, IL USA

My response on the issues that divide Muslim cultures and Western cultures, thus: the deep-seated epistemological cum psychological attitude that each culture has adopted. On the hand, the West’s hegemonic attitude towards Mulims, perceiving Muslims as their inferiors not as their equals with whom they ought to share this planet. Factors that prompted or triggered to this kind of perception are many, among others: Muslims are considered as non-cooperative or anti western democfacy, transgressor of human rights, fundamentalists, extremists, and many other streotypes that you could name them. On the other hand, the Muslim’s perception of the West contribute the widening of the chasms; among others : the West’s secular- materialist, hedonistic super power, under the guise of globalization, or “global ethic” trying to impose the west’s values on the Muslim ummah. The West’s double standard attitude and actions , through their economic and military aid in supporting Israel, at the same tme undermining the rights of the Palestinians are among others. Muslims feel that their rights to practise their own religion in a comprehensive mannaer (the implementation of Sharia) are continuosly threatened by the West.

As to the issues that can unite both cultures are also attitudinal in nature. Attitude can only be corrected through knowledge. The West must be made to understand to respect and appreciate the Msulim’s faith, their needs, their aspirations as well as their anger and apprehensions. Thus, a serious and committed West-Muslim Culture Centre need to be set up to promote and realize this idea. The details need be worked out. As to having series of seminars, conventions and dialogues involving the proponents of the two cultures could still be relevant, but it must selective and well planned in terms of venues, time and participants. So also in the realms of spirituality cum economic and social projects involving the two cultures could also be of help at the communal level. But the bigger challenge remains- coming from the hands of their political leaders and business leaders of the West. A serious effort should be afforded to change their attitude and perception as mentioned in the above.

Dr. Ghazali Basri
Academy for Civilisational Studies
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

1. Divisive current issues affecting Muslims and the West
(i) Perception of denial of justice to Muslim peoples by governments in the West, led by the United State of America, epitomized by the long suffering of the Muslim Palestinians is the most divisive issue causing conflict between them.

(ii) The other divisive issue is the Western attitude towards Islam in general and Mohammad, the Prophet, in particular–exemplified by the Western liberal defence of Rushdie’s Satanic Verses, the publication of commissioned cartoons of the Prophet, and now Pope Benedict XVI approvingly quoting hate-speech against Islam of the period of the old Crusade characterizing it as “evil and inhuman”.

(iii) Muslim lack of modernization and their bigotry and fanaticism–expressed in their attitude to women and lack of tolerance of dissent, is also a source of divergence of the two cultural mainstreams.

2. Shared Values holding the possibility of uniting Muslims and the peoples in the West
(i) Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms faith in equality of all human beings in dignity and rights. Being endowed with reason and conscience, humans are required to develop fraternal feelings towards one another. Common struggle to promote the values of freedom, equality and fraternity, and concern for all-embracing value of justice hold the potential to unite Muslims and the peoples in the West.

(ii) Muslims and peoples in the West affirm faith in an Almighty — All Merciful and Caring and Loving God/ Allah, to whom all humans are individually accountable, which constitutes core of the common Abrahamic Tradition. Accommodating seemingly divergent traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam–within the Great Tradition of “One God, One Mankind” can be a great source of unity between the Muslims and the West.

Dr. Iqbal A. Ansari,
Institute of Muslim Minority Affairs
Aligarh, India