"There is a deep linkage between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - structurally. We have to shift the divide and elevate the discourse...As Muslims we also have to get back to our values - where are the synagogues that were there for hundreds of years in [my birthplace] Egypt?"
With rhetorical flourish in Dubai, Imam Feisal Abdul-Rauf, the face behind the controversial Islamic community center called Park 51 (previously called Cordoba House), praised America and called for interfaith understanding. It was hardly the performance of a figure that Fox News and others have portrayed as an ally of extremists. The three hours he spent at the Dubai School of Government today included an Iftar (the meal to traditionally break fast during Ramadan), a lecture and Q&A, and evening prayers. At no point did he break from his core message, that his Islam is one that is authentically American, and that America is in congruence with the core values of his faith. He spoke in Arabic, and he spoke in English, and the words were the same.
For the Imam, his trip has been extremely difficult. He has taken comfort in several Jon Stewart clips, as well as the statements by Mayor Bloomberg. He told me that he has felt he is surrounded by "turbulence" and subject to "winds from all directions." Indeed the entire world media is clamoring for statements from him; the moment he did give one interview yesterday in The National (UAE), he was criticized for speaking on a domestic issue from abroad. Thus Imam Feisal is in a dilemma. In the Middle East, however, he has been touring Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, hosted by the U.S. State Department and ferried to various public fora. The reception has been largely positive, and today was no exception.
The audience at the Dubai School of Government, consisted of a motley crew of journalists (from CNN, ABC News, Reuters, and a bevy of local papers), students, financial professionals, government officials, and academics. Largely Muslim, but not exclusively so, the crowd hailed from nearly every country in the region. Libya. Syria. Iran. Pakistan. The list including any number of nationalities perceived as disposed against the United States. While he refrained from any significant commentary on the Islamic center itself, the Imam did not hold back, neither in his humble praise of his country, nor from his criticisms of many contemporary trends in the wider Muslim community.
"Like many of our fellow Muslims, we found our faith in America...My country and my faith are knitted together."
His words went beyond the superficial. The Imam cited that the American Constitution and Declaration of Independence expressed Islamic values of life, dignity, religion, family, property and intellect. Interspersed in his remarks were references to the Qur'an and the Hadith (sayings of the prophet) to substantiate his points. What surprised many in the audience was when he went even further, challenging some Muslims for neglecting the values within Islam, and its inherent principles of tolerance. He said that many Muslims have in fact "made Islam itself into a god to worship," while forgetting its "inner concepts." He said that in centuries passed it was natural to have different religious and ethnic communities living side-by-side within Muslim societies. What has happened, he asked, in the last fifty years, as many of the Jews and other minority groups have emigrated from countries such as Egypt, for example? He answered his own question, "We are poorer for it." The audience's reaction was applause and enthusiasm.
On his way back to the U.S., Imam Feisal faces a difficult challenge. With various protests organized for September 11, the atmosphere in the country, where nearly two-thirds of those surveyed oppose his new community center, will only get more volatile. The Imam himself commented that "the political season" is charging the atmosphere, and that much of the opposition is exploiting that.
His voice in the the region and wider Muslim community has been one of moderation, as he has sought to build intercontinental and interfaith bridges. Those in the audience today, will be waiting to see what is the reaction of most Americans upon the Imam's return to his country in just a few days.
Taufiq Rahim is a Visiting Scholar at the Dubai School of Government and blogs daily at TheGeopolitico.com
Follow Taufiq Rahim on Twitter: www.twitter.com/thegeopolitico
Rita Nakashima Brock, Ph. D.: Remembering the Sacred Acts of 9/12/01
Mark R. Cohen: The Meaning of 'Cordoba': Can It Really Symbolize Religious Tolerance?
Read what your own Imam says:
" Dr. Muhammad al Alkhuli, a popular Islamic scholar, says: "Islam is a religion, but not in the western meaning of religion. The western connotation of the term "religion" is something between the believer and God. Islam as a religion organizes all aspects of life on both the individual and national levels. Islam organizes your relations with God, with yourself, with your children, with your relatives, with your neighbor, with your guest, and with other brethren. Islam clearly establishes your duties and rights in all those relationships. Islam establishes a clear system of worship, civil rights, laws of marriage and divorce, laws of inheritance, code of behavior, what not to drink, what to wear, and what not to wear, how to worship God, how to govern, the laws of war and peace, when to go to war, when to make peace, the law of economics, and the laws of buying and selling. Islam is a complete code of life."
That is the problem. Name one muslim country that has a vibrant democracy and that treat its minorities with equity and fairness.
you're just a part of the witchhunt. give it up already.
It is true. Muslim rulers demolished 3,000 temples and built mosques on the ruins.Holiest among them are Ram temple in Ayodhya; Krishna temple in Mathura and Shiva temple in Varanasi.
Imam Faisal 'Abd Al-Rauf's book What's Right with Islam: A New Vision for Muslims and the West was published in Indonesian in 2007 with a different title: Seruan Azan Dari Puing WTC: Dakwah Islam di Jantung Amerika Pasca 9/11. TRANSLATION:("The Call of Azan from the Rubble of the World Trade Center: Islamic Da'wa in the Heart of America Post-9/11").
If this is not aggressively militant, what else it is?
Where in God's name are you getting your information from? Who / What are your sources for these preposterous claims? The actual title of Imam Feisal's most recent book is "What's Right with Islam: A New Vision for Muslims and the West" and the tagline of the book is "What's right with Islam IS what's right with America". It sounds like the title in your post is something completely made up. Also, have you actually ever even seen or opened Imam Feisal's book? It doesn't appear that way.
Imam Feisal is a New Yorker by virtue of education and vocation: he's a Columbia University graduate and has worked and served here in NYC for a long time engaging in interfaith work long before you started posting bogus information about him. Is the fake book title you attribute to Imam Feisal in Indonesian or Javanese? Where does it come from? Did you see this text and translate it yourself? And, again, have you ever actually seen Imam Feisal's book in Engish, opened up, and read any of it? Perhaps it would make sense for you to do so before you propose outlandish, hurtful, hateful--not to mentioned thoroughly unsubstantiated--claims. Imam Feisal's book is actually about the similarities between the tenets of Islam and the Constitution of the United States of America. Imam Feisal demonstrates the congruence of Islam's core principles (which are the same in Judaism and Christianity) with the American Constitutional process.
This is the classic doublespeak. If you are an American citizen, you can not ask for shariaa; if you are a muslim, you can not disown umma and its actions. When you protested for Palestinians, Iraquis, Afgan drone attacks, you attached yourself with umma; you can stay not away when it is inconvenient.
2) Shariah is made to comply with the values and people of the land is implemented in only applies to Muslims or is only applicable in a 99% Muslim country.
3) "Islamic discrimination of women as being unequal to men and the human rights abuses that are associated with Islamic hadd punishments and "honor" killings are illegal in this and most countries."
All of the above are cultural and have no relationship with Islam. The fact that this was mentioned shows ignorance. The Shariah punishment in question are not endorsed by the Qur'an and thus not endorsed by Islam.
4) "Islam circumvents local law by setting up their own Islamic Sharia Council which allows them to discriminate against women and hand out their own brand of medieval justice without the consent of the local government."
The circumnavigation is legal as long as it doesn't overtake civil law. The Shariah council is watched (you were in error here) by the government. The parties that partake in the court system must both agree to do so, meaning that the parties prefer the system in the matter.
5) What I ask for in America as an American citizen in order to have my constitution rights have nothing with other countries and their domestic policy. Example: I'm not Syrian. You want me to go to Syria to complain? I have no say.
I don't believe that my religion is a cult.
The Islamic community center is being built by American Sufis, who already have a mosque, and they have a history of advocating peace in the face of extremism.
So your point is pointless.
Many Muslim's lives have been made much harder cause of Mr. Abdul-Rauf's insistence on going through with the project. He claims the aim of the project is to spread friendship and understanding - well then they clearly have failed cause this has become one of the most divisive issues in the country.
I support their right to build, I think forcing them to change their plans is unconstitutional BUT I question the wisdom of doing so...
Just listen to the man's own words to people in Muslim countries... he's STILL upholding his belief that America is an open and fair society. He doesn't blame Americans for the backlash and Islamophobia, but puts the blame, rightly, on the politicians that are trying to get elected this November.
All thinking people are becoming secular humanists. All "organized religion" is getting a bad name more and more each day as systems of mindless automaton group think.
Good luck!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARjrfseVxjI
The human race could actually use a profound Cosmic Religion that points us towards the wonders of the Creation in the current age of nuclear weapons. So far we are batting zero.
I think that many ppl think that this is like a monuments to victory- PROVOCATION, sensitive & inflammatory setting & that is not moderate if they want to promote moderate Islam.
It is aggressively militant many believe so.
Be real if it was not provocative no one would would write or fight or talk about it.
If they go for it & most of Americans are not happy about it, don't expect future tolerance or peace.
You are implying, by saying that 100 muslims died, that it had nothing to do with Islam. So then why a mosque?Why not a secular monument?
The time to for Muslims to speak out was 9/12/10. Now you demand your rights?
“Muslims do not aspire for a mosque next to the September 11 cemetery.”-- Abd Al-Rahman Al-Rashed, general manager of Al-Arabiya television
"Many Muslims fear that the mosque will become a shrine for Islamists… It’s not good for Muslims…"-- Gamal Abd Al-Gawad, director of Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies.
Source: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2010/0818/Ground-Zero-mosque-debate-swirls-in-world-capitals
Those are the words of an islamist. Here is the link.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/imam-feisal-abdul-rauf/what-shariah-law-is-all-a_b_190825.html
Regardless, what the hell do we care what Muslims in backwards countries think about this...? It's a Muslim-American issue.
NY Teens Accused of Disrupting Mosque Service
Authorities have arrested a group of teenagers for yelling obscenities, honking car horns and firing a shotgun outside a mosque in western New York. One of many hate related events against US Muslims in recent weeks. http://www.newslook.com/videos/246267-ny-teens-accused-of-disrupting-mosque-service?autoplay=true
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