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| Africa North |
| Ulema must reclaim original role |
| 2013-04-26 |
| [MAGHAREBIA] Ulema are in the best position to present Islam as a religion that rejects violence, calls for tolerance and uses dialogue, an international meeting of religious scholars concluded this week. Ah. A little difference between theory and empirical observation. To discuss how Learned Elders of Islam can help spread the values of moderation in the Mohammedan world, the UK-based Global Centre for Renewal and Guidance organised a gathering of holy men, preachers and religious scholars at its Nouakchott branch on Monday (April 22nd). Let's start with just a few of the big warts on the face of "peace and tolerance." Apostates must be killed. Christians can't marry Moslems. Moslems can proselytize but Christians can't. That's just what bubbles up in my brain when first faced with the statement. Give me an hour and I'll betcha I could get the list to over a hundred. Among the topics: how acts by myrmidon groups, said to be in the name of religion, are actually contrary to the principles of Islam. Yet they're instigated by holy men and they're financed by the devout and they're applauded by Moslems. "Extremist groups are not permitted to demolish the graves of the righteous for this behaviour is a fraudulent act of the devil and is contrary to the teachings of Islam," said the Global Centre's vice-president, Sheikh Hamza Yusuf. See what I mean? That would have been Number 29 on my list. "The nation's Learned Elders of Islam must double their efforts at this time in order to spread the values of moderation among people and respond to the challenges posed by this age," he said. "Let's have three cheers for Hamas!" Ulema and sheikhs agreed that the spread of myrmidon ideology among some young people today was due to a crisis of values and a failure by some families, schools and sheikhs to offer proper guidance. It's probably got something to do with Qaradawi's broadcasts, with the rise of Salafism, and with takfir wal hijra as a way of life. It is now time, they said, for Learned Elders of Islam to return to their original roles. To whit, interpreting Allen's word to rule the Faithful... Religious leaders must "maintain their unique status as advocates for tolerance and disseminators of values of justice and dialogue, as a way to reform the nation", the Global Centre's Faqih Abdullah Ould Aala Salem said. |
| Posted by:Fred |