Answer: Salaam (Peace). Thank you very much for your question.  In fact, this is what all Muslims say to each other every time we greet one another! Said from the heart, it relieves the worries of the day. What many do not realize is that we are only humans and that, as great as Islam is in it’s objective knowledge, as humans, we do our best.

If you look at your questions, you will see that you start from a point of assumption. Therefore, any answer will appear ambiguous! Open your mind just a little and look at Muslim societies on a day to day basis and you will only see the modern day problems, affecting ordinary people who struggle to survive.

We face also the same stress and challenges of modern urbanization .A recent UN report gave some shocking report on the alarming increase in mental health illness and behavioral problems, amongst children in Europe and the States. And, our kids are heading towards the same direction. Yet, they face more than that… as our towns and cities have been bombed and plundered for the resources since the WWII.

Naturally, there would be a knock on affect under conditions of long-term forced starvation, ethnic cleansing, homelessness and statelessness in some cases with whole families destroyed. In fact it is quite remarkable that Muslims have remained so patient for so long.

The problem is you are seeing one side of the picture. As much as we condemn violence and violation of civil human rights on this very web site - in many fatwas and views articles - the fact is that injustice will evoke struggle and backlash. Our words will not convince those who lose their beloved ones in wars, massacres or military actions against civilians. They are not awaiting fatwas to tell them how to defend themselves or fight back.

Amazingly, we find such questions more frequent than the ones wondering about why the global civil society does not act more actively, to defend the helpless and those who suffer, or urge the political decision makers to more humane in their policies, strategies and allocation of force. The Western public’s ability to see our view on violence and to read about Islam’s position on violence is determined by what resources they have access to. This is because, as Muslims we are not given equal access to international media platforms and the public announcements of our religious leaders vanish in the maze of pictures and news that reflect one side. Of the story, yet... ‘seeing is believing’.

Despite the slaughtering and incarceration of Muslims around the world, as we dare to ask for our human rights, we do not hate anyone. We might get angry, but as humans we are entitled to.

Islam is a religion of reason and self-knowledge. Beauty, as a part of the environment is to be reflected in our day-to-day social relations. Hence, the great difficulty is in understanding a culture that is based on violence, such as that of the West. Beauty is considered the inward expression of goodness. In Arabic moral goodness, virtue and beauty are all part of the same concept of husn. This is not distant from jihad, as some kind of strive for justice and self-control.

I was surprised your questions implied hate is a Muslim product! Hate is a human emotion that knows no boundaries. As such, hate crimes are prevalent in the West as well. Many anti-globalists and many Muslims think the current ‘war-on-terrorism’ breeds hate and achieves nothing constructive for the global community.

As for hate crimes, within the FBI statistics for Hate Crime events in 2001, totaled 8,063 with actual offences at 9,430. Then, we have other crimes. In an environment, where other people’s possessions hold an importance, the rate for Property Crime was 10,412,395 in 2001, and where women have a long way to go to obtain self-respect the crime rate for Forced Rape was 90,491 in 2001. In 1982 it was 78,770. This far from reflects an improvement.

So, the problem is not Muslims... the problem is far too complex and is right there in the modern societies, as much as societies undergoing a process of modernization. Muslims would not be exempted from blame for what they do wrong... but one has to put any phenomena into context, to be fair.

There are many non-Muslims who are aware of this and try to address these issues through initiating debates and conversations within their communities, but they have also become subject to the same laws of censorship as Muslims and Arabs. The position to publicly stand up and condone the violent crimes was often taken. This was done loud enough for those who wanted to hear, but not loud enough for those who only listen to themselves, Moreover, In this age of political correctness, we find ourselves unable to speak out against that which we find abhorrent. It has become anti-Semitic of us to speak out against the atrocities visited daily upon the people of Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon at the hands of Jews in Israel. It has become sexist of us to say that men and women should dress differently or serve different roles in certain instances. It has become an internal matter of a country and we aren't allowed to even condemn or raise our voices against state terror committed by democratic India on the civilian and innocent Muslims of it's state of Kashmir, Gujarat etc. All these people claim to fight against terrorists but have embarked upon Muslim genocide, overtly. We are branded as fanatics or fundamentalists by the world media. A quick look at new definitions reveals:

"Good terrorist/freedom fighter" - someone who kills and murders but is one of us or on our side

"Bad terrorist" - someone who kills and murders but is not one of us or is against our views.

Its amusing to note that 15 years ago Osama bin Laden when fighting the USSR communists in Afghanistan was described as a "hero" by the CIA - whilst Nelson Mandela the jailed leader of the ANC was called "a black terrorist" and "communist" in the British parliament and the ANC consider a terrorist organization!!!!

Times change...People's values change too. Less than a decade ago, homosexuality was considered to be a disease, listed in psychiatric and medical texts as such for centuries. And for thousands of years, homosexual acts have been regarded as crimes against society. Nowadays, however, to speak out against it may cost someone their career in western countries and at the very least that individual may be seen as backward, antiquated or outdated. As you are aware, the colonial powers were able to impose their will over most of the Muslim world, after a long period of decline throughout the Muslim areas. But when that phase was over, and education moved toward being universal, more and more educated people found no difficulty in making a happy match between education and religion. Indeed, it is the divine faith that calls on people to use their reason and logic, because when they do that, they can easily recognize the truth of the Oneness of God and the validity of the divine message. In the history of Islam, there was no time when a conflict took place between enlightened education and scientific findings on the one hand, and Islam on the other. Indeed, the two stand always hand in hand. It is also true that there are people who claim to be religious and try to impose their ideas about Jihad and armed confrontations even at places where there is no need, on others. Such people have not learned Islam well. They do much damage to the cause of Islam. They are rarely aware of its fundamental principle to respect individual freedom and no-compulsion in religion. Islam advocates that freedom of thought, belief and expression is a basic right of all human beings. The bottom-line: Fanaticism is alien to Islam and it will always remain so. Credits: Islamonline - Mr. Hwaa Irfan

   Question: What do you think needs to be done to make the world a safe place with Muslims, Christians and Jews living side by side in peace and prosperity?

   Answer: There is no panacea - applicable to all situations - for the issue of religious intolerance. Each society will have to develop its own set of steps, which are most suited for its own particular circumstances. These measures may have to include some alterations in the legal, political, penal, communication and educational systems if required by the particular circumstances. Nevertheless, some of the important academic steps, which need to be taken in this regard must include:

The appreciation of the beliefs of others and empathy towards their stance. We may disagree with the beliefs ascribed to by any of our friends and associates, yet a healthy, meaningful and peaceful dialogue cannot be initiated and maintained on the topic if the two parties are not willing to respect and honor the stand of the other;

Keeping the doors of communication and dialogue in matters relating to religious differences open. Nothing is likely to be more injurious to the situation than lack of healthy communication and dialogue between the adherents of the various creeds living in the society;

The appreciation of the fact that a person's religious affiliation is primarily dependent upon his internal value system rather than his apparent affiliations. A person should be allowed and encouraged to ascribe to the set of beliefs which he internally holds to be true, without any external socio-cultural or legislative pressures;

A good understanding of the fact that if God has allowed His creation the free-will to ascribe to the religious beliefs, which they hold to be true, than no individual or collectivity has the right to restrict the individual's freedom in this respect;

A general training of the society with reference to the point that even though only one set of religious beliefs can be completely true, yet the understanding and the interpretation of the truth by human beings can be different. In the ultimate analysis it is not the individual's ascription to the 'whole truth' that guarantees his eternal salvation, but his sincere ascription to what he has honestly understood and interpreted to be the 'Truth'; and

A general promotion of the point that only those people have a right to demand respect for their religious beliefs, who are themselves willing to give respect to the beliefs of others.

These are only some of the more important requirements for the said target that come to my mind. Nevertheless, a sincere effort by the societies and their clergies and religious scholars in the promotion of these points can, in my opinion, go a long way in promoting the desired targets.

I hope this helps.
 

Credits: Mr. Moiz Amjad