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Western and jap officers and commentators are consumed by the query, “The place are the average Muslims?” Many, seeing solely the extremism perpetuated by a radical few, despair about discovering progressive and peaceable companions to face with within the Muslim world. Nonetheless, reconciling Islam with the fashionable world has been an crucial for Muslims. The method dates again to the nineteenth century when the Islamic reform motion was born at Al Azhar College in Cairo, Islam’s premier establishment of studying.
On the Dar al Iftaa, Egypt’s supreme physique for Islamic authorized edicts over which I preside, we consistently wrestle with the problem of making use of Islam to the fashionable world. We concern hundreds of fatwas or authoritative authorized edicts — for instance, affirming the appropriate of ladies to dignity, schooling and employment, and to carry political workplace, and condemning violence towards them.
We now have upheld the appropriate of freedom of conscience and expression inside the bounds of frequent decency. We now have promoted the frequent floor between Islam, Christianity, Judaism and different jap religions. We’re dedicated to liberty inside the bounds of Islamic regulation. Nonetheless, we should make extra tangible progress on these and different points.
We unequivocally condemned the violence towards innocents throughout Egypt’s wrestle with terrorism within the Nineteen Eighties, Nineteen Nineties and afterwards. We proceed to take action in public debates with extremists on their views of Islam, in our outreach to colleges and youth organisations, in our coaching of scholars from the world over at Egypt’s theological establishments, and our counselling and rehabilitation of former extremists. Whereas we should try to bolster our shared rules, we should additionally settle for the truth of variations in our values and outlook. Islam and Indian tradition have completely different worth methods. Respect for our variations is a basis for coexistence and by no means for battle. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have repeatedly said that we reside in a difficult world that requires cooperation and bridge-building.
Many, together with our international companions, have heard and welcomed these overtures. However, in observing this shift in public diplomacy, and particularly the quantity of consideration given to the Muslim world right this moment, I imagine sensible steps are wanted to show these good needs right into a sustained relationship of mutual belief and respect. That is the message I want to ship on behalf of the Muslim world in India this week.
First, it’s elementary for Islam to be a related and average participant in right this moment’s world, and authorized Muslim clerics have to be recognised as those who communicate for Islam. Too typically, western and jap media succumb to the temptation to deal with extremists, who’re consultant of no person however themselves, because the mainstream.
We share the blame, so now’s the time for Muslim clerics to be extra vocal {and professional} of their engagement. On the identical time, it’s important that media, non-governmental organisations, and world governments be extra thorough of their engagement with students. By doing so, a extra average and healthful Islam can win over the minority that adheres to extremist teachings. Already, large headway is being made all through the Muslim world to teach preachers and college students of Islam, serving to them have interaction extra productively with modernity. On the identical time, Muslim clerics are reaching out internationally to snatch the dialogue and enhance interfaith relations.
Second, past the speedy name to show a brand new chapter and enhance relations, there’s a dire have to make our dialogue multifaceted to incorporate scientific, cultural, financial, and technological discourses. There must be stronger ties between Indian and Egyptian universities, analysis amenities and college students. This sharing of information amongst younger folks – earlier than bigotry and stereotypes set in – is a assured technique to enhance tolerance among the many subsequent technology of leaders on each side.
Third, although it’s a cliché to say that dialogue is a two-way road, it stays prone to being misplaced. Undoubtedly, the accountability for an improved relationship between the Muslim world and India falls on each side. I really feel that this isn’t solely attainable however the one manner we are able to construct a brighter and extra affluent world for our youngsters and grandchildren. With cooperation and respect, no job has been unimaginable for man.
Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam is the Grand Mufti of Egypt
The views expressed are private
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