Role Of Ulema In Fostering Culture Of Interfaith Peace And Social Harmony
Ulema Should
Form A Global Consensus On Burning Topics
Main
Points:
1. Terrorism
needs to be defined universally.
2. Extremist
religious views should be shunned.
3. Global
initiative by ulema should be taken against terrorism.
4. A global
Islamic curriculum for madrasas and Islamic institutes should be formulated.
5. Science
studies should be prioritised.
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By
New Age Islam Staff Writer
1 December
2022
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The Muslims
Of The Modern World Live In An Age Of Science And Technology And In Order To
Keep Pace With The Scientific Development, They Need To Development Among Them
A Scientific Way Of Thought And Approach To The World And To Other Religions. And
Ulema Should Act As A Catalyst In This Process.
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An Indonesian delegation accompanying
Mohammad Mahfud is holding a day-long discussion with their Indian counterparts
on various topics.
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The
conference on the "Role of Ulema in fostering a culture of Interfaith
Peace and Social Harmony in India and Indonesia" held in New Delhi on 29th
of November 2022 was a positive step towards fighting against radicalisation,
religious extremism and terrorism that has affected the most part of the world
including Indonesia and India. The dialogue between religious heads and
representatives of different religions from both the countries will hopefully
help curb and counter growing culture of violence in the name of spreading a
particular religious ideology. The ulema of both countries carry on their
shoulders the responsibility to form a consensus to curb and fight religious
extremism and sectarianism among the Muslims of the world. Coincidentally, the
Muslims of both the countries follow a moderate version of Islam because of
their common cultural history. The Muslims of India and Indonesia have over the
centuries learnt to live in a multicultural society and respect the religions
of others. However, exclusivist and supremacist interpretations of Islamic
texts by the Arab and Egyptian exegetes and scholars in the modern age
influenced the Muslim mind and they accepted these interpretations as the true
version of Islam. This religious philosophy believed in the use of force and
violence for every problem facing the Muslim world, from local social and
political problems to social, moral evils and sectarian differences. Prominent
ulema and exegetes with vast fan following wrote books and articles and
delivered lectures propagating and spreading extremist ideology. Such books and
lectures gave birth to extremist and terrorist organisations in the Middle East
and South Asia. These organisations wreaked havoc in the eastern as well as the
western world causing bloodshed and damage to Islam's image as a religion of
peace and equality. Vast literature justifying violence and bloodshed in the
name of fighting evil and spreading religion exists in the Islamic world. In
many cases, this literature encourages violence even against the Muslims of
other sectarian denominations. The ulema trained and educated in Turkey and
Egypt and working as imams and religious teachers in the Europe present the
Ahl-e-Kitab ( the People of the Book) as the enemies of Islam collectively and
the countries of Europe as Dar- al - Harb ( enemy country) though Muslims have
been living there for generations and are entitled to all human rights
including religious rights.
Therefore,
if the ulema are really serious in stemming the rot, they would have to do
something more than engaging in dialogue with other ulema and religious heads
of other religions. A global definition of terrorism needs to be formed and a
collective denouncement of terrorist and extremist organisations should be made
and a list of the designated terrorist organisations signed and declared by the
global alliance of ulema should be circulated among Muslims of the world
declaring their activities and ideology un- Islamic and asking the Muslims not
to be associated with them.
In African
countries, Al Shabab, Boko Haram and other fringe organisations continually
cause violence against sufi Muslims and Christians. They kidnap students and
torture them for ransom. In Nigeria, these organisations enjoy the overt and
covert support of local ulema and politicians. The entire Muslim intelligentsia
remains silent on the incidents of violence, murder and bloodshed. This support
comes from a lack of understanding of Islamic teachings and philosophy and from
a lack of a universal definition of terrorism and extremism. Unless and until a
universal definition of terrorism is reached at and a consensus among the ulema
is reached on the terrorist organsiations, this violence will continue.
After Al
Qaida, the ISIS has emerged as a big threat not only to the world peace but
also for the Muslim world. It caught the imagination of the Muslims with its
slogan of caliphate. Many prominent ulema of Egypt and India hailed and
glorified them as the true flag bearers of Islamic caliphate while they killed
Muslims and non- Muslims alike, destroyed churches and graves of prophets and
sufis. Muslim, Kurd and Christian women were kept captive as sex slaves by the
so - called warriors.
The ulema
need to form a consensus on the issue of Khilafat because the ISIS succeeded to
gain the acceptance of a section of ulema and scholars by selling them the
dream of caliphate. The Quran does not prescribe a particular form of
government. It insists only on good governance.
The ISIS is
still a threat and tries to attract the Muslim youth by espousing local issues
of Muslims. The ulema need to create awareness among the Muslim youth about the
dangers of falling into their trap.
Such groups
have also existed in the initial period of Islam and Hadhrat Ali fought a
decisive battle against them. They are called Kharijites. Al Qaida, ISIS, Al
Shabab, Boko Haram, Taliban, Lashkar-e-Taiba etc. are the Kharijites of the
modern age. Why don 't ulema declare them kharijites?
The Muslims
of the Modern world live in an age of science and technology and in order to
keep pace with the scientific developments, they need to develop among them a
scientific way of thought and approach to the world and to other religions. And
ulema should act as a catalyst in this process.
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-politics/ulema-culture-interfaith-peace-harmony/d/128539
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