Shaikh Othaman Mohammad al Siddiqui, the Minister of Islamic affairs, endowments, Da’wad and guidance from Saudi Arabia, emphasises the role of moderates.
Shaikh Othaman Mohammad al Siddiqui, the Minister of Islamic affairs, endowments, Da’wad and guidance from Saudi Arabia, emphasises the role of moderates
Why is the need for reforms being felt in Islam now?
The Muslim faith is based on five essential pillars. When we see how other countries are affected by terrorism, it is time to renew these basic principles which alone guarantee a true Muslim identity. Some Muslim countries have moved away from the basics of Islam, which is a problem. We must defend the fundamentals of Islam and convey that its true message is peace.
How do you deal with the popular perception that all terrorists are seen to be Muslims?
Whenever a terrorist act takes place in the world, only Muslims are blamed. There may be misguided youth but aren’t they present in every community or every religion? Islam does not permit killing of innocents.
The five pillars clearly lay down the rules that a good Muslim must follow. It is also incorrect to say that religion encourages people to kill people for Jihad. While there are some so-called scholars who lead youth astray, a true scholar will never do such a thing.
But there have been cases were madarsas were blamed…
When people in the West saw Islam growing, they began linking it with terrorism. They accuse the madarsas of extremist education and brainwashing youngsters. But this is not true. Madarsas only teach youngsters to read and study the Koran.
After 9/11, many Muslims realised the difference between Jihad and true Islam. However, I strongly feel westerners too must understand what true Islam is.
What about moderate Muslims?
Moderates are seen by youth as those who are scared. Youth get imbued with a sense of angst and aggression after they see how the world looks at their faith. They tend to get influenced by those who adopt a more aggressive stance rather those who encourage taking the middle path.
This is where the true teacher’s role becomes vital. Our madarsas teach the real Koran, and teachers have a crucial role in bringing about change. The more moderate they are, the more they can steer youth away from aggression.
Will modern education prevent Muslim youth from becoming isolated?
Along with the study of Koran, modern education is important. But that can happen only when a teacher is good and helps his students adjust to the modern world. We were taught to read and study the Koran and given modern education as well. Islamic scholars who have travelled around the world can guide local teachers to bring about change.
The right schools can show the way. Students from such schools help you become global citizens and keeps extremism at bay. Islamic education is like the sun, you can get it anywhere if you really want to learn the right way.
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