Abs Damahan
Is Pontiff Comments a hint of an idea for religious tolerance?
Nicosia, Cyprus comments by the Pope Benedict XVI a hint of religious tolerance for the up-coming crisis summit of Middle East Bishops in Rome scheduled in October focus of “Current Extremism” and the rise of “political Islam” as a threat to Christians.
The Pontiff comments further to the international community, he concerned of ignoring the plight of Christians in Middle East and that Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the war in Iraq and political instability in Lebanon have forced thousands to flee the region.
For balancing the comments in global perspective a kind of clash of civilizations between west and the Muslims community, started from the translation of the Qur-an by the Indian born writer Salman Rushdie British national entitled his Novel published Book-The SATANIC VERSES almost all of Muslims faith in silence protest, but Imam Khomeini Islamic of Iran publicly condemned the Author and issued rule order (Fatwa) is direct blasphemy against Islam and at the same time (Iman) even offered reward bounty to kill and get Mr. Rushdie dead or alive.
Recently European Parliaments Belgium and France proposed a State Law to ban Muslim Women attire “Burqa” used in public, not minding by the European community this suit which are obligatory requirements for Muslim Women to cover the whole-body from head to foot not practical but religious obligation is sacred in the Islamic cultures. The other contentious issue which, demand attention from religious leaders of interfaith group, the ban of construction of Minaret (Mosque) in Switzerland it’s violate religious freedom that create the animosity of discontentment from Muslim side. Another caused for uproar by the Muslim community all over the World is controversial Cartoon’s printout released in print Newspaper in Denmark- portray the offensive image of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that hurt Muslim tolerance. The rest a minor issue like branding of many names to Muslims that really downgrading the followers of Islam the real and true Muslims- Is this religious tolerance?
Islamic phobia and political Islam I think is ramification of mistrust from the west a creation from purely imaginative concern that destructs a truly meaningful cooperation of the west and Muslim World. This is not valid issue is perhaps a pigment of imagination of the west could create barriers and divisive dictum of our civilization. There are no solid evidences and facts of these accusations a pure hearsay creation by the western thinkers.
The west is more aggressive to dominate the poor and the weakest Muslim Community with the unperturbed of the advance of technology in their possessions.
With the powerful medium from both broadcast, in print and e-media unmatched the weakest one. But, because of strong spirit and strong faith of Muslim Community, they are one society of solid foundation bonding together against all odds. The west might miscalculate the strength and the unity of the Muslims faith as we shown in many instances when controversies’ comes across if the traditions and practices is touch by the anti-Islam propagandist by either deliberate or un-deliberate intent.
Still the power of the Pulpit can change “the intolerance to tolerance community” that brings back awareness to society of the different faiths whether Muslims, Christians and other religious sect practices in the World. By the power of message of religious leaders of the World the Islamic scholars (Imam), the Pope, the Rabbis and other religious sects remains the true guardians of their flocks for a true meaning of religious tolerance from among great civilization of the World. Delve for deep understanding of religious obligation of the Mosques, the Churches, Temples and other place of worship, religious rituals and practices that need of peaceful co-existence in the community of nations all over the World. Who will start cudgel of renewal towards religious responsibility for tolerance from among world civilizations.