Category: Faith & Spirituality Topics: Islamic Scholars, Pope Views: 6908
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Muslim Scholars respond to Pope Benedict in an open letter
In an unprecedented move, an open letter signed by 38 leading Muslim religious scholars and leaders around the world was sent to Pope Benedict XVI on Oct. 12, 2006. The letter, which is the outcome of a joint effort, was signed by top religious authorities such as Shaykh Ali Jumu'ah (the Grand Mufti of Egypt), Shakyh Abdullah bin Bayyah (former Vice President of Mauritania, and leading religious scholar), and Shaykh Sa'id Ramadan Al-Buti (from Syria), in addition to the Grand Muftis of Russia, Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, Slovenia, Istanbul, Uzbekistan, and Oman, as well as leading figures from the Shi'a community such as Ayatollah Muhammad Ali Taskhiri of Iran. The letter was also signed by HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal of Jordan and by Muslim scholars in the West such as Shaykh Hamza Yusuf from California, Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr of George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and Professor Tim Winter of the University of Cambridge.
All the eight schools of thought and jurisprudence in Islam are represented by the signatories, including a woman scholar. In this respect the letter is unique in the history of interfaith relations.
The letter was sent, in a spirit of goodwill, to respond to some of the remarks made by the Pope during his lecture at the University of Regensburg on Sept. 12, 2006. The letter tackles the main substantive issues raised in his treatment of a debate between the medieval Emperor Manuel II Paleologus and an "educated Persian", including reason and faith; forced conversion; "jihad" vs. "holy war"; and the relationship between Christianity and Islam. They engage the Pope on an intellectual level concerning these crucial topics-which go well beyond the controversial quotation of the emperor-pointing out what they see as mistakes and over simplifications in the Pope's own remarks about Islamic belief and practice.
The Muslim signatories appreciate the Pope's personal expression of sorrow at the Muslim reaction and his assurance that the words of the Byzantine emperor he quoted did not reflect his personal opinion. By following the Quranic precept of debating "in the fairest way", they hope to reach out so as to increase mutual understanding, reestablish trust, calm the situation for the sake of peace, and preserve Muslim dignity.
Christianity and Islam make up more than half of humankind in an increasingly interconnected world, the letter states, and it is imperative that both sides share responsibility for peace and move the debate towards a frank and sincere dialogue of hearts and minds which furthers mutual understanding and respect between the two religious traditions. Indeed, the scholars point out, both religions teach what Christianity calls "the two greatest commandments". The commandment that "the Lord our God is one Lord" and that we shall love Him with all we are is enshrined in the first testimony of faith in Islam, "There is no god but God." The second commandment "to love thy neighbor as thyself" is also found in the words of the Prophet, "None of you believes until he desires for his neighbor (in another version, his brother) what he desires for himself." The signatories also point out the positive contacts the Vatican has had with the Islamic world in the past, with a hope that they will continue and even grow in the future.
The official and full English version of the text along with the complete list of signatories is available below from the Islamica Magazine website.
Click here to view the full version of the letter
Click here to view a printable pdf version of the letter
If you would like further information or interviews with Professor Tim Winter in the UK and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf in the USA regarding issues related to the open letter, please contact Islamica Magazine in the USA on 213-291-7191, in the UK on +44 (0)20-7993-2966, Jordan on +962-6-464-1179 or +962 777 608 449 or email [email protected].
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Older Comments:
SURRAYYA FROM USA said:
I think the pope knew what he was doing but did it anyway. He simply can't take the reality of 6 Europeans accepting Islam per day on average hence the anger. The one who proclaims to give the other cheek is sabre rattling. As for Islam is concerned, This kind of rhetoric would only make it grow.Teaching of creationism in UK schools has begun to check the growth of the Great Islam, (the coolest religion on this Earth) and as always it will propagate it like nobody's business. Pope is trying to make people love the light of a lamp and ignore the glow of the sun. Well its an impossible task not to say plain silly
2006-11-28
BEN FROM U.S.A said:
I BELIEVE THAT THE POPE IS A RACIST AND BIGOT HE NEVER APOLOGIZED BECAUSE HE IS NOT SORRY HE IS ONLY SORRY THAT HE GOT CAUGHT AND HAS NEVER TOKEN BACK WHAT HE SAID BECAUSE HE MEANT IT WE CAN NO LONGER STAY TO THE SIDELINES AND LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT BEACAUSE THEY MEAN EVERYTHING THEY SAY.THE CRUSADERS ACTIONS SHOW THE TRUE COLORS NOT THEIR DOUBLE TALK.
2006-11-26
RAY FROM USA said:
I am amazed at the response one gets from the Islamic community when a Christian leader merely quotes someone else. We have a ways to go in communicating when a mere quotation generates what I consider to be an excessive response.
2006-10-26
HASSAN FROM AUSTRALIA said:
A throughly well rehearsed letter to .. pope.I hope this letter set the record straight and lets hope next time he thinks before he leaps.
2006-10-20
RUNNER FROM USA said:
I welcome the publication of this letter and salute the website managers to prominently display it. I also note the summary's statement that this is unprecedented.
Let us pray that it is joined by many more statements of this kind, both to explain Islam to others in the world, and to say important things in a way that Muslims too will read and not misunderstand. Too often, both in Islam and Christianity too theological scholars get wrapped up in their own specialized language; when they say this or that outsiders (first non-theologians, and second persons outside thier religious traditions) misunderstand the true meaning of what they have said. And these situations too often result in non-scholars being misled into what they would otherwise clearly recognize as evil, and is the basis of far too much fitna among we who should regard each other as Allah created us, brothers & sisters.
Let us pray that it is joined by many more statements of this kind, both to explain Islam to others in the world, and to say important things in a way that Muslims too will read and not misunderstand. Too often, both in Islam and Christianity too theological scholars get wrapped up in their own specialized language; when they say this or that outsiders (first non-theologians, and second persons outside thier religious traditions) misunderstand the true meaning of what they have said. And these situations too often result in non-scholars being misled into what they would otherwise clearly recognize as evil, and is the basis of far too much fitna among we who should regard each other as Allah created us, brothers & sisters.
2006-10-19
BABANDI A. GUMEL FROM U.K said:
He who bears witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah,He is One and there is no associate with Him,that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger,that Isa (jesus) is His Servant and Messenger and he (Jesus)is His Word which He communicated to Mary and His Spirit,that Paradise is true and Hell is a fact Allah would make him enter Paradise whateever his deeds may be."This Hadith quoted by Shaikhain Bukhari and Muslim is glad tidings to all the people of the Book especially the Christians whom we are told to discuss with nicely without offending each other.So the letter sent to the Pope is a good sign and the Popes apology is an encouragement of moving forward toward understanding one another Muslims and Christians.Respect begets respect is the only way forward.May Allah give all of us guidance Amen.
2006-10-18
