sermon in Doha the other day the clericcalled upon " Muslims everywhere tokill” Syria’s Alawite sect branding themas "more infidel than Christians andJews." The message of hatred the American

allies in the Middle East are spreadingagainst all non-Wahhabis is absolutelyantithetical to Islam. There is a nearconsensus among leading theologiansand historians the world over thatreligion’s origin lies in humanity . True tothis spirit and like Hinduism, Judaism,Buddhism, Christianity, Sikhism and

several other religions, Islam, too, haspropagated the values of liberalism,equality and justice . Islam—like Judaismand Christianity— is an Abrahamicreligion. The Quran shares with theHebrew scripture, the Torah and theBible a lot of histories, prophets, storiesand teachings. Islam shares a lot evenwith the Vedas. Ultimately, bothprescribe worshipping the One SupremeLord. Both systems recommend fightingfor dharma or justice -- without any

of additional similar regimes in the region.These regimes are preaching and

practising the doctrine of Wahabism.Their ideology rejects any progress afterthe third Islamic century. It declares allnon-Muslims kafirs and non-WahabismMuslims, such as Shias, Sufis andAhmadiyas apostates. The WahhabiImams urge the faithful to utter prayersagainst the Kafirs—Jews, Christians,Hindus and other non-Muslims.Wahhabism has no respect for women’s

rights and liberties too. The Kingdom of

Saudi Arabia is said tobe exportingWahhabism spendingbillions of dollars inpatronising mosques,madrassas, journalsand cleric trainingprogrammes for thepurpose. Togetherwith Abu Dhabi,Riyadh pumps intocertain Ahle Hadithand Deobandimadrasas an estimated$ 100 million annuallyto spread Wahhabismthe world over. Currently, the rulers

of Qatar, anotherWestern ally, areallowing influentialSunni Muslim clericYusuf al-Qaradawi tospread hatred againstother faiths. In his

Itake a mental leave wheneverAmerican President Barack H.Obama, British Prime MinisterDavid Cameron and some other

Western rulers claim they are respectfulto Islam and opposed only to extremistelements such as al-Qaeda and theTaliban within the Muslim community.Traditionally, they have all backed certainmonarchical regimes in the Middle East,the religious practices of which aresuspect. And currently, they are havingpolicies helpful to the establishment

Religion’s origin lies in humanity. Like Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity,Sikhism and several other religions , Islam has propagated the values of liberalism,equality and justice . If Western rulers are respectful to Islam , they must prevailover their allies in the Middle East to honour its spirit , asserts Jagdish N Singh

Do Western rulersrespect Islam ?

POLITICS Of ReLIgIOn July 2013 Power Politics

PAGE-49

A Wahabi mosque

British historian RobertLacey : It's (Wahhabism)

the founding article of faithfor . . . the state. To suggestotherwise is to question

the roots of Saudilegitimacy. It's akin tosaying that the PilgrimFathers were atheists.

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ulterior motives and violence to the non-combatants and civilians, especiallywomen and children -- and that, too, onlywhen there is no alternative to war.The consensus goes that Islam is a

message of compassion, brotherhoodand social justice. A duty of Muslims is toconvey this to co-religionists as well asnon-Muslims around. Another is torespect others’ choice of religion or faith

and continue to work with and for themin the field of human rights, known inIslamic terms as “insanon ke huquooq”or “huqooq-ul-ibad. ” Sura Al-Kafirunmentions: Lakum dinokum waley yadeen(You follow your religion; let them followtheirs). Muslims should engagethemselves in a constant inner-struggle ( jehade akbar ) against the vices withinand finally submit themselves to god. Pertinently, an eminent Islamic

scholar stresses that the ideology ofviolence articulated by various self-styledradical Islamists and terrorist groups is acrass misinterpretation of the Quran.Islam does not prescribe killingChristians, Jews, Hindus, and others.There is a need for a contextual revision

follow it. It is no longer forbidden forMuslims to communicate their faith tonon-Muslim rulers or non-Muslims in

general . In the changed modern worldany proxy war and communal conflict inthe name of jihad is simply notpermissible . Muslim citizens andresidents of non-Muslim states have newduties and responsibilities . Jehad cannotbe declared against a non-Muslimgovernment that does not in any wayoppress Muslims, nor can such agovernment be told either to acceptIslam or else hand over power toMuslims. If indeed the Western rulers

are respectful to Islam, they must usetheir influence with their allies in the Middle Eastern region todiscard their obscurantist version of thereligion and embrace instead a path ofmulti-faceted development for humanity. Fortunately, all democracies in the world are blessedwith liberal, freedom-loving trueMuslims working constantly for peace,harmony and development. The Western ruling elites could contact and work together with such elements tospread the quintessential Islamicmessage of peace, equality and freedom .Also, the Western rulers must back allthose progressive, secular forcescurrently protesting against the Wahhabiagenda the world over.

of certain rules contained in the medievalMuslim jurisprudence (fiqh). In themedieval times all states were identified

with one or the other religion. It wassimply inconceivable that any non-Muslim government would allowMuslims to invite its subjects to God’spath. As such it was never even discussedthen as to how Muslims should relate to anon-Muslim state that explicitly allowedIslam to be practised, preached andpropagated in its territory.The situation today, the scholar says,

is far different. A non- Muslim state notonly allows practising Islam but alsoallows its subjects to accept Islam and

PAGE-50

POLITICS Of ReLIgIOn July 2013 Power Politics

British Prime Minister David Cameron with King Abdullah

American President Barack Obama greeting King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.

Wahhabi radicals aredetermined to destroy agentler, kinder Islam ---The Guardian, London,

March 8, 2009.

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