Muslim scholars ask for peace

During all the so-called Danish cartoon riots that fomented violence and fostered hatred, some of us at least in the ‘alternative media’ were asking where were the voices of outrage among Muslim scholars and clerics, and where are the voices of moderation and reason in the ongoing worldwide tension over extremism that distorts religion?

Here are the voices of reason, and they are speaking up together and calling for peace. 

More than 130 Muslim scholars called on Thursday for peace and understanding between Islam and Christianity, saying “the very survival of the world itself is perhaps at stake”.

In a letter to Pope Benedict and other Christian leaders, Muslim scholars from around the world said finding common ground between the world’s biggest religions was not simply a matter for polite dialogue between religious leaders.

“If Muslims and Christians are not at peace, the world cannot be at peace. With the terrible weaponry of the modern world; with Muslims and Christians intertwined everywhere as never before, no side can unilaterally win a conflict between more than half of the world’s inhabitants,” the scholars wrote.

“Our common future is at stake. The very survival of the world itself is perhaps at stake,” they wrote.

Relations between Muslims and Christians have been under strain as al Qaeda has struck around the world and the United States and other Western countries have intervened in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Using quotations from the Bible and the Koran to support their message, the scholars told people who relished conflict and destruction that “our very eternal souls are … at stake if we fail to sincerely make every effort to make peace and come together in harmony”.

“So let our differences not cause hatred and strife between us. Let us vie with each other only in righteousness and good works.

“Let us respect each other, be fair, just and kind to (one) another and live in sincere peace, harmony and mutual goodwill,” the scholars wrote.

You may wonder how representative they are of the Muslim population. Good question.

Aref Ali Nayed, one of the signatories and a senior adviser to the Cambridge Interfaith Program at Cambridge University in Britain, said the signatories represented the “99.9 percent of Muslims” who follow mainstream schools and oppose extremism.

“In Islam we have had a problem for some time now where the mainstream voices are drowned out by a minority that choose violence,” he said.

It doesn’t seem that many mainstream voices spoke up until lately. But the louder ones certainly did get the attention.

This is a good effort.

The new letter argues in theological terms, giving quotes from the Koran and the Bible that show both Christianity and Islam considered love of God as their greatest commandment and love of neighbor as the second greatest.

“The basis for this peace and understanding already exists,” it said. “It is part of the very foundational principles of both faiths: love of the one God and love of the neighbor.”

It has gravity. Now it needs propulsion.