Muslim leaders need to put the lot of religious minorities high on the agenda before it’s too late

Last updated on: May 7, 2013 at 6:34 pm by Svend White

Muslim leaders need to put the lot of religious minorities high on the agenda before it’s too late 2013-05-07T18:34:44-05:00 Svend White

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The rapid decline in the security of Christian communities in the Middle East in recent years pains and alarms me beyond measure. For just one example–and from what I understand yet worse trends are being seen in Iraq–consider this heart-breaking depressing statistic about Egypt (“After Egypt’s Revolution, Christians Are Living in Fear” – NYTimes.com):

COPTS represent approximately 10 percent of Egypt’s population and are the direct descendants of the ancient Egyptians. Yet, sensing danger while everyone else in Egypt and in the West was busy celebrating the fall of Mr. Mubarak during the much-heralded Arab Spring, 93,000 Copts have already fled Egypt since March. In light of the events in Maspero, it is thought that another 150,000 Copts may leave their ancestral homeland by the end of 2011.

Emphasis added. I doubt that most influential Islamic religious leaders in the region approve of the persecution that is driving Christians to emigrate, but perhaps feel that they have “bigger fish to fry” and therefore table this important discussion.

Yet, if Pakistan’s steady slide in sectarianism and instability since Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto established in the mid-1970s the now time-honored Pakistani tradition of relentlessly chipping away at religious minorities’ rights and dignity in order to gain short-term support–The word “hudna” seems very apt–from hardline Islamists is any indication, I doubt those leaders could be more wrong.

As this fine piece by Abdul Malik Mujahid ably illustrates, the Quran’s message regarding diversity is–in utter contrast to the hateful rhetoric of known-nothings, whether among the Islamophobe peanut gallery or knuckle-dragging Muslim fundamentalists–strikingly embracing of pluralism. Religious diversity is repeatedly discussed in an explicitly approving manner in the Quran, and one verse even makes it clear that enduring religious differences are part of the divine plan:

Unto thee have We revealed the Scripture with the truth, confirming whatever Scripture was before it, and a watcher over it. So judge between them by that which Allah hath revealed, and follow not their desires away from the truth which hath come unto thee. For each We have appointed a divine law and a traced-out way. Had Allah willed He could have made you one community. But that He may try you by that which He hath given you (He hath made you as ye are). So vie one with another in good works. Unto Allah ye will all return, and He will then inform you of that wherein ye differ.(5:48)

Emphasis added. (And, yes, I like my scripture rendered KJV-style!)

Furthermore, elsewhere non-Muslim houses of worship are declared protected territories because they are places where, as in the case of mosques “Allah’s name is remembered.” In fact, they are explicitly placed under the same rubric as mosques.

Those who have been driven from their homes unjustly only because they said: Our Lord is Allah – For had it not been for Allah’s repelling some men by means of others, cloisters and churches and oratories and mosques, wherein the name of Allah is oft mentioned, would assuredly have been pulled down. Verily Allah helpeth one who helpeth Him. Lo! Allah is Strong, Almighty – (22:40)

Note as well how this verse makes it crystal clear that Muslims are required to militarily defend–i.e., declare jihad–all houses of worship. How much more clearly can it be said?

I wouldn’t want to be these people who “defend” Islam by laying siege to churches on the Day of Judgment.

Something beautiful is being lost before our eyes today. Not unlike the cause of Desegregation and Civil Rights in America a generation ago, defending non-Muslim minorities isn’t just the right thing to do–I’m convinced it’s critical to the successful transition of these societies to democracy and rule of law.

I pray that mainstream leaders put this at the top of the agend before Christians become an exotic bird in the Middle East and everyone is the worse for it.

Legos

Previous Post

November 18, 2011

Why Occupy Wall Street deserves respect, even from conservatives

Next Post

December 5, 2011 On the likelihood of mistaking a pile of kale for a chicken sandwich

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category American Politics Animals in Islam Anti-Semitism Christian Jihadism Christianity Culture & the Arts Current Affairs Denmark Dogs in Islam Family life Film Gender Great MP3s Hate in America Imam W.D. Mohammed Interfaith Dialogue International Affairs Islam and the Left Islamic Thought Islamophobia Jihad Judaism Legos Link of the Day Marriage Misc Modernity/Post-Modernity Mormonism Multiculturalism Music Muslims in the Melting Pot Must-Listen Podcasts Non-Muslims and Islam Pakistan Pictures Pigs in Islam Polygamy Pork Progressive Muslims Race Relations Really Important Stuff Religion Required Reading Robert Spencer Scandinavia Science Science Fiction Sex in Islam So-called Globalization South Asia Star Trek Strange but True Studying Arabic Stupid Muslim Tricks Sufism/Tasawwuf Television The "Miami 7" hoopla The Corporate Media The Danish cartoons The GWOT The Jihad against Islam The Middle East Vikings! Wahhabism/Salafism Washington and the Middle East Web/Tech Women in Islam

Select a Month March 2014 February 2014 November 2013 September 2013 July 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 September 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the first Christian martyr?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Peter Stephen Paul James