Personally, I don’t believe in any religion. As far as I’m concerned they were all man-made creations during a time of ignorance and fear, which ironically enough is what they continue to perpetuate. I also certainly don’t believe in the contents of any of the so-called “holy books,” which are filled with fairy-tales and superstitious mumbo-jumbo that only someone with the mind of a child – or who has undergone religious indoctrination during youth (as most people have) can believe, claim to believe or much less accept as fact.
Therefore, needless to say, I don’t believe in Yahweh, God or Allah any more than I believe in Zeus, Aphrodite, Apollo, Zoroaster, Acan, Vishnu or any other of the hundreds if not thousands of gods that man has invented, along with their corresponding ideologies. A cursory internet search for gods will generate a list long enough to “fill” one’s computer monitor, and there is no reason to believe that any one of them is more real than the other.
However, having stated the above, I find it refreshing if not comforting that someone in the Muslim community has finally spoken out publicly against Islamic terrorism; I’ve been waiting almost 9 years for this. Hopefully this man is legitimate and can generate enough of a following to lay the foundation for peace among the Islamic youth. TGO
Refer to story below. Source: Associated Press
COVENTRY, England (AFP) – “Follow the Prophet Mohammed, don’t follow bin Laden!” That was the message from an anti-terrorism summer camp led by a top scholar which attracted hundreds of young Muslims this week.
Al-Hidayah (The Guidance) was led by Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, who earlier this year issued a fatwa, or religious ruling, against terrorism.
His message to the roughly 1,300 people attending the three-day event on a university campus in Coventry, was clear — terrorism is anti-Islamic.
And it was welcomed by members of the British Muslim community, which has been in the spotlight since the July 7, 2005 suicide attacks on London’s public transport system killed 52 innocent people, plus the four young British Muslim extremists who blew themselves up.
“The thing he said about terrorism is a big thing to say,” Anam Nazir, a young woman who attended the event, told AFP.
“I’m from Pakistan and I have never seen any scholar say things like that in the media because they’re too scared… he’s brave.”
The event, which ended Monday, cost some 200 pounds per person to attend, including accommodation.
On the agenda were lectures about issues faced by Muslims living in the West such as terrorism, suicide bombing and integration as well as music and sports, plus prayers in the room which is usually the students’ disco.
But for many attendees, one highlight was the opening speech by Tahir-ul-Qadri, the Canadian-based founder of moderate Islamic NGO Minhaj-ul-Quran International, during which he spoke out against Al-Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden.
Afterwards, Tahir-ul-Qadri said Islam states that followers can only voice disagreements with laws in a peaceful manner, and that it was a religion that preached integration.
According to Islamic law “these countries that protect your life and your wealth and your honour… are peaceful countries so you’re not allowed to become terrorists against these countries and these societies,” he said.
“This is the commandment of the Holy Prophet and Islam and Allah, to be integrated in the society where you’re living.”
The event was covered widely in the British media, much of which more usually depicts Islamic preachers as extremists like hook-handed Abu Hamza al-Masri rather than as moderates.
Hamza, the former imam of a London mosque, is serving a seven-year jail term for inciting followers to murder non-believers.
The European Court of Human Rights recently blocked his extradition to the United States, where he is facing terror charges.
Naseem, a young man attending the event who runs a hairdressing business, said the summer camp would help him to explain the true nature of Islam to the customers from all backgrounds who he serves.
“I believe (Tahir-ul-Qadri’s) challenge to radicalisation, terrorism is very good — terrorism is a danger towards mankind,” he told AFP.
“I run a barber shop, I get all sorts of people from different walks (of life), I can give the true view of what Islam says”.
MMMM, you will never understand why we muslim act the way we act until you look at the conflict between Israel and palestine ..
I am fully aware of the conflict between Israel and Palestine. I have not lived it personally, but have studied quite a bit about it and understand the history behind it. Nevertheless, this does not justify the killing of innocent people, people who have absolutely no quarrels with the Palestinians or Muslims in general.
Further, if you are honest with yourself and can be objective, you will have to admit that Muslims are not just enemies of the West (countries that have supported Israel). Muslims constantly kill one another – in Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, etc. This sect fighting that sect, Sunnis against Shiites against Kurds. Your women, children and the elderly are all victims of terrorism. Suicide bombers or bombs planted in marketplaces are almost a daily occurrence in the Muslim world; this is barbaric and needs to stop.
Please, stop giving excuses for your violence.