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Islam, Modernity and Reform

By Dr. Ali Gomaa

Grand Mufti of Egypt

America and the West have been victims of violent extremists in the name of Islam. Sometimes it seems that western officials are consumed by the question "where are the moderates?"

Are there progressive and peaceful partners in the Muslim world?

Yes! Reconciling Islam with modernity has been an imperative for Muslims centuries before it became a preoccupation for the West. Islam's reform movement began at Cairo based Al Azhar in the 19th century.

I preside over Egypt's supreme body for Islamic legal edicts (fatwas). We have affirmed the right of women to dignity, education, employment, to hold political office, and condemned violence against them. We have upheld the right of freedom of conscience; promoted the common ground that exists between Islam, Christianity and Judaism.

The murder of civilians is a crime against humanity and God; punishable in this life and the next. This is the message we proclaim in public debates to challenge extremists and in our theological training of students from across the world.

While we recommit to reinforcing moderation in our faith; we also look to the United States to confront the fear that pervades the public discourse about Islam.

While some of the divide between Islam and the West resides in the realm of ideas, it lies mostly in the realm of politics for Muslim countries have also suffered from aggression. Israel's occupation of Palestine must end. In Iraq and Afghanistan, sovereignty must be restored with the withdrawal of foreign forces.

President Obama's historic address to the Muslim World from Cairo was a landmark event that opens the door to a new relationship. We in the Muslim world received it with enthusiasm. Let us look forward to years in which our children can celebrate our differences.

Dr. Ali Gomaa is Grand Mufti of Egypt.

By Ali Gomaa | October 7, 2009; 9:51 AM ET

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CommentsPlease report offensive comments below.

Ummmm.

CLANDESTINE... & RCUBEDK...;

As trajecic as it is; great sence of HUMOUR, YO ALL!

"Take Care Be Ready"

-- By: T.P.M. the BAUM.

Posted by: cyber-man | October 8, 2009 1:42 PM

Converts from Islam to Christianity face grave human rights abuses ranging from illegal and indefinite detention without official charge, physical mistreatment and intimidation by security forces, to violence from religious extremists and their communities.

please read the judge reasoning in refusing a convert from Islam to Christianity "Mohamed Ahmed Higazy" On 29 January 2008, Judge Mohammed al-Husseini ruled against Mr Hegazy. The ruling was based on Article 2 of the Egyptian Constitution, and argued that since Islam was the last of the three “heavenly religions”, to be a Muslim was to “practice freedom of religion”, and that therefore leaving Islam was not possible. Mr Hegazy’s case is dealt with in detail in section 4.3 of this report.

http://www.unitedcopts.org/images/stories/PDF%202/Egypt-ReligiousFreedomProfileSeptember2009.pdf

Posted by: ibrahimhab | October 8, 2009 12:42 PM

Mr Gomaa seems to keep changing his mind. After he agreed on Freedom of Religion last time he was in USA 2007, he objected to any one leaving Islam "with subsequent beheading as punishment"

please open the Gulf News web link below:

http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/07/25/10141696.html

Concerning "freedom of conscience".

Freedom of conscience should mean that a person should be able to follow their conscience insofar as it doesn't interfere with another's freedom of conscience.

Take care, be ready.

Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.

Posted by: ThomasBaum | October 8, 2009 12:12 PM

As for Jews in Egypt, there are so few these days to *promote* any *common ground* with. Where did they all go? And why?

Have you heard of lip service?..."

Posted by: onofrio

*********************************************************************************8

The answer: They went to Israel. They were not only encouraged by the Israelis to go there but were also rewarded financially by giving the immigrants lands, homes, settlements etc stolen from the Palestinians.

What is the purpopse for the "HOMELAND FOR THE JEWS"?

Posted by: zebra4 | October 8, 2009 10:07 AM

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The Grand Mufti wrote:

"We have upheld the right of freedom of conscience; promoted the common ground that exists between Islam, Christianity and Judaism."

I wonder what a Copt might have to say about that. Do you, sir, support the right of a Muslim to follow his/her conscience and convert to Christianity if he/she wants to? Is this entirely OK with you, and with the law of the land? That's what freedom of conscience actually entails.

As for Jews in Egypt, there are so few these days to *promote* any *common ground* with. Where did they all go? And why?

Have you heard of lip service?

Posted by: onofrio | October 8, 2009 1:47 AM

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Hmmm, how to reform/modernize Islam???

Again, this is very easy and inexpensive. Simply promulgate the following to the Muslim world:

Using "The 77 Branches of Islamic "faith" a collection compiled by Imam Bayhaqi as a starting point. In it, he explains the essential virtues that reflect true "faith" (iman) through related Qur’anic verses and Prophetic sayings." i.e. a nice summary of the Koran and Islamic beliefs.

"1. Belief in Allah"

aka as God, Yahweh, Zeus, Jehovah, Mother Nature, etc." should be added to your cleansing neurons.

"2. To believe that everything other than Allah was non-existent. Thereafter, Allah Most High created these things and subsequently they came into existence."

Evolution and the Big Bang or the "Gib Gnab" (when the universe starts to recycle) are more plausible and the "akas" for Allah should be included if you continue to be a "creationist".

"3. To believe in the existence of angels."

A major item for neuron cleansing. Angels/devils are the mythical creations of ancient civilizations, e.g. Hittites, to explain/define natural events, contacts with their gods, big birds, sudden winds, protectors during the dark nights, etc. No "pretty/ugly wingy thingies" ever visited or talked to Mohammed, Jesus, Mary or Joseph or Joe Smith. Today we would classify angels as fairies and "tinker bells". Modern devils are classified as the demons of the demented.

"4. To believe that all the heavenly books that were sent to the different prophets are true. However, apart from the Quran, all other books are not valid anymore."

Another major item to delete. There are no books written in the spirit state of Heaven (if there is one) just as there are no angels/"pwtfft"s to write/publish/distribute them. The Koran, OT, NT etc. are simply books written by humans for humans.

Prophets were invented by ancient scribes typically to keep the uneducated masses in line. Today we call them fortune tellers.

Prophecies are also invalidated by the natural/God/Allah gifts of Free Will and Future.

"5. To believe that all the prophets are true. However, we are commanded to follow the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) alone."

Mohammed spent thirty days fasting in a hot cave before his first contact with Allah aka God etc. via a "pretty wingy thingy". Common sense demands a neuron deletion of #5. #5 is also the major source of Islamic violence i.e. turning Mohammed's "fast, hunger-driven" hallucinations into horrible reality for unbelievers.

Accept these five "cleansers" and we guarantee a complete recovery from your Islamic ways!!!!

Posted by: ccnl1 | October 7, 2009 11:58 PM

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Ali Gomaa has called for the "slaying" of Egyptian writer Dr. Sayed Mahmoud El Qemany

--- "Sheikh Ali Gomaa, the former Chairman of the 'State Religious Affairs Advisory Board', issued a statement declaring my infidelity and calling for slaying me for 'insulting the Prophet of Islam, the God of Islam' on July 24, 2009"

http://hegabs-nekabs.blogspot.com/2009/07/blog-post_26.html

Posted by: jeff-in-dc | October 7, 2009 6:06 PM

----------------------

My God, jeff-in-dc, this appears to be true. Below is a link to a Frontpage article and Youtube. But how could OnFaith not have looked into Gomaa?

http://97.74.65.51/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=35777

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Svne7Kh-Wa8

Posted by: Farnaz1Mansouri1 | October 7, 2009 9:49 PM

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"See you and the rest of humanity in the Kingdom.

Take care, be ready."

Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.

Uh, I hate to tell you Tom, but Hale-Bopp left years ago.

Posted by: rcubedkc | October 7, 2009 8:21 PM

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editor4tonio

You wrote, "1-Islam is the only religion in the world,other than Christianity,that revere Christ and Virgin Mary.In fact,Muslims believe that Christ is the Savior."

In Christianity, Jesus, Whom you referred to as Christ, is believed to be God-Incarnate, in that God became One of Us.

In islam, Jesus is just another "messenger" sent by God and the god of islam get mighty upset if anyone says that Jesus Is God, is this true or not?

In Christianity, God, Who is One and a Trinity, is referred to as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

In islam, god is one and gets downright nasty if anyone refers to God as a Trinity, is this true or not?

The God of Judaism and the God of Christianity are One and the Same, whereas the god of islam is the liar and thief that Jesus spoke of.

The Old Testament flows into the New Testament whereas the koran seems to claim what it wants out of the Old and New Testaments and calls some of the core teachings, out and out lies, such as the formation of the Jews and the fact that Jesus is True Man and True God.

There are many Muslims that, even tho they do not believe that Jesus Is Who He Is, follow Jesus better than some that believe that Jesus Is Who He Is.

As I have said many times, the True, Living, Triune, Triumphant God is a searcher of hearts and minds, not of religious affiliations or lack thereof and It is important what one does and why one does it and what one knows.

God does not look at the "label" that people apply to themselves, God looks at the person.

God has a Plan and God's Plan is for ALL, ultimately, to be in God's Kingdom, the new heavens and the new earth and God's Plan which is unfolding before our very eyes WILL come to Fruition.

The sword that Jesus spoke of was the Sword of Truth, He even rebuked those that wielded the sword of man to bring about the Kingdom.

See you and the rest of humanity in the Kingdom.

Take care, be ready.

Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.

Posted by: ThomasBaum | October 7, 2009 7:04 PM

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Ali Gomaa has called for the "slaying" of Egyptian writer Dr. Sayed Mahmoud El Qemany

http://hegabs-nekabs.blogspot.com/2009/07/blog-post_26.html

Posted by: jeff-in-dc | October 7, 2009 6:06 PM

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CLANDESTINEBLAZE said: "So you advocate killing off all Muslims because you're not comfortable with their existence?

Well, no, I didn't. I guess you can't read very well.

You must be a muzlum along with being in idiot.

Try having someone read it to you. Moron.

Posted by: rcubedkc | October 7, 2009 5:31 PM

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Oh, and another thing. Egypt could consider whether it is just to imprison gays.

Posted by: Farnaz1Mansouri1 | October 7, 2009 4:15 PM

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The just return of the now three million MIddle Eastern Jews to their homelands, the just ending of persecution of the few thousand remaining, the just restitution of property, land, etc., to said Jews, the just renunciation of defamation, the just ending of persecution of those Jews remaining would be a good start for the Middle East, justice wise.

Ending the hideous harrassment of Christians in Egypt, explaining why there are now four Jews left, how the pig Mubarak keeps stealing money from the US which he pockets, would help to improve relations with Egypt.

Stopping aid to terrorists would help. Allowing Palestinian Egyptians to get an education would help. Egypt could do all of this, of course.

Meanwhile, Mubarak's son is being groomed to succeed his father. Will that end female genital mutilation? Selling children for prostitution? Camel racing.

Justice. Star there.

Posted by: Farnaz1Mansouri1 | October 7, 2009 4:14 PM

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Like every other religion in the world,there are Muslim terrorists.Fortunately,however,they-the terrorists-constitute a small fraction out of the 1.5 billion muslims worldwide.Also some of the Islamic teachings are considered offensive to non-muslims and need to be reexamined by Muslim scholars like Dr.Gomaa.But there are other facts which should contribute to a better relations between the West,led by the U.S.,and the Islamic world :

1-Islam is the only religion in the world,other than Christianity,that revere Christ and Virgin Mary.In fact,Muslims believe that Christ is the Savior.

2-While women have a long way to go,Muslims elected women as their Presidents or Prime Ministers long before Western countries did-Indonesia,Bangladish,Pakistan and Turkey.

3-The closest Western allies in the world are many Muslim countries-from Indonesia in the East to Morocco in the West.

4-The largest Western military bases,led by the U.S.,are found in Muslim countries,including in the holiest Islamic country,Saudi Arabia.

5-There are more Americans and other Westerners who live and work in the Muslim countries than any where else in the world.

6-There are more Muslim students studying in the West than in any other part of the world.

7-The trade between the West and the Muslim world is in the 100s of billions of dollars.

And the list goes on.

The above facts make it clear,to me at least, that,based on the religions of both the West(Christianity) and the Muslims(Islam),strategic interests,economic interests...etc,the West and the Muslim world should be natural allies and partners !The creation of Israel in Palestine,part of the Islamic world for 14 centuries,is a "thorn" in the "natural partnership" between the West and the Muslims.The just Palestinian cause is used by the terrorists to recruit more extremists against the West.Resolving justly the Israeli/Palestinian problem is likely to help in defeating the terrorists.

Posted by: editor4tonio | October 7, 2009 4:05 PM

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The rules of the WashingtonPost state the following:

You agree not to submit inappropriate content. Inappropriate content includes any content that:

is libelous or defamatory

contains or advocates illegal or violent acts

degrades others on the basis of gender, race, class, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual preference, disability, or other classification

is predatory, hateful, or intended to intimidate or harass

...

In light of the rules, could anyone tell me why the posts advocating the murder and ethnic cleansing of Muslims are tolerated. Is it possible that they are tolerated because it is directed against Muslims? Would they be tolerated if the writers were advocating the mass killing of Jews, for example. I doubt it

Posted by: aamer1 | October 7, 2009 3:40 PM

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Of course, Islam and the West can co-exist.

Whether Radical Islam can exist with the West is another question. But one might wonder whether Radical Republicans, or Radical Democrats can co-exist within a democratic republic, as well.

It's the extremism which poses the problem, not a particular religion or party affiliation.

Posted by: secretscribe | October 7, 2009 3:29 PM

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Do you agree with the "Fatwa" on Salman Rushdie, Dr. Ali Gomaa?

Posted by: rexreddy | October 7, 2009 3:16 PM

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MarkinIrvine: "Religious faith and spirituality are wonderful, necessary for a healthy life."

Says who. I have religious lunatics living near me. One has built a compound around his property out of logs and barbed wire that would keep King Kong out. His wife is a teacher and he opens the locked gate, lets her out and closes and relocks the gate until she comes home, then repeats the process.

All religions are based on lies, ignorance, superstition, and fear. The major difference between the muzlum co-called religion and the others is the others don't demand it's followers to slaughter all those that don't believe.

The world will be a far better place when all religions and belief in the imaginary god in the sky, are thrown on the ash heap of history and eventually forgotten.

Posted by: rcubedkc | October 7, 2009 3:01 PM

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"While some of the divide between Islam and the West resides in the realm of ideas, it lies mostly in the realm of politics for Muslim countries have also suffered from aggression. Israel's occupation of Palestine must end. In Iraq and Afghanistan, sovereignty must be restored with the withdrawal of foreign forces."

Well, the Imam writes that he is a voice for Islamic moderation. However, he writes the same distortions of history and politics that fuel jihadism. He perpetuates the idea that the problems in the Islamic world are due to the West's aggression against Muslim lands. Where is his acknowledgment that the plight of the Palestinians is as much due to the actions of the Arab nations as Israel? Where is his acknowledgment that the US is in Afghanistan, because of Islamist attacks on the US deriving from radical Islam in Afghanistan? Where is his acknowledgment that the US is withdrawing from Iraq? In fact, beyond general moral platitudes against suicide and poorly supported evidence of Islam's support for human rights in Egypt, where is his moderation?

Posted by: captn_ahab | October 7, 2009 2:53 PM

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If you believe that you have affirmed the rights of women in Egypt and presided over their well being and promoted common ground between Islam, Christianity and Judaism, then you're delusional.

Posted by: shewholives | October 7, 2009 2:53 PM

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"As I've said all along. The muzlum so called religion is in fact a terrorist organization and all it's followers are either terrorists, terrorists in training or future terrorists.

I don't give a damn what the muzlums do in their own cesspools called countries but I'd damn sure keep ALL of them out of the United States.

The muzlum so called religion cannot be reformed to fit into modern, open societies. It needs to be eliminated forever.

Posted by: rcubedkc | October 7, 2009 2:38 PM"

===========================

So you advocate killing off all Muslims because you're not comfortable with their existence? You and Hitler would have made great buddies. He had the same mindset as you.

There are billions of Muslims living peacefully on this planet, and you choose collective punishment as a means to deal with a minor, small subset that uses violence as their means?

You're a sick individual and no better than those terrorists you claim to be against. Reread your own post - you are now in their league.

Posted by: ClandestineBlaze | October 7, 2009 2:43 PM

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As I've said all along. The muzlum so called religion is in fact a terrorist organization and all it's followers are either terrorists, terrorists in training or future terrorists.

I don't give a damn what the muzlums do in their own cesspools called countries but I'd damn sure keep ALL of them out of the United States.

The muzlum so called religion cannot be reformed to fit into modern, open societies. It needs to be eliminated forever.

Posted by: rcubedkc | October 7, 2009 2:38 PM

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Personnely I have no use for Muslams. In Conneticut a girl was stabbed to death because she was raped. That's sick. In New York a Muslam cut off his wifes head because she wanted a divorce. Now there's a girl here in Florida who became a Christian and now her father wants her back in Ohio so he can stab her to death. The whole muslam world is sick.They need to stay in the middle east where belong. If lived over in the middle east I would abide there laws and learn their language. If they want to live here they need to abide by our rules and regulations,and if they don't want to then send them home.

Posted by: bpkendziora | October 7, 2009 2:30 PM

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"Absolutely not. Time and time again, for hundreds of years, the muslim pigs have demonstrated a complete lack of tolerance and civility - the complete antithesis of Western Civilization. When the $h!t hits the fan, the west's atomic weapons followed by average people slitting the miserable throats of the survivors will wipe out these animals once and for all.

Posted by: adrienne_najjar | October 7, 2009 10:59 AM"

AND

"By the way, I will be at the head of the line with my razor sharp hunting knife, taking out the animals.

Posted by: adrienne_najjar | October 7, 2009 11:01 AM"

================================

You sound like a blood-thirsty, fundamentalist terrorist yourself. Please do us a favor and accidentally trip on your own knife, please? And make sure that you don't breed beforehand.

Posted by: ClandestineBlaze | October 7, 2009 2:28 PM

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The usual Muslim excuse. Israel made me do it! Stop blaming Israel for your miserable existence and grow up. Take some responsibility for the violence and intolerance your religion inflicts on the innocents around the globe.

Posted by: shewholives | October 7, 2009 2:17 PM

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@XANDERMAN....Ignorance is the problem.

Islam is the problem and it cannot reform.

Because no man can change God's words.

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 661:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet said, "The Israelis used to be ruled and guided by prophets: Whenever a prophet died, another would take over his place. There will be no prophet after me, but there will be Caliphs who will increase in number." The people asked, "O Allah's Apostle! What do you order us (to do)?" He said, "Obey the one who will be given the pledge of allegiance first. Fulfil their (i.e. the Caliphs) rights, for Allah will ask them about (any shortcoming) in ruling those Allah has put under their guardianship."

033.040

YUSUFALI: Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but (he is) the Messenger of Allah, and the Seal of the Prophets: and Allah has full knowledge of all things.

PICKTHAL: Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets; and Allah is ever Aware of all things.

SHAKIR: Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Last of the prophets; and Allah is cognizant of all things.

http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/quran/033.qmt.html#033.040

BTW, Turkey is heading in the wrong direction. "Moderate" Islam is not coming to the rescue.

Posted by: Christopher3 | October 7, 2009 2:10 PM

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For being such a supposedly learned man, Dr Ali Gomaa really ought to study his history more closely. Palestine is the modern word for Philistine. Philistia existed in the land that is now called the Gaza strip. It was not, and is NOT, the lands of the nation of Israel, nor the West Bank, nor any parts of Jordan.

Last I looked, Gaza was given back to the Palestinians and Israel would be perfectly happy to leave it that way if they would only stop launching attacks on Israel from it.

Posted by: mhoust | October 7, 2009 2:04 PM

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You cannot get away from the fact that non-Muslims in Islamic lands are either killed, persecuted, terribly discriminated against, or in the case of some countries not permitted at all. The ancient civilizations of Egypt and Persia, once Islamic rule came, have degenerated into backward areas of the world. The same is true of the SE Asian civilizations which, like Malaysia and Indonesia, have been islamicized. V.S. Naipaul has two book on what he calls "The Believers" in which he shows how devastating Islam has been for these old cultures. Islam is fine for the primitive Arabs but it should not be permitted to have spread. It must be resisted and pushed back to the deepest deserts.

Posted by: ravitchn | October 7, 2009 1:48 PM

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On 9/11, I saw "moderate Muslims" high-fiving each other and celebrating where I worked (they were extremely stupid and lost their jobs when I called the FBI because of Federal contracts involved). Like Texas Baptist "Christians" who do not denounce Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church, Muslims who pretend to be moderate without denouncing their murderous terrorists, are hypocritical religious/political cretins.

Posted by: coloradodog | October 7, 2009 1:41 PM

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If non-Muslims understood sharia http://www.twf.org/Library/Sharia.html they might even support it. As for reform, Muslim leaders need to stand up for justice everywhere. Unfortunately, all too often, they do not - for example, uncritically accepting the official account of 9/11 http://www.twf.org/911.html

Posted by: twforg | October 7, 2009 1:41 PM

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Interesting to see such strong reaction to the commentors thoughts.

Now put into context where our Presidents allegiance lies and ask where we are heading as a nation.

Posted by: davemichelle07 | October 7, 2009 1:25 PM

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It's not out of the question that more of the Muslim world will eventually become like Turkey.

Everybody is looking at how bad things are done in the name of Islam without a historical context. If you went back 150 years, you could say Christianity was a bloodthirsty, violent religion incompatible with civilized behavior -- killing off Native Americans and Aborigines and stealing their land in the name of Christianity, enslaving Africans in the name of Christianity, colonizing the world in the name of Christianity.

But the West did change and evolve. I bet the White Christian civilization in 1920 could have never conceived of a Black man becoming President of the U.S., and in fact would have considered it a crime against the natural God-given order. If I were a betting man at that time, I'd have said there was no way "Christians" would ever truly honor human rights in that respect.

Islam is not the problem. The problem is extremists, including shallow thinking, so called "Christians" who don't actually understand Jesus' message of love and inclusion.

Posted by: xandersun | October 7, 2009 1:21 PM

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Dr. Ali Gomaa asks and answers the question:

"Are there progressive and peaceful partners in the Muslim world?

Yes! Reconciling Islam with modernity has

been an imperative for Muslims centuries before it became a preoccupation for the West. Islam's reform movement began at Cairo based Al Azhar in the 19th century."

Sorry Doctor, there is little to no evidence of such an "imperative" in the social, political and cultural sense which is the root of Islamic violence against the West.

And the West has not so much been preoccupied with the lack of "modernity" of Muslim nations. It is preoccupied with the violent attempts to drag the rest of the world backward in time to an unachievable, world-wide caliphate.

I might suggest you get more abundant and more effective leaders in the Islamic world to bring its members into the twenty first century.

Posted by: spamsux1 | October 7, 2009 1:05 PM

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If Muslims didn't have Israel they'd have to invent it. How else to divert attn from their pathological culture and religion? Muslims don't need Israel, they need a huge mirror in which to take a full steady gaze.

Posted by: rhodo | October 7, 2009 1:05 PM

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This coming from the same country where Christian Copts are systematically persecuted. This from a country where other faiths are essentially forbidden from building houses of worship or even repairing old ones, thanks to the Pact of Omar. Let's talk about al Azhar and its afiirmation of the validity of the book the Reliance of the Traveller and see what it says about shariah. If you believe in Islam, fine, but be honest about what the ideology holds. If you believe that gender roles and responsibilities should be defined in such a way as to relegate women to a subservient status, so be it. Perhaps you are right and we progressive and modern democrats who think such ideas are preposterous and harmful are wrong. I am more than happy to hash it out in conversation and argument. But, you have to be honest about what your belief system says. I am just sick and tired of Muslim apologists talking about how everyone in the West doesn't understand Islam and that is why we fear it. Actually, I used to not fear Islam and that was when I didn't know anything about it. After reading the Quran, the Hadith, the biography of Muhammed (written by Muslims!) I realized that, as a non-believer, my freedom of belief and my very life are imperiled by the spread of Islam. All non-Muslims should read the Quran and realize just how little we and our lives are valued by those who have submitted to the will of Allah.

Posted by: rentianxiang | October 7, 2009 1:01 PM

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Dr. Ali Gomaa says: "I preside over Egypt's supreme body for Islamic legal edicts (fatwas)."

Good. Now look in your list of fatwas and find the one from 1993 by Ibn Baz who issued a fatwa, or religious ruling, declaring, "The Earth is flat. Whoever claims it is round is an atheist deserving of punishment." Is it there?

In 2003 a high-level Saudi jurist, Shaykh Saleh Al-Fawzan, issued a fatwa claiming “Slavery is a part of Islam. Slavery is part of jihad, and jihad will remain as long there is Islam.” He attacked Muslim scholars who said otherwise maintaining, “They are ignorant, not scholars... They are merely writers. Whoever says such things is an infidel.” So if the Palestinians ever conquer Israel and kill all the men and boys, then all the Jewish girls and women can be taken as slaves by right of conquest. Is that still in your list of fatwas?

On September 20, 2008 Sheik Muhammad Al-Munajid claimed that mice are harmful vermin and that characters like Mickey Mouse and Jerry from Tom & Jerry are be blamed for making mice such loveable characters. He issued a fatwa against Mickey Mouse, which made international headline news and was the subject of much controversy and ridicule. Is this fatwa in your collection?

A new fatwa published in Egypt determines that the source of all the existing pigs in the world are the Jews, who were cursed by Allah. The new edict was issued by Sheikh Ali Osman from the Egyptian Waqf ministry. Is this in your database of fatwas?

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989 pronounced a death sentence fatwa on Salman Rushdie, the author of The Satanic Verses. Is this in your databse of fatwas?

And now you want us in the west to do what in order to be modern? Exactly what do we need to change in order to get reconciled with Islam?

Posted by: LeeH1 | October 7, 2009 12:59 PM

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Religious faith and spirituality are wonderful, necessary for a healthy life. But religion is the enemy of reality, the enemy of freedom for all people - religion oppresses too many (any is too many); it demonizes the "other"; it claims (through its all-too-human spokespersons - usually men) to have the monopoly on universal truth; it makes people crazy, it makes them believe that God supports their efforts to eradicate the infidel, to punish women for being the victims of rape (!!!!), to marginalize people with different ideas and beliefs and preferences, to restrict individual personal freedom. Human-kind is slowly coming to see the nefarious effects of religious dogma; this realization is coming none too soon.

Posted by: markinirvine | October 7, 2009 12:57 PM

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I suspect that while all three monotheistic religions are theoretically at war with modern life, Christianity and Judaism have within them a way of adjusting to change. I do not sense that Islam has this ability. It arose as a violent reaction against Hellenism in the Near East and it continues, sometimes passively sometimes actively, to pursue its war to the death with the unbelievers. It allows only acceptance of Muhammad or temporary toleration with disabilities for unbelievers. Ultimately it believes in conversion or death.

Posted by: ravitchn | October 7, 2009 12:54 PM

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If a moderate voice speaks, it is often attacked. In all cultures civility and reason have come to be seen as weakness, and weakness invites attack. It is an unfortunate truth. It is disturbing to read the comments in response to Dr. Gomaa's moderate statement. Egypt does have a long way to go in respect for human rights compared to the goals of western nations. But we also fall short of those goals. The Unites States was founded on slavery, ethnic cleansing, and the recognition of the rights of all men to liberty and respect. We've progressed a long way from that and currently emphasize the third example of our founding principles. Any step up is in the right direction and I thank Dr. Ali Gomaa for his sentiments, even though I know they are not shared by his government.

Posted by: Telemachus | October 7, 2009 12:46 PM

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No. Dr. Ali Gomaa is another sophist apologist for the Salafists who he knows only too well. There can only be war with the Salafists until they are completely annihilated.

Posted by: garrafa10 | October 7, 2009 12:43 PM

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Know your enemy! The fundamentalist sect that promotes killing of infidels are the followers of the Sunni cleric Wahhabi. They are centered in the Arabian Peninsula. The Saudi royal family are followers. Bin Laden is a true believer. He is Saudi, from a prominent family. Most of the Islamic world ignored these radicals, but their wealth has made them a force to be reckoned with. Where does the money and thus the power come from? US oil consumption, thats where!

Posted by: gss49 | October 7, 2009 12:33 PM

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Until the koran is changed, we cannot trust the followers of Islam!!!

Posted by: ccnl1 | October 7, 2009 12:31 PM

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test

Posted by: ccnl1 | October 7, 2009 12:29 PM

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What a surprise...yet another 'moderate' muslim blaming it all on Israel. Wake up everyone: even the 'moderate' muslims have not made it into this (or the preceding 5) centuries. Ask how many Jews there are in Arab/Persian countries, and how many arabs living (their life and religion) in Israel? There's your proof that 'moderate' Islam is a non entity.

Posted by: aquinas2 | October 7, 2009 12:26 PM

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"True Believers" usually feel compelled to convert non-believers--to save them. Our country was founded on religious principals, and that is why we have been so blessed. We will continue being blessed only as long as we remain true. Liberals are trying to undermine our faith with their constant harping on civil rights and a separation of church and state. Is this an Islamic message or a Christian message?

There are certain sects in both Islam and Christianity that can never be reconciled. They are in a minority. They can become powerful with the proper funds, so we should be vigilant and make sure that their power is minimized, and their message marginalized.

Posted by: gss49 | October 7, 2009 12:24 PM

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I would say no...a muslim move to the USA for who knows why...yet harbors these feelings of hate towards Americans...why is he here...and the more muslims that are here, sooner or later they will want to be governed by their laws, not ours...we are infidels and will always be infidels which means we are the enemy of islam...

Posted by: DwightCollins | October 7, 2009 12:23 PM

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One more thought....

Fundametalist leaders (Bin Laden) know that the west cannot be taken out miliarily. Those same leaders are smart and patient. They will wait us out and bleed us economically as we are seeing now. Spending out way into oblivion. Seeing as a military takeover is impossible, patiently and subversively infiltrate into our society peaceably and begin to change laws little by little over time. We havent been attacked in 8 yrs not necessarily because past administrations kept us safe, God Bless them anyway! But because the fundamentalists know that to begin car bombings and dirty bombs would be such bad PR and counter to what the mission is, that they will sit back and do it with our backs turned. The liberal track USA is taking will permit this to happen and then when these so called moderate muslims finally stand up it wont be in the name of coexistence it will be to convert.

Posted by: davemichelle07 | October 7, 2009 12:23 PM

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The problem is a a Islam/Christian problem. The actions spoken of by commentor are not unlike the acts of barbarism conducted by the Knights of the 1st Crusade. This clash is a Third world/Civilized world proble. In many of these countries up 90% of the population is poor, uneducated and often illiterate. This makes them very impresionable by extremists. Christianity has its fair share of extremist that would follow similar tactics as those described. The difference is that the Christian extremist tend to live in civilized countries like the United States where the average education levels make it difficult for extremist to assert influence.

Posted by: akmzrazor | October 7, 2009 12:21 PM

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Can extreme Christianity, Judaism, or Islam co-exist with the West? No!

Can Christianity, Judaism, or Islam co-exist with the West? Yes!

It is NOT a question of the religion. It's a question of how it is applied and interpreted. Turkey is a secular "Muslim" country just like France is a secular "Christian" one. Turkey is also one of Israel's most important allies in the Middle East. How come no one ever talks about the secularized, moderate Islam practiced by many Turks?

Granted, many Muslims in the world today do not live in a secularized, moderate, Islamic society. But that doesn't mean Islam itself can't be secularized, moderate and compatible with the West (or vice-versa).

Posted by: xandersun | October 7, 2009 12:17 PM

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In a word, NO

Posted by: rcubedkc | October 7, 2009 12:09 PM

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Nice try Dr. Gomaa.....it aint happening whether you would like it to or not. As long as the "moderates" stay silent and dont speak out against the fundamentalists we will never have peace between middle east and west.

Wake up America..."Sharia creep" is happening around the world as author Mark Steyn puts it. Prophetically, it has been predicted, whether we like it or not. At 47 I may not see Sharia law in the US but Europe will be an Islamic state within 20 yrs and once that happens the west will come under..if not sooner.

Posted by: davemichelle07 | October 7, 2009 12:08 PM

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Sorry in the Mufti's own country Egypt - and it could have been he - who declared in a fatwa

That building a church is a sin - like building a barn for dogs, cats and pigs.

Posted by: roxn | October 7, 2009 12:05 PM

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While we recommit to reinforcing moderation in our faith; we also look to the United States to confront the fear that pervades the public discourse about Islam.

Excuse me !!

We'll wait for the results thanks.

What Muslims usually mean by reform is that they will tone down their public rhetoric - so that Sharia law could more easily fit into a free and democratic society.

A western style Islam - that could easily jell with the western psyche - one that westerners would embrace when they cast off their inferior democracy and rule of law - for the Sharia or God's supreme law.

While they claim reform one quick look around the Islamic world and most everyone seems to be becoming more extreme.

Indonesia stoning & flogging Maldives floggings & non-Muslims denied citizenship

Malaysia canings

Egypt no one is free to leave Islam / Sharia over the constitution - Fatwa to build church a sin like building barn for dogs, cats and pigs.

Pakistan blasphemy charges for touching the Koran [as a non-Muslim], Christian man beaten to death for drinking from Muslim only cup at tea stall.

Syria only Muslims can marry outside of their group - everyone else must convert to Islam for the same privilege.

Morocco imprisoned for eating during Ramadan.

Perhaps the Mufti and other Muslims would prefer if we didn't mention these things and that we should take Islam on their word - no additional so-called hateful / Islamophobic scrutiny needed.

Posted by: roxn | October 7, 2009 11:54 AM

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Islam and the West can coexist when Islam gives up the idea of imposing Sharia upon all humanity and allows true freedom of religion to include allowing Musliims to convert to other faiths without fear of being murdered as apostates and that Christians can freely witness to Muslims about Christianity. It will also be necessary for Islam to totally abandon the concept of forcing conversions by force and imposing the Jizra or special tax upon non-Muslims for the "privilege" of retaining their own faith rather than converting to Islam. Muslims must not continue to consider uncovered women as "raw meat" ready to be raped and mutilated as well. A woman should be able to dress however she wants without fear of assault, no matter where she lives. Muslims need to learn to control their desires to "possess" a woman against her will. The vast majority of Christians seem to be able to without any problems....

Posted by: honorswar26 | October 7, 2009 11:51 AM

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Islam and West ofcourse, can coexist after the West is Islamized. This is what Islam as a religion of "peace" is all about :)-

Posted by: moorthy1 | October 7, 2009 11:38 AM

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In a fatwa that can be found on aligomaa.net and I assume issued by Mr Gomaa we are told that persons who "have defamed the Prophet of Islam in their published writings, described Islam as a false religion..." etc, that such a person is in violation of Egyptian penal code 98. What western country would send a man to prison (or worse) for having and writing about an unorthodox religion opinion

Posted by: garyhbrown | October 7, 2009 11:17 AM

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Yeah, what about those Coptic Christians, huh?

Posted by: Athena4 | October 7, 2009 11:13 AM

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Dr. Gomaa, as a Buddhist, could you please inform me when it is safe and legal to openly practice my religion as it is for you to practice yours in my country.

Thank you.

Posted by: edbyronadams | October 7, 2009 11:07 AM

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2009/10/islam_modernity_and_reform.html?hpid=talkbox1