DR. JAMAL BADAWI, a renowned Islamic scholar and President, Islamic information Foundation, Halifax, Canada, urged Muslims to respond decisively, wisely and effectively in the wake of the release of the film “Fitna” in Holland. In an exclusive interview with Saudi Gazette he said, “I think what happened as a result of the release of that film and other similar Islamophobic incidents is the result of longtime neglect of our duty as Muslims both in the West and other parts of the world.” He said, “Muslims should be humble all the time and be a hallmark of a true believer. It is important to provide the correct information about Islam and try to present its real image, not a false one. The promotion of the openness of Islam and its acceptance of diversity is an integral part of its morality which helps Muslims to deal with any adverse situation,” Dr. Badawi said. Dr. Badawi went on to say that the present adverse situation must be dealt with understanding, compassion and patience. This is the most effective strategy. Some people are driven by certain quarters against Muslims. There are non-Muslim with good heart, but they are so impressible that they accept whatever the media says about Islam and Muslims. “I believe we need to be always pro-active and try to explain our point of view. The problem is that whenever an Islamophobic problem arises we become active and rush to present our point of view. If this work is undertaken on a sustained and regular basis then the situation would be different,” he said. Speaking about the film “Fitna” which has caused a lot of controversy, Dr. Badawi stated that the title of the film“ Fitna” itself is self-explanatory. The term fitna here might mean an act of to confuse people. The term “Fitna” used in the Qur'an refers also to the people who dissuade others from the path of truth through blasphemy, acts of distortion and by spinning things out of context. The film is an act of destruction, so in a way, it is fitna,” he said. The Muslims, especially those who live in North America, are learning lessons from their past experiences. “In my humble opinion, the reaction in North America as well as that of the Muslims in the Netherlands and surrounding areas, was wise and not emotional, unlike the usual impulsive action. It cannot be denied that all Muslims feel an intense love for the Prophet (peace be upon him) and have a deep attachment to the Qur'an. The negative and shrill propaganda being carried out makes Muslims feel sad and disappointed at the attack on the basic symbols of Islam whether it is the Prophet (peace be upon him) or the Holy Qur'an. However it does not justify any form of emotional reaction,” he said. “I think the most productive way to channelize public reaction is to work for more interaction among people so that more information and literature is available to understand the real nature of Islam, rather than resorting to compulsive action,” he reiterated. On the problems facing the Islamic Dawah work, he said that sometimes he feels that it is not the work of real Dawah; it has become antithetical to Dawah because of the attitude adopted by some enthusiastic Muslims. “Sometimes people deal harshly with others, as some Muslims may misunderstand a certain text of the Qur'an and Hadith and may react totally opposite to what the Qur'an says. The Qur'an calls on Muslims to undertake Dawah work to other people in a gentle and wise manner. There are some people who think that it is wrong to have any positive feelings towards non-Muslims and their negative attitude and hatred toward a non-Muslim would bring them closer to Allah. The confusion that appears to me here is that the difference between hating the act of rejection of the faith by a person and hating the person who rejects faith gets blurred. Hating a man as a human being contradicts the guidance of the Qur'an because the Holy Qur'an allows a Muslim man to marry a non-Muslim woman from among the People of the Book. According to Surah Ar-Rum the institution of marriage stands on the pillars of peace, love and compassion and the Qur'an does not specify whether that treatment is reserved only for a Muslim wife or extends to a non-Muslim as well: it refers to any wife, whether Muslim or the one from among the People of the Book. Marital relationship is much more intimate than friendship. So how come one is required to love his wife according to Surah Ar-Rum, and hate his wife who is from among the People of the Book, because of some misunderstanding of a certain text of the Qur'an or Hadith. A second point is that the Qur'an does not really prohibit Muslims from taking Jews and Christians as friends. It asks them not to take them as their defenders and all the verses in the Qur'an forbid this kind of friendship. Actually it has good reasons as some among them may harbor enmity toward Muslims and as you find in Surah Al-Maidah that says “do not take those people as friends who mock and make fun, when you proclaim the call for prayers.” So those who are mocking at your religion how could they be taken as friends. Another thing that most people don't remember but tend to forget until you remind them is very simple, but so much widespread that people don't make the connection. Can anyone deny that Prophet (peace be upon him) loved his uncle Abu Talib dearly till his death. Did he love him because of his Kufr (unbelief) or did he love him as a person. Of course, the Prophet (peace be upon him) loved him as a person. Kufr is Haraam, but one may like the goodness of the Kafir as a person, who is not committing any aggression against you. Such an attitude of some Muslims may take people to the opposite of the Islamic Dawah, as in this way one might interact with people in a hostile manner and with an unsmiling face. So there are a lot of things in the Muslims' thought and behaviour which need to be corrected,” Dr. Badawi observed. __
