I congratulate President of Pakistan Gen. Pervez Musharraf, from the depths of my heart on saying such honest, sincere and truthful words, while addressing The American Jewish Congress. His address is a right and bold step, from a Muslim, to enhance the cause of peace and love and curb war and hatred. May God give courage to all the leaders of Muslim word to follow the footsteps of our President.
The President talked about 1) peaceful co-existence between different faiths; 2) common heritage between Abrahamic Religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam; 3) Judo-Islamic commonalities; 4) their companionship in Muslim history; 5) annulling of Jewish exile from Jerusalem by our Caliph Umar; 6) holiness of Jerusalem for Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and international character of Jerusalem; 7) Palestine problem and 8) issue of the terrorism menace. All that he talked about these was nothing except truth. Quran says:
O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do. (Al-Maeda: 8)
And President Musharraf complied with this commandment.
Unfortunately, in his marvellous address, there exists one point that needs elaboration. President Musharraf said:
First of all, I feel we need to clearly understand that terrorism and extremism are two different phenomena. Each requires a different strategy. Lumping terrorism and extremism together, or behaving as if they are synonymous, is a fallacy. Terrorism has to be met head on with all the force required to suppress and eradicate it. In the case of extremism, the battle has to be won in the hearts and minds of people. It cannot be achieved through the use of force.
Whenever President Musharraf talks about extremism, he fails to convey, what does he mean. If the President wants to curb extremism, he must clearly define it. I personally could never make my mind clear, that if a person,
§ Says five mandatory prayers and says optional prayers, like Tahajjud, etc also;
§ Keeps fasts in Ramadan and keeps voluntary fasts also;
§ Gives alms, performs Pilgrimage to Mecca;
§ Reads Quran and tries to understand and act upon it;
§ Covers her chest and head (if she is a woman);
§ Avoids unnecessary interaction with opposite sex;
§ Switches off his TV on listening such music which may effect his inner purity; and
§ Strives to convince others on his view points, with peaceful dialogue
then whether he is an extremist or not, according to the President. The President must clarify his idea of an EXTREMIST, if he wants to curtail such tendencies.
To read the complete text of his address, Please click here
The President talked about 1) peaceful co-existence between different faiths; 2) common heritage between Abrahamic Religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam; 3) Judo-Islamic commonalities; 4) their companionship in Muslim history; 5) annulling of Jewish exile from Jerusalem by our Caliph Umar; 6) holiness of Jerusalem for Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and international character of Jerusalem; 7) Palestine problem and 8) issue of the terrorism menace. All that he talked about these was nothing except truth. Quran says:
O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do. (Al-Maeda: 8)
And President Musharraf complied with this commandment.
Unfortunately, in his marvellous address, there exists one point that needs elaboration. President Musharraf said:
First of all, I feel we need to clearly understand that terrorism and extremism are two different phenomena. Each requires a different strategy. Lumping terrorism and extremism together, or behaving as if they are synonymous, is a fallacy. Terrorism has to be met head on with all the force required to suppress and eradicate it. In the case of extremism, the battle has to be won in the hearts and minds of people. It cannot be achieved through the use of force.
Whenever President Musharraf talks about extremism, he fails to convey, what does he mean. If the President wants to curb extremism, he must clearly define it. I personally could never make my mind clear, that if a person,
§ Says five mandatory prayers and says optional prayers, like Tahajjud, etc also;
§ Keeps fasts in Ramadan and keeps voluntary fasts also;
§ Gives alms, performs Pilgrimage to Mecca;
§ Reads Quran and tries to understand and act upon it;
§ Covers her chest and head (if she is a woman);
§ Avoids unnecessary interaction with opposite sex;
§ Switches off his TV on listening such music which may effect his inner purity; and
§ Strives to convince others on his view points, with peaceful dialogue
then whether he is an extremist or not, according to the President. The President must clarify his idea of an EXTREMIST, if he wants to curtail such tendencies.
To read the complete text of his address, Please click here
Monday September 19, 2005 - 12:37pm
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