The motive behind the tragic shooting at a Sikh worship service in Wisconsin (USA) this week is yet unknown. Sikhs have frequently been victims of violence and bias in the mistaken belief that they are Muslims, although the two faiths have very different origins, beliefs, and practices. Learn more...
Only through education and mutual understanding can we combat the ignorance that leads to this type of senseless violence.
Thank you Huda, what you say is so true only education can dispel ignorance fear and senseless violence. Sikhs may not be Muslims, however we are brothers and sisters with all people of all faiths in one human family. I would hope that our various perspectives would serve to illuminate our overall understanding of the mysteries of the divine. I wish all spiritual communities to have the confidence in their freedom to worship safely.
Ameen!
Hi, this is Abdul Hassan,
There is such a thing as liberal Islam. I am an example of a liberal Muslim.
I think if you want to quit Islam and become a Buddhist or a Catholic you should be able to without sanction, without penalty, harm or censure, just as a Catholic can become Muslim without sanction.
I want no Islamic government. I want a secular government, a government without any official state religion.
I want secular law, not Islamic law, not Sharia Law. I think the state and Islam should be separate and no theologian should have the final say about what is or is not a good law, rather, a government of the people should have the final say. And all minorities should be protected, including atheists and agnostics.
Women should be treated equally with men, not subjugated
and second class citizens; their testimony in court just as valid as men’s and able to divorce men as men can divorce women with no penalty. And anyone should be able to marry as they wish to a Buddhist or a Catholic or whatever, without any penalty whatsoever and to freely talk with men as they wish. No woman should have to cover their heads in public if they don’t want.
All in society should be able to criticize as they wish, even to criticizing the Prophet and Islamic society. Islam was made for man, not man for Islam.
And the phenomenon of “honor killing” or even injury against any man or woman should be considered murder and assault and punished. Women must be free to make their own lives not ask permission from their brother or father.
Hello, this is Sebla Sebanci,
To continue…..
And there is nothing in the Koran that says we must not make images of animals and men and even the Prophet. Nothing explicitly says this. We use symbols to indicate Allah, but we do not depict Allah as Christians do, with a human face. In this, Islam is the greatest religion, in my opinion. But if someone did paint a picture as they imagine the Prophet, let them. If someone wants to call Islam, and the Prophet foolish let them, without penalty. Allah and the Prophet are forever above such comments and there is nothing to fear from such.
The conflict between Sunni and Shia must end. It is so stupid. We are all Muslims! There is no Allah but Allah!
Our societies must become less virulently dogmatically Muslim and
more secular in the realm of government and science and philosophy.
so rigid and narrow that our brilliant civilization began to stagnate.
I think Islam is the greatest religion—but I do not want a government
which officially penalizes those who differ from Islam.
Government must be neither Sunni nor Shia nor any religion officially.
Islam must be a private matter for each person . We pray 5 times a day in order to renew our inward communion with Allah, whether in a mosque with many or alone. Read the Koran and you will see that the giving of alms is urged more often than any other admonition and Allah is always described as the merciful, the compassionate.
Society should reflect this. And I, for one, do not want to live in a culture that is not merciful and, yes, liberal. I don’t want to live in a society where I can be jailed or beaten or even killed for expressing such opinions as I have expressed here. I am so happy to be Muslim. The Muslim conception of Allah is a beautiful thing. But
we must manifest this conception. I will continue to be a liberal Muslim.
I just wanted to express my sorrow at the burning of a mosque this week.Such a malicious act is cowardly and reprehensible. May peace prevail in these troubled times.
@Sukhmandir Kaur: i really feel so sorry and sad that this tragedy has occured in your community. hope your people will forgive us (muslims), for, we are also a victim of such hateful behaviour from narrow minded and ill-informed people in this country. I pray that God give strength to the families of those who were martyred,so they can bear the loss of their family members. Ameen.
Sayed, this is not your fault, there is nothing to forgive. I think we all need to build more bridges rather than isolate ourselves comfortably so that we can create tolerance acceptance and understanding and abolish fear ignorance and and hate.
Unfortunately, when some correspondents of some networks were covering the hate crime against Sikhs, it looked like they were saying “Sikhs are not terrorists, but they were mistaken by being Muslims”. In such subtle way, it is as if they were saying that Muslims are terrorists, so next time make sure you know the difference”. I felt this was unfair in two ways; first great majority of muslims are not terrorists, in fact some may be the victim of terror. Second, evil does not care. He may have performed this attack just because they were people of color. Evil will not be short of any reason or justification.
Assalam alaykum .Sister Huda .
Well, I noticed that the following link ( 10 Ways Sikhism Differs From Islam – About.com Guide to Sikhism ) gives false explanations about Islam .Please can you correct them ?
I prefer your explanations ,they are clear and true . All your articles are interesting thanks Sister and Eid moubareek
Thank you Mr Abdul Hassan for your comment.I have not understood what you mean by liberal mslim.I