AN OPEN DIALOGUE IN ISLAM

12/10/2008


AN OPEN DIALOGUE IN ISLAM



http://arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=117115&d=10&m=12&y=2008

ALSO PLEASE READ MY COMMENTS THAT FOLLOW




"""""""“Today, we need a dialogue of the Ummah within itself. It is because sedition, ignorance and fanaticism are threatening the hopes of Muslims. The terrorism that threatens the entire world is attributed to Muslims alone because of the acts of a few extremists who represent none but themselves. Though they put on the guise of Islam, the religion has nothing to do with them. This is what makes the dialogue of the Ummah with itself imperative for achieving a unified stand, elimination of the causes of their disputes, strengthening their moderate middle path, and to stamp out extremism,” King Abdullah told his guests.

The guests included Sudanese President Omar Bashir, Palestinian President Mahmood Abbas, Chechen President Ramadan Kadirov and Secretary-General of the Muslim World League Abdullah Al-Turki.

“During the last Haj season, I spoke to you about the significance of interfaith dialogue. The Kingdom organized the Makkah conference for Muslim scholars and thinkers to discuss the idea of dialogue, and was welcomed by them... It was followed by the Madrid conference in which representatives of various religions and cultures endorsed the outcome of the Makkah conference. The high level meeting of the United Nations’ General Assembly on the interfaith dialogue, in which prominent international personalities participated, upheld the concept of dialogue,” King Abdullah said.

“The Kingdom with this program aims to uphold the glory of Islam and service to humanity,” the king added. King Abdullah left Mina yesterday evening and later arrived in Jeddah."""""""

MY COMMENTARY

How are we talking about an open dialogue here? Where in an Islamic country is there a freedom of thought and the freedom of press. Whose ideas are we willing to accept? Look at Iraq, look at Palestine it self, and can we say Egypt? Pakistan, and how about Saudi Arabia her self.

An open dialogue implies that anyone can have an opinion without the fear of oppression. As things stand, I can say something here from the safety of my home in the United States, but with the knowledge that my opinion in matters Islamic or political can subject me to sanctions by an Islamic government, or even a fatwa of death by some mullah or imam in an Islamic country or even a local mosque locally.

Ironically this call for an open dialogue comes from the leader of the most conservative country, not only in Islam, but in the world.