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Agenda :
Opening of the meeting :
H.E. Prof. Kamel AL- Sharif
H.E. Cardinal Francis Arinze
Topic of the Dialogue :
The Role of Religion in the Dialogue of Civilizations in an Era of Globalization
The Lecturers :
H.E. Prof. Dr. Hamid Ahmed AL-RIFAIE
President
International Islamic Forum For Dialogue
H.E. Josive Ellol
Domincan Church
The Dialogue :
The Commentators
Negotiation
The Final Declaration :
Negotiation of the Draft .
Acceptance of the final shape .
Signing up the declaration by presidency of committee .
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The Islamic Delegation :
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The Vatican Delegation :
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ISLAMIC - CATHOLIC LIAISON COMMITTEE
PRESS RELEASE
Vatican City, 3 - 4 July 2001 , equivalent to 12 - 13 Rabi' al -Thani 1422
With the help of Almighty God the Islamic - Catholic Liaison Committee held its seventh meeting in Rome 3 - 4 July 2001 equivalent to 12 - 13 Rabi' al- Thani 1422 . The Catholic delegation was headed by His Eminence Cardinal Francis Arinze, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Vatican City , while the Islamic delegation was headed by His Excellency Senator Dr Kamel al - Sharif, Secretary General of the International Islamic Council for Da'wah and Relife . The topic addressed during the meeting was Religion and the Dialogue of Civilisations in an Era of Globalisation . Following their exchanges on this topic and other matters the Committee agreed upon the following :
to reaffirm that civilisations with their material and technological dimensions are a common human heritage ; their positive elements should therefore be preserved and their benefits made available to all ; they are to be developed and promoted in the interest of the security and well - being of the whole of human society .
to reaffirm that religious values should be the basic starting point from which to direct humanity in such a way as to preserve human dignity and promote peaceful coexistence among peoples and the protection of the environment .
to reaffirm the importance of dialogue among civilisations for mutual knowledge and common endeavour in peace and harmony in order to protect human societies from disasters, poverty, ignorance, moral degradation, the breaking up of the family, wars and the effect of arms of mans destruction, while refusing the thesis regarding the inevitable clash of civiilisations and societal conflict.
to recognize the importance of globaiisation and its benefits, while calling attention to its dangers which hinder the realisation of a commonly agreed just world order, the acceptance of just criteria for the achievement of the well-being of all, and respect for the religious and cultural values of human societies.
to work together to spread the culture of dialogue and to fostr a spirit of responsibility towards society, to resist consumerism, to protect human dignity and human rights, to prevent aggression, oppression and injustice, to work to ensure the rights of refugees to return to their countries of origin and to refuse all froms of discrimination against people.
to condemn the violations of the sacred nature of holy piaces and places of worship occurring in certain parts of the world, and to work together to ensure respect and protection for hoiy places.
to communicate these principles through available channels and through the mass media, through educational and cultural instutes, ets.
_______________________________________________________________
Praise
be to God, Lord of the worlds.
Peace and benediction be on the Master of all creation, the
last of the Prophets and Messengers, our Master Muhammad bin Abdullah, his
kinsfolk and companions.
Islam is the message of God, the most high, to mankind at large. It was
heralded by all the Prophets and Messengers both throughout the ages and the
successive generations according to nomenclatures and context commensurate with
mankind’s conditions, needs, causes and the nature, as well as the level of
the common relations and interests between them. It ended up with Muhammad bin
Abdullah, peace be on him, the last of the Prophets and the Messengers.
In the course of time, mankind’s relationships grew; human
beings’ need for each other increased and their cultural, as well as social,
security and economic interests intermingled, necessitating a unity of
methodology, the totality of its efficiency, the universality of its values and
principles, the tenses of its discourse and the generality of the equilibriums
and standards of its justice that includes all individuals despite the
differences of their ethnicity, race, colour and creed, resulting in Islam’s
perfect methodology and divine assertion through the Apostle of mankind at large
in God’s saying: {Say: “O’ mankind! I am sent unto you all”}. 7/158
Through that which was brought by Muhammad, peace be on him, the message of God,
praise be to His name to His servants on earth was perfected as in His saying:
{This Day Have I completed for you your religion}. 5/3 (1) It was made even
clear in the saying of Prophet Muhammad, peace be on him: “ The similarity
between me and the Prophets who came before me is like a person who built a
house, made fine and beautiful except that a brick in one of its corners was
missing. People began moving around and admiring it, while saying: ‘if only
you would place this brick in its place’… I am that brick, and I am the last
of the Prophets.
Thus, the emergence of the Apostle of God, peace be on him who
was sent to complete the message of Islam was a unique world event as far as the
context of its method and objectives are concerned. Indeed Islam is a way of
life for the entire mankind, its objectives are for their common good and
prosperity and its discourse is directed towards them regardless of nations,
race, ethnicity and creed. It represents a total transformation that transfers
people from the narrow outlook of nationalities, ethnicity and race to the wider
context of the human family and the cooperation of its societies within the
framework of the methodology of a single human society in accordance with the
saying of the Prophet, peace be on him: “O’ ye mankind! Verily your Lord is
but One and your father is but one. You all belong to Adam, and Adam is made of
dust”; and within a framework of the methodology of cooperation between the
entire mankind on the basis of the values set forth by their Lord and principles
laid down by their creator When He said: {O’ ye mankind! We have created you
from a single (pair of) a male and a female, and made you into nations and
tribes that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other). Verily
the best among you in the sight of God is (he who is) most righteous}. 49/13.
Thus, Islam’s culture – on this basis – is the culture of the human
being…the culture of values and principles, as well as the culture of matter
and means based on intrinsic balance designed by their Lord and creator, in His
magnificent divine method…. the method of divine vicegerency to populate the
earth…the method of a well-contrived balance between the unknown world and the
visible world, and the well-contrived balance between the invitation to acquire
knowledge and the invitation to strive. All the ideological, value and research
oriented elements of knowledge… “Know, therefore, that there is no god but
Allah”. {Say! behold all that is in the heavens and on earth}. 10/101 All the
motivation and incentives and means of striving. {It is he Who has made the
earth manageable for you. So traverse ye through its tracts, and enjoy of the
sustenance, which He furnishes: but unto Him is the resurrection}. 67/15
{And say: work (righteousness) soon will Allah observe your work, and his
Messenger, and the Believers}. 9/105 {And He has subjected to you, as from Him,
all that is in the heavens and on earth: behold, in that are signs for those who
reflect}. 45/19([1])
Thus, Islam’s culture truly deserves to be described as “Humane”, because
it is a culture of faith, knowledge and labour…a culture embodying the
elements of the upright and balanced individual who is entitled to the honour of
the assignment of thriving the earth and deserves the honour of the task of
being a vicegerent therein. Therefore, any disorder affecting this delicate and
well-contrived balance of the divine process of vicegerency, which is based on
faith, knowledge and striving, shall be regarded as a defect that could cause
disorder and set back in the progress of the human culture, and disrupt as well
as abort the efforts of its generations and depreciate the fruits of their
endeavors and striving. In fact history testifies to the truth of this view,
while present day reality testifies and confirms it, and rational as well as
scholarly argument also proves and supports it. As far as history is concerned,
the Qur’an has narrated the stories of nations that toiled and tilled the land
and tired themselves off in striving and endeavouring, but were destroyed
together with their striving and toil because of the absence of the required
balance between faith, knowledge and toil as in God’s saying: {Do they not
travel through the earth, and what was the end of those before them? They were
superior to them in strength: they tilled the soil and populated it in greater
numbers than these have done: there came to them their messenger with clear
signs (which they rejected to their own destruction) it was no Allah Who wronged
them, but they wronged their own souls}. 30/9 ([2])
And also in His saying: {Did they not travel through the earth and see what was
their end of those before them? They were even superior to them in strength and
in the traces (they have left) in the land: But God did call them to account for
their sins, and none had they to defend them against God. That was because there
came to them their apostles with clear (signs), but they rejected them: So God
called them to account: for He is Full of Strength Strict in Punishment}. ([3]) And also in His saying:
{Do they not travel through the earth and see what was the End of those Before
them? They were more numerous than these and superior in strength and in the
traces (they have left) in the land: Yet all that they accomplished was of no
profit to them. For when their apostles came to them with clear signs, they
exulted in such knowledge (and skill) as they had; but that very (wrath) at
which they were wont to scoff hemmed them in}. ([4])
And also: {As in the case of those Before you: they were Mightier than you in
power, and more flourishing in wealth and children. They had their enjoyment of
their portion: And ye have of yours, as did those before you; and ye indulge in
idle talk as they did. They! Their works are fruitless in this world and in the
hereafter, and they will lose (all spiritual good). Hath not the story reached
them of those before them? The people of Noah, and Ad, and Thamud; the people of
Abraham, the men of Midian, and the cities overthrown. To them came their
apostles with clear signs. It is not God who wrongs them, but they wrong their
own souls}. ([5]) And also: {He said
“This has been given to me because of a certain knowledge which I have.” Did
he not know that God Had destroyed, before him, (whole) generations, which were
superior to him in strength and greater in the amount (of riches) they had
collected? But the wicked are not called (immediately) to account for their
sins}. ([6]) And also: {Do they not
travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those before them, though
they were superior to them in strength? Nor is God to be frustrated by anything
whatever in the heavens or on earth: for He Is All-Knowing, All-Powerful}. ([7])
And also: {Now the ‘Ad behaved arrogantly through the land, against (all)
truth and reason, and said: “Who is superior to us in strength?” What! Did
they not see that God, Who created them, was superior to them in strength? But
they continued to reject Our signs. So We sent against them a furious wind
through days of disaster, that We might give them a taste of a penalty of
humiliation in this life; but the penalty of a hereafter will be more
humiliating still: and they will find no help}. ([8])
And also: {Do they not travel through the earth, and see what was the end of
those before them (who did evil)? God brought utter destruction on them, and
similar (fate awaits) those who reject God. And how many cities, with more power
than thy city, which has driven thee out, Have We destroyed (for their sins)?
And there was none to aid them. Is then one who is on a clear (path) from his
Lord, not better than one to whom the evil of his conduct seems pleasing, and
such as follow their own lusts}. ([9])
As for the present day reality however, we may present its
witness through the sayings of the most prominent political leaders of the two
largest contemporary empires. Let us therefore begin with the testimony of the
leader of the empire with the tumbled down idol and crumbling states. An empire
that has lost the fruits of its playful cultural striving, whose weaknesses have
been exposed, its true nature unveiled and the charms of its fake power
invalidated. An empire that is threatened with entering the famine exchange
through the widest doors and to extend its hands begging from those who were
hitherto fearful of its terrible and devastating arsenal only to be turned away
humiliated and frustrated to face the revolt of the daily bread, which is
threatening the remnants of entity. Here is what the President of the erstwhile
Soviet Union, Mr. Mikhail Gorbachev says in his famous book, ‘Perestroika’
where he stated the causes of the destruction that threatens their empire and
the materialistic cultural edifices it has established at the expense of values
and principles as well as the humanity of the human being, trying by so doing to
anticipate the threat and to voice out although only when it was too late. Here
are examples of what he says:
“Our missiles could get to Healy’s comet, and fly to Pluto with
stunning accuracy. However, besides these scientific as well as technological
breakthroughs, there is clear lack of competence in using scientific
achievements for economic needs. Moreover, most Soviet made home appliances are
mediocre, and unfortunately that is not all. The ideological and moral values of
our society are gradually deteriorating, corruption is creeping into the public
morality, and alcoholism, drug addiction and crime are on the rise. But, we
shall firmly continue the struggle against intoxication and addiction to
alcohol”. ([10])
The
world is not only living under the nuclear threat, but also under the atmosphere
of substantial social problems that have not been solved, as well as pressures
that have been left behind by scientific and technological progress and
increasing world problems. Today, mankind is facing unprecedented problems; and
the future will remain replete with dangers so long as we do not find common
solutions. ([11])
“We
have come to the conclusion that without activating the human factor i.e.
without taking the various interests of the people, public institutions and the
various social groups, and without counting on them and attracting them into
participating in creative and active endeavour; it will be impossible for us to
realize any of the designed tasks, or change the situation in the country.” ([12])
“Today,
our main task is to boost the spirit of the individual, respect his inner world
and give him moral strength, while trying to make all the intellectual
potentialities and all the cultural resources work towards shaping up a socially
active and spiritually rich, uprighteous and scrupulous personality. Each and
every individual must know and feel that his contribution is needed and that his
dignity cannot be injured. He must be treated with trust and respect; and when
he sees this, he would be able to achieve much.” ([13])
“Perestroika
mean giving priority to developing the social area with the aim of the best
catering of the needs of the Soviet people for good living and working
conditions, as well as to relaxation, leisure, education and reliable health
care, which means constant concern with the cultural as well as the spiritual
asset, and with the culture of the individual and the society at large.” ([14])
“
The special circumstances prevailing in the country have compelled us to accept
the forms and the approaches of the socialist construction that conforms with
the historic circumstances. These forms have been frozen and sanctified and
turned into a frozen ideology, creating these barren forms of socialism,
exaggerated centralization of administration, disregard for technical diversity
of the people’s interests, and looking down upon the active role the people
can play in public life and the open trends of equality.” ([15])
“The
human factor in the wider sense constitutes a major priority to us, and we are
doing all we could to enable him play his role. But, we cannot achieve anything,
unless the society is improved through strengthening the moral values of
socialism, especially social justice.” ([16])
“However,
throughout the years of our heroic and bright history, we failed to pay
attention to the special rights of women, and her needs arising from her role as
a mother and a housewife with and the indispensable vocation of educating the
children. While engaged in the field of scientific research, in construction
sites, production and services; and while participating in creative activities,
women have no more time to fulfill their daily domestic duties, such as bringing
up the children and establishing an amiable family atmosphere. We have
discovered that most of the problems facing us in the behaviour of children and
the young people, in our morale, culture and production can be partially
attributed to the deterioration of family relations and the laxity of family
responsibilities, which is a contradicting result of our sincere and politically
justified desire to establish equality between man and woman in everything. Now,
in the course of perestroika, we have began to overcome this situation, and are
accordingly, conducting serious discussions in the press, in the public
institutions, at work place and at home, regarding the question of what to do to
facilitate the return of women to their purely feminine mission. However,
another problem we face is the problem of employing women in difficult jobs that
are detrimental to their health…. A heritage of the war during which we lost a
large number of men and a resultant acute shortage of work force in all the
sectors of production everywhere. We have began addressing this problem
seriously; and as such, one of the most pressing social tasks facing us –
which is equally significant in the campaign against intoxicants- is the
improvement of family health and strengthening its role in the society.” Pp.
138 – 139
“It
may be said that throughout history, both philosophers and the clergy have
discussed the concept of eternal human values. However, while this was true, it
was nevertheless no more than ‘scholastic reflections’ that ended by
becoming a utopian dream. Now, in the 1980s, when we are approaching the end of
this exiting century, humanity must recognize the vital need for human values
and their priority.” ([17])
“The
nerve center of the new way of thinking lies in accepting the priority of
values, or to be more precise, the priority of human survival.” ([18])
“It
is crystal clear that, the world in which we are living …the world of nuclear
weapons. Any attempt to use these weapons to solve the Soviet-American problems
would be suicidal. This is a fact I do not believe the American politicians are
unaware of. Besides, a really contradicting situation has emerged, i.e. even if
one of the two countries occupies itself with sustained stockpiling of arms
while the other does nothing similar, the former party could gain nothing, since
the latter could simply detonate all its nuclear arsenal, even if that be on its
own territory. Which means suicide to the detonating party and slow death for
the enemy. Therefore, any endeavour to gain military superiority is an attempt
in a vacuous circle, which cannot be used in the politics of realism.” ([19])
“The
largest part of nuclear weapons are in the hands of the Soviet Union and the
United States of America, and ten percent or even one percent of their
capabilities could cause irreparable damage to our methodet as well as to the
entire human civilization.” ([20])
Against
this terrible defectiveness, Gorbachev tries to recollect anticipate,
rationalize and to objectively deal with the painful as well as dangerous
reality of his country and the entire world. He wants to warn and caution people
that they have but to rise to the level of collective responsibility that could
prevent the drowning and destruction that threatens all. He says:
“Despite
all the contradiction of today’s world, and in spite of all the diversity of
the social as well as the political systems therein, and despite the various
options taken up by the various countries at various times, this world is a
single whole, and we are all passengers in one ship, namely the earth. Therefore
we must not allow it to drown, for there shall be no second Noah’s arch.”
A
testimony of contemporary reality against the disorder of the delicate
relationship between the elements of real civilization, namely, the disorder of
the relationship between faith, knowledge and labour.
Thus,
having reviewed selected extracts from the testimony of President Gorbachev, the
President of the cultural wall that has crumbled, we are now going to review the
testimony of the former president of the United States of America Mr. Richard
Nixon, the President of the of the wall that is about to crumble if not saved in
time, either by its leaders or by divine ordinance, through guidance. Mr.
Nixon’s testimony is extracted from his book: “The Historic Chance” as
follows:
“The United States of America could lose its economic and technological
superiority if it fails to perform better in the field of training young
Americans to perform the duties that await them as a result of the
transformation from industrial economy to hi-tech economy. About 25% of
Americans are high school dropouts, and most of those who do graduate are lack
the basic skills required by the society. As regards such important subjects, as
mathematics and science, are young people are lagging behind those of all the
other industrial countries. It is true that some of our public schools do
perform well, but most of them are less effective than many schools in many
countries. Many school programs have become so easy to the extent that student
don’t anymore see the need for serious endeavour. As a result, two thirds of
high school students spend one hour or even less in doing their homework by
reading only ten lines or even less, and then spending more than three hours
watching brain dumming programs every day.”
“America
is now moving towards a spiraling course, which is descending towards scientific
as well as technological illiteracy, not because Americans have lost their
aptitude for science, but because the kind of science given to them has been
overtaken by time. We are bringing up a new generation, either in the slums of
the cities or in the middle and high social classes in the suburbs, which can be
called the MTV generation. The amazing ignorance of many of the members of this
generation is due, not to lack of intelligence, but rather to untapped
intelligence. They live in the world of noisy music that perforates the ear, and
a variety of TV channels that show pictures on the screen in a rapid manner that
could hardly be followed, and successive sensual scenes. Slogans have been
printed on shirts rather than on vehicle bumpers. But they remain empty of any
context.” ([21])
“The concept of birth rights is the main cause of the degeneration of
the American society. Supporters of this concept are striving to impose it on
the United States, but in contrast of the nobility, they are trying to apply it
from the bottom to the top.” ([22])
“America
is facing internal problems that are difficult to solve. Because of these
problems, it has not been able to reach the position it should assume. We must
seize the opportunity of freedom’s triumph overseas in order to make America
not only the richest society, but also a virtuous society as well. The richest
country in the world cannot have the highest annual rate of expenditure per
capita on health care while 38 million of its citizens are unable to get
appropriate medical care for the simple reason that they are not able to meet
the costs. The richest country in the world must not accept the fact that its
consumption of narcotics is equal to the total consumed by all the countries of
the world; despite the fact that its overall population is not up to a part of
20 of the world population. The richest country in the world cannot maintain the
highest crime rate in the world and have twenty times more Americans killed
domestically during the Gulf war than all those killed in that war.”(22)
“ The richest country n the world cannot accept to have a category of
criminals who have made our large cities so unsafe as to make life in them
unbearable. Addressing these problems does not require new ideas, but rather
requires renewal of faith in the principles that made us what we are today. From
the very beginning, this country accommodated people from all parts of the world
and enabled them to exploit their full energy; because it was built on a firm
foundation of individual freedom, equality before the law, and equal opportunity
for all. If we are serious and realistic in catering for the major domestic
needs of the society, we must distinguish between two things:
“
The most dangerous social problem facing us is the problem of “crime, drug
dependency and education”, which revolves around the values of situations and
behaviour. Such matters do not depend on Dollars, for mostly, the programs drawn
to address these problems, which are reckoned in dollars do not produce any
results. The need therefore is not so much for dollars as for a set of values
and rules the society could accept and impose on itself” ([23])
“On the other front, we may not achieve victory in combating narcotics,
unless we turn our attention away from the supply field existing in distant
corners of the world to the fields of demand inside our country. There is no
sure way of closing our borders against smugglers. For we have noted that,
whenever the figures in the anti narcotics budget rose, the consumer price of
the product falls. The traffickers find devilish means of penetrating our
defenses. This battle may not be won, unless demand for narcotics falls due to
severe punishment, education and treatment, and more importantly, a radical
change of values. For so long as we fail to teach our children about the
devastating effects of drug abuse, and as long as we fail to reverse tolerance
and throwing limelight on drug abuse in the movies and other field of
recreation, we shall not win the anti narcotics war. Moreover, so long as we
fail to enact tough laws against the use of weapons, we shall never succeed in
eradicating violence caused by drug trafficking.” ([24])
“Combating gangsters in the cities could play a central role in solving
all our social problems. Gangsters are chiefly responsible for violent crimes.
They drain the resources of both the state and the local governments as well as
social service institutions. They destroy schools and they waste a great deal of
human effort. Millions of people who live in the slims could be productive
members of the society, cooperating in the process of the great competition that
strengthens the nation, and contributing to shaping up its reputation as a great
place of opportunities. Now, in order to save members of these gangs, we must
get them to change their behaviour. They do not suffer material poverty as much
as they suffer from the poverty of behaviour and customs. They live within
closed circuits of sin, broken families and dependence. We have contributed in
the birth of this large and harmful class of people when we pursued policies
that do not recognize the individual’s responsibility for himself as well as
for the consequences of his deeds.” ([25])
·
In order to stop the degeneration, we must act in six areas as
follows:
1-
We must reform the teaching profession, and programs at teachers training
colleges must focus more attention on teaching subjects than on the theories of
teaching itself. Teachers, according to present programs, know how to teach the
students at the expense of the science subjects they impart to their students;
and it is only natural that a teacher who is not well versed with the science
subject he teaches can neither effectively teach that subject nor excite the
enthusiasm of his students for the subject.
2-
We must also raise the standard of schools, because the falling
standards of schools has undermined the educational institutions which now
suffer from inflation in the system where promotion is based on seniority rather
than on efficiency. Moreover, students must be urged to exert maximum effort in
studying, so as to pass with distinction. As of present, only a few students who
intend to continue studying in one of the first class universities exerts the
required maximum effort.
3-
We must also pay attention to incentives; for every child is born
with a burning desire to know. Frequently, every child asks his parents why? But
in most cases the process of transferring this desire for knowledge to the
fields of science, mathematics, history and languages has field. Instead of
attracting them to knowing the secrets of these sciences, the education process
drives them into running away from them, and they only absorb subjects, which
they are forced to absorb. Of course, forcing students to teach subjects they
hate can only increase their aversion. Therefore, we must multiply our efforts
inside and outside the classroom, so as to draw their attention and guide them
towards loving knowledge, especially during these decisive years when habits are
formed and remain for the rest of the life. We must also awaken the desire to
learn and to know the secrets of the subjects they study, and uncover the
exciting horizons of the history of science and the subjects because cultivating
the desire to learn in them, they will no doubt learn.
4-
In order to raise the standard of education, we must break the
monopoly of the public schools and introduce new competitive elements into the
into the process. I am a proponent of public schools where I studied until I
went to college, and my wife was a teacher in an excellent public school, but
the difference in the performance of the public and the private schools is
unbearable. Graduates of public schools have lower standards than those of the
private schools, and most of the public schools are burdened with the number of
staff and administrative bureaucracy. They care more about monopolizing public
funds than on the level of performance.
In an
articled published in the Economist, a writer said that: “ The number of the
staff employed by the public schools in New York is equal to ten times those
employed by private schools.” Private school strives to satisfy their clients,
i.e. students and guardians, by offering them excellent services in a
competitive world. Hence, in order to improve the standard of the public
schools, we must subject them to the same conditions of competitive pressure
that has made our private schools an object of envy throughout the world. The
funds each state spends on education must be placed in a single fund, and then
distributed to parents through coupons of equal value so as to enable them to
pay the fees either in the public or the private schools. This policy, which is
known as “option” succeeded in improving the conditions of some schools, and
raising the rate of success from 50% to 90%
When parents are given the choice, they
show more interest in schooling as well as in their children’s education.
Moreover, when students are made responsible for their future, they will show
greater concern in preparing themselves in the present. Choice creates
competitive pressure that breaks bureaucracy and com0pels public schools into
reorganizing themselves in order to keep abreast of the standards of the public
schools. If we fail to act decisively now, we could lose the battle for
educational reform.
5-
We must get rid of the myth that all young people must have university
education, so as to develop a parallel system of modern industrial training
instead of the auditorium. Today, many students are not competent for university
studies. Yet they spend four years in the universities without significant
results; although it would have been worthwhile if they had spent this time
learning a handicraft or an appropriate in-job vocation rather than trying to
acquire knowledge that does excite them. Many colleges have lowered the standard
they require, so as to absorb a greater number of students regardless of their
aptitude, and as a result, a phenomenon of superabundance of degree holders has
emerged, forcing competent students to spend additional years studying for
higher degrees and weak student to spend a period of time training to acquire
the necessary skills to do their jobs. Abstractly, it may be fine to admit all
students into the universities, although most students find in-job training more
attractive, profitable and suitable. Hence, it is time we admit the fact that a
skilful carpenter is more useful to the society than an unsuccessful attorney.
6- In view of the fact that an unwritten agreement between
instructors who don’t care much about teaching and students who are lazy it
has been notable in the last ten years, we must demand more from our
universities. For, in the excellent universities, research works are given
priority in the special colleges, which count more on the number of research
works and books published by a professor than on the efforts exerted in
teaching. Naturally, in order to have more time for research work, the
instructors choose to lower the standards, while the students feel mostly
relaxed. The result however, can be seen in the contradicting phenomenon of low
standard graduates and an inflation in the number of graduates similar to that
of the currency.” Pp. 259 – 262
Furthermore, in his “Victory without War” which was
published in 1999, Former president of the United States of America Mr. Richard
Nixon said: “In the 21st century, mankind will reshape the world;
and we must play a pivotal role in this great project. Materially, we should be
able to reshape the world through an explosion of technological creativity. But
we have to equally reshape the world politically, through a strategy aimed at
achieving a real peace. At the same time, we must not ignore the issue of the
spiritual dimension of the human being.” Pp. 325
While we are changing the world materially, we must endeavour
to reshape it politically. Indeed, our technological progress in the 20th
century was far more advanced than our political progress, and we must not allow
this to happen in the next century. Our material progress has reached a point
where failing to combine it with political progress will lead to total
destruction. If we wish to reach the maximum point of our material progress in
the 21st century – not only in our favour, but also in favour of
mankind as a whole- we must find
ways and means of combining scientific conquest with political progress. By so
doing, we shall be able to diminish the chances of the outbreak of war, and
increase the rates of participation in the goods.” Pp. 327 – 328
“ The might of the sword in Moscow can never vanquish the
spiritual might of the west. One day, Stalin wondered cynically and contemptibly
about the Church’s ability to influence world events. This is what he said:
‘ How many battalions are under the Pope?’ Of course this is a manifestation
of Stalin’s inability to understand the world or that, which activates it. In
fact in the final analysis, history is determined not by weapons, but by ideas;
and this, is all the more true, when politicians arm themselves with the
principles of power.” Pp. 331
“America was founded by individuals who were seeking
freedom, the right to worship God their own way and the right of exploring a
sense of life according to their own conditions. Therefore, we must not neglect
this inspired principle of our country. We must not allow rivalry with Moscow to
turn into a race for the production of the largest amount of bombs, the highest
buildings and the highest per capita income in the Gross National Produce. When
material wealth becomes our only goal, we shall not be regarded as any different
from the communists.” Pp. 332
“Ever since the beginning of civilization, the search for
the meaning of life has been continuing; and is not expected to end since the
ultimate and clear answer has always eluded us. However, it is vitally important
that we continue the search, since by so doing, we shall be preparing ourselves
for a better life. There are people who think the clear answer can be found in
the classics, while others believe it is in religion. But we must be sure that
the meaning of life can never be provided by sheer materialism.” Pp. 334
“On the other hand, during an audience with the
representatives of the ‘Red Indians’ in 1994, former President Bill Clinton
said: “ The history of America is not all glory. However, while it is
impossible to change history, the method must focus on quenching the thirst of
the present and the future through visions and highly credible and noble
relations.” Al-Sharq Al-Awsat daily, vol. 5681 dated 18/6/1994, within the
context o f an article by Dr. Z.A. Al-Rikabi.
In this context, the renowned Indian poet, Tagoor once told
western intellectual: “ It is true that you were able to fly in the sky like
birds, and to dive into the sea like the fish, but you could not walk on the
surface of the earth like human beings.”
As for the famous America writer John Stein buck, he said: “
America’s problem lies in its wealth and in the fact that it has many things,
but it has no adequate spiritual mission... We need to be struck in order to
wake up from our wealth. We have conquered nature, but have failed to conquer
ourselves.”
According to renowned American Foreign Minister John Foster
Dulles: “The issue has nothing with material objects. We have the greatest
world production of material objects. Hence what we need is a true and strong
faith, without which, everything we have would be very little.”
In the words of the Nobel laureate Alexis Carrel in his best
selling “Man the Unknown” ‘
Our knowledge of life affairs, and how the human being should live is rather
backward when compared with our knowledge of material objects. This
backwardness, has done us wrong.’
As for Professor Goad, head of the Department of Philosophy at
London University he said: ‘ Natural sciences have given us the power worthy
of great men, but we utilize it with the mentality of children and beasts...
This disparity between our amazing scientific breakthroughs and our shameful
social childhood is encountered at every corner and exit.”
The renowned British Prime Minister Anthony Eden says: ‘It
is strange and funny that countries and states should spend millions of pounds
for protection against deadly tools which frightens them, but, which they spend
nothing to keep under control.’
President Roosevelt of the United States of America also said:
“ To be a great nation, what we have is not important; What is important is
how we use what we have.”
As
Muslims, what will our comments be on the clear confessions of Presidents,
Gorbachev, Nixon and others regarding the disorder, both in the equilibrium an
the criteria of cultural progress in their countries; the appeal they have made
for a return to spiritual values and for showing serious regard to the
individual’s inner world; awakening his propensity for goodness, reviving his
consciousness with the values and principles that will give him back his
balance and moral as well asa behavioural discipline and put him before his
earnest responsibility towards his country’s interests, security and
stability, as well as toward the interests, security and stability of the world. Our comments on all that is: “In conformity with the
teachings, values and principles of Islam, we Muslims can only be moved with joy
and happiness by every responsible speech or attitude. We can only welcome
and sincerely extend our hands in cooperation with any move that aims at
rectifying mankind’s track and saving its civilization, which is the fruit of
the efforts of its successive generations and nations any time anywhere. We
strongly support anything that brings common good to mankind, protects it
against evil and corruption and cleans it from the inclination towards dominance
and transgression, oppression and tyranny, suppression and overpowering. We
stand firmly by any measures that are designed to reaffirm the dignity and
humanity of the human being, give him the freedom to choose his faith and his
life style and values that heed his innate appeal and inner material as well as
spiritual world. We stand by the side of every responsible speech, move and
method designed to establish justice, stability and peace for the sake of
humane, civilized and safe co-existence.
However,
although we welcome the positive and responsible imports of what Presidents
Gorbachev, Nixon and other reasonable leaders said, we nevertheless deplore the
contradictions that occur on the ground, as well as the remarkable injustices in
Europe, America and many other countries in the world. These malpractice
diminish the credibility of these words and embarrass reasonable Muslims vis-à-vis
the up and coming generations of Muslims who have been facing oppression,
massacre, genocide and insolent violation of sanctities and of the least human
rights in many places.
Therefore, we both demand and advise officials in charge both
in the west and elsewhere in the world to heed the appeals and hue cries raised
by the rational and the wise of the world, so as to confirm their avowed
keenness to establish a world order based on values and principles, as well as
on a balance between the world of matter and its ambitions, and the world of
spirit and its ethics. Together with the renowned scholar, Sheikh Muhammad
Al-Ghazali, we would like to send a warning to the heads of the contemporary
culture, calling their attention at the same time to the infamous legislation
which stand at variance with every responsible word or appeal for reform and
salvation from the evils, crimes and cultural set backs of this world.
Sheikh Al-Ghazali says: ‘ Leaders of modern civilization in
Europe and America do not care about prohibiting that which is permissible and
permitting that which is forbidden. They do not remember God except on the death
bird, when separation imposes itself. Modern culture has heaped dust upon divine
legislation; and mere mention of divine legislation is now regarded as a form
mental retardation. Fornication, when by consent is respected, while Muslim
countries are forced to abide by that in their legislation. The death penalty
has been abrogated despite the law of the eye for an eye and the tooth for a
tooth prescribed in the Torah, the Bible and the Qur’an. In fact, we still
remember how the House of Commons in Britain passed a bill legalizing
homosexuality up to 18 years, and how the President of the United States of
America tried to conscript homosexual.” Al-Muslimoon daily vol. 490 –
24/6/1994
Adding to that, and even more dangerously, the United Nations,
which came originally to serve as the terms of reference for value based reform
and guidance to the progress of mankind’s civilization, is today advocating
and adopting a set of pervasive values that consecrates the methodology of
cultural decadence. Reformists and reasonable persons everywhere began raising
the hue and cry for rectification and getting rid of its sinking values and
irresponsible principles; and submitted eventually, a proposal for an
international conference under the theme of “Population and Development” to
be held in Cairo-Egypt in September 1994. The basis of the conference was a
document that included the following in its sinking values and whoremongering
legislations:
1-
Making abortion permissible under the pretext that it represents a
means of development, as it results in fewer population and higher standard of
living.
2-
Letting sexual freedom absolutely loose among teenagers and
children.
3-
Recognizing the right of teenagers to private life of their own with
secret information that must not be violated by the parents.
4-
Aiding and abetting teenagers and children to respect previous
rights enacted by governments and other institutions; and compelling parents to
respect the rights of teenagers and children.
Against
this dangerous document, we further comment and raise our voices demanding and
warning all reasonable and wise people of the world, regardless of their
religion, race, people and nationality to organize an international forum under
the theme of: “The Risk Against Culture”. The purpose will be to discuss the
perils facing contemporary human civilization, foremost and most deadly of which
is the assault spiritual as well as religious values, transgression against
values, race and family morals, breach of family ties, distorting the spiritual,
moral and behavioural relations in the ties binding its individuals, the
coherence of unit, living, social and cultural structures; the assault on the
humanity of individuals, disfiguring and their values and innate standards,
ruining the elements of modesty in their nature and exciting the instincts to
the point that makes it take control of the individual’s behaviour and morals,
at the expense of reason, conscience and sense of responsibility.
To
discuss likewise, anything reaffirms the existing balance between the material
and the spiritual aspects or the moral and the spiritual as well as the value
oriented elements regarding the correctness of the track of human civilization.
Both
we, as Muslims and the reasonable people in the world would like to voice out
our warning against the scornful currents hostile to spiritual as well as humane
values, with vested interest in the deterioration of values and morals, as well
as in the continued deterioration of culture and in instigating conflict and
collusion among the cultures, so as to serve their scornful civil schemes
represented in the values of the extremist secularist and destructive atheist
currents, prominent among which are the remnants of the collapsed Marxism,
envious agents of international Zionism and scheming Masonic lodges.
At this point, we would like to
resume our discussion about the need to lay stress on the minute equilibrium
between the elements of sound cultural motions, i.e. the formative agents of
faith, knowledge and labour. Earlier, we have discussed both the historic
landmarks in the Qur’an and the contemporary landmarks on the ground. Now
however, we shall review the empirical as well as rational argument. In this
regard, our view will be based on a equation in chemistry designed to show the
empirical comparison between the results achieved when elements interact due to
changes in the qualities of one of them, or due to changes in the conditions,
methods, interaction, energy, incentives and rules.
Therefore, we shall compare this with the cultural equation,
which is based on reaction and
interaction between the individual, the earth and the method of life; and the
impact of deficiency in the elements of the methodology on the results and
formulas of the cultural sacrifice of mankind’s efforts. We have chosen from
the chemical field, chemical interaction, which is the simplest as far as its
elements are concerned, since it is this interaction that produces the basic
material of life, I.e. water. {}. As it is well known chemically, water consists
of a unity between hydrogen and oxygen according to determined conditions and a
regulated way, which we may call ‘ the normal way’, as an expression of the
conditions and the normal regulations of the interaction between hydrogen and
oxygen to compose water according to the following equation:
(Regular) Hydrogen + oxygen = (normal
method) =
Normal water (suitable
for life)
(Irregular) hydrogen + oxygen = (normal method)
= heavy water (not suitable for life)
Regular hydrogen + oxygen
(abnormal method)
oxygen water (not suitable for life).
For easy comparison, we may combine these three equations into
one compound equation:
(abnormal method = heavy
water/ useful industrially but not suitable for life.
(regular or irregular
H ) + oxygen
(normal method) = normal water/ useful industrially and suitable
for life.
(abnormal method = oxygen water/ useful industrially but not suitable for
life.
By simple comparison, we will find that the results of these
interactions are influenced both by the nature of the interaction method the
changes in the qualities of the interacting elements, which in this example is
confined to hydrogen and not oxygen. For example, in case of the endurance of
the natural as well as congenital qualities of the elements and the endurance of
the natural conditions and regulations, we would have a natural and a potable
produce in the shape of regular water of life by which all living things live
and by which all the natural reactors on earth endure and by which all the
qualities of balance and stability on earth perseveres. Hence, with the
deficiency of any element and the defection of the method the result will either
be (heavy water) unsuitable for life and limited in its technological usefulness
or (oxygen water) unsuitable for life with limited applications technologically.
We may imagine how wonderful Allah’s grace is on the individual when He
made this water according to measure: {And We send down water from the sky
according to due measure, and We cause it to soak in the soil ; and We certainly
are able to drain it all ( with ease)}. 23/18. And also:
{That sends down (from time to time) rain from
the sky in due measure; and We raise to life therewith a land that is dead: even
so will ye be raised (from the dead)}. 43/11. And also:
{He sends down water from the sky and
the channels flow each according to its measure}. 13/17. And also:
{And We send the fecundating winds,
the cause the rain decend from the sky, therewith providing you with water( in
abundance), though ye are not the guardians of its stores}. 15/22.
Yes, praise be to Him who has measured this
water and did not place it within the province of man’s will and desire which
would have made the equilibruim of the existence of water defective and as such
make life itself defective, likewise its stability, safety and continuity. God
says: {Set forth to them desimilitude of the life of this world: it is like the
rain, which We send down from the skies: the earth’s vegetation absorbs it,
buit soon it becomes dry stubble, which the winds do scatter: it is only God who
prevails over all things}. 18/45. And also:
{See ye the water, which ye drink? Do ye bring it
down(in rain) from the cloud or We do? Were it Our will, We could make it salt
(and unpalatable): Then why do ye not give thanks}. 56/68-69-70.
Moreover, God does not regard it as
an option whose production is controlled by the whims, peculiarities and the
interests of the human species; or to be influenced by their dominance, tyrany
and injustice, as is the case with other materials required by peoples life,
security, safety and daily interest in general. We reckon that human affliction
with famine, collective massacres and world terrow which has become the feature
of this age is consequencial to the opportuniy of choice that has been given to
man, and which he has abused and acted frivolously and corrupted the standards
and rules of progressing properly with it. His dealings with it is full of
contracditions; and as such the out come in most cases brings misfortune and
harm, and spoils the life of their security as well as the safety of thei
livelihood and co-existence. God says: {Mischief has appeared on land and sea
because of (the meed) that the hands of men have earned, that God may give them
a taste of some of their deeds: in order that they may turn back from
eveil}.30/41. And also:
{All this transgressed beyond bounds in the lands; and heaped therein
mischief}.89/11-12. And also:
{And do neither evil nor mischief on the face of the earth}.2/60.
We may also imagine were technology to be excessive in reversing the
equation of normal water in favour of heavy water and its nuclear applications
etc..etc.. or in favour of oxygen water and it industrial application how
substantial the human calamity would have been; and how many world wars would
have broken because of water and its preservation or taking control of its
sources, origins and regional as well as international water-ways. Indeed we are
under such a threat today; but
because of a frivolity of a different type which has become common. Here now are
voices rising in admonition of the danger of its gravity and the dominance of
its deadly consequences, i.e. the disaster of environmental pollution most
dangerous of which is water pollution and misuse and depriving people and other
living beings of its bounty and the vitality of its functions; while at the same
time obstucting its task of keeping
environmental and weather balance and tampering with the sanctity of his
cultural mission generally as in God’s saying:
{And sent down rainfrom the heavens; and brought forth therewith fruits
for your sustenance}. 2/22. And also:
{In the rain which God sends down from the skies, and the life which He
gives therewith to an earth that is dead}.2/164 . And also:
{It is He Who sendeth down rain from the skies: with it We produce
vegetation of all kinds}. 6/99. And also:
{And He caused rain to descend on you from heavens, to clean you
therewith, to remove from you the stain of Santa, to strengthen your hearts, and
to method your feet firmly therewith}.8/11. And also:
{And God has created every animal from water}.
24/45. And also:
{And if indeed thou ask them who is it that
sends down rain from the skies, and gives life therewith to the earth after its
death, they will certainly reply, God}. 29/63. And also:
{We send down rain from the sky, and
produce on the earth every kind of noble creature, in pairs}.31/10. And also:
{Seest thou not that God sends down
rain from the sky, and leads through springs in the earth}. 39/21. And also:
{And tell them that the water is to
be divided between them: each one’s right to drink being brought forward(by
suitable turns)}.54/28. And also:
{Say see ye? If your
stream be some morning lost (in the underground earth), who then can supply you
with clear-flowing water?}.67/30. And also:
{And God’s message is:
if they (the pagans had only remained on the right way we should certainly
bestowed on them rain in abundance}. 72/16
{And God’s message is:
if they (the pagans had only remained on the right way we should certainly
bestowed on them rain in abundance}. 72/16
{And God’s message is:
if they (the pagans had only remained on the right way we should certainly
bestowed on them rain in abundance}. 72/16
{And God’s message is:
if they (the pagans had only remained on the right way we should certainly
bestowed on them rain in abundance}. 72/16
{And God’s message is:
if they (the pagans had only remained on the right way we should certainly
bestowed on them rain in abundance}. 72/16
{And God’s message is:
if they (the pagans had only remained on the right way we should certainly
bestowed on them rain in abundance}. 72/16
{And God’s message is:
if they (the pagans had only remained on the right way we should certainly
bestowed on them rain in abundance}. 72/16
{And God’s message is:
if they (the pagans had only remained on the right way we should certainly
bestowed on them rain in abundance}. 72/16
{And God’s message is:
if they (the pagans had only remained on the right way we should certainly
bestowed on them rain in abundance}. 72/16
{And God’s message is:
if they (the pagans had only remained on the right way we should certainly
bestowed on them rain in abundance}. 72/16
Aren’t these verses and
many others previously mentioned in this paper confirm the grace of God, the
Most high upon man when He made subject to him all that is in the heavens and
the earth which includes this wonderful water in his cultural mission minutely
in the previously cited Qur’anic verses. Don’t they confirm likewise that
any tampering with the sanctity of this message and the equilibrium of its
motion is a dangerous and distructive cultural frivolity from which there is no
escape except by remaining on the divine way and the method of the lord in
dealing with things and subjecting their norms energy and potentialities
according to the values, principles and the behavioural pattern regulated by the
divine method of vicegerency… the method of Islam with its value, teachings
and higher objectives of establishing a balanced human civilization. God says:
{And God’s message is: if they (the pagans had only remained on the right way
we should certainly bestowed on them rain in abundance}. 72/16. And also: {So
bring to remembrance the benefits( ye hav e received) from God and refrain from
evil and mischief on the earth}.7/74.
There now this is an empirical
testimony in the field of the chemistry of life and the comentary in its regard.
All we intented by so doing is to present an explanatory preface concerning what
is happening in the field of the chemistry of culture where the great cosmic
reactor consisting of the earth which is the home of cultural vicegerency. The
basis of the cultural equation will therefore be: “the human being +the earth
+ the method.” When the method is divine with its values, principles and
mannerism as well as its rules, laws, creative incentives and the intergration
of its material and spiritual universality; and when the human being is one
whose life has been shaped in accordance with the divine method of vicegerency
which abides by His teachings and values and disciplined according to His
instructions and standards, the relationship between him and the hidden contents
of the earth will be a creative relationship that will produce positive results
with confirmed usefulness, blessed growth and a secure divident that does not
know terror or fear, nor excessiveness or tyrany or paucity and parsimony.
Because they will be results regulated according to the rule of divine
subjection its rules and ethics, and according to the rule of general guidance
according to which man’s relationship with things and relationship between
things and other things are regulated. Yes, when relations are regulated between
the elements of the cultural equation, i.e. the human being-the earth-the method
according to their standards, values and divine objectives the cultural equation
shall progress in the right manner as follows:
When the method is defective and man’s
behavior, objectives, and method in life are equally defective; the cultural
equation will progress defectively, although the degree of the decectiveness
will be different according to the degree of defectiveness of the method. For
example:
A secularist human being+
the earth
secularism
secularist civilization .
An atheistic human
being+the earth
atheism
atheistic civilization .
For
the purpose of comparison, we may combine these three equations into one
compound equation as follows:
Secularism
secularist civilization ( disturbed and unbalanced).
Human being + the earth
Islam
Islamic civilization ( balanced and safety).
Atheism
atheistic civilization (
unsafe dangerous).
This
cultural equation only serves to confirm our idea and understanding of culture
in its capacity as the fruit of efforts made to populate the earth according to
a certain culture and method; and that the diversity of culture and method is
followed by cultural diversity generally. But then we may ask: Is cultural
diversity an intergrated or opposing diversity?
Is cultural diversity one of co-existence or of collusion?
These and other questions raise themselves before every intellectual and
researcher, as well as before every culture and cultural method. However,
objectivity, scientific and responsibility are basic conditions of giving
correct and convincing answer to the successive human generation any time
anywhere. Thus, in this study entitled: “Islam and Cultures”, we strive from
the very begin stress upon the following concepts so as to provide answers to
these questions….
1-
Man is – by the order of his Lord and creator- a vicegerent on
earth
2-
Habitation of the earth is the task and the end purpose of the
vicegerency
3-
God, praise be to His name, has drawn up an integrated method for
the task of vicegerency on the earth
4-
God, the Most high sent Messengers to deliver message concerning the
substance and the values and principles of the method to the human being
wherever he may.
5-
The method of divine vicegerency delivered to mankind at large has
two foundations, i.e. material and value-oriented
6-
Pure servitude to God is a basic requirement in the divine method of
vicegerency
7-
In as much as their attitude towards the method He has chosen for
them is concerned, God, praise be to His name has divided people into acceptors
and rejecters, without depreciating the right of each of them in the life
inhabiting this world.
8-
The basis of values in the Islamic method is a binding fundamental
for guiding, correcting and regulating the progress and the activities of the
material support and its means and skills
9-
The basis of values according to the Islamic method is….faith,
idea, method and system.
10-
Delicate complement between faith, idea, method and system in Islam
are part of a requirement of the divine method of the vicegerency
11-
Islam’s method reject imposing the religion by force, although it
requires and stirs people to subscribe to the idea of Islam, for the correct
progress of a sound civilization
12-
Muslims believe they are partners along side the orders, in as much
as the fields of the material support, its means and skills in thriving the
earth are concerned, although they carry a divine obligation of presenting the
principles, teachings, values and the divine method of vicegerency which aims at
correcting and guiding the cultural motion toward inhabiting the earth.
We
aim secondly - and in the light of these concepts – at confining our answers
to the previous questions with all objectivity, scientific and full
responsibility. Therefore, we will say at the very beginning, that: “In its
material scopes, cultural diversity is a positive diversity; because by the
grace of God towards his servants, and by dint of His absolute justice among
creatures, God has established a delicate balance between the distribution of
the overt covert goods of the earth, and a delicate balance in distributing
natural resources generally, and a delicate balance in the distribution of
rivers, seas, oceans and dry land and the various shapes and types of
geographical elevations. In fact stirring up as well as exploiting the concealed
contents of this vast diversity, requires diversity of efforts, capabilities ,
competence and skills. Accordingly, His wisdom ordained that He chose man as a
vicegerent and gave him an open hand in investing that which has been made
subject to him, so as to live by his available means and his productive
creativity in accordance with his needs and ambitions, resulting in diversity in
inhabiting the earth and exploiting its hidden treasures crystallizing in the
end into a useful cultural as well as material diversity, liable to be completed
by peoples needs and mutual interests. In fact this integration is a cultural
necessity dictated by peoples need for each other; and their Lord and
creator’s wisdom has necessitated that His bounties and resources be
distributed on earth, in a way that each people or nation is made to control one
type of these resources and given the ability of creativity according to the
rule that says: “ each according to his ability”. God then established the
principle of need and servitude between nations in order to develop a bond of
interest and mutual subjection among them, on the basis of which close ties of
human co-existence and the incentives of vying for inhabiting the earth are
generated, and the need for a world order that regulates the relationship of
co-existence and cooperation arises within the framework of the sense of the
responsibility of common intercourse for the sake of whatever is expected to
realize common good according to the divine rule clarified in God’s saying:
{Is they who would portion out the Mercy of thy Lord? It is We Who portion out
between them their livelihood. In the life of this world: And We raise some of
them above others in ranks, so that some may command work from others. But the
Mercy of thy Lord is better than the wealth, which they amass}. 43/32.
Such a need grows as the means of communication as well as the
elements and necessities of common co-existence grow. But, the desired fruits
and noble humanitarian objectives of the aptitude for complementing in the
cultural and material diversity cannot be reaped, without first surmounting the
negative stance in the value-based diversity. This is because the reality of the
value base in the cultural progress of the various nations unfortunately
produces cultural as well as value based contradictions, which turns away-in its
motion and cultural interaction- from its constructive and positive track to
destructive and negative tracks. The criteria of good and evil have become so
dangerously different among people. The same can be said of the criteria of
oppression and justice, freedom and compulsion, equality and discrimination,
security and fear, stability and disturbance, virtue and vice, the useful and
the harmful, the constructive and the destructive, progress and retardation, war
and peace, contentment and greed, altruism and presumptuousness, parsimony and
extravagance, ego and ultra-ego, the individual and the community, integration
and contradiction, truth and falsehood, trustworthiness and perfidy, fidelity
and betrayal, responsibility and irresponsibility, earnestness and jocularity,
discipline and frivolity, humanity and bestiality, cooperation and aversion,
co-existence and struggle, brotherhood and transgression, the useful and the
harmful. We do reckon that the cause of this dangerous difference is the
existing contradictions in the cultural methods and the contradictions its
produces in values, principles and laws governing man’s behaviour and
standards while populating the earth and exploiting its concealed contents, and
subjugating its material energies causing the emaciation of the positive aspects
of the cultural and material diversity, and turning it into cultural
contradiction rather than a positive cultural integration. We further reckon
that the cause of cultural contradictions can be attributed to the absence of a
terms of reference in the sources and cultural traditions of man’s progress.
We Muslims understand and believe that this terms of reference can only exist
through dealing with the divine method of vicegerency on earth, his values and
ideas elaborated in the previous chapters of this book.
As regards the answer concerning the cultural diversity, i.e.
whether it is a diversity of integration or contradiction …a diversity of
co-existence or collusion?
Briefly, we can say that, when there is no more contradiction
between the foundations of material objects, means and skills and the
foundations of values, principles and behaviour in the methods of international
cultural motion cultural diversity will become one of integration instead of
contradiction, and one of co-existence rather than collusion as emphasized by
Islamic cultural discourse to mankind at large in God’s saying: {It is He Who
has made the earth manageable for you. So traverse ye through its tracts and
enjoy of the sustenance, which he furnishes: but unto Him is the resurrection}.
67/15
{O’ Mankind We have created you from a single pair of male
and female}. /13
{Nor withhold from the people the things that are their due:
commit not evil in the land with intent to do mischief}. 11/85
{ And did not Allah check one set of people by means of
another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief}. 2/ 251
Now take the following cultural equation into consider :
Secularism
Civilization with disturbed balance and security .
A
careful review of the equation will lead us into the conclusion that there is a
close relationship between the individual’s intellectual, cultural and
ideological formula and his methodology in inhabiting the earth, exploiting its
concealed contents and employing its resources in favour of mankind. Plurality
of methodology has led to the plurality of the intellectual as well as cultural
plurality, and then the plurality of cultures, I.E. Islamic culture, secularist
culture and atheist culture. For, the culture of a given people means the sum
total of its culture and civilization. By adopting this definition of culture,
we will find out that, a certain people’s culture in this sense constitutes of
the sum total of its culture and civilization, i.e. the material as well as the
other side of it at one and the same time. Accordingly, every nation could have
a culture, because every nation has some sort of a civilization and culture
regardless of the context of that culture, whether true or false, acceptable or
unacceptable. Therefore, from the very beginning we will say that: “A nation
with advanced culture is one that has a combination of advanced civilization as
well as advanced culture; and the culturally backward nation is the one that has
a combination of retarded civilization and culture. However, a nation may have
an advanced civilization and a backward culture or vise-versa.” An extract
from a speech made by Sheikh Saeed Hawa-may Allah’s Mercy be on him, at the
World Assembly of Muslim Youth.
We do not of course aim at withholding from the people things that are
their due, and remove the quality of culture from their material efforts as well
as from their exploration of the earth and exploitation of its hidden treasures,
and employing its potentialities and resources. Should this occur from our part,
it would have constituted the depreciation that is prohibited by the divine
cultural method. God says: {Nor withhold from the people the things that are
their due: Commit not evil in the land with intent to do mischief}. 11/85
Moreover, even if these things happens to belong to be the
product and property of people with whom we differ religiously and culturally,
we should not withhold from them these things which are their due in this
mundane life, having acquired them through their toil, efforts, skills and
traveling through the land and exploring it, especially that their Lord and
creator has been fair to them and did not withheld their endeavours. God says:
{Those who desire the life of the present and its glitter, to them We shall pay
(the price of) their deeds therein, without diminution}. 11/15
No doubt, any effort exerted in the way of employing and
exploiting the resources of the heavens and the earth is a cultural effort, and
its material fruits are cultural fruits; since those efforts and those products
came in fulfillment of God’s commandment inviting people to exploit that which
He made subject to mankind as a whole. God says: {And He has subjected to you ,
as from Him, all that is in the heavens and the earth}. 45/13
Here,
we must differentiate between human effort in material production and
technological creativity, and the value based method according to which the
production is made, and on the basis of which stands the standards of employing
that product and the manners of subjecting it culturally and internationally. In
fact it is this value oriented method that determines this material production
and its cultural characteristics, which then enables us to say for example: ‘
A safe, balanced and humane culture; or a culture with disrupted balance and
security, harmful and dangerous; or a culture without balance and without
security, harmful and dangerous. The qualities of balance and safety and human
usefulness is determined by the reality and the method of dealing with the
individual, and realizing his vital as well as moral interests, such as food,
drink, clothes, medicine, housing, justice, security, freedom, stability,
welfare and peace.
In his book ‘Modern Islamic Thought vis-à-vis Western
Ideas’, Mr. Muhammed Al-Mubarak,- may God’s Mercy be on him- says:
“The purpose of culture is to raise the standard of
mankind’s life. But, mankind’s life is complicated and has multifaceted
aspects. It contains intellectual as well as
rational life, material as well as scientific life, psychological as well as
moral life, and social life as well as individual
life. Therefore, the righteous as well as charitable culture is the one that
raises up and equals between all these aspects, so that one aspect does no
injustice to the other, nor grow at the expense of the other.”
Hence, in its capacity as a cultural procedure, Islam has
drawn down its cultural, material and value oriented objectives in order to
realize the general conceptions of the objective of the Sharia as represented
the following human necessities, needs and good qualities:
1-Preservation of life
2-Preservation of faith
3-Preservation of intelligence
4-Preservation of honor
5-Protection of money
Hence, any cultural method that encroaches on these general
conceptions or fails to realize, make them available and institute a balance
between them, as well as fail to realize their requirements, needs and good
qualities shall be regarded as an incapable, transgressing or oppressive
cultural method that needs to be rectified and guided so as to place its
cultural as well as material contributions in the service of mankind and his
interests rather an enemy of mankind, his requirement and ambitions.
Therefore, in our cultural progress, we as Muslims are in
favour of rectification and correction, and against abrogation, and cultural
coercion of the other party. We deplore the day culture will be ruined and
collapse because of the deterioration of values and the failure of principles as
well as retardation of mannerisms and behaviour. This is because we view
material culture as representing the efforts of the successive generations of
mankind any time anywhere. They belong to mankind, and must be preserved,
developed and guided to be in the service and happiness of mankind instead of
being pernicious and war against his existence, security and welfare.
As a matter of fact, contemporary historical reality has
presented us with a clear evidence of the qualities and the basic elements of
every culture and the positive as well as negative consequences of this fact on
mankind’s life. It is now clear how the atheist culture has failed terribly to
respond to the requirements of the human being’s idea, and proved barren in
catering for the calls of his inner constitution and ambitions of life in his
outer world. Its existence and material advance was established at the expense
of his existence and spiritual as well as moral elevation. Yes, it built
substantial industries of total destruction, at the expense of construction,
sufficiency and welfare, and exceeded in preparing the means of preserving the
oppressive method and the tyrant regime at the expense of protecting the dignity
of man and his right to minimum humanitarian life represented in his freedom,
security, nutrition, health and education. It suppressed all the incentives of
creativity and competitiveness, and transformed the human being into a tool that
acts according to the regime’s will, whims and interests. In fact it
transformed the individual into a bestial clone that has to do whatever he is
asked to do in consideration only of a piece of morsel, some water and a piece
of cloth and a shelter that may modestly keep away the heat of the sun and the
bitterness of cold in the best and perfect situations. However, most workers
don’t get even these minimum bohemian requirements.
Referring to Gorbachev’s sayings as well as those of his
wife Raisa in her memoirs, it may be safely said that the reality that has been
exposed. The culture of the industries of war and destruction could not stand
the uprising in favour of freedom and justice, as well as the revolt for bread,
clothing and medicine. The world became sure through a decisive proof, that the
effectiveness of liberty, justice, daily bread, clothing and medicine is far
more strong and effective in promoting security and stability, as well as
putting up and protecting and elevating the standards of contribution by
cultures than the effectiveness of a gun, a tank, a missile and an airplane, and
indeed than all the nuclear reactors, space stations and space conquest programs
combined. Is it not fatally scornful to subject man’s energy and competence,
the earth’s energy and secret treasures and resources, as well as the
resources of the heavens to a course that is neither right nor catering for the
needs of decent human living and its cultural aspirations towards establishing a
secure and stable society governed by the values of justice, peace, the
incentives of progressive development and prosperity? Is it no beguiling and
suppressive to force the individual to implement and realize everything that
stands at variance and contradicts his vital spiritual and moral interests over
the decades and successive generations without reviewing or anticipation; and
suddenly, the frivolity of beguilement and suppression collapses, and the empire
of means comes to an end. Then the generations found themselves standing before
drawings and monuments that painfully, sadly and regretfully narrates the story
of the tragedy of fathers and grandfathers, the long procession of torment and
the story of the painful suffering and tedious efforts and the disgraceful
bankruptcy, hideous collapse and humiliating tearing up and scattering.
Such was the fate of the collapsed atheist culture in the
erstwhile Soviet Union, prompting the reasonable and wise individuals in the
west to raise their voices high, warning and expressing the fear of being
afflicted by the same fate that befell their counterparts in the collapsed
Soviet Union. We have already read the testimony of their former President and
one f the most prominent of sages and ideologues in political culture. Mr. Nixon
has spoken about the rise in the rates of illiteracy and crime, family
degeneration, decaying educational curriculum, widespread drug abuse, alcoholism
and the degradation of social security already mentioned in the preface of this
chapter; and went on to end up his views by urging that the situation be
anticipated before it is too late, and emphasizing on the need for commitment to
values and prescribing a deterring penalty against crime and criminals.
Now, going back to the cultural equation, we may state – in
the light of the foregoing- that the atheist culture is not suitable for life,
and as such has condemned itself to doom and brought its existence to an
unenviable end. Moreover, although we as Muslims, appreciate, encourage and wish
all the bright sides of the atheist culture in as much as administration,
technology and distinction in the fields of industrial, agricultural, medical
applications and scientific research in land, sea, air and space are concerned;
and hope it had continued, developed and advanced for the good of mankind at
large, we however have reservations about its cultural as well as the value
oriented aspects, which we feel are
contradictory and in most cases on collusion course with the divine methodology,
values and principles concerning habitation and cultivation of the earth.
Hence, we would like to add our voice to that of the
reasonable and wise men in the west generally and the United States in
particular such as former President Nixon in warning against a serious set back.
Therefore we demand the revision of the value-oriented as well as moral
foundations in a manner that could place them at the service of the material
foundations and their means and skills; and to establish delicate equilibrium
therewith. This is the only way to keep away the causes of danger, set-back and
collapse, preserve the giant material civilization and keep it in the right
track and the right course that could turn its benefits towards mankind’s
interests and, common good and security. So that there can be a culture of
justice instead of the culture of oppression and suppression; the culture of
peace rather that of war and transgression, a culture of co-existence rather
than a culture of collusion, a culture of integration rather than contradiction,
a culture of the continuation of history instead of the culture of the end of
history according to Fukuha and those who follow his method and racist views,
fanaticism and conceitedness. So that there can be a culture of humanitarian
cooperation, humanitarian integration and humanitarian competitiveness; not, the
culture of arrogance, subjugation and subdual as well as selfishness. This view
stems not from our typical Arabic generosity, which is far away from
objectivity, scientific, and responsibility, but rather from our Islamic beliefs
and values, which advocates such a stand. God says:
{O’ mankind ! We have created you from a single pair of a
male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes that ye may know one
another (not that ye may despise one another). Verily the most honoured of you
in the sight of God is he who is most righteous}.
{And did not Allah check one set of people by means of another; the earth
would indeed be full of mischief}. 2/251 And also: {Did not Allah check one set
of people by means of another, there would surely have been pulled down
monasteries, Churches, Synagogues and Mosques in which the name of Allah is
commemorated}. 22/40 The Apostle, peace be on him said: “The best among men is
one who benefits people”. And: “By God he will never be a true believer, by
God he will never be a true believer, by God he will never be a true believer,
he who goes to bed with full stomach while his neighbour by
his side is hungry and he knows that.”
Culture
in our view and according to our beliefs does not belong to a certain people or
a given ethnic group or race; and rather than being a culture of a certain skin
colour, it is a divine culture, humane and universal. Its aim and objective is
to promote international co-existence, justice, security, freedom, stability,
prosperity and peace, based on the neutral perspective of the concept of
culture.
Culture is but the fruit of a delicate balance between the
foundation of values, principles and morals, and the foundations of material
objects, means and skills in the progress of human effort to inhabit and
cultivate the earth according to the method of the divine ordainment of
vicegerency. The method of vicegerency is not attributable to anyone. It is not
prescribed by anyone. Rather, it is the method of the Lord of mankind at large,
their creator and sustainer….the method of the Kind and the All-knowing, the
kind towards his servants; the All-knowing about their conditions and about that
which is good for them. It is a neutral method as far as mankind is concerned.
It neither favours anyone nor oppresses anybody. It does not support one against
the other except for a good cause. Geographically speaking, it is a neutral
method; it is not for the north against the south or vise versa, nor is it for
the west against the east or vise versa. It is a method for people in the
northern and the southern parts of the earth, and the eastern as well as the
western parts of the earth. Economically, it is equally neutral. It neither
supports the rich against the poor, nor sympathizes with the poor at the expense
of the rights of the rich. It does not encourage manufacturers at the expense of
peasants, nor does it bless the efforts of the peasants at the expense of the
manufacturers. It is there for all to encourage and prompt; and is there for
all, to establish justice and equity, brotherhood and integration. Politically,
it is a neutral method. It does not grant veto rights to the important against
the interests of the less important, nor doest it pamper the less important at
the expense of the rights, creativity and skills of the important. It is there
for the important as well as for the less important, the strong as well as the
weak. It considers the strong as weak until it has deterred him from oppression
and tyranny; and considers the weak as strong until it has retrieved his rights
for him from anyone who has wronged and oppressed him. As far as gender is
concerned, this method is neutral. It favours not women against men, nor treats
women more kindly than men. It is for the masculine as well as for the feminine;
it treats them with equity and honours them with justice. Environmentally, It is
a neutral method, recognizing mankind’s rights and duties as well as the
rights and duties of the animal and the method. According to its criteria, they
are all creatures mutually subjected, and all are subjected to inhabiting and
cultivating the earth. God says: {There is not a thing but celebrates His
praise}. This, is the divine method….the method of secure humanitarian
culture.. the method of peace…the method of all peoples.
Briefly stated, and for the sake of objectivity, we should
recognize the fact that that, the progress of habitation and cultivation of the
earth is suffering from a major defection today, regarding values, principles,
manners, material objects, means and skills. People in certain areas of the
earth have mastered the art of traveling through the earth and exploiting its
resources and tapping its energies and concealed contents. As a result, they
gained substantial creative ability in industrial as well as technological
production, as well as in the field of scientific research an its general
applications. But they failed devastatingly in the realm of values, principles
and morals, and consequently, their cultural production was filled with many
negative as well as perilous aspects. In
other areas of the earth however, there are people with a great reservoir of
values, principles, morals, abundant humanitarian culture, and a substantial
wealth of field applications of these values and principles worthy of respect
and appreciation; as well as virtues worth dealing with, and scientific
experiments worth utilizing, socially, economically, politically, militarily and
in the fields of security, industry, agriculture and commerce etc.. etc.. But,
mostly, these people have failed to keep pace with the material aspect of the
cultural progress, except those who have the Mercy of my Lord. Their failure in
this regard has been due to inner as well as external causes. They are suffering
from a defection in the fields of material objects, means and skills; just vas
the others are suffering from disorder in the field of values, principles and
morals.
Therefore, we appeal to all anticipate the defect and rectify
the methods of their cultural progress so as keep it within the bounds of
balance and integration, i.e. a balance of values, material achievements,
principles, means, morals and skills according to the procedure of vicegerency
for the habitation of the earth. It is only then that the world cultural
progress would be upright, and achieve its required good fruits for mankind at
large, in conformity with God’s saying:
{A goodly word like a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed,
and its branches (reach) to the skies}. 14/24
Finally, and after all this, the big question today is: How can we
realize our ambitions of cultural guidance, and how can we turn the cultural
progress of human kind towards the atmosphere of secure human co-existence in
this age of globalization?
Before giving and answer to this big and urgent question, we, in our
turn, may wonder as to whether globalization is an emerging human phenomenon? Or
is it a natural consequence of the development and growth of human relations
throughout history? And is there any relation between the world order and
globalization?
To answer to the foregoing questions, we say that, we Muslims
believe that universality and globalization are two concomitant things.
Universality means values and morals; while globalization means behaviour and
performance. Universality represents principles, ideals and manners, while
globalization means mechanisms, systems, means and skills. While universality
means codification and drawing down peoples’ interests, globalization means
activation, implementation of the systems of interest between them. Universality
without globalization will remain only aspirations and expectations.
Globalization without universality will remain exposed to frivolity and
confusion. For, they are the two ends of the correct and balanced equation in
mankind’s motion in the task of inhabiting and cultivating the earth and
setting forth justice and security therein. The more the relation between
universality and globalization becomes regulated and consolidated, the more the
correct motion on earth, and the more the positive activation of its concealed
contents is realized in favour of the dignity of man’s dignity, security and
welfare. And after 14 and a half
centuries, Islam has come to endorse universality and globalization, and to
foster a close objective relation between them, having previously endorsed
transforming the human methodology from nationalism to universality; and
broadening the scope of peoples’ interests and public utility from privacy to
globalization on the basis of distinction, co-existence and integration. The
Apostle, peace be on him said: “People are partners in three things: water –
grazing land and fire.” And also: “The best among the people is the one that
benefits the people.”
And also having endorsed the rule of checking one set and human
cooperation to prevent mischief in the land and establish security therein. {And
did not Allah check one set of people by means of another; the earth would
indeed be full of mischief}.
This way, Islam would have caused drastic transformation in
the lives of the people, elevating their worries and concerns and
responsibilities from the national and regional level to the universal as well
and international level, and endorses the unity of the human family and the
complimentary nature of their interests and security, and that the safety of the
earth which is their common abode must be preserved and not corrupted. As the
store of their sustenance, they must master the way of using its keys, and
perfect the arts and skills of activating its treasures. They must abide by the
values of justice and charity with regard to the rulers and the criteria of
making use of its resources, in a manner that will realize the dignity of man,
his security and sufficiency. Moreover, what Muslims must keep in mind, and what
people around them must be aware of is that Islam is both a faith and a
legislation. While faith represents the foundations, traditions and points of
departure of the peculiar characteristics of the genuine religious identity of
the Muslims; the Sharia (Isl. law) represents the foundations and traditions of
the universality and the globalization of the well-contrived methodology of
inhabiting and cultivating the earth, and setting forth justice and security, as
well as realizing the common interests of the people regardless of their
national affiliation, race, gender, colour or creed. {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}. 5/8
On that basis, Islam resolves that all men are partners in the
task of divine appointment as vicegerents for inhabiting and cultivating the
earth. {Behold! Thy Lord said to the angels; I will create a vicegerent on
earth}. 2/30. Islam also believes that people are congenitally competent. {We
have indeed created man in the best of moulds}. 95/4, and are prepared out of
natural disposition to perform this task. {And He taught Adam the names of all
things}. 2/31. Hence people are assigned to cooperate in safe habitation and
cultivation of the earth. {Help ye one another in righteousness and piety. But
help ye not one another in sin and rancour}. 5/2. People are also called upon to
compliment one another and to get acquainted with each other for a total as well
as just accomplishment of the task of the divine appointment as vicegerents.
{O’ mankind We have created you from a single pair of a male and a female and
made you into nations and tribes so that ye will know one another (not that ye
despise one another). Verily, the best of you in the sight of Allah is he who is
most righteous}. 49/13
Moreover, Islam resolves that people are partners in the
public utilization of the fruits of their progress and their toil to inhabit and
cultivate the earth. In other word, they are partners in utilizing the fruits of
the vital cultural as well as technological, industrial and agricultural
benefits. {And He subjected to you as from him, all that is in the heavens and
on earth}. 45/13
But all this is in accordance with the rules and the criteria of
observing the right of ownership, and abiding by the rules and regulations as
well as mechanisms of utility. Is it therefore not objective and legitimate that
some one raises this question: “ On the basis of have just been said, What is
it that is required urgently of the people in order to introduce human societies
into a guided universality and a safe globalization?
Briefly, the answer is as follows:
First: Working together towards renewing spiritual as well as
moral values, and reviving the spirit of responsibility among the human
generations.
Second: Bringing
back the equilibrium between the movement of science and technology on the one
side and moral as well as religious values on the other, so as to bring the
results of knowledge under control in favour of the dignity man and the safety
of the environment, and for the sake of a safe human co-existence.
Third: Conducting serious dialogue between the various peoples as a basis
of mutual acquaintance so that:
1- People may learn how to deal with each other and how to
revere human dignity.
2-
Common values may be discovered, and cultural peculiarities observed for the
sake of safe co-existence.
3-
Working together to stop aggression, oppression and suppression among people.
4-Stressing
upon the fact that a family founded on legal matrimony between a man and a woman
is the basic unit in building safe societies.
5-Stressing
on the fact that the family is a basic unity of the institutions of the civil
society, and that it is the most competent source of productive as well as
responsible generations.
6-Stressing
on the fact that the common responsibilities between the man and the woman in
the various fields of life must be instituted on the values of equitable
complimenting between them
7-Working together to establish divine justice among all peoples,
regardless of their national affiliations, race, gender, creed and colour.
Working together to eradicate the defection of the balance
between human rights and responsibilities as a major factor disturbing the
progress of the human culture.
9- Working to help the
poor to free themselves from the sever circumstances that arte at variance with
human dignity and the brotherhood of man.
10- Working together
to end up the phenomenon of dealing with double standards both at the regional
as well as at the international level.
11- Working together
to eradicate the cultural and social, as well as political factors giving rise
to the phenomenon of violence and terrorism.
12-Stressing upon the
need to progress together bin peace and harmony on the basis of Allah’s will
and obeying Him, otherwise people will be exposed to more lost of life and
destruction.
Yes, religious revival of divine values and the
technological as well as educational control and cultural and urbane dialogue
among people is among the urgent necessities for establishing a guided world
order and a safe and just globalization.
And our last cry is: Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds.
Prof.
Dr. Hamid bin Ahmad Al-Rifaie
Jeddah-
15/3/1422H - 7/6/2001 GC.
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