Muslims all over the world, from East to West, have strongly reacted to the anti-Islam remarks made by Pope Benedict XVI, taking a unanimous stance against what they see as poor understanding of their religion.
Protest demonstrations were organized all over the world to denounce the statement, demanding an official apology from the pope — the least he can do after having badly hurt the feelings of Muslims.
The outpouring of Muslim anger seems to be a natural reaction to the pope’s speech, which aimed to deform the image of Islam, a religion of love, peace and brotherhood. The irony is, and that really made things worse, that such damaging remarks were made by a man at the helm of the Vatican, somebody supposed to have a clear understanding of Islam and Muslims and one who always calls for a dialogue between religions and the necessity to renounce violence.
Muslims were expecting a clear apology from the pope in his weekly Angelus prayer or sermon but they were disappointed when the pope only said that he was “deeply sorry”, which not only fell short of expectations but in fact escalated the Muslim anger. Islamic scholars all over the world have called for a rational handling of the issue while some Muslim countries have called back their ambassadors in the Vatican in order to let it be known to the pope how big a mistake he had committed against Islam and Muslims.
The offensive remarks made by the pope go on to highlight the West’s ignorance of what Islam actually stands for, its teachings and traditions.
History is witness to a number of such incidents underlining a lack of understanding of Islamic beliefs and values. This includes the anti-veil wave that recently swept across Europe with some Europeans linking the veil to the cross and the kippah although there is no connection between the three. The Muslim woman wears the veil/scarf to meet a religious obligation. The veil is something spiritual and not just a piece of cloth to cover a woman’s head or face.
No doubt, the West is to blame for carrying the wrong image of Islam. It has not attempted to come close to Islamic religion to recognize its true soul and spirit and real teachings but has seen it through the eyes of the Zionists and their wrong definitions and interpretations that they so vigorously promote. Ironically, Islam has been seen and interpreted by the West through the conduct of some Muslims who misused religion as a means of achieving their objectives and goals. This misunderstanding has increased the gap between Islam and the West, particularly after the attacks of 9/11, which has put Islam and violence in a single basket despite the fact that Islam is a religion of harmony, peace and pure love.
Obviously, we must confess that as Muslims we have to shoulder a major part of responsibility for such incidents, as we have not been able to introduce the real picture of Islam to the West and have let the doors open for others to paint an unreal image of our religion. Have we published enough books in foreign languages explaining the real values and meaning of Islam?
Where is the proposed Arab satellite channel in English that targets the Western viewers and introduces the essence of Islam? We have been busy publishing some worthless books and magazines besides launching satellite channels that focus on dance and entertainment programs.
Let us admit that we have turned a blind eye to our responsibilities as responsible Muslims.
Whenever someone insults Islam we suddenly wake up to strongly resist and denounce in anger and then go back to a deep slumber. Will the pope’s remarks that defame and insult Islam be a turning point and a moment of real awakening for us to think of a properly thought-out to introduce to the West the essence of Islam and its true meanings or is it just a passing summer cloud after which we get back to our lethargy and inertia?
Only the time will tell.
— Essa bin Mohammed Al-Zedjali is editor in chief of The Times of Oman.
