There always was and is a moderate Islam

Submitted by Safraz (United States), Dec 13, 2006 at 10:58

There always was and still is a moderate Islam. It is the religion of the mass majority of the world's Muslims, and I dare say 99.99% of American Muslims.

It is the extreme intolerent brand of Islam (that you seem to think is real Islam) that is new on the world stage. And this violent brand is not a religion, but a violent ideology that is a political over-reaction to Western dominance of the Middle East and the world.

By far, Muslims throughout history have always interpreted the call to jihad as a call to proportional self defence. Absolutely no different from the concepts of self defence that exist today in Western societies. Of course there were always were Muslim rulers who abused such concepts of self defence, as there were such rulers also in the non-Muslim world.

And the Ottoman Empire and Moorish Empires, among others, with their focus on reason and logic as the way to intepret the Koran (as opposed to strict textualism) are prime examples of moderate Muslims in history. Judging these empires in their historical contexts (as compared to their peer rivals and empires), they are shining examples of moderation.

In the modern world, the moderate Islam can be found everywhere you look. I grew up with it. Unfortunately it is hard to see, because it is often surrounded by the extreme violent brand practiced by political reactionaries and words of anger and hate are apparently more media worthy than words of tolerance and peace.

Read the letter written to the Pope by the 38 of the world's most respected Muslim scholars. They represent all major sects of Islam - an they all agreed on this interpretation of the Koran - a moderate interpretation in my opinion.

http://www.islamicamagazine.com/online-analysis/open-letter-to-his-holiness-pope-benedict-xvi.html

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