Islam isn't Monolithic - Institute for Ismaili Studies (IIS)
July 25,2006
Islam Isn't Monolithic, Says Muslim
ROME (Zenit.org) -- Islam must make an effort to "recognize" its plurality and internal diversity, says the director of the Institute of Ismaili Studies of London.
Azim Nanji made that assessment in Rome before the newest outbreak of new violence in Lebanon. "Islam is rich because it is diverse," he had said at the headquarters of the Pontifical Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies.
Nanji addressed the topic of "The Muslim World and the Ismaili Community Today: Challenges and Perspectives," and pointed out how a united Islam does not mean "everybody should believe exactly the same."
The scholar indicated, for example, that demographically, Islam is present in non-Arab lands such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia.
"To impose a monolithic view would be a historical error," he said. In this connection, he recalled historical moments in which Islam and other religions coexisted in peace and mutual respect.
Nanji added that "these are difficult times in which to conduct dialogue," and referred to films such as "The Da Vinci Code" and cartoons of Mohammed, stating that "We cannot allow fiction to be the only forum to inform about what Christianity or Islam is."
"The relationship between Islam and the West cannot be reduced to the Crusades, the Ottoman Empire or immigration," he continued. Nanji instead called for meetings on concrete subjects such as bioethics and poverty.
Building bridges
Nanji belongs to Ismailism, a branch of Shiite Islam. The institute he heads was founded by Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, the imam of the Ismaili Muslims.
Father Justo Lacunza Balda, director of the Pontifical Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, noted professor Nanji's efforts "toward building bridges with the Muslim world through its course programs and publications."
Father Lacunza recalled how the pontifical institute "continues to display its efforts to promote understanding, to improve relations and to explore avenues of religious and cultural interaction between Christians and Muslims."
This does not mean that there are no difficulties, as the director pointed out.
"We are fully aware that such noble aims are hard to explain, arduous to follow and difficult to achieve," he said. "A scientific approach to the study of world religions, and Islam is not an exception, is today more necessary than ever. This leads to a continuous interaction in the fields of study, research and education."
Toilsome
"This is particularly true in these times of political turbulence, cultural tensions and religious rivalries," Father Lacunza continued. "But we do not despair in our toilsome enterprise and will not slow down in our day-to-day endeavors to foster better relations between Muslims and Christians in a spirit of freedom of thought, human dignity and mutual respect."
The director added that the "challenges of religious pluralism and cultural diversity often give rise to fiery and senseless confrontation. Therefore, we need the tools of intellectual freedom, profound knowledge and sound scholarship. These are the powerful antidote against easy condemnation, polemical attitudes and superficial perception of human societies."
Nanji spoke at the conference of the Bradley Foundation which every May hosts an expert from the Muslim world to talk at the headquarters of the pontifical institute.
http://www.theindiancatholic.com/newsread.asp?nid=2562
Islam isn't Monolithic - Institute for Ismaili Studies (IIS)
IIS Contributes to Workshop on The Esoteric Interpretation of the Qur’an
August 2006
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=106482
August 2006
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=106482
Council formed to promote Sufism
Council formed to promote Sufism
National Council for Promotion of Sufism will promote love, tolerance and unity with dialogue, research and festivals
By Shoaib Ahmed
LAHORE: The federal government has set up a ‘National Council for Promotion of Sufism’ (NCPS) with the President of Pakistan its patron-in-chief.
According to a notification (F3.61/2006-C- II) by the Ministry of Culture, the council will hold festivals, national and international conferences and workshops on Sufi culture and promote and distribute Sufi literature in various Pakistani languages. The council would “spread the Sufi message of love, tolerance and universal brotherhood,” it said, to “integrate regional diversity with national unity”.
The council will “interact and collaborate with various scholars and institutions of Islamic and other spiritual traditions of the world” and “foster positive linkages between Islam and the west in the field of philosophy, religion and mysticism”.
Sufi “centres of excellence” will be set up in Pakistan and the council will facilitate and give scholarships for research on Sufism. Annual presidential and civil awards will be recommended for achievements in the promotion of Sufism and the role of Pakistani Sufi intellectuals will be highlighted. The NCPS would “glorify the revered Sufi saints and their mausoleums not just as centres of holiness but also as centres of learning”, the statement said. It will develop links with cultural and art centres in Pakistan and aboard, and a council website will also be made.
Members of the council are: Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain as chairman, Mian Yousaf Salahuddin as vice chairman, Mushahid Hussain Syed, Hameed Haroon, Abbas Srafraz and Jam Muhammad Yousaf. Naeem Tahir, director general of Pakistan National of Arts (PNCA) will be the secretary.
Talking to Daily Times, Mian Yousaf Salahuddin said Sufism was the real Islam and the NCPS would play a key role in the promotion of promoting it, with music festivals and conferences.
Sufism had great significance in the world, he said, and Prince Charles recently funded Iranians to make a film on Maulana Rumi. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan spread the real Islam with his qawalis, he said, and was recognised the world over. “Islam was not spread by force,” he said, “ but by the teachings of Sufis.” He said Sufis promoted unity, tolerance and love among people from all religions.
The council will meet in Islamabad soon and will hold a Sufi music festival in Lahore in which celebrities would be invited from all over the world. The festival would also be held in Kasur and other small cities of Punjab, he added.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.as ... 006_pg7_18
National Council for Promotion of Sufism will promote love, tolerance and unity with dialogue, research and festivals
By Shoaib Ahmed
LAHORE: The federal government has set up a ‘National Council for Promotion of Sufism’ (NCPS) with the President of Pakistan its patron-in-chief.
According to a notification (F3.61/2006-C- II) by the Ministry of Culture, the council will hold festivals, national and international conferences and workshops on Sufi culture and promote and distribute Sufi literature in various Pakistani languages. The council would “spread the Sufi message of love, tolerance and universal brotherhood,” it said, to “integrate regional diversity with national unity”.
The council will “interact and collaborate with various scholars and institutions of Islamic and other spiritual traditions of the world” and “foster positive linkages between Islam and the west in the field of philosophy, religion and mysticism”.
Sufi “centres of excellence” will be set up in Pakistan and the council will facilitate and give scholarships for research on Sufism. Annual presidential and civil awards will be recommended for achievements in the promotion of Sufism and the role of Pakistani Sufi intellectuals will be highlighted. The NCPS would “glorify the revered Sufi saints and their mausoleums not just as centres of holiness but also as centres of learning”, the statement said. It will develop links with cultural and art centres in Pakistan and aboard, and a council website will also be made.
Members of the council are: Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain as chairman, Mian Yousaf Salahuddin as vice chairman, Mushahid Hussain Syed, Hameed Haroon, Abbas Srafraz and Jam Muhammad Yousaf. Naeem Tahir, director general of Pakistan National of Arts (PNCA) will be the secretary.
Talking to Daily Times, Mian Yousaf Salahuddin said Sufism was the real Islam and the NCPS would play a key role in the promotion of promoting it, with music festivals and conferences.
Sufism had great significance in the world, he said, and Prince Charles recently funded Iranians to make a film on Maulana Rumi. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan spread the real Islam with his qawalis, he said, and was recognised the world over. “Islam was not spread by force,” he said, “ but by the teachings of Sufis.” He said Sufis promoted unity, tolerance and love among people from all religions.
The council will meet in Islamabad soon and will hold a Sufi music festival in Lahore in which celebrities would be invited from all over the world. The festival would also be held in Kasur and other small cities of Punjab, he added.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.as ... 006_pg7_18