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An Introduction to Islam: 7. Conclusion - Islam in the Modern World and Dialogue |
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An Introduction to Islam: 7. Conclusion - Islam in the Modern World and Dialogue |
Introduction to Islam (1)Start
Back Introduction to Islam 6. Sufism
Khaled Nusseibeh
| In this lecture, I have rather selectively dealt with Islam’s doctrines and worldview in
the hope that I may have said something useful. In the contemporary age of globalization which requires a global ethic
and ethos, I believe Arab and Islamic culture has much to contribute, not only in spiritual terms, but also in terms of
partaking in the values of democracy, freedom of speech and belief, respect for human rights, as well as in contributing
to achieving higher thresholds of justice for human societies.
To the claims of Islamophobia that Islam fosters terrorism, dogmatism and authoritarianism it may be said that the true Islam represents tolerance, pluralism, humanism and is a message of goodwill to humanity including the American people, who have been exposed to extensive myths about Islam and Arab culture, and who must become aware that certain manifestations of hostility may be remedied by pursuing greater even-handedness vis a vis the Arab-Israeli conflict, by showing deeper commitment to Arab independence, by fostering more actively respect for human rights and the processes of democratization. |
Introduction to Islam
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I end my talk to you with a poem I authored describing what is perhaps the principal theme of Islamic civilization, indeed, in my view, of human history, that of tawhid or the One God worshipped by Gentile and Jew, Aryan and Semite, Easterner and Westerner, without compulsion, without a clash of civilizations, but through dialogue and purposeful interaction:
Stations of Galaxies
I do not swear by the stations of galaxies
For a question unveils the secret of oath
Does the moon in splendor forever glimmer?
And doesn’t it in complete form recoil to a crescent?
The sun at noon with brilliance shines
But sinks in reddish orange at a distant horizon
The stars illumine a darkness of intense depth
But fade from the view of earthly life
Pyramids stoutly stand with magnificent posture
But are immensely below the nearest cloud
Abraham exclaims revolt at vanishing splendor
Affirming that God is without twilight
I do not swear by the stations of galaxies
For being is conditional on Almighty God
The tallest wave on the shore’s sand breaks
Yielding to numbers of succeeding waves
Michelangelo’s David stuns the viewing eye
Exceeded by the creations of other men of art
The sea waves and earth bow to the Macedonian’s conquest
But death chooses to its side the finest general
Athena makes each citizen a member of the jury
But history’s indomitable verdict is that all have an end
I do not swear by the stations of galaxies
For finite life overwhelms all that lives.
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Islam and the concept of martyrdom
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