Category: English

Diversity, English, Extremism, Sufism, Videos

President Obama condemns global violence against Sufi Sunni and Shia Muslims

Admin

US President Obama condemns global violence against Sufi Sunni and Shia Muslims and other communities at the hands of Takfiri Islamist militant groups. “Let us condemn incitement against Sufi Muslims and Shiite pilgrims. It’s time to heed the words of Gandhi: “Intolerance is itself a form of violence and an obstacle to the growth of a true democratic spirit. The impulse towards intolerance and violence may initially be focused on the West, but over time it cannot be contained. The same impulses toward extremism are used to justify war between Sunni and Shia, between tribes and clans. It leads not … Continue reading President Obama condemns global violence against Sufi Sunni and Shia Muslims

Diversity, English, Extremism, Understanding Islam, Urdu, Videos

Javed Ahmed Ghamidi condemns violence against Shia Muslims

Admin

The following is a summary of Javed Ahmad Ghamidi’s talk on target killing of Shia Hazara Muslims in Quetta and other parts of Pakistan (January 2013). “Ghamidi’s views on Quetta Blasts – Killing of Innocent LivesNo sensitive person can remain indifferent to the carnage in Quetta. The State seems to be unwilling to perform its duties. This is not a sudden development, an outcome of our negligence to real teachings of Islam. Shia and Sunn sects have always co-existed despite their differences. However, the current situation demands that the factors and drivers, whether ethnic or sectarian, behind the target killing … Continue reading Javed Ahmed Ghamidi condemns violence against Shia Muslims

English, Sufism, Understanding Islam

Reading Ghamidi on Sufism

Admin

Javed Ahmed Ghamidi appropriates the old Socratic philosophical method of raising questions regarding the opponent’s view. He hardly concedes anything to the opponent and puts up his case as an expert lawyer. His approach is deceptively simple. The same applies to his classic refutation of Sufi doctrine, especially Unitarianism and Sufi view of prophecy, especially its ending. However, today I use the same old Socratic method to analyze his key arguments and hope that a refined group of students and scholars of Ghamidi responds to clarify. Ghamidi Sahib has a lengthy essay on Sufism in his Burhan, and a few … Continue reading Reading Ghamidi on Sufism

English, Extremism, Understanding Islam, Urdu

بے گناہ عورتوں اور بچوں کا قتل: جاوید غامدی صاحب کا استدلال طالبان کے استدلال سے کیونکر بہتر ہے؟

Admin

معروف عالم دین جاوید احمد غامدی نے یکم جنوری ٢٠١٢ کو تحریک طالبان پاکستان کے پاکستانی میڈیا کے نام خط کے جواب میں اپنے مسلک اور رائے کی وضاحت کی – ہم جاوید غامدی صاحب کے شائستہ اسلوب کی تعریف کرتے ہیں اور اس بات کی قدر کرتے ہیں کہ اگرچہ غامدی صاحب صوفی، سنی بریلوی اور شیعہ مسلمانوں کو گمراہ مسلمان سمجھتے ہیں لیکن ان ‘گمراہ’ مسلمانوں کے خلاف تشدد کو جائز نہیں سمجھتے – ہمارا اصولی موقف ہے کہ جو شخص بھی سنی، شیعہ، بریلوی، دیوبندی، سلفی افراد یا دوسرے مسلک یا فرقے سے تعلق رکھنے والے لوگوں … Continue reading بے گناہ عورتوں اور بچوں کا قتل: جاوید غامدی صاحب کا استدلال طالبان کے استدلال سے کیونکر بہتر ہے؟

English, Extremism, Sufism

70,000 clerics issue fatwa against ISIS, Taliban and al-Qaida

Admin

BAREILLY: On the last day of Urs-e-Razvi of Dargah Aala Hazrat Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi, nearly 70,000 clerics came together and passed a fatwa against terrorist organizations, including ISIS, Taliban and al-Qaida. These are “not Islamic organizations,” the clerics said to a sea of followers, adding that the members of these outfits were “not Muslims”. Around 15 lakh followers who visited the Urs put their signatures to a document circulated at the Urs, protesting terrorist strikes.Mufti Mohammed Saleem Noori, one of the clerics who passed the fatwa told the media, “From Sunday onwards, when the annual Urs began, members of … Continue reading 70,000 clerics issue fatwa against ISIS, Taliban and al-Qaida

Diversity, English, Extremism

Javed Ghamidi’s problematic views about Sufi Sunnis and Shias

Admin

Recent PEW Survey has revelaed that only 50 per cent of mainstream Sunnis in Pakistan accept Shias as Muslims and that at least 30 per cent of Sunnis think that Sufi (Barelvi Sunni) Muslims are non-Muslims. Reasons for such widespread intolerance about Shias and Sunni Sufi Barelvis are to be found not only in takfiri madrassas and militant groups but also in seemingly moderate scholars. We present one such example, in this post, of a person who is perhaps one of the most influential moderate clerics in Pakistan’s upper-middle class. Javed Ahmed Ghamidi (born in 1951 in Sahiwal, Punjab) is Pakistan’s leading … Continue reading Javed Ghamidi’s problematic views about Sufi Sunnis and Shias

Diversity, English, Understanding Islam

Internal diversity, pluralism and the future of Islam – Dr Jawad Syed

Admin

Pluralism as a philosophy is the recognition and affirmation of diversity within a society or political body, to enable peaceful coexistence of different interests, convictions, and lifestyles. A pluralist society is one where religious, linguistic, social, cultural and other forms of difference exist in a harmonious and inclusive manner. Diversity encompasses all those differences that make individuals unique. There are about 1.8 billion Muslims in the world today and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) comprises 57 countries. Muslims worldwide have numerous forms of internal diversity. They are divided not only into different sects such as Sunni, Shia, Sufi … Continue reading Internal diversity, pluralism and the future of Islam – Dr Jawad Syed