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by Jamshed Bokhari
WASHINGTON (Islam Online) July 13 - On Tuesday July 11, Qazi Hussain Ahmad of Pakistan's Jamaat-I-Islami spoke to a gathering of local Muslims at Dar al-Hijra mosque in northern Virginia. Ahmad, who is scheduled to hold a Live Dialogue with Islam Online later today, spoke upon the importance of the Muslim community in the United States to act as advocates for Islam and Muslims worldwide, and that he was here to meet with the Islamic community, "to come here actually to learn from you," on the status and progress of issues American Muslims are pursuing. Included on Ahmad's itinerary in the US are visits with American officials. But before meeting with these officials, Ahmad desired, "to consult with the brothers…the American Muslims and the Muslim community at large," concerning, "how should we and how can we present our case?" Recognizing that Muslims face difficulties worldwide in places like Chechnya, Kashmir, Palestine and Bosnia, Ahmad stated that Muslims in America, especially those living in Washington, DC, the US capitol, must be the voice for Muslims worldwide. Ahmad stated that, "This is a just case which can be presented at any forum," adding, "but we should present it with wisdom, with the right vocabulary, and the right manners, because this is truth and this is justice." "We must present our case in a rational way," said Ahmad, "We must not paint ourselves by our own aims as extremists who talk illogically. We must take pains to present our case in the right manner." Concerning efforts by Muslims to voice issues both within the US and internationally, Ahmad said, "No country should be alien to us," adding, "We do not have any geographical boundaries, we do not have any linguistic limitations, we are an ummah with a universal message." Speaking on the distribution of people and tribes and upon tahahruf, Ahmad said, "We should communicate with other people, we should communicate with the Americans, with the Europeans, with the Muslims and non-Muslims," to convey to them the true message of Islam using wisdom. Fielding questions from the audience, Ahmad addressed human rights, the Taliban and Pakistan's nuclear program. Referring to a discussion Ahmad had with the Mayor of Hiroshima, one of the cities upon which the US dropped atomic weapons, in which the Mayor stated that as a religious man, Ahmad must be against weapons of mass destruction. Ahmad replied, "We are against these weapons of mass destruction. These have been created by other people, we have only a deterrent. Our weapon is only a deterrent," adding, "This is against those powers who want to target us." "If Japan had got this weapon, they would not have been targeted by the Americans," added Ahmad. Given this, Ahmad went on to clarify, "We are for a world which is totally free from nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, weapons of mass destruction," explaining that these weapons kill non-combatants and that Islam forbids the practice. Ahmad went on further to denounce the practice of 'honor killings' and acid attacks upon women stating that these human rights violations are not Islamic and are products of culture. Ahmad cautioned, however, that reports of such crimes in the media are mistakenly ascribed to Islam when they are actually acts of criminals, criminals who reside in every part of the globe. Referring to the law and order situation in the US and Europe, Ahmad stated, "There are cases here also, in this society, which are inhuman, which are against human rights, which are against human dignity," adding, "and a female and the weak are subjected to tortures in every society. This should be corrected." Ahmad said that the Jamaat-I-Islami played a minimal, if non-existent, role with the Taliban. The Taliban received its training from the Deobandis in Pakistan and their political party. Rather, the Jamaat-I-Islami has requested that the Taliban remove its restrictions upon women and allow the use of televisions and radios, stating that no laws in Islam forbid such practices, and that Islam tells that all should enjoy education. Ahmad later spoke to a wider audience after the reception, reiterating the need for action by American Muslims. For answers to specific questions, Qazi Hussain Ahmad shall be available during a Live Dialogue at 2200 GMT (3:00 PM US Eastern) on Islam Online. |
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