It is Dialogue’ not Clash

Salah Ed-Din A. Nefeily

Description

CULTURAL CONFLICT , ISLAMIC MISSIONARY , ISLAMIC-CHRISTIAN DIALOGUE , CULTURAL DIALOGUE , MULTICULTURALISM

Sujets

• ISLAM
• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: Dar Annashr for Universities
• Date de parution: 01 janvier 2009
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9796500124148
• Langue: English

Extrait

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‘Dialogue’ not ‘Clash’

ﻢﻴﺣﺮﻟا ﻦﻤﺣﺮﻟا ﻪـﻠـﻟا ﻢﺴﺑ

Dedication

To all the free spirits and lovers of the real progress of Man

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It is ‘Dialogue’ not ‘Clash’ thatًWe Need: A Study of the Topic from an Islamic Point of View

By SALAH ED-DIN A. NEFEILY PH.D (UND. USA) Assoc. Prof . of Eng. Lit. (AL – Azhar Univ.)

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Title

Author

Edition

Date of Issuance

Copy right

Publisher

Deposit No.

I.S.B.N

Code

Warning

: "Dialogue" Not "Clash"

: SALAH ED-DIN A. NEFEILY

: First

: 2009

: All Rights Reserved

: Dar An-Nashr Liljami'at

: 23358/ 2008

: 977 – 316 – 287 – 7

: 277 / 2

: No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any from or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

 تﺎﻌﻣﺎﺠﻠﻟ ﴩﻨﻟا راد

11518 ةﺮﻫﺎﻘﻟا (ﺪﻳﺮﻓ ﺪﻤﺤﻣ 130) ﺏ.ﺹ 26440094 :ﻑ 26321753 – 26347976 :ﺕ E-mail: [e-mail]

Contents Introduction.................................................................................7 (I) Dialogue Dialogue in Islam......................................................................13 Elements of a Successful Dialogue from an  Islamic Point of View ...........................................................19 Aims, Significance and the Urgent Need for  Intercultural Dialogue .........................................................22 Why the current dialogues are ineffective ...............................27 Why a Religious Approach .......................................................30 Muslim Influence on and Contribution to the  Modern European Culture...................................................34 Islam is not a Threat .................................................................39 Tolerance of Islam ....................................................................41 The Ethics of War in Islam.......................................................53 Depreciation of Islam and Muslims in the West ......................56 (II) Clash of Civilizations The Term ‘Clash of Civilizations’ ............................................69 The Rise of Fundamentalism....................................................71 The Reality and Causes of the Conflict ....................................77 Why the idea of the clash appeared in the West.......................96 Francis Fukuyama’s article “The End of History” ...............105 Bernard Lewis’s article “The Roots of Muslim Rage” .........114 Samuel Huntington’s article “The Clash of Civilizations” ...126 Criticism of the notion of the ‘Clash of Civilization’ .............136 What Went Wrong...................................................................151 Why this Change Happened ...................................................154 What we should do to reduce the conflict...............................156 Conclusion...............................................................................177 Bibliography ............................................................................181 Index of Names .......................................................................189

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Introduction So, now is the time for you to speak All you lovers of liberty All you lovers of the pursuit of happiness, All you lovers and sleepers Deep in your private dreams Now is the time for you to speak O, silent majority.  “Speak Out” Lawrence Ferlinghetti, (2003) This book is an attempt to point out and account for the modern man’s need to get into a constructive dialogue which will bring the peoples of the world together in the face of the powers of dissipation and segregation. So many writers, both Western and non-Western, realized the fact that the notion of ‘the Clash of Civilizations’ is in its essence, an attempt to create an enemy for economic and political reasons. To achieve their desired ends, defenders of this notion are ready to demolish cultures and to subdue nations. Throughout the book I made it clear that the strategy of promoting the clash of civilizations is against the principle of democracy. It is against the principle of dialogue which allows for the expression of the opposing point of view. To suppress this notion of dialogue, the other will have to be presented as an aggressor who needs to be checked. The roots of this notion of clash of civilizations, in its modern systematized sense, appeared in Francis Fukuyama’s article “The End of History” (1989). It was advanced by Bernard Lewis in his article “The Roots of Muslim Rage” (1990) and 7

was advocated by Samuel P. Huntington in his article “The Clash of Civilizations” (1993). However, this term, in its present context, can be traced back to 1926 when Basil Matthews published his bookYoung Islam on Treck: A Study in the Clash of Civilizations. Nevertheless, Matthews’s book is not even mentioned by any of the numerous writers who discussed the topic, as far as I know. The application of the philosophy behind the notion of the ‘Clash of Civilizations’ to politics proved to be shocking and frustrating. Its consequences are so drastic because they affect the most delicate part of human entity that is of his beliefs and faith. To avoid inaccuracy and generalization, I should note here that the word “West” is used in the book to refer to the majority of Westerners who support the destructive notion of clash and oppose the idea of dialogue. For sure, there are some sound voices in the West that stand by the notion of dialogue and peace between the two cultures. Unfortunately, these voices sound like birds singing in the presence of roaring lions in the modern human jungle. This book presents the notion of dialogue as a possible solution for the present confrontational dilemma between the West and the world of Islam. It explores the notion of dialogue and discusses the basics of dialogue as they appear in Islamic culture. It emphasizes the need of modern people to get into dialogue. The book also attempts to find out why modern dialogues are not effective enough to cool down the existing tension between the two cultures. For the sake of academic objectivity, the book attempts to study the Western presentation of Islam and the reality of the present Western culture. The book seeks truth, and aims at cooling down the present heat that dominates the relationship 8

between the Muslim East and the Christian West. The starting point is that Christianity and Islam together with Judaism come from the same source; hence, they cannot be contradictory when understood properly. This notion is expressed by some writers most notably by Jonathan Sacks. The book is divided into two parts, the first part deals with ‘Dialogue’ as the option recommended by the author. The second part is a study of the ‘Clash of Civilizations” as the other option which is expected to lead the world to an endless series of clashes on every level. This second part also attempts to discuss the roots of fundamentalism and the causes of the present clash. The book ends with recommendations which the writer hopes will help to reduce the tension of the conflict and boost the expected dialogue. The book presents religion as a unifying element that should bring believers and humanitarians together in defense of an approach that brings human beings together through dialogue in a world of love and peace. Religious and humanistic tolerance will allow for the respectful presence of the other and for differences. This idea is clearly expressed in verse 6 of chapter 109 in the Qur’an. The verse directs the Prophet Muhammad that he should address non-Muslims saying: “To you be your religion, and to me my religion”. Other verses in the Qur’an also emphasize the idea that there is no compulsion in religion. The firsthand experience the writer had with people from different countries of the world assured him that human beings are by nature peaceful and loving. The writer is whole heartedly against terrorism, but at the same time he is whole heartedly against injustice and imperialism. He believes that talking things out clears misunderstandings and dubieties. He thinks that the world should listen to the voice of love, peace and beauty. 9