"Islam is the natural religion of mankind. It has existed since the
beginning of time. Islam has the answer to the basic needs of mankind.
It roots our whole lives in Allah." With this strong belief, the
British writer Idris Tawfiq meant to pen a series of books projecting
the genuine image of Islam under the main headline: Ask About Islam.
In
one of these books devoted to giving insight into the conditions of
Muslims in the West, Tawfiq argues that if people are ever given the
chance to hear the real message of islam, they will see that it has
something to offer all mankind. Living for most of his life in Britain
and Italy as a teacher of religion and a Catholic priest in the
Vatican, Tawfiq could be an honest eyewitness to conditions of Muslims
in Europe.
In his book Talking to Muslims in the West, Tawfiq refers
to the poor condition s of Muslims in some Western countries, such as
France, where they feel at a loss, a matter reflected in the 2005
street riots by some Muslim youths.
Though he blames the Muslims in
some European countries for distancing themselves from their new homes,
the author keeps on urging the Western governments to solve the
problems of these communities. He reminds them that the Grand Mosque of
Paris was built by the government and opened in 1926 by the French
President to express thanks to the many Muslims in France's colonies
who had fought and given their lives for France during the First World
War.
He points out that during the Second World War, "Muslims at the
\Grand Mosque of Paris managed to prevent the deportation of Jews to
Nazi death camps by providing false documents or by giving them shelter
from their oppressors, showing that islam is a religion of mercy and
compassion and that Muslims respect those of other religions and help
those in need."
In reviewing experiences of Muslims in Ireland,
Tawfiq, who converted to Islam shortly after the September 11th terror
attacks, argues that unlike the presence of Muslim minorities in other
European countries, the arrival of Muslims in Ireland was not connected
with citizens from former colonies.
"The first Muslims came for
higher education, notably to study Medicine at the Royal College of
Surgeons in Dublin. Many of those graduates stayed on and took Irish
citizenship, becoming valued professionals within the Irish community.
So the foundation of a Muslim presence in Ireland was based on
usefulness to the State. So they were widely accepted and respected by
the Irish."
However, as Tawfiq reveals, this condition has changed
since the early 1990's with the growing number of Muslim asylum seekers
and refugees from Bosnia, Somalia and Kosovo in addition to Nigeria,
Kenya, Algeria, Libya, Iraq and Egypt. "With this rise in the number of
Muslims in Ireland, as well as the set-back in religious practice in
the country along with the growing Islamophobia in the whole West,
seeds of troubles have begun to grow there." Accordingly, Tawfiq
advises Irish Muslims to get integrated into Irish society without
allowing this to rob them of what is meant to be Muslim. "The cost of
becoming fully Irish should not mean losing their Islamic faith. What
does it profit a man to gain the whole world if he should lose his
soul?" he wonders.
Tawfiq also cautions the Irish Muslims and all
other Muslim communities in the West against the strength of the
secular groups in Europe and those who show fierce enmity to religions
in general and Islam in particular. He chooses to conclude his rich
book by giving a great example of Muslim communities in the West who
managed to get integrated into their new society and at the same time
are a good example of good Muslims and so gain public respect.
He
points out that Muslims in Toronto, Canada, are at the heart of
society, not isolated from it. They are organizing some major
activities with the knowledge and the blessing of the Canadian
authorities, such as the Annual Winter Dinner that takes place on
Christmas Day.
"Here we have the first lesson. Whilst the whole of
Canada was celebrating Christmas, the Muslims of Toronto, not to be
left out, were having their own celebration. What a great way of
adapting and being part of their Canadian home…. The experience of
being in Toronto was very moving. It is a privilege to see Muslims in
different cities and different continents living out their Islam in the
midst of their society. Muslims don't want to change the societies in
which they live. They just want to make them better. Muslims are not a
threat to the West, but a part of it. The Muslims of Toronto –
comfortable in their society, and their society, for its part,
comfortable with them – are an inspiration and even a model for others
to follow."
Since converting to Islam, Tawfiq has kept on roaming
different parts of the world lecturing about Islam. His series Ask
About Islam is a means for presenting Islam with its right image to the
whole world to expose the negative stereotypes being touted by biased
media. "Therefore, if islam is on every tongue, because of what people
see on their television screens and in their press, we are being
offered on a plate the chance to speak about it. In this sense, Islam
in the West has a fantastic future. As Muslims we shouldn't ever allow
ourselves to throw that chance away."
Idris Tawfiq
has a degree in English language and Literature from the University of
Manchester and a degree in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical
University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome. For many years he was Head
of Religious Studies in different schools in England and Wales and has
much experience of teaching, both in the UK and Egypt. Before embracing
Islam, Idris was a Roman Catholic priest.
http://wwwambassado
Akses email lebih cepat. Yahoo! menyarankan Anda meng-upgrade browser ke Internet Explorer 8 baru yang dioptimalkan untuk Yahoo! Dapatkan di sini!
http://downloads.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Pesantren Daarut Tauhiid - Bandung - Jakarta - Batam
====================================================
Menuju Ahli Dzikir, Ahli Fikir, dan Ahli Ikhtiar
====================================================
website: http://dtjakarta.or.id/
====================================================
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to Traditional
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar