Pressing
Questions for the BBC Producers
Muslims of Britain
have remained unanimous and consistent in their condemnation
of the London bombings. Muslim scholars, the length
and breath of this country, have drawn inspiration
from the words of the Quran to criticise those responsible
for this tragedy. Why then does the BBC persist in
propagating the offensive verbosity against the Quran
by the likes of Irshad Manji? (Newsnight 12/07/05)
Is it to provide further justification for what is
increasingly being perceived as the West’s onslaught
on the Quran and Islam?
We do not support
the attacks on London nor can we afford attacks on
our source of guidance for that position. When two
million Muslims declare unequivocally that the Quran
has guided them to denounce these bombings, it is
an absurdity to allow anyone to use the divergent
opinions of a few individuals to demand from Muslims
a full-scale ‘reformation’ in regard to
the Quran and Islam. Irshad Manji has little or nothing
in common with the cultural and spiritual traditions
of the Muslim community in Britain. The BBC cannot
claim that her ideas are representative by any stretch
of the imagination. In fact, she has never been invited
by any Muslim organisation in this country to address
a Muslim audience. If anything her ideas are perceived
among Muslims as selective, prescriptive, and offensive.
Selective in isolating
verses from the rest of the Message to support her
theory that belief in the Quran is the cause of all
violence among Muslims. Prescriptive in her trying
to tell Muslims what they should and should not believe,
without any scholarly authority to do so, and incredibly
offensive as in her recent support for the desecration
of the Quran in Guantanamo Bay.
Where is the logic
of the BBC in alienating all the Muslims of this country
by airing flawed theories and creating tension in
the wider community at a time when the need for restraint
and cooperation has never been so pronounced?
Indeed,
I am saddened beyond words to learn that young men
from our community are now suspects in this tragedy
and I hope and pray that God will guide and protect
the rest of our children from such calamities. I also
urge the authorities to avoid contentment with simplistic
interpretations on their findings and to look very
carefully into the wider possibilities of agent provocateurs
being instrumental in this case. Irshad Manji’s
‘opportune’ appearance in the UK (Oxford)
tonight is for me a point to ponder.
“…but
if some misfortune overtakes you, they rejoice at
it. But if ye are patient and do right, not the least
harm will their cunning do to you....” (Quran
3:120)
Shaikh Riyad Nadwi, PhD
Director, OCCRi
13th July 2005
