Our Stand

published as advertisement

The New Zealand Herald

Friday, July 29, 2005

Advertisment

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Our Stand*

            As a Muslim scholar of the Shi’a faith I, along with my community in New Zealand, condemn the atrocities that have happened recently in Britain, Iraq, and Egypt. The act of murdering innocent people who are going about their daily life is a heinous crime.

            Islam respects the value of human life and teaches that no one has the authority to inflict injury on the innocent, indeed “all people are brothers, either by faith or by creation”.

            Attacking London’s tube, Baghdad’s city center, or Egypt’s hotels is not jihad. It is in fact a criminal act, in which all of society is victimized. The name of Islam is used to justify the act of this extreme evil.

We take this opportunity to address the following points to the community and the country:

The Duty of Our Community:

1-   New Zealand Muslims must consider New Zealand their home. They should fight to defend this country from a proposed enemy that threatens to harm their family, their property, or themselves. This is what their faith asks them to do.

2-      One in every five people on earth is a Muslim. It is necessary to engage in dialogue with people in society to explain the ideas of our religion. Islam uses rationalism and encourages us to be moderate and tolerant.

3-      Using freedom of speech positively to present the principles of Islam is not an easy task, but the strength of the community lays in the strength of its faith. Islam fulfills the spiritual integration of human beings and seeks justice, harmony and brotherhood in society.

4-      Have a positive Muslim conscious that is ready to respect other cultures and help others in society.

5-      Our community should use their voice of power to be better represented in the media. Unfortunately Muslims in this country are not represented well. The media rely on ordinary Muslims with no religious education to answer the questions at hand. This is a disturbing common practice, whereas other faiths have priests or rabbis who are consulted.

Facts: 

1-      Diversity of religious beliefs in New Zealand should not interfere with cultural integration. Cultural integration starts with loving the society in which one lives and to defend it despite the difference in the way of social life and habits.

2-      Members of the Muslim community demonstrate positive characteristics such as: dignified family orientation, little involvement in crime, hard working, law abiding and taking moral stands on social and political issues. This consequently makes them good citizens.

3-      Terrorism is not an Islamic value. People who commit such atrocities are those who have been ignorantly radicalized. Their lack of knowledge about true Islamic values and principles lead them to this path of radicalism.

The time has come to distinguish radical Muslims from Islam, a moderate religion that touches the human mind and soul.

Dr. Zuhair Araji (Minister of Islamic Religion)

Imam Ali Mosque

Incorporated in New Zealand under Charitable Trusts Act 1957 Reg. No. 1590063

P.O. Box 26-439 Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand.

Phone (021) 154 5181. E-mail: z.araji@xtra.co.nz

Letters of support are welcomed.

*Since our stand is not fairly presented in the media, we paid for this advertisement.