Editorial

Besides the US factor, several objective conditions contribute much for this raising wave. Demographic pressure is one of the key factors. The quantity of citizen blows up, while those weary regimes incapable to provide employment and sufficient life.

Muslims on pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj) are perceived as being the guests of Allah. They are visiting Baitullah (Allah’s home) to “meet” Allah - the Creator of universe. During this meeting, they communicate and converse intensely with their Creator and this dialogue should result in significant changes in their attitudes.

Religionists used to deny this thesis, as for them, violence is antithetical to the noble message of all religions and therefore it is impossible for it to serve as a source of violence. In their view, religious based violence is a form of misconduct on the part of adherents and the claim that religion is a source of violence is paradoxical since the main message of religion is peace. However, the history of the inter-connection between religion and violence shows that they are indeed connected.

Islamic history also has alternating periods of glory and darkness. In fact, Islam was at its height from the 7th century until the mid 13th century, a period which basically coincided with the dark ages in Europe. Afterwards, Islamic civilization endured its own dark age or medieval period which lasted from the 14th up to the 19th century. The crucial difference between these periods of glory and darkness in civilizations is one of intellectual production.

The devil expects that these religious figures will accept his repentance but none of them do for how can they believe that the devil will really repent having been destined to be evil. Moreover, if they accepted the devil’s repentance, wouldn’t it annul and change the content of the holy book since the devil is a major character in it?

Speed, speed, and speed. It is the keyword in our lives - a prominent British sociologist, Anthony Giddens, has called it a “run away world”.  Let us think about some matters regarding this run away world. First, the human capacity to achieve progress is incredible. We have to highlight this fact to answer the cynicism of religious people (mainly fundamentalists) who underestimate the potency of human reason.

Those stories affirm that Abu Zaid fights for liberalization. He opposes the culture that prevents liberating. To him, being liberal must start from the micro level: family. Of course expects a liberal climate at the macro level despite the bitter experience of being considered an infidel and compelled to divorce in Egypt.  They migrated to Leiden, Holland where he has been teaching since 1996.

The organization exporting terror, Tandzim al-Qa’idah or al-Qaidah, was established and led by a Saudian millionaire, Osama ben laden. The question is this: why has this happened? Why do Arab countries breed radical-extremists? Is it related to Islam, a religion born in Arabia?

Eventually legend is an indispensable thing we should not neglect. I think there are many explanations behind the significance of legends. Tales and legends give us “prototypes” about the ideal world we desire. Humans always live in a tension between the real and the ideal world. Tales give the model of dealing with both worlds in narrative context as if it is a real.

An email came to me with questions that have led to this reflection. The first question is very important and sharp: is shalat (prayer ritual) obligatory? Can I join the prayers whatever I like without the motive of journey (safar) or rain (mathar)?