Jaajef Yussupha,
I agree with what you have written here. In fact some time ago I posted
a couple of articles to the L on different Islamic perspectives to that
expressed by Iman Fatty on Fankanta (birth control). Please let me know
if you need these posted again & I can oblige, or e-mail them to you
direct.
On the isse of marrying people of different races I would have regard to
this verse of the Holy Qu'ran:
"O humankind! We created you from a
single (pair) of a male and a female, and
made you into nations and tribes, that you
may know each other (not that ye may
despise each other). Verily the most
honoured of you in the sight of Allah is the
most righteous (or God-conscious) of you.
And Allah has full knowledge and is well
acquainted (with all things). (Sura 49:13)
Although my knowledge is very limited, I do not know of any verse in the
Qu'ran to contradict this. In fact it was this realisation which made
Maloclm X (Malik Shabaz) break from the Nation of Islam.
The only issue I would take with your satements is the use of the word
"fundementalist", surley a fundementalist would return to the
"fundementals" of the Qu'ran (which is a liberatory if not revolutionary
text) rather than take a "conservative" line, which I would argue, is more
to do with custom and tradition.
Yendul ak jaama
Tony
>>> Yusupha Jow <[log in to unmask]> 20/January/2000 08:59pm >>>
I know that religion is a sensitive topic with Gambians, but the fact that
the Imam is using the state house as a pulpit for his fiery religious
sermons
is a bit disturbing. In any country there has to be a fundamental
separation
between religion and state. My interpretation of the situation is that, the
president, realizing the weakness and reverence that our people have
for
Islam, is using the Imam and Islam as a way to pacify our people and to
justify his position. This confuses the masses because, to them, being
critical of the regime might be akin to criticizing the religion that 90% of
our people follow. This makes it very difficult for the present regime to
be
removed by any fair electoral process.
Furthermore, over the years, there have been many scholars of Islam
that have
interpreted some parts of the Quran in more liberal ways. The Imam, in
my
opinion, contrary to some of the scholars of the religion,' is a rigid
fundamentalist. This evidenced by his statements against Toubabs and
birth
control. He has also said that boys and girls should be kept apart in
school
buses and classrooms. In fact, I read somewhere that Islam is pro-birth
control within the confines of marriage. Similarly, there is no
justification for his statements that we should not marry people from
different religions or cultures. There is no basis for some of the
statements he has made.
In conclusion, my opinion is that the Imam is walking a very thin line at
this point. His fundamentalist religious rhetoric makes him very
dangerous
because fundamentalists that are involved in politics are bad for any
country. In addition, him being used for political means by the present
regime is not the Islamic way. It is imperative that our people are given
the freedom to express religion freely so that they can distinguish
between
religion and state.
Yus
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