to venividivici:
Like Salim, I am a friend of Rumi’s who was loved in his day and continues to be loved today for his expansive and all-encompassing wisdom. He was publicly challenged over this by an arch bigot of the day, a Muslim dignitary by the name of Qonavi, who used these words: “You claim to be at one with 72 religious sects, but the Jews cannot agree with the Christians, and the Christians cannot agree with Muslims. If they cannot agree with each other, how could you agree with them all?” To this Rumi answered, “Yes, you are right, I agree with you too.”
In the same spirit, I say to you, venividivici: “Yes, you are right, I agree with you too.”
There is no doubt, no doubt at all, that the Quran is as you see it, from where you stand. As a non-Muslim myself, having become more intensely acquainted with Islam since sep11, I see it in a similar way.
You are not happy because Salim is failing to join many other very prominent and articulate ex-Muslims who are clarifying that negative view of Islam and of its central cultural expression in the Quran. Those ex-Muslims are doing a fine job. They don’t need Salim’s help.
On the other hand, much of the early “Islam is a religion of peace” message was delivered by saccharine apologists who painted Mohammad in a way suspiciously similar to those vapid portraits of Jesus found in most Christian churches today. There was no reality to any of it.
Your own description of the Quran introduces some much needed grit.
However, I applaud Salim for taking what has now become a brave stance. His realistic political assessments of the Islamic world today have angered many of his co-religionists. Now, his insistence both on Islam’s historical civilizing influence and on a basic integrity (what could be called an “eternal verity”) of its core spiritual message, these are drawing the wrath both of Christians and of post-Christian “secularists”.
Thus does he stand alone. Where is the “safety” in that?
It is neither his style nor his calling, it seems, to reply to the commenters here. However, whenever and however I can, I will try to lend my support here, albeit from a nominally non-Muslim standpoint.
Respectfully,
Anne
