Pope's remarks on Islam

Pope's remarks on Islam shows how he should have learnt more about the history and teachings of Islam, about the diversity of meaning of jihad. He should have not talked about Islam if he merely quotes. It is regretable that in the situation where there has been already a huge gap between Muslims and others in the West, Pope made such careless remarks in Germany reported throughout the world. On the other hand, Muslims do not need to show their disagreement in violent ways; what they need to do is learning more about the history of Islam, about the meaning of jihad and other misunderstood terms, and learning more about the history of other religions. Comparative religions is a subject undevelopped in all countries, in the West and in the Muslim world. Mutual respect and mutual understanding do not come from ignorance and carelessness. They come from endless learning and dialogue.

Hale Manoa, September 15, 2006
Muhamad Ali

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Muslim anger grows at Pope speech

www.bbc.co.uk , September 15, 2006

The Pope's comments came on a visit to GermanyA statement from the Vatican has failed to quell criticism of Pope Benedict XVI from Muslim leaders, after he made a speech about the concept of holy war.

Speaking in Germany, the Pope quoted a 14th Century Christian emperor who said Muhammad had brought the world only "evil and inhuman" things.
Pakistan's parliament passed a resolution on Friday criticising the Pope for making "derogatory" comments.
The Vatican said the Pope had not intended to offend Muslims.
"It is clear that the Holy Father's intention is to cultivate a position of respect and dialogue towards other religions and cultures, and that clearly includes Islam," said chief Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi in a statement.
But in spite of the statement, the pontiff returned to Rome to face a barrage of criticism, reports the BBC's David Willey in Rome.
The head of the Muslim Brotherhood said the Pope's remarks "aroused the anger of the whole Islamic world".
Violence and faith
In his speech at Regensburg University, the German-born Pope explored the historical and philosophical differences between Islam and Christianity, and the relationship between violence and faith.

The remarks do not express correct understanding of Islam
Mohammed Mahdi AkefMuslim Brotherhood
Stressing that they were not his own words, he quoted Emperor Manual II Paleologos of the Byzantine Empire, the Orthodox Christian empire which had its capital in what is now the Turkish city of Istanbul.
The emperor's words were, he said: "Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."
Benedict said "I quote" twice to stress the words were not his and added that violence was "incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul".
'Angry and hurt'
Pakistan's parliament passed a resolution demanding that the Pope retract his remarks "in the interest of harmony between religions".
"The derogatory remarks of the Pope about the philosophy of jihad and Prophet Mohammed have injured sentiments across the Muslim world and pose the danger of spreading acrimony among the religions," the AFP news agency quoted the resolution by the country's national assembly as saying.
Meanwhile, the "hostile" remarks drew a demand for an apology from a top religious official in Turkey - where the Pope is due in November on his first papal visit to a Muslim country.
Ali Bardakoglu recalled atrocities committed by Roman Catholic Crusaders against Orthodox Christians and Jews, as well as Muslims, in the Middle Ages.
In Egypt, Muslim Brotherhood head Mohammed Mahdi Akef said the Pope's words "do not express correct understanding of Islam and are merely wrong and distorted beliefs being repeated in the West".
In a statement, he was "astonished that such remarks come from someone who sits on top of the Catholic church which has its influence on the public opinion in the West".
Sheikh Youssef al-Qardawi, a prominent Muslim cleric in Qatar, rejected the Pope's comments, in remarks reported by Reuters.
"Muslims have the right to be angry and hurt by these comments from the highest cleric in Christianity," Mr Qardawi reportedly said.
"We ask the Pope to apologise to the Muslim nation for insulting its religion, its Prophet and its beliefs."
The 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference also said it regretted the Pope's remarks, and news agencies reported a furious reaction on Islamic websites