Religious leaders speak on Muslim faith

In a continuing effort to spur dialogue and awareness among the Muslim community, the event "Seeking Solutions in Troubled Times," featured four nationally and internationally recognized Islamic scholars and active participants in the Islamic communities at Tufts, in Boston, and on the national level.

The Muslim Students Association at Tufts (MSAT) sponsored the lecture, panel discussion, and fundraising dinner on Saturday evening in Cohen Auditorium. The speakers included Imam Zaid Shakir, Dr. Ingrid Mattson, Walid Sallam, and Hossam Al-Gabrithe.

A brief prayer recited in Arabic and then in English marked the beginning of the lecture, which was then introduced by University Chaplain David O'Leary. He articulated the ongoing goal of combining reason and faith, and the importance of a university environment that is "open" and "a refuge for religious freedom, ideals, and liberty."

O'Leary introduced the featured lecture speaker, Imam Zaid Shakir, as a man of notable scholarship and faith, a balance that O'Leary said was difficult to achieve in today's society.

During his lecture, Shakir articulated his own opposition to the pending war on the Iraqi people using both informed rationale and points taken form the Holy Qur'an. Shakir, a scholar of both Islam and political science, converted to Islam in 1977.

Shakir declared repeatedly the importance of the application of "justice," as he defined it. "Justice implies equity in ruling and in judging," he stated as he argued that "by nature of policy, this is an unjust war." He stressed also that while Sadaam Hussein is "a brutal dictator," this war would not eradicate him, but rather it would wreak havoc among innocent Iraqi civilians who would bear the brunt of the aftermath of war. He also noted that Hussein's primary victims have always been Muslims, and that large numbers of Muslims are completely opposed to this war.

The consequences of a war would include chemical and nuclear waste and radioactive poisoning, Shakir said. The effects for the civilians, he said, would be similar to those which effect some veterans of the Gulf War, who suffer from what is now recognized as Gulf War Syndrome. The syndrome allegedly resulted from chemical exposure during the war.

Shakir described today's situation as having "unprecedented challenges."

He said that these are "critical times" for the world and for this country and demand the best in all of us, not the worst. While he described the organization of justice as both "subtle and difficult in nature," he said there were several points which define justice. Among these points were the importance of the impartial dispensing of rights, the incorporation of Divine law, moderation (justice should not be absolute, but distributive), and finally he stressed the common sense value of reciprocity ("If good is done, do good.")

Shakir also addressed the ever hot topic of terrorism and its relation, or rather lack thereof, to Islam. He illustrated that terrorism is unjust because by Islamic law, "civilians cannot be killed in warfare." Terrorism, therefore, is not permitted by the law of equity.

The issue of terrorism was also brought up in the question and answer session as one student asked how Shakir chose to react when people automatically assumed him to be a terrorist because of his Islamic faith. Shakir stressed again the importance of education, the ability for Muslims to have a voice, and of the need to give the public alternative forms of media and information.

This idea of an Islamic voice was reiterated several times throughout the lectures and the intentions and goals of the event. Father David O'Leary expressed the invaluable worth of sparking a dialogue both here at Tufts and in the larger community. "Tufts really is a model for religious liberty," said O'Leary. "And the more we allow for dialogue the better we become as a university family."

The panel discussion following the lecture featured Walid Sallam, the executive director of the Islamic Society in Boston, and Hossam Al-Gabrithe, the coordinator of the Muslim Society of Youth in Boston. The fundraiser dinner then featured Dr. Ingrid Mattson, the first female Vice President of the Islamic Society of North America.

The student head of MSAT, Muhammed Zaid, said that events like this one strike up a formal debate, and with "high caliber" speakers such as Shakir, people are more apt to listen and learn about Islam.

The most foreseeable way to spur an ongoing dialogue on campus, according to Zaid, is the prospect of a newly renovated Islamic Center on campus with adequate prayer space, a conference room and library, and offices. The new Center would create a space conducive to ongoing dialogue, prayer services, and an ideal setting for the Islamic community to develop a voice here on campus, Zaid said.