Islamic scholar: well done Obama, but we await the facts
by Nirmala Carvalho
Professor Asghar Ali Engineer, an Indian Muslim, comments on the American President’s speech at the University of Cairo to AsiaNews . “It marks a happy change with the past”. Obama’s words are important for the situation in the Middle East, but will have no impact on issues between India and Pakistan.
Mumbai (AsiaNews) - “President Obama’s discourse in Cairo is a welcome sign of change with the past. Now these words have to be translated into facts”, is how Asghar Ali Engineer, a Muslim scholar and President of the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism in Mumbai, comments on the United States’ President’s speech in the university of Cairo.
Well known and widely listened to in India, an author of various books on women’s rights in Islam and on the relationship between the Koranic religion and democracy, Engineer gave an interview to AsiaNews in which he evaluates Obama’s intervention for the world of Islam in general and the situation in India in particular.
After the terrorists attack on Mumbai in 2006 and 2008 how will Obama’s talk impact Indian society?
Firstly, there is fundamentalism of Islamic origins in India and whatever violence has taken place is not connected with Islamic world per se. It is connected to events in India and Pakistan and between the two countries. It was directed against the Government of India and not against the government of America. Moreover, those who carried out the attacks were reacting to what happened in Gujarat and those terrorist attacks had geo-political tones. Moreover Pakistan has a hand in all this in providing training and resources. I’m afraid that might continue. Such speeches are not going to make an impact. The ISI [Pakistan’s secret service, ed] and the Jamaat-ud-Dawa [an organisation linked to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks ed] are all sworn enemies of India and are more responsible for attacks than anyone else. He has not addressed what goes on here because it is a regional problem between India and Pakistan. He did not address Kashmir either. It is a purely regional political problem which has no roots in Islam.
How to you judge US presidents view of Islam’s contribution to Global civilisation? There are those who see them as being too emphatic, particularly those relating Islam t the Renaissance and Enlightenment.
No, it was needed. It is a very welcome thing to hear it from the president of America, especially after George Bush who spoke about clash of civilisation theory. Undoubtedly it has contributed all these things. Religion and culture are intertwined and one cannot ignore the role of religion in culture and the role of culture in religion. It is good that it was said publicly. Obama is simply stating what has been recognised by scholars like HG Wells, Bertram Russell, who have recognised this role. Obama specifically mentioned ‘at places like Al-Azhar.’ He is merely stating that European centres of learning were highly influenced by Muslim philosophers like Averroes and Avenzoor, Avicenna etc – to that extent the Renaissance was influenced by Muslim thinkers and the Renaissance became possible because of their help in the rediscovery of Greek classics, Greek culture.
What about the conflict in the Middle east- which was addressed by Obama ?
That is an important question. It remains to be seen how President Obama can make the Two-State solution possible. It remains to be seen how he can follow his words up with action, especially in resolving the Israel-Palestinian issue which is a source of conflict in the Middle East and for peace loving people in the world.
What is your general opinion of the speech??
Obama merely expressed his views on the Islamic world and certain controversial issues in that region. Now we have to wait and see if it is followed by action, or if it remains only a speech which looses its value after a time. Words have their own importance, but words not followed by action will loose impact. As President of America, Obama has certain compulsions and in the framework of those compulsions, he has made a balanced speech.
Will this deter Islamic Fundamentalists globally?
Firstly, there is no term “Islamic Fundamentalists”, this term “Islamic Fundamentalism is an American term. Secondly, it is in a response to the actions of George Bush, it did not happen on its own. Though Obama has not gone to the roots of the problem, his very statement that he is not hostile to Islamic world as his predecessor was and extended a hand of friendship, and made a statement based on his vision- is most welcome. The conflicts arise between American foreign policy, and people of the Islamic world- there is absolutely no hostility, no animosity between the Islamic and Christian worlds or people.
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