Speaker discusses Islamic philosophy

By: Matthew Rowe

Posted: 4/19/04

Islamic scholar Imam Ayaaz Ahmad Gulamnabi discussed several Islamic philosophies, including peace and human rights.

Allah, "the being who created you, male and female, dispatched you into many tribes and colors ... you are significant in the eyes of God," Gulamnabi said. "It does not depend on color, nationality or where you are from - but your righteousness."

He gave parts of his speech in Arabic.

In his lecture, Gulamnabi chronicled the early history of Islam and the works of the Prophet Muhammad.

"He elevated the people so that they became known as the people who serve human beings."

Gulamnabi also noted in his speech that Muhammad worked to end slavery and give rights to those former slaves.

In his speech, he said man's understanding alone cannot determine human rights and the Koran - the book Islam uses as its foundation - must serves as instructor.

In his speech, Gulamnabi outlined five basic rights that Muhammad gave to people.

The right to life was the first. Gulamnabi said each person deserves to live. He also said innocent people should not be allowed to die during time of war. This is also the basis for which Muslims oppose abortion, he said.

Gulamnabi said Muslims believe in the right to own property, and the right to earn that property.

The protection of dignity and honor is also a right given, Gulamnabi said. No one has the right to take that away, and grace should be shown, he said.

Gulamnabi also said there is a right for people to believe in whatever they would like. He noted that when Muslims occupied lands, they historically allowed Jews and Christians the freedom to practice their own religions. They allowed other religions to spread, just as their own had.

Islam, Gulamnabi said in an interview after the lecture, is a foundation for life which human rights are extracted. Islam is not only a religion, but a way of life. Gulamnabi went through the pillars of Islam and said they show Islam is a religion of peace, submission and respect for all people.

The first pillar of belief, Gulamnabi said, is believing Muhammad was the final messenger of God and in the lineage of Abraham, which many of the major religions come from. Through the sala, or the prayers Muslims are required to make five times a day, Gulamnabi said Muslims humble themselves and ask for mercy. In the pillar of charity, Gulamnabi said Muslims should give money directly to the needy, not to a group that is fighting or causing trouble in the world.

Gulamnabi said the pillar of fasting creates understanding of those needy through abstinence. The pilgrimage pillar is a combination of all other pillars, and reinforces the way of life of Islam.

Islam should not spread through the sword, Gulamnabi said. He used the example of Indonesia, which has the largest Muslim population in the world, and spoke against the misconceptions many have of Muslims as terrorists.

"When a certain tragedy happens in the world, and it is done by a so-called Muslim, immediately Islam is made militant...," Gulamnabi said. "It is not. Islam is the religion of peace."

Gulamnabi was born in South Africa and is the Imam, or leader, of the Masjid Alnoor in Wichita, Kan. The lecture was sponsored by the Muslim Students Association. The MSA provides a resource for the more than 200 Muslim students on the campus of the UA and the community outside the UA.