Manama: Bahrainis have supported efforts by Arab leaders to stop oral and physical expressions of suspicion about Islam and hostility towards Muslims.
"We have regularly encouraged inter-faith dialogue and understanding between all religions. There are a few steps that need to be taken to help foster peaceful co-existence and harmonious living for all people," said Shaikh Salah Al Jowder, a religious leader who has often called upon all sects and religions to work together.
He added that a better understanding of genuine Islamic values by non-Muslims is an important first step to help build a common future with no risks of clashes between societies.
"Extremists among Muslims and non-Muslims do not want other people to understand and appreciate Islam, as this would foil their dark plans. So, it’s important to highlight Islamic values and teachings," he said.
He also pointed to the importance of acknowledging that Muslim attitudes and behaviour in non-Muslim countries can be misinterpreted, leading to mistrust. Each country has its own political issues and Muslims must appreciate that they have a big responsibility to be aware of this and thread carefully, the religious leader said.
Several Muslim leaders this week warned in speeches at the United Nations that the growing onslaught on Islam in the West was turning into a threat to international security.
In their speeches, they said that the attribution of terrorism to Islam was historically inaccurate, morally unfair and ominously dangerous.
Western countries should carefully consider these accusations and Muslims should take action to stop the situation getting worse, the leader warned.
However, Jassem Mohammad pointed out that the calls to disassociate Islam from terrorism were not new.
"Muslims have repeatedly said that terrorism had no religion or nationality and that it would be a huge mistake to engage in Muslim-hunting and name-calling," Jassem, an imam in Zallaq, in the south of the country, said. "Unfortunately, it seems that the West is not ready for diverse reasons, to listen or to take note, and seems to be happy to accuse Muslims all the time. This is deepening and widening the divide and does not augur well for the future," he said.
According to Jassem, Muslim leaders should not expect positive responses because the media in the West and, more importantly, the people, would not care what is said.
"It’s not a ‘kiss and fix’ situation. The problem is much deeper and has historical and religious contexts that need to be addressed, without euphemism or vain diplomacy. There is a need for confidence-building first, because the two sides are not looking in the same direction," he said.
However, not everyone is as pessimistic as Jassem.
Last week, several religious figures in Manama called upon the international community to work diligently to enact a law that would ban the burning of sacred books.
The religious figures representing faiths in Bahrain said that violence and the burning of books has never brought about solutions to controversial situations.
They warned that acts of violence were usually followed by further violence.
"To enable peaceful coexistence amongst the world's religious communities, it’s important to establish intellectual and cultural exchange," said the Christian, Shiite, Sunni and Bohra leaders. "We are explicitly not against freedom of speech and expression and welcome any form of contestation and critique. Each dialogue expands our understanding and value systems and enables us to live together in peace.”
