Confidence in Bangladesh's moderate image

Bangladesh can be truly proud of its longstanding tradition of espousing the best of Islam, its universal and inclusive character, its principles of moderation and peaceful coexistence with other religions and faiths. This universal character, it ought to be stressed, manifested among other things, through the teaching and precepts of our Sufi saints which asserted and spread the inner message of Islam. It dwelt not only on the equality of man but also emphasised the innate philosophy through the very appellation of the religion itself, 'Islam' meaning peace.

It is therefore regrettable, something which the seminar deliberations also highlighted, that Islam is being used to propagate violence and conflict, by misinterpreting its teachings and injunctions. And this is where we feel that the religious scholars must come in a very robust way to denounce this proclivity, particularly when it is a minuscule minority that seems to have hijacked Islam while the majority are unable to exercise any restraints on their wayward co-religionists. The tactic adopted by some Muslims in contrast to and gross violation of the teachings of Islam is tainting the image of the entire Islamic fraternity, regrettably.

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We also note with concern the unholy propensity of using theological precepts to advance narrow parochial and political interests by some. And here again we must say that the Islamic scholars, both in Bangladesh as well as in other Muslim countries, have failed to play their due part by not being sufficiently vocal against political use of religion.

Thus, while we welcome all that has been stated in the seminar, what we would have liked to have heard also are expressions of substantive plans and formulation of definitive strategy that would help in deterring those that are misusing the teachings of Islam and defiling its image.