I do not feel any kind of pleasure to call someone ignorant. I would however, expect some humility from those who know very little, and despite this, make citations from the Qur'an, or from common-sense knowledge, mostly distorted, fallible, and uninformed. I would like my readers to understand that I can only expect from them, what I demand from myself: to look for credible knowledge, to read as much as they can, to do some good research, to reflect upon this, keeping the critical eye, and then make humble statements. That is a wonderful legacy of modern science. Being trained intellectually in this al-gharb (West), I do my best to follow modern epistemology.
I am concerned when people ask whether mine is a better religion than others. I am more in line with the pluralist view of the Qur'an, where diversity and cosmopolitan ethics guide human life. I am more in tune with the vision of a society where all have equal status and respect, because of their difference, even if that means having no belief in any God.
The Qur'an reminds me of the following:
Say oh Muslims: We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the Prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered. (Q: II;136)
For each We have appointed a divine law and a traced out way. Had Allah willed He could have made you one community. But that He may try you by that which He hath given you (he has made you as you are). So vie one another in good works. Unto God you will return, and He will then inform you of that wherein you differ. (Q:V; 48)
We should not fear to build our societies together. Each one in our own ways of belief or creed. We are together in the ways of morality and common ethics and from that which unites us in our differences; it is from here that we should bring in a world of balance, equity, brotherhood.
The fear that some, gladly only a few Muslims, want to impose on all of us (and I include myself among those who fear absolutisms, of all kinds) cannot be generalized to a universe of 1,2 billion Muslims who are mostly worried and occupied with education, prosperity, the politics of their countries, and quality of life. Perhaps, inspired by these "ayats" (divine signs) we could vie in works that would contribute to the betterment of the human condition. Most probably, the unhappy, the unfortunate would be less... and less attracted to the voices of fundamentalisms.
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*A Salaam significa paz
