December 23, 2010

On Dec. 15, MPAC board member Dr Wayel Azmeh was invited to speak to the Westchester Rotary club-Rotary Club International in Los Angeles about Shariah.

Dr. Azmeh explained the linguistic definition of the word in classical Arabic and then discussed how the Quran used the word and in what context. The Quran expressed the essence of universal ethical values that God has established and ingrained in the mind of every member of the children of Adam. 

The principles of Shariah are immutable and shared by all of God’s revealed religions, but the way they are implemented are ever changing among different religions, and within the framework of every particular religion, including Islam. This has always been the case since the time of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh), from different cultures, languages and historic eras.

A brief account of Prophet Muhammad’s Medina constitution was given, showing that according to the practice of the Prophet of Islam, government is not a theocracy, but a civic institution including equal citizens, such as Muslims, Jews and polytheists who were the majority in Medina. They all had freedom of religion, and committed to defend the young state equally. Tribes were mentioned many times by name, not by their religious affiliation. There was no guilt by association. To the majority of the citizens of Medina, the Prophet was merely a secular leader.

Dr. Azmeh concluded by providing a comparison between the Quran and the United States constitution, which shares some similarities.

Marium F. Mohiuddin (Marium@mpac.org)
Communications Coordinator