Thursday, December 21, 2006

A Battle for Values

This essay was written by British Prime Minister Tony Blair and published in the journal Foreign Affairs. Found at DeenPort

An excerpt:

To me, the most remarkable thing about the Koran is how progressive it is. I write with great humility as a member of another faith. As an outsider, the Koran strikes me as a reforming book, trying to return Judaism and Christianity to their origins, much as reformers attempted to do with the Christian church centuries later. The Koran is inclusive. It extols science and knowledge and abhors superstition. It is practical and far ahead of its time in attitudes toward marriage, women, and governance.

Under its guidance, the spread of Islam and its dominance over previously Christian or pagan lands were breathtaking. Over centuries, Islam founded an empire and led the world in discovery, art, and culture. The standard-bearers of tolerance in the early Middle Ages were far more likely to be found in Muslim lands than in Christian ones.

4 comments:

Nazia said...

His more recent view seems to prove otherwise!

zanjabil said...

And actions speak louder than words

M. Shahin said...

Salaam Alaikum,

Very nice words, but actions are the deciding factor. But even the staunchest enemies of Islam became Muslims, so you just never know....

jordan robinson said...

As much as I disagree with Prime Minister Blair, these words are quite heartening. God knows best.