A voice from Mecca
Mshari Al-Zaydi

Let us begin with excerpts from the recent Eid al-Fitr sermon by the Imam of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Sheikh Salih Bin Hmaid: “Dialogue, constructive criticism, conscious existence and positive exchange of opinions are collectively features of a civilized society that rational people will seek to entrench. In fact, civilizations all over the world have stemmed from positive interaction between differing individuals and groups concerning certain issues. Speech and dialogue are inspiring, and are human values that enable us to tackle differences in a peaceful manner. Dialogue is in fact the enlightened cultural aspect that is opposed to bigotry, xenophobia, despotism and exclusion.”

This Asharq Alawsat article, from Mshari Al-Zaydi, a Saudi expert on Islamic fundamentalism, is worth reading. He’s noting exactly what the problems are:

Why do we talk so alarmingly of bigotry in the Islamic world? The answer is simple: because it is a truly alarming scene. No rational observer can deny the dangers of these heated societies. Allow me to emphasize that I do not address the topic of bigotry and its endemic culture for the sake of Daniel Pipes or Richard Pearl or any other intellectual of the American right. The reason that I address this topic is because we have paid, are still paying and continue to pay a dear price to rectify the damage caused by such a chauvinistic culture. Religious terrorism is nothing but a branch of nationalist and religious bigotry. Religious bigotry protects itself by insulting anyone who seeks to combat, undermine, or differ to it especially if the protestor is not a member of the clergy or does not wear the appropriate religious attire.

But also noting where solutions may be found:

My repeated message, or rather, warning, is that we will suffer greatly if the culture of bigotry is not confronted effectively on all levels in order to eradicate the root of the problem. The occasional few good words in the form of a sermon are simply not enough. Such glimpses of hope, however, should not be ignored, and the voice from Mecca that was heard recently should be heard again.