ISLAM FOR BEGINNERS BRS 107.pdf - CUEA

know and I believe that this set of questions helps to seek a mandated and legitimate“interlocuteur” who could objectively present and represent Islam and the Muslims for afruitful dialogue. As we know, religion which some had considered as a private affair or aminor nuisance of an optional department of life, has become a partie integrante ofsociety. 15 The integration of religion in our lives has not yet been effective because,instead of building peace and justice and lifting up its moral values, it seems that religiousconsciousness brought violence and war. Thus we need to dialogue.Francis Gonsalves, writing on “Gods of war and wars of God” paints a significant picture oftoday’s violence. 16 The first part of the title shows and justifies God’s battle againstviolence. We read for instance that “from the days of John the Baptist until now theKingdom of Heaven has suffered violence, and the violent men take it by force” (Matt.11:12). This means that we need to do violence to our selfishness as well as to some ofour desires in order to attain salvation. Whereas the second part of this phrase applaudsmen’s violence and wickedness; all is done in the name of religions, cultures and beliefs.We could see individuals, organizations and systems destroying and killing in the name ofGod. Osama bin Laden is not the only one even though the most popular now.Anyway, we do not intend to comment on religious violence, which could be a veryimportant topic, but, as this essay is concerned, we need to understand leadership in Islam.We will try to achieve it with a theological method backed up with history. Islam is thesecond great religion after Christianity; maybe the first in twenty years due to its rapid andefficient campaign of conversion. It may, nevertheless, fall in the third position with theSeptember 11 irrational events.Maybe a brief definition of leadership, the study of Qur’anic approach, the leadership ofMuhammad and his companions, leadership in Sunnism and in Shi`ism could provide athorough understanding of the issue.15 .Owen C. Thomas (ed), Attitudes towards other religions. Some Christian interpretations (London: SCM Press LTD, 1969), pp. 1-4.16 .Cf. Francis Gonsalves, Gods of war and wars of God. Religions and violence in contemporary society in Yearbook of ContextualTheologies 2001 (Frankfurt: IKO, 2001), pp. 37-46.Frederic N. Mvumbi,OP Page 61 of 85