Mosque as The West's Achiles Heel?

A different perspective from a different vantage point.

The Mosque is one of the most venerable establishment within Islam, and Muslims, like the adherents of any other religions, can be expected to take pride in their mosque. Mosques can be grand, magnificent  and awe-inspiring buildings, comparable with the best of Cathedrals in Christendom.

Nobody should take any issue with Islam about Muslim faithful gathering in their mosques and giving praise to Allah and carrying out other compatible activities for the benefit of the faithful and the community within which they live.

However, it does seem to be the case that, at least some mosques have a tradition of being used as a politico-religious centres of learning for a brand of Islam which is not compatible with the promotion of mutual co-existence between peoples of all faiths - including those not adhering to any religious faiths - and ethnic origins. In other words, there are people within these establishments who are motivated to have dominance over people of other faiths and/or within the different factions in Islam.

Countries such as Pakistan, and probably Afghanistan, has had examples of this kind of  system in the form of Madrassas. In the west, such as Britain and Europe, there might not be overt Madrassas, but Mosques are used for teaching Islam, and one wonders whether the charity rules which applies, are sometimes being ignored. This and the assistance which fundamentalist Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia and, yes, Pakistan, provides for Muslims in the west, could or should give rise for more concern about how to ensure that the funding, operation and administration of mosques, adhere to the same requirements as is expected of other religious faiths.

Arguably, fundamentalist Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia should not be allowed to fund the building of mosques in the west, unless the European governments can ensure that these mosques are not used for overtly or covertly incitable religio-political and factionalism purposes. This would or should also include ensuring that each mosque is managed through transparent and 'democratic' administrative procedures. The Muslim community in the west should now have their own 'locally grown' leaders who are able to cater to the spiritual and scholastic needs of the European faithful, and not have to be reliant on the experience, knowledge and world-view of Imams from the 'old Islamic world', with their different and, sometimes, more factional mindsets.

We are currently hearing of allegations being made against some of the senior people involved in the running of Glasgow's Central Mosque, and reports of Muslims who try to have their voices heard and taken account  being intimidated and harassed. All the more reasons why having local people running these mosques and having a world view which is compatible with  living in British and/or European society, is so crucial. 

That could lead to a 'slow fuse' situation which could result in religious and inter ethnic conflict and strife in the decades ahead, and is something which must be avoided.

We can examine and admire the past but not use it to limit the realization of our future potential.

OWOHROD