ISLAM’S Prophet Muham-mad and depictions of the faith were discussed at a Dublin conference last weekend.
Islamic leaders from Ireland and Europe spoke at the event – Muhammad: Who Is He? – organised by the Muslim Council of Ireland, West Dublin Islamic Society and Dublin Muslim Youth Movement.
Non-Muslims were invited to attend, and organiser Sheikh Shaheed Satardien remarked that it is “very difficult to see a type of Islam that recognises the pluralism of religions”.
Sheikh Musa Admani, a speaker from the UK who has campaigned extensively against extremism, said that some had chosen to depict the Prophet Muhammad in an unjust light, but that the Prophet is one of “love and mercy”.
A positive western portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad came from Gerard Ryan, a leading Irish scientologist, who said: “I’m fascinated by this man, and puzzled as to why Muslims don’t tell the rest of the world about this man.”
Ryan recounted that the Prophet Muhammad had been raised as an orphan, enjoyed “no status” in his younger life but became known as Al-Ameen, the “trustworthy one”.
He referred to the Prophet’s courage upon receiving revelations from God through the angel Gabriel while meditating in a cave – his subsequent preaching resulting in persecution.
“It would have been so much easier to just forget all this stuff,” remarked Ryan, “but he stayed true to his essential nature.”
Shehu Adetola Adeniji, a Nigerian imam in Dublin, told the conference that righteousness and good character belong to no particular faith.
“If you have the whole Qur’an in your head but don’t tolerate, you are useless. If you are a Muslim, and you don’t have good character, you are useless.”
He continued: “Please, we are not terrorists, we are not extremists. This regalia [Islamic dress] doesn’t indicate a terrorist or extremist.”
Sheikh Shaheed Satardien, president of the Muslim Council of Ireland – which represents 44 Muslim organisations and businesses – said the portrayal of Islam has “a long way to go in this country, but has also come a long way”.
Also in attendance were Qari Sheikh Muneer Satardien from South Africa, Sheikh Ebrahim Spalburg from Holland, Dr Adly Abu Hajar from Sweden, Rhodha Patton Satardien from Ireland and Fingal Mayor Cllr Ciaran Byrne.
