18 October 2007
Report: Soodh
MALE, October 18, 2007 -- In an attempt to stamp out extremism, the opposition and Islamist Adaalath Party on Wednesday called for a national conference of Islamic scholars.
Such a conference can help people solve conflicts and seek compromises on contested issues related to Islam, the opposition party said.
Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, the party spokesman on Wednesday said that differences in opinion about the tenets and principles of Islam were a \\\"national issue.\\\" He said that a Cabinet committee alone will not be adequate to deal with extremism.
Shaheem said that although Maldives is a 100 percent Islamic country, deviant and pervert beliefs among some has led to the tarnishing of the good image of the Islamic faith.
The spokesman said that many young Maldivians were following examples set in countries where extremism is rampant; he specifically said that Maldivians need to be re-educated with the true interpretation of Prophet Mohamed\\\'s way of life called Sunnah.
\\\"Wearing turbans and carrying scepters were the culture of that time,\\\" he said, adding that Muslims are not strictly required to hold on to the customs and traditions which prevailed 1,400 years ago.
Shaheem said that the reason why there is conflict among Maldivians is because of the contesting of issues related to Sunnah. Muslims are required to follow the Sunnah and Hadith (sayings of Prophet Mohamed) but misinterpretation can lead people to embrace an extremist and purist form of Islam, according to the Adaalath Party which earlier was thought to heavily lean towards fundamentalism.
Shaheem also called on the Maldivian people to refrain from carrying out any negative activities in the name of Islam even if their intentions are good.
\\\"It is important that we refrain from carrying out such activities under the pretext of safeguarding the Islamic faith,\\\" he said.
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