A Misreported Interview

What

that we own.

VIBES: What is Al-Mawrid’s

objective and how successful has it been? 

Javed Ghamidi:

The objectives of the Institute are to conduct

and facilitate academic and research work on Islamic Sciences, to

educate people on its basis and to publish and disseminate it through all

available means.   It is a long journey and we have a way to go.  We would like

to see a series of such centers open up around the country with similar goals. 

VIBES: Does Ijtihad need to be

context specific?  Can Muslims in two different contexts apply Islam in opposite

manners? 

Javed Ghamidi: First of all, we

need to appreciate that Ijtihad is not done in the religion revealed by God. In

the sphere of religion, what we try to do is to understand it properly. We

therefore do not conduct Ijtihad in the revealed religion.

As for other matters, we have nothing

but our own sense and reason to rely on. While deciding about these matters, we

definitely take into account the spirit underlying the directives revealed and

the common benefit of all people. Thus, we make use of Ijtihad in such matters.

It has also to be understood that

content of the divine religion is very limited.  Perhaps, it covers almost 10%

of the activities of human life on this planet.  The rest is to be based upon

Ijtihad. 

VIBES: There is no formal

institution (or clerical class) in Sunni Islam to conduct and enforce the

correct Ijtihad. Do you think this has been hurdle in the formation and practice

of Ijtihad?

Javed Ghamidi: It is very good

that there is no such institution. Otherwise, there is a danger of theocracy

emerging.  In any case, it is a misconception that the gates of ijtihad have

been closed.  They have never been closed. 

The very fact that Muslims have accepted

democracy is an ijtihad.  Muslims have always put emphasis on consensus as the

way to solve issues.  The West has improved the idea of consensus by evolving it

into a systematic approach.  Be it in the form of parliamentary democracy or

other political systems.  That evolution is an example of ijtihad.  Muslims have

accepted this.  So the lack of a clerical class is not a hurdle. 

VIBES: Is interest in the form

used today in most countries haram?

Javed Ghamidi: Interest is a

moral evil. Much like bribery is a moral wrong. The religion has only pointed

out to the immorality of taking interest. The economists of today also

acknowledge that it is unethical to charge interest. However, people engage in

interest based transactions because they do not have an alternative system, and

know not the way getting out of an economy based on interest.  Though Al-Azhar

and other scholars have allowed commercial interest, it doesn’t mean they no

longer see it as a moral evil.  It is a wrong that we have accepted temporarily

because we have yet to find a viable alternative. 

Just as an underpaid official accepts

bribes to support his family, that doesn’t make it right.  We have to create the

conditions whereby those immoral activities are not perpetuated. 

VIBES: Can a state define who is

Muslim and who is not?

Javed Ghamidi: It seems more

appropriate if the state does not interfere in the matter of deciding who is and

who is not a Muslim. 

VIBES: Is hijab (i.e. covering

face) a mandatory Islamic requirement, and was it ever a mandatory requirement?

Javed Ghamidi: There is

absolutely no foundation for this in Islam.  The Holy Qur’an prescribes four

directives in this regard, of which the two are for both men and women alike,

and the two are related to women alone because of their special characteristics.

These directives may be explained as: when men and women meet, they should

restrain their gazes and cover their private parts well. The women, in addition,

are required to cover their bosoms and not to display their ornaments except for

those which are worn on body parts that are naturally kept uncovered.

VIBES: Are secular ideals – the

state doesn’t adopt anyone’s religion as a source of laws – compatible with

Islam’s view of how a government can be run?

Javed Ghamidi: The importance of

secularism for the West emerged as a reaction from the theocratic environment

imposed by the Christian church.  Since Muslims do not have the theocratic

environment, there was never a need to rebel against deen or religion in that

manner.  Secondly, Islam is pure democracy.  The majority’s say in society has

more significance.  Thus if a people want religious laws, they are welcome to do

so through a legislative process. 

VIBES: Can a female be a head of

an Islamic State?

Javed Ghamidi: Yes, it is

completely legitimate for a female to be the head of an Islamic State.  There is

nothing in the Islamic Shari’ah that disallows women to contest as leaders of a

state. 

VIBES: You were one of the very

few scholars to accept Amina Wadud leading mixed -gender prayers.  How does it

feel to be out in the left-field on this issue?

Javed Ghamidi: A female leading

mixed prayer is not a matter of religious right or wrong. The Shari’ah has not

forbidden women to lead mixed gender prayers.  Scholars have had differing

opinions on this.  In ‘Bidayatul Mujtahid’, Ibn Rushd (Averroes) states that

some scholars were opposed to females leading mixed gender prayers.  Others only

allowed female Imams to lead female congregations. Yet, there are many scholars

(ex. Abu Thawr) who have gone against the majority opinion and stated that there

is nothing wrong with female lead mixed gender prayers. 

If Amina Wadud has done anything wrong,

it is to break a tradition – not an Islamic code.  She definitely has not

contravened a Shari’ah directive.

VIBES: How do you respond to

critics who claim you are creating bid’a and coming up with innovations in

Islam?

Javed Ghamidi: I have come across

people who agree with me and many who do not.  All I can say is that I base my

research and knowledge on the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah of the Holy Prophet, pbuh.

VIBES: You have said in a TV show

that it is not reasonable to punish homosexuals.  Is that not going against the

tenets of Islam?

Javed Ghamidi: I am afraid that

is not correct. I have not said it is not reasonable to punish homosexuals. What

I said is that the Islamic Shari’ah has not prescribed a punishment for

homosexuality. If the society decides a punishment, I have no objection to that.

In addition, I should say that homosexuality is a horrible sin. The Holy Qur’an

is very clear about the fact that the only way for a person to satisfy his

sexual urge is to marry a member of the opposite sex.

VIBES: Many American Muslims face

a dilemma in terms of their religion and their national identity.  How should

they reconcile the two?

Javed Ghamidi: Obviously, one

should not disobey the laws of where one lives.  You may leave the country where

you feel restless and unsettled. It is your choice. However, the Holy Qur’an

only requires you to migrate from a country when you are persecuted for acting

upon the religion of God.

VIBES: On a more personal note,

what inspired you?  Who was your inspiration? 

Javed Ghamidi: My teacher Amin

Ehsan Islahi (died 1999) has been my inspiration.