March 7, 2006
Editor
New York Times
Re;
Islam in America series by Andrea Elliott
Word count: 162
Dear Editor:
What a jewel! Your feature story about Islam in America reverberates with
emotive sentiments. The point is well made: if Imams, with their deep knowledge
of both doctrinal and practical Islam, can adapt to new lands and circumstances,
so does and can the religion of Islam. Those who argue that we are onto a clash
of civilizations need not worry. Over the last fourteen hundred years, Islam has
been in continual evolvement without losing its core values.
The litmus test for American Muslims is two fold: first, how to live their
religion not only inside their homes but also on Main Street? Second, to what
extent, Muslim religious leaders impede or enforce American civil and legal
ethos and how the legal and constructional imperatives of our adopted land are
being integrated into our faith.
As Islam continues to expand, American Muslims will not simply join the melting
pot but they are poised to act an agent of moral rejuvenation for all Americans.
Dr. Aref Assaf, President
American Arab Forum
Paterson, NJ
|
|
