Should moderate imams be calling for an Islamic reformation?

It was good to read that Dr Al-Qadri called for all mosques and weekend schools to emphasise the peaceful messages of the Koran in their teachings.

This must reflect his own moderate position.

However the fact that so much of the Koran and hadith of Islamic doctrine does not teach this to its followers (especially in its relation to the Kuffer) must put paid to the too often iterated notion of ‘’Islam is a religion of peace’’.

It also begs the question of what Imanns have been teaching and preaching in Ireland hitherto.

A liberal British Muslim did a survey last year on mosques in England that either entertained or were controlled by radical preachers and found that they were in a considerable majority.

There is nothing to suggest that Ireland would be any different.

And while Dr Al-Qadri may well want to emphasise the more peaceful teachings what does he intend to do when the verses emphasising violence against non-Muslims and apostates comes up.

What does he do when that verse stating that to ‘’kill someone is as though to kill the world’’ which shortly after issues stipulation on the justification of killing ‘’mischief makers’’ (critics).

Should he then recognise the need for a kind of reformation of Islam that recreates itself in a modern humanist context like some Muslim thinkers purport, the most prominent of who is President Sisi of Egypt.

John McGrath

Hollyford

CoTipperary