‘Fight for rights peacefully’

Sheikh Adel Al-Kalbani, the imam of Mecca’s Al-Masjid al-Haram, the largest mosque in the world, is on a visit to Mumbai and will lead the Friday prayer at the Somaiya ground, Sion, today. Al-Kalbani, the first Afro-Arab imam of the mosque, spoke exclusively to DNA on Thursday. Excerpts:

Islam is a religion of equality. But why, then, in Saudi Arabia are women prohibited from many activities that are open to men?
Let me correct you. Islam is not about equality; because no two humans can be equal in all respects. Islam is about justice. Women in Saudi Arabia have all the rights ordained by the Quran. That Saudi women are oppressed in any way is a media rumour. Also, under the regime of King Abdullah, women have been given a lot of additional rights.

On Islam being linked to terrorism.
Do you think we have to believe everything they (the West) say about Islam? We don’t like to waste our energy fighting such perceptions. His (Allah’s) heritage is mercy, not murder. It’s written very clearly in the Quran.

On Barack Obama.
We do not see this (Barack Obama becoming US president) as a matter of white or black. Islam doesn’t judge one by one’s colour. Islam judges one by one’s deed.

On the conduct of Muslims in secular countries.
Islam teaches piety. Muslims in non-Muslim countries should be good citizens. When they fight for their rights, they should do so peacefully and not through militant action.

On why the Islamic countries are lagging in the sciences.
In the Middle Ages, science flourished in the Arab world while the West was living in darkness. But that was an age when all Muslims used to follow the Quran strictly. Muslims can again make progress only if they stick to the Quran.

On the pan-Arabic desire for a Palestinian state and Saudi Arabia’s deep strategic links with the US, a ‘kafir’ country.
That is for the king (Abdullah) to comment on, not for the imam.

On concepts like kafir and  jihad, and whether they need to be redefined for the modern era.
One who does not thank Allah and one who does not believe that Allah needs to be worshiped is a kafir. The Quran doesn’t need to be redefined. The Quran is the word of Allah.

In first person
For a fledgling woman reporter, an interview with the imam of the largest mosque in the world was a rare privilege. But it almost didn't happen. Because of my gender.
Dressed in ragged jeans, a tee and floaters, I reached the Taj hotel at 4:45 pm and headed straight for the imam's room.

I was met by Mohammed Naik, a Mumbai-based Islamic scholar, who told me the imam had a tight schedule and that I could interview him on the way to the Juma Masjid — where he was to lead the evening prayer.

A black SUV was waiting for the imam. When I tried to get in after him and his Saudi aides, one of Naik's acquaintances stopped me. The reason, I later learnt, was that the imam was not to be seen with a woman.

Humiliated, but not vanquished, I headed to the mosque in another vehicle. There, Naik again told me to wait inside the SUV so that I could do my interview after the prayers. This time, too, when the imam was to board the vehicle, the same acquaintance, egged on by others, once again pulled me out. I felt so low, that for once I even considered getting a sex-change op done.

Back in the hotel, I finally got the chance to meet the imam at the cafe. It was 6 pm. His demeanour was calm and reassuring. He patiently listened to every question and answered slowly in Arabic. Never once did it appear that he was hesitant to be interviewed by me. I felt good to be a woman again.
—DNA Correspondent
m_irani@dnaindia.net