UCLA law Professor Khaled Abou el Fadl spoke Tuesday night about
the dangers of religious extremism in all faiths and his personal
reflections on what he believes is the true nature of Islam.
The event was held at the UCLA Hammer Museum as part of the
Hammer Forum series, which seeks to stir debate about cultural and
social topics.
Abou el Fadl initially addressed the mixed audience of students
and visitors by talking about his perception of the nature of
Islam.
“The core values of Islam are mercy, compassion and
humility, contrary to what Islamophobes believe,” he
said.
But he added that he was troubled by extremists of all faiths
who cause their religions to be perceived negatively.
“The resilience of Muslim theology allows us to overcome
the (views of) extremists,” he said, adding that efforts to
do so are hampered by financial support for such figures as Osama
bin Laden.
Some students in the audience said they agreed with Abou el
Fadl’s criticism of extremists.
“I very much respect Islam, but aspects of it have been
hijacked by extremists. I want to hear about how to counteract the
influence of extremism,” said Mike Punja, a graduate student
in the UCLA School of Public Health.
Other students said they came to see Abou el Fadl because of his
distinguished academic background and authority on Islamic law as
the Omar and Azmeralda Alfi chair in Islamic law at UCLA’s
law school.
“On an issue as controversial as extremism, it is
important to hear from someone who is informed on culture and
religion,” said Carlos Avelar, a fourth-year political
science student.
Abou el Fadl also criticized bigotry against Islam, comparing
this treatment to the disenfranchisement of some ethnic groups in
the United States, such as Chinese Americans in the 1800s.
He said many Muslims in the United States face the challenge of
being misunderstood.
In particular, he said he disagreed with how Western writers
portray Islam.
“The literary world often accepts rhetoric from writers
that claim to know the true nature of Islam,” he said.
“These writers have imagined a Muslim conspiracy that
seeks to damage society but does not actually exist.”
Some students in the audience praised Abou el Fadl, saying he
addressed a complicated topic thoughtfully and intelligently.
“Islam is so much more complex and sophisticated than many
are aware of,” said Rabea Chaudhry, a law student.
“Professor el Fadl consistently sheds light on this
complexity.”
But Abou el Fadl’s beliefs have sparked controversy in the
past.
He said he has received several death threats over the years and
was also the victim of one assassination attempt last year when a
bullet came within two inches of his head.
“As someone who is more likely to have my life ended by
extremists than (anyone in the audience), … it is difficult for
me to see Islam at its current state of strife,” he said.
Abou el Fadl ultimately stressed the peaceful nature of Islam
and praised different opinions.
“Unfortunately, extremists on both sides ignore variations
of belief,” he said, adding that he does not believe that
Islam by nature gravitates toward extremism.