We need to show that Islam is well and truly a thinking person's religion. Islam is not about blind faith, but of judgements of reason, of individual accountability, while upholding pluralistic community values. No nation or people that had abandoned reason or scholarship or the ability to think have ever prospered," observed the President of Maldives, HE Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, in his Lecture on Interfaith entitled "Islam: A Religion of Peace and Tolerance," organized by the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies at the Oxford Town Hall, Oxford, on 16th of July, 2007. Dr. Abdullah Omar Nasseef, the President of the World Muslim Congress and the Chairman of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Oxford , was present at the lecture.

President Gayoom educated first at Al-Azhar University, then at Ain Shams University at Cairo , taught Islamic Studies at Ben Bella University of Nigeria. He became President of Maldives in 1978 and is now in his sixth term of office.

The President of Maldives said, "A growing number of people in the West believe, quite wrongly, that Islam is inherently a religion of violence, misogyny and tyranny, and that Muslims are out to subvert their way of life. Equally, a rising number of Muslims believe, also quite wrongly, that Islam justifies violence, misogyny and tyranny, and that the West is out to destroy the very religion of Islam. Both groups view each other with deep suspicion and fear, and with contempt and hatred as well."

"This polarization fuelled by ignorance, suspicion and intolerance, today threatens the peaceful co-existence of the nations and the major religions of the world," said the President and added, "Muslims, whether in Britain or in the Maldives or elsewhere in the world, have a significant role to play in promoting the understanding of Islam worldwide, and to strive against misconceptions and prejudice. The role of Muslims in the West is particularly important in this endeavour."

Speaking about the terrorist acts committed in 9/11 and 7/7, President Gayoom said, "Whoever the perpetrators of those terrorist acts had been, they are certainly not acting in accordance with the teachings and principles of Islam. Therefore, to point the finger at Islam and Muslims for those acts of terrorism is nothing but a grave injustice to this most humane and noble of religions."

Speaking about radicalisation in the Islamic world, the President of Maldives observed, "I believe that the current phase of radicalization in the Islamic world is in part a reaction to the pressures and persecution of outside forces. This is symptomatic of many religious, ethnic, cultural and national groups."

Speaking about interfaith dialogue, President Gayoom said, "We must keep in mind the fact that Islam the faith, its history and culture, have a lot to offer in the setting of international norms and universal global standards. What is needed is a sharing of ideas and values. This can only be achieved through a continued process of interfaith dialogue and discourse. There is no place for coercion and violence."

"Islam stipulates that all people must be treated with respect, and that human life should be safeguarded. Islam promotes peace, solidarity and mutual respect between peoples. It calls upon everyone to work together against aggression and that which is immoral," the President said.

Speaking about Jihad, the President said, "the divine permission to fight was conditional: only in self-defence against aggression. The permission to fight was granted to the Muslims because of their genuine need to defend their lives, their faith and their homes at the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). In fact, there is no basis in the Qur'an nor in the life and actions of the Prophet which justifies violence or acts of aggression against innocent men, women and children."

President Gayoom also said, "Indeed, Islam makes the unlawful killing of one human being equal to the killing of the entire humankind. The Almighty Allah says in the Qur'an: "if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading evil in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people." (5:32)."

President Gayoom also maintained, "Islam calls for dialogue and mutual respect among different peoples and cultures. It enjoins good relations between Muslims and non-Muslims, for knowing one another, for solidarity, for promoting virtue and for achieving justice. Islam enjoins tolerance to nurture the protection of life and for interacting among the followers of different faiths in a mutually beneficial way. The Noble Qur'an says: "O mankind! We created you from a single pair of a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other [not that you may despise each other]" (49:13).

Speaking about status of women in Islam, President Gayoom said, "The global media has played a role in perpetuating Islam as oppressing women. Qur'anic injunctions and the example of the Prophet's life prove that Islam established spiritual and moral equality between men and women. Indeed, Islam did not oppress women, but ensured their rights and dignity at a time and age when they had been treated as less than human. Islam put an end to female infanticide, gave greater rights to women in marriage and divorce. It also guaranteed women the right to inherit and bequeath property.”

Citing examples of tolerance and compassion for other religions from the history o Islam, the President mentioned, "outstanding examples of compassion include the entry into Al-Quds of Khalifa Umar in 638 AD, and Salah-el-Dir AI-Ayyubi's liberation of AI-Quds in 1187. Khalifa Umar guaranteed the safety of the people of Elis as well as their property. He further ensured that their churches were not destroyed, and that they were not compelled to join Islam. Salah-el-din al-Ayyubi, protected the lives of the Crusaders and their leaders by escorting them to safety. This was despite the atrocities committed by the Crusaders against Muslims when they had earlier invaded Al-Quds and various cities of Syria including Damascus . It is a historical fact that the Crusaders had committed major war crimes against the Muslims, slaughtered thousands of men, women, children, and elderly and helpless people, and had looted their property and possessions."

President Gayoom noted that Muslims pioneered pluralistic societies. "Islam inspired societies that were tolerant and pluralistic. From 800 to 1200 AD, the Cordoba Caliphate ruled much of today's Spain amid a rich flowering of art, culture, philosophy and science. Many Jewish and Christian artists and intellectuals emigrated to Cordoba during this period. This and many other examples demonstrate that Muslims pioneered pluralistic societies that respected religious, racial and ethnic differences, while including them all within the greater community."

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