Waleed Al-Harithy – Jeddah

Prominent Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah, Chairman of the Global Centre for Renewal and Guidance and former Mauritanian Minister of Justice, regarded President Obama’s speech as being historic for three reasons. The first of such reasons is that the speech in hand is unprecedented as far as the history of the Islamic/American relations is concerned.

Bin Bayyah added in an interview with Islam Today: “The second reason for the importance of Obama’s speech is that it was based on good awareness of history, especially regarding the incidents of Islamic history that Obama mentioned. The speech was thus wealthy.”

Sheikh Bin Bayyah proceeded: “The third reason is the new tendency that Obama has shown for the Muslim world and his seemingly truthful desire to make a change. A change that may be at least psychological if not fully political.” Prominent scholar Bin Bayyah added: “I regard Obama’s speech as being directed firstly to America before the Muslim world. It is an educational address telling the Americans that the Islam that they talk about is not strange to them and that they have to live harmoniously with Islam and Muslims. Accordingly, I think that such a speech will succeed in reflecting an unusual image of Islam and Muslims.”

Concerning his opinion on the way in which Arab politicians and peoples received the speech in question, Sheikh Bin Bayyah said: “I think that people divided into two parties. The first evaluated the historical importance of Obama’s speech and welcomed its positive aspects. Conversely, the second party saw nothing new in the concerned speech. They regarded it only as beautification, while covering underneath a policy that we still see destroying some parts of the Muslim world.”

Moreover, Sheikh Bin Bayyah expressed his personal opinion on Obama’s speech saying that: “Despite all the negative aspects that we witness and hope that the American administration finds solutions for, this speech can be considered a start for a new way. If developed into a soon implemented practical program, this would be capable of overcoming many obstacles.” He then added: “Rulers, intellectuals and scholars in the Muslim world used to introduce initiatives similar in spirit to those announced by Obama, though not in full conformity to all the ideas and practical policies raised by him.”

Influential people in the Muslim world have spoken continuously and well before Obama about issues of coexistence, positivity and tolerance between all religions. They would encourage the other side to take the same position, but unfortunately the latter lacked awareness, equity and insight. This status quo has been evident regarding the Palestinian issue and the instruments used for settling peace in Iraq and Afghanistan. We may disagree with President Obama’s view on handling such matters, however we think that the President has exerted an immense effort that we must evaluate. In fact, we have to look at the full half of the cup; we have to light a candle instead of cursing the darkness.