Saleem Ahmed, founder of the All Believers Network, will conduct an audiovisual presentation July 13 on "Islam 101" and discuss challenges faced by Muslims on the actions of extremists.
His presentation will summarize Muslim beliefs, rituals and practices from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Unity Church of Hawaii, 3608 Diamond Head Circle. It is part of All Believers’ free monthly public lecture series at the church.
The global war on terrorism involves a "more complex war, pitching extremist Muslims against moderates," Ahmed said in a news release.
Based on his research of the Quran’s earliest existing documents, Ahmed believes the conflict exists because the "Quran, the holy book, is not arranged chronologically. Hadith, Muhammad’s purported sayings and actions, is also not arranged chronologically; many are also not commonly known. Shariah, the Muslim code of ethics, is based on incomplete information," he said.
"The challenge is not with the divine message, but with its handling by humans." He said the divergent views can be solved through objective discussions at the local, national and international levels.
An agronomist by training, Ahmed was involved in Pakistan’s Green Revolution of the 1960s. Researching Islam since the 1980s, he has written "Beyond Veil and Holy War: Islamic Teachings and Muslim Practices With Biblical Comparisons" (2002) and "Islam: A Religion of Peace?" (2008).
He founded the Honolulu-based All Believers Network in 2003 and the Pacific Institute for Islamic Studies in 2008. Currently, he is a financial planner and marketer of neem tree products for personal, pet and plant care.
Contact Ahmed at alohasaleem@gmail.com to get more details about his research, or Unity at 735-4436 for more information.
