But why did the Muslim react in such a manner when Pope Benedict repeated something that we are already accustomed to hearing from not so friendly western public figures?但為何穆斯林以這種方式作出反應時，教皇本篤重複的東西，我們已經習慣於聽到從西方不那麼友好的公眾人物？ After all flamboyant televangelists like Jerry Falwell have said worse things than the Pope –- calling the Prophet of Islam a paedophile and terrorist – yet we never asked for an apology.畢竟像華麗 televangelists傑里福爾韋爾說壞的東西比教皇 - 伊斯蘭教先知調用一個戀童癖者和恐怖分子 - 但我們從來沒有要求道歉。 In the modern era, not least because of the late Pope John Paul II, Muslims have a genuine respect for the head of the Catholic church.在現代的時代，這不僅是因為已故教皇約翰保羅二世，穆斯林有一個真正尊重團長，天主教。 The Crusades, the Reconquista, the Inquisitions were far behind us.十字軍東征，收復失地運動的文字獄遠遠落後我們。 The Catholic Church with its long history and tradition, its large number of faithful and the authority of its leadership, its unambiguous moral precepts and its liturgies and rites represent what constitutes Christian orthodoxy to ordinary Muslim eyes, as the last bastion against the inexorable march of secularization of western society.天主教會以其悠久的歷史和傳統，其大量的忠實和其領導的權威，其明確的道德觀念和禮儀和儀式的代表何謂正統基督教的普通穆斯林眼中，作為最後的堡壘反對遊行的必然世俗化的西方社會。

If you're new here, you may want to get regular updates via RSS feed.如果你是新這裡，您可能希望獲得定期更新RSS提要。 Thank you for visiting!Karen Armstrong感謝您訪問！凱倫阿姆斯特朗
In the 12th century, Peter the Venerable, Abbot of Cluny, initiated a dialogue with the Islamic world.在12世紀，彼得大帝法師，住持克呂尼，開始了對話與伊斯蘭世界。 “I approach you not with arms, but with words,” he wrote to the Muslims whom he imagined reading his book, “not with force, but with “你不是我的做法與武器，但話說，”他寫信給他所想像的穆斯林讀他的書“，而不是用武力，而是 Read more ..閱讀更多..

Apostasy, apparently a human rights related issue, is highly sensitive to the multi-racial and multi-religious character of Malaysia.叛教，顯然是與人權有關的問題，是高度敏感，多種族和多宗教性質的馬來西亞。 It tends to be problematic, untenable to some, especially when it deals with conversion into and out of Islam.它往往是有問題的，站不住腳的一些，尤其是當它處理轉換成進出伊斯蘭教。 It is true, the whole question involves certain legal and social implications.這是真的，整個問題涉及到一些法律和社會影響。 At times, its repercussions appear to rattle the social solidarity and religious harmony of our peaceful nation.有時，它的影響似乎撥浪鼓的社會團結和宗教和睦的和平國家。 All these threatening consequences are actually caused by ignorance.所有這些威脅所造成的後果實際上是無知。 This writing is not to incite further dissension.寫這篇文章並不是要進一步引發糾紛。 Neither is it intended to sound apologetic.也不是為了健全的歉意。 On the contrary it calls for all parties directly or indirectly affected by the subject matter, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, to view it with an open heart guided by wisdom.相反它要求所有各方直接或間接地受到此事，穆斯林和非穆斯林一樣，要查看它以開放的心引導的智慧。

There are those who say that lying and deceiving is at the soul of all crime and that Christianity epitomizes these traits more than any other faith.還有那些說誰撒謊和欺騙是靈魂的所有犯罪，集中體現了這些特點基督教超過了其他任何信仰。 As proof of their assertion they often quote Paul of Tarsus, arguably the true founder of Christianity, who is recorded to have said, “But if through my falsehood God's truthfulness abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?為了證明他們的說法，他們經常引用保羅的大數，可以說是真正的基督教的創始人，誰是有記錄說，“但是，如果通過我的假神的真實性豐富自己的榮耀，為什麼我仍然被指責為罪人？ Any why not do evil that good may come? 為什麼不能做任何邪惡好可能來嗎？ – as some people slanderously charge us with saying. -像有些人污衊我們的主管說。 Their condemnation is just.” (Romans 3:7-8) 他們譴責是正義的。“（羅馬書3:7-8）

In the post-9/11 era the Western media are at the forefront of a highly orchestrated assault against Islam and its people.在後 911時代的西方媒體都在第一線的高度精心策劃的襲擊針對伊斯蘭教和它的人民。 So, I am not too surprised with the Times Online piece trying to raise storm over some 13th century text that are taught at a Shi'ite religious school in London.所以，我並不感到太意外與時報在線一塊努力提高風暴對一些13世紀的文本教授在一什葉派宗教學校在倫敦。 The subject in question is najasa or impurity: what makes something impure according to Muhaqqiq al-Hilli, a 13th century Shi'ite scholar.這個主題中的問題是納哈薩或雜質：什麼東西是不純根據 Muhaqqiq基地希利，一個 13世紀的什葉派學者。 The text says, “The water left over in the container after any type of animal has drunk from it is considered clean and pure apart from the left over of a dog, a pig, and a disbeliever.” So, the Times reporter Sean O'Connell draws the conclusion that Muslim students are “being taught to despise unbelievers as filth”, which becomes the news heading, sure to draw much publicity in UK before the election in May.文中說，“遺留下來的水在容器中後，任何類型的動物已經喝醉了從它被認為是乾淨和純潔除了遺留的一隻狗，豬，和disbeliever。”因此， 時報記者肖恩Ø '康奈爾得出的結論是穆斯林學生是“不信正教的鄙視骯髒”，成為新聞的標題，肯定會吸引很多宣傳在英國大選前的5月。

In Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him), Allah had an uswatun hasana (“the most beautiful pattern of conduct”, Surah Al Ahzab , 33:21).在先知穆罕默德（願上帝祝福他），真主已經一uswatun hasana（“最美麗的圖案”行為，Surah鋁Ahzab，33:21）。 There are numerous Quranic verses exhorting Muslims to emulate this exemplar of a human being.有許多古蘭經經文告誡穆斯林效仿這一榜樣的人。 Exhortations from the Holy Book aside, a man whose teachings are being followed by one in five people on this planet deserves attention.規勸從聖書放在一邊，一名男子正在其教義之後，五分之一的人在這個星球上值得關注。

The saga of Abdul Rehman's conversion to Christianity may be over but the aftermath is far from settled.阿卜杜勒拉赫曼的精彩紛呈的皈依基督教可能結束，但善後遠遠沒有解決。 Like a clockwork of hate, the episode has brought upon yet another wave of criticisms against Islam and its record for religious tolerance.像發條的仇恨，這一事件帶來了又一次浪潮後，對伊斯蘭教的批評和宗教寬容的紀錄。 But what few would realise is that the West has a history of religious intolerance and persecutions that would put Muslim Afghanistan to shame.但很少人會知道的是，西方有一個歷史的宗教不容忍和迫害，將提出阿富汗穆斯林的恥辱。

There are 1.2 billion Muslims in the world, and Islam is the world's fastest-growing religion.有12億穆斯林世界，伊斯蘭是世界上增長最快的宗教。 If the evil carnage we witnessed on Sept. 11 were typical of the faith, and Islam truly inspired and justified such violence, its growth and the increasing presence of Muslims in both Europe and the US would be a terrifying prospect.如果邪惡的大屠殺，我們看到9月11日，這是典型的信仰，真正激發和伊斯蘭教和合理的這種暴力行為，其增長和日益增加的存在穆斯林在歐洲和美國將是一個可怕的前景。

Fortunately, this is not the case.幸運的是，這並非如此。