Islam's Up-to-Date Televangelist
Amr Khaled Has Bridged the Religious and Secular With His Feel-Good Message
Tuesday, September 11, 2007; Page C01
The rhythmic clapping began the minute Amr Khaled stepped through the door of the packed Crystal City ballroom. Surrounded by security guards, the Egyptian preacher had to weave his way through the crowd -- men both cleanshaven and bearded, women both fashionably coifed and dressed in conservative Islamic dress -- that had come from up and down the East Coast to hear him. Two massive screens projected his image to those in the back.
"My goal is that you leave happy," Khaled began softly, once he finally got to the lectern. "My goal is to fulfill the hadith of the prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, that says, 'Whoever puts joy in the hearts of the believers, his reward is not less than Paradise.' " The crowd ate it up. For the next 90 minutes, they laughed at his witticisms, smiled at his stories, nodded at his exhortations and clapped again -- spontaneously and often. But most of all, they listened intently.
The rock-star preacher in the designer suit, often called "the anti-bin Laden," had arrived in America with his new brand of upbeat, feel-good Islam.
For American Muslims beset by the tensions of the post-9/11 world, Khaled came to address a deep crisis of confidence. He tried to bridge the gap between conflicting allegiances, notably their U.S. citizenship and their fury at U.S. policy in Iraq and other Muslim countries.Read on.......
3 comments:
Dear HL,
This Amr Klaled seems to be an interesting chap. He's a Godsend to Moslems in the west I suppose, who are now struggling with their faith and identity.
Just re-read your back entries re: your meet with some Indonesians and their perceptions of Islam in Malaysia. Although there are implementations of near-syariah laws in pockets of Indonesia (Tengerang, outside JKT and West Sumatra for example) at present, by and large even very devout Moslems have deeply ingrained belief in the Pancasila.
The other thing that impresses me is (altho' it feels like a contradiction) come fasting month all entertainment outlets throughout Indo will be closed. It's not constitutionally required (being a secular country that is), just a plain common sense "law" since Moslems are the majority. Well, contrast that to Malaysia - and Malaysia purports to be a Moslem Country.
Mat Salo,
Good to hear from you again.Islam does need a breath of fresh air.More people like Amr Khaled and our Mufti of Perlis should be in the forefront to spread the new wave of Islamic renaissance.My biggest worry is my country,Malaysia.We are turning the clock back to medieval ages.We blindly copy certain form of Wahhabism, which is unsuitable here.Pakistan, is a prime example of a failed state.Afghanistan, beyond salvation.
I strongly feel Malaysia should abolish the Syariah law and let Muslims practise their faith without human interference.
The pockets of syariah laws in Indonesia is not a central government decree but rather a provincial self-imposed fatwa.In fact Indonesia, with over 90% Muslims population, had more reasons to have it than Malaysia, which I wouldn't call an Islamic nation at all.
Our selfish UMNO polticians are using it to maintain the Malay support to keep them in office and they are reaping and raping the country's wealth for themselves.
The NEP, which has exhausted its noble objective, is now an organised and legalised form of corruption.That's why our keris wielding dim-witted Minister wanted it to go on perpetually.On top of that, you have the corruption's corruption, the unseen evil of greed,which will eventually destroy this country.
We may not see it in our life time, but our future generations, our children and grandchildren, will have to suffer the consequences.
When life become untenable, the oil wells run dry and the wealthy Chinese decide to leave this country than we would have to join the rank of the screwed up African countries.
Just look how fast Uganda and recently Mozambique slide down the economic ladder.
Mat Salo,
Sorry,correction, it should be Zimbabwe.Momentarily mental blockage.
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