ISLAM
from issue no. 10 - 2006
An interview with one of the most authoritative leaders of the Shiite community
The “golden path” of dialogue
A meeting with the Iranian Ayatollah Muhammad Ali Taskhiri, Secretary General of the Forum for the Rapprochement of Islamic Schools in the world, one of the 38 leaders, signatories of the open letter to the Pope, in response to the lectio magistralis of Regensburg
Interview with Muhammad Ali Taskhiri by Pierluca Azzaro
Benedict XVI during the audience with the ambassadors of Islamic majority countries accredited to the Holy See, 25 September 2006 at Castel Gandolfo
TASKHIRI: Justice must be enduring, and everything that doesn’t respect justice and human dignity must be rejected because it is in contrast with authentic human values. Peace, truth, sincerity, dedicating one’s own efforts to just causes, helping the suffering and the needy, these are examples of justice and of love of justice. If one operates against justice the world suffers and will continue to suffer. But justice has two aspects. The first concerns what our conscience rejects, what makes us feel guilty when we do something evil: killing women, children and helpless people is wrong, our conscience tells us; helping women and children is justice; supporting the weak is justice; taking care of the more fundamental human needs is justice: assuring food and water, which are gifts of God, and then a home and freedom. If these needs are not met, then one operates unjustly. The second aspect of justice has to do with events in our life or happenings in general that we don’t grasp as just. For these last we must turn to God, cry out to Him, Who is the source of justice, and pray Him to make us understand why this or that event may be just.
You often speak also of a golden mean between unbridled capitalism and socialism. What do you mean?
TASKHIRI: I am a Muslim and according to my religion there is, without doubt, freedom of enterprise, of doing business; but there is also, at the same time, the need to satisfy the basic human needs of people, such as home and work. The socialism that we have known wanted to assure these goods to all, refusing freedom. Islam tries to give freedom of enterprise but wants people to be assured that their most elementary needs will be met. I am sure that all the monotheistic religions have precise recommendations to make on the matter.
Yet, looking around today, the picture seems very bleak. The Pope spoke in Regensburg of a wealthy and technically advanced West permeated, however, by «a type of reason that excludes God totally from the vision of man»; and that it is this aspect of the West that frightens the people of Asia. Do you agree with his words?
TASKHIRI: One hundred per cent. In our epoch of consumerism and of unbridled capitalism many are so in love with themselves that they refuse God and despise Him. This is the tragedy of our time.
A last question: Your Excellency, how do you see the future and what do you expect from the future?
TASKHIRI: I am a Muslim, I come from Iran and I read the Koran every day. The Koran is a book of inspiration and of hope for the future. I believe that, one day, the Imam Mahdi and Jesus of Nazareth will come into this world and spread love, compassion and justice. Because of this I am confident about the future.
