Historic Sharia Event Answers Many Complicated Questions

​PICNA and USC Organize Yet another Successful Program

​What is Sharia? Is it really a threat? These and many other questions were addressed in an historic event organized by Peace and Integration Council of North America (PICNA) and USC, Department of Religious Studies at the USC campus on Tuesday, April 12, 2016.

​Two accomplished Islamic scholars, Shaykh Muhammad Bin Yahya al-Ninowy, Founding Director of the global network of Madinah Institutes and Dr. Waleed Elansary, University Chair for Islamic Studies at Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, held a multi-faith audience captive for over an hour with their depth of knowledge, charismatic style and pleasing personalities.  

​While PICNA and USC co-hosted the program, it was co-sponsored by Walker Institute for International and Area Studies, USC Islamic World Studies Program, Interfaith Partners of South Carolina and ISRA – Islamic Research and Studies Association. Dr. James Cutsinger, head of the USC Department of Religious Studies, welcomed the audience and moderated the program.

​Chaudhry Sadiq, PICNA President, on his part, thanked the co-sponsors. “From ‘Islam and Peace’ to ‘The Spirit of Tolerance in Islam’ to this Sharia event, our partnership with the USC has prospered”, declared Chaudhry Sadiq. He briefly touched upon PICNA’s future plans of combating Islamophobia and bigotry and then introduced the keynote speaker, Shaykh Muhammad Bin Al-Ninowy. 

​Shaykh Al-Ninowy at first spoke about common misconceptions about Islam, including Jihad, ISIS and the status of Jesus in Islam. He then presented a superb analysis of how certain groups systematically target Islam and Muslims in the West, especially in the USA. While the American Muslims are a vibrant part of this society, excelling in every sphere of life, their detractors are trying to put Muslims on the defensive by their persistent propaganda. 

​Shaykh Muhammad explained Sharia as the way, the way of God Almighty. He said Islamic Sharia was the set of principles by which Muslims lead their lives in compliances of God’s commands and that Islamic Sharia was to be found in Islamic scriptures. He compared it to Christian Sharia that was found in the New Testament and Jewish Sharia that was contained in the Old Testament – that the Sharias of all the Abrahamic religions were based on the same golden principles. 

Shaykh Al-Ninowy concluded his address by the declaration that Sharia calls on people of all faiths:

1. To restore the unconditional compassion to the center of morality and religion;
2. To return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of the scriptures that breeds violence, hatred or disdain, is illegitimate;
3. To insure that the youth of today are given an accurate and respectful information on other faiths, religions and cultures;
4. To encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity; and
5. To cultivate an inspired empathy with the suffering of human beings, even those regarded as enemies.

​Dr. Waleed Elansary, in his follow up address, complemented Shaykh Al-Ninowy’s thoughtful discourse and symbolized Sharia as a living tree that bloomed and prospered with time. Finally, both the scholars responded to some very intelligent questions and comments from an enlightened and motivated audience. 

​PICNA published a dedicated magazine on this occasion that contained a wealth of Islamic knowledge besides Governor Nikki Haley’s message of welcome and support for the valuable work that PICNA is doing for interfaith harmony.