UCLA law Professor Khaled Abou el Fadl spoke Tuesday night about the dangers of religious extremism in all faiths and his personal reflections on what he believes is the true nature of Islam.
The event was held at the UCLA Hammer Museum as part of the Hammer Forum series, which seeks to stir debate about cultural and social topics.
Abou el Fadl initially addressed the mixed audience of students and visitors by talking about his perception of the nature of Islam.
“The core values of Islam are mercy, compassion and humility, contrary to what Islamophobes believe,” he said.
But he added that he was troubled by extremists of all faiths who cause their religions to be perceived negatively.
“The resilience of Muslim theology allows us to overcome the (views of) extremists,” he said, adding that efforts to do so are hampered by financial support for such figures as Osama bin Laden.
Some students in the audience said they agreed with Abou el Fadl’s criticism of extremists.
“I very much respect Islam, but aspects of it have been hijacked by extremists. I want to hear about how to counteract the influence of extremism,” said Mike Punja, a graduate student in the UCLA School of Public Health.
Other students said they came to see Abou el Fadl because of his distinguished academic background and authority on Islamic law as the Omar and Azmeralda Alfi chair in Islamic law at UCLA’s law school.
“On an issue as controversial as extremism, it is important to hear from someone who is informed on culture and religion,” said Carlos Avelar, a fourth-year political science student.
Abou el Fadl also criticized bigotry against Islam, comparing this treatment to the disenfranchisement of some ethnic groups in the United States, such as Chinese Americans in the 1800s.
He said many Muslims in the United States face the challenge of being misunderstood.
In particular, he said he disagreed with how Western writers portray Islam.
“The literary world often accepts rhetoric from writers that claim to know the true nature of Islam,” he said.
“These writers have imagined a Muslim conspiracy that seeks to damage society but does not actually exist.”
Some students in the audience praised Abou el Fadl, saying he addressed a complicated topic thoughtfully and intelligently.
“Islam is so much more complex and sophisticated than many are aware of,” said Rabea Chaudhry, a law student. “Professor el Fadl consistently sheds light on this complexity.”
But Abou el Fadl’s beliefs have sparked controversy in the past.
He said he has received several death threats over the years and was also the victim of one assassination attempt last year when a bullet came within two inches of his head.
“As someone who is more likely to have my life ended by extremists than (anyone in the audience), ... it is difficult for me to see Islam at its current state of strife,” he said.
Abou el Fadl ultimately stressed the peaceful nature of Islam and praised different opinions.
“Unfortunately, extremists on both sides ignore variations of belief,” he said, adding that he does not believe that Islam by nature gravitates toward extremism.