الإسلام والغرب: نحو عالم أفضل

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Globalization and the Contribution of the European Muslims

an appropriate metaphor for the possibilities open to the individual to influence our ‘postmodern’ political process .

It can be said that a large section of the European elite now realises that the truly relevant historical question is how national democracies will succeed in controlling international capitalism. I am convinced that herein lies the actual intellectual appeal of Europe’s encounter with Islam and its revelation. Incidentally it is important to understand that islamism as a political ideology likewise provides absolutely no answers to this question (namely – the question as to the limiting of economic power). 8. The Relevance of Islam Islam today is first and foremost associated with extremes and peripheral themes in Europe. Everything which is relatively unimportant is presented as important, everything which is important is hardly even mentioned. The life of more and more people is characterised by economic hardship and need. Globalisation is characterised today by an unbounded capitalism. The actual question is therefore - as we have already stated - whether Islam has a relevant contribution to make to globalisation. The answer is clearly “yes”. Questions as to economic power are not new and have a long tradition in Islam. Our great books contain hundred of pages dealing with economic subjects. The revelation reminds us again and again of zakat, the duty to have solidarity with the poor. Opponents of Islam like to stay silent about these economic, interesting dimensions of Islam. The Qur’an in fact not only contains ayats on our human situation but also key ayats on the economic situation: “Allah has permitted trade but forbidden usury.” (Surat al-Baqara, 275) On reflection, the opposite reality is true of today’s Europe: Europe has monopolised trade and professionalised the taking of interest. The free market economy – in other words the free participation in the European market – only functions

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