Lectures Focus On Islamic Ethics

Imam Yahya Hendi gives a lecture at the Museum of Islamic Art as part of a series of lectures sponsored by Georgetown University


Latest Update: Wednesday20/4/2011April, 2011, 12:48 AM Doha Time
Courtesy Of "The Gulf-Times"

Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar hosted Imam Yahya Hendi yesterday in his second day of lectures at the Museum of Islamic Art. The event was part of a community lecture series, A Journey with Islam in the 21st Century, sponsored by Georgetown’s Center for International and Regional Studies (CIRS).  

Imam Yahya Hendi is the Muslim chaplain at Georgetown University, the first American university to hire a full-time Muslim chaplain. He spoke on ethics, human rights, social justice, women and gender in Islam over the two days of lectures. 

“I challenge Muslims, asking them to produce a new agenda to understand and apply their faith by honouring and respecting the authentic texts while responding to new scientific discoveries and modern realities,” opened Imam Hendi. 

“Islamic ethics moves us beyond the spiritual to the practicality of how to be a good human being,” he added.

The event was held in the Education Center at the Museum of Islamic Art, underlining Georgetown Qatar’s continuing partnership with the museum, where around 50 members of the Doha community gathered to discuss Imam Hendi’s latest research in Qatar. 

During his first presentation on Monday, titled “The Paradigms of Islamic Ethics, Human Rights and Social Justice,” Imam Hendi examined the sources and foundations of Islamic ethics, the characteristics of binding ethics for Muslims, and general ethical guidelines, values, and their application in modern society with regards to human rights, environmental responsibility, global engagement and governance. 

Imam Hendi asserted that Islam guarantees certain human rights to all people, including: the right to life, the right to safety and security of life, the right to freedom and justice, the right to protest against tyranny, and the freedom of expression, association and religious expression.

He also emphasised the high ethical values in Islam of justice, compassion, moderation, and balanced consideration of the needs of the community and the individual.

Throughout his presentation, Imam Hendi challenged the audience with questions designed to connect philosophy and spirituality with the realities of everyday life: “Can we claim that the theory of ‘just war’ still exists? Should Muslims be advocating for equal representation of women in government? Are we acting as ‘Gaddafi’ or ‘Hosni Mubarak’ in our own home, workplace or community?”  

Imam Hendi closed his first lecture on Monday night by encouraging the audience, and the Muslim community at large, to stand up against injustice, stand for the protection of human rights, and to be a voice for the voiceless.

Yesterday, Imam Hendi delivered a second lecture  entitled “Women and Gender in the Islamic Religious Texts and Culture,” in which he examined Islamic texts to reflect upon the role of women in society, condemn violence against women, and advocate for equal educational access across genders among other topics. 

Imam  Hendi has written numerous articles on many topics, including women in Islam, women and gender relations in Islam, the second coming of the Messiah, Islam and biomedical ethics, and religion and Islam in the US.