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We have so much much in common

5/ 6/2003

Western citizens must and need to understand what the Islamic civilisation, with its authenticity and greatness, has presented to the world, not only because of its heritage, or the contributions it gave to Europe, but also the modern Muslim thinking that still lies in the shadow.

So important is this contribution that often used term, Judeo-Christian civilisation, should be abandoned and replaced by the more accurate term, Judeo-Christian-Islamic civilisation.

This new language should be used in all venues starting with the media, academics, politicians and Church leaders.

Islamic values are not only compatible with Western culture and they are almost identical.

The interaction between Europe and the Muslim worlds was, and is, entirely possible and necessary because of the shared geography and heritage as well as a shared future.

But both sides lack the awareness of the things they have in common.

The Ottoman empire for example directly contributed to the advancement of European civilisation. In it Jews and Christians enjoyed religious freedom, lived peacefully and productively together - a coexistence that was impossible elsewhere in Europe at the time or even now in the so-called modern civilised West where the Muslim community is subject to discrimination in all walks of life.

Iftikar Ahmad, London School of Islamics