Opinion | Religious Leaders Cannot Remain Silent About Misused Scripture

By K.R.

Every society depends on responsible voices to guide people away from hatred and violence. In Europe, where millions of Muslims live alongside people of different faiths, imams and other religious leaders carry an especially important responsibility. Their words shape how sacred texts are understood by future generations.

One verse that deserves careful explanation is Surah Al-Fatiha, verse 7, which asks God to guide believers “not on the path of those who incurred Your wrath, nor of those who went astray.” The Quran itself does not identify any specific religious community in this verse. However, many classical Islamic commentaries associated “those who incurred God’s wrath” with Jews and “those who went astray” with Christians.

This historical interpretation has existed for centuries, but today’s religious leaders have a choice. They can repeat it without explanation, or they can provide historical context and emphasize that the Quran repeatedly calls for justice, honesty, and respect for every human being.

When controversial passages are taught without context, misunderstandings can grow. Some listeners may wrongly conclude that an entire religious community should be viewed with hostility. Such readings contradict the responsibility of religious leadership in diverse democratic societies.

This does not mean that classical Islamic scholarship should be ignored or erased. Religious traditions deserve to be studied honestly. But scholarship should also be accompanied by wisdom. Explaining why medieval scholars reached certain conclusions is very different from presenting those conclusions as timeless judgments against entire communities.

European imams occupy a unique position. Many of them work tirelessly to promote peace, dialogue, and mutual respect. They openly condemn terrorism, cooperate with local communities, and help young Muslims reject extremist propaganda. Their work deserves recognition.

At the same time, criticism is legitimate when any religious leader—Muslim, Christian, Jewish, or otherwise—uses sermons to encourage hostility, intolerance, or prejudice. Religious authority should never be used to deepen divisions between communities.

It is also important to recognize that terrorism has no single cause. Extremist violence is fueled by a combination of ideological indoctrination, online propaganda, political conflicts, social isolation, and personal circumstances. Extremist organizations often manipulate religious texts by removing them from their historical and theological context. Preventing radicalization therefore requires responsible teaching, critical thinking, strong communities, and effective law enforcement.

The responsibility of imams in Europe is not to rewrite scripture but to explain it carefully, honestly, and responsibly. Their mission should be to protect young people from extremist distortions, encourage peaceful coexistence, and demonstrate that faith can be a force for unity rather than division.

In a multicultural Europe, religious leadership is measured not only by knowledge of sacred texts but also by the wisdom to apply them in ways that strengthen peace, justice, and mutual respect. That responsibility belongs to every religious leader, regardless of faith.

— K.R.