"Wakati wa Makhalifa, wanazuoni wa Wakristo na Mayahudi hawakuheshimiwa tu sana, bali pia waliteuliwa kwenye nafasi za uwajibikaji mkubwa, na kupandishwa vyeo vya juu katika serikali....Yeye (Khalifa Haroon Rasheed) hakuwahi kuzingatia mtu wa nchi gani mwanazuoni alitoka, wala dini yake na imani yake, bali ubora wake katika fani ya elimu tu." -- Dkt. William Draper Uzinduzi wa Kardinali Ratzinger kuwa Papa Benedict XVI umeibua masuala mengi, ambayo yanatishia kudhoofisha upapa wake. Kubwa miongoni mwao ni changamoto kutoka kwa Uislamu na kudhoofika kwa imani ya Wakristo barani Ulaya kutokana na kuenea kwa mfumo wa kidunia (usekula).

“During the period of the Caliphs the learned men of the Christians and the Jews were not only held in great esteem but were appointed to posts of great responsibility, and were promoted to the high ranking job in the government....He (Caliph Haroon Rasheed) never considered to which country a learned person belonged nor his faith and belief, but only his excellence in the field of learning.” -- Dr. William Draper he inauguration of Cardinal Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI has brought to the fore a host of issues, which threaten to undermine his papacy. Chief among them is the challenge from Islam and the secularization of Christians in Europe.

Vatikani limegawanyika kidogo kuhusu jinsi ya kulishughulikia Uislamu.

The Vatican is somewhat divided on how to tackle Islam.

Baadhi ya makadinali wanaunga mkono kuwafikia Waislamu wenye msimamo wa wastani na kupunguza msimamo mkali wa Vatikani kuhusu Uislamu. "Papa ajaye atahitaji kuwa mtu anayeweza kufanya mazungumzo na dini mbalimbali za dunia, na hasa Uislamu... Uislamu unaendelea kukua, na Ukristo, angalau katika ulimwengu ulioendelea, unapungua," alisema Mchungaji Keith F. Pecklers, profesa wa teolojia wa Kijesuiti katika Chuo Kikuu cha Kipapa cha Gregorian. Mtazamo huu unafanana na ule uliotolewa na Papa Yohane Paulo wa Pili, ambaye mwaka 1986 alikuwa Papa wa kwanza kutembelea nchi ya Kiislamu.

Some cardinals are in the favour of reaching out to moderate Muslims and tapering the Vatican’ s attitudes towards Islam. “The next pope will need to be someone capable of dialoguing with the different religions of the world, and particularly Islam… Islam is on the rise, and Christianity, at least in the developed world, is in decline”, said the Rev. Keith F. Pecklers, a Jesuit professor of theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. This approach is reminiscent of the one articulated by Pope John Paul II who in 1986 became the first pope to visit a Muslim country.

Wakati wa ziara yake nchini Morocco alisema, "Sisi tunamwamini Mungu yuleyule, Mungu mmoja wa pekee, aliyeiumba dunia na kuwaleta viumbe vyake kwenye ukamilifu." Hivyo ndivyo fundisho la mazungumzo ya kidini baina ya Ukristo na Uislamu lilivyozaliwa. Kwa miaka ishirini iliyofuata, fundisho hili liliamua mahusiano kati ya Vatican na ulimwengu wa Kiislamu.

During the visit to Morocco he said, “We believe in the same God, the one and the only God, who created the world and brought its creatures to perfection.” Hence the doctrine of inter-faith dialogue with Islam was born. For the next twenty years this doctrine defined the relations between the Vatican and the Islamic world.

Makardinali wengine wanapendelea msimamo mkali zaidi dhidi ya Uislamu. John Allen, mwandishi wa habari wa Vatikani wa National Catholic Reporter, ana shaka kama kuna kitu kinachoitwa Uislamu wa wastani. "Wanaamini kwamba kinachohitajika ni upendo mgumu. Ndoto mbaya zaidi ni kwamba siku moja tutaamka na kukuta Nchi Takatifu haina Wakristo kabisa", Allen alisema. Maoni yanayotolewa na kundi hili yanaonekana kuafikiana na yale ya Papa Benedikto XVI, ambaye si muda mrefu uliopita alidharau wazo la Uturuki kujiunga na Ulaya ya Kikristo. Mwezi Agosti uliopita, Ratzinger alisema, "Katika historia yote, Uturuki daima imewakilisha bara tofauti, katika upinzani wa kudumu dhidi ya Ulaya. Kuyafanya mabara haya mawili kuwa sawa kungekuwa kosa." Nyuma mnamo Novemba 2004, Ratzinger aliwakosoa Waislamu kwa kuufanya Uislamu wa kisiasa na alisisitiza kwamba Waislamu walikuwa na mengi ya kujifunza kutoka kwa Ukristo.

Other cardinals prefer a much tougher stance towards Islam. John Allen, the Vatican correspondent of the National Catholic Reporter, is sceptical that there is such a thing as moderate Islam. “They [cardinals] think what is needed is tough love. The nightmare scenario is that one day we’ ll wake up and the Holy Land will be empty of Christians”, Allen said. The views expressed by this group appear to be in unison with Pope Benedict XVI, who not so long ago scoffed at the idea of Turkey joining Christian Europe. Last August, Ratzinger said, “In the course of history, Turkey has always represented a different continent, in permanent contrast to Europe. Making the two continents identical would be a mistake.” Back in November 2004, Ratzinger criticized Muslims for politicizing Islam and stressed that Muslims had a great deal to learn from Christianity.

Ratzinger alisema, "Waislamu wanapaswa kujifunza kutoka kwa utamaduni wa Kikristo umuhimu wa uhuru wa kidini, na utengano kati ya kanisa na serikali." Katika ulimwengu halisi, changamoto zinazoletwa na Uislamu hazikuzwi tu kupita kiasi na Vatikani, bali ni ndogo sana ikilinganishwa na athari ya usekularisti kwa Wakatoliki wapatao bilioni moja duniani. Tishio kubwa zaidi ni usekularisti wa Wakatoliki barani Ulaya, ambao uko juu zaidi kuliko katika bara lolote lingine. Ni asilimia 21 pekee ya Wazungu wanaosema kwamba dini ni "muhimu sana" kwao, kulingana na Utafiti wa Maadili wa Ulaya (European Values Study), uliofanywa mwaka 1999 na 2000 na kuchapishwa miaka miwili iliyopita. Utafiti kama huo nchini Marekani uliofanywa na Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life uliweka idadi hiyo karibu asilimia 60.

Ratzinger said, “Muslims should learn from the Christian culture the importance of religious freedom, and the separation between church and state.” In the real world, the challenges posed by Islam are not only overstated by the Vatican, but are miniscule in comparison to the influence of secularism on the world’ s billion or so Catholics. A far greater threat is the secularization of Catholics in Europe, which is significantly higher than any other continent. Only 21 percent of Europeans say that religion is "very important" to them, according to the European Values Study, conducted in 1999 and 2000 and published two years ago. A similar survey in the United States by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life put the number at nearly 60 percent.

Zaidi ya hayo, mahudhurio ya ibada za Jumapili kanisani yamepungua kwa kiasi kikubwa kote Ulaya.

Beyond that, Mass attendance has significantly declined throughout Europe.

Miongoni mwa Wakatoliki, ni asilimia 10 tu nchini Uholanzi, asilimia 12

Among Catholics, only 10 percent in the Netherlands, 12

asilimia nchini Ufaransa, asilimia 15 nchini Ujerumani na Austria, asilimia 18

percent in France, 15 percent in Germany and Austria, 18

...% nchini Hispania na 25% nchini Italia huhudhuria Misa ya kila wiki. Kwa hiyo haishangazi kuona baadhi ya Wakatoliki wakielezea wasiwasi mkubwa kuhusu mustakabali wa Ukristo katika Ulaya ya kidunia. "Baadhi ya watu wanaitazama Ulaya na kuiona imechoka kiroho, ikiwa si imekufa," alisema Padri John Wauck, ambaye hufundisha katika Chuo Kikuu cha Kipapa cha Holy Cross mjini Roma.

percent in Spain and 25 percent in Italy attend weekly Mass. Therefore it is not surprising to find some Catholics voicing extreme concerns for the future of Christianity in a secular Europe. “Some people look at Europe and see it spiritually tired, if not dead,” said the Rev. John Wauck, who teaches at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome.

Mbali na idadi inayopungua ya Wakristo barani Ulaya, tishio kuu kwa Vatikani linatoka upande wa wafuasi wa itikadi kali za kidunia (secular fundamentalists) ambao wamedhamiria kuzieleza kweli za Kikatoliki kama uongo. Mafundisho ya Kikatoliki kuhusu kuwekwa wakfu kwa wanawake kuwa mapadre, uzazi wa mpango, utoaji mimba, ndoa za jinsia moja, kuasili watoto na wanandoa wa jinsia moja, kifo cha huruma (euthanasia), na biashara ya Krismasi ndiyo yanayobeba mzigo mkubwa wa shambulio hili. Akizungumzia mwelekeo huu, Wauck alisema kwamba Umoja (Umoja wa Ulaya) unaonekana kuwa "umeambukizwa" na "utamaduni wa kidunia wenye msimamo mkali". Ratzinger alitoa tathmini kama hiyo saa chache kabla ya mkutano wa makardinali kuanza kumchagua papa mpya. Alisema, "Tunasonga kuelekea udikteta wa mitazamo ya kinisbi (relativism) . . . ambao hautambui jambo lolote lenye msimamo thabiti na huacha nafsi ya mtu mwenyewe na matamanio yake kuwa kipimo cha mwisho." Sasa kwa kuwa Ratzinger ameshasimikwa rasmi kuwa Papa mpya, lazima aamue jinsi bora ya kuilinda Ukatoliki na maadili yake. Wasiwasi wake wa haraka, pamoja na ule wa makardinali waliomchagua, ni kuwashawishi wale ambao wameukataa Ukatoliki na kupendelea mtindo wa maisha wa kutokuamini (agnostic).

Apart from the dwindling Christian population in Europe, the principal threat to the Vatican comes from the direction of secular fundamentalists who are adamant in recasting catholic truths as falsehoods. Catholic teachings regarding the inauguration of women priests, birth control, abortion, gay marriages, adoption by same-sex couples, euthanasia and the commercialization of Christmas bear the brunt of this onslaught. Commenting on this trend, Wauck said that the union (European Union) seems to be “infected” with a “radically secular culture”. Ratzinger delivered similar assessment hours before the conclave got underway to elect the new pope. He said, ”We are moving toward a dictatorship of relativism . . . that recognizes nothing definite and leaves only one’ s own ego and one’ s own desires as the final measure.” Now that Ratzinger has been officially installed as the new Pope he must decide on how best to protect Catholicism and its values. His immediate concern and those of the cardinals who elected him is to win over those who have shunned Catholicism in preference for an agnostic life-style.

Ili kutimiza jambo hili, Papa Benedikto XVI hawezi kujiunga na mamlaka za kidunia za ulimwengu wala kutegemea taasisi yoyote ya kidunia ya ulimwengu ili kulinda imani ya Kikristo.

To accomplish this feat, Pope Benedict XVI cannot ally himself with the secular powers of the world or rely on any of the world’ s secular institutions to defend the Christian faith.

Usekularism na wafuasi wake, ingawa ni zao la historia ya Kiyahudi na Kikristo, hawana nia ya kuitetea Ukristo wala dini nyingine yoyote. Kwa mfano, mwezi Mei 2002 Rais Bush hakufanya lolote kuzuia Israeli kushambulia kwa mizinga Kanisa la Nativity, licha ya rufaa kali kutoka kwa Papa Yohane Paulo wa Pili na viongozi wa madhehebu mengine ya Kikristo.

Secularism and its practitioners despite being a by-product of Judaeo-Christian history are not interested in defending Christianity or for that matter any faith. For instance, in May 2002 President Bush did nothing to prevent Israel from shelling the Church of Nativity, despite strong appeals from Pope John Paul II and leaders of other Christian sects.

Vivyo hivyo, kabla ya uvamizi wa Marekani nchini Iraq mwaka 2003, Rais Bush alikataa kukutana na Wakristo wa kiinjili waliopinga vita, lakini aliendelea kuwapokea wanaharakati wa makampuni ya mafuta.

Similarly, before the American invasion of Iraq in 2003, President Bush refused to meet evangelical Christians who were opposed to the war, but continued to entertain lobbyist from oil companies.

Dini na watu wanaodhihirisha imani za kidini ni jambo la chuki kwa wafuasi wakali wa usekula, na huvumiliwa kwa shida tu. Watu wa imani wanaotaka kubakiza utambulisho wao wa kidini mara nyingi huwa shabaha ya matusi ndani ya jamii za kisekula. Mamlaka za kisekula hutumia vyombo kama vya habari na jukwaa la kisiasa kuwasumbua mara kwa mara wale wanaopinga maadili ya kisekula. Hali hii huendelea hadi wao wakubali kushindwa au kubadilisha imani zao ili ziendane na mtazamo wa kimaada wa wasekula.

Religion and people who profess religious beliefs is an anathema to secularist fundamentalists and are barely tolerated. The people of faith who wish to retain their religious identity become the object of abuse within secular societies. Secular authorities utilize instruments such as the media and the political medium to constantly hound those that resist secular values. This continues until they capitulate or change their beliefs to conform to the materialistic worldview of the secularists.

Ukatoliki pamoja na imani nyingine za Kikristo umeteseka sana chini ya ulinzi wa mataifa ya kidunia ya Magharibi, hasa mataifa ya Ulaya. Wakijificha nyuma ya pazia la 'uhuru wa kujieleza' na 'uhuru wa dini', wafuasi wa kidunia wamekuwa wakiidhalilisha Ukatoliki bila kukoma na kulazimisha Kanisa la Kirumi kubadilisha misimamo na desturi zake. Leo, mafundisho na ukweli wa Kikatoliki hautambuliki kwa urahisi na unakabiliwa na hatari ya kutoweka karibuni, isipokuwa Vatikani ichukue msimamo imara dhidi ya nguvu za kidunia.

Catholicism as well as other Christian faiths has suffered immensely under the patronage of secular western states, particularly European states. Retreating behind the veil of ‘freedom of speech’ , and ‘freedom of religion’ , secularists have relentlessly abused Catholicism and forced the Roman Church to adapt its views and practices. Today, Catholic teachings and truths are scarcely recognizable and face imminent extinction, unless the Vatican takes a firm stand against the secular powers.

Kuunda muungano na dini nyingine za ulimwengu kama Uyahudi, Uhindu, Usikh na madhehebu mengine ya Kikristo hakutabadilisha hatima ya Kanisa Katoliki la Roma. Dini hizi haziwezi kusimama dhidi ya itikadi tishio ya usekula, nazo pia zimeangukia mikononi mwa mamlaka za kisekula. Hii ni kwa sababu ya mambo mawili. Kwanza, zote zimejengwa juu ya imani ya kihisia isiyo na nguvu ya kiakili ya kupinga itikadi ya usekula. Pili, zinategemea itikadi zinazotoa mtazamo wa kiroho tu juu ya uwepo wa binadamu, na hazina uwezo wa kuwasilisha mfumo wa maisha wa kijamii na kisiasa ambao ni mbadala halisi wa usekula.

Forming an alliance with other world faiths such as Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism and other Christian denominations will not alter the fate of the Roman Church. These religions are unable to stand up to the menacing ideology of secularism and they too have fallen prey to the secular powers. This is because of two reasons. First, they are all founded on an emotional creed that does not possess the intellectual dynamism to challenge the ideology of secularism. Second, they are based on creeds that only offer a spiritual perspective on human existence and are unable to present a social-political system of life that is a real alternative to secularism.

Uislamu ndiyo itikadi pekee duniani yenye uwezo wa kupinga usekula na kuwapa watu wa imani tofauti ulinzi wa kweli. Uislamu unaweza kufanikisha hili kwa sababu katika kiini chake kuna itikadi ya kiroho na kisiasa inayowapa wafuasi wake lishe ya kiroho, na inatoa mfumo kamili wa kijamii na kisiasa, ambamo Waislamu na wasio Waislamu wanatendewa kwa usawa mbele ya sheria.

Islam is the sole ideology in the world that is able to counter secularism and offer genuine protection to people belonging to different faiths. Islam is able to achieve this, because at its heart is a spiritual and political creed that provides spiritual nourishment to its adherents and offers a comprehensive social-political system, where Muslims and non-Muslims are treated equally before the law.

Zamani, wakati Uislamu ulipotekelezwa kwa vitendo, kama katika Uhispania wa Kiislamu, Wayahudi, Wakristo na Waislamu waliokuwa wakiishi katika miji ya Uhispania ya Toledo, Cordoba na Granada, walifurahia uvumilivu na ustawi usio na kifani. Martin Hume aliandika katika kitabu chake Spanish Peopleiv: “Pamoja na watawala wapya waliishi Wakristo na Wayahudi kwa amani. Wayahudi, waliotajirika kwa biashara na viwanda, waliridhika kuacha kumbukumbu ya dhuluma waliyofanyiwa na Wagothi waliotawaliwa na makuhani zilale.”

In the past, when Islam was implemented practically, as in Islamic Spain, Jews, Christians and Muslims living in the Spanish cities of Toledo, Cordoba and Granada, enjoyed unrivalled tolerance and prosperity. Martin Hume wrote in his book Spanish Peopleiv: “Side by side with the new rulers lived the Christians and Jews in peace. The latter rich with commerce and industry were content to let the memory of their oppression by the priest-ridden Goths sleep”.

Hata hivyo, Wafalme Wakatoliki Isabella na Ferdinand walipochukua utawala wa Hispania mwaka 1492, hawakulipa uvumilivu huo kwa wema, bali walianza kuifuta Hispania wakazi wake Wayahudi na Waislamu. Vitendo kama hivyo vya ukatili, kwa baraka za Papa, vilifanyika pia katika nchi nyingine zilizokuwa chini ya udhibiti wa Waislamu, kama kisiwa cha Sicily na Yerusalemu.

However, when the Catholic monarchs Isabella and Ferdinand took charge of Spain in 1492, they did not reciprocate tolerance but proceeded to expunge Spain of its Jewish and Muslim populace. Similar acts of cruelty with the blessing of the Pope were carried out in other lands controlled by Muslims such as the island of Sicily and Jerusalem.

Leo ulimwengu wa Kiislamu unapitia mabadiliko makubwa kutoka kwenye usekula kuelekea Uislamu. Waislamu kote katika ulimwengu wa Kiislamu wanaasi dhidi ya mfumo wa kisekula ambao umewekwa kwao kwa nguvu na mataifa ya Magharibi na vibaraka wao. Waislamu wanafanya kazi usiku na mchana kuangusha tawala hizi za kisekula za kiimla na kurejesha Ukhalifa juu ya magofu yake. Kwa kuanzishwa kwa Ukhalifa, mamilioni ya Wakristo ambao hapo awali walinyimwa haki zao chini ya tawala za kisekula watarejeshewa haki zao kikamilifu. Na kama katika Makhalifa ya zamani, imani na mafundisho ya Kikristo yatalindwa. Historia inashuhudia kwamba, tofauti na Dola ya Kirumi na mfumo wa kisekula wa leo, mafundisho na imani za Kikristo hazikubadilishwa chini ya Ukhalifa ili kuendana na maadili ya Kiislamu.

Today the Islamic world is experiencing a radical transformation from secularism to Islam. Muslims across the Islamic world are rebelling against the secular order that has been forcibly imposed upon them by western powers and their surrogates. Muslims are working day and night to over throw these secular autocracies and to re-establish the Caliphate on their ruins. With the establishment of the Caliphate, millions of Christians who were previously denied their rights under the secular regimes will have their rights restated in full. And like in the Caliphates of the past, Christian beliefs and teaching will be protected. History bears witness that unlike the Roman Empire and the secular order of today, Christian doctrines and teachings were not changed under the Caliphate to agree with Islamic values.

Dhidi ya mandhari hii, ingekuwa busara kwa Papa Benedikto XVI kupitia upya msimamo wake kuhusu Uislamu na ulimwengu wa Kiislamu. Badala ya kuchukua msimamo mkali dhidi ya Uislamu na Waislamu, Papa mpya angepaswa kuunga mkono haki ya Waislamu kote katika ulimwengu wa Kiislamu kuangusha serikali zao za kidunia na kurejesha Ukhalifa. Kwa njia hii, Papa atakuwa anaiokoa Ukatoliki, analinda haki za kundi lake katika ulimwengu wa Kiislamu na anatuma ishara nzuri kwa mahusiano ya baadaye na Ukhalifa.

Against this background it would be wise for Pope Benedict XVI to reconsider his position towards Islam and the Muslim world. Instead of opting for a harsh stance against Islam and Muslims, the new pope should support the right of Muslims across the Islamic world to overthrow their secular regimes and re-establish the Caliphate. In this way, the pope will be saving Catholicism, protecting the rights of his flock in the Muslim world and sending a good omen for future relations with the Caliphate.

Mei 07, 2005

May 07, 2005