Channel 4’s Shari’ah TV was once again on our screens; the fifth series was broadcast from New York. As usual the nature of these types of programmes is to a create some sort of controversy and debate, and many of the questions posed during the course of the discussions did generate just that.

As someone who has interfaith discussions and dialogue with the local vicar, I was particularly interested in the third programme, ‘Pluralism and Interfaith dialogue’.

There were three experts on the panel. Imam Yahya Hendi from Georgetown University, the first American university to hire a full-time Muslim chaplain, is apparently a sought after international speaker on interfaith issues.

Then there was Daisy Khan, co-founder of the American society for Muslim advancement. She lectures on religious pluralism across the United States and around the world, and is one of many pseudo-experts on Islam after 9/11. This is the Rumi version of Islam: all religions are truth, they are like rivers leading to the Ocean (leading to the same God). The final one was ‘Imam’ [brother] Ajmal Masroor, whom we all know fairly well.

Both Yahya Hendi and Daisy Khan, in my estimation at least, belong to the category of the new batch of secularised Muslims trying to reconcile Islam, democracy and other religions, while compromising many well established principles.

Ajmal Masroor was the only panelist who represented the mainstream Muslim voice and I was reasonably satisfied with his defence of Sunni Islam. Until, he responded to a questioner asking, ‘‘Isn’t there a contradiction between the Hadith that talks of killing Jews and the idea that Muslims and people of other religions can live in harmony, and isn’t this Hadith used by some as a justification for attacking Jews?’’

Imam Yahya was quick to proclaim that the Hadith [The Hour [the Day of Judgement] will not begin until the Muslims fight the Jews and kill them. A Jew will hide behind a rock or a tree, and the rock or tree will say, “O Muslim, O slave of Allah! There is a Jewbehind me, come and kill him!” – except for the gharqad (box thorn), for it is one of the trees of the Jews] was not authentic.

I was expecting Ajmal Masroor to respond to this waffling and put Imam Yahya straight. However, to my amazement, he also seemed to concur with his ignorance with regards the Hadith.

Might be useful to point out that both Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim record the aforementioned Hadith in their collections, which are (by scholarly consensus) the two most authentic books after the Qur’an. Therefore to deny the authenticity of this tradition is clear ignorance.

The Hadith is referring to one of the prophecies which will happen near the Day of Judgement. It is not prophesying perpetual fighting and warfare. The Hadith, Allah knows best, is alluding to a wartime context and situation in a particular time and location. Hence, there is no contradiction with the Qur’anic injunctions of cooperation and respect.

In the biased media of the age, conveying the true message of Islam and being political correct, without seeming condescending to people of different persuasions can be an arduous task. One that will bring immense reward if it is carried out with the appropriate knowledge and without compromising one’s beliefs and principles to appease others.

Therefore, those who are well versed in the traditions of Islam and are sufficiently acquainted with other views should be given the platform to express themselves.

Presenting oneself as an ambassador of Islam and then not possessing the adequate knowledge to defend basic principles of Islam will have severe consequences. The perception people have about Islam in the wider community is one, and also open the door to errors and misjudgments on the individual level. We must be sincere in our efforts and know our limitations especially when religious guidance is concerned.