Professor Lumbard is the editor of Islam, Fundamentalism, and the Betrayal of Tradition (World Wisdom, 2004), a collection of essays examining the religious, political and historical factors that have led to the rise of Islamic fundamentalism. He is the author of Submission, Faith and Beauty: The Religion of Islam (Hayward, 2007), and contributed to The Study Quran: A New Translation and Commentary (HarperCollins, 2015).
A proponent of cross-cultural understanding, Professor Lumbard is the founder and first director of the Islamic Research Institute.
His work deserves a wide readership – particularly his offerings on the costs and blessings of hospitality, a two-way practice in wisdom that serves as a reminder both of one’s spiritual poverty (humility) and of one’s potential sanctity, which can be achieved in the many selfless ways of giving and receiving: in sharing a meal with the rich and the poor, in breaking a fast for the sake of another’s hospitality, in providing for those in need, and ultimately, in opening one’s heart to others.
We mention this in the context of the March 22 terror attack in Brussels, for which the fundamentalist group ISIS claims responsibility, and in the context of Islamophobic incidents closer to home. April 1 saw the unfurling of an anti-Islam banner and racial abuse of a player at a Friday night AFL match in Melbourne. A group called the United Patriots Front posted an online video of the banner being put in place. The same group was involved in violence at a Halal food festival in Ascot Vale on April 3.
So much violence and ignorance – betrayal of wisdom traditions.
For the record, Muslims Australia (Australian Federation of Islamic Councils) condemns the Brussels terror attack and stands in solidarity with the people of Belgium. “I received in horror the news of yet another attack by the anti-Muslim group that is referred to as ISIS, against innocent travellers at Brussels Airport. My heart goes out to the victims and their loved ones, we stand with you as one,” said Hafez Kassem, president of Muslims Australia. “I call on the international community, Muslims as well as people of other faiths or no faith, to stand united against all forms of terror, to confront it and to reject it with one voice,” Mr Kassem said.
“The world community, including especially Muslim nations, has been united in its war against ISIS, which has indiscriminately killed Muslims alongside people of other faiths and ideologies. We must remain united in the face of this latest attack in Brussels. We must make sure that the terrorists do not divide us,” said Keysar Trad, newly elected treasurer of Muslims Australia.
