No such thing as a moderate Muslim scholar

Over the years, a
number of Muslim religious leaders, regarded as "moderate," who were willing
to enter into dialogue with Jews and Christians at inter-religious
conferences. In no case was there one who did not look forward to the
eventual demise of the State of Israel and the reincorporation of its
territory into dar al-Islam, the abode of Islam. Example, two distinguished Muslim authorities, Professor Ismail
al-Faruqi (1921-1986) and Sheikh M. A. Zaki Badawi (1922-2006). Badawi, a
graduate of al-Azhar University in Cairo with a doctorate in Modern Muslim
Thought from the University of London, served as the principal of London's
Muslim College. In its obituary, the Guardian newspaper called him
"Britain's most influential Muslim."[i] He was also an Honorary Knight
Commander of the Order of the British Empire. One
evening, Zaki Badawi interrupted our train of conversation by unexpectedly
bringing up the subject of Israel. "They'll really have to go, you know," he
informed me. His wife, an English convert to Islam, added, "Like the
Crusades." He was unwilling to specify where they would go, save "back where
they came from." There was no point in arguing with him or ponting out the
genocidal subtext of his response. Other Muslim scholars had told me the
same thing, but none had his standing or authority. While Badawi lived he
was the Muslim representative who appeared with the Archbishop of Canterbury
Rowan Williams and the Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sachs on ceremonial
occasions. Zaki Badawi was too skilled a diplomat publicly to advocate a
position on the Middle East with long-term genocidal consequences.