Ali Chaudry Discusses His Book, 'Islam & Muslims'

Mohammad Ali Chaudry, a Basking Ridge resident for the past 34 years, said he was the first Pakistani-born mayor to take that position in an American town when he was appointed as Bernards Township Mayor in 2004.

Chaudry, who has served both on the Township Committee and Board of Education while living in town, also is a Rutgers professor who said he is trying to educate his students to understand the true meaning of Islam.

As a continuing part of that goal, Chaudry on Monday held two separate presentations on his book, "Islam & Muslims," which he uses in teaching his course, "Understanding Islam," through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Rutgers University.

Chaudry said his 850-page version of the book will be released in September, and was written to provide the most accurate analysis of the religion possible.

In addition to giving an accurate image of Islam’s history and veritable dogmas, the book delves into such deep topics as the true meaning of "Jihad," the role of women in Islam and environmentalism, Chaudry said on Monday night before an audience of about 20 people.

Chaudry published "Islam & Muslims" through the Center For Understanding Islam, based in Basking Ridge, and said he intends for his book to dispel many people’s inaccurate views on the religion. The center is evolving toward becoming a "think tank," he said later on Monday night.

Chaudry pointed out several points about the Islamic people which he said Americans may not know. One thing he noted was that few Muslims actually approve of corrupt autocracies which he said govern many Muslim countries. As evidence, he pointed out recent uprisings all over the Middle East in countries like Egypt and Libya.

Among the audience at the evening lecture, some listeners said that there appeared to be no apologizing among Muslim leaders for terrorist attacks. Chaudry cited that no major news sources presented the plethora of apologies from numerous organizations like C.A.I.R., and high-profile Muslim leaders.

After 9/11, Chaudry said mainstream media ignored messages denouncing terrorism from Muslim academics and leaders throughout the world. The only way that Americans would have learned about those conciliatory messages was if they had been broadcast on CNN, he said.

Chaudry said Islam, and the teachings of the prophet Mohammad, would not have condoned such acts of terrorism as the World Trade Center attacks. "Mohammad did not support violence against regular people," Chaudry said.

He assured the audience that most Muslims, in accordance with their prophet Mohammad, only wanted peace. Moreover, he said Muslims should be encouraged to improve how their communities are noticed. 

Chaudry said he wrote the book as a source of credible information about Islam. He said knows firsthand about corrupt leaders in Saudi Arabia giving out extremist interpretations of the Qur’an to impoverished, brainwashed followers, and he wants to make it known that the Muslim community at large does not support corrupt extremist leaders.

The overall mood at the events was positive, and Chaudry answered challenging questions on Islam with great ability and tact, showing serene calmness.

Chaudry is an experienced Rutgers professor, who said earlier in the day he teaches as part of a Rutgers-affiliated program at three county colleges in New Jersey, including Raritan Valley Community College.

It was not just an audience of 20 that were convinced by his lecture. Chaudry said he was elected to the Township Committee just two months following the 9/11 terrorist attack and appointed as 2004 mayor by his fellow Township Committee members. He said he will continue to strive for equality and peace.

Earlier in the day, Chaudry met with Jon Krawczyk, a former New Jersey resident who had stopped by the Bernards Township Library while transporting his 14-foot-high stainless steel cross from California. The cross is due to be intalled at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church in lower Manhattan at 6 p.m. on Aug. 11, Krawczyk said.

On Tuesday, Krawczyk said he had enjoyed talking with Chaudry, who placed one more to join thousands of messages placed inside the cross.

"I think his message is a good one and [he has] the important job of making sure that message is distributed to the Muslim world and the non-Muslim world, Krawczyk said.

The experiences and reactions of Americans to the journey of the St. Peter 9-11 Cross are being posted on an online blog.

Chaudry's book is available for $35 plus $5.99 shipping if required. The book also can be downloaded online at $20 for six months of access, he said.

Linda Sadlouskos contributed to this story.

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