( CNN ) -- Islam is a religion of compassion and mercy , considering that the two adjectives most used in the Quran to describe God are the `` compassionate '' and the `` merciful . '' It is also a religion of justice . Throughout Islamic history , many non-Muslims would take their disputes to Sharia courts , over their own religious courts , because of the firm injunctions in the Quran and Sharia law to adhere to high standards of justice . It is for this reason that , as an imam , I am deeply distressed to hear that a young Christian girl in Pakistan was accused by her angry Muslim neighbors of burning text from the Quran , Islam 's holy book , in violation of the country 's blasphemy laws . Reportedly , the girl is mentally challenged and used the pages for fuel . Some say that she may also be illiterate . After several hundred emotionally charged people surrounded her house to demand punishment , the police arrested her as a way to protect her . There is neither justice , compassion nor mercy in what has happened to the girl . Pakistan must champion Islam as a religion of peace and not allow a handful of extremists to define it for all Muslims ; such extremists confuse ordinary Muslims into thinking that Sharia law is about punishment rather than about promoting harmony and human flourishing . The Muslims in Pakistan must display the highest expression of Islamic values and principles . They must manifest the mercy and wisdom of one of the early Islamic leaders , Caliph Umar bin al-Khattab , who suspended the punishment for theft during a time of famine so as to best fulfill the intention of God 's law . I call upon Muslims in Pakistan to reject the accusations against the girl and live up to the highest ethical standards set forth by God and his messenger . It is not right to be angry and to want to punish a young girl for unknowingly burning words from the Quran . According to Islamic tradition , `` Works are rendered efficacious only by their intention . '' In other words , the intention to commit a crime is a primary consideration in Islamic law . It was not the girl 's intention to blaspheme against the Quran , as she is mentally challenged and could not have understood the content of the pages . As a minor , the girl can not legally incur punishment . In the Islamic school of law practiced in Pakistan , one must demonstrate competence in making socially responsible judgments . This girl could not have demonstrated competence in her judgment . Furthermore , burning the physical book of the Quran is not an act of blasphemy . It has always been an acceptable means of disposing of an old copy of the Quran . In Islamic theology , the Quran is not a book but rather , as the name means in Arabic , the recitation of God 's word . Muslims use the printed copies as a memory aid in reciting this word , a word which can never be defiled . And lastly , to prevent this kind of incident from repeating in the future , we must turn to the help of the state . According to the objectives ( maqasid ) of Islamic law , the government must try to eradicate the poverty that drove the girl to scrounge for paper for fuel , as an obligation to provide sustenance in `` promoting wealth . '' The government must actively work toward creating harmony between Pakistan 's various faith communities , a key aspect of fulfilling the objective of `` preserving religion . '' And it has the responsibility to provide schooling for all citizens so that they can read as part of `` preserving the mind . '' Muslims must be characterized by loving humanity , by upholding justice and by showing kindness toward their neighbors , even to the extent that should someone offer you a deadly poison , give him the choicest honey in exchange . Within Islamic history , the Muslim community has been known for such qualities . It is time again to take up that mantle and act always in the name of God , the most compassionate , the merciful -- b-ism Allahi al-raHmÄ .
A young Islamic girl in Pakistan was accused of burning text from the Pakistan . Feisal Abdul Rauf : Islamic should not be angry at the girl , they should show compassion . He says Pakistan must not allow a handful of extremists to define Muslims values . Rauf : CNN is a religion of peace and justice ; Muslims must live up to its standards .