The events in Mumbai this past weekend have left me in such a state of anger and frustration that I can hardly articulate anything.
At this time, all evidence gathered by various official agencies seem to point to radical Islamists possibly trained in Pakistan. Because I have no more information than anyone else grasping at news by way of CNN, Google/BBC News and Twitterfeeds, I can only assume that culpability lies where the fingers are now pointing.
I suppose this is the part of the post where I begin to explain that radical Islamists are not representative of Islam in general. The part where I define myself as a Muslim in contrast to the purveyors of horrific and inhumane acts.
The truth is, I am done doing that. If a person wants to align me with the perpetrators of evil because we happen to pray in the same direction, I have resigned myself to that.
Hate will always hate because it knows nothing else.
As Muslims, we talk a lot about how we are different from the small group of people on this planet that are using Allah’s name to provoke fear, violence and murder.
We want people to understand that far more than violence, our faith has historically advocated humankind’s noble pursuits, as well: charity, love, literacy, justice and, yes, even tolerance.
So, when an act of terrorism takes place, we decry it. We insist that these acts occur outside the defined limits for how Muslims are commanded by their Lord to behave concerning their world.
We condemn.
We explain.
Some people believe us, some do not.
Condemnation and explanation are critical. I don’t diminish the need to do so.
But, I wonder about the intentions behind these condemnations. Do they emanate from a desire to protect ourselves, or from a passionate commitment to actually end this violence?
As far as I’m concerned, self preservation should be secondary.
As terrorists use our religion to promote their agenda, we must formulate an agenda that counters theirs.
Instead of telling the world who we are not, we must show them who we are.
While they focus upon a misunderstood version of His vengeance and destruction, we must focus and promote the overall context of His justice, His patience, and His peace.
We should promote these qualities every single day, not just when some misguided person blows up a building.
We should be doing more than just condemning and explaining.
In my circle and family, the discussion among American Muslims regarding these acts inevitably turns to culpability. “Let us examine the cause…”
Really? Is that what the general population of Muslims in the United States should be doing?
Other than those among us that are academics, foreign/public policy advisers, politicians or international lawyers, I find discussions centered upon assigning blame in the greater context not only useless, but completely distracting.
We (and I use the term “we” loosely) want to point the finger at America, Israel, or India as we search for reasons for these perversions of our faith that have morphed it into a political ideology.
What would happen if a big world meeting took place tomorrow and it were decided that every single terrorist act that has ever occurred could be completely attributed to American foreign policy? (I don’t believe this, and I’m only using this for the sake of argument).
Now what?
NOW. WHAT?
I apologize in advance for my sharpness, but I propose, my dear American brothers and sisters in Islam, that most of you will do what you have always done for the people of the world who suffer injustice, depredation and despair: mostly nothing.
My apologies to those who have acted, I don’t mean you.
But the rest of you, yes, I’m talking to you.
We don’t live in a world where your obligatory offerings of charity will suffice. What you give as your obligation is between you and God. But the state of the world requires more from you.
Sometimes I wonder if all this finger pointing is not an attempt to absolve a subconscious guilt that we may have ignored our own obligations in this situation.
Because deep, down inside, you know that you live in one of the most prosperous countries in the world.
Deep, down inside, you know that while you enjoy this prosperity, children live in despair, men and women endure unimaginable tortures, and countless others cannot rely on their governments for appropriate management of even the most basic of their needs.
And deep, down inside, you know that for you to enjoy the pleasures of prosperity while people on the other side of the world endure tribulations that you could not even conceive of were it not for your TV is completely contrary to the teachings of Islam.
You know these things.
And we deflect from these realities, dare I say responsibilities, by asking questions like, “Well, who burned down the hospitals? Who created radical Islam? Who dropped the bombs in the first place?”
We distract ourselves with hyperbolic claims that it is all America’s fault. Then, the Americans blame Al Qaeda. And Al Qaeda blames Israel. Israel blames Palestine. Then, someone blames colonial Britain. And it goes on and on.
In the end, Afghani children grow up in fear, the young adults of Iraq have little access to a proper education and countless others suffer in silence.
Because we are too damned busy arguing about how many angels fit on the head of a pin.
In classic Faiqa style, I’ll let you off the hook if you choose not to concern yourself with these matters. I don’t hold you as a terrible person for not prioritizing human harmony.
I think it’s a little flawed, but I don’t judge.
I do ask, as a favor to me, that when you are in my presence, if you are not doing anything personally to reduce the utter ignorance and despair which has contributed to the insanity of radical political Islam, then, please, just shut up.
Do something, or shut up. Your discussions without any actions are simply whining sessions. Whining does nobody any good, at all.
Let the politicians argue, pontificate and discuss.
Let them live in their ivory towers where discussions of post-colonialism and radical Islam permeate the air. Those discussions are important, but not every single one of us has to participate in them.
Our actions are far more valuable than our words, right now.
Let us look with our eyes at what is happening.
Let us forgo words for a time and work with our hands to change this world.
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Avitable Said,
December 1, 2008 @ 2:20 pm
Very well said.
[Reply]
RW Said,
December 1, 2008 @ 2:36 pm
“Examining the cause” is another way of saying morality is relative. “Since they have done to us we may do to them” is not only a logical fallacy but is another way of saying “it’s OK if we do it”, which means that in the end nothing is ever right and nothing is ever wrong. It is the THING of violence that is wrong, not who is doing it, but affixing blame somewhere down in the annals of history is not the solution – that is something that continues the madness.
And look at the logical conclusion of saying “let’s examine the cause” – in the first place you create an endless cycle of violence that has no end and no justice is ever made for what is perceived to be the “first hurt”. You killed my brother, I kill your son. You killed my son, I kill your mother. oh yeah!? well you killed my mother, I kill your wife. Devil! You kill my wife I kill everyone you KNOW. And there you are, the stereotype yelling “I KEEL YOU” over anything.
It’s not an excuse for any wrong done (real or imagined) to Muslims by the West – there’s plenty of blame to go around. But do Muslims think people in the West won’t seek what they feel would be justice for what Muslims did in the name of justice in response to what the West did in the search for justice as they react to what Muslims did because they were looking for justice? Can I interest anyone in a vicious cycle? Ten bucks! Cheap!
At some point Islam is going to have to be responsible for the things being done in its name, whether the overwhelming majority of Muslims are peace-loving and opposed to the violence or not. Do you know why I say that?
Because every innocent person killed at the hands of someone saying they represent the interests of Islam was held to that standard – you are a Westerner so you are guilty. bin Laden himself said there were no innocents in the Twin Towers. So if we are all applying that to each other then your children’s lives mean as much as my children’s lives – which is nothing. And we can piss on the grave’s of each other’s children and keep pushing the cycle of violence because nobody’s going to give up.
This is human nature speaking, and it is why -EXACTLY – all the religions have a stop on the behavior called FORGIVENESS and MERCY. Christians are told to bless your enemies and Muslims are told to give peace when it is asked for even in war. Christians are supposed to believe war is wrong and for Muslims there is supposed to be no compunction in religion. Neither of the more radical elements of both religions seems to remember these things.
But the last Prophet of God there ever was on Earth (pbuh) reported to us all that The People of The Book were a special case. A Christian is nearest in love to Islam. Jews were allowed to practice their religion in Mecca under Muhammad’s rule. So I imagine the Muslims who have perverted these examples are very similar to their Christian brothers who made Crusades in the name of Jesus and treat the laws Moses brought down to ALL of us pretty lax.
Evil flourishes when good men do nothing. Good luck Faiqa. Mashallah.
[Reply]
tariq Said,
December 1, 2008 @ 3:10 pm
Good post Faiqa. I agree with you that most of us ‘just need to start doing something’ instead of discussing the precursors to such events. However, I believe there is still a need of a constant reminder of why Muslims like us should not be grouped with a misguided minority that continues to create chaos. I know many people in the past have attempted to separate the two groups and give reasons (evidence from our books/scriptures/etc) for why these types of activities are not justified. However, in times like these when every time we turn around some idiot some where has done something stupid (as it relates to this topic), I feel like another reminder on why we are different and why these groups are WRONG, wouldn’t hurt!
[Reply]
B.E. Earl Said,
December 1, 2008 @ 3:26 pm
I get what you are saying, but I dunno. Is it up to me, personally, to do something about radical Christian groups that bomb abortion clinics? Or hate groups who use the “word of God” to back up their racist actions? And if it is, just what exactly am I supposed to do?
I don’t follow their politics. I don’t condone their actions. I don’t look for explanations behind their reasonings. I do expect our law enforcement officials and our government to eradicate these groups. But besides living my life the right way and voting for whom I think would best serve the public need, I’m not sure what “actions” I could personally take to stop these people.
How do you promote the positive ideals of one’s philosophy/religion to a group of people that don’t care to hear them? Is merely promoting these ideals “action” enough? I dunno.
[Reply]
Robin Said,
December 1, 2008 @ 5:08 pm
Wow….we really ARE very much alike…
Awesome entry. Really awesome entry.
[Reply]
Faiqa Said,
December 1, 2008 @ 6:00 pm
@Avitable: Thanks. Don’t tell anyone about the Bacos.
@RW: Very well said.
@tariq:Of course.
@B.E. Earl: While in principle, I think you make a good point, I think the primary difference is that Christian radicals who blow up abortion clinics are viewed as “fringe.” And few people would take seriously the notion that Christianity itself caused the terrorism.
The radical elements of Islam have taken center stage in our religion. A great deal of that is due to the intentional focus of Western media, but I think some of it has also been due to the fact that a great deal of American Muslims just keep to themselves. As a result, there is a notion that Islam itself is somehow to blame for the acts of terrorism carried out in its name. I take the position that the majority of Muslims in America do not take their religious obligation to minimize chaos and promote social harmony as seriously as they should.
And keeping to yourself is OK, I suppose, but I don’t think it’s OK to keep to yourself AND blame non-Muslim countries for causing the despair that leads to the radicalization of Islam. To quote RW (who I’m pretty sure was quoting someone else), “Evil flourishes when good men do nothing.”
I mean, we don’t *owe* anybody any apologies for terrorist acts committed in our religion’s name, but we do have an obligation to do something to mitigate the situations which have caused them.
And, Earl? ANGEL RULES BUFFY for all of ETERNITY. SQUARED. Just sayin’.
@Robin: Like cross cultural psychically connected twins.
[Reply]
hasan suroor Said,
December 1, 2008 @ 6:41 pm
couldn’t agree with you more…finally one voice of sanity.
[Reply]
Finn Said,
December 1, 2008 @ 8:38 pm
“Let us forgo words for a time and work with our hands to change this world.”
Good advice for anyone, I think.
[Reply]
Faiqa Said,
December 1, 2008 @ 9:48 pm
@hasan suroor: Thank you.
@Finn: I plan on making good on that. Hold me to it. Well, I don’t know about forgoing words completely… or even “for a time”… I do love the sound of my own voice.
[Reply]
Native Born » Blog Archive » Let us forgo words for a time … Said,
December 2, 2008 @ 12:10 am
[...] About « Open Letter to American Muslims… who are not Terrorists. [...]
hello haha narf Said,
December 2, 2008 @ 6:26 am
i just love you.
[Reply]
hello haha narf Said,
December 2, 2008 @ 6:30 am
p.s. what finn said!
[Reply]
Courtney Haynes Said,
December 2, 2008 @ 8:57 am
I am so glad that I know you Faiqa.
I also completely agree that complaining about something without trying to also come up with an alternate way of doing things is obnoxious and childish and reminiscent of a temper tantrum, complete with floor kicking and crying….in other words, nothing is accomplished.
[Reply]
Miss Britt Said,
December 2, 2008 @ 9:29 am
These words do something as well. Just so you know.
And YOU make an impact. Your actions. Your words. Your example for those of us outside your faith – they matter.
[Reply]
Faiqa Said,
December 2, 2008 @ 10:33 am
@hello haha narf: It’s good you feel the same way about me as I do about you. Otherwise, I’d feel kind of creepy.
@Courtney Haynes: Exactly, I think the analogy of a temper tantrum is exactly appropriate.
@Miss Britt: I like to think so. Thanks.
[Reply]
Coal Miner's Granddaughter Said,
December 2, 2008 @ 8:58 pm
I remember, a few short years ago, nearly launching myself over a coffee table at my best friend, the man I consider to be my brother, because he was (and still is) lumping all Muslims together as terrorists and haters of the West because of a few radicals. It amazes me that so many of my Christian friends, who are supposed to follow the commandment “Love thy neighbor as thyself”… can’t. How is it that as a non-Christian, I can see you as separate from those radical few and yet my Christian friends cannot? I don’t get it.
And I’m not sure what I can do about it. Because trying to tell these Christian friends of mine to love and forgive and turn the other cheek is like screaming into the wind.
Thanks for this wonderful post, hon. Beautiful. And painful.
[Reply]
Faiqa Said,
December 2, 2008 @ 10:06 pm
@Coal Miner’s Granddaughter: I’m grateful for the ones who get it. Like you.
[Reply]
martymankins Said,
December 4, 2008 @ 6:04 pm
Great and awesome post.
[Reply]