THE WEST VERSUS THE REST

Sallams brothers and sisters,

It seems the Western countries (those claiming to be democratic and free) intend to force such ideologies on nations they have deemed communist and socialist, governed by dictators who probably do not know the first thing about freedom. I believe every government on the whole has been subjected to some form of corruption at one time or another. The leader who wishes to lead must first be led, and his sincerity in this regard should be apparent. The problem is, however, that those who lead (as in the form of contemporary government officials) have become so self-opinionated that they seem to forget how they arrived in office, who among their subjects (or those who are governed) gave them the right to rule, the fact that they have been voted by the people and are therefore accountable to those people, and what it is that they must do to improve their nation and the lives of its citizens. Muslim rulers (or shall I call them dictators?) are no exception. Take the Taliban, for example. The president of Afghanistan aims to combat extremism by issuing death threats to Taliban fighters and carrying them out strategically. I think that this president has adopted the view: you kill us and we kill you. As smoke and oxygen fuel the fire, so does violence beget more of itself. There is no water being thrown on the fire to extinguish it. Likewise, terrorism is used in the attempted negation of terrorism.

It presently seems as if Western countries survive off of the hatred of Muslims. And yes, I believe it is a hatred, because followers of other religions observing the practices of those religions in ways they should be observed are perceived as "devout", but Muslims remain excluded from this group. Devout Muslims are too often believed to be radical and supportive of organizations like the Taliban, that deny women their right to an education, that prey upon disabled people and convince them to become suicide bombers, that choose to define Jihad as "holy war" instead of the real struggle it actually is for a person to be closer to his Creator by sincerely obeying the commands revealed in the Quran and exemplified by prophets, that would rather engage in terroristic actions as opposed to peaceful dialog, that preach a martyrdom arising not in or from the act of peacemaking but rather in that of taking one's own life and the lives of others who are innocent and not at all accountable, that choose to begin the hostilities rather than attempt to avoid them. As Almighty Allah says in the Quran (2:190-193): "Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors. And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter; but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those who suppress faith. But if they cease, Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. And fight them on until there is no more Tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah; but if they cease, let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression." (Yusuf Ali's translation).

Before devoting a short discussion to these verses, I must say a few words on the so-called oppression of Muslim women. . As I have just stated, Muslims who practice Islam in the way that it should be practiced are thought of as radical. Muslim women who look Muslim by covering their heads with a hijab or face with a niqab are believed to be oppressed. One who covers him- or herself to guard their modesty and protect their dignity is oppressed? One who covers him- or herself to avoid attracting the wrong kind of attention is oppressed? What can be said about those who reveal parts of their bodies that the eyes fall on as soon as they look in their direction? And what about those who are abused and assaulted sexually and in other unfortunate ways as a consequence of that revelation? Do we call that freedom to dress as one pleases or are those who dress as they please simply turned into targets? Muslim women who wear a hijab and/or a niqab are stigmatized and conceived of as targets toward which that vial thing we call oppression may be attracted. I will say more about this in the future, for now those questions are simply meant to scratch the surface of this issue.

It is appropriate that some attention be devoted to the verses earlier cited. Translations of the Qur'an cannot adequately explain its meaning. The Quran is flawless, written with a provision for everything, and recited in the most beautiful manner. But
what do I mean by "a provision for everything"? Verses are devoted to all aspects of life, from birth to death, including any worldly phenomena we may imagine, such as unrest, peace, sin, repentance--the general flow of things in this universe. It will not be evident, from a first reading, the intention of these verses. On the surface they appear to breed violence. I will base my interpretation of these verses on such simplicities as those we all so often take for granted. First, we will consider what is meant by one who does not begin the aggression but fights in the cause of Allah that which is fighting against him. What is Allah's cause? Islam. As parents are responsible for the upbringing of their children, so too must Muslims hold their religion in the highest esteem , defending it against those who deny the truth and ridicule them. Violence may be necessary in this world to achieve a satisfactory resolution, but definitely not before all the peaceful means have been exhausted. As Prophet Muhammad (Saw) said in his last sermon, we must not oppress and we must not be oppressed. Thus, we do not have the right to oppress others based simply upon a perception that they are denying us the right to live as Muslims. And others must not oppress Muslims based on their lack of understanding about Islam. Clearly, nothing is ever as it seems on the surface. And no one in this world can be used as scapegoats for the actions of another. As it is said in the Qur'an (101:1-11), on the Day of Calamity, when men will be like moths thickly scattered and the mountains like loosened wool, he whose balance of good deeds (or works) is found heavy shall live a life of pleasure and satisfaction, while he whose balance of good deeds is found light shall have a home in a bottomless pit of fire which blazes fiercely. Everyone's deeds will be accounted for and no one will carry the burdens of Another. The verses set out in Qur'an cannot be interpreted literally because it will be found that they contradict one another. I am not suggesting that one should consider them metaphorically either. They must be interpreted in light of themselves combined with Hadith (sayings and traditions of Prophet Muhammad, [peace be upon him]). In this respect, Muslims are instructed by Almighty Allah to fight until there is no more oppression since justice for all and faith in Allah prevail.

Now, let us consider against whom the oppression must cease. This question is fundamental to an understanding of the West's attempt at imperializing and democratizing countries whose populations are predominantly Muslim. This act is similar to that of capturing animals such as tigers, lions and bears with the intention of holding them in captivity where they will be used as spectacles since people must pay a price--regardless of how small it is--to acquire a view of them through the bars of their cages. Wars themselves generate a lot of money which is poured into strengthening the army of a nation by increasing man-power and weaponry that are used when destroying nations less furnished. Against whom must the oppression cease? This battle that I will call "The West Versus the Rest" has been waged in an attempt to end a conflict between two parties that believe one is oppressing and demonstrating their aggressive behavior toward the other. In reality, however, that is what both parties are doing. This conflict has escalated for reasons beyond a lack of understanding from both sides. It is not as clear-cut an issue as I am attempting to present it. Muslims, like Jews and Christians, feel that they are the rightly-guided ones, Allah's chosen people. Each of the aforementioned groups has had to contend with members of their own clans, families, tribes and other such networks including society at large ridiculing their faith and mocking them for practicing it. Hypocrites are those who believe in public and disbelieve in assemblies with people like themselves; their aim is to mock the believers and for them has Allah prepared a painful doom. (Qur’an: 2:14-18). Making a choice implies choosing something based on a quality or particular set of characteristics to which we have attributed much importance. We will, for example, take the shortest route to our destination because choosing an alternative may mean that precious time is lost in travel. We will also select particular items of clothing because their colors match those of others that are being worn at the moment. Allah does not choose people based on such characteristics as race or religion, but rather on the fulfillment of their duties toward Him. (Qur’an, 49:13) "O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things)." (Yusuf Ali's translation). This implies that the notion of "chosen people" was contrived by some groups to ensure their superiority and the subordination of others.

I should presently return to what was being discussed earlier, radicalism and extremism. The idea of "radicalism" being associated with religion is ludicrous! My opinion is that radicalism refers to something non-existent--a rightly-guided Muslim who properly observes the commandments of Allah, no more (to be extreme) and no less (to be a non- or lukewarm believer), and being associated with members of organizations supporting terrorism in any form. Rather than radicalism", I prefer the attributive term "fundamentalism [or fundamentalists]" as the latter depicts, in a stricter sense, the basics encompassing the views of such people as are included among Taliban's and Al-Qaeda's members. There is absolutely nothing in Quran, authoritative Hadith, or elsewhere to suggest that Allah's will should be blown out of context and practiced in the extreme as people like them have so fervently been known to do. They have taken the words of our most Gracious and Merciful Lord as well as exemplary actions of His Messengers whom we revere most for their piety and unwavering faith in the face of much hostility, adversity, ridicule, denial, mockery and hypocrisy, interpreting them beyond the literal scope into a realm of deception and misguided notions. Such incorrectness permeates like wildfire, and once wildfire spreads, it is difficult to stop and perhaps even more impossible to contain.

These days, our world is governed by the West versus the Rest, and the West is further influenced by its mass-media. Once the media perpetuates stereotypes about the Rest, especially stereotypes encompassing Muslims, such stereotypes become as embedded in our everyday reality as the breath we must breathe in order to survive. I must also acknowledge that stories of Muslims become head-lines due to the mere fact that they involve Muslims or those who are perceived to be Muslims. Muslims are frequently implicated as a result of their frustration which arises from incomprehension on the part of Muslims regarding those intentions of the “rest” together with those seeking to destroy the faith of Islam and the way of life it teaches. That frustration eventually leads to the development of a fundamentalist notion--kill or be killed--and nothing else in-between. I am not at all condoning the actions of Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters who transgress limits by unnecessarily taking their own lives and those of others in the process; I am simply saying that Muslims must defend themselves when others commit aggressions against them for practicing their religion. It has been earlier qualified what I meant by "defend"--the exhaustion of all peaceful means before violence erupts, for when it does,,, no one has any control over the havoc that is reeked or consequences left in its wake.

This brings me to my final point. Arab states, which are led by those whom I have called "Muslim dictators" (also attributed to leaders of organizations such as the Taliban and Al-Qaeda), have a stake in the matter since both sides must share the blame. These leaders usually fail to abide by one simple Quranic principle (Qur’an, 3:103-105): "And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah's favor on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus doth Allah make His Signs clear to you: That ye may be guided. Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong: They are the ones to attain felicity. Be not like those who are divided amongst themselves and fall into disputations after receiving Clear Signs: For them is a dreadful penalty". (Yusuf Ali's translation). Clearly, Muslim dictators have divided the entire Muslim community, causing some of its members to end up ridiculing and mocking that which they intended to uplift and protect--Islam. Rather than join hands and hearts of brethren, they separate them, causing the formation of rifts and animosity. That antagonism has not only encompassed members of the Muslim community, it has extended and now includes defining who, among the People of the Book, are actually seeking to acquire true guidance from Almighty Allah. I will also say more about this in the future.

My intention is that this post serves as the foundation for those that I will write in the future. Furthermore, it is based on an adaptation of a comment I posted to another blog which you can read by clicking
here.


In closing, I would like to pose the following question: how are actions able to speak louder than words if speaking is an act in itself? Does this imply that what one says is not as important as how they say, have said, or intend to say it?

Thank you for reading!

Ma'a sallamah and Allah hafis

Introduction

Sallams, brothers and sisters,
May the peace and blessings of Almighty Allah be upon each and every one of you!

In the first post of this blog, I would like to briefly introduce myself. I am Muslim, visually-impaired, and currently attend university. Insha'Allah (byAllah's grace), I will graduate this October with an Honor's Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology. Reading is one of my favorite pass times and I oftenfind myself absorbed within the pages of a book or listening to recitations of the synthetic voice belonging to my screen-reading program. I also enjoy singing, as well as writing stories (that are never completed) and poetry.

I began this blog for two reasons. First of all, I hope to dispel misconceptions surrounding Islam and Muslims after such events as 9-11, and the eliminationof extremist organizations as the Taliban in Afghanistan or Al-Qaeda known worldwide. It is not at alldifficult to find people in authoritative positions who would say with much certainty that Islam supports terrorism and is a religion from which violence erupts because the Qur'an promotes salvation achieved through bloodshed since Muslim suicide bombers take the lives of the innocent and their own in the process of martyrdom and martyrdom leads to salvation.Islam is derived from the Arabic word for peace and its followers — Muslims — are those who sincerely, wilfully and peacefully submit themselves to Allah's commandments. And Allah wills that we must worship none besides Himself; that we should love and live in harmony with each other regardless of such distinct characteristics as race, sex, skin-colour or religion, since there is no need for one to take the life of his brother unjustly.

Second, I began this blog out of my enjoyment for writing. I would not say that writing is one of my strengths, talents or passions. Writing is simply an avenue through which ideas may be transmitted more easily, especially when they are encompassed by complex philosophical interpretations as is frequently the case with mine. This blog provides me an opportunity to convey my perspectives and musings. I may occasionally throw in some of my views on disability and thought-provoking sayings or questions. And here is the first of these: if one picture speaks a thousand words to a sighted person, then how many images or other such interpretations can a single audible sound convey to someone with little or no vision?

In conclusion, I look forward to writing future blog posts and I invite anyone who reads them to leave comments, ask questions, or make suggestions. Please visit regularly and I hope your reading experience is just as pleasurable and positive as that I incurred while writing.

Ma'a sallamah and Allah hafis