Jadz
Local Club Captain
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2009
- Runs
- 2,583
' Say: If your fathers and your sons and your brothers and your spouses and your clan, and the worldly goods which you have acquired, and the commerce thereof you fear a decline, and the dwellings in which you take pleasure - are dearer to you than God and His Apostle and the struggle in His Cause, then wait until God makes manifest His Will; and God does not grace iniquitous folk with His guidance.'
Q9:24
The above passage makes clear that emotional and material attachments, tribalism, nationalism, casteism, wealth, status, power and so on, to the exclusion of all spiritual and religious truths result in great losses for communities and nations.
With regard to Muslims in particular; Islam has been politicized and weaponized, employed as a tool - in Muslim countries - to persecute those who belong to different sects, such as Shi'a or Ahmedi Muslims, or to minorities, such as Christians. The degree of intolerance exhibited by the majority against those who question, challenge or oppose mainstream interpretations of Islam, as well as its application, often leads to conflict, violence, civil strife and war. The existence of blasphemy, apostasy laws inevitably means the imposition of censorship and compulsion upon Muslims and non-Muslims alike, with people not allowed the freedom to engage in debate, discussion about Islam.
Religious leaders hold extraordinary power over the lives of Muslims, their pronouncements and declarations are viewed as sacrosanct, no-one is permitted to question them or their authority - they are close to ruling parties, part of the Establishment.
Women are required to venture out with male relatives or guardians, not only because they would be regarded as 'loose' and 'wanton' without being adequately chaperoned, but also because it would not be safe - violence against women is rampant, the suppression of their rights is justified and rationalized through misinterpretation or corruption of Islam. Honour killings, forced marriages, domestic violence, denial of access to education, dowry deaths - even though the concept of dowry is alien to Islam - in Muslim countries are evidence of just how far removed from the real teachings (and life-example) of the Prophet (pbuh) Muslims are.
The question is, are Muslims - including women - safer in the West, where freedoms and opportunities not present in Muslim countries (unless they are rich) enable them to thrive, live independently of fear of persecution and even help them achieve a degree of unity? Western governments enacted robust anti-racist, anti-discriminatory laws in order to ensure people of colour and of minority religious faiths were not unfairly and illegally targeted by racists in society.
Of course, Muslims are subjected to hate crimes, often targeted by white supremacists, some are murdered, all are viewed with suspicion whenever a terrorist atrocity occurs and women who wear scarves attacked, verbally and/or physically. Anti-Muslim narratives in certain sections of the media and politics, using divide and conquer methods, does mean that Muslims are more vulnerable to abuse and violence. Yet, it could be argued, despite all this, that Muslims are safer in the West, which is why Muslim refugees and asylum seekers prefer to make their way to Western countries rather than to Muslim ones.
It could even be argued that 'Muslim governments' is a misnomer, since the fifty-three+ Muslim countries are more concerned with internal, nationalistic, political matters than they are with the well-being of the collective Muslim Community. Indeed, the very existence of fifty-three+ Muslim countries is an indication of just how divided Muslims are, with nationalism having displaced Islam as the principle driver in their affairs. Ritual, custom, tradition and culture shape and form the way Islam is practised, leaving little room for unity.
Q9:24
The above passage makes clear that emotional and material attachments, tribalism, nationalism, casteism, wealth, status, power and so on, to the exclusion of all spiritual and religious truths result in great losses for communities and nations.
With regard to Muslims in particular; Islam has been politicized and weaponized, employed as a tool - in Muslim countries - to persecute those who belong to different sects, such as Shi'a or Ahmedi Muslims, or to minorities, such as Christians. The degree of intolerance exhibited by the majority against those who question, challenge or oppose mainstream interpretations of Islam, as well as its application, often leads to conflict, violence, civil strife and war. The existence of blasphemy, apostasy laws inevitably means the imposition of censorship and compulsion upon Muslims and non-Muslims alike, with people not allowed the freedom to engage in debate, discussion about Islam.
Religious leaders hold extraordinary power over the lives of Muslims, their pronouncements and declarations are viewed as sacrosanct, no-one is permitted to question them or their authority - they are close to ruling parties, part of the Establishment.
Women are required to venture out with male relatives or guardians, not only because they would be regarded as 'loose' and 'wanton' without being adequately chaperoned, but also because it would not be safe - violence against women is rampant, the suppression of their rights is justified and rationalized through misinterpretation or corruption of Islam. Honour killings, forced marriages, domestic violence, denial of access to education, dowry deaths - even though the concept of dowry is alien to Islam - in Muslim countries are evidence of just how far removed from the real teachings (and life-example) of the Prophet (pbuh) Muslims are.
The question is, are Muslims - including women - safer in the West, where freedoms and opportunities not present in Muslim countries (unless they are rich) enable them to thrive, live independently of fear of persecution and even help them achieve a degree of unity? Western governments enacted robust anti-racist, anti-discriminatory laws in order to ensure people of colour and of minority religious faiths were not unfairly and illegally targeted by racists in society.
Of course, Muslims are subjected to hate crimes, often targeted by white supremacists, some are murdered, all are viewed with suspicion whenever a terrorist atrocity occurs and women who wear scarves attacked, verbally and/or physically. Anti-Muslim narratives in certain sections of the media and politics, using divide and conquer methods, does mean that Muslims are more vulnerable to abuse and violence. Yet, it could be argued, despite all this, that Muslims are safer in the West, which is why Muslim refugees and asylum seekers prefer to make their way to Western countries rather than to Muslim ones.
It could even be argued that 'Muslim governments' is a misnomer, since the fifty-three+ Muslim countries are more concerned with internal, nationalistic, political matters than they are with the well-being of the collective Muslim Community. Indeed, the very existence of fifty-three+ Muslim countries is an indication of just how divided Muslims are, with nationalism having displaced Islam as the principle driver in their affairs. Ritual, custom, tradition and culture shape and form the way Islam is practised, leaving little room for unity.