[IslamCity] THE OTHER TSUNAMI

Mon, 31 Jan 2005 16:57:41 -0800

ISLAM AND THE WEST, A CLOSER LOOK IS NEEDED
By W. John Tritt
Opinions Editor, The Keystone


The past presidential election in this country has left the nation
politically polarized. However, we are now deeply entrenched in a worldwide
polarization that by its very nature, will become increasingly confusing
and thus, increasingly dangerous. The division between the Islamic Middle
East, its satellites such as parts of Southeast Asia and Pakistan and the
Judeo-Christian Western world.

Ok, so thatıs obviously not a new observation, but why is it happening?
Simply saying the war in Iraq cannot be it. For decades, Saddam Husseinıs
neighbors lived in fear of the secular Iraqi dictator. We said, ³Hey, we
donıt like him either, weıll go in and kick him out.² After we did, it
seemed that more and more of those same people we thought weıd be helping
out started showing animosity towards the United States.

All the questions weıve been asking filter down to this, what do we really
understand about Islam?

After September 11, regular run-of- the-mill Americans became Islamic
theologians. Insights such as ³Oh, Islam is innately violent,² and ³Islamic
expansion in the middle ages was really the cause of the crusades² could be
heard in the media, in coffeeshops and in classrooms.

The problem lies in the fact that what the vast majority of people in this
country understand about Islam is filtered numerous different ways before
the information gets to their ears and then begins to go through their own
filters in their mind. The reverse is happening on the other side of the
world. What picture is then left of the original message?

Well, it depends on the filters.

Think about the United States; it in itself is one of the newest
manifestations of Western culture. Aside from certain biblical locations,
the Middle East became a point of interest to modern Europe and America
when large oil reserves were found underneath its sandy landscapes about
100 years ago. Our communication with the region has been, for the most
part, concerning oil.

Thereıs nothing wrong with trade between people, but whatıs happenedis a
lack of a sense of world community shared between us and most of the Muslim
world and no real understanding about where each other is coming from.

How many people in this country have read anything from the Koran? How many
people have discussed religion with anyone who is Muslim? And in the
reverse, how many Muslims living in the Middle East have sat down and
discussed religion or anything for that matter, with a Christian living in
the West?

Yes, it happens, but, considering how much our two fates rely on our
interactions with one another, not nearly enough. We cannot take our
impressions of Islam from the media or from Joe Schmo at work, we should
try to educate ourselves in a way that we can have intelligent insights.

There are Muslims in this country, many different kinds, from numerous
different countries. But of the Muslims who live in this country, a lot who
have come from well-to-do families who gave them the ability to travel
here, what are their experiences in their home countries? Well if a
Christian northeasterner from a well-off family, say, a son of a surgen,
moved to Egypt, would he be able to articulate the plight of a poor rural
farmer from Arkanas properly, just because theyıre both Christians from the
same country?

Maybe, but wouldnıt it make more sense that a poor Muslim farmer outside of
Cairo might have his own insights that would allow him to relate better.
Maybe they both suffered through things like droughts or banks foreclosing
on equipment.

Many people cite that the gun lobby in this country is so passionate about
defense of gun ownership, not simply because of the guns themselves, but
instead, a sense that their particular rural lifestyle is under attack. In
many ways, the problem the United States is having with the Muslim world
and Iraq isnıt any affinity towards Saddam, but instead a feeling of strong
arming the America in their backyard.

There needs to be some kind of open communication between the Muslim and
Christian worlds, one that is not used for the benefit of governments or
industry executivesı agenda, but instead for the interest and benefits of
the people making up both sides of the spectrum.

What happens if that communication does not exisit? Then poor farmers and
other common citizens from both sides are going to continue to be
manipulated by the powers that be who are never personally going to be in
harmsı way.

Trying to find a common ground that we can all walk on isnıt unrealistic if
people see it as a goal worth attaining. But itıs up to people on the
grassroots level to actually make that step.

Weıre trying to fight a war on terrorism in this country, and in the Middle
East they think theyıre fighting a war of Western agression. If everyone
tried to make a step towards understanding one another we could circumvent
future violence.


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{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.}
(Holy Quran-16:125)

{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)

The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]

The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)  also said, "Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all."
[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
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