The Muslim Bashing Must End
This is the second offering in our newly introduced series of original content written by Ijtema editors. A warning to the readers: in keeping with the tendencies of the blogosphere, this entry is a rant in every sense of the word, and was written in the “heat of the moment” after witnessing some quite horrendous behaviour. So please excuse the emotional tone. I pray it’s a rant worth reading, though.
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I’m getting pretty fed up with Muslim-on-Muslim bashing. No, i’m not referring to the Shia versus Sunni violence prevalent in Iraq, nor the Sufi versus Salafi rhetoric found on countless forums and blogs spread across the net. Rather, I am referring to this kind of talk:
“Oh, the Muslims are so stupid…”
“Oh, the Muslims are so lazy…”
“Oh, the Muslims are so backward…”
Blah! Blah! Blah!
All from the mouths of everyday Muslims.
Don’t you guys get it?
YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT YOURSELVES.
This kind of talk achieves nothing. It achieves absolutely nothing. It does not spur your “stupid”, “lazy”, “backward” brethren into action. You know why?
Firstly, because they don’t even know that you’re talking about them! In fact, they’re most likely silently nodding away in agreement in front of their monitors, even though you’ve just dissed them:
Reader: Yes, yes, I agree - Muslims are soooo useless!
Me: But, but… you’re a Muslim too! [insert a long string of question marks here]
Secondly, speaking from personal experience, being insulted only encourages the recipient of said insult to ignore the speaker, no matter how true or wise the rest of their counsel is; it’s basic human nature. Just think: how would you react in such a situation? Insults do not stimulate an exchange of ideas, nor a change in attitudes, other than to put people in the mood for a good brawl. Really, how does that help anyone?
Allah forgive me, I am sure that I have been guilty of this talk too, but lately, something inside my head has just *ping* snapped; I can’t take this negativity anymore!
I’m not asking us all to group hug. I’m not sticking my head in the sand. Nor am I launching a propaganda campaign titled: “Muslims are so lovely, yey for us!”. I acknowledge that there are many, many, many problems in this Ummah, and most of them are the result of “reaping what our own hands have sown”. However, I have also come to realise that this kind of Muslim bashing is unnecessary pessimism that does not motivate change in anyone. In addition, it also reeks of arrogance, because the basher has indirectly placed themselves above the bashees; very rarely do they include themselves in the Ummah that they have just criticised.
So, if you wish to complain about the state of the Ummah, fair enough, but let there be some purpose in your complaint, which is reflected in the manner in which you phrase your observation (hint: insults are a BIG no-no!). And most importantly, do not complain unless you follow it up with a suggestion on how to improve our condition. I’m sorry, “returning to Qur’an & Sunnah” does not cut it for me. That is the most oft-repeated and vague statement of the Muslim-on-Muslim basher. I want to hear a clearly defined plan (that may very well be rooted in Q & S) that someone can actually follow and eventually implement. If you don’t have one, think of one: form a task force! Do something. Else you’re just as “stupid”, “lazy” and “backward” as the rest of us “hill-billy Muslims”.
And no, the irony of this little rant has not escaped me - but at least I have taken my own advice: complaining with a purpose, followed by a suggestion at the end. It’s really as simple as that.
Ignorance nothing else. Most of such Muslims are actually those who has started following religion of “Media” where West is presented as error free faction.
What I think that there is need of dialogue with such Muslims. They are pissed too due to bombardment of misinformation as well as things happening around. Today we need to educate more to Muslims than non-Muslims about Islam.
Good reminder. Thank you.
Assalamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah
Adnan: you are correct that many Muslims who self-criticize are perhaps doing so because they have been influenced by others who do the same. But in fact, the actual case of “Muslim bashing” that motivated this rant was not media-related as far as i could tell, but simple bad manners. I am not against criticism at all but there must be purpose - not just to stir trouble, or to whine. I think some Muslims think it’s ok to Muslim-bash in this way, because they themselves are Muslim - but i am sure they wouldn’t like to hear the same words being used by non-Muslims against them. It’s like the whole hip-hop culture, where it’s ok for black people to use a particularly nasty word for themselves, but no-one else can use that word. Why use such language at all, is my argument?
Umm Layth: jazakallah khair sis.
Assalam alaikum, .
What was that all about? Ranting on ijtema, iMuslim?. After reading your ‘rant’, I’m not quite sure who, what, where you’re referring to. Maybe I have not come across the muslim-bashing (perhaps am I not reading enough blogs?). I mean, what you’re saying is certainly true, but for a random reader, who has no idea what you are so upset about, it’s confusing and just leaves one asking: what was that all about?
I mean, this is a group blog for “highlighting the best of the Muslim blogosphere” isn’t it? Please keep it what it is. (Or is it for putting up a spontaneously-typed rant? Would that not have been better in your own blog?)
Sorry about the bluntness, my sister. There is a lot in the Ummah that causes heartache and anguish. Especially when we fall so short of what we are supposed to be. Especially when it’s so easy for someone to look at your colour and clothes and form erroneous opinions about you. We - as the muslim ummah - are going through a very difficult time, I agree, from all angles.
The point you are making is: don’t criticize our Muslim brothers and sisters. Is that right? Point taken. But please don’t put up ‘rants’ in ijtema.net. It will lessen the worth of the site, in my opinion. Recently I think you highlighted a muslim blogger’s advice (nasiha) about avoiding arguments while blogging. Something like that is more to the point and does the work better than a ‘rant’.
Stick to the purpose that you have claimed, “showcasing the best of the Muslim blogosphere”. Drawing attention to ‘Muslim-bashing’ doesn’t strike me as the best idea to achieve that goal.
My apologies if my comment is lacking in ‘adab’.
I love the carpet
Wa ‘alaykum salam wa rahmatullah mummyjaan.
Jazakallah khair for posting your feedback on the entry!
The aim of the editors’ posts (we haven’t really given the series a proper title yet!) is parallel to our general aim to highlight the best of the Muslim blogosphere. We felt the site was missing something - no, not me ranting, hehe. The whole point of our efforts are not only to act as a “filter blog”, but to also help raise the profiles of the Muslim bloggers we link to. However, we cannot achieve this aim if Ijtema.net is not a place where people like to frequent. By placing original content on site that can only be found here, we hope to attract more regular visitors to the site, and thus help us to achieve our goal to promote the work of authors more talented than ourselves. Perhaps we were not clear in our objective, and that is what lead to your confusion.
Wrt my rant, and whether it fits with Ijtema, that is down to personal opinion. As an editor of Ijtema, one “gets around” and sees many things on the blogosphere; believe me, Muslim-bashing is a common phenomenon. I wanted to avoid describing the exact incident that spurred me to write, in case i identified the people involved. As i said, i am not about to stick my head in the sand when it comes to problems, online or offline. I do feel that ranting, even if it not always the best way, can achieve some good in itself, as it tends to be to the point, and if the emotion is used correctly, can get the message across better than a non-rantish entry - if that makes any sense! However, i accept your constructive criticism; maybe it didn’t work here!
And your manner of commenting was wonderful, masha’Allah. I really appreciate it. All the editors do.
Wa’salam
gess… your comment is truely profound… i will have to think deeply about it before i respond…
Boxing glove beside prayer mat? Nice photo. How did you get to it?
The source of the photo is linked beneath the image… i typed in “boxing glove” into Flickr, and it was on the front page of the results!
AsalamAlayKum,
Peace and e-Greetings be upon you.
I took this photo shortly after prayer Dhuhr on February 10, 2006 at my friend’s unfinished basement which doubles as his overflow Musalah.
He has a boxing punching bag for working out, and a prayer mat. I had Muhammad Ali on my mind as I stared at the ‘Everlast’ logo text on the glove. Thus I photographed this composition to remind myself.
My reflections lead me to wonder if Muhammad Ali’s rants during his Boxing Career of being “The Greatest” were a reminder that only Allah is Akbar, that only Allah Alone is “The Greatest”.
Our dear brother in Islam, the former World Heavyweight Champion now has an illness/disability. I pondered if in Allah’s (Glorified and Praised be He) mercy is expressed in that disability.
As we know that, “One day’s fever wipes away a year of sin” or words to that effect.
If we look to our fellow Muslims instead of Allah SWT for improvement of the Ummah, we are in deep yogurt.
Complain to you Lord, privately, directly. He will answer us. Complain to the Ummah, and we’ll all share an Alleluia or two.
My 2 cents…I mean 2 dirhams.
HiMY SYeD
photopia.tyo.ca / torontopedia.ca / islambank.com
HiMY SYeD:
Wa’alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah. JazakAllah-khair for the comments.
As for Muhammad Ali, it is an interesting observation you have made. Here is a person who believed at one point that he was invincible. It truly would be within the mercy of Allah Subhana wa ta’Ala that he be afflicted with an illness to remind himself and all of us that we really are powerless without the help of Allah. SubhanAllah.
I like the 2 dirhams expression
Salaam to all,
Chronical disease,
There are Blogs which are doing nothing but Islam-bashing, if the authors or the commentators carry a non-muslim name, one can understand the pathology, but when it comes from the seculars/communists/ and IBs (Islam-Bezars) so callled “muslims” then I should,and
have all the rights to condemn their birthdays, regretfully, and can prescribe
anti-biotics for them. Pakistani Blog has many
examples of these impurities.
One boxing glove lying on the splendid, gorgeous, beautifull, majestic, islamic piece
of art is the wonderful Persian medaillion Isfahan hand-made oriental carpet, one can see the corner of a silk chinese beauty as well,
photo mabrouk !!
Nov 12th, 2007 at 11:32 am
[…] to post something the rest of you guys can read! Well, i did today, but it’s over at Ijtema: The Muslim Bashing Must End. I’m getting pretty fed up with Muslim-on-Muslim bashing. No, i’m not referring to the Shia […]