Be Muslim-But Only in Moderation
In his first 2004 presidential debate, Senator John Kerry began the night in the favor-of-the-day. Answering his first question, Kerry explained that America needed to isolate the "radical Islamic Muslims".
"I have a better plan to be able to fight the war on terror by ... beginning to isolate the radical Islamic Muslims, not have them isolate the United States of America."
At first, the statement sounded redundant-even uneducated. A Muslim is, by definition, a follower of Islam, and is therefore, by definition, "Islamic". Saying "Islamic Muslims" was a lot like saying "American Americans".
So was Kerry just being repetitive? Or was his statement perhaps more telling that even he realized? Are all Muslims "Islamic"? Well, the truth is-no. Not the good ones, at least.
More and more the underlying assumption seems to be that Islam is the problem. If Islam, as a faith, is in essence radical, the less "Islamic" something is the better. And thus a 'moderate Muslim'-the much coveted title-is only moderately Muslim and therefore only moderately bad. Saying this would be like telling someone to only be 'moderately black' so as not to be too violent.
Conversely, a Muslim who is too "Islamic" is then by definition "radical" - a "radical Islamic Muslim" - and must be dealt with (isolated).
In fact, Mona Mayfield understood these rules well when she defended her husband - wrongfully accused of participating in the Spain bombing.
"We have a Bible in the house. He's not a fundamentalist -- he thought it was something different and very unique," Mayfield told the associated press of her husband's conversion to Islam.
To prove his innocence, Mayfield tried to downplay her husband's commitment to Islam. She even felt the need to justify his conversion-as if that were his crime.
Mosque administrator Shahriar Ahmed took a similar approach to defend Mayfield. "He was seen as a moderate," Ahmed told reporters. "Mayfield showed up for the Friday ritual of shedding his shoes, washing his bare feet and sitting on the carpets to hear services. He did not, as some devout Muslims do, pray five times a day at the mosque."
The implication here is that Brandon Mayfield's guilt or innocence was in some way related to how many times he prayed at the mosque. Ahmed even went on to assert, "He was on the less religious side if anything."
These 'less religious' icons of what an 'acceptable' Muslim should look like can be found all over the media. Irshad Manji, media entrepreneur and author of The Trouble with Islam, is one of the most celebrated of these icons. Manji is widely published and has appeared in all the top media outlets. She even received Oprah's Chutzpah Award for "gustiness".
Although Manji refers to herself as a "Muslim refusenik", the media refers to her as the model of a "practicing Muslim". Daniel Pipes, a board member of the United States Institute of Peace, calls her a "courageous, moderate, modern Muslim". But interestingly, Manji's ideas have less to do with Islam than Pipes' ideas have to do with peace. A Washington Post article describes Manji's epiphany about prayer-the cornerstone of the Islamic faith:
"Instead, she said, she began praying on her own. After washing her feet, arms and face, she would sit on a velvet rug and turn toward Mecca. Eventually, she stopped this as well, because she did not want to fall 'into mindless submission and habitual submissiveness.'"
Manji is welcome to her opinion about this practice of 1.5 billion people worldwide. She is also welcome to abandon any and all of these practices. But Manji is not simply depicted as an insignificant woman who decided not to pray. Her personal decision to abandon central tenants of her faith-so long as that faith is Islam- is portrayed as a fight for freedom. A fight against tyranny. She is 'courageous' and 'gutsy', a model for other not-too-Islamic Muslims to follow.
Making this the model is like asking someone not to be 'too black' or 'too Jewish' as if these were in essence bad or violent and anyone who struggled only to be 'moderately black' or 'moderately Jewish' was a freedom fighter.
For example, Manji told the Washington Post, "The violence is going to happen, then why not risk it happening for the sake of freedom?"
Yes. Freedom is good. Manji may have said it better. Kerry may have said it subtler. But a business management professor at California's Imperial Valley College said it truer: "The only way to end Islamic terrorism is to eliminate the Islamic religion."
But regardless of how you say it, one thing is for sure: when it comes to Islam these days-less is definitely more.
Yasmin Mogahed received a B.S. in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is currently a graduate student in Journalism/Mass Communications at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and working as a free lance writer.
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How many of Allah's commands are you going to say we do not have to follow anymore? What in Islam should be followed? What in Islam no longer needs to be followed? Here is a statistic according to the prophet. Only .1% of humanity is going to heaven. (It is actually .05% but the half of all of humanity is of the Gog and Magog tribe) In this case, what does it take to go to heaven? On what limit of moderacy will actually get you to jannah? In order to go to Jannah you need to find 999 people who are worse than you. Muslims are 1 out 5 in the world. Obviously a large part of Muslims are going to hell.
I do not know how much of Islam a person needs to practice to fulfill the reason of practicing. I definitely do not know how much you need to practice to just get by.
Ms. Megehed is making a lot of noise out of nothing. Relax, worship your religion the way you want to. Nobody is trying to stop you.
Moderation means invention, fabrication and spliting the one partnerless God into multiple parts so that it suits the way of life of the mujrimuns (the criminals/ the worst of created beings).
In summary, follow your religion in the ways prescribed to you. Neither fear nor pay heed to the criminals who have no certainty of faith.
I like your intense comments, but I failed to get your point, Perhaps other readers got it, if it is so, please forgive my limited English it's only my fourth language.
Jazzak Allah
"We have made you the community of the middle way, so that you may stand witness against the rest of mankind, and the Messenger shall be a witness against you." 2:143
The Arabic term "wassat", used in this verse to describe the global Muslim community, is a vivid epithet, which evokes a much wider range of meaning than is given by its literal equivalent of "middle". The term is used here in a very broad sense. Thus, the Muslim community, or ummah, to use the Qur'anic term, is a middle-of-the-road community, which stands witness against other nations, and communities in the sense that it upholds and defends justice and equality for all people. ...(I am skipping to his next paragraph)...
The Muslim community occupies the middle ground in its beliefs and outlook on life. It maintains a healthy and equitable balance between the two extremes of spiritual asceticism and materialism. It treats man as a balanced combination of body and soul, and allows him the opportunity and means to satisfy them both in such a way as to uplift the spirit and enhance the quality of human life. Within this framework of balance and moderation, every constructive talent, ability, aptitude, and activity is nourished and encouraged to grow and play its part in society.
The Muslim community is balanced in the sense that it is not rigid or dogmatic. It holds fast for its ideals and traditions, and to the sources of its religion and way of life, while fostering change and progress in all fields. It is an open society that welcomes new ideas and learns from the work and experience of other societies, cultures and civilizations. It's main objective is to seek to truth, wherever that may come from, and to adopt it with courage and confidence.
If we stick to following the light of Mustafa (sawaws), the call towards moderation will be unnecessary. Build a fortress of Imaan by beginning with Amaliyyat. Do not let self-serving individuals cause you to stray...basically don't waste your time on them, because the only light we need as our guide in darkness is Prophet Muhammad (sawaws), so follow the ones who love him the most if you want a spiritual promotion.
Sister Yasmin makes an excellent point. What she addresses is a problem...but like all "educated" muslims...she has tunnel vision, or writes to win hearts not minds!
Now, back to reality!
The PROBLEM which 75% of this UMMAH refuses to face and 101% of the KAFUR's love to exploite is this:
There are people who call themselves Muslim and for the most part ... embody everything Islamic but who would MURDER YOU AND THEMSELVES in the name of everything holy!
There are rules for EVERYTHING in Islam... but for these fanitical, evil, twisted, misguided few...the guidance in Al Qur'an and aHadith does not apply.
WHY? Because they are not practicing Islam...they are practicing THEIR OWN POLITICS while using Islam as a PR machine to gain a following.
Find me any teaching that says cold blooded MURDER of yourself and those associated with your enemy will be rewarded with Paradise!
The world, including Muslims, are afraid of the criminals who use Islam as a tool to MURDER and make MURDER acceptable.
This UMMAH and it's leaders turns a blind eye to the evil that these people practice...because we share in the very WESTERN belief ...
"the enemy of my enemy is my friend"
So, we say nothing ... because like the jews our Ummah has become currupt, evil, vile, hateful, full of revenge, prideful and have forgotten that ALLAH (SWT) has set forh guidelines that apply IN ALL CASES....not just when things are good.
Until we as a Muslim body realize this ... we are no better than the KUFAR who murders us for our oil.
Muslims need to WAKE UP...the rest of ALLAH's creation is using us as a doormat to wipe their feet!
Mrs. Mogahed tears apart the "moderate" Islamic label brilliantly and rebuts it piece by piece!
I highly recommend this article to everyone!
Alhamdulillah, this sister is right after my heart.Her earlier article on Dr.wadud's fatwa has already striked chord with everybody who are regular here. Let allah bring your efforts to the fore and be pleased with your service for HIM.
What is the notion of west in general and US in particular towards Islam is well known secret.That really doesnt surprise me! But the attitude of muslims, who are willing to be this growth oriented moderates replacing religion with wealth and comfort.
TO check the credibility of the saying or their intentions, we do have litmus test. See who is telling us to change our lives ? Disbelievers in Islam ?! aren't we replaced our illah ?!
How can we expect a disbelievers to think good abt our cause, when allah says, they wouldnt be pleased with you until you give up your religion!
In Islam, not believing even in figment of it, amounts to disbelief. THe complete submission that the whole of quran is from allah seperates the belief and disbelief.
Regards
Dr Syed Alwi
Al humdulillah, well stated. As Black American who reverted to Islam approximately 4 years ago (about 5 weeks before 9/11 - this of course ranks as the best decision I have ever been blessed to make), I welcomed your remarks. In college I was what some referred to as a "Black Nationalist", mainly because I strongly advocated equality & justice for Black people in essence I advocated this for all people. So I was termed too Black and radical because I sought equal justice. The history of the Civil Rights movement in America reeks with this "too this or that" type of categorizing. It is my opinion, that "they" believe, if it can be weakened, it can be defeated. And to a large degree, they were successful with this plan within the Black Civil Rights Community.
I am now seeing the same attempts to do the same thing to Islam. If you practice Islam as we have been given by Allah (SWT) and demonstrated by Prophet Muhammad (SAS), then we are "too Islamic" and called fundamentalist {root word fundamental = of central importance, serving as a basis supporting existence or determining essential structure or function}, doesn't sound "too" bad to me.
Br. Malcolm X once said " if you keep adding cream & sugar to coffee, at some point it will not longer be black, no longer be strong, no longer be hot, and a some point, it will cease to be coffee." Insha'Allah we will not allow those who opposes Islam to "coerce" Muslims into practicing a "belief" that is not Islam, but a watered down version of Western Political Obedience and mental slavery. They are seeking Brothers named Mohammed, who call themselves "Mo", Sisters who don't wear Hijab, because they feel oppressed, and they seek to make wrong seem right. Jazakallahu Khayran, Sister Yasmin Mogahed for a well needed message.
Ma'Salaam
Br. Jabril
Fully agree with the views author has expressed. Well done - Sister Yasmeen. May Allah reward you well.
I usually read all comments too. Those in Neutral at present are infact in favour. Brother Ummer ( comment 31675 ) said:
"And if you grow a beard you are a terrorist.If you change your mind and shave off your beard, then you are a disguised terrorist."
One can not resist a spontaneous laugh inspite of such a serious subject. "Never lose a sense of humour".
Mukhlis.
... We are Muslims and we are Indigenous American, we are Indians, Black and Whites. Islam is not limited to Arab or Iranians. Islam is the fastest growing religion in my country and Alhumdulillah a lot of us are practicing.
This article applies to Muslims not Arabs or Asians.
Hope not you understand now.
Joseph
And if you grow a beard you are a terrorist.If you change your mind and shave off your beard, then you are a disguised terrorist.
What a world and what a freedom.
Now better muslims shape up and shed all this Immoral values of prayer,charity and responsible living and start boozing, shed your shyness, shed your cloths and embrace freedom.Go ahead and follow whatever your inner devils are craving for.
Get free,Freedom from true happiness.A Freedom which will give you madness.
Hell with all of them that stand in the way of the TRUTH (Quran) is my path and Allah is my Protector.
If any one hopes to find help in the unbeliver than they two are lost, stand up for your Religion there are to meny hipocrites in the world today and one must sllect their friends very carfuly.
Peace for those who follow the path of Allah.
be lesser Muslims. I feel this is a test from Allah (swt). We must
stay strong in our deen and strive to peacefully spread Islam's
true message.
First of all; I am an american, born and raised in this country. I'm also a muslim who happens to be a minority. My family has gone through the stuggles of racism and biggetry for as long as I can remember. I was born into Islam, but that does'nt mean I don't love my country. I have to!, because this is the only place on earth where a person can practice a faith without persecution. The only place with unlimited potential for growth and prosperity. But my devotion to Allah(the creator/god) is much more Important, no god-fearing, self respecting muslim would ever compromise his/her faith, by living it in moderation. to do that would be to do the opposite of what it means to be an american, to give up freedom... And who wants to do that?
Yours Truly.... David A. McNair
"I am the way, the ONLY way" -- That claim MUST be ABSOLUTELY STRICKEN from ALL religious dogma, regardless of flavor. Teaching such a claim should be made a very, VERY serious crime, both religious and civil.
Mutual respect is simply the ONLY way !!
Sister, keep up this good work and continue using the knowledge Allah blessed with in educating both Muslims and non-muslims about this Natural Deen of Allah. May Allah protect you and those engaged for the defense of Islam and the truth.
Many thanks for the author for this beautiful article that brings to light what we all know, the war on Islam.
I have good news to all concerned muslims. Islam IS the fastest growing religion. It is killing the enemies of Islam that the message of Allah is surviving with all the money spent to fight it. Allah said, and he says the truth, in what translates as:
"It is He Who hath sent His Messenger with Guidance and the Religion of Truth, to proclaim it over all religion, even though the Pagans may detest (it)." 9:33
Thank you for this article!
Regards
Dr Syed Alwi
I could not agree more with you in this regard. the signs are all over the media and the sinario is repeated over and over again but this not new.
about ten years ago, I was taking a political science class in a connecticut state university. the proffessor out loud stated that islam has been the hidrence in front of turky and had to therefore supress it. now if you wnat to a "good" muslim you have to be a sufi. just be a useless, helpless, dispensable, dependent intity that is indifferent and unidentifiable to it's surroundings. this is the new "Good muslim" just a new religion.
You may change the ordinary muslim of today to even make him/her see Islam as not belonging to the dea of living in the 21st Century but the next generation will hold on to ISLAM as the only tool for the 22nd. That is the promise of Allah. So I for one is not afraid and I believe so are all those faithfuls out there that believe in the promise of Allah."...Liyudhirahu 'ala-ddini kullih wa lau karihal mushrikun."
ALLAHU AKBAR.
1. I now make an effort to pray in the mosque as often as possible, to read the Quran more.
2. My wife and I decided to make at least one of our children a hafith since evil's stated aim is to change the word of God (which they will never do).
3. Do good acts for Muslim and non-Muslim neighbors and tell them that this goodness is incumbent upon us as Muslims.
4. Give to charities without fear. Give is if to challenge the assertion that Muslim charity is wrong.
5. I learned my religion better and cut out the culture that I was raised with so I can be more Muslim and less Arab, Asian, African, etc. This of course is for culture that contradicts Islam.
If we all go to the mosque then their argument is dead. However, if we begin to cower and cease practicing our deen for fear of labels then they have won. Whenever a Muslim begins to fear they should remember - One day you will die. Really think about that for a moment. You will die and none of this will m