A Strong Muslim Identity Is the Best Defense Against Extremism

[rug]

Those who say Islam is the problem are ignorant

Qasim Rashid
Rashid is an attorney, national spokesperson for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA and author of Talk to Me.
Sept. 28, 2016
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Since 9/11, “reforming” Islam under the guise of combatting extremism has become increasingly financially lucrative. More than $57 million has been spent to promote fear of Islam and Muslims. And it seems like everyone’s an expert—including those who have no actual education or scholarship on Islamic jurisprudence.

In a 2012 study analyzing the top 25 most popular anti-Muslim activists in America, the Muslim Political Action Committee (MPAC) found: “Only 1 out of the 25 individuals examined have qualifications that would make him/her an expert on Islam.” Perhaps most relevant to combatting extremism the report rightly concluded: “Relying on individuals who lack academic qualifications about the subjects, one which they claim to be an expert, has severe negative consequences for our national security.” In other words, pseudo-scholars don’t stop extremism—they can create extremism.

For example, a recent TIME piece argues that New Atheism, which emerged post 9/11, is the solution to extremism and violence in the Muslim world because it allegedly speaks “honestly about religion.” This empty rhetoric obfuscates that throughout their so-called “honest” advocacy, the most prominent New Atheists have spoken from a position of ignorance to promote ideas and policies that have fostered extremism. For example, Christopher Hitchens advocated for the Iraq War—which has left more than 500,000 civilians dead, a region in disarray, and as President Obama admits, led to the rise of ISIS. Ayaan Hirsi Ali has advocated for a military destruction of Islam by “any means necessary.” Not a destruction of radicalism, but of Islam itself. Richard Dawkins has also slammed Islam: for example, in a 2013 tweet, he wrote: “Haven’t read Koran so couldn’t quote chapter & verse like I can for Bible. But often say Islam greatest force for evil today[.]”

New Atheists, the Islamophobia industry, and so-called “Muslim reformers” (who meritlessly seek to change the Qur’an altogether) all share three significant characteristics. First, each is wholly ignorant of Islam as exemplified by their myopic insistence to ignore events like the Iraq War and instead claim that ISIS’s existence and approximately 30,000 members are a more valid example of Islam than Islam’s 1.6 billion Muslims and 1,400 years of non-ISIS existence. Second, each offers only an empty theory of Islamic “reformation.” Third, and perhaps most significant, each refuses to acknowledge the practical and proven models from Muslim organizations that have long existed well before 9/11 that analyze Islam from a position of honesty and scholarship, and demonstrate that it is not Islam that needs reformation—but Muslims themselves.

http://time.com/4507774/muslim-identity-defense-against-extremism/

[True Dough]

1. No responses to this one.

I'm still getting a sense of who people are here and what they're all about.

Rug, you strike me as someone, similar to me, who is either atheist or agnostic, who believes the world would be better off, on balance, without religion. Yet when it comes to Islam, being as perverted as it is by some of the most despicable characters on the face of the Earth, you feel compelled to offer some degree of defense, some insights into how it's not entirely evil.

Maybe I'm off base on those assumptions. But I too have often "gone to bat" for Muslims who are so vilified by many Westerners, portrayed as wretched Sharia adherents and generalized as terrorists.

I feel nothing but contempt for misogynists, homophobes and violent individuals, Muslim or otherwise. However, I feel sympathy for Muslims who carry on a peaceful existence but are harassed and bullied as they attempt to go about their everyday lives. I know of numerous Muslims who are generous volunteers and tireless community leaders in politics and the business community. And I have met Muslim couples and families where the female partner is confident and outspoken, sometimes wearing a hijab, sometimes not. Those Muslims certainly don't deserve the scorn of ignorant and belligerent Americans and Canadians.

Live and let live.

[rug]

2. In fact I am a Catholic. Not a very good Catholic but still a Catholic.

I find religion - and the lack of religion - to be fascinating topics.

Islam these days is getting a bad rap, some of it earned, but it feeds into those who are otherwise Islamophobic or antitheist to all religions.

Stick around. Despite all the bullshit, personal attacks, and general ignorance that is often posted here, it's interesting stuff.