OPINION & EDITORIAL
Seven years after Sept. 11, ignorance still the norm
Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.
Also by Guest Columnist:
- Stretch it out: Busting condom myths (April 10, 2008)
- Israeli twist of terms hints at opressive intentions (March 6, 2008)
- Dems get out vote, show true dedication (February 29, 2008)
- Change even we can believe in: GOP should vote for Obama (February 19, 2008)
- Make Chelsea's mom president (February 17, 2008)
Related Stories:
- Islamophobia can end by education (November 29, 2007)
- Islam's detractors wrong on Quran (November 27, 2007)
- Lessons in Islam (September 18, 2001)
- 'Awareness' weak on Islamic reality (October 17, 2007)
- Can we eliminate the 'War of Ideas?' (October 24, 2002)
by Guest Columnist
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Islam and Muslims? Sadly, I feel I can already anticipate the most common response. Perhaps some of the responses will pertain to some form of terrorism or oppression of women. If not directly stated, then these thoughts are at the very least on many peoples’ minds.
Honestly though, I don’t blame anyone for having these initial perceptions, because it seems that every day there is another story that negatively portrays the religion of Islam and its followers. Among these include suicide bombings, terrorist attacks, misogyny, childish responses to offensive cartoons, honor killings — all pitifully linked to being committed in the name of Islam. There is a persistent portrayal of my faith associated with violence and animosity, and I understand that as a result, it is only natural for some to have developed a mistaken preconception of Islam.
However, what I ask of all of you is to put these initial perceptions aside, and give Islam another chance. One can approach this religion of more than a billion followers in the world today in two ways: with the objective of satisfying a preconception that Islam is a barbaric religion or with an open mind not influenced by these negative preconceptions.
The former will inevitably lead one to the conclusion that Islam is a backward religion. This is not just a lesson in the context of religion, but rather a lesson in the context of being a moral human being. If we approach any belief system with negative preconceptions, then we are bound to find demeaning aspects about it. We will only find the truth if we actively seek it with a self-critical attitude — acknowledging that we could potentially be incorrect. Although I was born a Muslim, I only began to truly embrace Islam less than four years ago, and it has brought a sense of peace and serenity to my life that is indescribable. It is truly disheartening to see that people today have this horrific image of the faith that I and many others have devoted our lives to.
Too many times have you heard Islam conveys the message of peace, but not often enough do you ever witness this statement as a reality. At this point, I can do no more than to ask you to remove this negative preconception created by those unfortunate few who have deviated from the true substance of Islam. I have seen past the mere depiction and representation of the religion and have lived and felt it myself. For me, Islam remains a message of sincerity, love and compassion in the name of God and submission to His will. I see it as my moral imperative to make sure, with all my heart, that I extend the essence of this love to my fellow neighbor.
Muslims at the University of Wisconsin have been actively involved in promoting this ethos/spirit and have accomplished such a great deal with respect to it. Farha Tahir, an undergraduate majoring in European history, helped found the UW-Madison chapter of Project Downtown — whose aim is to build shelters for the homeless and feed the poor and needy. Maha Hilal, a graduate student at UW, is the chair of In Your Hands, which does various humanitarian activities such as orphan sponsorship projects and charitable fundraisers for those less fortunate. Awais Khaleel, UW undergraduate and vice president of the College Democrats of America, is a prime example of how Muslims are thriving in politics as well. Mr. Khaleel is one of three Democratic superdelegates under the age of 25.
I could further extend this list with all the contributions Muslims have made not just to this campus, but to the community as a whole. This year, the Muslim Students’ Association has a multitude of accomplishments ranging from educational lectures, volunteer work, interfaith gatherings and social events for Muslims and people of other faiths alike. Check out our website, www.uw-msa.org, and see for yourself what Muslims in your community are doing.
Our mission is to encourage an atmosphere of open-mindedness, love and respect for people of all ideologies and backgrounds. The UW MSA, similar to MSAs around the nation and Muslim organizations across the globe, hopes to dispel the many misconceptions surrounding Islam. We hope that with your open mind and understanding, we can live side by side without any negative perceptions in the back of our minds. Let me leave you with a befitting verse from the Quran:
“Oh mankind! We created you from a single pair of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may get to know each other, not that you may despise each other, and the most honored of you in the sight of God is he who is most righteous. God has full knowledge and is well acquainted with all things.” (Quran: Chapter 49, verse 13).
Sabih Khwaja (khwaja@wisc.edu) is president of the
UW Muslim Students’ Association and is a junior majoring in biochemistry.
Anonymous (April 16, 2008 @ 6:54am):
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Christians and Christianity?
Anonymous (April 16, 2008 @ 8:05am):
This is a very strange argument from an avowed pratitioner of an ethos that lays claim to respecting rules of logic.
We're supposed to ignore reams of evidence to the contrary and rely on (what?) the testimony of Sabih's personal experience of Islam?
Arguing from the particular to the general is logically falacious. Arguing that one's individual experience negates volumes of evidence to the contrary-- well, that's just unassailable ignorance.
10,000+ deadly jihadist attacks since 9/11 don't lie.
www.thereligionofpeace.com
Wake up and smell the jihad, Sabih.
Anonymous (April 16, 2008 @ 8:07am):
Founded by members of the Muslim Brotherhood, MSA was named in a May 1991 Muslim Brotherhood memorandum as one of the Brotherhood's likeminded "organizations of our friends" who shared the common goal of destroying America and turning it into a Muslim nation. These "friends" were described by the Brotherhood as groups that could help teach Muslims "that their work in America is a kind of grand Jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and 'sabotaging' its miserable house by their hands ... so that ... God's religion [Islam] is made victorious over all other religions."
From its inception, MSA had close links with the extremist Muslim World League, whose chapters' websites have featured not only Osama bin Laden's propaganda, but also publicity-recruiting campaigns for Wahhabi subversion of the Chechen struggle in Russia. According to author and Islam expert Stephen Schwartz, MSA is a key lobbying organization for the Wahhabi sect of Islam.
MSA solicited donations for the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, whose assets the U.S. government seized in December 2001 because that organization was giving financial support to the terrorist group Hamas...
See hyperlink below... read their whole dossier.
http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6175
Don't remain ignorant of the MSA agenda your whole life.
Anonymous (April 16, 2008 @ 8:17am):
Great piece. Better than the crappy ad this is in response to.
Anonymous (April 16, 2008 @ 8:19am):
Those are certainly loverly sentiments. Pardon us if (after reviewing the post-9/11 evidence of our eyes) Americans find them entirely disingenuous.
Here's the litmus test of your sincerity: Does Sabih agree with the brave signers of the St. Petersburg Declaration?
http://www.secularislam.org/blog/post/SI_Blog/21/The-St-Petersburg-Declaration
Americans remain breathless in anticipation of the vast majority of so-called "peaceful" Muslims joining this tiny minority of their co-religionists.
Anonymous (April 16, 2008 @ 8:31am):
I'd just like to point out how ignorant and intolerant it is of Sabih to condemn the spiritual commitment of "those unfortunate few who have deviated from the true substance of Islam."
By what authority does Sabih excommunicate (takfir) these jihadist brethren? It's my understanding the prerogative to issue apostacy fatwas is granted only to your dead false prophet (piss be upon him), or authoritative representatives of your mythical Ummah. Which one is Sabih invoking?
Has the MSA's handlers in the Muslim Brotherhood approved this fatwa?
Adam Sitte (April 16, 2008 @ 8:56am):
What in the world Badger Herald? I know for a fact this was not the suggested title, nor is it even the point of the article. Who thought it was a good idea to make that the title? Ignorance is not the norm, and that isn't MSA's view, please do not connect the organization to such claims!
Anonymous (April 16, 2008 @ 9:20am):
Sabih, if Muslims worldwide were not spending so much of their time and energy bashing the US, Israel and anyone else in the West, then just maybe Islam wouldn't be seen in such a terrible light. You all brought it down on yourselves. Deal with it.
Anonymous (April 16, 2008 @ 9:48am):
As Jimmy Carter plans to meet with Hamas, this Hamas MP explains that it is an Islamic imperative to subjugate the world "thorough da'wa and military conquests."
Following are excerpts from an address by Hamas MP and cleric Yunis Al-Astal, which aired on Al-Aqsa TV on April 11, 2008.
Yunis Al-Astal: Allah has chosen you for Himself and for His religion, so that you will serve as the engine pulling this nation to the phase of succession, security, and consolidation of power, and even to conquests thorough da'wa and military conquests of the capitals of the entire world. Very soon, Allah willing, Rome will be conquered, just like Constantinople was, as was prophesized by our Prophet Muhammad. Today, Rome is the capital of the Catholics, or the Crusader capital, which has declared its hostility to Islam, and has planted the brothers of apes and pigs in Palestine in order to prevent the reawakening of Islam â this capital of theirs will be an advanced post for the Islamic conquests, which will spread through Europe in its entirety, and then will turn to the two Americas, and even Eastern Europe.
I believe that our children or our grandchildren will inherit our Jihad and our sacrifices, and Allah willing, the commanders of the conquest will come from among them. Today, we instill these good tidings in their souls, and by means of the mosques and the Koran books, and the history of our Prophets, his companions, and the great leaders, we prepare them for the mission of saving humanity from the hellfire on the brink of which they stand.
Anonymous (April 16, 2008 @ 10:29am):
Sabih,
Your assertion that "There is a persistent portrayal of my faith (islam) associated with violence and animosity" is misleading. Your faith is an active participant in violence and animosity, not only within the different sects of the muslim world, but directed at all other 'Infidel' faiths as well. It is not the "portrayal" of your Islamic religion that is problematic, it is the brutal actions of intolerant Islamists that dictate our understanding of Islam.
It is not a "mistaken preconception" or "initial perception" of islam, Sabih. It is recognition of fact, reinforced by a thousand years of aggression and murder performed in the name of islam.
You may be sincere in your plea for 'peace', but even a supplicants hands may conceal a box cutter, as September 11, 2001 made so very clear to all. Your group may be sincere in your charitable work, but charities have been used by islamists to fund terrorist brutatlities in the name of allah.
Nowhere in your column do you denounce islamic violence. Nowhere in your column do you state how you and your peace seeking group are working to purge and eliminate the violent factions from islam. You have not earned the trust of your neighbors. Put your own house in order, the house of islam, and then perceptions will change.
When islamists denounce and purge the violent elements from their midsts and demonstrate that they can be trusted to live in peace along side Jew and Gentile, then and only then should islam be "given another chance".
Invictus Maneo
Sabih Khwaja (April 16, 2008 @ 11:14am):
I would like to make it known to everyone that the title of my editorial was never "7 years after 9/11, ignorance is still the norm" - this was NEVER my intention nor the intention of MSA for this article. I have no idea who even put that title in but I never asked for it.
My intention was that the MSA does not blame anyone for having these judgements about Muslims.
Thanks,
Sabih
Anonymous (April 16, 2008 @ 12:32pm):
I agree, idiots like Rev. Wright still blame the USA for the 9-11 attacks.
Also, Islam demands that you Submit or Die, ALL Islam demands this - it's just a question of timing. The moderates will allow "people of the Book" to live a slaves, but athiests and polytheists must be put to the sword.
Anonymous (April 16, 2008 @ 2:02pm):
"What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Islam and Muslims?"
Ignorance and terror, linked to being committed in the name of Islam.
This is the result of following the Quran:
A Turkish barber accused of swearing at God is sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia...
http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=101552
Anonymous (April 16, 2008 @ 2:55pm):
12:32, what on earth would provoke such an attack? Why did they choose the United States, not Sweden, Germany, or Japan?
I'm trying to think... we're blameless, right?
Anonymous (April 16, 2008 @ 3:19pm):
I would just like to comment on posts 1,2, and 4 (chronologically ordered):
First, I would like to note that I am not writing in the name of any particular community and that these words/thoughts are mine ALONE.
(1) Many acts of aggression have been done (immorally) in the name of "Islam." Yet, many acts of aggression and violence have been done (immorally) in the name of freedom. The fact that there is any act in the name of X does not imply anything about X.
(2) The violent groups that work in the name of Islam are far from near Madison, WI, so the idea of "working to purge and eliminate the violent factions from islam" is not at all reasonable for a UW-Madison student group to take upon itself to accomplish.
(3) It is the responsibility of everybody (not only Muslims) to work to suppress to power of violent groups in general. Just because Mr. X does something violent in the name of Islam it does not mean that it is only upon Muslims to stand up to Mr. X. It is upon all of humanity! Furthermore, it is upon all of humanity to do so in the most useful way possible.
(4) Despite this, Muslims all around the world denounce, in public and in private, the works of Al Qaeda and all such organizations and are actively trying to suppress the ability of Al Qaeda and company to spread their hateful ideas in and out of the middle east.
(5) It is completely useless to use terms like "infidel" or "jihad" when they are taken out of their context. Because, "infidel," in fact, is an extremely bad and useless translation of the qur'anic word "kafir," which I wouldn't have the space to explain here.
Most Muslims are "moderate" and the moral character of all inhabitants of the earth happens to be very similar. What one must realize is that you can't have over a billion people around the world who hate freedom and civil liberty. If it seems that way, then it is far more likely that a band of idiots has stolen the stage and is misrepresenting a large faction of people who are just like everybody else: they're just people.
My suggestion:
Pick up a book by a reputable Islamic scholar to learn what more than 1.2 billion inhabitants of this earth really believe. Some expositors who are exceptionally talented:
Professor Ingrid Mattson's book "The Story of the Qur'an." (She is the president of the Islamic Society of North America)
John Esposito and Dalia Mogahed's book Who Speaks for Islam?: What a Billion Muslims Really Think.
Another thing you can do is to seek out the Muslim Students Association at UW's executive board. They hold many events throughout the semester and are always open to discussion over e-mail or in person about various topics surrounding Islam.
Peace be upon you.
Anonymous (April 16, 2008 @ 3:51pm):
@ 10:29am -
You are right. What I expect from a student org on my campus is for them to fly off to Afghanistan, armed and ready to eliminate all traces of miltancy there. They also should be actively engaged in raising arms against Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and al-Qaeda in every nation those organizations exist. For a student organization to not devote their resources to purging societies across the world from such evils is at best laziness, at worst an underhanded attempt to subvert our society and spread the reign of global jihad.
Listen, I've been to these guys' events. They address all of these issues on a frequent basis, whether they are obligated to or not. The Jewish and Muslim students here are always doing events together and they have been some of the most inspiringly intelligent ones I have been to. These are American students, and because of whatever convoluted ideas you have about them, this university, this country, and the world, you hold them to expectations 100 times more than those you hold any other student or student org to. You want people like the writer to 'clean up their house?' Their house is our university and they've been a wonderful addition.
Anonymous (April 16, 2008 @ 5:04pm):
"Muslims all around the world denounce, in public and in private, the works of Al Qaeda and all such organizations..."
Very, very few. When Theo van Goah was murdered and Ayaan Hirsi Ali's life was threatened, where were these Muslims? Did they stand-up for the rights of free speech and condemn those who want to use violence to supress ideas they find offensive? No.
Do we hear Muslims in America or anywhere defending the separation of mosque and state, and the freedom to NOT follow Allah's law. No.
Do we hear Muslims speaking out against the treatment of women under Islam? Rarely.
And what does a "moderate" Muslim mean? What are they moderating? The issue is freedom vs. theocracy. Is a moderate someone who believes in just a little violence?
Anonymous (April 16, 2008 @ 5:14pm):
"Pick up a book by a reputable Islamic scholar to learn what more than 1.2 billion inhabitants of this earth really believe."
The issue is not what billions believe. The issue is that many Muslims (The leadership of Iran, Saudi Arabia, Hamas, Hezbolla, al-Qaeda, many of the Imams, the Muslim Brotherhood, etc.) are teaching and acting on a murderous ideology.
If billions of Muslims (and non-Muslims) don't support these beliefs and actions, they should condemn them. That's the solution.
Anonymous (April 16, 2008 @ 6:11pm):
"There is a persistent portrayal of my faith associated with violence and animosity"
Don't worry. Every religion causes violence. Except for the Church of the Fonz.
PS: At least the Fonz was a real prophet.
Anonymous (April 16, 2008 @ 6:22pm):
Islam is defined by the Qurâan, the Ahadith (the oral traditions of Mohammed) and the Sunnah (the doings of Mohammed). The Qurâan has 164 invocations to âkill, murder or slaughterâ unbelievers. Since Muslims believe the Qurâan to be the direct word of God, Muslims believe it is unchangeable by mankind. Islam cannot be reformed or it would no longer be Islam. Mohammed, the âexcellent model of conductâ for Muslims was a murderer, a torturer, a brigand, a pedophile and a polygamist who took females prisoners as sex slaves; not much of a model of morality to me!
Contrary to the assertions of the author, I and many others are not ignorant of Islam; weâve learned a lot about Islam since 9/11. And I donât like what Iâve read and learned! Islam is inherently violent, aggressive, dogmatic, and Muslims are taught by the Qurâan that Islam must prevail over all other beliefs, by the sword if daâwa (propaganda) and taquiya (lying) donât work. And day after day, all over the world we see fresh evidence of the violence and hatred at the core of Islam. It is not up to the non-Muslim world to learn, in the authorâs words âopen-mindedness, love and respect for people of all ideologies and backgroundsâ; it is the Muslim worldâs responsibility to stop the violence and hatred expressed and demonstrated daily by Muslim fanatics, terrorists and clerics.
The western world is not at war with Islam, contrary to the frequent assertions of Muslim terrorists, clerics and so-called scholars. The western world has been incredibly restrained in the face of Muslim provocations. But I sense that the self imposed restraint is fast running out. Stop the daâwa, taquiya and the âspinâ as seen in articles like this one and get your own house in order. Try some âopen-mindedness, love and respect for people of all ideologies and backgroundsâ.
Anonymous (April 16, 2008 @ 8:03pm):
Anyone remember those analogy questions on standardized tests? Here's one:
Islamic terrorism : Islam ::
_________________ : Christianity
Any ideas?
It's the Ku Klux Klan. So if you really want to portray all Muslims and all of Islam as promoting terrorism, that's fine, but you're going to have to portray all Christians and Christianity in general as a bunch of bigots who are too cowardly to show their own faces.
Anonymous (April 16, 2008 @ 10:36pm):
Wow, I had no idea that there is so much hate on this campus. For being a "progressive" campus we sure seem to openly hate Muslims. that's nice to know.
Anonymous (April 16, 2008 @ 11:09pm):
From An Christian Law Student:
What is wrong with you people? Islam is one of the biggest religions in this world and its teachings parallel greatly with the teachings of Christianity, and you write that the MSA is sponsoring terrorism, that all Muslims are planning on destroying America, and that "Islam demands that you submit or die." This is ridiculous. I can't believe this is coming from my alma mater - from Madision, WI - a town known for its open-mindedness and progressive roots. Islam is a religion that teaches respect, compassion, and love. Only a SELECT few have given Muslims a bad reputation. You don't think Christianity has its SELECT few of terrorists? Look up Army of God, Aryan Nations, White Eagles, Lambs of Christ, and even the KKK and the Christian Reconstructionism. Open your minds.
Anonymous (April 16, 2008 @ 11:25pm):
so the KKK speaks for and is the decisive image of christianity?
where's the million muslim march in tehran or even DC? why is it that only the terrorists (who are only fulfilling the book) speak for islam...the moderates simply tell us kaffirs that we should learn more about islam.
how about telling the people who terrorize while quoting the actual koran?
every area of global strife has islam at it's core.
even, when the strife is islam on islam.
it doesn't matter if the neighbor is christian, jewish, buddhist, hindu, russian, european, indonesian or australian.
TAQIYA
Anonymous (April 17, 2008 @ 1:51am):
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ali-eteraz/the-myth-of-muslim-condem_b_67904.html
No Muslims condemning terror? Stop drinking the kool-aid.
Anonymous (April 18, 2008 @ 10:29am):
idiotarian @ 1:51am cites Eteraz @ Huff Po.
I'm sure Ali Eteraz is the very soul of moderation. But I don't think it's unreasonable for folks to ask for more from "moderate" Muslim spokesmen than a petition floated by a group like CAIR and a disingenuous whitewashing of uncomfortable elements of Islamic tradition.
A genuine tiny minority of anti-jihadist Muslims may be found @ http://secularislam.org/blog/post/SI_Blog/21/The-St-Petersburg-Declaration
It would be nice to see more American Muslims join them... but don't hold your breath.
Wake up and smell the jihad.
Add a comment
We welcome your thoughts, but please keep your feedback thoughtful, on-topic and respectful. Offensive language, personal attacks, or irrelevant comments may be deleted.
Login...
Not registered? Sign up now.
It's quick, free, and the email address you provide will not be sold or solicited.
