Muslim to Muslim: an American speaks out

Christian Century, Nov 7, 2001 by M.A. Muqtedar Khan

The author addressed this memo to fellow American Muslims with the aim of inviting them "to lead the American Muslim community in soul-searching, reflection and reassessment."

WHAT HAPPENED on September 11 in New York and Washington, D.C., will forever remain a horrible scar on the history of Islam and humanity. No matter how much we condemn it, and point to the Qur'an and the Sunnah to argue that Islam forbids the killing of innocent people, the fact remains that the perpetrators of this crime against humanity have claimed that their actions are sanctioned by Islamic values. The fact that even now several Muslim scholars and thousands of Muslims defend the accused is indicative that not all Muslims believe that the attacks are un-Islamic.

This is truly sad. Even if it were true that Israel and the U.S. are enemies of the Muslim world, a response that mercilessly murders thousands of innocent people, including hundreds of Muslims, is absolutely indefensible. If anywhere in your hearts there is any sympathy or understanding with those who committed this act, I invite you to ask yourself this question: Would Muhammad sanction such an act?

While encouraging Muslims to struggle against injustice, Allah also imposes strict rules of engagement. He says in unequivocal terms that to kill an innocent being is like killing all of humanity (Al Qur'an 5:32). He also encourages Muslims to forgive Jews and Christians if they have committed injustices against us (Al Qur'an 2:109, 3:159, 5:85). Muslims, including American Muslims, have been practicing hypocrisy on a grand scale. They protest against the discriminatory practices of Israel but are silent against the discriminatory practices in Muslim states. In the Persian Gulf one can see how laws and even salaries are based on ethnic origin. This is racism, but we never hear of Muslims protesting against it at international forums.

The Israeli occupation of Palestine is perhaps central to Muslim grievance against the West. While acknowledging that, I must remind you that Israel treats its 1 million Arab citizens with greater respect and dignity than most Arab nations treat their citizens. Today Palestinian refugees can settle in and become citizens of the U.S., but in spite of all the tall rhetoric of the Arab world and Qur'anic injunctions (24:22), no Muslim country except Jordan extends this support to them.

While we loudly and consistently condemn Israel for its ill treatment of Palestinians, we are silent when Muslim regimes abuse the rights of Muslims and slaughter thousands of them. Remember Saddam and his use of chemical weapons against Muslims (Kurds)? Remember the Pakistani army's excesses against Muslims (Bengalls)? Remember the Mujahideen of Afghanistan and their mutual slaughter? Have we ever condemned them for their excesses? Have we demanded international intervention or retribution against them? What about the way the Saudis treat their minority Shi'is? Have we protested the violation of their rights? We are eager to condemn Israel, but are silent about the abuses of Muslim regimes.

Muslims love to live in the U.S. but also love to hate it. Many openly claim that the U.S. is a terrorist state, but they continue to live in it. Their decision to live here is testimony that they would rather live here than anywhere else. As an Indian Muslim, I know for sure that nowhere on earth, including India, will I get the same sense of dignity and respect that I have received in the U.S. No Muslim country would treat me as well as the U.S. has. If what happened on September 11 had happened in India, the world's largest democracy, thousands of Muslims would have been slaughtered in riots on mere suspicion of involvement, and there would be further slaughter if that involvement were confirmed. But in the U.S., bigotry and xenophobia have largely been kept in check by the media and the leaders.

In some places hundreds of Americans have gathered around Islamic centers in symbolic gestures of protection and embrace of American Muslims. In many cities women in Christian congregations have started wearing the hijab to identify with Muslim women. In patience and in tolerance, ordinary Americans have demonstrated extraordinary virtues.

It is time that we acknowledge that the freedoms we enjoy in the U.S. are more desirable to us than superficial solidarity with Muslim countries. If as a Muslim you disagree, than prove it by packing your bags and going to whichever Muslim country you identify with. If you do not leave and do not acknowledge that you would rather live here than anywhere else, know that you are being hypocritical. It is time that we faced these hypocritical practices and struggled to transcend them.

For over a decade we have watched as Muslims in the name of Islam have committed violence against other Muslims and other peoples. We have always found a way to reconcile the vast distance between Islamic values and Muslim practices by pointing out the injustices committed upon Muslims by others. But our belief in Islam and our commitment to Islamic values are not contingent upon the moral conduct of the U.S. or Israel. And as Muslims can we condone such inhuman and senseless waste of life in the name of Islam? The chief victims of hate-filled politics as embodied in the actions of several Muslim militias all over the world are Muslims themselves.