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Are Muslims Suffering From An Identity Crisis?
By Omer Bin Abdullah
26/1/2001
An oft-asked question is what the Muslim American's political identity should be. However, before we answer that question in regards to party (Democrat vs. Republican vs., perhaps, a third party) affiliation, we first need to ask what our identity per se is?
Are we Muslim Americans or American Muslims?
The Qur'an is clear as to our identity as Muslims, standing firm in belief in Allah and His Messenger, Muhammad (SAW).
The first Muslims to confront non-Muslims (who were Christians - one of the People of the Book), when asked to define their beliefs, did not start out by implying or stating their beliefs as similar to their host culture. Instead, they spelled out, in clear and pristine language, what they believed - and what could more authoritative in defining their identity and their beliefs than to use direct quotes from the Qur'an?
It was, in fact, the ruler of Abyssinia with whom they were speaking who remarked that their beliefs were remarkably similar to his as a Christian; thus, he decided that they were worthy guests.
The stand taken by these first muhajireen - people who had the Prophet as their personal instructor - is the best guide for us today, as it was then.
This brings us to the question of whether we should call ourselves by the name 'Muslim Americans' or by 'American Muslims.' Allah instructed the Prophet to declare clearly that he was a Muslim. Moreover, we are told that we are the cells of a universal body, where all components function in unison. Our stand should be that we are Muslims - members of a universal Ummah.
Within this background, the identification of our nationalities superseding the identification of our beliefs is not appropriate. We cannot be American or Saudi or Belgian or Egyptian Muslims, but rather, merely Muslims who happen to live within political entities that have been carved out by human beings.
Today, most Muslim organizations that purport to represent Muslims want to flaunt their nationalities first: the American Muslim so and so, rather than the Muslim American so and so.
Now, we can discuss the question of our political affiliation.
During the last presidential election, a group of 'American Muslim' political action organizations (rather than 'Muslim American' organizations) endorsed a particular political candidate. Only time will tell how right or wrong this decision was, but one thing is clear - neither the Democrats nor the Republicans (and in fact, neither this particular candidate nor that one deserves our support).
Earlier, we were told to support Bill Clinton - the most rabid Zionist American president of modern times - because he had hosted an Eid day reception. Today, we are inclined to ask whether Professor Edward Said may not have been right when he suggested that while Clinton was dictating his peace proposals to Yasser Arafat, he had a pizza slice in one hand, a telephone in the other hand, and his eyes on his golf partners.
We all know that Clinton framed the Bosnia policy while a young White House intern was busy under his desk.
Islam and Muslims are of little value or interest to American politicians. The only thing that truly matters to them is the American corporate interest. George W. Bush's administration is not yet in office; however, its 'pro-Muslim' stance is already fading fast.
General Powell has declared that he will anoint India as the 'keeper of order' within the Asian region - this would be the logical next step to the upgrade that Clinton bestowed on the country. The message is clear: the violation of Muslims' human rights does not affect American interests - India can kill as many Muslims as it deems fit as long as it keeps a check on America's nemesis in the region - China.
Considering Powell's view on India, Muslims can be clear about the much-expected 'change' in the policy towards Palestine. The Bush policy will simply be an extension of Clinton's policies.
The influence of the Christian Right on both parties is apparent. Billy Graham's son is reading the invocation at Bush's inaugural, and Graham himself was an 'overnight guest' in Clinton's White House.
The separation of church and state within America allows Christians an immense ground on which to do as they please. Bill Clinton, despite his philandering, is a committed Christian who even saved his pocket money as a child to pay Graham and regularly attended church on Sunday. The creation of the present day Zionist state interpreted by many Christians as the fulfillment of a Biblical prophecy has driven many Americans to overlook the massacre of even Christian Palestinians.
Instead of aligning themselves with Republicans or Democrats, Muslim Americans need to divert greater energy and resources toward da'wah - so to at least make Islam a household word. A Pew Trust survey found that only 7% of Americans know about Islam. Consequently, supporting this party or that party will not matter when those we are supporting do not even recognize our legitimacy.
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