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Leaders of Illiterate Muslim Nations Devoid Of Islam
By Dr. Mohamed Khodr
28/03/2001
We as Muslims have been pressured to join the world's condemnation of the Taliban's senseless destruction of the Buddha statues in Bamiyan. Islamic scholars and emissaries have traveled to Afghanistan in an attempt to persuade the Taliban to reverse their decision on the basis that it is "Un-Islamic and portrays Islam negatively to the rest of the world."
While such action is warranted, it reeks with the universal hypocrisy and illegitimacy that tragically permeates our Muslim Ummah today. These same leaders, scholars, and institutions have not bothered to decry the "Un-Islamic" practices of many so-called Muslim governments. There is not a single Muslim nation whose leaders are not corrupt, weak, unprincipled, brutal, oppressive, "secular" (defined as pro-western and possessing non-Islamic ethics and/or behavior such as alcohol consumption, women chasing, gambling or other addictions), or self-serving while ignoring the basic needs and human rights of their people.
To proclaim the destruction of the Buddha statues as "Un-Islamic" while disregarding that Muslims in many "Muslim" nations are forced to construct and then salute countless statues and oversized paintings of government leaders, bow and kiss the hands and shoulders of their "democratic" monarchs, and be subjected to the media's daily and repeated glorification of these figure heads who accomplish little more than sending and receiving messages to and from one another, or welcoming or bidding farewell to VIPs at the airport is nothing more than plain hypocrisy.
Isn't the presence of these statues that adorn practically every square and circle in capital cities a form of idolatry? Isn't the subjugation of Muslims "Un-Islamic?" And what about the censorship of free speech and the denial of free elections? Isn't brainwashing our hungry, illiterate, and out of work Muslim masses with false hopes and lies of glory while our leaders build palaces, mansions, and buy new jets and cars "Un-Islamic?"
Isn't the silence of our leaders to the murder of Muslims in Chechnya, Kashmir, China, Philippines, Palestine, and in their own countries "Un-Islamic?" Isn't it "Un-Islamic" for our leaders to saturate their newspapers, radios, and television stations with their photos, "prophetic" sayings, and hyperbolic grandiose and, simultaneously, their empty threats against Israel?
For five months, the Muslim and Arab world has not been able to stop a single Israeli bullet, rocket, missile or encirclement of a town, or the starving of a Muslim people - it has not even delivered the money it promised to Palestine - because it is too busy calling Arafat a corrupt thief. Their preoccupation with criticizing him is like belaboring in calling a kettle black.
It's high time that we destroy all the statues and paintings of our "glorious" leaders, and start erecting schools, roads, and hospitals in their place.
As a Muslim living in the United States, it is becoming increasingly difficult to defend "Muslim" leaders in the face of relentless criticism and attacks on them, many of which ring true. There is no true Islam being practiced by the leadership of our nations, or any possibility of ethical Islamic leadership in the near future. The budget priority in every Muslim and Arab nation is the military - the endless acquisition of the newest weapons, weapons we neither need nor, in most instances, can even use. The personal budgets for their kings, emirs, and presidents typically far outweigh those for education and health.
The first word that Allah (SWT) revealed to Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was "READ" - indicating that Muslims must place a high priority on education, so that they might understand Allah's (SWT) Scripture, and apply His message for the betterment of mankind. Through the blessings of heeding Allah's (SWT) words, the early Muslims arose from a nomadic, tribal illiterate existence to conquer the world through science, technology, the arts, and Islam's message of peace and equality.
Tragically, education in the Muslim world is being ignored. There are not enough schools to meet the high birth rates and an inadequate number of qualified teachers. Many existing schools are deteriorating, and pupils are simply being pushed through to make room for others, without receiving a sound education.
Even more tragic is that our educational systems do not offer a sound foundation in the teachings of Islam, the Qur'an, and the Hadith. If we as Muslims don't value the teaching of our faith, we should not act surprised when the rest of the world holds Islam and its followers in contempt. Our leaders have fallen into the western "consumer" mentality that stresses buying the most recent computers and installing Internet service in our schools, when the basics of reading, writing, mathematics, science and, most importantly, our faith and our basis for living, Islam, are not being taught.
It is sad to see a majority of Muslim Arabs unable to read the Qur'an or Hadith, particularly among Muslim females who for too long have been excluded from education and productive participation in society simply due to men's ignorance of Islam and their egos.
Meanwhile, our leaders, and our masses, are chasing after the superficial outward trappings of Western culture. It is shocking to watch Arab satellite channels begin each day with a reading or lesson in the Qur'an and Hadith only to follow it up with programs featuring western clothes, music, and dance. To our simple minds, these things represent progress and modernity.
This cultural destruction of our society is being permitted in the name of modernity and free speech. The truth is, however, that as Muslims, we are drowning in our own ignorance. Despite the fact that Islam did away with tribal and ethnic loyalties, we as Muslims have returned, full circle, to where our loyalty to a particular Sheikh surpasses our loyalty to the Ummah.
Our leaders are largely uneducated military leaders who have been in office for decades and will continue to be "re-elected" due to their people's illiteracy and their unfounded submission. How can we expect them to lead us with honor, dignity, and in accordance to Islamic principles, and to defend our faith, our lands, and the glory of Allah (SWT)?
The well being of our masses should be the priority of our leaders, and should dictate how we spend our wealth. We seriously need to make education (especially of the female population), health care (including the availability of safe water and adequate sewage systems), and the development of roads and infrastructures our top concerns.
Islam should be the sole way of life in our nations. Nothing in Islam contradicts democracy, human rights, or progress. We must clean up television and media, and use them to project Islamic values and to appropriately represent our culture as Muslims. Currently, our youth are being consumed by worldly passions and lost to the media's influence, while both our religious and political leaders and our educators are silent - contenting themselves with monetary gain and prestige.
As one who was educated and has lived most of his life in the United States, I can attest to the many problems in America's society that arise from a lack of religious and moral compass. While many Americans are now searching for truth, internal peace, and purpose in their lives, as usual, we as Muslims are taking up the very practices and values that they themselves are getting rid of.
Before we blame all our ills on Israel, America, and Europe, let us take an honest look at ourselves - individually and collectively. Let us begin our critique by looking first into the mirror; then, into our family lives, our children's education and future plans and, finally, to our political and religious leaders. We must ask ourselves, "Are we living according to Allah's (SWT) Will and Prophet Muhammad's (Peace be upon him) teachings; do we as Muslims care for one another (those of our nation as well as those of other nations); do we adhere to a democratic and respectful belief system that values human life and rights? Are we proud of our nation, our Ummah, and ourselves? Are we working to improve the future of Islam and of Muslims, particularly that of our children?
Searching for the answer to these questions will, Insha'Allah, allow us to understand why, despite the fact that we profess to believe in the greatest divine message from the heavens, we as Muslims have sunk to such a low state - in spirit, morale, and productivity.
May Allah (SWT) guide us to glorify His name, to send blessings upon His Prophet (Peace be upon him), and to find our true purpose in life. May He grant us the wisdom, knowledge, patience, courage, and strength we need to follow His Will, which will ultimately lead us to victory in this life and to Paradise.
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