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A Deeply Troubling Domestic State of Affairs
by El-Hajj Mauri' Saalakhan
07/11/2001
"A time is soon coming to mankind when their learned people will be the worst people under Heaven's skies; corruption will come from them and return back to them as smoke returns to the whole, and this will be a time when knowledge departs."
One of the companions asked, "O Messenger of Allah, how can knowledge depart when we recite the Qur'an and teach it to our children, and they will teach it to their children up until the Day of Resurrection?" The Prophet responded, "O Zaid, I'm astonished at you. I thought you were the most learned man in all Madinah; do not the Jews and Christians teach their children the Torah and
Injil (the Bible), and yet they know nothing of what they contain?"
I am often reminded of the aforementioned hadith (tradition of the Prophet Muhammad [SAW]) whenever I pause and reflect over mankind's current state of affairs. It is truly prophetic, as a refection of the time in which we now live. Some of the most prominent "Christian" and "Jewish" leaders in America have allowed themselves to become the spiritual cheerleaders for a war that violates both U.S. and international law. The United Nations, as well, has once again proven itself to be an incapacitated peacekeeper. And shamefully, the inability to stand tall and speak truth to power has also affected much of our "Muslim leadership" in America.
Two weeks ago, after an excellent program of dawah (guidance to Islam) and
jihad fisabililah (striving in the way of Allah) held in the main lobby of the Martin Luther King Memorial Library in Washington, DC, I read the copy of a
Los Angeles Times report that I was given earlier in the evening - the content of which I found deeply disturbing. The report written by
Times religion writer, Teresa Watanabe ("Response To Terror American Muslims - Bombing Carves a Rift Among Muslims in U.S. Reaction..." 10/20/01), focused upon the chasm that now exists between Muslim leaders in the U.S., and growing numbers within their respective communities.
In the spirit of our noble Prophet (saw) who said: "If a man veils his brother's shame, God will veil him in this world and the next," I will refrain from quoting my brothers by name. It will suffice for me to deal with the opinions themselves - and the potential consequences, both domestically and internationally, resulting from such publicly expressed opinions.
The report begins by stating how Muslim American leaders who have endorsed the so-called "war on terrorism" are now facing a growing backlash from their constituencies; how according to a recent islamicity.com poll, 73.8% of 1,435 Muslim respondents said they oppose the airstrikes; and further, how one organization leader with a large grassroots base drafted a statement calling for an end to the bombing in Afghanistan, and then sat on the statement because other Muslim organizations declined to sign on.
The report states: "Some Muslim leaders hesitate to sign for fear of provoking a backlash in the wider population and projecting an image of being unpatriotic. Others fear alienating [U.S. President George W. Bush's] administration at a time when the community has made great strides in gaining political influence in Washington. Several prominent Muslim organizations in the U.S. backed George W. Bush over Al Gore in the presidential campaign last year, seeking to create a unified Muslim political position for the first time."
One young leader is quoted as analyzing some of the differences within the community as generational, noting that, "The second generation [of recent immigrant Muslims] has no problem speaking out and still being seen as patriotic." Another stressed that his organization fully supports efforts to bring the terrorists to justice. "But he said the bombing campaign is starting to inflame Muslim public opinion." Another organization has reportedly asked the White House for "greater disclosure about such issues as bombing targets, damage, and the expected length of the campaign."
Despite strong sentiment in the community to stop the military campaign, the latter organization head noted that his group is not planning to call for a halt because of fears of a "backlash" that could target Muslim individuals, schools and mosques. "Our primary concern is the security of the American Muslim community," he said. "There is strong sentiment throughout the nation that you're either part of them or us." While another leader is quoted as saying he continues to support the airstrikes because, "...they have not yet achieved their objective to bring to justice the perpetrators of the September 11 attacks."
These unfortunate observations remind me of the commentary I wrote a couple of years ago entitled, "Five Mistakes of U.S. Policy Makers in the Muslim World" (Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, March 1999). I think it's worth noting what I listed then as Mistake Number Five:
No nation can indiscriminately bomb, maim and kill innocent Muslims without the pain, grief and anguish being felt on some level by Muslims the world over. No matter how many official disclaimers are issued [such as]: 'This is not to be taken as an attack on Islam, or all Muslims' - the actions are going to be seen for what they are, and the impact is going to be felt.
Too often policymakers in America have misread the pulse of the people by listening to leaders of the establishment telling them all is well. Our compatriots should not continue to make this mistake in the rapidly growing Muslim-American community, which is beginning to mature politically. It would behoove American policymakers to keep their ears to the ground in order to get the most accurate read on how the grassroots are feeling, as it pertains to U.S. domestic and foreign policy, and its impact on our extended community.
Our major organizations and mainstream leaders serve an important function, and are appreciated for what they do. However, they are not always the ones to listen to; for they will sometimes say the things that U.S. policymakers want to hear, but not what they need to hear.
"Them or us"
"All Muslims are brothers, they constitute one brotherhood.... When I am gone, do not become non-believers and start killing each other." - Prophet Mohamed (saw)
As exemplified by America's present "war on terrorism", when it comes to most of the deeply challenging issues of the day, too many of our "leaders" prefer to line up on the wrong side of the fence because of their weak
iman (faith), coupled with a twisted sense of expediency. And the thing that is most tragic, perhaps, is that the truly sincere among such leaders fail to realize that they are not protecting the interests of the broader Muslim community with such behavior. They serve only a narrow, self-centered constituency of weak, compromised Muslims (and non-Muslims) who occupy their various boards and most favored donor rolls.
And while they might enjoy smiles, pats on the back, and the occasional invitation to Champaign brunches in "high places" - at the end of the day they get no respect from their temporal masters; for they are seen for what they are, compromised "leaders," more than willing to violate their own foundational beliefs whenever it is deemed to be convenient.
A good friend by the name of Ian Winter, a member of the Bruderhof Christian community, said to me recently, that since the September 11 attack, "America is like a giant boulder teetering on the edge. The boulder can fall either way." A fitting analogy indeed. With the multitude of challenges (or tests) that Muslims in the U.S. currently face, we are once again - in concert with the sincerely inclined members of other faith communities - in a unique position to transform for the better this potentially great nation called America, a transformation that would have an unquestionable ripple effect around the world.
Such a transformation, however, requires faith, courage, and a commitment to principled self-sacrifice. We Muslims need only draw upon the rich fountain of our ideological heritage... As
Allah Ta'ala (God) has said:
Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, 'We believe,' and that they will not be tested?'
And as the Prophet (saw) has said:
Be mindful of Allah, you will find him before you. Get to know Allah in prosperity, and he will know you in adversity. Know that what has passed you by was not going to befall you; and what has befallen you was not going to pass you by. Know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and ease with hardship.
May Allah (swt) bless us to internalize this noble message and embrace the divinely given mandate to be the exemplars for all mankind. May Allah (swt) fortify and preserve us in the course of its noble pursuit.
Ameen (Amen).
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