I’m not apologizing. Okay?
No more apologies. No more condemnations. No more hurt feelings. Or guilt for things that I didn’t do. No more hanging my head in shame. No more tolerance for loaded questions about Islam. Sincere seekers are always welcomed but I know a racist, prejudiced question when I hear one.
From now on, I shall only feel badly about MY wrong actions. On the day of judgement, God will ask me about my deeds. Not yours, not my mother’s, my sister’s, bin Laden’s, Bush’s or anyone else’s. Just mine. And that alone is enough to make me worry and yet there are those who would make every Muslim bear the burden of a sin we didn’t commit. As if we don’t have enough problems. I have to purify my intentions and subdue my ego. You think I’m going to carry 9-11, too? Or Beslan? Or the Crusades or the Arab dude who jipped you at 7/11 or whatever gripe you got this week?
Sorry, but not sorry, ya know. Islam is a religion, whether you like it or not. It’s here to say whether you like it or not. It’s growing, whether you like it or not. What’s that verse….”They want to extinguish the light of God with their mouths, but God will complete the divine illumination in spite of the hatred of the unbelievers.” (61:8)
No more saying silent on the subject of imperialism and occupation. Everybody and Grandma Tee knows what’s going on is wrong and there’s no lip service that can change that. But really, you’re mad and I know you’re mad. And you’ll just have to be mad. But me, I’ve got my own soul to worry about. So no more letters, no more condemnations. You hate terrorism so much, you go to Bora Bora and talk to Bin Laden yourself.
Sincerely…
Izdihar
JD said,
August 14, 2006 at 5:21 am
You get a comment from John Kaktuz too?
DrM said,
August 14, 2006 at 7:08 am
Well said. So that armagedonist christofascist cretin Kactuz has been trolling huh? He got himself banned from AltMuslim recently.
izzymo said,
August 14, 2006 at 10:35 am
Walaikum salaam
Not recently.
But I did get something from him months ago…or was it last year? i don’t remember what he said but he was trolling on AltMuslim? @@ Subhan’Allah. If he comes here, he’ll get deleted.
aiman said,
August 14, 2006 at 11:11 am
Salaams,
Great punch in those words, Izzy. On and on…keep it going on and on. What’s remarkable is that when we apologize, it doesn’t affect the good people of the world, but those who take our apology as further means to dehumanize others and conclude that we’re guilty. The good people never expect apologies for something you’ve not done. The Qur’an says that every soul bears its own burden. We must be self-critical of situations but not apologetic.
JD said,
August 14, 2006 at 12:35 pm
IM wrote: “If he comes here, he’ll get deleted.”
He had visited your blog the other day before writing a comment on one of mine. And, yes, his comment did get deleted.
That’s why I wondered if he was the “inspiration” of this post.
Tariq Nelson » Blog Archive » Apologize? No … Explain? Yes said,
August 14, 2006 at 12:56 pm
[...] Umar and Izzy Mo both had pieces on why the Muslims and Muslim organizations should not condemn attacks by extremist and/or lunatic Muslims. [...]
ummali said,
August 14, 2006 at 2:41 pm
Yep, I reached this point quite a while back. I am sooo done with that. Here Here sistah!
musicalchef said,
August 14, 2006 at 4:56 pm
Me too. I’m getting tired of it. Of course i’m against it, but why should i apologize for something i wasn’t involved in?!
Umm Zaid said,
August 14, 2006 at 5:30 pm
Salaam ‘Alaikum
Me three.
Safiya said,
August 15, 2006 at 1:06 am
Salaam,
Great blog. I’ve been here before but haven’t commented (impolite, I know). I got trolled recently. i tried the dialogue thing but soon switched to moderate and delete tactics. Less time-consuming!
I totally agree with you about the apologising.
Ginny said,
August 15, 2006 at 1:30 am
Assalamu alaikum, me 45. So, you know, it’s kinda like me as a blind person being held to represent all blind people and I’ve always hated that. Not to mention having to be held responsible for someone else’s actions, don’t much like that either. Although sadly, may others hold us to that standard. Maybe that’s why my transition into Islam wasn’t so hard, because I’ve had to deal with a lot of the same things being blind, but that’s a whole other bling post.
fahad said,
August 15, 2006 at 1:39 am
I make the distinction between condemnation and apology. I see nothing wrong with condemning immoral acts, irrespective of whether the guilty party is muslim or not.
Apologies, however, are a different story. I feel no need to apologize for the actions of people who do not represent me, or my beliefs. No one asks the italian community to apologize for the mafia, or white anglo saxons to apologize for the KKK, or the jews to apologize for the anti-defamation league.
izzymo said,
August 15, 2006 at 4:19 am
Salaam alaikum everyone,
I just had one of those moments where I thought, enough already. It’s time to work on ourselves and our communities rather than playing games with these people. They will think what they want and we should do what is right and pleasing to God. Ameen.
Faraz said,
August 15, 2006 at 5:02 am
Assalamu’alaykum sister Kelly,
Your feelings mirror mine almost exactly… I wrote similar, exasperated thoughts a few weeks ago. I understand things can sometimes be very frustrating; may Allah subhana wa ta’Ala continue to give you patience and strength insha-Allah.
I won’t hold the weight of atrocities allegedly committed by Muslims unless every American holds the weight of the atrocities committed in their name. From a purely statistical point of view, there are far more nutcases and war criminals per capita amongst Americans than there are amongst Muslims. So if they want me to feel guilty for being associated with “terrorists”, I’ll make them feel guilty for being associated with even greater terrorists.
Abu Sahajj said,
August 15, 2006 at 9:17 am
Assalaamu ‘alaikum,
Well said Sis… similar sentiments are felt around the world… (Nour al-Mesria).
suhaa said,
August 15, 2006 at 10:48 am
asalaam alaikum warahmat Allah,
Izzy Mo, jazakAllah kheir for sharing your views here. As Muslims as Mumineen we need to stand firm against injustice and at the same time rebel against anything in opposition to Islam. Your point of not apologizing is a good thought, but each of us will be responsible for what we did to teach others or rectify the ill thoughts of those who don’t have a clue (who, as you implied above, are sincere in wanting to know). Everytime one of these crimes is committed at the hands of a so-called Muslim..we are reminded of our responsibity towards Allah to teach. But there is a limit for everything..and that limit of performing even simple amounts of dowah reminds me of the concern many Western Muslims probably have of performing hijrah..
We keep hearing “Muslims aren’t doing enough to condemn..to interact…to melt blah blah blah..” But our mission in Islam as Muslims who love Allah and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is not to brainwash them that Islam is a beautiful way of life. Our way is to foster the Truth in our hearts letting it penetrate into our actions, demeanor, and speech. If people’s minds are so fogged up through ignorance and pride for unworthy causes as to see Islam as a threat..and they don’t even care to search and research for themselves what Islam truly is..then the people need to carry that burden on themselves, and it will be heavy on the Day. Allah promises humanity for those who want to know the Truth..will know! SubhanAllah. For those who can’t be bothered, well, that’s another situation all together.
Then ofcourse are those who are Muslim who are comfortable living their lives within this society who have no problem having intermingling with non-muslims on a social context without their intentions being for Allah. They play, have fun, and hang for the sake of their own entertainment. No harm if religion isn’t an issue and a way of life is not involved, but then again isn’t Islam supposed to be awake in one’s heart at all moments throughout that golf game or movie seen last night? Just a thought.
Abu Muhammad said,
August 15, 2006 at 2:42 pm
Whenever people ask me, I tell them I cannot be a muslim and a terrorist.
Islam prohibits all forms of terrorism as Allah says
in Quran (5:32)
“On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person – unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land – it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our apostles with clear signs, yet, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the land.”
Please take the complain about ‘not condemning’ as an opportunity for dawah.
altaf said,
August 15, 2006 at 5:58 pm
something imam zaid shakir said in his talk on “from hiroshima to london” (do a google search – the talk is online) that if you close your eyes and are then told not to think about a pink elephant – the first thing you are going to do is think about a pink elephant.
This is the problem with the condemnation brigade that dutifully comes out anytime some raid is pulled off (no need to wait for proof – just condemn) — what happens is that the more Muslims condemn, the more it gets into the heads of people that Muslims are indeed responsible… it is a never ending, and losing cycle that accomplishes nothing.
If you wanna have some impact – 1) do some serious reaching out to alienated young people – 2) don’t say everything is just A-OK – instead, encourage serious creative ways of protesting and changing our current conditions. 3) alienation is not just caused by systematic oppression, it is also caused by not having an outlet, 4) build communities that do some serious thinking about how to effectively direct one’s energy towards changing the *external* oppressive conditions — 5) don’t ever tell anyone who has been bombed by a “free” and “democratic” country – to emulate that style of “democracy” and “freedom” — all and every crediblity will be lost —
Shazia said,
August 16, 2006 at 1:50 am
Salaams, just found your site and I love your writing… I know that you must of heard that a million times, but mashaAllah, nicely said! Mind you, I only read 2 posts
I am trying to start up a directory of Muslim women blogs and I would love to add yours if you are interested. I don’t see an email address for you, so you can email me if you are interested inshaAllah.
wa salaam.
New Year, New Goals 2008: Part Two (Condemn This!) « Izzy Mo’s Blog said,
January 11, 2008 at 7:18 am
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