2) Stop apologizing for all the bad things that some Muslims do.
Brothers and sisters, we have got to stop apologizing, explaining, and condemning every bad deed that takes place in the umma. Really, I’m serious. If I get another email from some organization with the headline “We condemn…..,” I’m going to scream. We know that our hearts, words and deeds don’t approve of this nonsense. Any non-Muslim with a fair sense of judgement knows this, too. Any person with two brain cells knows that 1.7 billion people can not act in the same manner at the same time. We are not the Borg.
Condemnations hardly ever work.
Yeah, that’s right!
Anybody with a computer can google the words “Muslims condemn terrorism,” and they will find a flurry of links from Muslim world leaders, scholars, organizations and everyday Muslims condemning terror. If the curious seeker takes five seconds to find it, they will. End of story. Done deal.
I’m of the opinion that we should tackle what’s at the heart of this constant need to validate and prove our innocence. We all know that racism and prejudice is at the root of this problem. Almost everybody knows that it’s downright stupid to ask a Black person why do Black men commit so much crime. In polite conversation, no one would ever bring up how Latino immigrants are here to rape American women, sell drugs, overthrow the government and establish Aztlan. And God forbid if you blame all gay people for the spread of HIV/AIDS. If someome actually did ask a Latino, Black person or homosexual something that stupid, I have a feeling that that person would get the middle finger. Most people would condemn the questionner as a racist or homophobe. Few would expect Black organizations to issue out public condemnations of street violence and drug use. Hardly anyone expects gay and lesbian organizations to apologize or explain the AIDS epidemic. And those that do venture into the land of Stupidia and ask these questions find themselves publicly berated.
So whhhhhyyyyyyy are we doing it?
Why do we feel compelled to explain honor crimes and al Qaeda when those issues are best left to experts? We can give our limited opinions and theories. After all, we are seeing the Middle East and the rest of the Muslim world through the filters of Western society. La ilaha illa Allah does remove our tendencies to judge things from secular, Eurocentric point of view–even if we’ve spent years trying to disconstruct our Western way of looking at things, it always resurfaces. That’s the powerful impact of culture.
Sometimes, we are so quick to condemn something before we get all the facts. Some of us assume from the beginning that a Quranic verse motivated the person when it’s more likely that it was his/her nafs. This was the case with Aqsa Parvez, may God bless her. Muslim organizations came out to condemn it while Irshad Manji jumped on the opportunity for more publicity (after all, she’s a one-trick pundit and her career is fading into irrelevance). Of course, when the facts began to surface, Aqsa’s father was an abusive man whose murder of his daughter had nothing to do with hijab (especially since her sisters don’t observe hijab). But of course, what’s problematic is that all of us 1.7 billion Muslims have to carry the weight of her father’s sin. And I read the reactions to her murder.
“Oh, those people are bringing their “culture” here! Muslims are so uncivlized! They hate life! They hate women! They’re a disease. Muslim men are disgusting. Islam is a joke. Islam = genocide. Islam = Nazism.”
I wish I could only ask these people one simple question. If Aqsa was a white woman, would you still be outraged? I ask this because I turn on the TV everyday and I see White women being killed in the most gruesome ways–almost, if not entirely by White men. There’s Black on Black crime, but White on White can certainly compete. These statistics show that most murders are intraracial. Yet, I don’t see the same level of concern or anger. Michael Vick’s treatment of dogs gets more attention than the fact that in 2006, 1,417,745 violent crimes were committed in the US. That includes forcible rape, murder, robbery and aggrevated assault. When will the same level of outrage be given to abused American women–you know, the empowered, post-feminist woman who is so liberated that she can do anything that she’s wants (except walk alone at night and receive fair, equal wages)? After all, us Mozzie are jacked up so we can’t help the slaughter of our women. We’re Muslim–that’s what we do–kill, rape and oppress! What’s the West’s excuse, being the bastion of Enlightenment and all!?!?! Okay, I’m going to ease up on the sarcasm. 
As I was saying….
Something bad happens and we try to explain it, or put it into context or do something to prove to the accuser that we aren’t the enemy.
I’ve written on this subject at least once and I must say, I’m condemned out. I think I really hit the boiling point when I read an email condemning the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. I thought, “Yes, this is wrong. She was murdered and murdered viciously but what does this have to do with us Muslims here in America? We can’t make the Eid prayer on time, how are we going to orchestrate the assassination of a political figure?” So are we now responsible for political assassinations, too? How about military coups? Are we to held collectively responsible for political plots that are outside of our range of influence? After all, we already carrying the sins of bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, the Janjaweed, and that slimey Arab guy who dumped his girlfriend after sleeping with her–are we too bear this, too? Are people so silly to believe that the average Muslim has influence over the decisions of al-Qaeda and Musharaf?
We must ask ourselves, have these condemnations made any impact? Has it softened the hearts of skeptics and suspicious people towards us? I actually read a comment from this very silly lady that while Hassan Askari did a good thing when he protected Walter Alder and his friend from an anti-Semitic hate crime, that wasn’t enough to convince her that some Muslims are actually good people. Apparently, one good deed from a Muslim is not enough. But when it comes down to the millions of evil deeds among her own people, somehow she can still see the good–and only the good. Do you think she’s being fair? @@
While I think our condemnations may resinate among fair-minded people, our condemnations don’t mean jack squat to bigots. They’ve made up their minds. We are the spawn of Satan and if we don’t like it, well…of course we don’t like it because we are the spawn of Satan and we don’t like anything. We’ve got to start challening them–fighting back–with words, logic and good deeds. All of this apologizing and explaining makes us look like we’re complicit. Why apologize if you’re innocent? Why hang your head in shame? Do you think the terrorists are sitting around feeling bad about anything?!?!?!? Why should you, the law abiding, peace-making Muslim? It’s time to get a little tough with these bigots and expose them for the weak, charlatans that they are. They’re using pseudo-patroitism as a smokescreen for their hate and guess what, WE DON’T HAVE TO TOLERATE IT. Some people are convinced with soft words, some with persuasive arguments and others with a verbal beat down to their twisted logic. You don’t have to be mean but you can be firm. I’ve had discussions with people like this and you would be surprised how easily they give up. It’s not like they are trying to learn something anyway. Our good actions in the community make more of an impact than condemnations. When people see us working for the common good, that’s what matters. Not emails pleading for people to stop hating us. And certainly not emails asking public figures to apologize for racism statements. We don’t need them. It’s time to abandon Don’t Hit Me dawah!
Aaaaaaaarrrrrrggggggh!
Oh, but don’t give them the finger. Astagfirullah, even if your finger is itching to do it!
3) I promise to be a better blogger in the year 2008. Next entry: coming up!
Aaminah said,
January 11, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Asalaamu alaikum.
AWESOME!
IzzyMo: Condemn This! « Aaminah Hernández said,
January 11, 2008 at 4:00 pm
[...] Condemn This! 11 01 2008 Awesome awesome post on the issue of Muslims being expected and feeling compelled to constantly condemn everything done [...]
timotheos said,
January 11, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Yes, I think you’re right.
darvish said,
January 11, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Awesome post
Except for one thing…..
Resistance is Futile….. lol
That would be funnier if it weren’t so blatantly obvious that there really are Borg.The hive mind is white western ignorance, hatred, fear, prejudice, racism, sexism, and so much more. They all think alike and act alike. Maybe George Bush is the Borg Queen.
Ya Haqq!
fikri said,
January 12, 2008 at 3:00 am
You hit the nail on the head, Izzy Mo. Why should 1.2 billion Muslims keep apologising for the terrorists? As far as I’m concerned, Osama can bear his own cross (by the way, I am not trying to comapre Bin Laden to Jesus (Allah forbid)).
Muslimah Media Watch said,
January 12, 2008 at 7:50 am
Salaam, and great post! You’re spot on. It’s not our job to apologize for something we didn’t do, and really incriminates us more by implying that we all share blame.
UmmFarouq said,
January 12, 2008 at 7:58 am
Great post. I bowed out of doing this apologetic dance a long, long time ago, first to my family, then to my non-Muslim friends. My sanity and that of my family speaks for itself, and as you said, La illaha illa Allah is the banner we carry proudly. We must surround ourselves with humility and truth seekers. WE know we aren’t bad apples. And so does Allah.
Yusuf Smith said,
January 12, 2008 at 10:47 am
As-Salaamu ‘alaikum,
Regarding the honour killings issue, I posted my reply to a recent BBC two-parter about the issue (which made it look like it was mostly killings of whole families, which it is not) here. I tried trackbacking but it didn’t appear.
aiman said,
January 12, 2008 at 11:04 am
Salaams Izzy,
Very well said (as always). As if to illustrate the theory, I think there has been a very interesting development recently. If you haven’t heard of it already, Bhutto claimed in a November interview with David Frost that Osama bin Laden had been murdered in 2002. Not a single mainstream media took notice. What does it mean? Yesterday, Michael Scheuer wrote in ‘Asia Times’ about OBL’s new anti-Saudi message. But Scheuer is also a member of the Jamestown Foundation that advertizes itself as a “Conservative think tank claiming to report about events and nations strategically important to the United States”. It leads me to believe that OBL is indeed dead, and they’re resurrecting him in spooky videos and intelligence reports as pure propaganda. I may be wrong about all the facts but what does all this say about our need to apologise? When we are asked to apologise it is not to our neighbour to whom we’ve done no wrong but to newspaper pundits and their agendas. Our apologies in turn feed the paranoia and validate the policy of the state. This does not mean we don’t have to solve our problems and nurture tolerant views among those mislead by our own native propaganda. But those viewpoints are few. Muslims overwhelmingly repudiate terrorism, whether state or privatised. The people who should apologise for this sort of thing is the state establishment and servile elements in the media. It was amusing to read author Frederick Forsyth’s column in the Express today criticising “moderate Muslims” in Britain for their silence. It was more amusing to learn that during Israel’s invasion of Lebanon Forsyth said that the people of South Lebanon have IQ lower than that of sheep. And it was most amusing to find out after research that Forsyth owns 414 shares in the Aegis Defence Services, a British contracting company in Iraq. At the very least if we’re going to apologise at all, we must do that to the right people. And as we know, right or good people will never want you to apologise if it’s not your fault.
aiman said,
January 12, 2008 at 11:16 am
P.S. I just left the ‘Muslims United Against Terrorism’ group on Facebook!
sumaya said,
January 12, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Look, I agree that we should NOT apologise, but if wrong actions are committed, then we can say, that those actions are not inline with the teachings of our religion (if we’re asked of course). Afterall Islam inherently does condemn actions that are not inline with Shariah.
One thing that you have to remember; they do not understand our religion. They perceive us as being united, because we go to mosque together and congregate in lectures, and demonstrations and so forth.
Unfortunately for us, the people that commit acts that contravene Shariah, do so in the name of Islam. That’s why they think that our religion teaches us to do such things. Yes, and that gives them fuel for their existing prejudices and stereotypes.
A more proactive solution would be to adopt your approach of not being the blame for the bad actions of a few; but at the same time, politely educate them about our religion, otherwise what’s our purpose in the West ?
I don’t know what it’s like in America, but here in the UK, this would work. I know, because when they approach me, that’s what I do. I educate them.
Mona UmIbrahim said,
January 12, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Assalamu Alaikum. Good points Izzy. Something to think about…
Ijtema » Blog Archive » Condemn This! said,
January 13, 2008 at 11:14 am
[...] Mo resolves in the new year that she’s not going to apologize for wrongs others do. Sometimes, we are so quick to condemn something before we get all the facts. […] This was [...]
Yusuf Smith said,
January 13, 2008 at 12:51 pm
As-Salaamu ‘alaikum,
As for me, I have always resisted trying to prove that we are “against terrorism”, and never put one of those “British/American/whatever Muslims against terrorism” buttons on my blog. There have been numerous Muslim condemnations of every terrorist act and yet the accusations of “not condemning it” have continued from people who do not listen because it does not suit them. Besides which, communities, like people, are innocent until proven guilty and I never felt obliged to prove that I was innocent of anything because I was not involved in any terrorist act and, like most people, had no knowledge of them.
gess said,
January 13, 2008 at 4:04 pm
A great lesson we can take is from German people. After 60 years of the end of ww2, the German people are forced to feel guild and are demoralised, even their grand-grand-grand children who had nothing to do with the war.That is basically same principles and methods they are trying to do with Muslims. Same old game.
gess said,
January 13, 2008 at 4:38 pm
*guilt*
suhaa said,
January 14, 2008 at 4:45 am
mashaAllah well said, but i also agree with sumaya. i think there has to be a balance because although people may think they know about Islam, many really don’t. so to clarify that barbaric action committed by some people claiming to be Muslim (whether they really are or not) i feel falls in the line of “enjoining good and forbidding evil” obligation upon all of us Muslims. We are taught in Islam to change a fouls sitation with our hand-physical, and if we cant do that then with our mouth-verbal, and if not then at least with our hearts. We are also enouraged to speak justice & truth even if it is against us. I think bynot condemning, then in a way we are viewed at accepting it-even though a practicing, God-fearing Ummah-or just the majority of “members” do not. On the flipside of that, for there to be a constant flow of condemnation for every thing that happens i think is unnecessary, because it makes us look like we are accepting bad to happen from amongst are so-called brothers (and sisters) in Islam, and our energy should be supporting our ownselves, our own Ummah in rectifying our own falults rather than beoing worried about what the next group of Islamaphobes is going to say against us, our way of life, Allah’s Deen. Balance is so needed..may Allah help us get our act together, whether here in Saudi, or back in the US…we all need to reprioritize, big time. may Allah purify our intentions.
jazakAllah kheir for this post sister, i hadnt been here in a long time..may Allah help you to continue your efforts in pleasing Him through your writings. Ameen.
ajsuhail said,
January 14, 2008 at 7:20 am
on a different note, a wonderful conference is currently underway in Madras(chennai)INDIA with speakers like Yasir Qadhi, Bilal Philips,Abdur Rahim Green and others participating in it.You can follow the live streaming on
http://www.peacevisionofislam.in/
Great talks on Aqida, Dawah and contemporary issues facing the ummah.
Believe me, the conference is very well organised and a pleasure to attend.
TariqH said,
January 15, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Salaam,
Great post, sister….muslims actually have a lot to apologize for these days….and by that, I mean, muslims in America need to apologize for being such a bad example of Islam in the face of consumerism and materialism….and we need to apologize to the trees and animals…
the terrorism stuff is the least of our worries
btw, thanks for adding me to your blogroll (I just noticed that)
Umm Yusuf said,
January 15, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Mash’Allah excellent entry!!!
Another Strange Saudi Case & the American Media « Izzy Mo’s Blog said,
January 22, 2008 at 5:28 am
[...] culture gone wrong and b) Muslims are being misrepresented–again. But in keeping with my new goals for this year, I’m not letting it bug me. I’m not letting it bother me [...]