CULTURE OF ISLAM

Muslims! Are We At Fault?

Imtiaz Muhsin 05-Mar-13

The main objective of these talks (and therefore the scripts of these talks), is to stimulate thinking. Sensible, rational and logical thinking. So, my message, think, think & think! Be sensible, be rational and be logical.

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Muslims, are we at fault?

By Imtiaz Muhsin There is apprehension in the air. The Sinhalese are finding fault with the Muslims. It appears that the Sinhalese (or the Sinhala Buddhists) are finding fault with both the religious practices of the Muslims as well as the apex religious institution of the Muslims. There are a number of catchy phrases describing this situation. Some of them are; The Sinhalese are jealous, the Muslims are enjoying more than their right due, the Muslims are the new Tamils, this is communal hatred, the Sinhalese are racists, there is a global trend to demonize Muslims, and this is only a part of a bigger more dangerous plan to wipe out Muslims, and so on. The Sinhalese are looked on as the aggressors, and so obviously, the Muslims are looked upon as innocent victims. In this situation, we Muslims are very confused, very puzzled.
What went wrong? Why is it that these Sinhalese people who have always shown us their warm hearted and human sides of them, suddenly turned against us? Why is it that the radical elements of the Sinhalese people are now targeting the Muslims? Is it that the Sinhalese as a race have this deep racial hatred streak in them?

Or, (the big question) are there other social dynamics (which we are not giving proper consideration to), coming in to play? Could it be that we Muslims are at fault? Should we not, in all honesty, examine this aspect of the equation too? How do we find out? As Muslims we have to turn to the Quran for our guidance as well as for our wisdom. (The translations of Quran Aayaths that I quote are by Mufti Taqi Usman) Let me, at this juncture; quote just two out of the many Aayaths from the Quran that exhorts us to be just.

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The first is on being just even if it be against our own selves.

(4:135) O you who believe, be upholders of justice - witnesses for Allah, even though against (the interest of) your selves or the parents, and the kinsmen. One may be rich or poor, Allah is better caretaker of both. So do not follow desires, lest you should swerve. If you twist or avoid (the evidence), then, Allah is all-aware of what you do.

The second is on being just even if we feel malice or hatred. (5:8) O you who believe, be steadfast for (obeying the commands of) Allah, (and) witnesses for justice. Malice against a people should not prompt you to avoid doing justice. Do justice. That is nearer to Taqw. Fear Allah. Surely, Allah is AllAware of what you do.

As readers would realize, this has to be a very long article, however, I wish to be short, and the more detailed explanations can come later, if necessary. I shall give brief descriptions under 4 of what I think are the most important headings. 1. The long history of social harmony between the Sinhalese and the Buddhists This topic is repeated again and again. The argument is, we have been good friends for well over a 1000 years, so why allow friction at this stage It is easy to assume that we have been practicing religious tolerance for so long and now it is the Sinhalese who are displaying racial and religious intolerance. For us to have enjoyed such a long period of mutually beneficial social interaction, it becomes obvious that both our communities have mutually established their own territories or the limits of their social integration. These limits are recognized and respected by both communities. The Sinhala Buddhist understands and respects the many peculiar religious and cultural customs and traditions of the Muslims and similarly we Muslim understand and respect the many peculiar religious and cultural customs and traditions of the Sinhala Buddhists. But then just think how is it that they (the Sinhalese) have suddenly, apparently without any physical provocation become intolerant? Or is it that the Sinhalese are bringing to our attention certain new behavioral patterns that we are developing, and without realizing we are infringing social spaces which they had always recognized as theirs?

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This needs elaboration. Let me explain this through 2 examples. Example 1 The Sinhalese look on Sri Lanka as the land of the Sinhalese Buddhists. Every product made in Sri Lanka has the marking Made in Sri Lanka Now we find that we Muslims are demanding that every consumer item should not only have the label Made in Sri Lanka but it should have the label certified by the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama I can now understand the feeling of the ordinary Sinhala Buddhist! It is like goods that are made in Pakistan have the label Made in Pakistan along with Approved by the Church of Pakistan Are we Muslims not infringing on the religious as well as the national sensitivities of the Sinhala Buddhists as well as of all other communities and religions? Example 2 Recently we have seen this spate of propaganda by the Sinhala community advising us not to patronize certain Muslim business establishments. There maybe 10 or 20 such businesses named. Of course we Muslims feel outraged. But then think, is not the Halaal label (on goods) advising us Muslims not to purchase goods from institutions that are not certified by the Jamiyyathul Ulama? If we declare that what the Sinhalese are doing is wrong, then think, who is doing the bigger wrong? 2. Caution about Halaal Certification Again, as Muslims we have to delve in to the Quran for guidance. Halaal is described in the Quran. It is however pertinent (in the present context) to quote the following (translation of) Aayaths; (16:116) Do not say about what your tongues describe falsely, This is lawful and that is unlawful so that you may forge the lie upon Allah. Surely, those who forge a lie upon Allah do not prosper.

(16:117) (Let there be) a little enjoyment, and (then) for them there is a painful punishment.

(Arabic Transliteration - Mathaaun Kaleelun walahum Azaabun Aleem) This is what the Quran advises us against falsely declaring this is Halaal and this is Haraam I do not need to elaborate on this Aayath; Muslims are capable of understanding at least the direct literal translation. Surely, we should ask ourselves, do we need Halaal certification for bottled water, for cake ingredients?

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The Quran encourages Muslims to develop what is known as Taqwa or God anxiety. That Taqwa would be our ability to discern the allowable. For 1400 years Muslims have been taught to develop their Taqwa. Halaal certification is a very recent development. Is it necessary? 3. A Clergy for the Muslims A pride for Muslims over the last 1400 years is that we do not have a Clergy Class. We do not have a Church or a hierarchical clergy system. In the teachings of Islam every Muslim is responsible for himself and he should continuously strive in the path of knowledge. The word Alim means a person who has Ilm or a person who possesses knowledge. In the past people who devoted themselves to seeking knowledge were recognized as an Alim, they displayed it in their practical life. Muslims went to them for gaining knowledge. However, a recent development, over the last few years we have this institution called the Jamiyyathul Ulama that is gradually taking on the role as the Church of the Muslims It is becoming an institution that expects every Muslim to look on them as the Voice of the Muslims Very soon we are going to see a structured hierarchy and then we would have to obey all ACJU subscribed opinions on every religious, cultural, social, political, economic and educational matter. I see this as a very serious threat to the very spirit and practice of Islam itself. In future we may not see the range of differing opinions from different viewpoints that so enriched our outlook of religion and Islam. Again, I quote from the translation of the Quran; (2:11) When it is said to them, Do not spread disorder on the earth, they say, We are but reformers. (2:12) Beware, it is, in fact, they who spread disorder, but they do not appreciate.

(2:13) And when it is said to them, Believe as people have believed, they say, Shall we believe as the fools have believed? Beware, it is, in fact, they who are the fools, but they do not know.

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4. Do Muslims demonstrate inter religious tolerance? We are now accusing the Sinhalese of religious or communal intolerance. Is it not pertinent that we Muslims too should examine as to how far we ourselves have demonstrated this tolerance? There are a number of points that can be raised here. But then, every neighborly quarrel does not mean religious intolerance. We have to examine those areas with huge social or religious value that has been sacrificed or compromised. That would be the true indication of a tolerant society. Over the last 50 years the Muslim community has given in to 2 huge social changes, thus sacrificing or compromising on dearly cherished core identities of the community itself. The first is language and the second is in religious teachings. Let me explain. Where language is concerned, for centuries Tamil has been the mother tongue of the Muslims. However with the introduction of language reforms, Muslims outside the North and East are being educated in the Sinhalese language. These Muslims have to learn and then compete in Sinhalese with Sinhalese speaking students. The fact that the Muslims have accepted this situation speaks volumes for their tolerance. Everyone will accept that language, after all, proclaims identity. The second example is regarding religious teaching. The government acquired all schools and made education both compulsory and free. Many Muslim Schools too were acquired. The government also made religion a compulsory subject and required a pass at the O Level so as to qualify for the A Level. To teach Islam to the Muslim students the government provided the Moulavi teachers to the government schools. However for the last few decades the vacancies for Moulavi teachers have not filled. As a result the Muslim students do not have teachers to teach them Islam from the Government syllabus. A serious outcome of this situation is that Muslim students have no alternative than to learn Buddhism or another religion so as to prepare for the O Level exam. Today, there are thousands of Muslims who have obtained Credit and Distinction passes in Buddhism because they had no Islam teacher at school. I need not elaborate further. Everyone must recognize and appreciate the religious tolerance of the Muslim community, the Muslim parent, the Muslim teacher and the Muslim student. We ban forced conversions, then how should we describe this situation? Is this not an area that every religious minded person must look in to? I have tired to explain some of the many factors that contribute towards community or religious emotions and that we do not even realize as to where we should look to seek out these factors. If we all keep our religious principles in front and seek ways and means of making the necessary social adjustments, then I am sure that Sri Lanka and its people could confidently move forward, strengthened with understanding and respect for the practices, culture and traditions of each and every community and religion. It needs a little compassion and understanding from each and every one of us. The purpose of this article is for introspection.

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Imtiaz Muhsin Colombo Sri Lanka crescent786@hotmail.com

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