Mullah Bashing a quality of good muslim?

[ravage]

Re: Mullah Bashing a quality of good muslim?

@teggy

All i am saying is that we need to use a bit of a restraint and not ridicule “the guy with the beard” or the fellow with the clean shave. We are all muslims and each of us is accountable for his or her own affairs after this life.

I agree, it is sad when people look down on others based on superficial assessments like you mention. One harkens to the Karachi mayor taking the PBS guy to sohrab goth and pointing at some bearded guy and saying look terrorist.

Each of us needs to do more than labeling or going on the predefined labels, and actually work to correct the misconceptions while correcting those of us who may be wrong. One group is hellbent on enforcing their way of Islam because they see no other form as legitimate one, while the other group is hellbent on doing the complete opposite and also presenting a wrong image of Islam.

I dont believe that the discourse needs to be driven by groups though. The impulse to coalesce into group A and group B is very wrong.

The reason of my initial post was not in any way to blame anyone in specific because i myself am guilty of some of the things you all have pointed out, as well as some i pointed out myself. The purpose of the post was to bring to light the issue and spread awareness, so we dont just tow a specific line of speech just because it happens to be in “fashion” these days.

However the implication was that criticism of Mullas was merely a fashionable thing, or joining the bandwagon or group dynamics between enlightened moderates and the religious. There can be criticism of Mullas stemming from bad reasons such as those that you mention. That does not mean criticism of Mullas/terrorist supporters is generally to be seen in that light.

The reason i cite moderate muslims is to support the idea of the thread, and the message i wanted to put forth. Yes there is the other angle as well, and “fundamentalists” should be shown a reflection of their behavior as well. Holier than thou is a mentality which is not characteristic of a good muslim and whoever in my opinion think that they are somehow better than the other, hence have the right to lecture are mistaken because there is no place for ego in this faith of Islam, as well as other faiths which teach humility.

I agree and I also agree with how DR summed it up quite adeptly in his characteristic style :k:

We have a case of extremes, on both ends of the spectrum. Both are wrong. The idea of this talk is to bridge that gap and create an understanding where we can listen to each other without predefined notions which limit our acceptability of what the other has to say.

I say let the groups do what they will. People who surrender their identity to any group have surrendered a very essential part of what makes their opinion matter: an individuals thoughtful judgment and assessment.

At the same time, do you not think that we should not begin with the assumption that any given person has infact done so?

Lets not stereotype; lets not paint every religious person with the same brush just because they hold views which we disagree to. And all the same applies to the extreme right crowd as well.

I agree.

This is not limited to just this portal, i speak in a general sense and what we see all around us in the world today.

Do you not see the distinction, or at times feel like either you are moderate or you are not! Either you are religious or you are not! Why does it have to be that way? Both terms “moderate” and “fundamentalist” have been misrepresented and hijacked. A true muslim is both moderate and fundamentalist. Because we are moderate and kind, while adhering to the fundamentals of the faith. We can be good people without compromising either. The issue is with misrepresented titles which are used in a taunting way.

I agree with you.. we can be either or both or neither.

I think the polarization is driven by diehards of the extremes themselves. It is also exacerbated by the tendency to classify any dissent or criticism as a trait of the other extreme. This is what I objected to your in your initial post.

I hope i have offended no one, that was not my motif at all. My apologies.

One never assumes malice from you teggy! Apologies from me too if my first post was a little argumentative.