Re: Non-Desi View on Ummah post 9/11
VZ,
The Ummah today is a roaring contradiction to me. Let me explain.
1) I have posted here many time the fact that most Muslim deaths come at the hands of other Muslims. But there seems to be a universal code of silence that does not allow one Muslim to criticize another. Muslims deaths at the hands of another Muslim are a huge taboo topic that defies the concept of "Ummah".
2) I believe there is a great political awakening among Muslims. The awareness of a Persons "Muslim-ness", and the emotional connection is growing. The problem is that people don't know how to effectively channel the "feelings" they have for the plight of other Muslims. To some degree, I see a huge herd mentality, and a fear of speaking out or being a dissenter among Muslims. When I go to the religion forum, any dissent is immediately countered by someone slapping the dissenter back into line, and then essentially calling him an "outcast" and quetioning his faith if he does not immediately fall back into line. A healthy Ummah would encourage a lively debate, and a diversity of opinions.
3) Despite very organized Mosques, there is very little coordinated activity among the mosques. CAIR is sometimes a load o' crap, yet is the leading political voice for Muslims in the US. Compared to the Catholics, the Jews, the Religious Right, or even the Mormons, Muslims do not yet behave as if there is an effective Ummah.
4) The concept of "Ummah" is heavily politicized, particualrly by some Pakistani political parties. This sort of defies a "walk before you can run" concept. This is the way it goes: Person in support of Ummah points out some horrible happening in the world, then suggests this would not happen if there was an "Ummah". Groan.
5) Despite what Muslims might think, the idea of an ummah is threatening to the rest of the world. Despite what you would like to beleive, the LAST Ummah, the Ottoman Empire, may have been cool for Muslims, but all others were second class citizens. If Islamic political thought is to progress, the treatment of minorities in Muslim counties must change radically.
6) The Idea of a Theorcratically run country or region is a total double standard. For the most part, Muslims worldwide want totally equal rights for Muslims in sectarian lands, but they are perfectly comfortable with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and a Theocratically run Iran. Thus far there is no good example of a well run Islamic country that is a replicable example for political change around the world. Further, OBL, and the tacit support and understanding he has scares the crap out of westerners, (As well as asians and hindus I might add). The fact that all over the world, Muslims seem to be fighting someone, (don't yell at the messenger here folks), does more to disprove that Muslims are able to peacefully coexist in the world.
&) Lastly, the awakening of Islam is such an all consuming desire for some Muslims, that Muslims forget that leading is always done by example. Science technology, productivity, economics, culture and other affairs must lead the way, and if the Ummah is to succeed, it must be proven to be a far superior political ideology. On paper communism sounds great! Equal ownership for all! It proved to be a thin veil for tyrants who shouted some slogans and ruled with an iron fist. I see nothing but the same behavior among the Taliban for example. Muslims must show small scale successes in political rule before trying to unite 1.2 Billion Muslims.
