561 The Islamic identity crisis
For a while now I have been grappling with the problem of Islam, Islamism and radicalization (my blog 543). Does Islam need to be reformed, as Hirsi Ali said?
I emailed Professor Dajani (see blog 543), for comment; see below.
Is the apparent Islamic identity crisis the crux of the matter as regards Islamist radicalisation? I think if we want to come to grips with Islamist's terrorism, the concept that no fault lies with the religion of Islam may have to be re-visited.
SMH Photo: Michele Mossop
Hussain Nadim today in the SMH:
“Muslim community leaders in Australia are rarely on the same page - except for when it comes to criticising the government's counter-radicalisation efforts.”
He reckons, “for a start, the ... claim by Muslim community leaders that "research" suggests socio-economic and political issues drive radicalisation is … erroneous.”
The idea that the "problem lies not with Islam, nor even with some of the Muslims but with the environment Muslims are currently in" has no legs.
“This tendency amongst the Muslim community leaders to remain in denial about the problem with religion is what is driving the identity crisis which is leading to radicalisation among Muslim youth.
"Why is it so hard to accept that there is in fact a problem with Islam?
“The trend of abusing and misusing Islam is nothing new, nor is radicalisation. Almost a thousand years back al-Ma'arri (circa 1010), a Muslim poet, criticised what he then saw as hate and radicalisation preached at mosques, arguing that nearer to God are those people that keep a distance from such preaching.
“Similarly, notable Islamic scholars … have been pointing out since 18th and 19th century that the Muslim world and Islamic thought needs to be reformed.
"The uneasy fact is
that Islam is in desperate need of internal reforms that have been delayed to
this point, where the religion is being damaged from within causing a serious
identity crisis amongst the Muslim youth.
"And it is this very identity crisis
that is at the core of the radicalisation problem, leading young Muslims to fall
prey to terrorist propaganda where they are joining Islamic State and other militant groups."
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Dear Mohammed,
the issue we discussed a while ago (does Islam need to be reformed … you said: No, what needs reformation is the way Islam is communicated) has come up again. In a newspaper article Hussain Nadim wrote:
“The trend of abusing and misusing Islam is nothing new, nor is radicalisation. Almost a thousand years back al-Ma'arri (circa 1010), a Muslim poet, criticised what he then saw as hate and radicalisation preached at mosques …"
The writer asks:
"Why is it so hard to accept that there is in fact a problem with Islam?
My question to you: Can there probably after all a case be made for a reformation of Islam? Is it possible that still now-a-days hate and radicalisation is preached at mosques?
All the best, Carsten
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Dear Carsten
Few days ago a Jewish extremist joined a parade for gay people hiding a big knife and then he stabbed with six Jewish demonstrators; settlers burnt a house with a baby in it who was burnt to death, among many similar tragic events, etc. Same with Christianity, the Holocaust was committed by church going Christians, who loved their children and were nice to their dogs, but you do not hear Muslims saying: There is something wrong with Judaism, or reform Christianity.
It is the singer not the song.
Warm regards
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Dear Mohammed,
I hear what you are saying and I agree whole-heartedly, but - with all due respect - now we are side-stepping the issue. It may well be Christianity and Judaism need reform too; it is clear all religions produce fanatics. But it is also clear, in the current environment of world-wide terrorism, that there is an element of radicalisation among Muslims feeding that terrorism.
So, the question remains - regardless of whether Christianity and Judaism may need reform too - does Islam need a reformation?
And ... Is it possible that still now-a-days hate and radicalisation is preached at mosques?
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