This is an issue of context. The Najd area of Saudi Arabia, indeed the entire country itself is known to very conservative and orthodox and this has worked to the advantage of the Muslims in so many ways of course. One shudders to think what would have become of the Haramayn if it was any other way. Yet at the same time, there have been some serious side effects of such a da’wah (called Wahhabiyyah, Salafiyyah - and Mama-Mia - depending on who you ask) because of some of its callers and scholars, and a side effect of the prevalent environment and culture: ultra-hot, dry, withdrawn, rural, super-orthodox and traditional and very ultra-strict. In fact, extreme ultra-strict. And I’m sure we all know about this and the fitnah over the last few decades from said da’wah which is thankfully starting to wane alhamdulillah since 9/11, and as satellite TV permeates these areas and other factors. But I won’t bore you. You know what I’m saying.
On the other hand we have what I call the West Coast flex, perhaps unfairly singling out California but really as many Brits claim all to often, it’s actually an ultra-liberal American take on Islam especially since everyone has been rushing to fit in and belong to a loyal nationalistic post 9/11 paradigm. Generalisation much? Of course. Who in the West - UK, Europe, Australia, anywhere - can claim they haven’t changed tune a bit since the 90s? No-one.
But then the West Coast is a bit different. They have a wonderfully relaxed and open outlook on life in general. And such an ethos rubs off on the area in every way possible. It is no wonder that so many of the world’s current biggest brands and technological advances are based in such an area that is so conducive to an open and free-thinking mind. Google, Oracle, Intel, Apple and countless more companies - nay, movements - shape our globe today and draw their talent from the local scene. Add to this its early immigration history, the melting point of cultures that it is and the necessary freedoms that brings with it and what you have is the creation of actually quite a solid and reliable stereotype: a liberal, chilled intelligentsia.
And the Muslims from them have obviously taken from their surroundings. These folks aren’t quite all the same of course but it’s no surprise that you’ll find a disproportionate number of confident gay Muslims, secular Muslims, musician Muslims and whatever else type of Muslims you can possibly dream about all thriving in happy harmony with a live-and-let-live attitude. And the callers, preachers, and scholars are not immune from such a strong cultural pull on their senses and attitudes. How could they be? That’s the life they live day-in-day-out. They have to deal with these people and their problems 24/7. But dealing with is one thing, and becoming them is something quite else.
I really sincerely fear for all my brothers and sisters in such an environment where the supreme values of Islam are diluted, where the pressure to conform is higher than normal, where the desire to please others supersedes the pleasure of Allah, whether intentionally or unintentionally. I’ve seen good, stable people go back to such an area and then watch as they crumble and start desperately to try and justify their new positions and beliefs, with twisted usul and principles they studied from their traditional heartlands. Their new Islamic lifestyles are now seen through a liberal lens which if not careful will lead to the watering away of their religion similar to some of their more extreme neighbours on the Coast.
We used to say that a bit of extra strictness whilst coming from the Muslim lands is a good thing because you’ll lose a lot of it as soon as you go back home to the West. Say 25%. So be over by 25% i.e. go back home on 125% and you’ll be left as a normal 100% orthodox Muslim. But for America we always said you’ll need to pack more than usual - you’ll be losing 75%! So pack extra or go under when you return!
How I wish the above paragraph was just a figment of my imagination, lies and just poor anthropology. Except that this is first-hand experience, straight from the horse’s mouth i.e. those who have gone back there themselves, and have been honest enough to reflect sincerely. And every year as well. This has been consistently the case since I can remember. Tales of the Unexpected? Sorry, no. Quite the opposite actually.
This “anything goes” in post 9/11 Islam in the West is the real challenge of our time, and I am more terrified for my Muslims over there than anywhere else because they are truly on the front line, the new Western Front if you may. Heck, let me be clear and admit that I’m terrified for myself too before anyone else; no-one, anywhere they may be, is safe from this new liberal left-wing fitnah which is affecting the Muslims worldwide which creates a scenario as seen recently where kufr is seen as a mere distraction in life and not the game-changer that it is.
And it is here that the scholars and preachers need to be most careful as they correctly try and work with a people on their level, but yet not contribute to confusion and misguidance to a people who are desperate to find any excuse that will justify the process of logic and rationale within their mind temples of self-worship. Ethical issue much?
It’s a shame I can’t explain my fears as accurately and succinctly as I’d like to which might lead others to misunderstanding and misinterpreting my position but then I guess I have no-one to blame but myself for that - yet I accept that cost for saying what I feel to be the haqq and trying to defend what little we have in a rapidly-changing and challenging world for Muslims.
This is a reminder to myself first and primarily. So AE, I warn you from myself. And then after that, I’m warning you all from the two extremes above. You’ve been served.
Wallahu a’lam.
No comments:
Post a Comment