June
01 , 2007
Asma’s Fascinating Book on
Islam
Piquant to read, racy in style,
logical and weighty in contents, anecdotal in narration
that arrest the reader’s attention, Asma Gul
Hasan’s book “Why I am a Muslim?”
is a remarkable presentation of an American Muslim’s
case for being a devoted Muslim and an equally committed
American at the same time.
When asked after one of her public addresses whether
she was an American or a Muslim first, she said:
“I am both first at the same time –not
just because I don’t find that the two conflict
with each other, also because they often overlap.
Being Muslim makes me a better American and being
American makes me a better Muslim.”
The conflict in the minds of American Muslims has
arisen after 9/11 owing to the general tarnishing
of Muslims as potential terrorists by a biased media,
the diatribes against Islam spouted by religious
leaders like Franklin Graham, Pat Robertson, Daniel
Pipes, and Jerry Falwell in total disregard of tolerance
and objectivity that they have themselves been preaching
vehemently. Talk show hosts appeared to be deliberately
provoking anti-Muslim sentiments by making fantastic
allegations. I heard one of them say: “The
Arabs eat camel droppings”!
Sophisticated elements too presented the horrific
event of 9/11 as the beginning of the fulfillment
of Prof. Samuel Huntington’s prediction of
a clash of Christian and Muslim civilizations. To
add to the bitterness of the cup, Bush administration’s
policies too have been biased. “We have a
unique relationship with Israel” said the
President and threw away even the fig leaf of impartially
in the Middle East conflict by endorsing the brutal
measures of Ariel Sharon against the Palestinians.
The decision of President Bush to go to war against
Iraq, despite the unprecedented worldwide anti-war
demonstrations, was, in all probability, intended
to defang Iraq, to put a stop to its financing suicide
bombers, and to render it totally harmless to its
Jewish neighbor.
In such a charged political milieu, American Muslims
who had every reason to count the blessings of being
American citizens, found their loyalty to the land
of their adoption under severe strain. Their leaders
back home appeared to be paralyzed by the fear of
the mighty super power’s wrath and the Hobson’s
choice it offered: “Are you with me or against
me?”
Slavish and cringing in outlook, Muslim media have
largely been unable to counter effectively adversarial
comments of the Western media.
In such a confusing and depressing ambience, Asma’s
book ushers in a breath of fresh air, a clarity
of thought on the situation, and a rekindling of
earlier ebullience.
A graduate of the prestigious, all-women Wellesley
College, and of the School of Law at the N.Y. University,
Asma was born some thirty years back in Chicago
to the prominent Pakistani couple, the Gul Hasans,
who played a significant role in her upbringing
in Islamic tradition. Islam was a major subject
in her undergraduate studies, but her interest and
erudition went far beyond the prescribed books.
I can vouch for this having read some of the books
in her bibliography, and having, studied as a student
of Persian, the Mathnavi of Rumi and the Devan-e-Hafiz.
(Incidentally, my daughter, at whose house in Connecticut,
on a visit from California, I am writing this piece,
was born in Ankara while I was stationed there,
and was named Rumi as she was born within hours
of our visit to the saint’s shrine.)
Asma’s book counters, directly or indirectly,
the misperceptions about Islam floated by the Western
media in the vehemence of their reaction to the
tragedy of 9/11. Although she is an attorney, a
debater, and a much-sought after public speaker,
her book simply states the seven reasons that have
led her to be staunch Muslim without derogating
or abridging in the least measure the intensity
of her patriotism for the country of her birth and
breeding - the USA.
With a remarkable dash, erudition and insight, she
provides proof of more commonalities than diversions
between Islam and U.S., thus removing many misperception
about a great religion spread willfully or inadvertently
in the American society by tendentious media and
some religious, political and academic figures with
axes to grind. Her theses are equally helpful to
American Muslims in seeing their issues in proper
perspective.
“The fringe benefits of practicing Islam with
a touch of American culture is”, she maintains
“that the aspects of Islam often overlooked
in Islamic countries - like racial and gender equality,
racial harmony, charity and humanitarianism- are
rediscovered by American Muslims. These aspects
are a part of American culture too, and the dual
emphasis from Islam the religion and America the
culture allows American Muslims to practice a more
Qur’an-based Islam than many world Muslims”
The values underlined by Prophet Muhammad in his
final sermon at Arafat in Makkah, Asma points out,
are “the core values of America too”
incorporated in the Constitution and the Bill of
Rights. She draws a parallel with the Constitution
of Medina, the first constitution of the world drawn
up by the prophet himself within a year or so of
his migration to that city and the setting up of
the first Muslim state.
Asma gives seven reasons as to why she is a Muslim:
because (1) she was born a Muslim, (2) Islam gives
a direct relationship with God, (3) Islam has a
rich mystical tradition in Sufism, (4) Islam expects
and allows her to make mistakes, (5) Islam stands
for diversity, (6) Islam is a woman’s religion,
and (7) being a Muslim makes her a better American
and vice versa.
Asma’s book endeavors to resolves many conflicts
in the minds of young American Muslims about their
identity in the current media cacophony against
‘Islamic fundamentalism’, ‘Islamic
extremism’, ‘Islamic terrorism’,
Al Qaeda and Osama’s nefarious designs.
The book need must be read particularly by conservative
Muslims, Imams, and those whose sights are fixed
backwards going back to over fourteen centuries,
to realize the aspirations and outlook of the younger
generation growing up in America. Pragmatism dictates
that they overcome their cultural biases and grapple
with the reality and arrive at a synthesis in the
interest of their own happiness and for a secure
and prosperous future of their offspring. Asma Gul
Hasan’s book is not only thought-provoking
but also provides a guideline to work on with such
adjustments as may appear appropriate in one’s
peculiar circumstances and environment.
(The writer is a retired civil servant who has served
in Pakistan’s missions in Ottawa, Jakarta
and Bangkok, and as an international civil servant
in Ankara and Colombo. He has been living with his
sons in California for almost two decades and may
be reached at: arifhussaini@hotmail.com)
