Page 20 - Pakistan Link - April 26, 2019

P20 – PAKISTAN LINK – APRIL 26, 2019 COMMENTARY
n By Mohammad Ashraf Chaudhry Muslim American Parents: New habit. Scholars like Ibn Sina, Ibn Rushd and
Pittsburgh , CA Ibn Khuld understood that knowledge alone
could lead one to true Faith. Questioning
Consider the fi gures about Muslims: Roles, New Challenges helps us to decipher Allah’s Truth and His
1.3 billion and growing; every fi ft h or Signs. We should not get scared by their
“sixth person on this planet a Muslim; questioning. “An hour’s refl ection is better
55 states and one of them nuclear; about than a year’s worship,” said our Noble Proph-
25 million living perma- et. “Even better than reading the Qur’an”,
nently in the West and mak- asked the puzzled followers. “And, can the
ing a great impact on social, Qur’an be useful without knowledge”, was
political and economic life”, the Prophet’s answer.
says Prof. Akbar Ahmed, and Now, we can embroil ourselves and our
adds, “Th e 21st Century will children in such questions as: is the birthday
be the century of Islam. Mus- celebration a bidah? Can we pray in an aero-
lim civilization will be central to under- plane or a moving car? Is it all right to read
standing where we will be moving in the the Qur’an in English? Is it permissible for
future. Anyone wanting to make sense of a boy or girl to socialize in the center? Is it
living in the twenty-fi rst century, will need OK to donate money earned by selling alco-
to understand Islam”. Th ese are pleasant hol? Is Hijab a part of Islam or culture? Can
words, but bold assertions. Do they really a woman pray in the main hall where men
refl ect the ground realities that Muslims pray? Are doritos and chips haram because
are confronting Muslims? Th is is some- they contain enzymes? Th ese may be valid
what debatable. questions, but do they rank higher to another
And I fear they do not. In the words of kind of questions that are being posed to us
one American columnist, “No part of the and our youth every day?
world is more hopelessly and systematically Does Islam promote extremism? Are
and stubbornly misunderstood by us (the Muslims envious of the wealth of the West?
West) than that complex of religion, culture Do Muslims hate the West because it stands
and geography known as Islam”. And this for freedom and strength? Does the Qur’an
is true for no fault of the West; it is so be- sanctify violence? Are Islamic values incom-
cause of our own failure to explain the true patible with Western values? Does Islam
teachings and spirit of Islam. In the words of suppress freedom of speech? Muslims are
Dr Muzammil Siddiqui, “People learn from hypocritical because they talk of peace and
what they see, and people will know the truth indulge in terrorism? Does Islam glorify
about Islam not from principles, but from sions of Islam freely, and yet they are not as have been one of them, or even one of those suicidal acts? Do Muslims have four wives?
practices of the Muslims”. much divided as they are in the countries of extremists who in the name of religion, be- Does Islam allow the beating of wives? Why
Muslims are a monologous community their origin. Th ere is nothing that may breed come tools in the hands of terrorists and Islam is against dating? Do young Muslims
that talks only to its own people and keeps in them a sense of disaff ection, or any feel- extremists. All parents of the young people in Islam have a choice in the selection of
believing that others will know about their ings of extremism. Th ey love America like involved in the London blasts, or those held their spouses? Does Islam support gender
religion by observing them talking. Once anybody else. Th eir community is poverty- in the recently discovered plan to blow off inequality? And many more. Th e choice is
a follower asked the Prophet, “What is re- free; is crime-free and being educated and planes, asserted that their children were the yours.
ligion?”. And his answer is the solution to well-placed is highly instrumental in the nicest human beings. Th e question asked A good Islamic center will educate its
Muslim problems, “One’s regard and con- economic and social growth of this coun- now in case of such a tragedy would be: members on these topics in the light of the
duct towards others”. try. Th ey are not marginalized, like they are “Where were the parents?” Parents in Islam Qur’an and Sunnah, proving that Islam is as
Even in the performance of rituals, the in Europe; here they do not have to fi ght are held religiously responsible for raising progressive, dynamic and pragmatic as any
fi gures paint not so rosy a picture. According for their daughters’ right to wear a Hijab. In their kids as good human beings, as men of religion, and even more because it came last
to Zogby International Polls, just 49% visit an the words of Dr Muzammil Siddiqui, “De- character and conscience. of all. Th is Islamic center has the distinction
Islamic center once a week; only 19% make spite the rising Islomophobia, this is still Th e fact of the matter is that most of our of talking to the youth on such important is-
some of the fi ve daily prayers; a paltry 5% the best country to do work and research in teens exist in a state of near isolation. First we sues every week of the month.
admit going only for Eid prayers. 10% boldly any fi eld, including Islamic Studies”, and he ignore them, and then they ignore us. If we We live in a pluralistic society, so we
admit that they have never prayed in their is right. Th e negative perceptions about Is- love them, we got to love them a little louder. must build friendly and healthy relations
life. To a question like how deeply have you lam can only be corrected through dialogue Th e relationship now demands total trans- with people of other faiths. We must build
been involved in the activities of an Islamic and through interfaith meetings. Th e best parency. We got to fi nd time to read their bridges. We must make a schedule to visit
center, just 19% said they were involved, and thing that Muslims can do is to make sure school papers; we got to know the kind of churches, synagogues and other civic orga-
28% admitted they have never been involved that people are portraying an accurate image music they listen, and the movies they watch; nizations with a view to improving our un-
at all. Figures speak for themselves. Michael of Islam, and not a distorted one. An eff ec- the friends they move with. When we buy derstanding of other religions. What really
Wolfe who made the fi lm e Legacy of the can put Islam in danger is not the presence of
Prophet is right when he says, “Audience is In the words of Dr Timothy Savage of MIT, “Th e fi rst time the West and enzymes in doritos, and our arguing endless-
the name of the game… the more people see Islam came in direct contact, what resulted in the West was the First ly on it; but the wrong propagation of its true
you, the more they will realize that we are teachings, and the ignorance of our children
caring people. We need to be seen and heard” Renaissance. Th e 2nd direct contact of Islam with the West is taking about Islam and its true face. Self-criticism
everywhere. In the words of Prof. Ali Minai place now, and we hope it brings about the second Renaissance”, and should not remain a taboo with us. We must
of Cincinnati, “If we believe that our faith is be bold enough to recognize our failures. We
compatible with progressive humanist ideals, renaissance means the revival of learning; of reason; of broad-mindedness; are good at making money and performing
then we must express ourselves, not as apolo- of tolerance; and revival of an era of co-existence in peace and love. It is well at schools; are we good at living Islam
gists of Islam to the West, but as proponents too?
of new possibilities for Islam. Th e time has my faith that the true face of Islam aft er a very long period will emerge, In the words of Dr Timothy Savage
come for us to do so now.” not from an Islamic country, but from the United States of America of MIT, “Th e fi rst time the West and Islam
Islam is our best moral guide and its ed- came in direct contact, what resulted in the
ucation is our spiritual health insurance. Th is tive Islamic center, and an educated, broad- them their fi rst bike, we know the law that West was the First Renaissance. Th e 2nd di-
can happen only if we truly understand our minded and visionary leadership can play we got to get them the helmet too. Likewise, rect contact of Islam with the West is taking
religion and practice it in our lives. Cherry this role very well. as parents we got to know the world our chil- place now, and we hope it brings about the
picking in Islam, i.e. choosing the easy parts If spring brings fl owers and fragrance, it dren live in. Mostly it is we who make the second Renaissance”, and renaissance means
and neglecting those that demand sacrifi ce also brings Pauline which makes noses itchy world they live in. Life is not a video game the revival of learning; of reason; of broad-
and eff ort is not going to take us anywhere. and eyes watery. America too like spring has that you may fry eggs or cook the meals in mindedness; of tolerance; and revival of
Alhamd-o-Lillah, there are more than its share of cultural allergy. It has its own pa- the kitchen while your kid watches ‘Th e born an era of co-existence in peace and love. It
1209 Islamic centers and over 250 full-time rameters of culture and freedom. Th e good killers’. It is our duty to know if he/she was in is my faith that the true face of Islam aft er
Muslim schools in America, though Mus- thing is that it does not impose them on oth- the library, or what research paper he/she has a very long period will emerge, not from an
lims are less than 1% of the total American ers. We should not assume that our kids will been working on; if he/she has been lately in Islamic country, but from the United States
population. In France though being 8% to never be aff ected by its cultural allergy be- great anger, depression, or somewhat with- of America.
9% of the population, they just have three cause they have the vaccination of Islam. Is- drawn, all this must be in our knowledge. An eff ective Islamic center is thus pivotal
Muslim schools. Muslims are ideally placed lam is a religion of logic and common sense. By the time your child is through the el- in promoting the much needed understand-
here in America, and they are high achievers It tells us that the youth is vulnerable. ementary school he/she has already watched ing about Islam. And in the interest of justice
too. 67% of them hold a four-year college de- Our children move in the company of 8,000 murders, according to a study conduct- and positive change, the West also needs to
gree, and 66% make over 60K per year. One kids like Luke Woodham who some years ed in 1999. Th ere has been 300% increase in understand Islam with an open mind. Is-
in every ten Muslim households has a doctor ago fi rst killed his mother and then in school the teen suicides since 60’s; and 1,000% in- lamophobic statements and actions punish
and 22% of them are professional engineers. killed three more; our kids may be befriend- crease in depression. Your child stays alone and victimize the entire global community of
Unlike the Muslims in Europe , they are not ing a Mitchel Johnson or an Andrew Golden over 3.5 hours a day and watches TV 28 Muslims for the actions of a few, and hinder
concentrated in highly visible enclaves of who in Jonesboro set off a fi re alarm just to hours a week, which is 4 hours a day. 31% eff orts of people like us to provide a true and
poverty. Be it Jackson Heights, or Dearborn, draw the school mates outside only to shoot children, including yours and mine, know moderate voice, and promote mutual under-
not even one is found begging on the streets them. Our children may be moving in the someone who carries a gun. So tragic things standing and peace in the world, says ISNA.
or in the subways as they are found in Brus- company of students like Eric Harris and do not happen like a tsunami. Th ey leave a In this mixed-up and messed-up world of
sels . Dylan Klebold who in 1999 killed 14 fellow trace behind them. ours, the urgent need is for dialogue, not to
Th ey are extremely diverse as they hail students and one teacher because over time Children love to reason and argue be- win an argument, but to win the hearts. Is-
from many parts of the globe; they speak nu- “they had become angry at the world”. Our fore they accept a point of view. Muslims lamic centers are destined to play this role,
merous languages and practice several ver- children are not very special. Th ey could progressed 800 years ago because of this and so they must without any further delay.
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