Speeches Don't
an Ummah Make
By Dr. Waheed Siddiqee
Chairman Interfaith Committee United Muslims of
America
Go
to any Islamic center or a Masjid and you will
find a number of flyers about upcoming events
displaying in bold letters the names of the people
who will be speaking in the function. Speeches
are supposed to be a means to inspire and motivate
people to do good work and accomplish things in
life, rather than becoming an end in themselves.
However, in recent times, listening to speeches
has become almost an addiction in the Muslim American
Community. Pick up any flyer or an announcement
about a function arranged by a Muslim organization,
and it will invariably consist of a list of three
or four people from a group of two dozen or so
eloquent speakers who have appeared on the scene
in the Muslim American community during the past
15 or 20 years. In fact, if somebody mentions
a program being organized by such and such organization,
the first question asked is "who will be speaking?"
Some speakers are more popular than others. Some
are big crowd getters. People flock to hear them
as if they are performing a very important religious
duty. Their speeches become a topic of conversation
for many days and people express great satisfaction
that they had an opportunity to hear them. The
speakers usually talk about our glorious past,
the superiority of Islamic philosophy and Islamic
values, the ills of Western materialistic approach
to life, the injustices being perpetrated by Western
nations, particularly the USA against Muslims,
and various conspiracy theories.
The majority of listeners go back home feeling
relieved and convinced that the speakers have
very effectively analyzed, exposed, and explained
the reasons for the Ummah's sad state of affairs
and that having attended these lectures, they
have fulfilled their obligation to the community.
Then they go about doing their daily routine of
work till another event takes place and another
speaker gives them a fresh dose of the same medicine.
Speeches, even when they are very eloquent, do
not by themselves contribute much in making a
community strong and valuable. When we look at
successful and notable communities and nations,
we find that their strength and success are based
not on big speakers but on real concrete accomplishments
in the fields of science, technology, education,
business, politics, and on their strong sense
of duty and commitment to the betterment of their
communities.
Allama Iqbal, the great poet philosopher, once
commented aptly that western nations are distinguished
among all nations by their zeal to accomplish
things (Quwatt-e-Amal) and their action oriented
approach to life. Another of his insightful statements
is that it is character alone that determines
the destinies of nations. Pakistan's President
Pervaiz Musharraf, in his plea for enlightened
moderation, has called on Muslims to surge forward
through individual achievements and socioeconomic
emancipation.
Muslim Americans are in a unique position to become
a model community by concentrating on three essential
characteristics of a valuable and distinguished
community: Character, Competence, and Commitment.
Each one of us must exhibit character and integrity
by becoming truthful, responsible, trustworthy,
and diligent in doing our work. Each one of us
should acquire some sort of competence and skill
to earn an honest and decent living and not become
a burden on the community. And each of us should
make a commitment to share part of our wealth,
skills, and talent for the betterment of our community.
These attributes of a model and successful community
are quite well known. Character, Competence, and
Commitment - not eloquent speeches - are the ingredients
that will make our Ummah strong.
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