Cross-posted from Muslimmatters.org, a great post by sister “AnonyMouse”:
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I write this with an aching heart and furious thoughts.
No doubt by now you have heard of Aqsa Parvez, the 16 year old girl who was killed by her father, allegedly over the removal of her hijab.
Needless to say, we are all shocked, horrified, and saddened. Yet I, for one, am also angry. Inevitably, the first thing that seems to be expected of us is a condemnation of this man’s actions. And so here it is, my condemnation: What happened to Aqsa Pervez was WRONG, was not an “honour crime” but was, like all such crimes, dishonourable. It was, without a doubt, unIslamic. Nothing in the Shari’ah says that a girl may be killed if she removes her hijaab.
Hear, hear! So much for the “lack of Muslims speaking out”..
But you know what’s even sadder? My condemnation is not purely sorrowful. It is tinged – more than tinged, it is stained – with anger at those who demand such a condemnation from me. Why, why, WHY is it that whenever someone who is Muslim, or has a Muslim-sounding name, does something… it’s automatically blamed on Islam? Every time I’m expected to condemn something done by a Muslim, I want to demand in turn that all Christians, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Wiccans, Communists, Germans (on behalf of the Nazis), and Caucasians apologize and condemn every single crime committed by those who belong to their religious or ethnic group.
I’ve always asked myself the same question.
Personally, even if I reject or condemn something, I hate it when people keep stuffing this demand down my throat, and telling me I should put everything down, and start a hysterical tirade about how we are scum. Well unfortunately to you, we’re not exactly robots you can push a button on and make us say what you want at your own will. We will say what we like, whenever the heck we feel like it.
So why does this happen anyway? Is it a form of proselytization? Probably..
What makes it worse is that there are those who would use this as an opportunity to hurt the Muslim community even more – in the name of Muslims themselves! Tarek Fatah, renowned fool and know-nothing who spews rubbish every time he opens his mouth, has caused even more damage in this article published in the National Post. It can be summarized as ignorant, muck-stirring, rabble-rousing, fear-mongering LIES that will only make the situation worse for Muslims.
It’s either that, or it’s about people who have no idea about Islam and its teachings, yet claim to know what’s better for it and want to reform it beyond recognition and destroy our identity, much to the joy of other ignorant self-proclaimed or rubbish-spewing “experts” and Bigots.
Muslims in Canada are now going to have to deal not only with the grief and shock of Aqsa’s murder, but can expect now to be looked at with suspicion and hatred from those who now think that Muslims are living some secret double-life. More than ever, Muslim men will be thought of as oppressors, fanatics, and radicals; more than ever Muslim women will be thought of as oppressed slaves, of living in fear.
I want to know why, when an “honour killing” happens amongst the Sikh community (and it’s happened, more than once, where a girl was killed by her father or another male relative because they found out she had a secret boyfriend or something), it never gets so blown out of proportion as it is when Muslims are involved. The hypocrisy and double standards are sickening.
(The National Post is ingenious enough to also publish this article, which in one breath tells everyone that “Muslim honour killings” are coming to Canada, and in another breath ‘reassures’ everyone that it’s probably just an isolated incident. Note the phrase “imported violent and backward practices” – that really gives you a good impression of immigrants, eh?)
This incident, however, also throws light on another major issue in the Muslim community: that of the Muslim youth, and their pride in their religion and identity as Muslims. It also forces us to think about how parents are dealing with kids who are going through the whole “Muslim-in-the-West” struggle.
Honestly, I think it’s an over-worked topic. I’ve heard and read about it so much that I could probably list what’s wrong with Muslim teens, and what the solution to their problems are, in my sleep. Sadly, there are others who, despite the staggering amount of resources dedicated to this issue, continue to struggle.
Rather than writing yet another article on the subject and recycle well-known points, I’ll just use this as a reminder to you on the importance of interacting with youth and taking into consideration their concerns and issues. If nothing else, let this incident make you get up and start doing something to help the Muslim youth in your community.
To non-Muslims, I hope you read this article with a clear mind and realize that the Muslim community in Canada is neither a secret cult, or made up of hordes of “ignorant immigrants,” and we are most certainly not blind to the many issues going on in our community. Don’t assume that we’re all ostriches with our heads stuck in the sand (or snow, as the case may be at this time of the year). Don’t think that we’re all sitting silently on the sidelines, or that murder and abuse are commonplace in our home – they are not more prevalent than anything happening in your families.
I urge you to read more about Islam and Muslims (this website is a good start!), and better yet, to get to know Muslims personally. Discover for yourself how Muslims in Canada aren’t all that different from you. Yes, we may have some beliefs and practices that differ from yours, but in general we share many of the same values. Those “Judeo-Christian” values, based on the Ten Commandments, that I’m constantly told Canada was founded upon – guess what? Muslims believe in each and every one of the Ten Commandments too. Food for thought, eh?
With that, I end my lengthy rant and pray that Allah give us the strength and patience to deal with difficult situations such as this; and that He grant us the knowledge, wisdom, and understanding to keep toughing it out succesfully. Ameen!
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Ameen. Thank you for this brilliant article.
The Sphinx
Officially declared by wingnuts. Click 
Thank you for a great post! I’m glad to see others speak up!
I agree with Loba, That was a great post. Keep up the great work.
“WHY is it that whenever someone who is Muslim, [...] does something… it’s automatically blamed on Islam?
Because many times someone does something IN THE NAME OF ISLAM. And it leaves us “people who have no idea about Islam and its teachings” even more fearful and confused. So “we” beg our sane Muslim brothers and sisters to assure “us” that you’re not “living some secret double-life”
Is that asking too much ? Some of “us” actually want to live with you in peace and brotherhood and all that jargon.
Sad – and unjust – as it is, it’s _your_ religion that’s under attack. From outsiders who hate it, and not the least from insiders who tarnish it with such despicable acts. If you cherish your religion, you will stand up for it: against LGF’ers from without and crazies from within alike.
Slightly OT-
I’m beginning to learn more about Islamic doctrine, primarily because of my job.
I would assume, like all religions, certain practices and ethos are followed depending on how orthodox (I guess that’s the word) the particular individuals are.
In my situation, I came across an Islamic couple that wanted to buy a car. This was the first time I had actually come across a member of the opposite sex that had donned a burka (or at least a hijab with face covering; whatever you call it). I was a little taken aback by the fact that the female refused to shake my hand, but she was very nice and I figured that it was a custom along those same lines. They were also interested in 0% financing because of the prohibition of riba (as it was explained to me) as part of their faith.
Now, I’m certainly not an Islamophobe, as I’m sure the Sphinx and others can attest, but I do see some level of incompatibility with the latter doctrine and American culture. I’ve grown up my entire life in this country and have taken for granted that interest (or usury, as it were) is a fact of life here. Mortgages, auto loans, credit cards…you name it, interest is charged. I went to college at the University of Minnesota and studied business, and while I was there I learned about time value of money, and I took this principle (presented as scientific fact) as a reality of living in a capitalist system. And I’m beginning to think that an orthodox Muslim living in America would have a hard time buying a house or even an automobile in this environment. To a certain extent, this aspect of the faith would result in a sort of subculture that would be akin to the Amish in the sense that it is divergent from the norms of the prevailing society.
I’d appreciate your thoughts on this.
@Halalhippie: I’m trying my best, honest
Thanks for the thoughts.
@ChenZhen: Well it’s understandable that you see how some principles of Islam don’t work with the way American society.
However this incompatibility is not inherently bad. It’s the most basic fact about different cultures, and when they come together. I can write a list of American customs that don’t work in my society for example.
So who’s right? No matter how a culture or society works, you will ALWAYS find that it’s incompatible in some aspects with another culture.
Some people will call it cultural relativism, but there is often no absolute way of saying what makes this culture better than the other for accepting one way of life. What works for you in your country doesn’t work for me in mine, and vice versa. So again, who’s right?
Check out this video here by Muslim American convert Umar Lee:
http://umarlee.com/2007/12/14/muslims-in-the-christmas-season/”
Now, you may disagree with him, and my view differs slightly from his, but in the last minute he makes a point about this riba thing that shows it from another viewpoint, from minute 6:00 onwards.
The issue with institutionalized interest-taking is still a matter of dispute in Egypt. Many scholars say it’s a form of riba and should be rejected, others – including the Sheikh of Al Azhar, the highest religious authority in Egypt – said it is for the public benefit and is therefore acceptable. The fact is, banks in Egypt operate with interests. The fact is though, interests on an individual level is clearly riba, like loaning one of your friends some money, then asking for more back. This is something against Islamic teachings, something all scholars will agree on.
You will find Muslims who get along with this type of interests, and some who don’t. Hard to keep 1.5 billion people of one religion on one level
To get back to your point:
I personally think that the prevailing society is in itself not homogeneous. Same applies to every society on this planet. I don’t see America as one huge block with some smaller blocks (subcultures) clustering around it, but rather as a huge mixture of completely different opinions. There may be one system in charge, but by far not all people will agree with it, and this is why I don’t separate between “American” and “Muslim”, as many “Muslims” agree with Americans, many “Muslims” disagree with each other, many “Americans” disagree with each other, etc.. Feel free to exchange the words “Muslim” and “American” with any other two different cultures living in the same country.
And after all, divergence from “norms” is never bad, as long as one side doesn’t trample over the rights of the other. There is space on this rock for all of us after all. So I think the best way for people to get along is just to find common ground, and not stress on their differences and use these as reasons for separating them from one another. I know that this was most probably not your intention.
Sorry for the mixed up torrent of thoughts. I hope you could make any sense out of it..