Every time there is breaking news of a terrorist attack aired on TV, the thought process of the vast majority of Muslims takes the following route. The first of their wishes would be - common for any human being - a wish for no or minimum casualties. The immediate next wish would be, "Dear God, this time at least the perpetrators are not from my religion". And their last and final wish would be, "the act is not committed in the name of religion”. If we notice most of the acts of terror happening in the past few years, rarely any of these wishes were fulfilled.
After every act of terror many from the Muslim community come forward to denounce and condemn these acts in the strongest terms and tell everyone that the perpetrators do not represent the true spirit of Islam. But is just condemnation good enough? Can we just wish away these acts of terror committed in the name of Islam without making any concrete effort to address the main issue?
We all have learnt quite well that if we do not define and understand the problem accurately we will not be able to solve it quickly and effectively. The question is, what a law abiding normal Muslim can do to make sure such acts of terror are not committed, at least not in the name of their religion. Here are my thoughts:
1. Introspect: Muslims need to face this problem head on. If a person commits an act of terror and then quite nonchalantly points out to a verse in their religious scripture, there should be introspection from the side of the Muslims as to what that verse really means. Just rejecting it and saying that it is not Islam means we are not comfortable to discuss the particular verse. All such verses should be discussed and the actual meaning is clearly communicated to everyone including non-Muslims.
2. Be Vigilant: Someone has to be radicalized and brainwashed to carry out the act of terror. Here, individuals can contribute more than the state. Since the state has a policy of religious freedom, they can't do anything beyond a certain limit. Since radicalization happens mostly in public places including mosques and madrasas, we need to be vigilant of such activities happening around us to ensure that none of these are allowed to happen. A database of all religious institutions along with the profiles of those who teach or lead the prayers there should be maintained. This process will not allow someone from a different country and different school of thought gaining entry in to our institutions and corrupt the innocent minds. We also need to be aware that internet is widely used these days to propagate the hateful content.
3. Responsible Parenting: Family is an institution where thoughts of young and tender minds take shape. It has been observed that children carry the thoughts of their parents or at least get influenced by it greatly. Parents might have had undergone circumstances which had been hateful, bitter and unpleasant. It is not wise to pass it on to their young ones to carry those in the future. Give your children the best and most modern education you can afford. They themselves will be able to separate good from evil if they are educated in the real sense.
4. Respect the law of the land: Be a law abiding citizen at all times. It is not obligatory to fight with the state even if something prevalent in that country contradicts with your religious or cultural values. One can only protest as per the law of the land.
5. Get out of Victim-hood mentality: A victim, by definition, is powerless, helpless, and ruled by circumstances and forces beyond his or her control. The opposite of a victim is a sovereign or one who is free. The opposite is also a person who insists on taking “Full responsibility for everything that happens” in his or her life. I believe those with victimhood attitude are mentally ill to some degree. Most victims are angry people, and usually quite unforgiving. Many victims would also lie and exaggerate, to some degree. Shrewd leaders had always exploited victim mentality of the people and led them to believe there is a danger to everything that is important to them. For example, slogans such as, Islam is in danger, or Hinduism is in danger is a best bet for such leaders to rally crowd around them. One needs to watch out; else unknowingly one would slip into a victim hood mentality and start acting as one.
6. Seek help from experts and those in authority: Terrorism is everyone's problem. It is as big a problem for a state as it is for an individual. Collaborate with those in authority, share material evidence and information so that the acts of violence are nipped in the bud before they are actually executed.
7. Keep away from hate mongers: This one pledge that I took about ten years ago has brought a drastic change in me and the way I perceive things. It was simple. I just decided that I will not listen to anyone suggesting me to hate someone just because that person belongs to a particular religion, nationality, color, cast etc. If we stop listening to these people and such leaders, we will become a society full of mutual respect, love, tolerance and understanding.
Khalid A Khan
After every act of terror many from the Muslim community come forward to denounce and condemn these acts in the strongest terms and tell everyone that the perpetrators do not represent the true spirit of Islam. But is just condemnation good enough? Can we just wish away these acts of terror committed in the name of Islam without making any concrete effort to address the main issue?
We all have learnt quite well that if we do not define and understand the problem accurately we will not be able to solve it quickly and effectively. The question is, what a law abiding normal Muslim can do to make sure such acts of terror are not committed, at least not in the name of their religion. Here are my thoughts:
1. Introspect: Muslims need to face this problem head on. If a person commits an act of terror and then quite nonchalantly points out to a verse in their religious scripture, there should be introspection from the side of the Muslims as to what that verse really means. Just rejecting it and saying that it is not Islam means we are not comfortable to discuss the particular verse. All such verses should be discussed and the actual meaning is clearly communicated to everyone including non-Muslims.
2. Be Vigilant: Someone has to be radicalized and brainwashed to carry out the act of terror. Here, individuals can contribute more than the state. Since the state has a policy of religious freedom, they can't do anything beyond a certain limit. Since radicalization happens mostly in public places including mosques and madrasas, we need to be vigilant of such activities happening around us to ensure that none of these are allowed to happen. A database of all religious institutions along with the profiles of those who teach or lead the prayers there should be maintained. This process will not allow someone from a different country and different school of thought gaining entry in to our institutions and corrupt the innocent minds. We also need to be aware that internet is widely used these days to propagate the hateful content.
3. Responsible Parenting: Family is an institution where thoughts of young and tender minds take shape. It has been observed that children carry the thoughts of their parents or at least get influenced by it greatly. Parents might have had undergone circumstances which had been hateful, bitter and unpleasant. It is not wise to pass it on to their young ones to carry those in the future. Give your children the best and most modern education you can afford. They themselves will be able to separate good from evil if they are educated in the real sense.
4. Respect the law of the land: Be a law abiding citizen at all times. It is not obligatory to fight with the state even if something prevalent in that country contradicts with your religious or cultural values. One can only protest as per the law of the land.
5. Get out of Victim-hood mentality: A victim, by definition, is powerless, helpless, and ruled by circumstances and forces beyond his or her control. The opposite of a victim is a sovereign or one who is free. The opposite is also a person who insists on taking “Full responsibility for everything that happens” in his or her life. I believe those with victimhood attitude are mentally ill to some degree. Most victims are angry people, and usually quite unforgiving. Many victims would also lie and exaggerate, to some degree. Shrewd leaders had always exploited victim mentality of the people and led them to believe there is a danger to everything that is important to them. For example, slogans such as, Islam is in danger, or Hinduism is in danger is a best bet for such leaders to rally crowd around them. One needs to watch out; else unknowingly one would slip into a victim hood mentality and start acting as one.
6. Seek help from experts and those in authority: Terrorism is everyone's problem. It is as big a problem for a state as it is for an individual. Collaborate with those in authority, share material evidence and information so that the acts of violence are nipped in the bud before they are actually executed.
7. Keep away from hate mongers: This one pledge that I took about ten years ago has brought a drastic change in me and the way I perceive things. It was simple. I just decided that I will not listen to anyone suggesting me to hate someone just because that person belongs to a particular religion, nationality, color, cast etc. If we stop listening to these people and such leaders, we will become a society full of mutual respect, love, tolerance and understanding.
Khalid A Khan
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