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What does it mean to be an 'orthodox' Muslim

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Ruhi_Rose
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« on: April 23, 2007, 03:58:12 am »

By Asma Khalid

Asma Khalid is pursuing her master's degree in Middle Eastern/Islamic studies at the University of Cambridge in England.



"True orthodoxy is simply the attempt to piously adhere to a religion's tenets."

... to avoid association with terrorism, some Muslims adopt a "moderate" label to describe themselves.

I am a Muslim who embraces peace. But, if we must attach stereotypical tags, I'd rather be considered "orthodox" than "moderate."

"Moderate" implies that Muslims who are more orthodox are somehow backward and violent. And in our current cultural climate, progress and peace are restricted to "moderate" Muslims. To be a "moderate" Muslim is to be a "good," malleable Muslim in the eyes of Western society.

I recently attended a debate about Western liberalism and Islam at the University of Cambridge where I'm pursuing my master's degree. I expected debaters on one side to present a bigoted laundry list of complaints against Islam and its alleged incompatibility with liberalism, and they did.

.... Through implied references to moderate Muslims, they offered a simplistic, paternalistic discourse that suggested Muslims would one day catch up with Western civilization.

In the aftermath of September 11, much has been said about the need for "moderate Muslims." But to be a "moderate" Muslim also implies that Osama bin Laden and Co. must represent the pinnacle of orthodoxy; that a criterion of orthodox Islam somehow inherently entails violence; and, consequently, that if I espouse peace, I am not adhering to my full religious duties.

I refuse to live as a "moderate" Muslim if its side effect is an unintentional admission that suicide bombing is a religious obligation for the orthodox faithful. True orthodoxy is simply the attempt to adhere piously to a religion's tenets.

The public relations drive for "moderate Islam" is injurious to the entire international community. It may provisionally ease the pain when so-called Islamic extremists strike. But it really creates deeper wounds that will require thicker bandages because it indirectly labels the entire religion of Islam as violent.

The term moderate Muslim is actually a redundancy. In the Islamic tradition, the concept of the "middle way" is central. Muslims believe that Islam is a path of intrinsic moderation, wasatiyya. This concept is the namesake of a British Muslim grass-roots organization, the Radical Middle Way. It is an initiative to counter Islam's violent reputation with factual scholarship.

This was demonstrated through a day-long conference that the organization sponsored in February. The best speaker of the night was Abdallah bin Bayyah, an elderly Mauritanian sheikh dressed all in traditional white Arab garb, offset by a long gray beard.

The words coming out of the sheikh's mouth – all in Arabic – were remarkably progressive. He confronted inaccurate assumptions about Islam, spoke of tolerance, and told fellow Muslims an un­pleasant truth: "Perhaps much of this current crisis springs from us," he said, kindly admonishing them. He chastised Muslims for inadequately explaining their beliefs, thereby letting other, illiberal voices speak for them.

I was shocked by his blunt though nuanced analysis, given his traditional, religious appearance. And then I was troubled by my shock. To what extent had I, a hijabi Muslim woman studying Middle Eastern/Islamic studies, internalized the untruthful representations of my own fellow Muslims? For far too long, I had been fed a false snapshot of what Islamic orthodoxy really means.

The sheikh continued, challenging Mr. bin Laden's violent interpretation of jihad, citing Koranic verses and prophetic traditions. He referred to jihad as any "good action" and recounted a recent conversation with a non-Muslim lawyer who asked if electing a respectable official would be considered jihad. The sheikh answered "yes" because voting for someone who supports the truth and upholds justice is a good action.

The sheikh, not bin Laden, is a depiction of true Islamic orthodoxy. The sheikh, not bin Laden, is the man trained in Islamic jurisprudence. The sheikh, not bin Laden, is the authentic religious scholar. But to call him a moderate Muslim would be a misnomer.


Source:  Christian Science Monitor
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Zainab_M
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« Reply #1 on: April 23, 2007, 05:33:00 pm »

Fine piece and a much needed clarification.  Both 'moderate' and 'orthodox' Muslims have been greatly misinterpreted since 9/11.  'Moderates' are often painted as traitors within the Muslim community and the West looks upon them for help by betraying their beliefs.  Actually many moderates find themselves caught in this quagmire and often end up feeling disgruntled for being misinterpreted from both sides.  And 'orthodox' Muslims are right away stamped as violent fanatics and often judged from what they wear and how they look.  Even the most sober, mild and law abiding person could be termed as 'orthodox' insinuating the image of a law breaker if he wears a khimar and is seen going to the mosque to pray. 

This is one of the very few articles that's brought up this issue blossoming into an ever growing problem.

Thank you rose. 

 wsalam
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Heba E. Husseyn
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« Reply #2 on: April 23, 2007, 05:41:13 pm »

Yeah, very useful clarification.  Osama bin Laden is NOT an orthodox Muslim.  He's just a lousy terrorist and a mischief maker, now probably senile too with all his premature aging.  I wouldn't even call him a 'Muslim' let alone defining his status as a Muslim.  This war against terror comprises of 2 satanic forces (US & Israel on one side and AQ on the other) fighting for hegemony while the rest of the world is gettin sandwiched in between.  Really unfair.
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« Reply #3 on: April 23, 2007, 05:45:07 pm »

Dear kat, you picked the words out of my mouth ..  teethsmile  I couldn't agree more!
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« Reply #4 on: April 23, 2007, 05:55:57 pm »

Actually, it's the bad minority that leave lasting impressions.  while most Muslims who look and think orthodox, are humble and law-abiding, unfortunately there are a few who look the same but prefer to follow the combative path.  The loud and destructive actions of these few have over-shadowed the peaceful orthodox majority.  I fully realize the huge wrong in punishing even a single innocent for the sake of a hundred guilty, let alone punishing the innocent majority for a few trouble makers.  But it's a difficult situation.  The outsiders can only be expected to defend themselves in the easiest way possible.  They think that the easiest way for them to eliminate all risks is to reverse their compassionate policy i.e. let the innocent suffer if that means even a single guilty can be nailed. 
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« Reply #5 on: April 23, 2007, 06:09:01 pm »

Hmmm .. I read you PT.  You've got a valid point too.  If someone is genuinely under the threat of an attack, they have every right to defend themseslves.  It is truly a difficult situation when draconian measures have always been taken throughout the course of history.  I can only pray to Allah and hope that the slightly more humane values of the 21st century helps both sides to understand the importance of putting aside their ego and concentrating more on making mutual peace rather than gloating on  military might & death squads.  This chauvinism of the belligerent ones has produced a ghastly deadlock .. belligerent ones includes those of both sides. 

As a child I never knew it would be so hard for me to find role models as a grown up woman  laugh  Educated or uneducated, there barely seems to be anyone around with rational values, honestly.
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