Ideas have Political Ramifications — My Advice to the Muslim Youth
Why talk about ideas, history, and politics? Why read about stuff that’s “boring” and “irrelevant”? Over the years, I’ve encountered a countless number of people with this attitude. If people begin rolling their eyes the moment the discussion turns intellectual, then I know that’s when to change subjects.
Every individual has their own reasons for being disinterested, and it’s not the purpose of this post to catalog them all. I’m writing to convince why you should be interested. I want to clarify what exactly is at stake here if this collective indifference continues to persist.
I believe I can summarize it all in one phrase: ideas have political ramifications. Bad ideas have bad political ramifications. If you don’t care, that too has political ramifications. To stand by idly, they say, is to be guilty of complicity.
Which is why I’m upset with the Fosis Ireland (Federation of Student Islamic Societies of Ireland) e-mail group. In theory, the people on that list represents a microcosm of the student activists across Ireland. I even have a separate e-mail account made just for it. However, this past year has been depressing. Almost no discourse has taken place. Practically zilch! If our activists are this mundane, if they are not even contemplating ideas, then what does this say about our generation of Muslim youth?
I imagined the youth would be upset at the shortcomings, and narrow-mindedness, of their elders and be inspired to make a change. But it doesn’t seem that way. By the way it looks, it looks like status quo will persist for some time.
This has got to change. We have got to change. We need come up with a discourse that mediates between Islam and Ireland; a language that communicates Islam in an age where there’s increasing skepticism and cynicism of all things religious. We need a generation of people who are those mediators. We need to come up with ways to inspire intellectual vigilance among our youth and ways to enhance their critical faculties. Feeding them utopian ideas and cheerleading Islam is not going to help us in the long run. In fact, once people buy into it, it ends up being the deathblow to intelligence and common-sense. That’s why I’ve attacked it here, here, here, and here!
Islam does not need cheerleaders. We need to put away all those sorry pamphlets and videos that talk of Islam as if it’s the best thing since the invention of the wheel and think of establishing bookshops instead. There are countless books in Dublin on the Western tradition, in used bookstores even, but almost nothing substantial on the Islamic tradition. We need to think of setting up an Islamic library to make up for this serious shortcoming, not only for non-Muslims but first and foremost for our youth. We seriously need to start promoting literacy about Islam.
And literacy isn’t necessarily developed by reading books from start to finish. That’s a complete waste of time. It’s developed by teaching basic principles — through a short lecture or short summary — and then providing resources for people to explore on their own. Methodology and analytical skills are much more important than trying to be detailed and encyclopedic. Although reading the correct book, thoroughly, can take one light-years in terms of thinking.
With higher criticism, we’ll be better equipped to take up the challenges facing our communities. For example, an enquirer e-mailed the Fosis e-group a news piece that was a classic case of Islamophobia and asked Fosis to counter it. In response, I put up a resource post, Islamophobia 101, and notified the group about it.
Looking at the stats, I could see the indifference. Out of 15 hits, only 1 person read 1 article! Now it’s confirmed that the liberals, in Dublin, are more aware of Islamophobia than Muslims themselves. So far, I’m aware of only two conferences organized on Islamophobia, both organized by liberals.
The only way we can counter something is by understanding it first. First understand and then be understood. Only then can effective activism take place.
So that is my criticism. And just for clarification, I’m not criticizing Fosis Ireland’s record for the past two years, the first year of which I was a part of. But I’m criticizing our intellectual mundaneness, both inside and outside of Fosis. And, of course, I’m not free from criticism myself, but merely feel the need to say what’s got to be said.
acabeire
Omar
alinahasni
salam omar
nice article
keep up the criticism
i touched about the criticism of the malays after the general election in the latest article. i wished to write something about the general election but the situation here in Malaysia doesnot allow me to express my criticism too much.
we meet again InsyaAllah
acabeire
March 14, 2008 at 9:10 am
I agree. I think there are many things we can realise and materialise. We’ve seen how FOSIS and other organisations moved, but their paths are still vague, unclear. I see the programmes and events organised and held in Ireland comparable to dots that need to be connected to form a drawing, to give the real picture to students and Irish people. Then only will they be optimally effective!
Education doesnt happen once or twice. Nor does it come and go. It is a continuous business. No we dont have to have programmes everyday, instead we need to make people start taking this path, so they themselves will make full use of every second given by God. I particularly like the idea of a bookstore.
Trim down “feeding”, and make “searching” flourish.
SoIS
March 14, 2008 at 9:48 am
I tried tracking back but it didn’t work. Sorry.
There is a book that you may be interested in, and I linked it from my blog http://wansaiful.com/2008/03/14/waging-the-war-of-ideas/
Wan Saiful
March 15, 2008 at 9:32 am
Assalamualaikum,
Omar I really appreciate the well thought out criticism. I do agree we need to address this issue.
In my defense for not responding, I didn’t realize Gavin’s message was sent on the ireland mailing list. I responded to Gavin directly and not through the mailing list. Below are the correspondence.
I am sorry I did not look up the Islamaphopia 101 link to your blog before. I have now and I am grateful we have people like you around that can diagnose and attempt to treat the real disease and not just the symptoms of the problem. Please keep up what your doing for the sake of Allah. I need it, Ireland needs it
.
The FOSIS Ireland Committee are always open to comments, questions, concerns, and criticism. Please keep us on our toes and in your duaa.
We will be in contact to further address this issue.
May Allah reward you,
Jawad Vaid
Chair
FOSIS Ireland
Trust and Professionalism
http://www.fosisireland.com
Jawad
March 15, 2008 at 12:10 pm
AA
Without even going to the reasons why they are not interested in itellectualism you just jump straight to the gun.
Have you ever worked with youth?
Have you ever been involved in Irish youth clubs?
If not then please reconsider your ideas.
Jzk
YBII
Osama
Osama
March 15, 2008 at 12:10 pm
To Asyhraff, SoIS, & Wan Saiful: Jazakum Allah Khayr for your comments.
Jawad: What you’re doing is not going to be easy, being a final year med and President of Fosis. I’ll do what I can to inspire the new ones.
Osama: Jzk for your criticisms. No, I haven’t been involved in the Irish youth clubs. The youth coordinators here do a good job with the camping trips and weekly get-togethers from what I hear.
Nevertheless, we need to understand the power of ideas, something I feel our generation underestimates if not completely ignorant of. That is the number one point I wanted to drive home with this post.
Wasalaam. Omar
Omar
March 15, 2008 at 6:33 pm
AA
So you havnt been involved therefore you have no idea what the situation of Muslim youth in Ireland is. You know speaking from ignorence and assumption is a serious mistake.
By the way there is no point organising once off conferences on tackling Islamaphobia, there will always be fools who blindly defame Islam. But Allah will perfect his light even if the disbelievers hate it. There is never bad press for Islam as Islam will only be streghtened God willing.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6981863488388888437
Watch all of it.
Jzk
YBII
Osama
Osama
March 15, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Osama. As-salaamu ‘alaykum. From your comment on my Qutb post, it’s now confirmed that you don’t read my posts properly. My criticisms are here for readers to take it or leave it. I can’t convince anyone of anything they’re bent on disagreeing on. So, unless you are able to say something valuable, I will consider it. But if not, then that’s that. Wasalaam.
Omar
March 16, 2008 at 1:56 am
Osama, Omar that he has been heavily involved in the Islamic Society scene.
Islam espouses a balanced lifestyle. I believe there are three extremes in the ummah right now.
1. spiritual
2. Knowledge
3. Activism
The youth usually undertake one of these paths and take it to the extreme, when the correct way is probably a balance of all three. Its not easy achieving a balance.
Jawad
March 17, 2008 at 5:26 pm