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A Logical Option
By Aijaz Zaka Syed
CAIR has found a novel way of responding to the recent Quran desecration reports. It has reached out to the Americans by distributing thousands of free copies of Islam’s holy Book
This is something Gandhi, the apostle of non-violence, would have approved. The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations has found a novel way of responding to the recent Quran desecration reports. It has reached out to the Americans by distributing thousands of free copies of Islam’s holy Book. Thousands of Americans have already requested for the copies of the Book since CAIR launched the ‘Explore the Quran’ campaign late last month - soon after Newsweek blew the whistle on Quran abuse at Guantanamo Bay. CAIR is probably the most respected Muslim organisation in the US today. It has over the years acted as the much-needed bridge between the Muslims and Americans - particularly successive US administrations. The organisation, according to introduction on its website, regularly conducts seminars on Islam and Muslim world for different US government departments and interacts with the State Department. CAIR officials have been overwhelmed by the extraordinary American response to its Quran campaign. According to CAIR media release, among the thousands who have requested for free copies of the Book, reportedly are regulation scholars, community leaders, journalists, Christian religious leaders and Americans of all faiths who just wish to know and learn about Islam and Muslims. Although the CAIR campaign now may appear to be the most rational and logical response to the desecration reports, this is not how Muslims have always responded to accusations and abuse hurled at Islam and everything representing it. Over the years, coming out on the streets to vent their fury has been the most natural and stock response of the Muslims to any denigration of Islam, Quran and the Prophet (Pbuh). Such an emotional response, albeit spontaneous, seldom goes to explain to the rest of the world what makes Muslims angry. No wonder the so-called liberal West finds such a reaction by the community often incomprehensible and unreasonable particularly when its knowledge about Islam and its teachings is still largely based on hearsay, and second hand, heavily prejudiced sources. This is all the more true in the case of the self-absorbed, cloistered America. Majority of the Americans know little about Islam except as the ideology that is championed by an extremist hate-monger like Osama bin Laden. This in spite of the fact that Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in America today. And why single out Americans, most people in the West - and rest of the world - have a perception of Islam and Muslims that is sharply different from how Muslims view themselves. But the Muslims, particularly those in the West, cannot escape the responsibility for failing to explain to the West and world at large what Islam stands for. This is why CAIR’s move to reach out to the Americans in large numbers by offering free copies of Quran makes such eminent sense. This is the best way possible to deal with the slander against Islam and abuse of the Book. Let the Americans, the West and the world know what Quran and Islam really stand for before public opinion is formed about them. This is an extraordinary opportunity for the Muslims to address the duality of perception and reality that haunts them and their faith. It’s a chance to clear the cobwebs distorting the image of the great and truly liberating faith that transformed the lives of people from Morocco to Malaysia and has the potential to unite our much-divided world yet again. This could be the way to bridging the much-debated gulf between the West and Muslim world and avoid the ‘clash of civilizations’ that Samuel Huntington has been prophesying for some time. The White House and Pentagon are adding insult to injury by insisting that “US soldiers at Guantanamo Bay handled the Islamic book with respect” at the same time confirming there indeed were “some” instances of Quran abuse. These ‘explanations’ have only further inflamed Muslim public opinion. Yet, the believers would be well advised to avoid taking the easier route of venting their fury against America. The more logical albeit difficult option is to respond to every insinuation and insult with restraint and reason. There are lessons to be drawn from the way the Prophet (Pbuh) himself dealt with those responsible for such attacks. He forgave them all following the historic Makkah victory. Muslims can win this battle for hearts and minds once again by following Muhammad’s way - peace be upon him - and not Osama’s way.
(The writer is Op Ed Editor, of Khaleej Times published from Dubai and can be reached at szaijaz@yahoo.com)
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