Islam - On The Edge!

I am not a particularly religious person, but was brought up in an enlightened environment of being allowed to make my own choice as to what and whether I believed. "As long you behave like a decent human being" I was told, "and treat people properly, with respect and dignity, you won't go far wrong". I would like to say I have tried, but have not always been successful in achieving that goal, and there are certain things of which I am definitely not proud. However, mindless violence has not, been one of my failings (except, somewhat flippantly, for having played rugby!). But as for the other indiscretions we learn and move on, for the better one hopes.

As a result of not judging other people solely by their beliefs, I count amongst my friends and acquaintances a real kaleidoscope of nationalities, religions, beliefs and lifestyles. And given my time in the Middle East, many of them followers of Islam. Gentle, humorous, hard-working people, both men and women strange as that may seem to some, who will be as horrified and upset by the recent events that have unfolded in Kenya in the last few day as any other right-minded person.

Such episodes are truly tragic and have no place in our society today, or ever. These acts, and others like them - the explosion in a church in Pakistan a few days ago by a suicide bomber for example - are being carried out in the name of Islam. I fear this is taking us on to a more rapidly icy slippery slope than we have been on for some time, and if no one representing Islam can stand up and say "this must stop", and also do something about it, it's only going to get worse.

And inaction within the world of Islam seems to be the name of the game. The civil war in Syria is a case in point. This is not something that the Western powers should ever have been involved in; it should rightly have been the Arab League's responsibility and at one time it looked as though they might indeed become involved ... but nothing happened. Meanwhile Islamic groups, or should I say terrorist groups using the name of Islam, have become emboldened by the lack of resistance to them and are daring to attack targets of their choosing.

What do they hope to achieve?

If the most recent experiences are anything to go by, the rationale seems to be "if you're not a Moslem, then we will kill you". It is senseless thuggery and murder, not a teaching of Islam and it is going to ultimately create a feeling of ill will against the Moslem community at large. In fact there is already evidence in Britain and other countries to suggest this is already happening. Extremist right wing nationalist groups are themselves looking for opportunities that will give them a "cause" to fight for fighting's sake - so why not turn, in their view, against the Moslem communities? Whether or not they are innocent bystanders.

Human nature is what it is. On the one hand we have the rational statements from world leaders who say, quite rightly, that we should not bow to terrorism and who appeal for calm because it is a minority of terrorists carrying out these acts of extreme violence - but then little happens that we, the public at large at least, see that gives us confidence that the problem is being resolved, or even addressed. We therefore start to live in a world of increasing paranoia because you can't even go shopping without being concerned that you could become collateral damage in an act of wanton terrorism.

Of course, no right-minded person anywhere should try and wash their hands of the problem, because it will spread, if unchecked, and touch everyone irrespective of their background. It's all very well saying this is a problem for Islam to solve, which it is, but the silence that emanates from their world at large, the lack of any authoritative voice from within that community calling for this senseless killing to stop is worrying. To me it puts Islam on an edge that I would argue it should not go over. If it does ... then others may take matters into their own hands with far reaching consequences.

Comments

[fumier]

As long you behave like a decent human being" I was told, "and treat people properly, with respect and dignity, you won't go far wrong".

And yet you became a banker!

[David Eldon]

Indeed! I became a filing clerk first and then worked all my way through the ranks of a profession where honesty, integrity and loyalty were an essential part of being a commercial banker. They should be the same today. Much has changed in this world and sadly not all for the good, but as my Blog suggests it is often the few that spoil it for the majority.

[jeremy]

As they say, a few rotten apples spoil the barrel.

But are we still at the stage where there are few enough rotten apples that the whole barrel can be saved by removing the bad ones. Or does the whole barrel need to be thrown out.

Every barrel will have bad apples, but some will not remove the bad ones in time.

Not targeting this specifically at bankers. One could think of other barrels where this question applies.

Modern western society, dominated by the US capitalist model, for one. Chinese Communist Party for another. Or if we want to be less ambitious - FIFA and the PTA at the school where my kid goes to

[jeremy]

Back to the topic - I do agree that modern, moderate Islam is missing a globally recognisable spokesperson.

Who is the face of moderate Islam today?

Just off the top of my head, I can think of several candidates but none are perfect for different reasons.

Fareed Zakaria (too liberal, non-practicing, former wine critic for Slate magazine)

Aga Khan (too privileged, denominationalism may be an issue)

Queen Rania?

I think it needs to be a concerted effort, with multiple personalities drawn from various social spheres, who can collectively represent the face of modern moderate Islam.