As I was coming into my personal Islamic awareness many years ago, I was convinced that the light of Islam would reignite itself from within America, similar to how Prophet Musa (as) was raised and reared in the house of Pharoah. Back then, I viewed the Muslim world as backwards and in need of serious guidance – which American Muslims, stripped of cultural baggage and historical hiccups, would readily provide them.
But recently, I’ve begun to feel serious disillusionment with this entire “American Islam”* project.
Maybe it’s all the desperate talk of Islam being compatible with western democracy, which is in actuality a crooked corporatocracy.
Maybe it’s the post 9-11 lulling that saw so many Muslims tone down their stance against American's secular hedonistic ways and imperialistic aspirations out of fear of sounding unpatriotic.
Maybe it’s the unfounded need by American Muslims (under immense pressure from MSM and the American military industry) to constantly denounce terrorism and the unfortunate extension of this condemnation to now include Islamists, who, although having never partaken in acts of terrorism, have nonetheless incurred their wrath.
Maybe it’s the convenient acceptance by many American Muslims of principles of gender relations as understood by Western society, relegating centuries of Islamic tradition on the role of men and women to history’s dustbin.
Maybe it’s the glaring dilution of the Islamic concept of Jihad, or worse, its deliberate suppression altogether.
Maybe it’s the callous attitude of American Muslims striving for the American dream while participating in a system that is ravaging the entire world, politically, militarily, economically, and environmentally.
Maybe it’s the unquestioning adoption of capitalistic maxims which finds American Muslims enslaved by their struggles for better jobs, bigger homes, and nicer cars – all the while claiming to be adhering to the Sunnah of our Prophet (saw).
Whatever it is that’s causing my unease, my dear brother Yursil captured my feelings quite well with his recent posts on Suburban Capitalist Islam (Part 1 and Part 2). While he didn’t address all my grievances, he did well to introduce a long list of oddities found in American Islam.
I particularly like his characterization of American Muslims as naively accepting of their adopted culture, as long as it doesn’t outwardly contradict any Islamic teaching. This includes the whole McDonalds, blue jeans, and Hollywood outlook of American culture. The widely accepted view is that American Islam can be formulated by simply weeding out the haram components of American culture and freely embracing what remains.
The problem is that the ethos of these remains is not Islamic.
The result is not American Islam, but a twisted version that I prefer to call Secular Capitalist Islam (taken from Yursil's term 'Suburban Capitalist Islam'). This Islam is primarily American, with an Islamic veneer, not the other way around. It is NOT Islamic with simply an American twist, like what may be found in China or Indonesia or Africa – those instances of Islam were never born in such a hostile environment (to Islam in specific and religion in general), necessitating great conciliatory gestures from its followers:
Change can only come about by way of assimilation and integration - otherwise, we will be deemed foreigners, anarchists, or terrorists.
The interest-based banking system is too entrenched to be questioned – the best we can do is minimize our exposure.
The educational system is our fast-track to success, regardless of any negative socio-intellectual repercussions.
Mixing politics with religion is taboo.
Scaling the corporate ladder is the only way to prosperity.
Gluttonously living beyond our means is completely acceptable.
All technological advances must be blindly embraced, regardless of socio-spiritual impact.
All forms of entertainment (adapted to Islamic mores, of course) are a necessary release from the pressures accumulated in daily life - this includes movies, music, sports, vacations, etc.
Environmentalism is about reducing our ecological footprint, not reducing our consumption.
These are the views underlying Secular Capitalist Islam, the core of which is fundamentally at odds with the Quranic worldview. And no amount of window dressing can alter this reality.
Just like most everything else in American culture, we’ve opted for the drive-thru version of actualizing Islam in America. Our instant recipe consists of slapping on a hijab or growing a beard, implementing the personal acts of worship, meekly presenting Islam to our friends and coworkers, and attending feel-good weekend Islamic programs, all the while diving headfirst into the American way of life.
And yes, I am aware of the American Muslim mantra that we have greater religious freedom in the West than our counterparts in the Muslim world. That may be true. And if it is, it makes the sin of Secular Capitalist Islam even more egregious. For instead of using this freedom to become moral leaders in the West and challenge the status quo, American Muslims have chosen passivity and integration, fearful of the repercussions of speaking out.
Where is the sacrifice that is inherent in the declaration of Tauheed and rejection of Taghut?
Where is the sacrifice that is inherent in the proclamation of love for the Prophet (saw)?
Sadly, Secular Capitalist Islam has replaced these sacred endeavors with the very profane struggle for the American dream.
In part 2, I want to discuss the legacy our children will be inheriting from us, the founding fathers of Secular Capitalist Islam.
==================
*I place the term in quotes because I’m not comfortable with creating varying flavors of Islam, but since the term is commonly used by so many American Muslims, I’ve stuck with it.
WAW
5 days ago
26 comments:
Interesting post. I think much of the same could be said of true Christianity. I mean the kind that really follows the teachings of Jesus. I'm often amazed at how caught up we are in acquiring stuff and more stuff (even to the extent of going into great debt to get it) instead of truly living out our faith. Is there any wonder our society is as broken as it is?
My Syrian friend sometimes mentions America as if our lives here are just under heaven. Afterall we have STUFF and technology galore. But we also have alcohol, drug & porn addictions, rampant divorce and immorality, broken families, hurting, lonely people. Yeah, not utopia.
I'd trade much of this stuff for wholesome, loving families. We are hurting over here!
We need to find peace and joy in God and stop trying to fill this void with more things. Money and things do not satisfy us. Otherwise Americans should be some of the happiest people on earth.
Our hope is a relationship with GOD not all this stuff.
I don't know much about "American Islam", but I am sure it can't be mure sickening than the socalled "Euro-Islam". What next? "Brazilian Islam"? Just is another way to inflame sectarianism among Muslims.
gess
ps, As'salamu Aleikum Br. Naeem
:-) you are the only few Muslim bloggers I read. Looking forward to read more.
Yes another excellent post Mash'Allah! You've touched upon so many things wrong with us "American Muslims" today I'd just like to touch upon what you said regarding the quest for material consumption and achieving the so-called "American Dream". I'm far from having achieved this dream and instead of fretting over this I am Alhamdulillah content with my lot in life (much to my South Asian immigrant parents' disbelief who really would have liked to show me off as their "successful American daughter" LOL). What I also notice with this desire to achieve the American Dream is that it causes a disconnect between the "have" American Muslims living in the suburbs and having alot more money and resources for their masajids and community cneters, and the "have-not" Muslims, many of whom are recent immigrants and would really benefit from receiving help and guidance from their "have" brothers/sisters in Islam (and I don't just mean monetary but also spiritual/social etc). Many have-not Muslims struggle to raise their kids in a foreign environment they are none too familiar with and most of them eventually end up losing their kids to the secular lifestyle unfortunately. I always wonder why Masajids in various diverse neighborhoods don't do more to coordinate with each other (and I don't just mean suburband masajids coordinating but also suburban/urban, masjids of different racial/ethnic makeup, etc). I feel as though the "have" Muslims are just looking out for themselves and their own interests, which is wrong as it is our duty as Muslims to help each other any way we can.
Also what you're saying here also reminds me of the hadith of the Rasul (SAWS) when he said that Alllah would bring fitnah upon a society where sinning became rampant and promoting the good wasn't being done by the Believers. Zainab (RA) then asked would Allah punish the society even with Believers living within it, and he said yes if those Believers did not do their do of promoting the good and forbidding the evil no matter how pious they were.
BTW for a better understanding of the hadith I mentioned check out this great lecture entitled, "Will We Perish While the Righteous are Amongst Us?" Just scroll down to find it Insha'Allah
Whoops sorry forgot to provide the link LOL:
http://an-nahdah.org//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22&Itemid=38
As'salamu Aleikum RCHOUDH,
Correct me if I am wrong, Naeem, but the topic of this discussion has nothing to do with people's manners and bad behavior or even about culture, but the notion to call the religion of Allah(SWT) "American Islam". "Euro Islam", etc and thereby inviting sectarianism. I do not know other religion than Islam who accepts and acknowledges the existence of other people's culture, nationalism and tribalism, and Allah (SWT) Says in the Noble Qur'an: O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).
[49:13]
Please note also, whenever large group of immigrants came to US, there always existed troubles in the society. Take an example of the large group of Afro-Caribiens who moved into Harlem in the beginning of 20th cet.
ok, time to go. Wa'aleikum salaam.
gess
Wa alaikum salaam Anonymous,
I'd like to clarify what I was trying to get at. Basically I'm trying to point out that as American Muslims we are all bombarded with the notion of achieving the American Dream (which engenders selfishness and causes people to believe they can't help others until they help themselves meaning "I gotta look out for myself, family and community always"). This causes those of us who have achieved this "dream" to simply isolate ourselves from issues and concerns affecting the rest of the Ummah (and I'm not just talking globally here but even about Muslims living the next block over who may not be as well off and free of struggle in America as the rest of us).
And I've seen this tendency to separate not just among secular upper middle class Muslims but also educated religious wealthy Muslims too. ANd I'm also not saying they do this intentionally; I'm sure many of them don't realize that they live isolated from the rest of the Muslims less well off than them right here in America.
All I'm saying is that this mentality of isolating yourself and dealing with only your own issues and interests is a product of trying to live a comfortable American life. In Islam however we are always reminded of how we should always help our fellow humans in whichever way we know how (and that doesn't always have to be financial of course)instead of trying to build up comfortable lives in the Dunya.
Now I can see what you mean about there always being trouble with large groups of immigrants settling in somewhere but I'm wondering whether this has to always happen. I think that for Muslims one of the biggest concerns should not be whether we can make comfortable lives for ourselves in the West but whether we can live by Islam completely and whether we can raise our children to be righteous Muslims capable of giving dawah to their fellow humans Muslim and nonMuslim. This concern affects 99% of us here in the West no matter what socioeconomic background we come from. So I think it's important that Muslims of all backgrounds help each other to live by Islam, something I see severely lacking right now. Sorry for the longwinded post Brother I didn't know how else to say this though!
Br naeem. i am a dedicated reader of your blog. i think this blog is perhaps one of the few i keep on coming back to because i never hear this stuff elsewhere.
i had this very same notion that american islam is cool. they'll go forward.
but i'm living in egypt now with my husband and kids and just staying in touch sort of w/ whats going on back home and especially facebook (which shows u how the muslims growing up there are now moving forward w/ their own lives in many ways)...
i'm starting to feel like its a big JOKE.
we're not really moving anything forward. we're sort of like drowning there. we can't even dangit save our own.
HOnestly i dont know what the answer is. Because our 'brethren' here back home aren't exactly perfect.
I mean egypt like saudi is so concerned with outward looks and class.. and i think its SO DEEPLY entrenched..its hard to think out of the box for them.
so i duno..what is the solution?
all the brothers/sisters back home in the US think they're following an islam without 'culture' but i think american islam has ALOT OF baggage and the FUNNY thing is u dont even know u have it!
i think a big problem is that the dawah that is given to the muslims in america growing up there is really watered down.
as soon as u are interested in practicing, you are expected to grow a beard or don a hijab and become 'active'. what about quran? spirituality? what about fiqh? and i guess that sort of goes back to the unorganized dawah situation.
but then when i look at the organized dawah (one specific organization comes to mind which prizes itself on just that) i see some of the sisters on facebook for instance who came out of families who are affiliated w/ this. and im like i'm sorry but this is what u produced?
muslims who neither follow the letter and seem to be oblivious to the spirit as well.
I'm not saying that as in 'oh im so perfect' and look at them. i mean as a whole we just havent done the job.
i think part of the solution for those of us who can is that we move overseas with our families and at LEAST save our own because indeed it is possible to do that here i think without having to fight a whole system thats simply not muslim compatible at the core of it.
the funny thing is that while american muslims are indeed quite affluent in america, theres this crazy hurried life there and its almost like are they really able to enjoy it all? theres this information overload or something. i cant even describe it.
but like life here in egypt even though EVERYTHIGN is available here, i feel like im able to focus on the real stuff.
theres things built into life here that make it easier for a mom like me to raise children. in america im expected to run around like a headless chicken doing EVERYTHING, constantly FEELING GUILTY FOR NOT DOING ENOUGH?
ummabdullah
This is why I am your biggest fan.
This is absolutely great and very inspiring. However, I have one question.
When going against society on such a great scale, speaking out against secularism and capitalism, which is present in both American communities AND in Muslim countries, are you ever doubtful, disturbed or silenced with the idea of being powerless slash one person?
We read the Scarlet Letter in American Literature class and Hester Pryne, the main character, lives in a cabin outside of town. She begins to have these really revolutionary idea's where she questions everything about society and she gets scared and has suicidal feelings thinking of herself against everyone.
Can you relate to that at all? I think we as Muslims can, but when you begin to point out flaws in Muslims in the west, you isolating yourself to a greater extent.
I do agree with everything you have said and am greatly inspired too.
-The Muslim Kid-
muslim kid..this is the fitna of our time.
the prophet was one against his whole society. werent all the prophets...
u are not asked to change society. but to only do our part.
burgundy
AA-
@Susanne, "Our hope is a relationship with GOD not all this stuff."
Well said. And I would add, as Muslims our hope is also built on following the way of our beloved Prophet (saw). But you already knew that. :-)
@Gess, yes, I agree there is a problem inherent in the term American-Islam, but my post is not about that. I referenced the term simply due to lack of a better one.
My issue is with the identity being created in America (and the West at large) by Muslims. And how this identity is a facade of Islam. It is American through and through, but with a Muslim exterior.
As Br. Yursil mentioned, we have simply taken the American way of life and Islamicized it (Muslim muppets on TV and harmonizing Muslim boy-bands, to name a few examples he cited).
Islam is about agitation and dissension in the face of injustice and oppression. Its not about passivity and assimilation.
American Islam has become nothing but an exercise in mass integration.
AA-
@R, valid points, all of them. Yes, there is a huge gap b/w the Muslim haves and have-nots (which simply is a by-product of any capitalistic society). Yes, Muslims aren't doing enough to promote good/forbid evil. Yes, in the pursuit of the American dream, too many Muslims isolate themselves from their peers.
These are all real problems.
But they are don't address the crux of the issue, namely the philosophy (ethos, worldview) adopted by us Western Muslims is BROKEN.
We have approached our Islam in reverse. Instead of allowing our sources of guidance (divine texts, godly men, centuries of tradition) to lead us in creating and molding our identity, we have blindly accepted the ways of our adopted nations (due to inferiority complex, maybe?) and tried to stick a Halal label on it.
We don't need to moderate our pursuit of the American dream. We need to create our own dream.
We don't need to fine tune the issues and hiccups. We need a complete overhaul of how we see Islam in the West.
Until then, I don't have much hope for American Islam.
@MK, I think Burgundy answered you concerns - our job is to strive and struggle, the results are with Allah (swt). We need to purify our hearts, approach our traditions with sincerity and humility, and work with the utmost effort to bring our lives in to sync with the Shariah.
AA- Burgundy,
"HOnestly i dont know what the answer is. Because our 'brethren' here back home aren't exactly perfect.
I mean egypt like saudi is so concerned with outward looks and class.. and i think its SO DEEPLY entrenched..its hard to think out of the box for them."
You make a very good point and one that I've never denied. While critiquing American Islam, I have never suggested that Islam as found in the Muslim world is any better.
In fact, living in Riyadh and having visited Pakistan countless times, I see that the American dream and all its unfortunate baggage are being exported to the Muslim world. We are slowly adopting (or rather quickly if you look at the Gulf countries) all that I'm criticizing in Western societies.
What can we do? Good question... maybe its time to head for the mountains, as foretold by our Prophet (saw). I'm really struggling with this. I hope to discuss this a bit further in my next post.
But yeah, I can agree to your final points. All that being said, life is still easier for a Muslim in the Muslim world. The core is still Islam (for now), but with an ugly exterior (corruption, abuse, hypocrisy, etc.)
As odd as it sounds, I find myself leaning towards that than what I've experienced in the US.
"Islam is about agitation and dissension in the face of injustice and oppression. Its not about passivity and assimilation."
This is such an excellent quote of your Mash'Allah mind if I plagiarize? LOL
But yeah it's absolutely true we've inverted our priorities today so that instead of pursuit of Akhirah it's the pursuit of Dunya that we're all engaging in.
MK
I share your concern it can get pretty lonely sometimes feeling like nobody understands or rather wishes to understand the truth. But like Burgundy and Br. Naeem say it's best to strive to perfect ourselves, pray for everyone and have hope.
And I somewhat feel like there is hope out there. Like correct me if I'm wrong but I don't see as many American Muslims clamoring to "divorce" themselves from the greater Ummah as they used to pre-9/11. I think it's finally gotten to everybody in the West that whatever happens outside to Muslims will affect you too (the airport screenings, the racial profiling, possible detainment). I sense that alot of American Muslims are silent upon alot of issues affecting the Ummah but that in a way is a little better than before where we used to be told to think of ourselves as "American first, Muslims second". That doesn't really help us in the post 9/11 world (unless you try to physically disguise your Muslim identity but Alhamdulillah not everyone wants to go to that extreme because it's a sign of really caving in to oppression).
br naeem..it might SOUND WEIRD to the totally brainwashed western secularized mind. but i think quite a few of us muslims overseas obviously prefer the society w/ islam at its core with the outward being all junk.
because preserving the primary is well UH PRIMARY. and preserving the secondary is a SECONDARY concern that we can try to fix at home as much as we can.
i completely agree that we are totally assimilating in the US and its really scary to me..what will the next generation be like?
i would like to hear your views on modesty. im pakistani and i feel that egyptians have a seroius lack of hayah in their society and the interesting thing that stands out to me is that they're not aware of it. this is norm for them.
to a pakistani american who has had quite a bit of exposure to pakistan, their ways are quite forward to me and on occasion ive had mini heart attacks and have asked myself..what the heck..this is what i came here for?
Salam 'Alaikum,
I just think you are all over the place--too many broad generalizations, no clear definitions of the concepts you talk about, etc. Moreover, I think you give up way too easily--there's much good that's happening: think of the number of fine Islamic institutions that have cropped up over the last 20 years, the number of people who are reading about Islam today, etc.
Bro Naeem I love your blog i look forward to your posts everytime Inshaallah cant wait for the part2. Subhanaallah you are amazing.. May Allah bless you and your family. And May Allah swt guide every muslim who is striving to stay on the siraat al mustaqeem.
As'salamu Aleikum all,
I have read Brother Manrilla's reply (you can find it on sidebar), and I must add I really liked his response, and he is right about the generalization issue Br. Naeem made here, but he also forgets that he also loaded with generalizations, and for a moment I really thought I was reading AIPAC webside. Here he writes: It seems like when our Gulf cousins are driving Bentleys and Land Rovers, so long as they have a white thobe and shamagh, they’re keeping it Islamically “real”. What would you have American Muslims do? Make hijrah? Drop out of their karif schools? Quit their kafir jobs? How will you support us? Can we all move to Halal Arabia?
This is what I call typical AIPAC automatic response. Always bring Saudi Arabia, the Gulf States when it least needed or to destroy the good conversation/debate. Was that necessary? I don't know Br. Naeem's motive to move to Saudi Arabia, but I do know quite many people (most of them Non-Muslims) working in the region, and I don't think hijra was on their mind when they moved there, but more likely $. And to add, there really exists poverty, poor native Arabs in Saudi Arabia or the Gulf States. Not everyone owns a Bentley, house on the beach, 100 camels, but if you really want to know who is making the real money; it is the Europeans/Westerners. Ask any native Saudi in the country, and the chances are he/she feels contempt towards how the country is governed; politically and religiously, and to be witness how their country becomes more materialistic and adopting western life style; neighbours becoming strangers, families becoming foreignness; and the biggest sin; usury becoming accepted. So you see, these brothers and sisters over there have their own issues to deal with, but it effects all of us Muslims; [“The Muslim Ummah is like one body. If the eye is in pain then the whole body is in pain and if the head is in pain then the whole body is in pain”].
The issue here is not to transcribe out ones identity and culture if you happen to be an African American or European, and make Hijra. As a Muslim living Europe, I have seen many Anglo-Saxons who reverted to Islam, I would never dream to ask them to pack their belongings and make hijra, nor would they do.
I however see the biggest problems facing the Muslims in Europe how Islam becomes diluted more and more. Ex, acceptance of usury, to promote praying 3 times of the day to adapt workingdays, even taken out verses of the Quran, again to make convenient for everyday life. (all of those examples are debated actually in my country). The other issue I concern is how Islam is portraited as an "Arab" religion and anti-Black, similar propaganda machine used in their slogan "there are no people called, Palestinians".Ex, take Darfur situation, the conflects in Nigeria, Chad, Mali, Southern Sudan. There is a tendency in the media to portrait these Muslims being slaves for Arabs and reduce their history legacy. A very good example. Look at the faces of refugees from the camps in Yemen where the government is fighting against. By the standard the Wester's racist view, they would be classified as being Black Africans,and you wonder why BBC or CNN would never show us their faces, where when I was in Dubai, the Aljazeera English channel did air from these camps (because how would they explain to their audiences in the West where these people come from?). The media (the power of image) plays great role on Western civilization.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY8zFvsetEc
You can not deny how Western media ignores actually Black facess in Yemen and or Saudi Arabia (unless they are entertainers/dancers/Prince Bandar).
Please don't deny there are powerful lobbies in the West propaganding Islam as Anti-Black.
Allah Knows Best.
ps: that was me; gess, above comment.
pps.
Brother Manrilla's quote was
"It seems like when our Gulf cousins are driving Bentleys and Land Rovers, so long as they have a white thobe and shamagh, they’re keeping it Islamically “real”. What would you have American Muslims do? Make hijrah? Drop out of their karif schools? Quit their kafir jobs? How will you support us? Can we all move to Halal Arabia?
"
Just want to add this quote I read today:
"Nationalism is a tool they [West] use to write Blacks out of [that] history"
Exchange, Blacks with Palestinians or Race, then you have same propaganda machine.
gess
BismillahirRahmanirRahim
Salamu'alaykum
Good Job Br Naeem!
I replied to the Manrilla post with this:
------------
I think pretending there aren't any real issues with the American Islam project which is actively trying to 'force the issue' when it comes to integration of the Western cultural paradigm with Islam is short sighted. Offering broad questions doesn't help when there are specific real concerns in terms of what a persons actual lifestyle is.
What was Egypt's transition like? Not sure... but I don't think it was like what is being attempted today. Which Islamic principles were being sacrificed?
Regardless these communities have 1400 years of transition on us, as Americans. We should reflect on what we have to learn from the lands of direct Quranic reference and traditional reference, especially those which have been specifically blessed by the Holy Prophet.
Islam can be quite young in America, indeed. But it could also be a common combination: young and arrogant.
Examining why we are jealous and in competition with the Bentley's of the Arabs rather than being sad for them is probably a good place to start.
I’d also add that there is nothing to stop Eastern Muslims from adopting the ‘American Islam’ project in their own unique way. The existence of a cultural hegemony dictates that this would be the case.
"Maybe it’s the callous attitude of American Muslims striving for the American dream while participating in a system that is ravaging the entire world, politically, militarily, economically, and environmentally."
I don't always agree with you, but this post was just incredible. The quote I've reposted above in particular was like a slap in the face. Thank you.
I've made these same criticisms long time ago...the commodification of ilm and Islam. It is true but hard to swallow, especially for people who have an amnesia to the asceticism and zuhd of the early Sahabas. I know some scholars are wrestling with it, Abdul Hakim Murad brings it up often about the virtue of faqr.
Generally, to Muslims the dunya has become so much, so fast, and is always growing its like where do you go? But the reality no one finds peace in this stuff.
My approach to a solution is educationism or just really intensified Islamic education. I buy very little b/c little compares with books and the pursuit of learning.
Poverty is the majority experience of the world- any sort of capitalist Islam existing is still very marginal. Muslims pirate everything based on certain opinions of scholars, so that will always stop stuff.
As'salamu Aleikum Br. Naeem.
I am bored :-)
Where is the second part?
gess
AA- Gess,
"Where is the second part?"
Sabr my friend. Good things come to those who wait. :-)
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