From the issue dated September 28, 2001
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Muslims Must Look WithinBy R. STEPHEN HUMPHREYS
In their view, they are the sole defenders of a pure and perfect Islam against its enemies -- first and foremost among them, the United States. The enemies of Islam are literally a satanic force and can never be reconciled or won over to the truth. An attack that intensifies an enemy's rage and hatred is therefore all to the good, because it demonstrates the depth of his enmity and makes the struggle between truth and evil plain for all to see. The United States cannot give its assailants the victory by falling into that trap. The first line of protection is the law. Muslims and Middle Eastern people living in the United States must be shielded from attacks by angry individuals and vigilante groups, and their civil rights must be protected. On a human level, it is even more important to offer support to Muslim and Middle Eastern neighbors at a moment when they are likely to feel friendless and isolated. It is not in human nature to achieve perfection in those things, but we have to do the best we can. Muslims in this country and throughout the world must also do some serious soul-searching. The overwhelming majority of them are revolted by the events and regard them as wholly contradictory to any recognized Islamic teachings. How is it, then, that such a strain of violence has taken root in their world and found a considerable spectrum of supporters? Why do other Islamic voices, which in the past marked the mainstream religious tradition, seem so feeble and ineffectual right now? Obviously one can blame "world capitalism," U.S. support for Israel, or different things, but none of that begins to explain what has happened. After all, many other peoples and countries can claim -- rightly or wrongly -- to have suffered from the misapplication of American wealth and power. One can also blame the failure of Muslim governments to democratize or to achieve a modicum of prosperity for their people, but they are hardly alone in that failure. A frank and honest diagnosis of the roots of massive violence in the name of Islam is surely one of the most urgent tasks confronting Muslim intellectuals. Outside observers may have useful ideas to offer on the subject, but only Muslims can find the solution to this spiritual crisis. R. Stephen Humphreys is a professor of history and Islamic studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara. http://chronicle.com Section: The Chronicle Review Page: B17
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Copyright © 2001 by The Chronicle of Higher Education
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Reflections on the Fractured Landscape |
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