AN explosive device here or a suicide bomber there and the victims are innocent bystanders, most of them Muslim, with mayhem and destruction all over the place. This is the situation you find in some parts of the Muslim world today.
In addition, there are self-proclaimed “jihadists” who have an extremely distorted understanding of jihad. There are also fanatics who take the law into their own hands and act as judges and executioners in the name of defending Islam.
Whenever terrorist acts occur, whether by organized groups or individuals, the West calls on moderate Muslims to speak up and act. They sometimes even accuse the Muslim political and religious leaders of giving “legitimacy” to these extremists by their silence.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Muslim governments, political and religious leaders as well as organizations such as the Organization of the Islamic Conference have all repeatedly and unequivocally condemned terrorist acts, especially those perpetrated in the name of Islam. After all, these terrorists have done more harm and damage to the image of Islam and provide ammunition and justification for those seeking to malign our faith.
Yet, Western media rarely highlight actions by the Muslim world in fighting terrorism and extremist ideologies. The perpetrators of terrorist activities and the minority who support them have narrow interests and political agendas that have nothing to do with either Islam or the welfare of Muslims. Western media should stop attaching the description “Muslim” to them because by linking the terrorist acts to Islam, the media bestow upon them a legitimacy they do not deserve.
At the same time, the world leaders need to be honest about the circumstances that lead to and nourish such extremist ideologies. Whether it is failed states or failed policies, governments need to reassess the situation and devise appropriate measures to deal with the situation. The root causes of the problem might be underdevelopment, corruption, and injustice, which means dealing with the issue from a socioeconomic point of view instead of relying on military force. Educating and raising the awareness of the local communities about the true Islam is also important to win their support in the fight against extremism and terrorism.
We must also remember that as long as there is occupation, there will always be resistance, but this is not to deny the existence of groups and individuals who will use the occupation as an excuse to justify violence to further their own interests and agendas.
Meanwhile, moderate Muslims do need to take a more active and engaging approach in explaining Islam to the West. Bombs are louder than words and make a more interesting media story than a lecture or a conference, but a coherent and consistent message will be resonant in the long run. Relying on Western media is not enough because most often they will follow prescribed scenarios and stereotypes. Many Western satellite channels have launched Arabic versions. How many Arab or Muslim-funded channels are there aimed at the English-speaking Western audiences?
We tend to speak to each other and raise our voices in defending and explaining Islam when we need to be speaking to the other in a language and style they understand and accept. How effective have we been in using the Internet to reach out to the other through attractive and informative English websites, blogs and online publications? How many books, magazines, television and radio programs, and documentaries were produced in Western languages that presented a positive image of Islam and its rich history, culture and civilization? It is not surprising that the latest Gallup survey showed that nearly two-thirds of Americans say they have little or no knowledge of Islam and a majority of them dislike the faith.
Moreover, many analysts who study extremism in the West say that Muslims there feel alienated from broader society and find it difficulty or resist integrating, potentially becoming more vulnerable to radical ideas.
Muslims living in the West are at the frontline in presenting Islam to their local community and many were successful in initiating projects and programs that not only helped Muslims integrate and defend their rights but also reach out and create channels for dialogue and cooperation. Their role is very important in reaching grassroots communities through town hall meetings, seminars, cultural events and joint community service programs.
Last but not least, official initiatives such as King Abdullah’s for interfaith and intercultural dialogue and the Alliance of Civilizations as well as private sector initiatives such as the Coexist Foundation and the Exhibition of 1001 Inventions of Islamic Heritage are the kind of soft weapons that have the greatest effect on clearing misunderstandings and establishing harmony among peoples. These are the efforts that need to be promoted and highlighted instead of those beating the drums of war and clashes.
