The nuisance of labels for Muslims today
21 July, 2007. As usual on a non-working Saturday, reading the newspapers. And once again reports of terrorists and suicide attacks on the first few pages of world news.".... Muslim extremists...."
".... Jihadi's......"
".... moderate Muslim.... conservative Muslim..... liberal Muslim...."
".... Muslim fundementalists.... progressive Muslims...."
Thank you, dear Mr. Media, for labelling a community so definitively. Whomever the first to have coined these phrases, you're causing me pain.
Can't we simplify things?? My take on it: If you practise the fundamentals of Islamic principles, i.e. believe in One God, the Scriptures, the Prophets, pray, fast, be modest, and basically be a good person, a positive contributor of society, you're Muslim.
If you kill, purposefully cause danger to others, you're not Muslim. You're a terrorist, full stop. Islam and terrorism are just two circles in a graph that can never overlap. Same goes for people of other faiths. Christian fundamentalists? Buddhist terrorist? Let's just drop the labels Mr. Media. Please...
For it saddens me. I used to identify myself as just a Muslim. Now, I feel I need to define myself further. Am I conservative because I wear the hijab? Am I liberal because I am free to travel without a male relative? Am I moderate because I am not extremist? Am I progressive because I have, and will continue, to pursue education & economic independence?
To the above questions, I say I have no definitive answer.
I am just Muslim.
posted by Zafirah @ PM 12:03
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