Stranger in The House

Forty years ago Martin Luther King challenged us in a letter from the Birmingham Jail: “Was not Abraham Lincoln an extremist -- "This nation cannot survive half slave and half free." Was not Thomas Jefferson an extremist -- "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." So the question is not whether we will be extremist but what kind of extremist will we be. Will we be extremists for hate or will we be extremists for love?

Reflecting on these noble words of a courageous leader I consider the hot headed extremism of the present winter day. This current President may have a lofty vision—to send us to Mars and Beyond—no doubt to corner the market on Martian oil-- but we must ask: what of here and now? The martial spirit of all the powers results in war—and 85 per cent of the casualties around the world are civilians. This means millions of men, women, and children. In its arrogance is the US really a force for Freedom and Justice? And in our weakness and confusion are Muslims perceived and are we in reality forces for love or for fear and hate?

A Muslim society is built by hard work, good example, learning and yes, love. A Muslim society is free from tribalism and interest-based politics. Our struggle towards the ideal of a just society will require patience and maturity. I urge us all to consider the needs of the moment and to be inspired but not blinded by a vision of a perfect world. Those jihadis who seek a Muslim state without a viable Muslim society first are like Bush constructing a false dream. Better to build than to destroy. Our good works to family, friends, neighbors and strangers will insha’Allah light the way through this darkness.

Now the tax records of over 25 of our leading Muslim Charities are to be reviewed by the Senate Finance Committee. We hope that the process will be an honest one, with no mischief from the usual think tank crowd. From their books, from their testimonies, we see who is an “extremist for Truth” and who just an extremist for power.

As CAIR has stated, “The net has been cast so wide that it seems to target all American Muslims as terrorism suspects. Its indiscriminate scope smacks of a McCarthyite witch hunt and creates the impression that the presumption of innocence no longer applies to Muslims.”

CAIR does well to speak out. I hope others will follow their lead in this. It is not a time to be intimidated. It is also time to remember our Adab, and also not to fall into the error of denouncing Kuffar right and left. Let us not throw these rhetorical bombs but be patient and firm, like Sistani in Iraq. Our Islam can embrace the world, unfettered by the grievances of whatever prison or problem we emerge from.

Meanwhile we have mouths to feed, and to listen to. We have homeless at home, we have hunger and helplessness abroad. ICNA Relief has coordinated with Pakistani Doctors to sustain medical care at Bam; with relatively few resources we try to do a lot. Too bad if donations dry up, to ICNA, to other charities. We Muslims have our responsibilities to build a better world. You can’t add water and have an instant Khalifat. You add your sweat drop by drop and the love of your heart. That is true witness.

We have a beautiful community, not a product to package. We must continue to do our Dawah with care without the aggressive amorality of our capitalist society that seduces many an evangelical. We can enlighten and face attacks not like a Martian president but like a martial artist, using the opponent’s energy against him, even like Ali letting gentleness and forgiveness win the contest.

In his own Pakistani State of the Union address, General Musharraf said last week that the vast majority of Pakistanis were "moderates who totally reject extremism." He urged Pakistanis to "wage a `jihad' against extremism." He was greeted with cries of "Down with dictatorship," and "Stranger in the house.” It is not easy to be an extreme moderate! In any case, and in every country, let us Muslims not go far from the extremism of Love.