Scholar enumerates issues in Islamic world but promises bright future ahead

A scholar from George Washington University enlarges upon the problems faced by the Islamic world, ranging from injustice, division, corruption, bad governance, reliance on foreign powers, oblivious to the plight of their citizens, resistance against peaceful reform, indifference toward injustice against Muslims in Palestine and in countries where they are in minority, and so forth.
Nevertheless, Professor Hossein Askari anticipates that
“Muslims will in time discover the essence of their religion” and believes that
“the future is bright.”
Professor Askari describes Iran, a Muslim majority country,
as a quite special case, saying that the country was invaded by Saddam
Hussein’s Iraq back in the 1980s and as it was slowly getting back on its feet
it was subjected to harsh economic sanctions by Washington. However, he says,
“Iranians are resilient, innovative and quick to learn”
The following is the text of the interview conducted and
published by the Tehran Times:
“Q: There is a great deal of talk in the West about the
“crisis” in Islam. Is there a crisis and what is it?
A: Islam has not changed as the Holy Qur’an has not changed.
So there is no crisis in Islam. Where the crisis lies is with Muslims and in
countries that profess Islam or what we refer to as Muslim majority countries.
Q: So then, what is
the crisis with Muslims and in Muslim countries?
A: Muslims have been indoctrinated to memorize the Qur’an
and follow all the outward rituals of Islam. While these are good things to do,
they are not a substitute for living the kind of life that is at the core of
Islam, such as standing up for justice and causes that are just, living a
modest life and helping those in need, alleviating poverty, supporting good
governance and fighting against corruption, and commanding the good and
forbidding evil. Practicing these values not just towards other Muslims but it
must be done towards all humanity because as Islam preaches we are all one.
Muslims have not studied and debated what their religion preaches for their
everyday lives. In many countries, Muslims have been spoon-fed an Islam that is
difficult to reconcile with the Qur’an (see IslamicityIndices.org).
As a result, when you look at many Muslim countries today,
what do you see? A few living in grotesque luxury while the vast majority live
in poverty, under suppression, and with little hope for a better future. In
many of these countries, prosperity comes from depleting oil and natural gas
assets, which in Islam belong to all current and future generations, yet some
rulers behave as if it it’s theirs and use it for their own for a lifestyle
that is condemned in Islam while others are suffering in need.
"The weakness of Muslims and Muslim countries is
manifested in their fragmentation. "There is pervasive injustice. Rampant
corruption and poverty. Ineffective governance. Limited opportunities and
freedom. And still today in the 21st century, some Muslim rulers obey the
commands of their colonial masters and don’t support the welfare of their
people. They collaborate with their foreign benefactors at the expense of their
own people.
Muslim countries do not support Muslims across the world
because rulers are beholden to foreign powers for support to stay in power.
Muslims are openly incarcerated and mistreated in India, Myanmar, and China and
discriminated against in Israel and across North America and Europe, yet many
Muslim rulers look the other way. Less than a handful of Muslim countries push
back on China, India, and Israel. Muslim leaders have the power to demand
justice but they are afraid because they are insecure in their rule and are not
united across national borders; the talk of Muslim brotherhood is just talk and
nothing more. Israel assassinates Iranian scientists, the United States
assassinates an Iranian general and an Iraqi militia leader and Trump pardons
four murders of Iraqi men, women, and children, and Muslims around the world
and in particular Muslim rulers say little or nothing. Most egregiously, in the
face of these unfolding events and the continued subjugation of Palestinians,
some Arab rulers in the Persian Gulf even embrace Israel openly and others do
the same behind the scenes. Sadly, what they don’t realize is that their
colonial masters know one lesson well—divide and conquer. Having divided
Muslims, these colonialists will more easily discard any ruler when they have
no more use for him. Beware of thine masters!
Let me also say a few words that apply largely to the crisis
in the Middle East (West Asia). The whole region is divided over Israel,
nuclear arms, and sectarian rivalries. Some Arab countries have forgotten the
plight of the Palestinians under Israeli subjugation and decided to embrace
Israel while demanding nothing for Palestinian rights and statehood. Trump has
twisted arms and intervened where he does not belong, such as recognizing
Moroccan territorial claims if they recognize Israel. This kind of pressure
further emboldens Israel’s oppression of Palestinians as they feel Arabs talk
but will do nothing to oppose the subjugation of their fellow Arabs. But Israeli policies will in time backfire on
Israel. Ordinary Arabs will not take this lying down.
With the implicit support of the United States, Israel is
hell-bent on regime change in Iran. Israel has an arsenal of over 230 nuclear
warheads that threaten the region and dictates that no other country in the
region can acquire such weapons and all the while is unwilling to embrace the
only sensible solution—a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East (West
Asia)—supported by Iran and Arabs.
"Muslim countries do not support Muslims across the
world because rulers are beholden to foreign powers for support to stay in
power. "Some Arab rulers, insecure in their illegitimate rule, stoke the
fires of sectarianism—Sunni versus Shia—in order to further divide Muslims and
to perpetuate an ‘us against them’ syndrome in order to shore up their regime.
All the while if one criticizes Israel’s cruel policies that
are akin to apartheid one is called anti-Semitic in the West. It is truly sad
that Jews who suffered so much under Nazi Germany are indifferent to the
suffering of Palestinians. More bombs and U.S. support will not be a long-run
substitute for a just peace for everyone in the region, including for Israel.
Muslims must oppose oppression and injustice wherever and
against whomever it occurs, as must Christians, Jews, and all other persons of
faith. If some Muslims oppress Christians, Jews or any human being, all Muslims
must stand up in opposition. The same is the moral duty of Christians and Jews
and every human being. Humanity is one and evil must be opposed wherever it
occurs.
These are some of the reasons for the crisis in the Muslim
world but not in Islam. Islam was revealed in the Qur’an and it has remained
the same. Muslims must make this distinction and stand up when Islam is
attacked. They should look in the mirror and ask what they can do?”
Q: Who is responsible for what is going on in Muslim
countries?
A: Muslims. It is Muslims who tolerate these conditions.
They should demand a peaceful change. But before they can effectively work for
peaceful change, they should study and debate the deeper meaning of their
religion that includes—justice, freedom, sharing Allah’s bounty, poverty
eradication, effective governance and elimination of corruption and waste,
modest living, affording everyone a good opportunity to grow, with access to
education, healthcare and the minimum in shelter and food for a dignified life.
Again, while rituals are important, the pursuit of the
deeper message of Islam is essential and even more important in creating the
communities envisaged in Islam.
I believe that if Muslims take the message of the Qur’an to
heart and work for peaceful change, unite across the world, rulers and colonial
powers will have little choice but to see what’s down the road if they don’t
listen and support the needed reform in Muslim countries. In time, there will
be blowback that they will not be able to withstand. This will not happen today
or tomorrow but it will happen. How long can you continue to subjugate and
deprive hundreds of millions of their basic human rights and the opportunity to
enjoy a dignified life?
Q: What shape will this “blowback” take? Against whom?
A: If things continue as they are, I believe that in time
there will be violent upheavals in a number of Muslim countries that will
spread like wildfire across the Muslim world as Muslims unite against their
oppressive rulers. And in countries where colonial powers hold sway, colonialists
will be kicked out to never return. It is best to invite peaceful and measured
reforms while such peaceful change is still possible but the sooner the easier
it will be. The passage of time accumulates more grievances and hatred and
makes reconciliation even more difficult.
Q: What can the world do to prevent the crisis that you
speak of?
A: Encourage peaceful reform in Muslim majority countries.
Stop supporting illegitimate and oppressive rulers who will not support
reforms. Stop selling arms that are invariably used to quell domestic protests
and spread mayhem regionally.
Q: Why is there so little effective cooperation among Muslim
countries?
A: The reasons are many. Most Muslims in Muslim majority
countries are struggling to provide for their families. They don’t have the
luxury of time to think and express their views for peaceful change. They live
under oppression and are afraid to even discuss what their religion demands,
let alone seek peaceful change. For instance, in many Muslim countries opposition
to the treatment of Muslims in China or in India would not be tolerated by the
authorities. And in an age where misleading labels are an effective instrument
of intimidation and control, they would
be called Islamists or terrorists and possibly even incarcerated. Many Muslim
rulers care little for the long-term welfare of their people. They are focused
on themselves, their cronies, and important foreign powers for support.
Q: Are you optimistic about the future of Muslims, Muslim
countries, and Iran?
A: Islam is the fastest-growing major religion. It has about
two billion adherents today. Within a few years, followers of Islam will
surpass those who profess Christianity. If numbers are a measure of success,
then the future is indeed bright for Muslims. But to my mind, numbers are only
a part of the story. Muslims will in time discover the essence of their
religion. I am confident that the pressure for reform will be unstoppable and
will usher peaceful, as opposed to violent, change. With the freedom to think,
to dream, and to choose, Muslims will contribute to a more prosperous and
peaceful world, and radicals that have misrepresented Islam and given Muslims a
bad name will be permanently sidelined. Given the freedom and the opportunity
to develop the self, the future is bright.
As for Iran, it has been a special case. Iran was invaded by
Iraq, using banned chemical weapons, other lethal arms, and intelligence, all
from the West. Then as Iran was slowly getting back on its feet, the United
States imposed economic sanctions, which over time became ever more stringent
and crippling to the Iranian economy. To alleviate the crippling burden of
sanctions, Iran gave up some of its sovereign rights and agreed to the JCPOA.
Again, as it started to recover, Trump came along and essentially tore up a
multilateral agreement endorsed by the United Nations Security Council. Wow!
What a history over the last 40 years. But Iranians are resilient, innovative,
and quick to learn. I have seen this in Iranian students in the United States.
Given a supportive environment and the needed opportunities Iran would
flourish. Iran’s Arab neighbors and Turkey should support Iran’s re-integration
into the international community. Iran will always be where it is today.
Cooperation now would be most appreciated and is the best recipe for a
flourishing Middle East (West Asia) of the future. The United States and Europe
should embrace such efforts and once and for all extinguish the flame of
colonialism and its attendant harm and eventual blowback.”
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