By Farish Noor
It is odd, to say the least, that after more than 14 centuries there remain some people who claim to be Muslims but have not internalised the universal values of Islam. Odder still there remain those who on the one hand can embrace Islam’s universal claim of brotherhood (and sisterhood) but still cannot get around to understanding the simple idea that Islam and racism do not mix.
Evidence of such discrepancies can be found pretty much everywhere these days. It has, sadly, become the normative cultural norm in so many Muslim societies today that those who are fair are better off and given the privileges that they feel is the natural right of all light-skinned people. It is also interesting to note that Muslims tend to rejoice whenever a white American or European converts to Islam, but seem less enthusiastic in their recognition of the fact that thousands of Africans and Asians are converting to Islam every year.
Furthermore when it comes to governance and politics, it remains painfully clear that some Muslims still place blood and race above competency and merit till today; and that despite their profession of faith they remain embedded in the stagnant mode of racialized thinking that operates on the basis that some races are better than others.
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3 comments:
Cranky,
I used to follow his blog until he said he wasn't going to write anymore. He was kinda upset about something lah. So after going back a couple of times and seeing nothing, I stopped going altogether.
I am so glad to find this here. His is a wonderful mind, isn't it? Reading him is a whole experience - not simply running your eyes over the words.
Thanks for this, deary.
Pat
Imagine, sitting between Farish Noor and that Cur Toyol on a long flight... heaven and hell are right here on earth, in our very heads and hearts, Cranky! (may I call you that, rather like the sound of it ;-)
Pat, all these smart guys get upset for a bit and then disappear. But they always come back. I hope Aisehman comes back too. I miss him.
Aisehman, Farish Noor, Bakri Musa and Azly Rahman (and also Zaid Ibrahim) are all brilliant Malay men who have no need for crutches and wheelchairs.
Antares, that's a thought. Sure, you can call me Cranky. Everyone else does, anyway! :)
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