So it seems stress is no longer reserved for corporate drones or single-moms, at least thats what a new report in The Journal of Muslim Mental Health tells us. Yea, that’s what I said too, now they have a journal to publish any scientific evidence that we are crazy. Apprently 9/11 shook the imbalance of stress in America, allowing more people, including the Muslims, to enjoy this fundamental part of Americal life. The reason? Well, it seems to stem from the little known fact that most Americans hate or at least fear us. To be honest, I just can’t grasp how my shaved head and fist-long beard would intimidate somebody. Jerry curls and a fu man shu, now that’s scary combination.
Muslims really seem to be afraid of discrimination whether it’s at work, school, or Gap. They have good reason, a recent poll stated that more than 31% of Americans felt prejudice against Muslims (the same amount said we should carry ID cards) and 22% said they wouldn’t want Muslim neighbors. I bet you anything they interviewed my neighbors for that poll, who ironically are Muslim too.
So now imagine this scenario: you walk into the Gap, looking for a pair of faded jeans, and the 3 guys at the counter stare at you funny. That means that at least one of them hates you because your Muslim, the other two are gay so just try not to give any mixed signals. Either way your destined for bad service. The way I see it, it’s just our turn to be the victims of American society’s indiscriminatory hate. It happened to the Blacks in the South until recently, it happened to Chinese on the West coast, and to Jews in the Northeast. It was only a matter of time.
Now all joking aside anxiety is really taking a toll on us American Muslims. The USA Today reported on this recent study saying, “Muslims, who made up 70% of the study’s participants, had poorer mental health than Christians.” Can you believe it? And an even more shocking conclusion, “[...] Arab-Americans, they had much worse mental health than Americans overall.” Another scare tactic, watch out for the mentally-imbalanced American Muslim; just when we thought we were in the clear.
I think the remedy for this problem is fairly simple. We need to take it easy on our self. We have it hard as it is, just trying maintain as a Muslim is difficult. If despite being in a environment that isn’t exactly Shari’ah Compliant, we are still able to hold on to our deen, then that is something to be thankful of. The world’s going to be full of “playa-hataz.” As humans we tend to hate what we can’t understand. As long as there is this ignorance amongst the general public, discrimination is going to exist. If we think we have it bad, just remember how bad the Prophet (peace be upon him) had it when he went to Ta’if.
There is a comforting fact however, and that is that more and more Americans are embracing Islam, despite what may be said about the pre-exisiting Muslims here. More and more Americans are realizing that Islam is not what they see on CNN but something that can bring peace not only to hearts, but societies as well. If our goal in this country is for da’wah, then we should realize that we are still in good shape and not let anything phase us. If we’re just here to benefit from the value of the American dollar, then don’t feel bad if they don’t hire you because your name is Mohammad. So before you start poppin Prozac, just remember our purpose here; and if that doesn’t help just remind yourself of the struggles the Prophet (peace be upon him) went through to spread Islam.
By the way, I’m going to bill you for this counseling session.
Dear Mr. Pope
written for a newspaper:
Once again the Muslim world is under the spotlight, this time in regards to Pope Benedict’s recent comments on Prophet Muhammad. He quoted a Byzantine emperor stating that Muhammad has brought nothing new to the world that wasn’t “evil and inhumane”. However, his comments are not unusual, as they fit into a centuries old stream of anti-Islamic rhetoric coming from those solely seeking to provoke a negative reaction from Muslims. In the midst of the “war on terror,” it was only a matter of time before religion became entangled on both sides of the front. It now seems that Islam is not only being pinned against democracy, but Christianity as well. This meditated agitation of Muslims seeks only to showcase Islam as a series of violent protests and riots.
Despite the worldwide condemnations and calls for apology of the Pope’s irresponsible comments, there has not been an answer to the question: HAS Muhammad brought anything new that wasn’t “evil and inhumane”? It is however one of the many questions that Muslims have been forced to answer in recent years.
To see the goodness and humanity in what Muhammad brought we need only to look at his words. In his final sermon, shortly before his death he addressed his followers, “O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you […] Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers [… ] All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a nonArab nor a nonArab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action.” These words may seem to belong in the era of the Civil Rights movement, but were uttered over 1400 years ago.
Muhammad left us a way of life that sought to return people to a state of virtue and righteousness. Islam was only a return to these ideals and not a beginning because it is a continuation of the same inherent message that Judaism and Christianity brought to the world.
If we review history we find that Muhammad used Islam’s doctrines of peace, brotherhood, and humanity to clear the darkness that had settled over pre-Islamic Arabia. In a time and place where new-born girls were buried alive for their lack of social value, Islam gave women the right to live, inherit wealth, and be equal members of society. Women’s rights, is a concept that has only recently taken hold internationally. Islam brought justice and peace to places of extreme corruption and lawlessness. The city of Madinah was on the brink of being destroyed by tribal warfare, when it’s leaders sought Muhammad and the humanity in his message to bring peace to the ravaged city. Not only did he bring stability but also he united in brotherhood tribes and factions that had previously fought each other for centuries. It is clear to see that Muhammad’s words and his actions embody the same ideals and principles that we all value here in the West.
There are no crimes unique to Islam, not even terrorism. To say that terrorism is rooted in the fundamental teaching of Islam is just as ridiculous as saying that child molestation is rooted in Catholicism. Which of course is not true. Islam does not hate freedom nor does it fight against it. All violence is reactionary, and it is impossible and irresponsible to take the events taking place in the world today out of their political and economic context. There is no sole reason for something happening, and there is no one catalyst of change. Instead of fanning the flames of hate and animosity, instead of working against promoting a peaceful world, we can all accept our responsibilities toward one another. The same responsibilities that have been enjoined on all people of faith, to respect, honor, and care each other.