[ALOCHONA] Don't even ignore them!

Don't even ignore them!

Ameer Hamza

Islam-bashing material of such bad taste has been circulating on the internet that one wonders whether the same quarters that have been bent on baiting impressionable young people ---- those born into the faith ---- into reacting with blind anger, are behind this dastardly mal-propaganda. If hard-boiled atheists are out to convert others need they adopt such perverse means? The contents on the net suggest the attackers need to have their heads examined.

Those who don't know better, do indeed go livid with rage, as is evident after every such offending act. Consider the latest, so-called 'accidental' Quran- burning by American soldiers in Afghanistan. Some have commented that the Quran-burning was 'tailor-made,' to trigger violence. It was inevitable, given the raw emotions of believers in general. This scribe would like to tell the offended followers of Islam to exercise the utmost patience vis-vis the miscreants propagating such vile hatred. For these perpetrators are indeed despicable and even noticing them would be equal to honouring such scum. So, as one 'murrubbi' keeps advising, 'Don't even ignore them!' If only the majority of the adherents of Islam were so 'cool'.

It would be quite pertinent to ask, however --- as one cool Muslim does on the net --- 'What conceivable civilised aim can be achieved by denigrating a Prophet of 1.6 billion Muslims?' This scribe for one believes it is likely to be more than just sick fun on the part of those obsessed with the present world's fastest growing religion. Mind you, the western media keeps using the word 'fundamentalist' to describe the fanatic fringe within Islam, although originally it should apply to someone who is an adherent of the basic principles of any given faith. But what does one find in the media? Stereotypical images of intolerant, ignorant and self-righteous bigots, rather than no-nonsense believers in the religion preached by Islam's modest Messenger!

Dispassionate scholars of world religions cannot but find Islam to be one of the most reasonable monotheistic faiths of man. But that does not prevent mal-propagandists from relentlessly portraying it as irrational, misogynistic and regressive, misreading the texts totally out of context. Some groups professing to be Islamic, have unfortunately been promoting such distortions much more than the actual creed. Consider the average 'waaz mehfil' in dear Bangladesh --- the preacher's pathological obsession with the prurient, specifically women's bodies!

High time all these were put right and every prejudicial media onslaught countered sensibly, with the help of informed scholars and seekers of truth. There is hardly any scope for obscurantism if the holy Book is properly comprehended, nor is there much gap between the values that Islam and secular humanism hold dear.

Our secular intellectuals, most of whom feel awkward about professing Islam, need also to delve deep into the nature and purpose of all human religions, in order to recognise, understand and appreciate the diversity and power of true faith. They ought to be fair in their approach to the 'overly religious.'

At the same time it would be wise to watch out for saboteurs in our midst. Consider how much that is anti-Islamic --- such as the Taliban's banning of girls from schools and women from working --- is projected as 'Islamic fundamentalism' despite the fact that the Prophet had declared specifically: 'The acquisition of knowledge is a duty incumbent on every Muslim, male or female.'

Self-respecting intellectuals and genuine Islamic scholars have a duty to resist distortions and fight falsehood with the correct information and interpretation of the Quran and the Hadith. Ignorance and intolerance are both anti-Islamic and must not be allowed to hold sway. It needs no saying that religion can be easily abused just like any other human activity. And traditions too can become ossified enough to prevent spiritual growth, if followed mindlessly.

Some say that the most notorious secret services today are collaborating to make cannon fodder out of the over-fertile Muslims! They are allegedly planting saboteurs of all kinds within bona fide Islamic groups, or even creating factions for 'false flag operations'. Virtually every Muslim-dominated region in today's world seems to be infested with such agents. Everyone knows that chimeras like the Taliban were sponsored by vested powers initially to be used against communism, which was believed to be anti-God. Today assorted fanatic groups have come up, to be used in all kinds of low- and-high-intensity conflicts, psychological operations, as and when required, to safeguard the interests of those vested groups who cunningly created them. So, true followers of Islam better act to educate their brethren properly. For it is the ignorant herd that is open to the risk of being baited, and used and abused.

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=122111&date=2012-03-03

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