+9/12729, 7:04 PM George Curzon | Perspectives OF A Fellow Traveler Perspectives Of A Fellow Traveler Ablog on Religion, philosophy, travel, and more from the perspective of an American, Muslim convert living in Indonesia, ¥g on Religion, philosophy, P ig whom majored in Philosophy and Religion at The University Of North Carolina At Pembroke. ‘TAG ARCHIVES: GEORGE CURZON George Curzon, the British oe ame Le ee Lo) Affair, 1911 - 1921. cers tekken aoe WOUUTEO Le aac) etna SO ae CO Eee CR Ce jalready succeeded in finishing off the (eee MR a ea tor MU COV meee ee TULA me Cm WORM Oat tom ent ole eg OTTER a, you agren to their use Close and accept nips: foerspectivesofatellowtraveler wordpress, comtag/george-curzon! 1811712108, 7:04 PM George Curzon | Perspectives OF A Fellow Traveler Before | begin I would like fo point out that this is not directed at all Muslims, as there are many that already have nothing but love their brothers and sisters from different Islamic traditions, but to those whom stil remain in their ignorance and bigotry. “Wo must put an end to anything which brings about any Islamic unity between the sons of the Muslims. As we have already succeeded in finishing off the Khilafah, so we must ensure that there will never arise again unily for the Muslims, whether it be intellectual or cultural unity.” -Goorge Curzon, former British Foreign Minister ‘As a Muslim when ever I read that quote | get infuriated, There has never before been any moment in history with a greater need « Muslim unity than the present moment. Yet when | think of that quote, no matter how mad | get, | realize Islam does not need any « side force to keep it divided, we do that ourselves. Sure the European nations which colonized the Islamic world divided it up into « perficial states that did not exist before hand, However the problems that prevent Islamic unity are religious and theological, and th disputes are caused by Muslims. Atpresent moment Shia and Sunni Muslims both condemn and kill each other. The animosity between Sunni and Shia is one that ‘existed since atleast the Abbasid era (1258 C.E). There is a history of violence and persecution of Ahmadiyya by their Muslim brot cers, More recently Hadith believers and those who do not accept the Hadith, Quranist, both denounce each other as not being rea Muslims. Itis not just sect against sect, itis sometimes madhhab! against madhhab''. Once here in Indonesia | heard an Imam say that Muslims in North Africa don't have figh because they follow the Malki madhhab. This mentality of, “If you don't believe just as you are not a Muslim, you are not my brother or sister." has to stop”. “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” “Abraham Lincoln Sunni and Shia Muslims proying together in Iraq. Can you distinguish between the two? Privacy & Cookies: Ths site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use. To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy nitps:foerspectivesofatelowtraveler wordpress. comvtaglgeorge-curzon! 21811712108, 7:04 PM George Curzon | Perspectives OF A Fellow Traveler THAT STORY YOUCAN'T STOP. J THINKING ABOUT? YEAH, THAT WASUS. The Consequences Of This Infighting “The world is no longer a collection of disconnected nations and peoples but an interconnected global community, which the Islamic world and Muslims are apart of. Ths is due to the advent of jet planes and the internet. People can travel from one side of the plar to the next in less than a day now and information can circle the globe with the press of a button, When something happens on on side of the planet, it can be known all over the globe almost instantly. Another reality of the madem world is: whether we lke it or n regardless of whether its fair or not, Non-Muslims judge Islam based on our actions. Every single Muslim, no mater what sect ort dition they follow is an ambassador of Islam to the World, Whenever one Muslim calls another Muslim, who practices a diferent form of Islam a disbeliever, insults them, and/or threatens th this has far reaching consequences, As does assaulting these Muslims or vandalizing thelr Mosques and homes, even in the most mote lands. In this technologically advanced age of social media and news outlets, news can travel very far and fast. Nothing mak ‘great ratings for a news story quite like violence and hate carried out by Muslims, in the West, where Islamophobia runs ramped. I Muslim writes derogatory remarks about a fellow Muslim on the internet, itis likely to remain there permanently for alto see. Islamophobes and those who wish to discredit Islam love it wien Muslims participate inthis type of behavior. It gives validity to the wortd view, Ifyou ive in an Islamic country or one with a Muslim majority population, you will probably not feel the effects of this type of behav but if you are a brother or sister who lives in North America, Europe, or any Muslim minority country you will. As a Muslim who has lived in a small town in the American Southeast, | experienced back lash from this type of behavior. | was told that | believed in a Satanic religion and that | would one day become a full fledged terrorist. When one Muslim disrespects a Muslim of a different vari Muslim around the world feel it. Not only does this make the lives of our brothers and sisters who live in Muslim minority countries more difficult, it also makes the work our brothers and sisters who undertake performing dawah’ more dificult as well. Anyone who has ever performed dawah, or who defends Islam from Christian missionaries and apologists, can tell you that the atrocities carried out by supposed Muslims cor up very often. Christian missionaries and apologists use such material to make Islamophobic material, to create hate among Non- Muslims, whom are not well educated, against Islam, When a Muslim disrespects another Muslim or commits acts of violence agai them, he or she gives the enemies of Islam ammunition to use against us. everisements When a Muslim hurts another Muslim of a different sect or background, not only does he hurt that brother or sister, he hurts all Musiims, including those of their own variety, such as his own mother and father. A believer in Islam who does such things is even ‘more Anti-lslamic than the worst Islamophobe, close minded missionary and apologist. Privacy & Cookies: Ths site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use. To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy nitps:foerspectivesofatelowtraveler wordpress. comvtaglgeorge-curzon! 3811712108, 7:04 PM George Curzon | Perspectives OF A Fellow Traveler |our infighting and hatred harms our religion, then our doing the exact opposite will strengthen it. This could bring with it several b efits for both us as individual Muslims and our religion as a whole. 1. Islam's Self Image AAs | said before, we as Muslims are representatives of our religion, when people see us, they believe they see Islam. Islam is a rel sion of peace. Islam calls us to better our world, to help our fellow man, not just our fellow Muslims, to establish and protect justice Yet when people see infighting in Istam, Muslim's killng one another, it causes doubts. "How can it be a religion of peace, when thi Kill each other?” Fortunately the opposite is also true, when we lve by Islam, and we love our fellow Muslims as ourselves, as the Prophet commanded us”, the image of Istam can inspire not doubt, but interest in Islam, even conversion to the faith! Malcolm X is a prime example of the power the image of Islam has to change people’s lives, When he was first introduced to Islarr was by the Nation of Islam, a racist, black supremest religious group. He adhered to this view for sometime, but after journeying to Mecca, where he saw equality between Muslims, despite the color of their skin, he renounced his belief in racism and embraced Sunni Ista.” 2. Tighter Ummah" This serves two functions, frst with a tighter community we can stand together more firmly. When a crisis strikes, whether man ma ‘or natural, community and unity is a must. Members of a community must come together to support one another. As the old adage goes, there isin fact strength in numbers. A community is alot ike a forest, when a wind storm comes the trees support each othe ‘some block the wind, others entangle their roots, but they all support each other. Thus the trees in the forest will have a better chai of surviving, than a lone tree, or disconnected tress, Secondly witha tighter Ummah comes a more closer knit brotherhood and sisterhood of Islam. Not only can this cause us to build stronger relationships with members of the Muslim community this can offer us great leaming experiences. Though we may disagi (on some issues, we agree on many as well, and we could learn how to see these commonalities from different perspectives. Tho Commonalities All Muslims Share We do disagree on some issues, such as the hadiths”, and these differences are important ones that we should be able to discus: freely with one another, but we also have many commonalities. These include: 41. Belief in one God Allah, 2. Belief in Muhammad (PBUH) as a prophet. Privacy & Cookies: Ths site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use. To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy nitps:foerspectivesofatelowtraveler wordpress. comvtaglgeorge-curzon! 4811712108, 7:04 PM George Curzon | Perspectives OF A Fellow Traveler 4. Prayer 5. Fasting 6. Giving to poor 7. Pilgrimage Con you distinguish Sup, Shio, Quronist, Ahmadiyya, and Sunni from each other? We don't have to agree on everything, but we do need realize that at the core of our Islamic traditions is the same foundation. We may not disagree with these elements, but we may differ in our interpretation of them, and we need to realize and accept that. Itis certainly possible to disagree with out being disagreeable. How Can We Bring about Muslim Unity? 1. We have respect each other as Muslims Not only must different Musims and their beliefs be tolerated but they each must be counted as a full member of the Muslim comm nity, More so, we as individual Muslims have to love each other as brothers and sisters in Islam, even if we do not believe the exac same way they do. 2. We have to educate ourselves We have to educate ourselves, so that we can become more familiar with the beliefs of our brothers and sisters. The more we edu cate ourselves, the less allen those different from us appear, More so there is much negative, false material out there that demoniz Muslims from various Islamic tradition, this education can give us the abily to shift through this stuff and to defend each other aga those that wish to divide us. When you are leaming itis important to be critical of your sources. As Krister Stendahl said, “When trying to understand another religion, you should ask the adherents of that religion and not its enemies." Privacy & Cookies: Ths site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use. To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy ew AFSC ary Ung, ICES WTLECT BONO WHICH OSC age = YPOOPT OF PROPIA VON DeGE Wey WaT Ker ene eH nitps:foerspectivesofatelowtraveler wordpress. comvtaglgeorge-curzon! 51811712108, 7:04 PM George Curzon | Perspectives OF A Fellow Traveler ‘other Muslims whom come from the different Islamic traditions. 3. We have to educate our children Just as important, if not more so, than educating ourselves, we have to educate our children. Itis cliche to say, but stil very true, 0 children are our future, More so they and their children are our extensions into the future. We need to be very mindful of their educ tion about others, even more than we are with ours. f you beftiend believers from other Islamic traditions and they have children, i {roduce your children to them. Their most important source of education must be from you though. Not your words but your actions Your children must lean how to respect other Muslims from how you respect them. Be sure you set a positive example for your ch 4dren to follow, for the world of tomorrow is built by our actions of today, and through our children, we will inhabit that world What This Does Not Mean Advertisements Injection pla $155.00 ‘This does not mean you have to accept, agree with, or believe in what other Muslims, those different from you believe in. It does mean you have to respect their right fo believe in it and their right to practice their form of Islam, n. Potent eee ee ee kK: i te Lastly if you ever think about hating a fellow Mustim or if you think that a Muslim is not your brother or sister just because they do r believe and practice exactly like you, and stop and remember this Privacy & Cookies: Ths site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use. To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy hitps:foerspectivesofatelowtraveler wordpress. convtagigeorge-curzon! 5811712108, 7:04 PM ‘George Curzon | Perspectives OFA Fellow Traveler “We must put an end to anything which brings about any Islamic unity between the sons of the Muslims. As we have already ‘succeeded in finishing off the Khilafah, so we must ensure that there will never arise again unity for the Muslims, whethor it bo intellectual or cultural unity.” George Curzon, former British Foreign Minister Sometimes called Quran Aloners, Quran Alone Muslims, or by their detractors Hadith Rejectors. liA school of usual al-Figh, which is principals of Jurisprudence liiThis is a new occurrence. Historically mast of the Sunni schools of Madhhab respected each other and considered each to valid. Robinson, Francis, Atlas of the Islamic World since 1500, New York, NY: Facts On File, 1982. Print. Pp 29 ivThis issue is not unique to Islam. In Judaism the Ultra-Orthodox jews considers Conservative, Reform, and Reconstruction Judaism not to be real Judaism. In Christianity, many evangelical and fundamentalist Christians believe that Catholic and Orthodox Christians are not really Christians and that they are idolaters. vThe preaching of Islam to Non-Muslims to convert them vi*None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself, Al-Bukhari, Book 2, Volume 1, Hadith 12 vilMalcolm, X, and Alex Haley. The Autobiography of Malcolm X: With the Assistance of Alex Haley. New York: Grove Press, 1! Print. pp. 388-393 vilidrabic for nation or community, ixSunni and Shia do not except all of the same traditions, though there is much overlap, where as the Quran Alone Muslims not accept any hadiths, as their name suggests. xStendahl's three rules of religious understanding. xiSuch as Karen Armstrong. 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