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Your letters - posted July 1, 2005

Posted in Q & A on Jul 01, 2005

Posted July 1, 2005

“I’m 28. I was born and live in France, but my parents are from Morocco. When I was 15 I asked them if was a Muslim only because I was born in their house. I didn’t want to be a Muslim this way. I didn’t want to repeat traditions, to be a virgin waiting for a Muslim husband. My parents are cool. I studied in Catholic schools. But I’m still fighting to be a free woman, a free Muslim. I thank you for your book and I’m ready to follow you.” - Sabrina

Irshad replies: Please don’t follow me. (In saying this, I know I’m speaking for most Muslims!) Instead, Sabrina, follow your conscience. Clearly, you’re already doing that and I commend you for it. But in looking for someone to “follow,” I implore you not to discount your own leadership skills. You can lead me, not the other way around.

How do I know this? Project Ijtihad is a perfect case in point. The idea for it came from young Muslims. After my public appearances, a bunch of them would say: “Irshad, sign me up. What are next steps?” And I would reply: “You tell me what next steps are.” That’s when they would reveal their needs — the need for permission to dissent openly with orthodoxy, the need for a physical space in which to meet and discuss issues, and the need for more education about the Golden Age of Islam, when Muslims, Jews, Christians and others worked in relative harmony to preserve and expand knowledge. Young Muslims are the ones who’ve set this agenda. I’m only helping to make it a reality. In that sense, I’m following people like you.

“Salams!! Regarding Project Ijtihad, hats off to you!!! I was born and brought up in a moderately liberal (read as: my dad doesn’t sport a beard and my mom doesn’t wear the hijab… but boyfriends are a no-no) family and I have always wanted to ask the BIG questions pertaining to Islam. Such as: Why can’t women lead a prayer in a mosque? What happens to lesbians and gays who are Muslims?

I have had a lot of Christian friends and I admire their Sunday school system wherein you get to meet people of your age and have festivals and competitions. My friends used to take part in all such events and the best part was that they learned about God through music. One of the greatest tragedies, though, was that two of my closest friends converted to Christianity and I couldn’t do anything to stop them. Reason they converted: antiquated notions and too much mullah-believing.

I sincerely feel that when you start your school (inshallah, in the near future!!) you should encourage new methods of teaching. Unlike the older methods where a teacher simply lectures and the students listen. Best of luck.” - Rehab

Irshad replies: I couldn’t agree more that most schools, not just Islamic ones, need new methods of educating — less “teaching of” students and more “learning with” students. I explained above what I learned from young Muslims in order to launch Project Ijtihad. Well, here’s another result of learning with: The online Arabic translation of my book.

You see, after The Trouble with Islam Today came out in both Canada and Germany, my inbox began filling up with messages from young Muslims in the Arab world. They appealed to me to get the book translated into Arabic so that they could share these ideas with their friends. My standard, totally unimaginative response: “Please. Name one Arab publisher with the guts to touch this book.”

Most of these young Muslims wrote back to say: Why rely on the publishing establishment? Why not get the book translated and post that translation on your site? When we can download it, free of charge, that means we’ll be able to read the book in privacy and safety — something we won’t have if we carry the book around with us. And that, in turn, will let us share your ideas with our peers.

I loved the logic and took their advice. Since then, we’ve had thousands of downloads.

The point is, “learning with” made me a more effective educator. The leadership center that Project Ijtihad will establish is meant to cultivate the leadership of students and not just of educators. So I’ll happily take your advice. May you teach me as much as other young Muslims have.

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“If you read all the books with an open mind you will realize that Islam is perfect today just as it was brought down many years ago. Unfortunately, realizing this does require spirituality, which is lacking from all that we see coming from you… I am a Muslim student studying in the West and have no problem practicing my religion the ‘right’ way as well as socializing and having fun within the laws of Sharia. Those who complain that they are not comfortable with the rules of Islam today, it is better that they leave the religion and seek their desires elsewhere. It seems that Islam is too good for their kind. What you have brought about is corrupting the minds of youths, and I don’t know what pleasure you get out of it.” — Aamina

Irshad replies: Pleasure? Try a more appropriate word: purpose. For me, promoting ijtihad is about having a sense of obligation to a new generation of Muslims.

Let me tell you a story. I speak a lot about diversity at high schools, colleges and universities. Even before 9/11, after many of my speeches, I noticed that it was young Muslims who would emerge from the audiences. They’d gather at the side of the stage, start chatting excitedly amongst themselves, wait for everyone else to filter out, then walk over to me and say, “We need more voices such as yours to help us open up this religion of ours. Because if it doesn’t open up, we’re leaving it.”

Woohoo! Your wish for struggling Muslims to leave the religion might just come true. Does that make Aamina happy? More importantly, do you think that makes Allah happy? If not, then please try understanding a basic point: Restoring ijtihad isn’t about corrupting Islam, but about saving it. And that’s what gives me pleasure. God, I’m such a hedonist.

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“As a gift for my 26-year-old activist daughter, who is a great admirer of yours, I am compiling a scrapbook of advice from wise women. I know you are very busy doing your good work, but if you have a few minutes, might you be willing? A small donation will be made to the charity of your choice.” - Mary

Irshad replies: The credo by which I live, and which I hope will inspire your daughter, combines the words of the Muslim love poet, Rumi, and the words of civil rights champion Martin Luther King, Jr. In one of his most memorable poems, Rumi advises us all to “start a huge, foolish project like Noah. It makes absolutely no difference what people think of you.” Reading this was first time I’d heard anyone, living or dead, affirm that social approval isn’t necessary. It’s nice; just not necessary.

Great, your daughter might say, but how do I deal when people, including my friends, dog me out for breaking silences? Enter Martin Luther King, Jr. When he was chastised by his fellow Christian clergymen for creating “needless tension,” MLK Jr didn’t cower or cave. He embraced their accusation. In his now-famous Letter from a Birmingham Jail, MLK wrote:

I must confess that I am not afraid of the word ‘tension.’ I have earnestly opposed violent tension, but there is a type of constructive non-violent tension which is necessary for growth. Just as Socrates felt that it was necessary to create a tension in the mind so that individuals could rise from the bondage of myths and half-truths to the unfettered realm of creative analysis, so we must see the need for non-violent gadflies to create the kind of tension in society that will help men rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood.’

In other words, Mary, your daughter WILL be accused of creating “needless tension”. She must give her critics credit for being half right. Tension, it is. Needless, it is not. Recognizing this is what allows me to keep advocating the liberal reformation of Islam.

Speaking of advocacy, please make your charitable donation to Project Ijithad. Remember: You get what you pay for — and as much as you pay for!

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“Miss Irshad, you know Islam does not need reform. There are 102400 prophets who came into this world and God sent the book to them. And then Mohammad (peace be upon him) came into this world and God sent His last book to Mohammad (peace be upon him). God told the universe that I have a complete religion, Islam, and that there is no other prophet coming to this world… We should be proud of how Islam spread in the West and around the world. People like you can’t be Muslim. If you have already changed your religion, tell the world and never try to hid your identity. One thing else. If you look at history, more Muslims have died by Christians and Jews than any other. Also, Islam has given the rights of women a thousand years ago, but these Western countries just gave those rights to their women. It’s very easy to write and sell this type of garbage.” - Anis

Irshad replies: Whose garbage are you referring to? Yours or mine? Assuming it’s mine, well, don’t be so sure that it’s easy to sell. Muslims who want to exercise independent thinking are, by definition, picky consumers. Check out the next letter…

“At first I thought you were a real anti-Muslim. I decided this was a good enough label for you and continued my day a little frustrated with some of your remarks. A few weeks later I was strolling down the vast aisles of Chapters [a bookstore chain in Canada], when suddenly I bumped into a table holding copies of your book. After some deliberation, I decided I could not simply label you without giving you a chance to explain your ideas. I mean, if I have not read your book, then how can I judge it or you?

So I purchased the book and finished reading it that very day! I received much criticism from my family and friends on how unproductive reading the book was and that there are so many other important books I could have read. My response to them: Really? Have you read it? I may not agree with some of the things you say, but I can truly appreciate your struggle with Islam as I, myself, am struggling.

I am very lost, and mostly lost in my interpretation. Your book has assisted me in the practice of ijtihad. But does ijithad really cure the struggle? Thank you for your excellent contribution to both the Western and Muslim cultures.” - Shazeem

Irshad replies: The word “ijtihad” comes from the same root as “jihad” — meaning “to struggle.” On that basis alone, we know that ijtihad doesn’t cure struggle. Sometimes, it initiates struggle; a struggle to understand the big, complex world around us. But that’s a good thing. For without struggle, there’s no growth. There’s only certainty. Ideology. Rigidity. Which is why I’m not interested in a “cure” for struggle; I’m interested in making struggle constructive.

I know you’re uncomfortable with being lost in interpretation. You’d rather feel safe and anchored. That requires predictability. Are you prepared to accept utter boredom as the price of safety? “No,” you might answer, “but I also don’t want to lose faith.” You don’t have to. Keep in mind that faith never needs to be threatened by questions. You know what does? Dogma.

So let me leave you with one final question: What are you struggling for? Dogmatists struggle to impose and conquer. But you can struggle to understand and grow. Ijtihad is a tool — and it’s as constructive or destructive as you intend it to be.

Want my advice? You grow, girl!