The action
My action was about trying to dispel the myths about the Muslim religion. The reason this religion is dear to me is not because I am a follower of the
Qur’an, but rather because I am not. The influx of immigrants into Australia has raised questions about our ability, as a society, to accept the unknown. Ideas that they are “taking our jobs” and even “taking over” have been on the scene since Pauline Hanson was in the news. But it started long before her. It probably all started after the devastation of the Second World War. It is still common for our grandparents to rant about those they fought against all those years ago.
My action was a way for me to find out more, to talk to Muslim academics, to research studies about contemporary Islam in our society, and how it all fits in with Australian society. If we look at what we witness in the news and in our own lives, it becomes obvious that Muslims are not always welcome. The Cronulla riots are a prime example. Then Prime Minister John Howard of course played down the charade, “I don’t believe we have underlying racism in this country”, he said. But many disagreed. How could targeting people of a certain appearance not be some form of discrimination? The riots were ugly. But it didn’t stop there, and I doubt that our issues with multiculturalism can be fixed easily.
However, with understanding comes acceptance. With acceptance comes compassion. My action was never about promoting my knowledge of Islam, nor was it about defending this religion. What I wanted to do, by interviewing academics, writing articles and doing my research, was to understand a world different from my own. And I think that I did that.
What came about
It was of course difficult with time restraints but I was amazed how easy it is to download lectures from academics around the world. These people are experts in the field, “Islamicists” as they are called. So I ended up doing more reading and less interviewing than anticipated. But I expected that my original action would probably change.
I spoke to a member of the Monash University’s Islamic Society, about his experiences. Something I found interesting from this interview was that he said university has been a way for him and other Muslims to connect with the community. He said it was easier for him to make friends and to feel a sense of belonging in the community. Manzar believed that in society, the reaction to Muslims is a tad different. He said that negative media coverage goes a long way. I also read a number of lectures from Melbourne University’s Centre for Islamic Studies.
Any new things I learned
These are probably the most interesting points I gathered from my research:
- “There has been very little comparative study on Islam as a religion,” Professor Riaz Hassan in his book, Inside Muslim Minds. There is a tendency to believe that Islam is a religion that is the same across the globe, when in fact it should be understood and studied according to the region in which the religion rests.
- There is a tendency to stereotype Muslims like no one else
- Richard Dawkins said that above any other religion, Islam is “off limits” when it comes to criticism from outside parties
- Fazlur Rahman in his book The Major Themes of the Qur’an says that the central aim of the Qur’an is to establish a viable social order, one that is socially and ethically sound.
- The Muslim world struggles when it comes to producing high ranking universities, Professor Riaz Hassan believes that this is because universities “flourish in an environment in which civil society is robust and there is doubt and debate”. In the Muslim world, there is little doubt and debate, tolerance is an important part of their society.
- “Until recently, more than 50 per cent of Muslims could not read – they were non-literate”, Professor Riaz Hassan said. The implications of this non-literacy is that Muslim as a religion has relied on word-of-mouth. If a Muslim follower believes his faith because he has read the Qur’an, he is different from the Muslim that heard the stories from his parents.
- The reason that we judge someone, say the woman on the street wearing the headscarf is not because we see another culture when we look at her, but because we see another law, according to Professor Gassan Hage.
Ideas for the future
I don’t know what the answers are for understanding other cultures, and embracing other religions in our society. I do know that we do have to try. I think my action was important for me because it reintroduced me to learning something new. I think criticism and cynicism are important. We shouldn’t just accept what we are told. So my ideas for the future, for me, are to continue my research into this area. On a smaller level, I want to be able to discuss what I know in terms of discrimination, and what I have learnt from this action.
Lastly…
“Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life” — Sandra Carey
I like this quote; it sums up what I wanted to say. Never stop learning.
