Someone recently sent me a video entitled “Where
are the Moderate Muslims?” by Hussein Aboubakr.[1]
The video makes the case that the Muslim world
is dominated by “bad ideas and bad beliefs.” It argues that the only solution
to Islamic terror is Islam reforming itself.
“Until we tell the truth about Islam, the only
solution to Islamic terror will never take place,” the speaker asserted.
Notwithstanding Mr. Aboubakr’s good intentions,
I disagree with this message, or at least the way he communicated it in his closing statement.[2]
First of all, why single out Islam? Much of the
world is dominated by “bad ideas and bad beliefs.” Perhaps there is a much
higher prevalence of “bad ideas and beliefs” in the Islamic world, but by
focusing on those and ignoring others, we aren’t doing justice to the cause. It
appears that we’re only calling out the evils of some and not the evils of
others, and suggests subjective bias. To accurately define ideas and beliefs as
“bad,” it needs to be addressed with objectivity, especially if one hopes to
effectively communicate the message to those who need to hear it most. He ought
to have protested “bad ideas and beliefs” that exist everywhere, but with
special emphasis on those that exist within the Muslim world, due the alarming statistics
that he invoked.
Secondly, “Islam reforming itself” isn’t really
a solution. People must reform themselves, both individually
and collectively. Islam all along has only been a symptom of the problem, not
the root cause. The root is the weakness of the human condition.
Lastly and most importantly, we don’t have to “tell
the truth about Islam.” We need to tell the truth about absolute moral values
and ethics, i.e. the seven universal principles that were enjoined on all the
children of Noah. It’s not our place to try to find those truths within Islam,
or Christianity, or any other religion, for that matter. We just need to teach
the truth about life.
If a Muslim person wishes, he or she can go find
those ideas in Islam, if those ideas do indeed exist. And if they don’t, then
they are free to adapt or reinterpret their religious texts, whether through
exegesis or eisegesis. They’re also free to simply ignore those
indefensible/reprehensible aspects of their religion, or even to repudiate
their religion altogether. But that’s none of our business, or is it even
necessary for Islamic terror to stop. In fact, if we involve ourselves with
that, it is counterproductive.
In other words, we need to teach fellow humans
the universal laws of morality. We don’t need to enter into religious debate or
encourage religious reform, or point out how flawed their religion is. There’s
no reason for us to comment on their religion altogether. I need to teach
humans about the sanctity of human life, for example, one of the Seven Laws. If
someone counters, “But Allah said in the Quran such and such,” I don’t need to
address the Quran at all. Instead, the correct response is: “Allah commanded
all mankind not to murder for any reason. This commandment predates all other
religious codes or books. Allah despises murder, and cherishes all human life,
women and men, young and old, of all races, sizes and colors, irrespective of
whether they even believe in Him and his prophets or not.” This is sacrosanct.
It transcends religion, culture or social norms. It transcends human logic too,
as we have no permission to rationalize and justify murder under any
circumstances.
(That’s just one example, but it applies to all
the Seven Mitzvot and their applications.)
When an Islamist commits an act of murder or
mass murder, it is important to point out first and foremost that this is a
fragile human being who committed this nefarious and depraved act. His motive
is secondary. The fact that he was indoctrinated (by other fragile human
beings) to embrace a false belief system that justifies or glorifies murder is
only a symptom of the problem. If we confuse or conflate it as the main
problem, we are missing the forest for the trees. It’s like blaming murder on
lax gun laws, but then the murderer will drive a pick-up truck or use a machete.
Shall we ban pick-up trucks?
(I agree with the presenter that politicians and
media mislead people when they rush to assure everyone after a jihadist attack
that the atrocity doesn’t represent the true nature of mainstream Islam.
Radical Islamic beliefs need to be identified as the obvious motive.
Agenda-driven white washing is deplorable and dishonest. However, we ought to
be less concerned with motive and more concerned with the moral and ethical
vacuum that allowed those depraved motives to fester in the first place.)
When will finally realize that the root problem
isn’t the truck, or the gun, the knife, or even the incitement or
indoctrination. The underlying problem is that this individual is bereft of
absolute moral values and was never taught to appreciate the infinite and
sacrosanct worth of human life. Had he been, then he would have soundly
rejected anyone else’s attempts to incite or indoctrinate him. Instead, he
would have endeavored to educate the misguided inciter. Surely he would have
had no tolerance for any “bad ideas or bad beliefs” which the presenter
deplores.
We need to teach these Divinely-ordained
principles to all mankind, not just to people of Muslim faiths. Plenty of
Christians (and people of other religious or non-religious beliefs) need to
learn these laws too. Everyone, young and old, irrespective of financial or
social or racial status. Even people who are mentally or emotionally impaired
or challenged need to learn these universal principles too (as their lives are infinitely
valuable and meaningful as all others). They apply to everyone. They
apply equally to Hollywood, to Wall Street, to Main Street, in Rome or
Ramallah, Mecca or Manhattan, churches, mosques and post offices, on land, sea
or in the air.
And that is how we can truly create a solution
to Islamic terror, neo-Nazi terror, and other forms of terror, murders, crimes,
and all other societal ills. That is how we can bring healing and redemption to
our fractured world. This is how we will bring Moshiach NOW!
[1]
Produced by “Prager University.” Link: https://www.prageru.com/videos/where-are-moderate-muslims
[2] I
interpret the presenter’s use of the word “Islam” as a name of a religion or
religious identity. However, if “Islam” refers to society as it exists in
predominantly-Islamic areas, then there is some merit to his message. But my
critique is still relevant. We should not be attacking anyone else’s religion,
but just teach truth. We can criticize behaviors, irrespective of religious or
cultural motivation, and teach the correct behaviors.
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