New Start
Posted on January 20th, 2009 by Tariq Nelson
After Chief Justice Roberts botched the oath of office, President Obama promised new start for the Muslim World
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
Let’s see how they respond
Filed under: Politics
“To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history;”
This is so disingenuous….this is a description of Mubarak and the Sa’udis and the King of Jordan and all the other rulers in the Muslim world who rule exactly through these techniques and have always been and will continue to be, the allies of the US. What a joke! (except it isn’t at all funny).
Problem is that those rulers are (well maybe except for Egypt) are exactly who the people love and want in power. That is who they want and not much we can do about that. No more idiotic “regime change”
AA-
Excellent point Abu Noor.
“Problem is that those rulers are (well maybe except for Egypt) are exactly who the people love and want in power.”
Tariq, how can you so definitively say that? After all, you know there is no genuine democratic system in those states.
Salam alaykum,
No Tariq, the Muslim people don’t want dictators with death-squads, torturers and muqabarat harassing them daily.
Obama is calling for a “new way forward, with mutual respect” - yet he insults the memories and intelligence of those who know US policies have only continued to encourage those puppets to suffocate and destroy anything positive to emerge. So how is this, ‘new?’
Apparently, you are echoing this sentiment, when you claim “that is who they want.” Sadly, you are mistaken, and blinded by your racial allegiances and the hype of this Obama reverie, which will soon fade as events unfold.
@ Naeem
I can’t say it definitively, but from talking to people over the years they tell me that the monarchies in Jordan and KSA are both pretty much beloved. Who knows…
I am not convinced that a democratic system is right for those particular states anyway. I don’t think that democracy works in every place and every culture. I say that if they are satisfied with Kingdoms, then that is THEIR country (not ours) and let them live as they want.
@ Shakir b
This has nothing to do with race, so let us please leave this out. I have always heard that the Kings of Jordan and Saudi Arabia are generally beloved (not so with Egypt).
My point is that we should leave those countries alone and let them decide their own destiny WITHOUT any of our interference. If they want kingdoms, then let that be. That is not any of our business how THEY choose to rule themselves.
And further to what Tariq has said, if that’s not what they want, let them go out and change it. To me it is that simple.
I don’t see where racial allegiance was ever mentioned, and Tariq is hardly an Obama apologist.
AA- Tariq,
I don’t think its as black/white as you present it. Many of these despots and rulers are propped up by larger powers. After all, who supplies KSA with all their military equipment?
In addition, who turns a blind eye to the repressive ways of these leaders? On the other hand, if Chavez were to ever raise a hand on a protester, the world would be up in arms in the blink of an eye.
Sorry bro, but your outlook is a bit naive, if I may say so.
“the monarchies in Jordan and KSA are both pretty much beloved”
My experience here is a bit different. True, there is support expressed outwardly towards the rulers, but it definitely is not genuine. Much support comes out of mere survival instincts - support the gov and get a job otherwise suffer. And of course the secret police has alot to do with this ‘forced love’…
While some may term it as wisdom (hikmah) while others may call it cowardly, I won’t judge. But the reality is far from the simplistic way you present it.
Tariq,
Honestly if this had nothing to do with race, you wouldn’t have squelched the commentary I quoted weeks ago that questioned Obama’s intentions, rise and choices. Even when that commentary came from a socialist perspective (wsws.org).
I am not criticising your love for all things black, but rather your inability to accept criticism or a contrarian perspective in something you obviously invest a lot of emotions in. So spare us all the disclaimers.
As for the isolationist perspective, summarized as “we don’t care what those Saudi/Arab folk do, they’ll get what they want,” this bespeaks your lack of understanding of facts and ground realities. It also suggests a lack of concern for what goes on in the Holiest places of Islam, and the people who are its supposed custodians.
But if you honestly think the advent of Obama means less, and/or eventual non-interference by us in the world, you are wilfully ignoring the policies and strategies already echoed by Obama in his run to the office. You’re smart enough to keep abreast of foreign affairs, and I’m sure you do. Why do you have your head in the sand?
In my view, the emotive position of most blacks, including yourself, that “we elected him into office,” that this is our time, on our terms,” and that anyone who tries to take away this moment “from us” is a devil, is a form of censorship that many blacks impose on themselves and others.
Why should it be a matter of joy for us, when outfits like the Nation draw up a cartoon of old black heroes and heroines, swearing in our president? Is that some sort of antidote to the New Yorker cover, with Obama and his wife from months ago? These are all GIMMICKS from the mainstream press, fooling us into thinking we’ve got it made.
Many Muslims pray for Obama, including myself. But he is no messiah.
First I want to say that this (isolationism) is MY opinion and I know that Obama has not expressed such an opinion. I hope that at some point, we will go back to isolation and non-interference. That being said. As to what you said above
a) This not only goes for Arabs, but any country around the world. (I feel the exact same way about Venezuela) It should not be our concern how they elect their leaders. I think that it is arrogance to tell the Saudis or any one else how they chose their leaders. If they (or anyone else) wants a King, then that is THEIR choice and not ours to make for them. That was the problem with Bush’s premise of regime change. He and the neo-cons were trying to chose for them and it became a disaster.
b) I am not Saudi and have no comment on who THEY chose to be ruler of THEIR country. I may not personally agree with policies or what have you, but at the end of the day, my opinion does not matter in that country as it is not my country. What do you suggest we do outside of isolation and noninterference in their affairs?
On this entire “Messiah” thing, I find that to be insulting because no one is claiming such a thing. I certainly am not. I have listed my disagreements with his policies before.
You have Muslims sending out emails right now saying that Obama is not God as if this is some big revelation. The “Obama is not God/Messiah” is a strawman.
@ Naeem
I know that. All I am saying is that we should take an approach of non-interference. That is my personal opinion and not what I expect from the Obama Administration.
I do not think we should be committed to spreading democracy to other countries - especially those that do not want it. This is irrespective of region and race.
Whatever the reality is inside KSA or any other country, my point is that we should not interfere in it. For our purposes, they have a King and we should respect that
Monarchies in Saudi and Jordan are not loved or hated, people there are largely apolitical because they have never been part of the political system. Its just easier to accept the status quo. When you are bombarded everyday with images and posters of the King, poems and songs dedicated to how great they are, TV channels always showing crowds of people going hysterical at the sight of the presidents, its difficult to have a different opinion and share it. However there is a growing educated middle class that are critical of the monarchies, at the end of the day no citizen wants one person to control all the resources and power in the country.
Egypt is different though, people can no longer be silent about the problems in the society(they have nothing to lose), there is also a very vocal opposition party and a fairly independent media. I hope Obama will put pressure on Egypt to promote democracy. Not just elections but more importantly the separation of powers and constitutional change where no president serves indefinitely.
Democracy can work everywhere if the people appreciate and defend the values that underpin it. Muslims will probably put to test first the empty slogan of “Islam is the Solution to all of your problems”, when it fails then they might try democracy.
Any system of government can work if there are good people running it, and any system of government can fail if corrupt people are running it. America is starting to learn democracy can be corrupted by lobbies / PACs.
Siraaj
So how many of you are willing to condemn the Taliban then?
From my experience, majority of Muslims have no problem with oppression as long as it is mandated by Islamic law.
@ Kalimaat
RE: Muslims will probably put to test first the empty slogan of “Islam is the Solution to all of your problems”, when it fails then they might try democracy.
This could be a statement of kufr, which you clearly have no shyness making, because you’ve made several statements of kufr before.
Where are Muslims at; no, infact; where are the Believers at? How are y’all going to let kalimat say, “Islaam is the Solution to all your problems” is an “empty” statement?
@ Kalimat
RE: Democracy can work everywhere if the people appreciate and defend the values that underpin it.
Another Kalimat statement of kufr. Democracy is kufr and can NOT work in the lands of the Believers! Where are you getting this wack statement from?
Salam alaykum Tariq,
Stating that Obama is no messiah is not a strawman, but a sentence that is addressing a reality.
What is that reality?
For all the manufactured hope and hype about Obama - and indeed he has immense political strengths - people should not see him as the panacea for all our ills.
He is a powerful SYMBOL, given all his assets. But this is not the time for a pretty empty suit, who apparently says things angelic, but does otherwise.
It’s also not the time to bask in the glory of this prevailing photo-op of an inauguration. All these allusions to FDR, JFK and others that we hear ad nauseum from various outlets, are attempts to fossilize our brains into thinking that Obama is a beacon of truth.
As I’ve said in the past, his cabinet appointments should be SERIOUS cause for concern. For example, I doubt many Obama supporters even know who Rahm Emanuel is. And for all of Obama’s criticism waged against Hillary Clinton in the debates about her trumpeted experience, he has signed her on for Secretary of State!
Read this perspective, an analysis of the inaugural address:
http://wsws.org/articles/2009/jan2009/pers-j21.shtml
As for the issue of *whether* people excessively revere Obama to the point of worship , I think it speaks to two issues:
1) that people want a genuine leader with principles to follow
2) with respect to Blacks, many of us know the tendency of hero worship and cult of personality that often carries many black churches/masjids
I feel the only strawman, is your own sophistry and selective ignoring of the facts.
@Kalimat
“Muslims will probably put to test first the empty slogan of Islam is the Solution to all of your problems, when it fails then they might try democracy”
Please tell us that there is a serious typo in this statement or perhaps you could elaborate more to clear it up. walahi!! the solutions to all of mankind problems are found within Islam or the permission to search them is found in Islam, walahi this is true
Please explain what you meant, inshaAllah
@ Abu Usamah
I will let her speak for herself, but I took it to mean that she is referring to the way that it has been turned into a meaningless slogan by some political parties overseas who spout that and have no substance behind it.
As I’m sure you know empty sloganeering doesn’t mean anything when people have real problems. See this post I wrote a couple of years ago on the topic
@ shakir
The reason I said it is a strawman is because no one here claimed that Obama was a “messiah”. I do not appreciate the implication is that if one supports Obama then you must think that he is the “messiah”. Just FYI, I have discussed some of my concerns about Obama here, here, and here
And in case you think this is “nationalism”, then read this and you will see that I do not technically consider him to be “my people”.
@Abu Usamah Al-Aswad
“Islam is the Solution” is a popular term in the Middle East used by Islamic political parties. They are exploiting religion to gain popularity and it is working. Since they are carrying Allah’s wishes it makes them the legitimate party and they do not need to explain what they propose to do about poverty, health care, education, corruption, political dissent, all you need is Islam and everything will be perfect. They are not different to the current regimes, two faces of the same coin in my opinion.
@Kalimat
JazakaAllah Khayr, for the record I had given you the benefit of the doubt, yet its better to hear it from you.
I too am fed up with empty “slogans” for example I no longer accept it when brothers respond to a request with simply “inshaAllah” which in my experince has basically come to mean “probally not” judging by the percentage of time brothers actually do what they agree to doing by saying inshaAllah.
So I yes brother I agree everything is inshaAllah wa bi-idhn Allah so give me a time line or date. Also “Qur’an and Sunnah” is another phase that while its substance is the haqq ul mubeen, the phrase has become a slogan used frequently use by the ignorant. So I understand what you meant.
Even with my fustrations, we must still say inshaAllah with regards to our future actions and we must still refer to the Qur’an and Sunnah for guidance.
May Allah protect us all from being misled or misleading to ignorance and guide us to the correct implementation of the Qur’an and Sunnah, inshaAllah Ameen
Ameen Brother.
As-Salaamu-Alaikum wa-Rahmatullahi wa-Barakatuhu
We all need to read history carefully in order to understand the present Middle Eastern politics. Current, Arab leadership in the Middle East is the legacy of World War I. When did the House of Saud emerge and with whose assistance? Why are the Hashimites ruling in Jordan? Why aren’t they in Makkah? Wasn’t the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) from the Bani Hashim clan of Makkah? Doesn’t the Hashimite Dynasty claim descent from the Prophet Muhammad (SAW)? Saudi Arabia has five American military bases, three of them are called “military cities”. Documents say that 500,000 American troops were in Saudi soil during Gulf War I. What is Saudi Arabia to the Muslim Ummah? The Muslim Ummah needs to be cleaned from within if we think we are sincere Muslims and we sincerely Glorify ALLAH (SWT) and love Rasulullah (SAW).
The situation in the Middle East is too complex for us to understand.
Salaam,
Sultana Afroz
Political history has nothing to do with nothing; we should concern ourselves with Islaamic history. The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu alayhi wa salam) said,
Collected by Ibn Majah (rahimahullaah)
Abd Allah ibn ’Umar said:
“The Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa salam) came to us and said, ’O Muhajirun, (radiyyallaahu anahum) you may be afflicted by five things; Allaah forbid that you should live to see them.
1. If fornication should become widespread, you should realize that this has never happened without new diseases befalling the people which their forebears never suffered.
2. If people should begin to cheat in weighing out goods, you should realize that this has never happened without drought and famine befalling the people, and their rulers oppressing them.
3. If people should withhold Zakat, you should realize that this has never happened without the rain being stopped from falling; and were it not for the animals’ sake, it would never rain again.
I4. f people should break their covenant with Allah and His Messenger, you should realize that his has never happened without Allah sending an enemy against them to take some of their possessions by force.
5. If the leaders do not govern according to the Book of Allah, you should realize that this has never happened without Allah making them into groups and making them fight one another.”
That Hadith sums up everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What the Muslims need to deal with is the “here-and-now”!! What is the condition of the true Islaamic Aqeedah in the Muslim lands, and how is it being practiced? That’s the question the Muslims should be asking. A Palestinian companion of mine told me that shirk is wide-spread in his homeland, because many people seek “protection” from the “blue-eyed” bead–which is nothing but a talisman. The Palestinians must ask “Why is Allaah allowing the jews to humiliate them? As far as looking for solutions, they must begin where all the Prophets (alayhimus salaatul salaam) began–call to Tawhid, and eradicate the belief and practice of shirk. When they actualize this, we will see their condition will dramatically improve.
I regularly speak with Sudanese brothers who follow the Sunnah, and they relate that the main problem in their country, is again shirk. They said many of their people commit shirk with Allaah at the graves of sufi “saints”.
When these Muslim countries change their condition by sto committing shirk, what and how they believe in Allaah, how they understand and implement the Sunnah, and turn away from false beliefs and and practices; Then Allaah will change their condition. The Messenger of Allaah said Allaah’s humiliation will be removed when the Muslims return back to the Deen.
Very good “daud”….mashallah…..We need to see what position “Barack Obama” is going take with the muslims!!!! Worldwide…..The shirk you mentioned is what most of their scholars call to….sufism-goofism……”Traditional Bida” “maliki nationalism”" Jahmeeyah aqeedaa”, “Ashari aqeeda” “Muturidi aqeeda” ….unlissted2009
@ Unlizzted
If only the people looked at what the scholars have written about the deviate sects; how they evolved, and the beliefs they hold in opposition to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah, and who the personalities of the the deviate groups were, and who’s calling to them today; the Muslims would run from the groups.
They would stop reading the books of people like Al Ghazali and Qutb. They would learn that Abul Hasan Al Ash’ari (rahimahullaah) wrote a book refuting the Ash’ari aqeedah (called Al Ibaanah), and that he died upon what he himself said Ahmad ibn Hanbal and his companions were upon (rahimahumullaah). They would turn away from Hamza Yusuf and Sherman Jackson and the rest of the misguided callers who pimp the Muslim masses with their deviate da’wah!!!!!!!
@Daud
Why are such an intellectual COWARD, when those who you have alligence with show love for those who attack Islam and dance with those who kill Muslims you are silent. WHEN WILL YOU EVER TIRER OF EATING THE FLESH and LYING on American MUSLIMS, the Prophet Muhammad (saws) said “…lying is like SHIRK” I know of no instant of either of the men you mentioned engaged in “pimping” ANYbody either litterally or figuratively so either you bring proof or seek tawba for lying, otherwise YOU HAVE LIED and the Prophet Muhammad said ” … lying is like shirk”, whether you or I disagree with some of their positions you are not permitted to lie and eat their flesh.
@ Abu Usamah
What!?!?…you’re trying to quote a Hadith!?!? OK, that’s a start. Bring the rest of it so we can try to see if it’s authentic.
Hamza Yusuf
His condition is clear. He translated a shirk-filled poem called Al Burdah into english. The author of the poem commits shirk with Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu alayhi wa salam) by saying about him
“I have none at the time of affliction
To seek refuge with except you
O you most honorable creature.”
as well as…
“Among the signs of your generosity
Are this worldly life and its opposite
And of the knowledge you are acquainted with
Is knowing about the Tablet and the Pen.”
You can see Hamza reading from this poem on Youtube. If you go to his website you can see him praising it. Akhi, these verses are major shirk!!! No scholar would translate anything containing shrik in it unless he was refuting the statement(s) and/or the author(s).
Hamza get’s paid to go around speaking, which is permissible, but he calls the people to falsehood, while belittling the scholar; while behind the scenes he does what I’ve demonstrated above–I’d say he pimps the ignorant masses of Muslims. He certainly ain’t no scholar.
Sherman Jackson
Sherman earned a bachelors, masters, and Phd in ORIENTAL STUDIES from the University of Penn. Does that qualify him as a scholar? If “Tiffany Goldstein” (fictitious name) got those same credentials, would you call her a scholar of Islaam? Hell no, you wouldn’t; so why are people calling Sherman a scholar. He has not mastered the body of knowledge that scholars have mastered.
The sad thing about Hamza Yusuf, Sherman, Siraaj, Zaid Shakir, Suhaib Webb, Yassir Qadhi etc etc etc, is that they themselves know they ain’t scholars, yet they allow the ignorant masses of Muslims to call them scholars, and treat like they were scholars. Yes, I’d say they all are pimping the Muslims!
@Daud,
I will not parse hadith online with you until your prove where you have taken your deen, as I have said repeatedly, your gross, flagrant and unabated violation of the Prophet (saws) akhlaq and adab, without any shame leads to believe that you do not take from a scholar, how can someone show a complete distain for the uswa hasana, yet speak of bringing dhaleel.
To your response, there are two problems with your response first is going by fatawa I’ve read from the al-Lajnah only scholars are premitted to say who is a scholar, so unless you are now claiming you are a scholar, then you have to bring proof from a scholar which contains the names of the men you mentioned and indicates they are not scholars. Secondly, simply because someone posses a degree from western university doesnt mean that they don’t have other Islamic credentials, which you have not proven. Are you saying these men don’t have any ijaza?
Where is the dhaleel? Where is the tawaqa? Were you not taught the fear of qadhf? Do you not fear the Kabair? For the sake of your own sole rush to sit with a scholar, because you are missing something in the translation.
Back to my central point of calling you an intectual coward, while you have no shame in listing the names of these men, and attributing pimping to them, yet the ones who are closer to pimping (ie exploiters of women sexuallly) you remain silent about. You punkout about naming the ones who use their celebrity of being known for knowlege and use it to seduce chaste women whom they discard for the most trival of matters. If ever there was a reason to openly warning against someone, it is to prevent an oppressive marriage yet you and your ilk remain silent while knowing those who are prone to doing this ARE still TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OUR SISTERS IN ISLAM.
I am not saying that I would run around posting on the internet the names of every brother who should be avoided in marriage, but if I was aware of a sister who was about to marry him, I would tell the wali.
Since you apparently have no qalms with spewing names why do you have no courage to speak against those who use the deen to pimp OUR SISTERS in Islam. These acts which distroy a community. To sit idley by as this happens is cowardice.
Gotta love the effort you put into this blog