The attack on soldiers at Ft. Hood this past week reminds us of many things. As young men and women will be laid to rest, we are reminded that time is fleeting and life is fragile. As a sadistic gun man lies in recovery, we are reminded of the dangers of a broken mind. As American writers and thinkers respond to the attacks, we are reminded that our country is one that is both compassionately reasoned and fraught with wicked racism.
I’ve read quite a few articles on the incident and find myself both appalled and enlightened. In one article, a prominent Muslim leader Eboo Patel noted that we should not honor the shooter with the tag of “Muslim” and refer to him as the “murderer.” From an objective standpoint, I agree that both media and society should not choose to define Maj. Nidal Hasan by his religion. His defining characteristic which has brought him to the forefront of a nation’s attention is his act of murder.
Yet, there is danger in Patel’s words. There is danger that the Muslim community internalizes this message and chooses to define Hasan only as a murderer. The truth, for us, is that he was a Muslim. He was our brother in prayer. His mind struggled with madness as he bowed next to us. His heart fought a war with darkness as he broke fast with us. And, in the end, we as a community failed him.
It is not enough for us to discount our fellow brother as a “murderer” and pass him off to his fate. We have an affirmative duty in our faith to support each other. This man, who fell through the cracks, was a Muslim. We, as a community, must look internally and seek how we failed our brother. How did our community allow a brother to be so misled to think that such actions could ever be acceptable? How did our community miss the signs of mental illness, distress, and potentially murderous rage?
I cannot answer these questions. Hasan made his own choice in the end and perhaps there was nothing we could have done. I can, however, discuss something which may or may not have been a factor. But I think it’s a crucially important discussion especially given recent events. And that discussion is about Muslim soldiers in the American military.
There were allegations that Hasan faced racism, bigotry, and xenophobia by individuals in the armed forces. I’ve read similar reports from other soldiers. Considering the level of racism, bigotry, and xenophobia which exists towards Muslim in mainstream society, this is not a startling realization. It can be potentially difficult for a Muslim soldier to serve in the American army.
On the other hand, it is also very difficult for a Muslim soldier to find acceptance within the American Muslim community. Muslim soldiers are often demonized as “working for the non-believers” or attacking Muslim nations and killing Muslims. I find this ironic considering each of these complaints comes from individuals who work in America, pay taxes in America and, by extension, both contribute to the war effort and work for the non-believers. This irony should be enough to quell the debate but I know the self-righteous accuser rarely sees his own guilt so easily.
The Muslim community must accept and support its members who join the army. As I stated earlier, it might have had nothing to do with Hasan’s act but we cannot afford that chance. First, we must recognize that it is a difficult socio-political climate for a Muslim to be a soldier. Second, we must recognize the dangers of adjusting to life as a soldier, combat, and mental conditions such as PTS. Finally, we must recognize that there is absolutely nothing wrong with a Muslim serving in the American army under the principles of Islam. This final point is the point I wish to emphasize the most.
I’ve listened to many arguments against Muslims serving in the American military. They argue that Muslim soldiers lend direct support to the misdirected wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other parts of the Muslim world. Muslims, they believe, should refrain from supporting the war effort and remain in dissension to U.S. foreign policy.
I agree that U.S. foreign policy is severely misguided. President George W. Bush made numerous tactical errors in pursuing his wars in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Even before Bush, U.S. foreign policy had charted a direct course to our modern day conflict with short-sighted policies for the past fifty years. Not just Muslims but all Americans should speak out for a change in U.S. policy.
The wars, however, currently constitute an immutable setting. Whether or not Muslims participate in the army, we will still be at war. If every Muslim soldier leaves the army tomorrow, we will still be at war. That is the setting of our society right here and right now.
We can continue our activities to attempt to change the setting. But we cannot simply stop at that. Each of us needs to decide how we choose to operate given this setting. We can choose to draw away from society, hide in the shadows, and hope blindly. Or we can engage ourselves and do what we can to make sure the actions that are carried out in this setting are appropriate.
Less Muslim soldiers in the army will do nothing for the cause of Islam or our community. But an increase presence of individuals who understand Islam and the Muslim world can bring a different perspective to other soldiers. A PEW study showed that feelings of racism and bigotry towards Muslims greatly decreased among individuals with Muslim neighbors and friends.
If anything, in this setting where we are at war in the Muslim world, it would be better to have many, many more Muslims in the army than none at all.
We also must realize that, in this setting, each and every one of us in America is supporting this war effort. Our tax dollars, our labor, and our general contributions to society are the lifeblood by which this nation runs. There is no one in America who can levy this charge at a Muslim soldier without, himself, being a hypocrite. Given this, we have an added responsibility to (1) work to change the setting and (2) make as effective use of our work within the setting. Muslim soldiers are doing their part more effectively than the average Muslim. The rest of us, to put it plainly, need to shut up and step up our game.
The other arguments are even more misguided. My favorite misguided argument is that it is absolutely wrong to target or kill Muslim opponents. Muslim soldiers are condemned for fighting terrorist groups around the globe because these terrorist groups attest that they are Muslim.
To my brothers and sisters who apply this misguided logic to their daily lives, I would like to point out that hundreds of Muslims died on 9/11. Hundreds of Muslims died in the embassy bombings in Africa. Hundreds of Muslims have died in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iraq from terrorist attacks. Muslims have been killed in Indonesia, Egypt, and India.
These individuals with whom America fights are killing Muslims. They do not seem to care that they directly target Muslims. They place bombs in crowded markets and tourist resorts. They aim to kill civilians, regardless of their religion.
What exactly is your strategy to fight these men? Allow them to keep killing Muslims because they happen to be Muslims?
I recently was told to look to Muhammad Ali’s quote on this matter. He stated two things when he rejected being a part of America’s war in Vietnam.
“War is against the teachings of the Holy Quran… We are not supposed to take part in no wars unless declared by Allah or The Messenger [Muhammad (S.A.W.]. We don’t take part in Christian wars or the wars of any unbelievers.”
“I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong… They never called me nigger.”
I’ll address the latter quote first. The Vietnamese really had no conflict with African Americans. Ali was correct. But the groups that we are fighting today have a conflict with Muslims worldwide. They are killing Muslims worldwide, without discretion. No Muslim, in their right mind, can state they don’t have a quarrel with Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda, more than likely, wants you dead. In the interest of self-preservation, you might want to start right with that.
As for the first quote, there are several flaws with it. First, Muslims have taken part in wars after the time of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.). Wars that were not declared by the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.). Wars such as the Riddah Wars, declared by the Caliph Abu Bakr Siddique (R.A.D.) which was a conflict that pitted Muslims against tribes which defected from the fledging Islamic state after the death of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.).
I am a little unclear on what Ali might have meant by wars declared by Allah. I would assume he would be referring to wars which are sanctioned by Islam, such as battles of self-defense. Considering Al Qaeda and its offshoots are willfully targeted Muslims, self-defense is very applicable.
Furthermore, we do take part in the wars of the unbeliever. For example, during the Prophet Muhammad’s rule in Medina, the Muslim state held an alliance with a non-Muslim tribe. That allied tribe was attacked by an ally of the Quraysh, a dominant Arab tribe based in Mecca. In response to the attack of one non-Muslim tribe on another non-Muslim tribe, the Muslim army went to war and took Mecca from the Quraysh.
In the present scenario, war has been declared upon us by radical elements within the Muslim world. They strike at our Muslim brothers and sisters with greater ferocity and frequency than any American force. There is a war against Islam being waged but not by the West. The war is being waged from within by these radical elements.
In many ways, America is cleaning up our mess at the same time as it attempts to clean up much of its own mess. Many in our community enjoy pointing a finger at America for causing the current situation. America holds a great deal of blame. But no one holds more blame for the rise of these radicals than the Muslim community both here in America and abroad.
The traditions of our Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) teach us that a Muslim helps his brother whether he is an oppressor or oppressed. A Muslim helps an oppressor by stopping his oppression. We have failed to follow this tradition. We have failed our duty. America, the West, the East, the whole world holds no duty like this towards us. This is our obligation.
A couple of the other arguments I wish to only address briefly as this post is already too long. I have heard the argument that a Muslim soldier will, at times, have to put the commands of his officers before the commands of God. For one, that is a plausible scenario in nearly any situation where you have a superior directing you in any job. Secondly, I have worked for Muslims for the past three years and I’ve personally experienced situations where I was asked or told to do things which went against my ethics. This is a very weak argument. In the end, you always have a choice and you have to make that choice no matter your profession.
The last argument is the America is evil argument. I’ll only comment on it briefly because it’s the most asinine of all arguments. America did not plot 9/11. America is not setting off bombs in Muslim countries and blaming insurgents. America is not waging a war against the Muslim world in any fashion, shape, or form. The conspiracy theories fall far short of any reasonable burden of proof. When you are able to actually provide evidence for your claims, then I’ll pause and listen. But if I want to listen to insanity, the people I meet on the CTA are far more entertaining. (By the way, if America is evil, why are you here paying taxes and supporting this system?)
The bottom-line is that America is one of the only countries in the world where we can freely practice Islam in whichever shape we want without persecution. We can establish mosques, schools, and vibrant communities without fear of severe government interference. This nation is one of the few places in the world where it is acceptable to put God first, country second. That right is engrained in our Constitution. The U.S. system of governance is closer to the Islamic model than anything present in the modern day Muslim world.
Quite frankly, if the Taliban want to really establish an Islamic state, they should put down the guns, pick up some pens, and start taking some notes.
And God knows best...
