On the 4th of June, Britain experienced a new so-called terror attack. The incident did not only affect the people residing in Britain, non-Muslims as well as Muslims, but the effects and reactions spread around the Western world like ripples in the water.
Comment:
In Denmark, it did not only make headlines and breaking news, but also re-sparkled the always latent debate on Islam and Muslims under the guise of “terror” and “extremism”. Extremism is the term used to describe Muslims abiding to Islam and Sharia.
On one hand, politicians, media and debaters stumbled over each other to condemn the incident and to use it to attack Islam and Muslims in general. Some even went so far as to encourage new drawings of the Prophet ﷺ.
On the other hand, parts of the Muslim minority in Denmark, like in Britain, stumbled over each other to humiliate themselves while condemning and making absolutely sure that no one has the slightest doubt that they are not “extremists”.
Heated debates have arisen, not only within Britain or Denmark, but across national borders. This is interesting and it shows several things.
Hatred and the fight against Islam and Muslims is not restricted to certain places or certain times, but is global and ongoing. In some places it is physical, and in others, like in the West, it is intellectual; and laws are being used as means of pressure.
The Muslim Ummah is one Ummah, one body. What affects it in one place affects it in another.
The world has become smaller and ideas and thoughts spread like the wind. Discussions that begin in Britain continue in Denmark, Canada and so forth until they cover the world.
We live in challenging times but also times of great possibility. Though nothing can affect like direct contact and interaction, technology has opened new possibilities. It has broken the media monopoly, given everybody a voice to be heard and a possibility to affect, helped to raise the general and political awareness amongst young Muslims and has made thoughts and ideas spread like rings in water.
We, as Muslims in the West, must not see ourselves like small insignificant minorities who should keep their heads low and please our “hosts” out of unlimited gratitude. We are not a minority, but part of a great and powerful fifth of the world; part of the Muslim Ummah.
Any intellectual challenge or attack is welcomed because it gives us the opportunity to expose their weakness and show our strength.
Junes Kock