A heartfelt thank you to all the Australians who showed solidarity with the local Muslim community tonight. In the words of Martin Luther King, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hatred cannot drive hatred, only love can do that."
It is easy to polarize - Christians against Muslims, atheists against believers, white people against people of all colours, rich against the destitute, indigenous against immigrants - filled with hatred towards each other. Or we can make an effort to understand our common humanity; replace the racism, classism and sexism that stains the globe with unnecessary bloodshed, with mercy and justice towards all those who suffer oppression, whether they be Australians, Americans or Afghanis.
Let us be very clear that in Islam, the greatest gift that anyone can give anyone else is life. And the greatest sin a person can do to another is to take away life. By this extension, any form of human discrimination and exploitation is wrong and unbecoming of a Muslim.
Islam views racial differences and ethnic diversity as a blessing. "O humankind, verily Allah created you a single from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Verily, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Verily, Allah is All Knowing and Aware" (Qur'an, 49:13). I like to believe that humanity is enriched by the social mosaic Allah created. We can draw from the best of our cultures and learn from one another. Ingenuity, innovation, free thought and progress is not possible without different ideas and thoughts from an array of people.
Today, the world cannot sustain itself economically without international exports like South American coco beans, German Cars, Arabian Oil, China's wholesale suppliers/manufacturers and American entertainment industry. If we can value and appreciate materials goods from foreign countries then why can't we learn to love and respect people from those countries?
Additionally, righteousness is the only criteria in Islam, that elevates a person from being ordinary to extraordinary; gender, race, nationality, education and financial savings have no bearing in determining a an individuals' worth. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said in his final sermon, "O People, verily God and Creator is One; the father of humanity is a single person, Adam. There is no favouritism of an Arab over a non-Arab and neither a red skinned person over a black skinned person except through righteousness." For this reason, faith and good deeds are interconnected in Islam. A perfect Muslim is a compassionate and non-violent person. The Prophetic definition of an ideal Muslims is someone from whose tongue and hands, others are safe (al-Bukhari). I urge myself and all Muslims to live up to these ideals and become an embodiment of safety, trust and benevolence in their communities.
That said, I am just mystified how the media always faults Islam when a person of Middle Eastern or South East Asian decent commits a crime. In 2012, there were 297 homicides and 116,103 violent assaults in Australia out of which only one criminal offence receives international media coverage because it was perpetrated by a man of Iranian decent. Notwithstanding that this man was mentally disabled and regrettably out on bail for murder. Now Muslims from the entire world over must apologize for his wrongdoing and fear reprisal? Thank you to all the Australians who did not stigmatize Muslims for the mistakes of one person.
It is easy to polarize - Christians against Muslims, atheists against believers, white people against people of all colours, rich against the destitute, indigenous against immigrants - filled with hatred towards each other. Or we can make an effort to understand our common humanity; replace the racism, classism and sexism that stains the globe with unnecessary bloodshed, with mercy and justice towards all those who suffer oppression, whether they be Australians, Americans or Afghanis.
Let us be very clear that in Islam, the greatest gift that anyone can give anyone else is life. And the greatest sin a person can do to another is to take away life. By this extension, any form of human discrimination and exploitation is wrong and unbecoming of a Muslim.
Islam views racial differences and ethnic diversity as a blessing. "O humankind, verily Allah created you a single from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Verily, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Verily, Allah is All Knowing and Aware" (Qur'an, 49:13). I like to believe that humanity is enriched by the social mosaic Allah created. We can draw from the best of our cultures and learn from one another. Ingenuity, innovation, free thought and progress is not possible without different ideas and thoughts from an array of people.
Today, the world cannot sustain itself economically without international exports like South American coco beans, German Cars, Arabian Oil, China's wholesale suppliers/manufacturers and American entertainment industry. If we can value and appreciate materials goods from foreign countries then why can't we learn to love and respect people from those countries?
Additionally, righteousness is the only criteria in Islam, that elevates a person from being ordinary to extraordinary; gender, race, nationality, education and financial savings have no bearing in determining a an individuals' worth. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said in his final sermon, "O People, verily God and Creator is One; the father of humanity is a single person, Adam. There is no favouritism of an Arab over a non-Arab and neither a red skinned person over a black skinned person except through righteousness." For this reason, faith and good deeds are interconnected in Islam. A perfect Muslim is a compassionate and non-violent person. The Prophetic definition of an ideal Muslims is someone from whose tongue and hands, others are safe (al-Bukhari). I urge myself and all Muslims to live up to these ideals and become an embodiment of safety, trust and benevolence in their communities.
That said, I am just mystified how the media always faults Islam when a person of Middle Eastern or South East Asian decent commits a crime. In 2012, there were 297 homicides and 116,103 violent assaults in Australia out of which only one criminal offence receives international media coverage because it was perpetrated by a man of Iranian decent. Notwithstanding that this man was mentally disabled and regrettably out on bail for murder. Now Muslims from the entire world over must apologize for his wrongdoing and fear reprisal? Thank you to all the Australians who did not stigmatize Muslims for the mistakes of one person.
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