Reaction to my experience within Muslim communities in the UK and France, and to the Unmosqued documentary showing the disenchantment of Muslims in the West.
Regarding the problems within communities that see their members leaving the mosques and remain 'unmosqued', it does sadden me to realise that Muslims in the West are not committed to reaching their potential because of internal problems and blockages preventing dialogue, respect, tolerance, understanding and unity between themselves. I realise it has also a lot to do with the weak nature of humankind, which affect the ideas and behaviours of those among Muslims who do not have truly positive aspirations for their community because their desire for power (even at local levels), their greed, envy and self-conceit prevent them from pursuing honourable objectives such as rallying Muslims and working together for the development, reinforcement and safeguard of open-minded, kind, happy, faithful and active communities of Western Muslims.
Internal disputes and disagreements should not mean we are enemies, yet it is what I see happening within many Muslim communities, who end up imploding from within because they are unable to dialogue and work together. Sadly, when considering the weaknesses of human nature coupled with the many possible readings of Islam put forth by various groups and their general persisting rigidity towards those who hold different readings and approaches to what really matters, the issue seems unsolvable. This lack of desire to return to, and apply, the fundamental principles and values of Islam; but also this lack of openness to simplicity and alleviation of some practices that are no longer needed in many Western countries with Muslim minorities because it already existing legal, social and political frameworks that are not always contradictory to Islam and might very well be new positive models for Muslims to build on (but who will defend such ideas publicly without fear of being attacked, without facing strong discredit?); and finally, in many cases the lack of spirituality, this missing deep connection to the Almighty, are key issues.
Frankly, I see no easy and straightforward solutions to these internal problems, and I doubt going 'unmosqued' will solve anything, it may very well aggravate an already highly problematic lack of trustworthy, transparent, accountable, gender inclusive and proactive leaderships who seek a fair level representativeness, are not scared or worried to interact with the media, with other institutions (social and political) and with other religions, and who strive for all Muslims to live and work together.
I should not forget to mention that Muslims men and women at lower levels, active and non-active members of communities, increasingly lack of interest and involvement in the communities to initiate positive change - as if the individualistic culture of the West had fully taken over the hearts and minds of Western Muslims who no longer desire to get involve because they do not want to voice and defend their positions and needs, and consider it is easier to stay away, and keep themselves to their homes in the closed family circles rather than be opened to the challenge and get involved with a community to generate unifying and potentially transforming community-building projects.
It is alarming to see that Islam cannot unify as much as ethnicity or language at local levels. This is not what I have learnt from the Prophet (sws)... when are we going to wake up?
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