I'm trying to analyze the reason behind the religious fever that is affecting Syrian blogosphere. I know it is a projection of the religious fever that is hitting the society. I'm really concerned about it, WHAT IS GOING ON?!
I don’t mind it, after all it is freedom of expression, but some of them are sending messages of not respecting the "other" freedom of expression, and more dangerously to attacking other's freedom of expression. Can any one help me out in here to figure this thing out? Is our society heading toward the religious mentality to hypnotize itself out of a miserable reality? Is it systematic? Chaotic? A normal result of giving the freedom of religious organization to move after decades of firm controlling? is it a type of defense system against the global media hostility against Islam?What is it?!
Who am I?
- Dania
- Damascus, Syria
- Lost and Found, every day and every secound... Thats all I know, if you know more then let me know so I know that some one knows, you know.
Morals in Belfast
West Belfast
I.Heart.Graffiti
Global Xchange
24 comments:
It is very difficult question but let me try. Of course the whole globe is affected by this phenomenon; there is a revival spirit in the Muslim world around the glob. It could be a positive sign if Muslims’ governments around the world encourage the peaceful thoughtful aspect of the phenomena. To do this it requires placing the ground base for the respect of humans rights, free expression and free speech by establishing legal ground for exchanging ideas, protecting right of expression and punishing who incite violence and protect humans on the base of their right of expression as a right the state should protect.
The authority in Syria function like this, they like to tackle each enemy at a time. They have stood up to human rights activists and let loose the religions organization to serve the purpose of sending a message to US that they are needed in the war on terror. It will come a time when they will do the opposite too soon. But that not withstand, since this policy does stop the violence base of thinking and expressing. They could have achieved the same goal by encouraging and supporting the wide range of liberal course of actions. The first step could have been private media with accountability.
Syria, till now, prides itself in pirating everything. Sorry to say that, but when I visited Syria, I did not see single shop sell legal software. There are tons of shops selling all types of programs under the blessing of its president full of programs cost tens of thousand and sold there for 50 SP. What do you expect from a country like this?
When you hear about those hackers who threat and invade other people properties, did you hear from your government any reaction, I bet if those where successful, they will be approached by the intelligence service and given rewards and used for other purposes.
Syria now has no chance except to travel for the worse by time. The critical time which they should have used in the past 8 years was valuable time and there is no return. To make a correction for this rout is to have a leader who has the courage to change sail of the ship, which is unlikely so far.
Smart, well educated and honest people in Syria have one direction, the same one chosen by their predecessors. But unfortunately global recession might not be on their side.
that was my prediction or my two cents, I hope I'm wrong!
What you\\\'re describing is true. However, unlike what you might think it has always been so.
Let me explain.
Religion is at odd with personal freedom, individualism and even pluralism. As a matter of fact it\\\'s an exclusive code of ethics and behavior in that non-followers are castaways, wrongdoers and \\\"enemies\\\". Their behavior is not tolerated nor accepted. Society has to conform to every prescription, instruction and interpretation of the \\\"divine\\\" text.
If a Religious party ever reaches power through an authentic democratic process it will work relentlessly on sabotaging the very system it usurped to get into a position of authority.
Bloggers, thinkers, writers and intellectuals who adhere to their religious teachings can never be tolerant of others unless they have to, unless forced on them by a true civic and secular code of \\\"HUMAN LAW\\\".
Is it true of all religions? Certainly the 3 monotheist are guilty of intellectual and instinctive repression.
Islam, being the last in this chain is still undergoing its own dark ages period and accordingly is characterized as being the most repressive. In retrospect, Judaism and Christianity, each in turn, subverted, undermined and debased the proper evolution of a goodness of universal humanity.
'Of course the whole globe is affected by this phenomenon; there is a revival spirit in the Muslim world around the glob'
It has probably passed its peak.
The problem is the lack of alternatives. The motivated and frustrated youth have nowhere else to go for inspiration. That is why the 'revivalism' you speak of is lingering. But the project of a purified Islamic Society has not proven viable.
Joseph
I do not agree with Arab Democracy. The islamic revival is anything but past its peak and its definitely not due to the "lack of alternatives" especially when you consider the Islamic revival in western countries and the emergence of Islamic communities and societies that are now standing out and contributing alot in the communities (muslim or not) they live in. From personal experience Im practicing Islam out of necessity not as an alternative.
I find it interesting that those who are commenting about Islam and the 'global revival of islam' are either non muslim or 'hiphop' muclims, which explains why terms such as "enemy" "human rights" "freedom of expression" etc all come up when they were explaining what islam is or what is pushing its revival.
I for one encourage this revival and inshallah i will live to see the day when a pure Islamic state is established in Syria (and muslim majority countries) with islamic law (sharia) being practiced. Till then im just another normal citizen minding my own business..
It seems abufares ( hi abufares), gave more gloomy future than me. I admit that I was too gloomy and I should have added that it is against human spirit to seek destruction and it must be a bright light somewhere. The bright light which can be predicted for the future is the TOLERACE for every religion, sects, country and regions. This magic word should be adapted, protected and violators should be punished. BTW, is there a word in Arabic that have a connotation of wrong doing associated with tolerance? I think the word “Tasameh” has the meaning of personal thingy, you can do it or not, it is not a duty and it is not legally binding if your do the opposite in work place or in media. They needed to pass the mentality of hate and killing people for no reason like this guy who run his jeep into his college students: http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/3567
Arab Democracy,
you said that the phenomenon reached its peak!.
I kind of see thing differently from where I stand. The organizational skills of the Islamists are advancing, congregation are on the increase and followers on the increase. Also, Muslims reviving is still simmering under slow fire in most countries ending in TAN, in addition to China and Southeast Asia.
There is no way not see Muslims in power in all forms and religions affiliations in the future, they are force and are seeking power and recognition and I hope they will evolve like at least what Iran have evolved to, which is autocratic society seeking democratic reforms.
Alternatives might come on the way through evolving. The trick is to give these forms a peaceful time and not to isolate them and to allow them to grow in tolerance environment, so instead of seeing them producing terrorist they will be brining humanists. Or at least they will go through the clash between themselves as the one happen to Christianity in the middle ages, so they will find only one way to work, which is to separate State from Religion.
Most of not all Muslim communities in US and Muslim organization, cannot not to be tolerance and can only struggle for integration. See this for example: http://masnet.org/freedomfoundation.asp
My point is that peaceful human treatment of all criticizes is the only way to put base for culture of tolerance, which alas is what not doing most of these countries now.
First question to Jabz: if not oppression is the motivation of Islamic revival what is it?
Second question to Jabz: how do you consider a Muslim, Muslim? And what do you think of non-Muslims, and what about the Muslims living in the west or US who is not looking to live in peace with others, are you working on forcing those people to be Muslim or you accept Jezia instead and why?
When you talk about muslims, its as if your saying that All muslims are extremists fundamentalists hate filled people who want to kill everyone and rule the world. For god sake your using a site called "militant islam monitor" i mean they have a quote from Daniel pipes! seriously?!!!..
In the main blog entry "Religious Fever?" Dania was talking about Syrians expressing their opinions on the blogsphere in a 'violent' manner as shown on razanisms blog. But i ask.. is a couple of syrian bloggers really making a difference when there are alot of ppl who are expressing ideas in a violent way as well? You are bound to find people expressing their opinions in violent ways where ever you go whether syrian or not, muslim or not. To Say that this is a growing problem within the Syrian society is just ridiculous.
1) Oppression? why? are people being oppressed in Syria? Oppression might be the case in Palestine and Iraq but definitely not in Syria or muslims in western countries. Maybe it is psychological the fact that muslims in other parts of the world are being oppressed which is driving the revival of islam..
2)A muslim is a person who practices islam according to its 5 pillars.
3) non muslims are very lovely people, sure they don't believe in Islam but at the end of the day everyone will be judged according to their actions and deeds in this life.
4)which muslim living in a western country that you know that doesn't want to live in peace? most muslims living in western countries if not all can be categorized into three groups 1) they are refugees escaping violence or war seeking a better more peaceful life 2) they are immigrants seeking a better life for their selves and families 3) they are reverts to islam and citizens of that western country. I find it hard to see how those muslims will not want to live in peace unless you know someone who is a a member of "alqaeda".
4) There is no "forcing" people to accept islam in islam. Chapter 2 Verse 256 of the Quran Says: "There is no compulsion in religion, for the right way is clearly from the wrong way. Whoever therefore rejects the forces of evil and believes in God, he has taken hold of a support most unfailing, which shall never give way, for God is All Hearing and Knowing."
Yes Jezia is necessary but according to Islamic Law not what your islamophobic, misleading websites that you use as sources, tell you.
Chapter 9 Verse 29:
Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden by His messenger, and follow not the Religion of Truth, until they pay the tribute readily, being brought low. (29)
According to this Jezia is taken. Ofcourse the following rules have to be considered:
- Jezia is a form of contract between the two sides which both sides have to respect and abide by.
- Jezia is taken from those who fought the muslims as islamic scholars say according to the verse above, the Jezia is not taken from women, children or the elderly or those who are mentally ill.
- It should not be a huge sum of money that a person cannot afford to pay. At the time of the prophet the Jezia was 1 dinar.
- To treat the people who pay Jezia (Ahlul Thima or Dhimmis) well and with respect as mentions in Chapter 60 verse 8: Allah forbiddeth you not those who warred not against you on account of religion and drove you not out from your homes, that ye should show them kindness and deal justly with them. Lo! Allah loveth the just dealers. (8)
- to be faithful to the contract that has been agreed on for the Jezia. In many cases when muslims were not able to keep up their end of the contract the Jezia was given back.
If you can read arabic and want to read more about the Jezia in Islamic context:
http://www.saaid.net/Doat/mongiz/14.htm
Jabz
Thank you for explaining. We should have different views and you know that Islamic preaching allow for that, Prophet Mohammed said: divergence of my people is a mercy. And he also said: - A Muslim who meets with others and shares their burdens is better than one who lives a life of seclusion and contemplation.
Your first comment looked like you are approving the hackers’ acts. That’s why I asked those questions. You were very strong in your first comment and it looked like you are attacking other for no apparent reason, only for someone said some thought you might not disagree with.
I believe in the freedom of expression and I do not look for approval or similarity, I love to know most of anything. I lived in Syria and finished University in Syria before immigrating to the US, so I know Arabic and I’m a Muslim. I think if people just started to listen and accept their differences most of their problems can be solved.
I would be interested to think about your answer that revival of Islam is not directly related to oppression and it very could be more than one reason for Islam revival.
@Dania
Thank you for letting us use your space for a \"liberal\" discussion.
@Saint
Hi to you. Always a pleasure hearing from you my friend.
I rest my case.
saint,
i apologise if I come off too 'violent' in my replies..
I just found it frustrating that ppl are afraid or worried or unwilling to accept that muslims are turning back to islam as a way of life and that muslims are seeking self determination.
Oh and yes thank you Dania for letting us use your blog as abufares said. I enjoy reading both your blogs.
Dear Jabz
You seem irritated that non muslims should be debating this issue. I apologise in advance for not knowing my place. Also
'3) non muslims are very lovely people, sure they don't believe in Islam but at the end of the day everyone will be judged according to their actions and deeds in this life.'
I am actually not a lovely person and resent being patronised. Your response exemplifies why your moderation is only skin deep. And the word 'tolerance' is misused in this context. I do not expect to be tolerated because of my religious or non religious beliefs, but I request equal standing in a society that caters for everyone.
On the point made earlier, I stand by my point that Islamic revivalism is passed its peak. Not a single Islamist project in the past decade has reached a successful outcome: Somalia, Palestine, Afghanistan are only examples. Their capacity to create devastation and misery is still there, but for a constructive process better look elsewhere.
Yours
Joseph
Dear Jabz: you encourage this revival but don't you think that this "revival" is really out of its peak as Josephsaid. No religion was innocent from extremisms. I totally agree with "AbuFares" when he said "Religion is at odd with personal freedom, individualism and even pluralism. As a matter of fact it's an exclusive code of ethics and behavior in that non-followers are castaways, wrongdoers and "enemies"."
Calling an Islamic state is calling for alienate other religions and believes, we can't deny that… and so if we called for Christian or Jewish state.
"Sharia" which is unfortunately applied in Syria is promoting for death penalty, unfair laws for women…and can you imagine killing people for having sexual relationship without marriage, cutting the arm of the thieve… I lived and been raised in a Muslim family, I drank Islamic culture with milk in my childhood "privet schools" , and I say NO, a big NO to applying a law created by one religion and force every one –even if they were non Muslims- to live under this law.
Religions when practiced should be a personal matter and should not affect the social, legal and political life, but unfortunately religions won't allow.
Now, about the question that are those bloggers who are provoking violent are making difference, I would certainly say YES, religions are a strong tool for people to manipulate others, and as I said any religions is vulnerable to create extremists and it is not just about Islam, if the religious fever was Christian I would be concerned as well, and so…
I agree with you that most Muslims in the west just want to live in peace and so, I think we should take the defensive system away and look to the issue of extremism in a logical way…
Talking of Jezia, can you imagine…really, for Syrian government for example asking Christians, Jewish or any other people categorized as non Muslims to pay money for them to be citizens in their own home!
Anyway, Jabz, thank you so much for this exchange of ideas and interesting debates.
Dear saint: "taking prides in pirating" is really a problem that should be solved, but if we looked it from priority side, I think it comes behind tens of issues that should be solved.
Travelling back in time is physically impossible :P, so an alternative solution must be created and as you said, the power in honest, well educated Syrians… I agree and let me add the power of the individual is certainly a great tool that can be used.
I can't agree more with the alternative you mentioned "allow them to grow in tolerance environment" but how this can be done without ENFORCING the laws of secularism which contradict with their believes in creating Islamic state?
Thank you for sharing such interesting thoughts!
Dear Joseph, I agree… no Islamic state or project brought successful outcome and so any other religious projects. And I agree that it totally passed its peak, cause it's been misused by dirty politics!
I appreciate your valuable comments, thank you!
Dear Abufares,
Brilliant is all what I can say…
Allow me to copy you here:
"Is it true of all religions? Certainly the 3 monotheist are guilty of intellectual and instinctive repression.
Islam, being the last in this chain is still undergoing its own dark ages period and accordingly is characterized as being the most repressive. In retrospect, Judaism and Christianity, each in turn, subverted, undermined and debased the proper evolution of a goodness of universal humanity."
And here is where I rest my case as well…. Thank you!
Thanks Dian,
You misunderstood me about the software piracy; it was an example for everything else in Syria since 1963. Smuggling, treasure hunting, cheating, in Syria is not some anomaly it is way of life and it has legal standing, there are no laws to stop them and it is served by logic like “ since we can not afford them then…..”. You see since the government is fighting the imperialist, it is OK to fight them with their merchandize; it is a set of minds and application of law to serve this status, it is a lot value. From here the religious values are coming back to make some balance in the conscious of the individuals.
One more thing, I think three is over reaching when we ask what law to apply, in country like Syria, the main problem is the lack of law before the law itself. The other problem which comes during and after applying the law is its dynamic status; laws should be discussed and changed according to time. Laws in Syria are like fossils in the ground.
As you can see, each one of the commentators tackled the subject from different prospective. I think Abufars wrote the eternal ultimate truth about the religion. I looked at it from where I stand and from current Syria history and its aspiration. I think Jabz looked at from his current religious aspiration. Arab Democracy looked at from its negative aspect and may be he can add on this.
But still, I do disagree with a lot of statement like: Most Muslims in Western country want to live in peace. Off course we want to live in peace, who doesn’t. this is something everyone should pride himself of to seek peace with all people around us. This is not a submission. On my side, I accuse people of all sects in the Muslim countries in submission. But still it is OK to disagree.
I mentioned Jezia as a something out of this world, something from the past it should not be accepted at all. Something belongs to the time of wars and slavery.
but after all, it is nice to disagree.
Joseph: I was not trying to patronize you but how do you want me to answer a question like "what do you think of non-muslims?" Let me ask you the same question, what do you think of muslims?
And im not irritated, I attend debates and go to conferences about islam here in the UK and talk to non-muslims about Islam all the time.
How are Somalia, Palestine or Afghanistan examples of Islamic revival? Palestine which is not even a sovereign state occupied by zionists, or somalia which is occupied by the west backed Ethiopians just as soon as the Islamic courts came to power in Mogadishu and for the first time in a very long time there was peace in that city, or Afghanistan which was in a state of war for the past 20 years after fighting the wars of the west against the soviets and now russia against the west...?! If this is what you consider Islamic revival to be then we are talking about two complete different things.
What do you consider a constructive process? the American spread of democracy in the Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Palestine, Cuba and so on, or maybe the corrupt and failing system of capitalism which has not only managed to ruin peoples lives morals and ethics, but also has been the main cause behind the degradation of the Earth and the devestating results of "make money as much as possible and as fast as possible"!! If that is what your trying to preach to Syrians then know that your trying to impose a failing system that has failed terribly in the environmental economical and social aspects, this is not a theory but something we are witnessing right now. If this is not enough for people to look for an 'alternative' in islam then i don't know what is.
And Dania
Is sharia law really practiced in syria? isn't it all civil law? atleast that is what i thought..
If you have been raised as a muslim then maybe you should have known more about islam, since the punishment of Adultery in Islam is not death but 100 lashes as stated in the Quran chapter 21 verse 2. That is if there were 4 witnesses that have actually witnessed the act of adultery. If your taking about honor killing then that is not allowed since the prosecution of offenders is the states affair and obligation and not relatives or others. if honor killing does happen then it is murder. Secondly is cutting off a persons hand worse than being put in prison for 10-15 years where money is being spent on them for doing nothing except eat sleep and go to the toilet?
I don't understand how islam can be classified as being "intellectual repression" when islam repeatedly tells humans to seek knowledge. Has Islamic history been deleted from the history of mankind? are the Islamic scholars and scientist myths that never existed that we made up in order to glorify the Islamic past?
Wake up, they are paid!
Jabz
First of all, unlike you, I dont see the world as made up of muslims and non-muslims. Your faith is only one dimension of your person.So I dont have opinion that englobes all muslims. I am judging you on your words and your attitude. I would still respond in a similar fashion if you were a hardened Catholic.
Yes, there is oppression and injustice in this world. Yes the US and the West are responsible for a big part of it but I don't see how you can jump from that to conclude that Islam (even worse you version of it) is the solution. All the problems you mentioned have existed within and without Islam, and in within every single religious, cultural or political group.
So if you want to fight injustice and build a better society, stop looking to the past for inspiration.
Regards
Joseph
And to the anonymous person who made the last comment. Low intelligence is a contra-indication to debating online.
"I drank Islamic culture with milk in my childhood "privet schools"
its obvious you don't know shit
Afghanistan etc are not fair examples of Islamic revival, true, because they are tortured, fractured societies. But the fact remains that Islamist politics in these countries has militated against the formation of an intelligent, principled, united national resistance. Both Sunni and Shia resistance groups in Iraq have behaved more like expressions of social psychopathy than resistant groups, hence the collapse of the country into civil war. The Afghans may hate the American occupation but they hate the Taliban too, very understandably. Hizbullah is in many ways the most successful and most intelligent organisation the Arab world has produced in its modern history, but still it, and Lebanon, are strangled by the sectarianism in whose terms religion will inevitably be expressed. Chechnya is a remarkably rare example of a people seeking independence who, for now at least, have stopped being interested in their independence. Why? Well, the resistance went wrong as soon as Wahabbi state-oriented Islamists took control. Meanwhile, central and south america (Chavez etc) has been making real progress in gaining independence from American imperial control - through leftist politics. Jabz, the critique of capitalism that you make is interesting. The capitalist system and the state system has entrenched itself in Arab societies in various ways since 'independence' and the result is identity crisis, educational failure, economic disaster, social fragmentation, overpopulation, environmental destruction. Globally, our system is unsustainable whether it's run by corporations, nations states, military gands, criminals - it's leading rapidly to environmental and social collapse. Plus there are six and a half billion people. What's your programme for dealing with that? Your critique isn't actually a critique because it suggests no realist alternatives. Nothing practical. Interest free banking is only a tiny detail in the face of the problems. Islam could at some point in the distant future be part of a healthy society, but it can't be 'classical' Islam - the mythic society of order in which we follow literally a set of 'islamic' rules. I mean, even whipping for zina is unthinkably barbarous in our present context. If my friend (or my wife or my daughter) has an affair out of wedlock, this is a personal and family issue, not an issue for the state or the mutawaeen.
I speak as a Muslim who defends Islam to my non-Muslim friends.
Muslim Religious people and parties have the same right to speak and publish, as none religious ones, as long as they are not shutting other people up, or doing anything illegal.
Actually fanatic Christians in the Democratic West, and Orthodox Jews in Israel, frequently try to shut up none Christians/none Jews, and do other bad things, look at their campaign against Obama because he was SUSPECTED of being Muslim, yet these secular democracies tolerate these fanatics, even give them Tax exception for all the money they steal from their followers (like the career thieves Evangelical Christians).
That's right, Salam. Evangelical Christians are a very powerful, monied voting block. They are responsible for Bush's second term. American support of Israel comes as much from the twisted teachings of Christian Zionists as it does from the Jewish-Zionist lobby.
Most people in the ME do not know about the influence of the Evangelical Zionist Christians, who are a powerful Protestant Christian cult with about 40 million followers who often decide the elections and policies of the US, and who are used by Israel to serve the Zionist agenda.
Their corruption is well know they steal their own followers, they use “Healing” circuses, and crazy End of the World predictions, which even the most stupid and ignorant Muslims would not accept, they are against abortion because “they care about human life” yet they supported and pushed for the invasion of Iraq,…they are worse than Ben Laden and have killed more people “because they have a lot of control on the US administration and military, in the so called “secular US government”. They control many media outles, many members in congress, they had several presidential candidates like Pat Robertson, Mike Huckabee,..
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