As a Muslim, what can I learn from Paris?

It was a moment both terrifying and beautiful. So many football fans were stranded inside the Stade De France Stadium and were desperately trying to get out. The same venue that had been full of cheers and uninhibited excitement was now a playground of horror. It was in this plethora of fear, confusion and terror that the French people who were huddled together near the exits started singing the National Anthem “La Marsellaise”, a song that was born centuries ago calling out for liberty against tyranny. In a moment where lives were being lost these people clung to the one thing that highlighted their precious identity, their nationality. Fear made them realize the worth of their own selves of reaching out and helping others as terror struck the City known as ‘Ville De L’amour’ (City of Love).

Yesterday my newsfeed was filled with photos and statues of the same attacks. People wrote messages of love and support. They changed their profile pictures to the colours of the French flags to show their solidarity. Soon, however, a new argument came into play: why was no one talking about the attack in Beruit that claimed the lives of 43 innocent citizens a day before? Why was no one commenting on the atrocities committed every day in Syria, Palestine and Iraq?

I was definitely in agreement with the fact that it is hypocritical to condemn certain attacks and ignore others. But as I pondered over this another thing dawned on me: this argument is not new. We have heard it a million times before. We argue over why we chose one country’s flag over another. We argue about which nation has suffered the most. We condemn the hypocrisy of the media and world leaders.

But where does that get us? And what good has pointing out this hypocrisy done to us?

If we are to be truly honest with ourselves, the only hypocrisy we have to point out is our own.

When 141 school children were shot point blank and killed in a school on our own soil, what did we do? As a Pakistani Muslim, I cant help but recall how my  identity and  faith was shaken to its core and I know many others went through the same.  How did we seek to reclaim it? How united did we become? Paris, having suffered earlier as well, after the Charlie Hebdo attacks, showed their unity in millions and stood up against extremism. Did we do the same?  When attacks rained down on so many different Places of Worship last year and earlier this year, what did we do in our capacity? 

 Where was our unity? Did we take a stance, did we stand up for anything. This is despite the fact that we were shown an example of true courage when after the Peshawar school attacks, a handful of citizens led by the activist and lawyer Jibran Nasir staged a protest for days outside Lal Masjid, braving the cold and condemning extremism, in a bid to reclaim the Mosque.  

But what about the rest of us? I am not saying we should take to the streets everyday. However, the least service we can give our nation is consider what we can do in our own capacity to fight extremisn. And we don’t have to anywhere for it. We look up to a Prophet (S.A.W) who gave us that answer 1400 years ago. His own life was a living example of how one can live by The Quran, with kindness, justice and mercy towards all.

A year ago  I asked myself what is it I can do, what can be my bit to fight extremism, a question that was still reiterated after these attacks. But  I realized is that I certainly can’t fight ignorance regarding Islam with my own ignorance. And the first thing I discovered after starting the series of basic Tafsir by Nouman Ali Khan from the beginning (Surah Fatiha) is that there is so much reflection that is left neglected and there are so many questions on everyone’s tongue for which there are clear answers but no one to read them.

If we are to argue that terrorism is a product of ignorance and misinterpretation, how is our own ignorance any better? How is our ignorance not an extreme in itself? And how are we so blind to it’s manifestations in our society? Isn’t it an extreme that the suicide rate for young people is rising alarmingly? Isn’t it an extreme that domestic abuse is not only common but also overlooked and most men believe it a divine right to oppress women? Isn’t it an extreme that we create social divides among ourselves based on superficialities such as clothing. How is it not an extreme that in a world where baby girls were once buried alive physically, they are now done so mentally, by being denied an education, the right to work and empower themselves? And what’s more is something we do in our daily lives, our belief that it is our divine right to backbite about others, to interfere in matters we have no business in and to pass judgment without a single thought. How many relationships have suffered and how many families have been destroyed because of this?

The Holy Quran that we Muslims claim to respect and follow is mostly kept on the top bookshelf in a remote corner of the house, gathering dust. Why don’t we try and understand what it says? Why cant we internalize its message and indulge into the beauty of its stories? We may believe them to be irrelevant to this modern day and age but that is again our ignorance. For example, the Story of Hazrat Musa (A.S) can teach us so much and of so many varied aspects; from fighting tyranny to honouring women in the workplace. The latter is something you may not expect to be there but if we are to read with an open mind and make some effort at understanding the Arabic, we can surely see how the Book speaks to us and breaks the barriers of time and history. The quiet Patience of the Noble mother, who kept her baby in a basket and threw it in the river is as needed today as it was centuries ago. The perseverance of Hajrah, the wife of Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S) who ran seven times between two hills in desperation for her child is as beautiful today as it was then. The humility of Hazrat Yunus (A.S.) when he cried to Allah in his hopelessness is something we can all benefit from today.

So, today, take the step. Open the Book. So much can change but one thing that remains constant for the human mind is learning and discovery. Let’s discover our beautiful Deen together. It is not enough to know that as a Muslim you have to Pray 5 times a day and give Zakat and observe fasting. We need to understand the essence of all this. Our Deen is not a handout of Halal vs Haram. It is a complete, clear and beautiful way of life.

Most of all, this Book is the only thing that can help us rid us of fear. It is the only thing that can cause an entire nation to come together. The Quran tell us again and again to stand  up for justice, not just for those whom we love but anyone we see being wronged:

“"O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah , even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both. So follow not [personal] inclination, lest you not be just. And if you distort [your testimony] or refuse [to give it], then indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted." (The Holy Quran 4:135)

(http://www.ytpak.com/watch?v=lKNy1hhwNMM)

Ultimately, we need to turn back to the same Book that we claim to love. We need to discover the treasure hidden in its words and see how enriched our lives can become. So let’s go back to the Book and learn. Let’s go back to the one Thing that can enrich our lives, bring us together and give us back our identity.