My article for the UU World is published! It is about how I left Islam and my (gradual) conversion to UUism. It is also a review of Living Islam Out Loud: American Muslim Women (Beacon Press), which I highly recommend to anyone. As a former Muslim, I found it to be truthful and real. So many of my experiences as a child and adolescent were reflected in those essays.
After reading the book, part of me wondered if I should not try to be a Muslim again. Had I given up too soon? After much thought and soul searching, I realized that culturally, there were some things I will always carry with me from Islam, but theologically there was too little agreement. Also, I did not want to live my life always at odds with the community that should be there as a source of strength for me. While I do not agree on all things with all UUs, there is more room here. If that makes any sense.
I would like to learn more about Sufism, however, as I was raised strictly in the Sunni tradition
It would be interesting to someday see a book of writings by American Muslim men. Also, perhaps I should note that when my significant other read the essay, he remarked to me that my experiences could have happened with a Christian, too. I said yes, that was very true. The one big difference between leaving Islam and leaving Christianity, however, was the lack of resources and support for former Muslims.
Saturday, May 20, 2006
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9 comments:
I enjoyed reading your article. It is an insight into the Islamic faith we aren't usually given.
I have read great Sufi poetry but, having explored a whole range of faiths (including Taoism), I found Islam the least appealing.
It carries the same dangerous element that Christianity does. I suppose this could be said of all faiths, that there are extremist followers who distort it, but in particular with Islam and Christianity there are not individual extremists but movements of extremists - and they base their actions directly on their holy books.
It seems in recent times the progressive voices in Islam are being silenced by the extremist movements.
I suppose, having publicly announced you have left Islam, this labels you an 'apostate' in some Muslim eyes - does this have any consequence?
I think its good that you were able to leave one faith to follow another if that is where you were lead. In many Islamic countries leaving Islam would mean a death sentence. That may be why more people do not leave that faith. I'm not sure. That also may be why there are less resources for those who leave that faith. Me, I'm just glad that I live in the US where we have the right to choose to believe one thing over another or nothing at all...
Hi Matt -
I hadn't given much thought to consequences for a long time. Not being Muslim has become so normal to me in the last few years that I just didn't think about it. I do remember worrying about that early on, as I was considering leaving Islam. But my thoughts were in the vein of: who would even care? I'm not an important person. I am not trying to steal anyone's children from Islam. Perhaps this informed how I left: quietly and without explanation to any Muslims apart from my parents.
When I was writing this article and doing research online to see what had appeared online about "apostates" since 2000, I was reminded of much of the harsh literature about apostacy. I remembered some of the outlandish Muslim characters I encountered in the late 1990s, and I did experience a little bit of fear. For perhaps a nano second I questioned the wisdom of writing under my own name, but ultimately I believed that what I had to say was not a threat to anyone.
If an offended Muslim were to truly think about it, they would realize the greatest "threat" to Islam is the people who reject the teachings of Allah on a daily basis through their actions, regardless of what they profess. Just as the greatest testament to their faith would be if it were comprised almost entirely of people who lived in goodness and practiced right relations among themselves as well as the larger community. In light of that, what do I, as an individual, have to do with it?
Sadly, the traditionally held belief in the destined degeneracy of humankind does not, in my view, lend itself well to the possibility of Islam reaching out to others as an affirmative movement. Throw in things like post colonialist realities, globalization, and political corruption from DC to Manila, and it is hard to argue that the world isn't - in some sense - coming to an end.
Perhaps I am coming from a UK perspective here? In the UK, the Muslim population is largely working class, concentrated in specific inner city areas and tightly knitted together by ethnic ties (Pakistani, Arab, Somali).
There is also a question of the leanings of the official leadership:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4166402.stm
There have been allegations made that some of the leadership tolerate more hard-line views, and to an extent hold such views themselves.
This clearly creates a different atmosphere and there are reports that 'apostates' do face harsh consequences from their communities:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1470584,00.html
Am I right in thinking the US Muslim population is more middle class and affluent (aside from the poorer Afro-American converts)? I would also imagine it is much more dispersed. That's just the impression I get from what I've read.
On a personal note, I was engaged to a Muslim girl from a 'moderate' Muslim family but it still created great difficulties and social taboo for her. I never met her parents although her siblings were cool and very friendly.
So glad that many more will have achance to read it! Thank you for
your depth and sharing it.
I'm a former Muslim convert. I am researching Unitarian Universalism, so it is nice to see a former Muslim in UU. There were a lot of things in Islam that I could not raise my children in, but UU seems to fit exactly where I am right now.
"The one big difference between leaving Islam and leaving Christianity, however, was the lack of resources and support for former Muslims."
Yes that's probably so, although less in the internet age when you can connect with former Muslims around the world. I used to live in NJ, so that would have been harder to do as an ex-Muslim. Now I live in the midwest (Michigan, not near Detroit), with not many Muslims around, so not many people to explain myself to.
Matt, yes it seems like Islam is becoming more extreme, or at least that element is more prevelent or more visible.
Greg, from my experience with "born" Muslims, they don't even think about other religions, even if they don't practice Islam. Leaving their own religion, even if they're in the US where it would be more safe to do so, is pretty much unthinkable. Some of them are in awe of Christians who convert to Islam, as that would be very unthinkable for them to do on a personal level, not necessarily for safety reasons.
Great article. I especially liked this line:
I became aware of a gap between being a good Muslim and being accepted as good by Muslims.
Matt asked: Am I right in thinking the US Muslim population is more middle class and affluent (aside from the poorer Afro-American converts)? I would also imagine it is much more dispersed. That's just the impression I get from what I've read.
I don't have any statistics on the wealth of Muslims in the United States. My experience is that there are a lot of poorer Muslims in the US. What I would see is that the wealthiest Muslims were often Arab and from Indian Subcontinent; for example, former students who came to the US to study engineering or medicine and remained after graduation. But there are a very large number of poor immigrant Muslims, as well. Many arrive as political and economic refugees from all over the world.
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