Teach-in sorts out tenets of Islam

Islam, a religion of peace and beauty, has become a victim of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, say faculty members who specialize in the area.

“The sad, painful tragedy of Sept. 11 was not about Islam,” says Mary Layoun, UW–Madison professor of comparative literature and Middle Eastern Studies. “In the same way that Christianity was not at the heart of the Crusades, the Salem witch burnings or the Oklahoma City bombing.”

Echoing the message of many faculty panelists and guests, Layoun participated in a Sept. 19 “teach-in” on the religion’s fundamental beliefs and global influence. The event attracted an overflow crowd of students and faculty to 3650 Mosse Humanities Building.

Due to a lack of understanding of the faith, many Americans have the misconception that Islam compels its followers to act violently, says Ahmed Ali, president of the Islamic Community of the Madison Area.

In reality, the opposite is true. However, some Muslims use incorrect interpretations of the Koran and Islamic law to justify war and violence.

“We believe all people should live in harmony and peace,” Ali says. “Islam never preaches violent tendencies or terrorist activities.”

Michael Chamberlain, associate professor of history and religious studies, and director of the Middle Eastern Studies Program, says Islam does not have a central religious authority that operates like the Vatican does for Catholicism. As a result, Islamic scholars and authorities across the world issue frequently contradictory edicts known as “fatwah.”

Conflicting opinions can create confusion over Islam’s true beliefs, he says. For example, many “fatwah” condemned the Sept. 11 attacks, but a few have supported the attacks, stating that they were a punishment for the perceived crimes of the United States.

David Morgan, professor of history and religious studies, says Islam is a widely varied religion that has splintered over the centuries. The form of Islam practiced by the Taliban in Afganistan is extremely conservative and is even considered an “embarrassment” to many moderates.

“The tendency is to lump all Muslims together,” he says. “That’s no more true than to say that all Christians are the same.”

However, actions by the United States have bred anger and resentment among some Muslim countries and groups, says Charles Hirshkind, assistant professor of anthropology and religious studies.

Although the issues with America don’t justify violence, they do provide insight into the mindset of Osama bin Laden and his followers across the Islamic world. In particular, Muslim enemies of the United States oppose its support of Israel, the spread of Western pop culture and American economic policies that have hurt Third World nations.

In addition, America is believed to be hypocritical on numerous issues, preaching one message, but later acting in its own self-interest.

“The U.S. touts the rule of law but then casts a blind eye to Israel and its policies of political assassination,” he says. “(Among Muslims) there’s a perception that the West deals with the Mideast unjustly.”

Uli Schamiloglu, professor of South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies and Kenneth George, a professor of anthropology and affiliate of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, both agreed that Islam is a faith of tremendous diversity, shaped by history, culture and language.

“The Islamic world is not a monolith,” says Schamiloglu, a Muslim and former New Yorker.

Layoun, who grew up in a North Dakota community of Arab Muslims, Christians and Jews, says that it is unfortunate that Americans understand so little of world religions that a “teach-in” is necessary.

“We shouldn’t even have to be here to say that Islam is diverse,” she says. “Only when we understand the larger world will we understand what happened on (Sept. 11).”

Joseph Elder, professor of sociology, religious studies, and languages and cultures of Asia and director of the Center for South Asia agrees, noting that Americans frequently view the worst actions of Muslims as indicative of the entire religion.

“We frequently draw on unhappy stereotypes,” says Elder, who grew up in Tehran, Iran. “Islam is committed to peace and enormous love. We need to establish a world of inter-faith dialogue.”

However, Islam also needs to address some of its own excesses and problems by taking an introspective look at itself, says Umar Farooq, a former professor of Islamic Studies at King Abdul-Aziz University in Saudia Arabia and now director of an Islamic institute in Chicago.

Over the past 20 years, many Muslim countries have developed the mentality of a victim, which has prevented introspection, criticism and positive change, he says.

The way in which the U.S. responds to the terror attacks will be a crucial, defining moment for the country’s character, he added.

A quick, violent response toward the Taliban and bin Laden would also be the worst one, he added. Instead, the U.S. should also try to address some of the political and economic issues and injustices felt by Muslim countries. To do otherwise could spawn further attacks and a new generation of terrorists.

“We need patriots who are thoughtful,” he says. “Every complex situation has a simple answer. And the simple answers are always wrong.”