Ginny’s Thoughts & Things

Mind, Body, Soul » Blog Archive » What is wrong with the Sunni Unity Pledge…

Assalamu alaikum, some people will say “there will always be the haters”, when speaking of people/sites who will continue to engage in the same sorts of things that the “Sunni Unity Pledge” is trying to do away with, and my question is, how do we deal with these people? Just saying “well there will always be the haters” makes me want to say, “And?”

What do we do then? And what is the point of the pledge if the same sort of fitna is still going to exist? I’m not saying the pledge is a bad thing, I supported it, no less. However, the pledge can’t be a pledge and then we just pat ourselves on the back and say, “hey look at me I support Sunni unity, don’t you?”

The pledge has to be a step and that is how I see it. The question then to me because “how do we deal with the haters”? Do we just pretend they don’t exist? What if said “haters” are respected by some of the very signitories of the pledge?

And I don’t care who we’re talking about here, “traditional” “Salafi” “sufi” whoever! A pledge is a pledge, but how do those of us deal with sites, groups, people, whoever, who engage in the sorts of things this pledge states it is against? I mean, if you come across something, and said “something” is takfir-ing a grup of Muslims you’ve said that you are “united” with, how would you handle that? How would you handle it if they said “these Muslims are dviant” or “these Muslims are engaging in bida” or “shirk”, or whatever?

I’m not saying that we’re going to answer *all* of these questions with one pledge. I’m saying that this pledge has to be a stepping stone to learning how to deal with these questions, among many others which people have brought up. The pledge should not be the end all, be all. We have to follow it up with action, and further steps to strengthen our unity, or at least, the mutual respect and tolerance that we say we want to be between each other. That is what I’m saying,a nd Inshallah, it will happen.

Assalamu alaikum, Aamina expresses many of my sentiments regarding “unity” of Sunni Muslims. While it seems like a noble statement, calling for the unity, or at least, the mutual respect, of Sunni Muslims of varying theological persuasions, and while I support this move and statement wholehartedly, it’s one thing to have some Muslim bloggers say, “yeah, we should do this”, and it’s something different when many of our most notable scholars begin to also sign on to the “pledge of unity”.

The only nagging thing that I keep coming back to is, what of the groups and people who still continue to harp on “who is deviant”, posting lists of so-called “deviant” websites, scholars, etc.? What if these scholars continue to be admired/followed by people who are also saying, “yes we want unity and mutual respect between Sunni Muslims”?

Can you reconcile the view that “so-and-so is deviant” with the idea of “mutual respect” when the first reaction and the nature of many is to condemn people for their “deviancy”?

Don’t get me wrong, the “pledge of unity” is a good start, but from where I sit, it is only the first step in a long process, and I’m just wondering how far is this going to go? Especially when just last week, just at the start of Ramadan, no less, you still have certain groups/people who still feel the need to post huge long lists of “deviant” websites and scholars that “we as Muslims should be wary of”.
How can you have “unity” or even “mutual respect and tolerance” when you still have people running around calling others”deviant” for engaging in certain practices for which, while they or their scholars may not agree is “OK”, there may be a genuine difference of opinion among the Ummah about?

Not only do we need to stop the “takfir-ing” of Muslims but we also need to stop the “so-and-so is deviant” stuff as well. Because personally speaking, I find it hard to “unite” with anyone who thinks I’m a deviant, or “ignorant” or “not following the true and purified Sunnah” or whatever you want to call it. We can say we have differences of opinion, and I’m definitely willing to respect those who have different views than myself, but I’d like the same respect, and that is all I’m saying.

And I’m just not sure what kind of “unity” can occur when you still have what many Muslims see as respectable scholars still compiling lists condemning other Muslims as being “deviant”. I really don’t want to seem cynical/pessimistic about the whole thing, but when I still see sites talking about “what are the most deviant websites”, and when I still see comments about “ignorant Muslims worshipping graves”, my reaction is to be happy and supportive of efforts at “Muslim unity”, while at the same time feeling the need to step back and to prepare myself for the fact that this might not succeed, sad as that may be if it were to fail. And Allah alone truly gives success, and may He make this effort truly successful, despite whatever “misgivings” insignificant little me might have.

And perhaps this shouldn’t matter, but is anyone else feeling as cautious about this as I am? Yes, I’m happy, yes this is wonderful news, but I’m cautious nonetheless! Becuase just yesterday, I saw comments to the affect of “well it’s good that we’re uniting even if we have to go along with the deviant sufis”, or whatever. And I’m like, is this what we mean by “unity”? Which brings me back to the question, is “unity” the right word?

And how, pray tell, do we deal with our differences? How do we deal with them in a constructive way? Because to me the answer is not to just sweep them under the rug and pretend they don’t exist. And perhaps this is for the scholars, students of knowledge, and people otherwise more knowledgeable than myself to tackle and address. Because personally, I have mixed feeling sabout the whole thing, i.e., glad that something like this is being worked out, apprehensive that it might not work as we still see some of the same kinds of things going on that have caused division in the past, and feeling a sense of, I don’t know how to put it, except to say that I’m kinda kicking myself for feeling apprehensive!

THE WAR | PBS

Assalamu alaikum, a documentary film currently showing on PBS about World War II. This is what, IMHO, makes PBS such good quality TV!

Love & The Masjid: A Single Muslima’s Look at Ramadan « Izzy Mo’s Blog

Assalamu alaikum, a good post from Izzy Mo.

Good News: Faten has been found! « Tariq Nelson

Sa’imeh Sister: Blahg Blahg Blahg » Blog Archive » A Dishonorable Affair

Assalamu alaikum, Subhanallah! It’s one thing to say “this is not Islam”, but for the Muslims who think this is, actually, Islam, this is why we, as Muslims have to address htis. Because many Muslims think that “honor killings” are OK, and are part of their religion! So we as Muslims, have to address this! However, the “how” is what I have a question about.

To me, “honor” has nothing to do with it. This was clearly premeditated! The family planned it, the borhter carried it out, and then they even had a celebration when it was over! Did this girl’s life not mean anything? What is the “honor” in seeming not to “honor” the sanctity of life, that Islam teaches us is so important!?

What about the “honor” of the fact that her father? was it? was supposedly having an affair and the only reason this whole thing even happened in the first place was because the “friend” of the father threatened to expose it if this girl didn’t go with him?

I’m still fasting right now so I don’t want to get too angry over this, but at the very least this makes me so sad! Excuse my “Americanism”, but there is no “honor” in this! If anything, there is continued “dishonor” in the fact that this girl, and others like her, are murdered, etc., for supposedly “dishonoring” a family!

This goes back for my dislike of the morality of a whole community or family being put on the shoulders of its women. If women are supposedly to be so virtuous and “honorable”, what about hte man?

And hte idea that many have that this is “religion” that it is obligatory in Islam to do this? That is the worst of it to me!

Anyway, I’ll stop now as this just about has me in tears thinking about this!

The Sunni Unity Pledge | Mujahideen Ryder’s Blog

Assalamu alaikum, I know I blogged about this already (I think anyway), but he is collecting signatures of those who are supporting this and I just wanted to add my name to it. Inshallah, more people/blogs/websites will add their names/voices/duas/actions to this effort, Inshallah.

Suhaib Webb » Blog Archive » A Great Blessing in a Blessed Month: Pledge of Mutual Respect and Cooperation Between Sunni Muslim Scholars, Organizations, and Students of Sacred Knowledge

Alhamdulillah! Let’s hope this sort of thing continues!

Update from Abu Sinan « Tariq Nelson

Pastor opposing airport’s sinks for Muslims | IndyStar.com

Assalamu alaikum, from the article: A Baptist pastor who lost a son in Iraq objects to the placement of special sinks that would aid Muslims at the Indianapolis airport in preparing for prayer
because he opposes “the fraternization with our open enemies during a time of war,” according to a statement from his church.”

OK, whatever. Installing the sinks was more of a safety issue, I’d thought, than a religious accommodation, though I think those lines can get kind of blurred.