SAY PASS TO FANATICISM

Worldview

In a worldview of current issues, we are able to isolate a string of problem which seems to be the fundamental cause of tension and instability worldwide. This problem is fanaticism. Media exploitation on world issues such as Israel-Palestine conflict, Darfur conflict, turmoil in South Thailand and Mindanao are indirectly pointing to this stagnant problem. Undeniably, with all these press frenzy, human race as a whole unanimously oppose this extremism which until now the world leaders are still unable to comprehend and resolve. Unfortunately, but as expected, the world has stereotyped this illness with Islam. These fanatics never seem to go tired causing hatred and a sense of terror among their proponent and opponent respectively. Thus it suitably describes their definition:

Fanaticism : an overzealous, overenthusiastic approach to something.

Understanding

They who confront these fanatics must understand their attributes. Being labeled fanatics, must not stop us from listening and exploring their world. Unlike criminals, fanatics define their action and justify them, base on the end, aim or purpose which to them are holy, virtuous or for the good. Thus, though appalling to others, their actions e.g. beheading their victim, killing children, exploding a public bus, crashing an airplane into a building, are well justified. The end permits the mean. They believe that their actions are for the greater good.

When we narrow it down to religious fanaticism, it gets worse. There is almost no room to convince these fanatics of their wrongdoing. When the pertaining issues involved touches on God and religion, any opposition will be seen as an intimidation, heresy or blasphemy. Their actions are unquestionable and uncritical, which usually are advocated by extreme religious scholars. A simple judgement with reasons and logic can totally reject this action and even the thought of it. Here lies the fundamental essence of fanaticism, which is when a person ceases to use his mind. In Islam we call it ‘taqlid’(following blindfoldly). In the Koran, human are differentiated from animals by their mind (aqal). The loss of it leads to human acting like animals, which give births to fanatics.

Identifying

Fanaticism among the religious scholars can be considered as a fanatic-producing factory. They speak authoritatively. Their words are immaculately the word of God. They dare to accuse other Muslims as ‘kafir’, declare death sentence etc. There can never be any intellectual argument with them, for they themselves are unable to reason what they claim. Their social lives are secluded to their religious activities and interaction with their obedient followers.

But what is of most crucial is the dissemination of fanaticism among the ‘enlightened’ people. Islam is at the ejection point of a new bloom of civilization. There are more and more individuals who embrace Islam, and among the Muslims themselves, more are beginning to re-embrace and practice its teaching. These people who are “touched” by Islam are the most vulnerable to fanaticism. The euphoria of experiencing the truth might capture them in the taqlid doctrine. When engaging with other fanatics, they can be easily persuaded to rationalize every mindless action. Thus it is important for these newly convert to be rightly guided in their early introduction to Islam as a whole.

The ‘truth’

Al-Fatihaah 1:6-7
Show us the straight way, The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray.

In our daily prayers, we tirelessly read the surah Fatihaah. In the last 2 verse, we pray so that Allah shall not let us go astray (misled). People, who are misled in their belief, do not realize that they are lost. They sincerely believe that they are on the right path. What could be worse than living and believing in something, which is actually wrong and not knowing about it?

Al-Qasas 28:63
Those against whom the charge will be proved, will say: "Our Lord! these are the ones whom we led astray: we led them astray, as we were astray ourselves: we free ourselves (from them) in Thy presence: it was not us they worshipped."

On the Day of Judgment, there will be confession by leaders(fanatic scholars) who are strayed, and many people were strayed by following them. Thus we must be cautious in our believe and action. Blindfoldly following these fanatic leaders, will cause wrath upon us, which we will hold responsibility upon ourselves. There will be no blaming.

Revival

To dump the ‘barbaric’ image and revive the majestic Islamic civilization, Muslim must dump fanaticism. Not only does it portray a negative image, it is causing a split into factions in the Muslim society. The worst is that these factions are hostile to each other.

To heal this illness, we must promote intellectual discussion not only in scientific field but necessarily in the religious field among the factions. If we acknowledge ‘khilaf’ among the mazhab as ‘rahmat’, then we must not be afraid to pursue these in complex issues such as implementation of hudud, evolution of Islamic finance, Israel-Palestine status etc. This is vital, as ‘honoring’ our mind, in debates surrounded by tolerance will naturally and drastically push fanaticism aside. Though not completely, but moderates approach will ultimately take centre stage, and fanatics will lose its voice and influence.

No one is immune to critics, including religious scholars. Scholars have a special place in Islam. They must be honored and respected. Not questioning their altruistic intention, but no human is flawless, comfort and too much respect can indulge them in riaq, takbur, ego-centricity, stubbornness etc. The fight against fanaticism must be initiated and supported by them and among them.

Tolerance should be a compulsory character in present Muslims. Our anger instead should be placed in striving for excellence in economy, knowledge, technology, education, living standard etc and not war, killing, kidnapping and destroying. Inert does not necessarily mean being weak or a betrayal to Islam.

The abandonment of fanaticism will be a giant leap for Islam to take a stand in world politics.

Wrote by:

Azzad bin Hamzah