Muslims and the Prison of Self-Defeat

Thoughts from the Ifṭār Table

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The following are some words I put together regarding a discussion at ifṭār the other night:

المسلم المعاصر في خُسران من وجوه كثيرة، ومن أبرزها أنّه يتفكّر كإنسان مغلوب. فبدلا من أن يذُمّ نفسه ينظر إلى الآخرين: مثلا الكفار أو اليهود. ولا ينظر إلى نفسه؛ فيُسقط مشكلاته كلها على الآخرين ولكن الأسلوب القرآني أن يَدينَ الإنسان نفسه. وإضافة إلى ذلك لا يرى في المسلمين الآخرين شيئا فدائيّا. وكل حلوله المُقترحة تدور حول الأماني والأساطير. فسجن نفسه وأصبح أسير فكرته الباطلة.

Today’s Muslim is in a state of loss in many respects—most notably, in that he thinks like a defeated person. Rather than engaging in self-reproach, he casts his gaze upon others—such as non-Muslims or “the Jews”. He fails to look inward; as a result, he projects all his problems onto others—whereas the Qur’ānic approach dictates that a person should hold himself accountable. Furthermore, he perceives nothing redemptive in his fellow Muslims. As a result, all his proposed solutions revolve around wishful thinking and fantasies. Thus, he has effectively imprisoned himself—becoming a captive of his own erroneous mindset.

My intention in writing these words was not to discount the material threat and challenge that American militarism, imperialism, and Zionist supremacy present but rather to put these in a broader conversation as to who we are and where we are at. I am neither blind nor insensitive to the concerns and emotions of many of our brothers and sisters around the world, from Iran to Gaza; from Sudan to Yemen other parts in between. But… we mustn’t become prisoners of a defeatist mentality. I hope these words will be taken in that light.

Allāh al-Musta’ān…