When the Establishment coin a label to apply on a group of people, it becomes a stigma to be associated with until it becomes acceptable. So for example when the British authority in 1775, called the colonists in America “Continentals”, it declared them to be elements of the American colonies in a state of “open and avowed rebellion”, thus were regarded as traitors and enemies of the Empire. Now the “continentals” (United States of America) are allies of one another.

This labeling process still continues today in western civilization and has a strong impact on public opinion and the individual in society. Nowadays the new term that has been coined is Islamism. This is the new buzz word being used by some western politicians and academics in the media giving a sinister picture about it. It is the new McCarthyism that seeks to convince the public to believe in the increasing fear of Islam’s influence in society.

What is the definition of Islamism?

Although the definition varies, the main consistent theme is that Islam is not only a religion but an ideology (a way of life) and calls for political unity. But now more aspects of Islam are being subjected to the Islamism category such as hijab, segregation between sexes, legitimate resistance to occupation, Islamic education and dissenting voices against British Foreign Policy. Essentially, it is any belief that breaks the accepted secular liberal order.

Funnily enough Shari’a finance doesn’t come under this category, probably because its doing wonders for the British economy.

The word started being used post 9/11 and 7/7. The predominant narrative is being used to describe the Muslim community being under the influence of Islamism. When one reads articles on Islamism, the term suffers from an inherent ambiguity that allows it to be used in a number of different ways. Historically, however varied the application, the term is used to consistently discredit political ideals and goals through associating them with violence and irrationality.

Do you ascribe to Islam or Islamism?

This is the new question being put forward to Muslims to show a distinction between the “radical extremists” and the “silent, mainstream, moderate” Muslims. As you can imagine if you fall in the latter group then you follow Islam that British Government likes and wants. A lot of initiatives are being implemented to seed out “the fifth column” by the Government branches from Department of Communities and Local Government to The Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Apart from the Media apparatus to ferment this divide, various organisations headed by Muslims can be proved guilty of this such as The Radical Middle Way, The City Circle, British Muslim Forum, Sufi Muslim Council, Q–news to name a few.

The failure to understand the relationship between Islam and Politics.

The distinction between Islam and Islamism is born out of an imposition of a secular framework on Islam. An honest assessment of orthodox Islamic literature demonstrates that this distinction is false and that Islam naturally forms the basis of political life as it does for moral and spiritual life. Historically there are examples littered all over the Muslim world of the role of politics. However, apart from the failure to understand there is also an agenda by most western governments to prevent an Islamic political system arising in the world. Thus the purpose of the word Islamism is the process of stigmatization of the community that holds this belief.

In October 2005, Charles Clarke the British Home Secretary made a speech to the right wing neo-conservative US think tank The Heritage Foundation saying:

“What drives these people on are ideas. And, unlike the liberation movements of the post-World War II era, these are not political ideas like national independence from colonial rule, or equality for all citizens without regard for race or creed, or freedom of expression without totalitarian repression. Such ambitions are, at least in principle, negotiable and in many cases have actually been negotiated. However, there can be no negotiation about the re-creation of the Caliphate; there can be no negotiation about the imposition of Shari’a law”

Politics and Islam have been intertwined ever since the first creation of the Islamic State in Medina by Prophet Muhammad (saw). It was the best system that provided the necessary apparatus and values society needed back then. Now there is a re-emergence of this idea amongst the Muslims everywhere in the world. No matter what terms are coined to alienate this idea, its time is coming and only those who have the false belief that it will be violent, totalitarian, dictatorial system are the only ones that will feel “Islamism” to be a threat.

So let the engagement begin…

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 20th, 2008 at 6:38 am and is filed under Islam. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.