The many sides of Islam?

The Bergen Record, May 25, 2010

Two recent examples miss the ethos of Islam

Shahzad Faisal, the would-be bomber of New York’s Times Square, and Rima Fakih, the recently crowned Miss USA, represent the polarized extremes of Islam. Faisal worshiped a strand of Islam that is abhorred by the majority of Muslims who view the killing of innocent civilians as negating God’s commandment respecting the sanctity of life. Ms. Fakih represents a much watered-down version of Islam, which commands modesty in dress and behavior.

Paradoxically, the alleged terrorist must have been taught that his violent actions would bring him spiritual salvation and signify his rejection of the West’s materialistic life, while Miss USA and her supporters believe that embracing Western customs and sexually explicit costumes would solicit much-needed acceptance and embrace by the larger society in which Arab and Muslim Americans live as the other, the foreigner.

Neither version of Islam as exemplified by the two individuals represents the true ethos of Islam. Just as some extremists have misguidedly hailed the terrorist acts, some major Arab organizations have also touted Fakih’s crown as a historical achievement portending the acceptance of the larger society.

While I vehemently object to their hijacking of my faith, I, as Voltaire would have said it, defend their right to call themselves Muslims, but I will fight them to the death to claim theirs is the true Islam.

Aref Assaf

Denville

The writer is president of the American Arab Forum.