I cannot declare my happiness on the day of Eid upon hearing the news confirming the death of British aid worker, Alan Henning by IS, writes Yasmin Khatun.
There will be some I know that will immediately refer to the loss of life in Burma, CAR, Kashmir, Gaza, Syria, Iraq and so forth. Like most, I know too well of the death and destruction that is taking place in the Muslim world, and its causes. Whether it is torture, rape, murder, committed by militias, armies, airstrikes, drones or a knife, we are fully aware of the atrocities taking place around the world.
The coldblooded execution of Alan Henning by an IS fighter is a horrid representation of our times – one that is plagued by moral disintegration and corruption. What is most concerning is that the perpetrators that killed him did so in the name of Western foreign policy but justified it through Islam.
When I read, watch and hear about what Burmese Buddhists are doing to the Rohingya Muslims, or what the Zionists do to the Palestinians, it doesn’t hurt my sense of being, it hurts me for the loss of innocent life.
IS and Islam
Islam presents the most principled and just way of life – a way of life perfected for the whole of mankind, IS has been condemned by Muslims of all political, theological and sectarian backgrounds for tarnishing the name Islam. But the Al Qaeda splinter group carries out its actions in blind belief that Islam permits such crimes, in fact in most cases, they believe Islam encourages it.
As news broke of the killing via a video released by IS yesterday, immediate condemnations surfaced and without sounding harsh, as comforting as condemnation may appear, it’s not going to change anything.
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Those in positions of authority and influence must look at the multi-faceted issues we’re facing in the modern world – ones that have led to such situations. Muslim leaders in particular need to start by truly addressing the confusion in understanding the religion of Islam.
If the complexities behind the Shariah rulings pertaining to warfare, hostages, treatment of prisoners/religious minorities, Khilafah, jihad (defensive and offensive) are not comprehensively explained, then the Islam of the Quran and Sunnah will simply remain inside books.
Draconian anti-terror laws, military coups and Western-backed dictatorships, amidst widespread injustice suffered for far too long has made the Muslim community an apologetic, colonised, excuse making group afraid of presenting their own religion.
Balanced approach
A few weeks ago, on BBC Asian Network I was asked about IS and if they should be condemned as non-Muslims. This came after the call from British Muslim organisations to call IS “un-Islamic state”. I categorically said no, on the basis that I don’t believe I have the right to excommunicate Muslims who have made the Shahadah.
You don’t change situations through disowning people and this isn’t something that applies to just Muslims but also the wider community. The British government is responsible for its disenfranchised and disconnected youth as well as community leaders.
Far too many innocent lives are being lost and abused – lost through abuses of authority on so many different fronts. Air strikes hitting civilians, knives used to behead aid workers and journalists – endless death and abuse.
Last week, the British government joined the US-led coalition to bomb IS in Iraq and Syria by committing six Tornado fighter jets to the campaign inevitably destined to fail.
On targets in Syria, the US has “waved their normal standards on civilian deaths” because of the “severity” of the situation.
Alan wasn’t in Syria on behalf of the British government nor was he there in support of a particular strain of UK foreign policy. He was there with a Muslim charity to support the Syrian cause by delivering much needed aid to Muslims.
But we are in a world where innocents are treated as though they are combatants, and on a day of forgiveness and mercy innocents are slayed. On this day of celebration we cannot forget those treated with such injustice, justice is not a personal conscience but the conscience of the whole of humanity.
Yasmin Khatun is a journalist/producer at Islam Channel, and a blogger for the Huffington Post.
@Yasm1nk
