Theocracy in the Islamic States - Essay Example

?Islam Islam This is a religion predominantly practiced in the Middle East and parts of Asia. The believers believe that Allah is the Almighty God. He is the only creator and that God is only one. They profess also that Jesus Christ is a miracle child but in the line of prophets; Mohamed was the last prophet. Mohamed proclaimed that we should worship Allah with every part of the mind, heart and strength. They also believe that God has 99 divine attributes, and he cannot be measured up to any of the creations that He made. Similarly, a strong belief held is that God created man so that he looks like Him in the image spirit. After Adam and Eve’s sin, God forgave them and made Adam his deputy thus he became the first prophet. They believe that He did not have any other actions to their generation. From historical archives, Muslims migrated to America in the 13th to the 16th century mainly from Ottoman that was predominately Muslim empire (GhaneaBassiri, 2010). The migrants came mainly via sea routes. In the 20th century, the small number of Muslims began to increase drastically. This was mainly due to conversion, migration and the high birth rate in the population. More so, most Muslims came to America during the slave trade (GhaneaBassiri, 2010). Similarly, the migration of Muslims from Lebanon and Palestine to America was majorly the illiterate lot who were in search for some greener pastures where they can work and make some money for themselves. As the years progressed, the educated Muslims started filling up the United States as they were looking for jobs for the skills that they had acquired (GhaneaBassiri, 2010). This influx of the students to America increased in the 20th century whereby search for good education became an issue and America offered the best chance to that. They established American students’ Muslim society, preached their doctrine and expanded. Research indicates that it Islam is the most expanding religion in America. Islam before 9/11 September 11 is a day that many Americans remember as a turning point. It is a day that the World Trade Centre and the pentagon came under terror attackers, making a completely a new beginning to the lives of many Americans. Islam as a religion enjoyed the rights and privileges of freedom of worship covered in the constitution by the Virginia statute that drafted by Thomas Jefferson. Before then, most of the Muslims walked in the street without creating any fuss at all. The only thing that showed that this is a Muslim was primarily the head scarf worn by the Islamic women. Islam was seen as an equal religion to any other. They did not have any religion issues, hate speeches and mudslinging taking place. Islam worshipers took to their daily prayers without creating any fuss. This seemed good for the national development. This religion was seen as a silent religion as people prayed in the designated time and places not causing a stir in other people’s daily activities at all. The media as the main source of communication in the world at large gave little air space to Islam and its beliefs before 9/11. We could get little coverage from the press in any matter that referred to Islam. The American press wrote and said little stories about Muslims and Islam as a religion. Islam after 9/11 Islam is a religion believed to be full of stringent doctrines and rules. In many occasions, governments and states that are pro- Christianity see them as radical. 9/11 acted as mettle for the Islam religion. This got a clear manifestation in the way of Muslims wanted the other Americans to understand the religion (GhaneaBassiri, 2010). In order for people, to understand what Islam stands for, Muslims all over America come up as ambassadors of the religion. They gathered in the mosques frequently not only for prayer but also to teach the non-Muslims the Islamic faith. Islam as a whole got many believers as people got to know the true meaning of Islam. It got a new stage of playing; a religion purely practiced and talked about in the mosques got to be talked in the theatres and social halls. There was re-known stand-up comedians that traversed the whole of America showing up the plays. For the first time, Islam got such a big platform that openly spoke of Islam in America (GhaneaBassiri, 2010). The public affairs council of the Muslim build relations with the media to air the Islam believes to the American society. Interfaith alliances were made to enable free discussion and learning of one another’s faith. The civil societies in America received the most time as Imams, and the Muslim leaders brought their leaders to the mosque to educate them on the fundamentals of the Islam religion. The knowledge and information about Islam that was letting out to the public made more people integrate and bond with one another. We saw that in spite of prejudices and the hate speech that American Muslims got; Islam as a religion got to the eyes of many. This resulted into many people converting to Islam. Research shows that the religion got a very significant increase in converts than it had earlier before. Post 9/11 The American Muslims found it very difficult to enjoy their civil rights due to the attacks that hit America on September 11. The Authorities reconfigured the American policies, laws and priorities to segregate and restrict the Arabs and Muslims at large. The constitutional right of free assembly of worship and practice their religion came under great violations. Unnecessarily searches and seizures of Muslims took place. This was done by the enacting various programs and legislation which eroded the rights of the American Muslims. The most profound act was the Patriot Act (Cesari, 2010) which had a direct target to the Muslims form 21 countries. Similarly, Muslims in schools, airports and any areas of the gathering got subjected to searches and scrutiny since everybody associated them with potential threats to the American security. After the tragedy of 9/11 Americans alienated and harassed the Muslims. Research has showed that 39% of Americans felt prejudice towards Muslims following the tragedy. More so, the percentages of the Americans who believed that Islam perpetrated hostility against those who do not believe in it double. Research also indicated that the Americans who believe that Muslims value life less as compared to other people increased as per the outcome of the tragedy. These outcomes lead to a high rate of Islam phobia in the states. This high level of discrimination towards the Muslims in the US made students drop from school, and other people had to quit their jobs to avoid the plague. American Islam charity was to help build schools, mosques and Islam centers across America. After the event of 9/11, these charities were seen as a way that the Muslims were using to bring in weapons and use it to preach hatred to non-Muslims. In response to this, the government took a measure in the desire to reduce the funds flowing into the country. This made some American Muslims leave the country in constant fear of their funds frozen and the closure of the accounts. The right of the Muslims to donate freely to those in need and to charities was largely violated and abandoned. The amount of money that was flowing to the imams and the mosque development was cut short making the operation for the Muslims to be curtailed. Notwithstanding, Muslims requested the state to audit the channels that the money was used. After some time, some financing bodies in the East were vetted and allowed to finance the so-called “clean projects” in America. Among the charitable organizations that were closed down under the Patriot Act were Benevolence International Foundation, Global Relief and Holy Land Foundation. Their closure was with the notion that they were financing terror activities and action in America. The American state has always enjoyed freedom of worship. People gathered at their desired places and worship together at their desired time. Since Thomas Jefferson and his team of patriots drafted the religious freedom bill commonly called the Virginia Statute, American did not have an inquiry of faith. However, this changed after 9/11. This day is celebrated in January 16th to the honor of the founders of the state and the freedom of religion. After 9/11, the Muslim religion was under scrutiny as the mosques were put under surveillance with cameras put everywhere in the mosque. In the wake of the events, Muslims were fingerprinted in airports and all the places of entry. This sent the freedom of worship of the Islam religion into the bins and shambles. More eyes were raised to inquire the freedom of Islam religion, and its worshipers. The federal government went ahead to question the majority of American of their activities in the United States (Ghazali, 2010). This led to classifying people in their race, religion and the ethnic groups. Data of many young Muslims was taken, and their activities monitored to ensure that they did not belong to any outlawed way of life. Although racism had come to an end, Americans witnessed a situation whereby people were separated by their religion and ethnicity. To add insult to an injury, Muslim and Arabs were subjected to checks while they were traveling by any means. The most shocking was the thorough check that they went through. The checks came when they travelled by air, and in some occasions segregations ensued (Geaves, 2004). Things did not go on well with the Islam community as the government sought to find ways of getting the perpetrators of the crime and those with similar motives. The issues at hand escalated as the government wanted and even recruited Muslims to watch over their fellow Muslims. This was geared towards getting firsthand information for the crimes. This treatment was not the best; other Muslims who denied releasing information got threats. The threats included deportations or imprisonment. American at large saw all Muslim Americans as criminals. More profoundly, the freedom of movement of the Muslim citizens was hampered with as their information was required at set time intervals. What a terrible life for them! Some of these cases went to court as they went against the brotherly rule of Islam. They protested that the large amount of money that was paid to the informers could be used for the development of other projects. They also claimed that the finances splashed for unnecessary use could be averted into better government projects. Much to the disgrace of many Muslim leaders and the Muslim societies, there was physical or verbal attack to the Muslims in the land. Some Muslims were brutally killed or injured by fellow Americans in the “search” for the perpetrators of the violence. There were calls from the large Islam community for the integration of the Islam, coexistence of the entire stakeholder in the Islam matters (Reich & d'Appollonia, 2010). War on terrorism went a very long way into the lives of Americans at large. People developed stereotypic ways of classifying others. Any brown skinned person with a beard was seen as a Muslim even without the verifying the persons true identity. Women who had head scarf were seen to be Muslims. These scenarios lead to dehumanizing the Muslim community even without getting their part of the story. It made Muslims lack any legal authority for fair trial as all of them were seen as suspects to crimes perpetrated in the soil. The American people have always lived together in harmony as one state. People have always fought for one course - the American dream. In the wake of 9/11, American Muslims were highly discriminated in the form of hate speeches, critic of their way of life such as dressing and harassed in their places of duty. As a result of the attacks and the event that happened to the American Muslims, others decided coil and try to hide their identity as Muslims, though this did not go on for long as many individuals came out in the open to let people understand Islam in depth (GhaneaBassiri, 2010). References Appollonia, A., & Reich, S. (2010). Managing ethnic diversity after 9/11 integration, security, and civil liberties in transatlantic perspective. New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press. Cesari, J. (2010). Muslims in the West after 9/11 religion, politics and law. London: Routledge. Cesari, J. (2010). Muslims in the West after 9/11 religion, politics and law. London: Routledge. GhaneaBassiri, K. (2010). A history of Islam in America: from the new world to the new world order. New York: Cambridge University Press. . Read More