بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
How Western Nations View their Muslim Citizens
What is the relationship between the many millions of Muslims that live in the Western world and the state that they live in? Are they to be treated as equal citizens, is their understanding of Islam to be corrupted with a Western approved Islam, or are they to be left alone to carry Islam in a pure and pristine manner? Perhaps they are to be converted or be killed as was the fate of Muslims in Spain more than 500 years ago. It is not possible to predict the future but it is possible to understand the nature of the Western nations and guard oneself against fanciful notions of the relationship between Western states and Muslims.
The times have indeed changed. Gone is the common view amongst the Westerners that immigrants should be welcomed and their traditions accepted as part of a multicultural society – that their efforts to make a living should be a welcome part of the nation’s economic life. The notion that anyone born in these lands is an equal citizen and allowed believe and think as they please is rapidly evaporating as far as Muslims are concerned.
These days a frenzied atmosphere of hatred of Islam exists in the Western media and in the political circles, once ignorant individuals in Western society can differentiate between Muslims and others of foreign descent and discriminate or abuse accordingly.
The positivity and confidence that many Muslims in the West had about Islam is now turning to an uneasy anxiety. Will my work colleagues view me as an extremist if I feel empathy with the plight of Muslims in Syria or Palestine? Should I really wear Hijab outside and risk getting attacked? Or should we warn our children to be careful about what they say at school in case they are put on an extremism risk register and are labelled for life? These and other questions race through the minds of many Muslims.
The atmosphere that exists almost resembles the days when dictators in the Arab world would gather information about those attending Masjids – to keep an eye on those showing a tendency for religiousness and adherence to Islam. In Britain, for example professionals like teachers and doctors have been obliged by law to report signs of “extremism” or “radicalisation” to government authorities.
What is apparent is that Muslims are not sure about what to make of the situation and are confused. Inevitably some will be swayed to abandon Islam altogether, some will take the slow path of compromise whilst still maintaining some of the tenets of Islam and others will carry on with a confused perception of life in the West.
To understand the relationship between Muslims and the Western nations, the relationship between the West and Islam must be understood. In this short article, we hope to address this subject so Muslims can untangle the messy cocktail of thoughts and emotions that they are currently facing.
Muslims in the West
Contrary to what Western politicians like Obama and Cameron say about Islam being a great religion – the Western political classes understand nature of Islam. They understand full well that it is a complete system of life with an alternative world view. A different way of organising society. Indeed it will end the oppression of the people due to the blood sucking nature of the Western financial system.
They understand the State of Muslims was the leading nation in the world for many centuries. It dominated the international arena and was regarded as a rival to the western nations. When intellectual and political weakness befell it, it was conspired against and dismantled, its lands were then divided up by the colonial nations and Muslims’ wealth was usurped by direct occupation or with the assistance of pliant dictators that were in cahoots with the West and their companies. Oil, gas, chemicals, minerals, cheap manpower and other resources were all exploited by the West and its Capitalist classes.
Indeed Allah (swt) said, ﴿وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ تِبْيَانًا لِّكُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ﴾“We have sent down to you the Book as clarification for all things and as guidance and mercy and good tidings for the Muslims.” [16:89]
The Western nations understand fully that Islam is a competing way life that would put an end to Western colonial interests in the Muslim World and beyond. This is the viewpoint of the ruling establishments and cliques of interests in the Western nations. For this reason Islam is to be fought using intellectual and political skulduggery as well militarily means. Witness what has happened to Syria the viciousness and brutality used against the Muslims and in Syria all under the supervision of the West as they do not wish to see the rise of Islam into state power. Not to mention Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere where the military and intelligence agencies of the Westerns nations have been on the rampage – spilling the blood of innocents and targeting for assassination anyone who dares to oppose the order that seek apply over them.
In light of the fact that the Western establishment and those with the reins of power see Islam as an enemy that needs to be fought or at least derailed and neutralized to become a set of religious rituals and symbols. Muslims need to understand that Western nations employ the cruellest and most ruthless means to fight whom they deem as enemies. They work night and day and spend huge amounts of money to subvert and counter Islam.
Geopolitically, Islam is viewed as an enemy and for the ruling elites in the West the followers of Islam too are enemies regardless if they are resident in western nations or in Muslim lands. The West however understands full well that it cannot been seen to be overtly belligerent against Islam and Muslims yet it works tirelessly to divert or destroy any avenues that may lead the Muslims establishing the State that will challenge her. They understand full well should Muslim opinion form against dealing with the West and ejecting it from the Muslim world – then there would be no force in the world that could allow them to continue usurping the wealth and resources.
The West needs minions amongst Muslims to work to secure its interests and perhaps that is its vision for Muslims in the West, to build Muslims’ personalities that will serve western interests. This is nothing new as the West has successfully used lackeys or agents amongst Muslims to pursue their interests for many centuries. Indeed had the West not built such personalities in her universities and built in them an admiration for the West she would have found it very difficult to colonise the Muslim world.
Some may say that the average man on the western street does not really view Muslims in this way as he may have seen how Muslims really are, so how is it that the West views Muslims with enmity? In answer to this it is not the man on the street that directs the policies rather those that have influence on society, engage in manipulating the media, who are in the echelons of power that view Islam and Muslims as an enemy - this needs to be clearly understood – policies are brought by such individuals not the man in the street. The man on the street is a victim of the same political classes that hold enmity for Islam and it would be a mistake to confuse such individuals as having any influence on the policies of the Western nations.
In conclusion, Muslims living in the West must understand how they are viewed in Western societies. Islam itself is viewed as an enemy and Muslims as followers of Islam are viewed in the same light. Even if they decide to reject Islam either completely or in some parts – they will still be suspected as enemies – even if all that is left is a Muslim name.
Islam in its true sense is not accepted by Western nations, it is labelled as extremism and a radicalised view of the Deen. The West views Islam and Muslims as eventual adversaries on the international arena and a huge population of the enemy living within their borders.
For this reason Western nations enact laws and create a hostile atmospheres – so that they have all the powers and public opinion in their favour should they need to deal with what it views as a large number people that belong to an enemy nation.
The West fully understands that it is not possible to make all Muslims abandon Islam. However it recognises that it is quite possible to deviate or divert Muslims from an accurate understanding Islam. The choice that Muslims in the West face is either to accept Islam fully or accept a watery diluted version of Islamic rituals and rites. Take what they see as material benefit from the West and become agents of the Western enmity towards Islam. Indeed, who is more foolish than the one who sells the Akhira for the Dunya?
(يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ادْخُلُوا فِي السِّلْمِ كَافَّةً وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِۚ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ)
“O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely [and perfectly] and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.”[2: 208]