Muslim world faces challenges<\/p>\n
Hardev Kaur, New Strait Times, Kuala Lumpur<\/p>\n
These are challenging times for the Muslims and the Islamic
\nworld. Not only are they labeled as "terrorists" and their
\nreligion blamed for teachings that allegedly encourage violence
\nand terrorism, but they are also economically weak and
\nincreasingly falling behind despite their oil wealth.<\/p>\n
The Arab World Competitiveness Report 2002-2003 notes that the
\nstandard of living for many in the oil-rich Arab world has
\ndeclined with real incomes per capita falling in most of the Arab
\nstates over the past two decades.<\/p>\n
In fact the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in the
\nregion as a whole was lower in 2000 than in 1980. This is despite
\nthe fact that no other region has so much access to homegrown
\nfinancial capital as the Arab world.<\/p>\n
It falls on the followers of the religion to right the wrong
\nperceptions and labels attached to their faith. Despite their
\nnumbers and wealth they appear powerless and helpless to defend
\nthemselves and this is in part due to the divisions. It thus
\nfalls on the Muslims themselves to ensure that they are untied
\nand move forward economically, not be exploited and not be left
\nbehind.<\/p>\n
Thus the meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference
\n(OIC) in Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, this week had its task cut out
\nfor it. These are challenging times for the Muslims as their
\nfaith is under the microscope but all for the wrong reasons
\nterrorism and violence.<\/p>\n
Meeting for the first time since the Sept. 11 2001 attacks and
\nthe invasion of an Islamic country, Iraq, and another under
\nthreat, it offers the OIC an opportunity to wake up, make a
\nunited stand and defend their faith.<\/p>\n
With 1.3 billion Muslims accounting for about one-fifth of the
\nworld population and with about 70 percent of the world's energy
\nresources, the Islamic world has the strength of numbers as well
\nas the wealth.<\/p>\n
But unfortunately, as prime minister and chairman of the OIC,
\nMahathir Mohamad, said, the ummah (Muslim community) is divided
\nand "we have become dependent on others, many of whom are not
\nwell disposed towards us". On the economic front too despite the
\nfact that much of the oil comes from Muslim countries, "We are
\nseemingly incapable of exploring, producing, processing and
\nretailing our own oil".<\/p>\n
Others exploit the divisions among the Muslims for their own
\nbenefit just as they reap the profits from exploring, processing,
\nretailing and marketing the wealth and resources of the Muslim
\nworld.<\/p>\n
It falls on the Muslims themselves to plug the holes, rectify
\nthe weaknesses and work together for their collective good. While
\nadmittedly not all 57 will be of the same mind but, as Mahathir
\nand his deputy Abdullah Badawi pointed out, a start for co-
\noperation can be made by even two or three like-minded Islamic
\nstates.<\/p>\n
The success of the Islamic world and its achievements are not
\nacknowledged and promoted as much as those of the developed
\nworld. Even the Islamic world embraces developments and looks to
\nthe West for ideas and guidance. It continues to "Look West" to
\nthe developed world.<\/p>\n
Islamic banking and Islamic financial instruments in Malaysia
\nare successful and have been accepted by even established banking
\ninstitutions but its acceptance among the Muslim world is limited
\nin that there is little participation from other OIC members.<\/p>\n
Malaysia's development proves that Islam does not hamper
\nprogress. But it falls on the Muslims themselves to educate other
\nMuslims and the non-Muslim world, especially in the current
\nhighly charged and suspicious environment.<\/p>\n
Muslims are under greater scrutiny, blamed and held
\nresponsible for increased violence and terrorism around the
\nworld. They are angered by being put in the center of most
\nconflicts and being blamed for much of the violence and
\nterrorism.<\/p>\n
There is, as Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf points out,
\na sense of "frustration, hopelessness, deprivation and
\npowerlessness" which fuels "hatred, extremism and militancy".<\/p>\n
Thus, the Muslims and the OIC have a massive task to correct
\nthe perception, misunderstanding and misconceptions of Islam. No
\none else will do it for them.<\/p>\n
Singapore's Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew told participants of
\nthe World Economic Forum in Singapore that extremist Muslims bent
\non unleashing terror will pose a long-term problem and one that
\ncan be solved only by the Muslims themselves.<\/p>\n
"You can kill the suicide bombers. There are hundreds of them
\nbut they are worker bees. The queen bees are the preachers in the
\nmadrasah ...so it is a problem which can finally only be solved
\nonly by the Muslims themselves."<\/p>\n
It would be no use for non-Muslims to try to stop potential
\nterrorists from being groomed in the Islamic schools, he said
\nadding that "non-Muslims cannot go into these mosques and
\nmadrasahs and say your interpretation of the Quran is wrong".<\/p>\n
The Muslims have a duty to themselves and to their faith to
\nensure that the misinterpretations and misunderstandings are
\ndealt with as soon as possible, convincingly and effectively. It
\nmeans changing the mindset of the mighty and powerful, many of
\nthem in the developed world.<\/p>\n
Mahathir urged his fellow Muslims to "create a peaceful and
\nprosperous environment where everyone can gain something for
\nhimself". This can be achieved through co-operation and
\ncollective effort by OIC. But despite its inherent strength the
\nMuslim world is paralyzed by its internal divisions, different
\nviews and perspectives.<\/p>\n
As the Muslims continue to quarrel and remain divided, others
\nexploit the "weakness and fissures among Islamic nations".<\/p>\n
Globalization throws up new challenges. These must be
\naddressed, just as terrorism must be dealt with. But there must
\nbe a "strategic plan" to address the problems facing the Muslim
\nworld as well as for them to recover their past glory. In the new
\nworld order, the Muslims, and certainly the OIC, cannot sit back
\nand allow misguided terrorists to ruin their future and hijack
\nand tarnish their religion.<\/p>",
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