Muslim world faces challenges

Muslim world faces challenges

Hardev Kaur, New Strait Times, Kuala Lumpur

These are challenging times for the Muslims and the Islamic
world. Not only are they labeled as "terrorists" and their
religion blamed for teachings that allegedly encourage violence
and terrorism, but they are also economically weak and
increasingly falling behind despite their oil wealth.

The Arab World Competitiveness Report 2002-2003 notes that the
standard of living for many in the oil-rich Arab world has
declined with real incomes per capita falling in most of the Arab
states over the past two decades.

In fact the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in the
region as a whole was lower in 2000 than in 1980. This is despite
the fact that no other region has so much access to homegrown
financial capital as the Arab world.

It falls on the followers of the religion to right the wrong
perceptions and labels attached to their faith. Despite their
numbers and wealth they appear powerless and helpless to defend
themselves and this is in part due to the divisions. It thus
falls on the Muslims themselves to ensure that they are untied
and move forward economically, not be exploited and not be left
behind.

Thus the meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference
(OIC) in Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, this week had its task cut out
for it. These are challenging times for the Muslims as their
faith is under the microscope but all for the wrong reasons
terrorism and violence.

Meeting for the first time since the Sept. 11 2001 attacks and
the invasion of an Islamic country, Iraq, and another under
threat, it offers the OIC an opportunity to wake up, make a
united stand and defend their faith.

With 1.3 billion Muslims accounting for about one-fifth of the
world population and with about 70 percent of the world's energy
resources, the Islamic world has the strength of numbers as well
as the wealth.

But unfortunately, as prime minister and chairman of the OIC,
Mahathir Mohamad, said, the ummah (Muslim community) is divided
and "we have become dependent on others, many of whom are not
well disposed towards us". On the economic front too despite the
fact that much of the oil comes from Muslim countries, "We are
seemingly incapable of exploring, producing, processing and
retailing our own oil".

Others exploit the divisions among the Muslims for their own
benefit just as they reap the profits from exploring, processing,
retailing and marketing the wealth and resources of the Muslim
world.

It falls on the Muslims themselves to plug the holes, rectify
the weaknesses and work together for their collective good. While
admittedly not all 57 will be of the same mind but, as Mahathir
and his deputy Abdullah Badawi pointed out, a start for co-
operation can be made by even two or three like-minded Islamic
states.

The success of the Islamic world and its achievements are not
acknowledged and promoted as much as those of the developed
world. Even the Islamic world embraces developments and looks to
the West for ideas and guidance. It continues to "Look West" to
the developed world.

Islamic banking and Islamic financial instruments in Malaysia
are successful and have been accepted by even established banking
institutions but its acceptance among the Muslim world is limited
in that there is little participation from other OIC members.

Malaysia's development proves that Islam does not hamper
progress. But it falls on the Muslims themselves to educate other
Muslims and the non-Muslim world, especially in the current
highly charged and suspicious environment.

Muslims are under greater scrutiny, blamed and held
responsible for increased violence and terrorism around the
world. They are angered by being put in the center of most
conflicts and being blamed for much of the violence and
terrorism.

There is, as Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf points out,
a sense of "frustration, hopelessness, deprivation and
powerlessness" which fuels "hatred, extremism and militancy".

Thus, the Muslims and the OIC have a massive task to correct
the perception, misunderstanding and misconceptions of Islam. No
one else will do it for them.

Singapore's Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew told participants of
the World Economic Forum in Singapore that extremist Muslims bent
on unleashing terror will pose a long-term problem and one that
can be solved only by the Muslims themselves.

"You can kill the suicide bombers. There are hundreds of them
but they are worker bees. The queen bees are the preachers in the
madrasah ...so it is a problem which can finally only be solved
only by the Muslims themselves."

It would be no use for non-Muslims to try to stop potential
terrorists from being groomed in the Islamic schools, he said
adding that "non-Muslims cannot go into these mosques and
madrasahs and say your interpretation of the Quran is wrong".

The Muslims have a duty to themselves and to their faith to
ensure that the misinterpretations and misunderstandings are
dealt with as soon as possible, convincingly and effectively. It
means changing the mindset of the mighty and powerful, many of
them in the developed world.

Mahathir urged his fellow Muslims to "create a peaceful and
prosperous environment where everyone can gain something for
himself". This can be achieved through co-operation and
collective effort by OIC. But despite its inherent strength the
Muslim world is paralyzed by its internal divisions, different
views and perspectives.

As the Muslims continue to quarrel and remain divided, others
exploit the "weakness and fissures among Islamic nations".

Globalization throws up new challenges. These must be
addressed, just as terrorism must be dealt with. But there must
be a "strategic plan" to address the problems facing the Muslim
world as well as for them to recover their past glory. In the new
world order, the Muslims, and certainly the OIC, cannot sit back
and allow misguided terrorists to ruin their future and hijack
and tarnish their religion.