Islam is probably the most relevant religion today; not because it may hold a greater truth than say Christianity (which currently has the most practitioners) but because it has literally redefined the lives of both Muslims and Non Muslims in a way unlike any other. Its background is extraordinary, but that isn't what makes it relevant today since it has always had the same history. What makes it the most relevant of all religions is its struggle. The struggle of Islam is global in scale. The struggle is one of identity and placement. Where does Islam fit in our world today? Should it accommodate Western perceptions of freedom? Or should it break away in its own interpretation of itself? Are the two more similar than different or are they always bound to conflict with each other? Can they be reconciled? or Should they be? In a world where Islamic extremism and Islamophobia feed off one another, the destination of such a global religion is difficult to say. Some of you may question why this is unique; Hasn't Christianity suffered with this conflict of extremism and anti Christian sentiment? and what of Judaism/ Hinduism/ Buddhism/Daoism and all the other major religions of the world?
My answer is clear:
Islam's struggle is so unique because a religious discourse as this one is happening in a world far different than the world where Christianity struggled with its identity or Judaism. Furthermore, belief systems like Confucianism, Buddhism, and Hinduism struggled with their identities thousands of years ago when they first spread. In addition, their struggles were limited to most of East and Southeast Asia. Of those mentioned, Hinduism, with the rise of India, is another extremely relevant religion, however, that all depends on the success or failure of a state. Confucius' teachings greatly guide China's economic system, family structure and more however I've found these faiths to be too tied down to a nation. Furthermore, you don't find anyone waging war in the name of Confucius.
Above that, faiths like Christianity and Judaism are no longer defined by their extremists as much as Islam is. Christian faith wasn't challenged during the Catholic-Protestant fighting in Northern Ireland. Even if we went back to the days of the Crusades, Christianity wasn't struggling with an identity. The faith became more relevant in its day after it developed an identity in its rise in Jerusalem and thanks to Constantinople. As for Judaism, its numbers alone limit its relevance in the world. Today, the greatest relevance that the faith itself has is in Israel. Nowhere else does the actual faith affect the lives of millions.
But Islam's struggle is also unique in history because it happens in a time of great globalization. There is more trade today between nations than ever before. There is more migration between nations than in any other time in history. A struggle of identity by such a global religion has effects that resonate around the world.
Muslim immigrants are actively changing the face of Europe and the U.S. as they grow in numbers and challenge the legitimacy of the freedoms that these nations pride themselves over. From banning minarets in Sweden, to being elected to office in the Netherlands on an anti-immigrant/anti-Islam platform, to France's ban on the burqa and the unreasonable controversy of the construction of mosques in the U.S. everywhere from NY's "Ground Zero" to Tennessee it is clear that Islamophobia is on the rise as the enemies of the faith try to define the religion as anti-western with a message to declare war on it. It's also no surprise that any and all conflicts in the mostly Muslim Middle East send oil prices rising all over the world.
I should also point out that Islam is unique from other religions in its relevance because it is not, nor ever will be strapped to a nation, or establishment. Islam governs the lives of somewhere between 1 to 1.3 billion people and although there are Muslim countries that are guided by the faith, it also gives lessons for ones personal life. This is key because, although Muslims are told to respect the laws of the nation they are governed by, and also told to value elders, they are also told to rebel if one's parents tries moving them away from the faith. Islam also teaches Muslim of their personal duty to their fellow Muslims and highly regulates war and peace. Because it details rules of personal duty, the effects of the faith are never strapped to an institution or a nation. Muslims must take it on themselves to do the right thing. Even when it comes to interpretation of the Quran and Islamic teachings Muslims have a DUTY to read, learn, and understand the teachings for themselves; this is called Ijtihad. As you can see, Muslims aren't even limited to the religious institutions that are established for the belief system in the first place. Although this allows for great discussion on the meaning and teachings of Islam, these duties have been used by Muslim extremists for their wars against everything West. You see, in Islam, they have a right to their interpretation but humans are to do the very best they can do get the interpretation right.; the extremists believe that they have the correct interpretation, unfortunately that is difficult for me or most Muslims to see. Only Allah knows the real meaning of the text. This relates to Islam's struggle because it is increasingly being defined by the Islamophobes and the Islamic Extremists. Never before has a faith had to deal with this kind of discussion (if that's what you want to call it).
I'm certainly not arguing that there is a "silent majority." The idea of a "silent majority" in Islam is only in the minds that don't keep track of the religion. Soon after the Sept 11 attacks, hundreds if not thousands of denouncements by Muslim religious leaders were published in religious edicts; yet the only thing that the Western world saw was clips of Taliban members dancing in the streets of Afghanistan. There is no such thing as a "silent majority" in Islam because of the duties appointed to each of the faithful, but regardless of how loud a majority can be, explosions and demagogues on both sides will always seem louder. Muslims need to replace the cacophony of extreme Islam/Anti Islam with a sweeter tune of what the religion is really about. Islam hasn't been hijacked as many like to say, hijacking is the wrong analogy; the extremists on both sides just have the cameras and lights pointed toward them in all their extravagance, while the spotlight always seems to avoid the majority of the people on the stage. Muslims need to kick the camera hogs offstage and take control of the show.
Is Islam perfect? Some say yes, others say no. Should Sharia law be spread or accepted? There is also a divide there. Can Muslims be inspired to fight for their religion? yes, but under extreme regulations. There may be disagreements on these issues and more, and while I'm not Muslim scholar, all I can leave you is with this final point: Islam is the most relevant religion in the world today. Its growth will guarantee its relevance for at least another 50 years. You may disagree with the beliefs of even the moderate Muslims, but Non Muslims always seem to believe that Sharia law, Muslim rules and practices are stagnant. That couldn't be farther from the truth. Religions edicts are constantly debated, renewed, reformed, and rescinded. Muslim law is constantly changing and being interpreted and reinterpreted.
Regardless of whether you are a Muslim or Non Muslim, take the first step, watch this two minute TED video of a Non Muslim, Agnostic Jew named Lesley Hazleton on Reading the Quran. It's a first step.
As she says, the Quran is extremely flexible "except for minds that are inflexible." I'll even challenge you to listen to a bit longer TED Talk by Imam Faisal Abdul Rauf, the Imam of the infamous "Ground Zero Mosque." Click below.
If you have any questions about the religion , post it as a comment, or email me.
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