Fundamentalism In Muslim Girls School: A Response
By Nishthar Idroos –February 25, 2016
Nishthar Idroos
Response to – Fundamentalism Creeps Into Muslim International Schools– Part I
Fundamentalist Islam creeping in a leading Muslim School in Colombo shrieked a recent caption in one of the Colombo based news portals. School in question Ilma International Girls School located in Colombo. A leading and established private Muslim Girls’ School in the country. Motto of Ilma International Girls’ School reads thus in the school’s website “Qul, Rabbi Zidni Ilma” which is an excerpt from the Noble Quran .i.e. “Say! O My Lord, Advance me in knowledge” (Chapter 20: Verse 114)
Fear sells and peddling fear vis a vis Muslims and Islam is a lucrative industry. Donald Trump, Ben Carson, Sam Harris, Bill Maher. Daniel Pipes some names in the international platform that come to my mind presently raking-in big. Some have called it the Islamophobia Industry. The tide of Islamophobia that is sweeping through Europe and the United States noticeably lacks spontaneity raising suspicion of shadow designers working overtime. Coterie of well-educated, well paid right-wing cadre of intellectual hucksters, bloggers, politicians, pundits, religious leaders and over-zealous scribes are having a rocking time. In some countries Muslims postulating a deviant persuasion vis a vis worship (Sufi order grave worshippers, saint worshippers) have joined the bandwagon too. They inject their own venom to enhance credibility. The strategy seems to be working.
It’s indeed a major challenge today to portray the real truth of Islam over widespread media speculation and disinformation. Complicating matters are the actions of a negligible few who draw inspiration from Islamic sources all for the wrong reasons. The ISIS crisis is good example regardless who created and funded the organization. In this media saturated century with rampant ignorance of the subject things are going haywire and getting out of control. It seems everyone is in to settle a score with Islam and Muslims.
Muslims the world over are going through a period of testing which is commonly known as fitnah in Arabic (trials and tribulations). Life rushes ahead beckoning us into the unknown but in a strange sort of way it has all been done before. This is not the first time in history that Muslims have suffered from the consequences of lies and misrepresentations. However, when lies and misunderstandings are piled high the truth seekers of this world have a way of finding the gold buried beneath the dirt. Islam is like that gold, it can lie quietly, and it loses none of its beauty by doing so. As a matter of fact when extracted from the dirt the impact is even sweeter on the soul.
Twisted and debased theology of extremists cannot remove or dent firm faith inscribed in hearts of billions of Muslims. Nor will neo-cons with their well-motivated agents win by hurling demonic propaganda. The world knows Islam, its universality proven by its effectiveness. Islam ruled a good portion of the world for a very long time. Spain was with the Muslims for almost 800 years. Its political, economic and social structures very much intact. Its civilization a solid bridge for other civilizations to flourish. Islam imposes no difficulties on its adherents. Everything Islam enjoins is meant to preserve faith, life, intellect and posterity.
