Puritanical Approaches to Islam and Anti-Muslim Sentiments
By
Adis Duderija, New Age Islam
9 May 2024
It Is Essential To Understand The Distinction
Between Anti-Muslim Sentiment And Islamophobia In Order To Address The
Challenges Faced By Muslim Communities Effectively. While Both Terms Relate To
Negative Attitudes And Discrimination Against Muslims
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In recent
years, anti-Muslim sentiment has witnessed a worrying rise across various parts
of the world. While it is essential to acknowledge that multiple factors
contribute to this phenomenon, we cannot overlook the role played by
puritanical, socially conservative, and politically reactionary approaches to
Islam in this respect. These approaches, often characterized by a narrow and
heavily textualist interpretation of
religious texts, can lead to the promotion of divisive ideologies and practices
that exacerbate anti-Muslim sentiment. Furthermore, the counterproductive
nature of essentialising the Other compounds the problem by perpetuating
stereotypes and reinforcing divisions between different cultures and religions.
In this
article I aim to explore the detrimental
effects of such approaches by examining specific examples, including the
promotion of exclusivism, gender inequality, archaic political theology, focus
on proselytization, support for harsh criminal punishments, restrictive views on
sexuality, and the essentialisation of the West, Jews, Christians, and Hindus.
Distinguishing
Anti-Muslim Sentiment from Islamophobia
It is
essential to understand the distinction between anti-Muslim sentiment and
Islamophobia in order to address the challenges faced by Muslim communities
effectively. While both terms relate to negative attitudes and discrimination
against Muslims, they have nuanced differences that deserve clarification.
Anti-Muslim
Sentiment
Anti-Muslim
sentiment refers to negative attitudes, stereotypes, or prejudices held against
Muslims as individuals or as a religious group. Anti-Muslim sentiment is rooted
in ignorance, fear, and the perpetuation of stereotypes, often fuelled by
conflation of puritanical and archaic forms of Islam with the most authentic
and true form of Islam or what Islam has
always been and can ever be. It is crucial to recognize that anti-Muslim
sentiment can be addressed through education, dialogue, and promoting
understanding to challenge misconceptions and foster social inclusion including the criticism of puritanical,
politically reactionary, and socially highly conservative forms of Islam.
Islamophobia
Islamophobia,
on the other hand, goes beyond mere negative sentiment and encompasses a
systemic and institutionalized prejudice and discrimination against Muslims. It
involves a deeply ingrained and irrational fear or hatred of Islam and Muslims,
often leading to the marginalization, exclusion, and unequal treatment of
individuals based on their perceived religious affiliation. Islamophobia
operates at the societal level, influencing policies, media narratives,
employment practices, and public discourse. It is characterised by the dehumanisation
of Muslims, the portrayal of Islam as inherently violent or oppressive, and the
denial of basic rights and freedoms to Muslim individuals and communities.
As noted
above one way to counter anti-Muslim sentiment is to critique regressive ideas
found in certain approaches to Islam to which I turn next.
Exclusivism
and Religious Segregation
Some Muslim
preachers, influenced by puritanical ideologies, espouse teachings that
discourage Muslims from befriending individuals outside their faith.
This exclusivist mindset fosters division and reinforces stereotypes,
preventing meaningful interfaith dialogue and understanding. By promoting
social isolation, these teachings contribute to the perpetuation of mistrust
and misunderstanding between Muslim communities and the wider society.
Gender
Inequality and Male Dominance
Another
manifestation of puritanical approaches to Islam is the use of religion to
argue for the subordination of Muslim women. Some
interpretations of religious texts are employed to justify and perpetuate male
dominance within Muslim communities. This regressive mindset not only
undermines the principles of equality and justice but also reinforces negative
stereotypes about the treatment of women in Islam. Consequently, it fuels
anti-Muslim sentiment by portraying Islam as inherently oppressive to women.
Archaic
Political Theology
Puritanical
approaches to Islam often involve defending and advocating for medieval political theology, which seeks to
establish a rigid and authoritarian system of governance. These ideologies
reject modern principles such as democracy, pluralism, and human rights,
viewing them as incompatible with Islamic teachings. By advocating for an
outdated political framework, proponents inadvertently reinforce negative perceptions
of Islam as an inherently regressive and anti-modern religion.
Proselytization
and Exclusivism
Puritanical
interpretations of Islam often place a strong emphasis on proselytising the belief that their understanding of the
faith is the only correct one. This exclusivist mindset rejects diversity of
thought and discourages critical thinking, leading to a closed-minded approach.
Such dogmatism further alienates non-Muslims and reinforces anti-Muslim
sentiment by promoting an image of Islam as uncompromising and intolerant of
differing beliefs.
Support
for Harsh Criminal Punishments
Certain
puritanical approaches to Islam defend the idea of implementation of
classical criminal laws known as Hudud if certain conditions are met as
part of non-negotiable Divine law. These laws include severe punishments such
as amputation, stoning to death and
public flogging, which are seen as archaic and inhumane by many. Advocating for
such punishments not only disregards the principles of human rights and due
process but also reinforces negative stereotypes about Islam's compatibility
with modern values. Consequently, it contributes to the marginalization and
stigmatization of Muslim communities.
Puritanical
Approach to Sexuality and Gender Segregation
Puritanical
interpretations of Islam often adopt a restrictive view of sexuality and
advocate for strict and all-encompassing gender segregation . These
interpretations a
culture of misplaced purity, cult of
virginity , guilt, shame and suppression, which can have detrimental effects on
the mental well-being and personal freedom of individuals within Muslim communities.
By defending gender segregation and imposing strict moral codes, puritanical
approaches inadvertently contribute to the negative portrayal of Islam as an
intolerant and repressive religion.
Essentialising
the Other
In addition
to the puritanical, socially conservative, and politically reactionary
approaches to Islam, it is essential to highlight the counterproductive nature
of essentialising the Other. This approach, which is often seen in
puritanical interpretations of Islam,
involves reducing diverse groups such as the West,
Jews, Christians, Hindus, and others to simplistic
stereotypes and generalisations. By essentialising and dehumanizing these
groups, proponents of such views inadvertently perpetuate a cycle of mistrust,
misunderstanding, and anti-Muslim sentiment.
Puritanical,
socially conservative, and politically reactionary approaches to Islam, coupled
with the counterproductive nature of essentializing the Other, have detrimental
effects on interfaith dialogue, understanding, and social cohesion. By
promoting exclusivism, gender inequality, archaic political theology,
proselytization, support for harsh criminal punishments, restrictive views on
sexuality, and essentialising different cultures and religions, these
approaches perpetuate negative stereotypes, hinder constructive engagement, and
contribute to the rise of anti-Muslim sentiment. It is crucial to foster a more
nuanced and progressive interpretation of Islam that values
inclusivity, equality, and human rights while rejecting essentialising
narratives. Only through such an approach can we overcome divisions, promote
understanding, and build a more harmonious and inclusive society.
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A
decades old patron of New Age Islam, Dr Adis Duderija is a Senior Lecturer in
the Study of Islam and Society, School of Humanities, Languages and Social
Science; Senior Fellow Centre for Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue,
Griffith University | Nathan | Queensland | Australia. His forthcoming books
are ( co-edited)- Shame, Modesty, and
Honora in Islam and Interfaith
Engagement Beyond the Divide (Springer)
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-politics/puritanical-approaches-anti-muslim-sentiments/d/132287
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