Jihadi-ism, “Radical Islam”, and so-called Extremism
The labels associated with Muslims are rarely labels a Muslim would choose for themselves. I don’t believe this is because Muslims have a disconnect from reality or understanding of themselves but instead that Muslims know that their views are no more “extreme” or “radical” than the other mainstream ideologies of the world. I am a fundamentalist in the sense I do defer to Islamic scholars and holy texts for my positions on all topics. I don’t prioritize individuality or modern subjective standards of ethics when deciding my positions on political or moral issues. I don’t consider this to be radical or extreme, most cultures for most of history were the same way, the labelling of adherence to religion as extremism is a modern idea that comes as consequence of the separation of church and state.
But how has that separation, in practice, worked out for the Christian population of America? Secular ethics and the view legality corresponds with morality has become widespread and apostacy/blasphemy against Christianity has become socially acceptable and common. Your kids use sex apps, participate in hookup culture, raise kids outside of the institution of family without your ancestral Christian values, they support abortion and all flavors of degeneracy that pervades society via LGBTQ+ indoctrination.
Often as an American Revert I am faced with the paradox of being born of a country that has aggressively occupied and terrorized the Muslim world. I always try to denounce the moral superiority that Americans feel over Muslims without encouraging or justifying any violence in any direction. That being said when Muslims fight back against Western colonial powers do I denounce them? I cannot. I know this will lead to me being seen as an extremist and anti-American, but I do not accept those labels or feel any desire to see my countrymen suffer from violence or war.
Finally, on the topic of women, Muslims are labeled misogynists and oppressive. We believe in the inherent values of patriarchy, modesty, chastity, and gender roles. But is this an anti-women position? We do not believe it is. The West is coming back around on the values of male leadership and rejection of sexual liberation. You’ll sometimes hear American atheist red-pill influencers proclaiming the need for family structure and denouncing the widespread porn addiction common in Western men. They don’t justify these beliefs with direction from God, they don’t even believe in God, they just see through observing the results of feminism and hookup culture that it has been a disaster for American society. After all, how is it a better system in which women sexually experiment during their “educational” years (high school – college), rack up debt and go into the workplace where they work for a man, then get to their late thirties and regret not pair bonding/mating with a long-term partner but are unable to find one because men do not want to settle down with women that have extensive sexual history.
American Military – Force of colonialism and oppression
My opposition to the US Military/Government has been very public since I was fresh out of high school. I held these sentiments even before then but did not feel comfortable discussing them with others until I no longer was stuck in a school with southern conservatives for 8 hours 5 days per week. I first began mentally opposing the US invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan in my teenage years and also became staunchly pro-Palestine by age seventeen. By this time Obama was regularly carrying out drone strikes killing innocent Muslims, Israel was oppressing the Gaza Strip, and the CIA involvement in arming and aiding armed “terrorist” groups was becoming more publicized.
For my early adulthood (18-24) I was an anacho-capitalist that denounced all government on the grounds that individual freedom was what I believed to be the most important moral principle and the taxation that all government was funded by was theft at gunpoint by the state. To some extent these views still influence my perspective on government-related topics although I no longer believe in anarchy and I do support Sharia Law.
Currently (28 years old) I find myself redefining my own personal beliefs and political opinions as I have to reconsider all of my prior held convictions through the realization that I no longer hold personal individual freedom as the most important moral principle. I also am only now educating myself on the history of modern Middle Eastern politics and I do not know enough to support or denounce specific Muslim countries’ laws nor specific Muslim separatist/”rebel” groups’ missions. I do not consider America to be morally superior to, say, The Taliban in Afghanistan or Hamas in Palestine.
Islam and Gender – The core of the incompatibility problem between Muslim and Liberal societies
So what does Islam say about women’s rights and what do American reverts believe about women’s place in society? First I need to point out that I cannot speak for all American Muslims. Many American Muslims are liberals themselves and support full equal rights for women under the law including women voting, women in the workplace, women’s right to abortion, women’s right to education, marriages being decided by the couple, etc. I personally support Sharia Law but do not agree with any interpretation of Sharia that denies a woman’s right to an education.
“Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim.” Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 224
As far as a woman’s place in the economy it really just depends on the specific field we are discussing. I’m completely in support of female doctors, teachers, nutritionists, diplomats, snipers, etc. I don’t necessarily believe there should be female police officers, infantrymen, presidents, etc. To be fair I also don’t believe 90% of men are qualified to be president or authority figures either in the West, because masculinity has declined in the West and weak men in positions of power have been responsible for the vast majority of evil throughout history.
Is the lack of modesty and encouragement of sexual activity actually leading to a happier American woman? Studies and actual American women who have lived through the shift largely say no. Is Islam a religion of oppressing women? Muslim women, again, say no.
I Am A Muslim
The only label I self-identify with is Muslim. Beyond that many people consider me many things. Amongst other Muslims I am called Sunni, Fundamentalist, & Revert. Among Americans I’m likely considered extremist, radical, and oppressive. In feminist circles I have no doubt I wear the label of misogynist. To supporters of the US military I’m probably a traitor and enemy. It just depends who you ask. To me, though, I am just a Muslim who follows the Quran and the teachings of our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). I can’t control what others think of my beliefs or how they may label me, nor will I dedicate any emotional or mental energy to disputing mischaracterizations. All I will do is defend my beliefs and continue my journey to get closer to Allah. I support the Ummah (Muslim community) and reject those who attack the Muslim world.
Allahu Akbar.
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