In today’s narrative, Islam and Muslims are equated with terror and terrorism, but here’s what I know as a Muslim revert.
My politics were radicalized 25 years ago, long before I became a Muslim. It was a natural response to educational enlightenment, especially as a Chicano, becoming exposed to the history of my grandparents and their parents, to the contemporary struggles of my people from which I was previously sheltered. To learn of the corruption of the religion with which I was raised, that history of the Vatican, it’s manipulation of Prophet Jesus’ message and the selective compilation of today’s Bible, and it’s crusades and conquests, along with that of European and Yanqui Evangelicals subsequent conquests. And to learn of the nature, roles, dynamics, and histories of Empire, with all of its destruction and violence, oppression and exploitation, imposed poverty and forced dependence. My political transformation was a response to that education, and to what I was witnessing around me and in the world.
How could I not be radicalized, in opposition to the historical and present status quo? Is not the aim and duty of every generation, of every individual, and of every community and civilization, to advance in the way of universal justice and peace? Of opportunity and prosperity for all?
Instead of this, the government, mass media, Hollywood Executives, and other elements responsible for the dominant narrative and public policy, promote and institutionalize tribalism–division and conflict between classes, races, ages, what state or city you reside in, the sexes, and in this day, 1000 more categories or differences, some superficial, others real. Wars–publically broadcasted as well as covert, or through proxy–ravage the developing world. The economic system and everyday life and livelihoods, are determined predominately by the largest, the most powerful and valuable (by capitalisms standards) of Transnational Corporations, to the detriment of the common man, the everyday family,, the working class, what we call in Spanish Los de Abajo–the poor and powerless.
But alas, we are not powerless. Our voice has strength. Our actions have strength. Our thoughts, beliefs, and ideas have strength. Our collective consciousness has strength. And our concerted efforts in each case has exponential power!
For my Christian friends and family–look at the example of Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, how one man defied a whole order, and a whole Empire.
And look at the example of Prophet Mohammed, Peace and Blessings be upon him, who defeated the polytheists, and established the the Ummah (congregation) from his first convert, which in time became one of the most advanced civilization of its time, rivaled only by China, Persia, and in the Americas, the civilizations of MesoAmerica and the Andes.
Now, as to how Islam has affected my politics. I can honestly say, without a doubt, that had I NOT accepted the call to Islam, if I did not receive instruction and knowledge on how to live towards the lifelong, daily goal of piety, and if I had not truly sought to live life everyday in all things for the sake of Allah, then not only would I still suffer from mental illness and every addiction under the sun, but I would also have been overtaken by rage!
For today’s injustices, today’s toxicity, today’s tribalism, today’s tendency to victimize, to encourage violence–all of this tends to produce a powder keg that can easily erupt into the irrational decision to act out violently.
Yes, we see this in cases with radicalized so-called Muslims. But we also see it with many other political groups of all stripes, from White Nationalists to Black Israelites, from Anarchists to Socialists, from MAGA to Antifa–all of which are either partially or wholly constituted of violent elements. Each has its own separate gripe, but they all tend towards violence. And yes–state repression is a form of violence.
Within this context, I give thanks to Allah for guiding me to a religion of peace and justice. Where violence does have a place in the most extreme of circumstances, but that encourages us to seek peace, even if it requires humility and some level of compromise. A religion that also guides us in the ways of war, prohibiting many actions that are consistent with today’s international laws, which are of course completely disregarded and consistently violated by by The Power Elite, both blatantly as in the case of the imperial war machine(s), but also behind the scenes where so much insidious plotting and collaboration takes place.
My religion moderates my politics, and preserves my inner peace in the midst of the chaos. It inspires me to be peaceful as much as possible, yet to remain grounded in principle and conviction. To have courage to speak truth to power, and to do so with a more lucid mind and compassionate heart. I have never once since being a Muslim considered acting out in violence as a way to contribute to the solution to the problems that we face today, as Muslims, as Latinos, as human beings and subjects of the American Empire. Before, I did–not going to lie.
So if you’re reading this and you have any of those misconceptions of Muslims and of the religion of Islam, then I encourage you to consider this personal testimony, and even more importantly to engage with more of us rather than stick to your typical source of news as the only source of your information. There are also a couple beautiful books that I would recommend concerning a general overview of the religion.
