The Closing of the Muslim Mind

Published: 15/02/2010

The Closing of the Muslim Mind
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown

Confused dad Mohamed El-Moctar from somewhere in the US sends his dilemma to an Islamic guidance website with nameless conduits through whom Allah apparently communicates his orders on how we dress, what we do minute by minute, unholy TV programmes, wicked vitamins and even wickeder relations between males and females. I paraphrase in part his frantic appeal for clarity. His children watch TV cartoons, have animal stuffed toys, quilts and pillow cases with Mickey Mouse: Is all that ‘halal’? Now many of us detest the addictive and manipulative Disney brand which targets young children. But this grown, procreative adult cannot trust his own mind and seeks instructions from unverified voices of authority. How abject is that? And if they who decide say nay, you can just imagine the sobs of his poor mites as he dumps Mickey and co in large garbage bags.

These global sites control people, push through Maoist ‘cleansing’, a highly efficient crusade. The internet and cable TV, and miserable mullahs are closing down the Muslim mind and heart the world over. ‘True believers’ desperately seek enslavement and thank their slavers. The questions posed are startling in their naiveté. May we sing? Is it OK for a man to listen to a woman singer? Do I watch a female newsreader?. Yes, says a wise one as long as she is properly covered up and not wearing perfume. Oh don’t laugh. It is tragic not funny.

Somehow in the last decade or so, millions of believers have been persuaded that they are repositories of sin because they watch films, love music and paintings, read books, experience temporal pleasures and ecstasies. Remember the ferocity with which Taliban destroyed all pre-Islamic treasures? Saudi Arabia is guilty of similar vandalism. Thus they seek to recreate the pious and glory times of triumphant Islam. Well they didn’t have cameras, mobile phones, cars and computers then. Should these be banned too?

Muslim children are now programmed to obey, robbed of imagination, independent thought and refinement. UK Muslims parents are increasingly coming out against school visits, music and drama, novels, exercise, scientific facts. Teachers know these parental demands leave Muslim children under-educated and emotionally numbed, rendered unresponsive to artistic words, sights and sounds.

This is a travesty of our history, our love of truth and beauty, the intellectual energy that throughout history uplifted Muslim civilizations. The current Science Museum exhibition of Muslim inventions that shaped the modern world proves we were never the barbarians promoted in western demonology. Some of the earliest manuals on surgery and optics, astronomy and flying machines came out of Muslim regions. And those same places were creative hubs producing great works of art, incredible buildings and intricate crafts.

Iraqi born Princess Wijdan Ali, an erudite art historian has written wonderful books on art in the Islamic world. There is no Koranic injunction against the depiction of the human form. Artists portrayed the Prophet in exquisite paintings- he was always human, never divine- and other men and women in Persian, Indian, Ottoman and Chinese art. Pictures from previous ages would today not be painted- a kneeling, sensual angel by an Ottoman artist in the mid 16th Century, a man filling his cup of wine. Passion plays were performed through the centuries in all main Arabian conurbations, poetry was written and recited buy men and women and music, devotional and romantic was in every household.

All that is under threat today. The Pakistani blogger Raza Rumi writes: ‘Who are these butchers of culture? What religion do they follow? They have no religion except barbarism.’ Exactly. British Muslims for Secular Democracy (of which I am chair), supported by the British Council is this Tuesday organising a conference on artistic and cultural freedom at SOAS in central London. Speakers include Miss Pakistan who is also a professor, fashion designers, the entrepreneur Saira Khan, painters, stand up comics, musicians, writers, others who are concerned. CHNGE IN PREVIOIS SENTENCE (The event is open to all. Check the BMSD site.). We will be launching an advisory guide for teachers on protecting the interests of the Muslim child.

Many sagacious websites will warn that mixing with us, people with faith who are also freethinkers is definitely haram. That will keep away the born-again religious troglodytes. But our hope is that the nervous and undecided will turn up to listen to artists and entertainers and throw off their chains. One artist I know put it beautifully: ‘Allah gave me my mind, my hands my eyes, my patience, my selfhood. I use all these gifts and show people the wonders of the world. How can that be wrong? Does God want us to be deaf, stupid and blind? ‘ No, but God’s army sure does.

Published in The Independent