My Article: An evening with Irshad Manji

I had heard so much about Irshad Manji and then, out of nowhere, I get an email about a speaking engagement of hers. Naturally, I was skeptical, but was interested in what she had to say. Additionally, it was an opportune time to see what the Muslim community would think.

But alas. As expected, many scoffed at the idea of hearing her speak, and others just outright wanted to boycott her/the event. I, on the contrary, was enthusiastic to go, and will never regret the decision.

I realized after the event that it's not so much what she has to say that rubs people the wrong way, but instead, how she says it. Many people are turned off by her attitude and/or style while many others are too conservative to stand her viewpoints. I, on the whole, was fairly satisfied, and realized she is most certainly an ally in the fight against ignorance and seeks to build bridges. Perhaps her real troubles will be in deciding who to partner with.

Another friend, who apart from my friend and I, was one of the few Muslims there, remarked that it would be interesting if another Muslim reformer, Tariq Ramadan, teamed up with her. He's got the scholarly background and she has the media savvy. What a team!

I heard from many that she is not worth talking to, or not worth engaging and the like, but then thought, there can possibly be no harm in talking to them or listening to them. At least we can hear it from the "horse's mouth" and not rely on scandalous propaganda. I am glad I attended the event, because I got to see the real Irshad Manji - not the one i've read and heard about - who, by the way, seemed totally different. (She was extremely nice to my friends and myself)

I wrote this week's column on my experience listening to a "Muslim Refusenik" - i.e. Irshad - and have copied it below in its entirety. I look forward to feedback - all sorts! :)

An evening with Irshad Manji


Being a graduate student means being able to listen to a diversity of viewpoints and then indulge in a civil and thoughtful debate or dialogue. Oftentimes though, this is not the case – even with the most seemingly ‘civilised’ people. And oftentimes, we also hear about certain people who are rebels, renegades and outcasts – or so the media portrays them – who, we assume, will probably be the last to indulge in the sort of dialogue we might hope for.

And then we have Irshad Manji. She is one person who can engage in thoughtful dialogue, yet still remain on the periphery when it comes to religious debate and has been chastised for quite some time now. I had seen enough bad press about her to think of never attending any event where she was to speak, and urged others to not support her in her endeavours as well. One fine evening, I decided that I had heard enough and wanted to make up my own mind instead. After all, this is the stuff graduate students live for!

And so I made my way to New York University where Irshad Manji was to speak, and lo and behold, an audience of scores of people was already present – and as expected – only a handful of Muslims were in attendance. I was already intimidated. And saddened.

I was monitoring a discussion on Manji taking place on a listserv, and while some participants had positive things to say about her, others simply wished to not engage her at all. I am of the view that no matter to what extent the person in question has stooped, they at least deserve to be heard. A conversation may not ensue, but our eyes and ears must stay open, even if our mouth is clamped shut.

It was only after I started hearing her speak that fateful evening that I realised she is not a force to dampen, but a force to reckon with. She is outspoken and has definitive viewpoints that irk many, but inspire and motivate many more. She told stories about the horrors she encountered with closed-minded individuals all over the Muslim world and the persecution and violence that others faced because of ‘radical and/or extreme’ views, even though these views were, in essence, only challenging the status quo. For them to bring such a violent outpouring was disturbing and shows that an internal reformation is hardly possible if we cannot even sit at a table and indulge in a debate rationally.

Later on in the evening, she mentioned explicitly how Muslim scholars of the ‘Dark Ages’ were responsible for the transmission of the writings of Greek philosophers and scholars, which was, in turn, responsible for the Age of Enlightenment that the West is so proud of now. If only we could go back to that time and somehow instill in Muslims today that spirit of ijtihad, Manji said. I could not have agreed more.

Manji’s childhood has been one of abuse and turbulence. Even though her secular schooling may have been great, her Islamic education on the side was anything but. Her thought-provoking questions to Islamic scholars did not yield any thoughtful responses and so out of sheer disillusionment, she left her official religious education behind and embarked on a path of “self-enlightenment”. After years of research, Manji came out with a best-selling book titled, The Trouble with Islam Today. Frankly, I have not read the book – yet – but the trouble with Islam today, I believe, lies truly with the propagators of its message.

On the one hand, we all constantly complain about how our narrow-minded clergy have made our lives worse by bringing stagnaton in the religion and not allowing for the crucial debates that keep religious traditions alive. On the other hand, we despise people like Manji who have views that might be considered normal and appreciated by mainstream Muslims, but that come out in such a way that it provokes a backlash. I sometimes wonder how women like Manji would be perceived if they wore a hijab. Certainly something to think about!

In the end though, I must give her credit for raising the same debate on issues I deal with on a daily basis in trying to inform people – usually non-Muslims – about what my faith really teaches me and has taught me. Manji may have left her Islamic school as a young child, but she did not leave Allah. She also wants to create a clear demarcation between Allah and His self-appointed ambassadors (i.e. the clergy). She related to the audience how her mother sternly told her not to anger God, and then also told those present in the audience about the time when her mother was in a masjid and the Khutbah being delivered by the Imam had to do with Manji. He said that she was worse than Osama bin Laden, because she was creating divisions in the community and that was unacceptable. Her response was that this call for unity was actually a call for uniformity, which could eventually lead to the end of ‘ijtihad’ as we know it, and this was her greatest concern. To Manji, Islam does not seem like a religion anymore, but instead an ideology of fear. The tradition of honour also scared her and the stories she narrated were truly difficult to digest.

On many counts, Manji hit the nail on the head. But on others, I still remain doubtful. Is it my ignorance? Perhaps. An acquaintance of mine attending the event remarked how Tariq Ramadan, a prominent Islamic scholar and fellow reformer, could maybe get together with her and combine their individual traits and fortes and create impact of positive, meaningful change. This may remain a pipe dream, but Manji is media savvy and should use this to her advantage. Perhaps with more coalition-building, we might see her single-handedly spark a reformation. God knows we need it, and God knows only we can do it.

NY Event: NYU Wagner's INTERSECTIONS featuring Irshad Manji - 3/5

NYU Wagner's INTERSECTIONS
with Lesley Stahl, 60 Minutes & CBS News Correspondent

featuring

Irshad Manji, Author of the National Bestseller, "The Trouble with Islam
Today"

Ms. Manji will preview and discuss her new PBS documentary, "Faith without
Fear" which is based upon her national bestseller "The Trouble with Islam
Today". Her film addresses the challenges of being a progressive Muslim
woman and the need to voice her opinion even though it is often met with
fierce opposition.

Book signing and reception to follow.

Monday, March 5, 2007
5 - 6:30 pm
Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service,
New York University
The Puck Building's Skylight Ballroom, 7th Floor
295 Lafayette Street, NY, NY 10012

RSVP online: https://www.nyu.edu/wagner/events/
Space is limited.