“Who Speaks for Islam?”

By Rami G. Khouri

WASHINGTON, DC -- Every few years a book is published that has the potential to change perceptions of millions of people, and, by doing so, perhaps to change policies of governments for the better. I believe that just such a book is the one being published in a few weeks entitled Who Speaks for Islam, co-authored by John L. Esposito of Georgetown University, and Dalia Mogahed of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies.

This book analyzes the results of a global sample survey of one billion Muslims carried out in recent years, representing more than 90 percent of all Muslims in the world. It is published by Gallup Press, and comes out at a time when there is urgent and increasing need for more accuracy and breadth in dealing with the tensions, conflicts and misperceptions that plague relations between many in the United States and Muslim-majority societies.

The reasons for my enthusiastic advance praise for this volume are not only the depth of its contents, the clarity of its conclusions, and the fact that it is a fast and absorbing read. Its primary compelling strength is the sharp insights it offers into the thinking of Muslims around the world, painting a very different view of Muslims and Islam than the one projected in popular culture or public politics in the United States.

It has been a painful experience to read this book and chat with the authors, while simultaneously following political coverage on American television during my current trip to the United States. President George W. Bush may have cooled down his wild rhetoric about “Islamofascists,” but Republican presidential contender John McCain and others have filled the vacuum with their constant references to "Islamic extremism" being the threat of the century and the defining issue of our times. Mainstream cable television, local newspapers, and public affairs radio make things even worse by referring to Islam and to Muslims primarily in the context of violence, warfare, fanaticism, or anti-Americanism.

So it is refreshing and useful for more sensible American relations with Muslims and their cultures that this book provides a clear, emphatic antidote to the fear, racism, and anger that still drive many Americans’ attitudes to Muslims and Islam. The need to redress the situation of imbalanced and tense U.S.-Islamic relations was most poignantly reflected in a point the authors made when I had a chance to chat with them recently:

When Americans were polled and asked what they admired about Islam, 57 percent said “nothing” or “I don’t know,” while a majority of Muslims around the world easily named several specific things they admired about the United States, including its democracy, technology and liberty -- the same things that Americans say they admire about their democracy. Muslims listed the key elements of the democracy they desired as freedom of speech, religion and assembly.

The survey and book offer a number of important insights that are based on intensive field research, not preconceptions distorted by political violence, and by politicians who deliberately play on people’s fears and ignorance.

What was the single most important conclusion the authors drew from their work?

“The conflict between the Muslim and Western communities is far from inevitable. It is more about policy than principles.” They add a critical thought, though: “However, until and unless decision-makers listen directly to the people and gain an accurate understanding of this conflict, extremists on all sides will continue to gain ground.”

The book is rich in detailed findings and analyses. Here are some of its key conclusions, as summarized by the authors:

"Muslims differentiate between different Western countries, criticizing or celebrating them on the basis of their politics, not their religion or culture. The vast majority of Muslims who are asked about their future dreams speak usually of getting a good job, not engaging in violent acts. Muslims and Americans are equally likely to reject attacks on civilians as morally unjustified. Those who condone acts of terrorism are a minority and are no more likely to be religious than the rest of the population. What Muslims say they least admire about the West is its perceived moral decay and breakdown of traditional values -- the same responses given by Americans. Muslim women want equal rights and religion in their societies. Muslims are most offended by Western disrespect for Islam and Muslims. Majorities of Muslims want religion to be a source of laws, but they do not want religious leaders to play a direct role in governance or crafting a constitution."

This kind of polling and analysis should be tremendously important for political leaders in both Muslim and Western societies. It sketches the personal values and political sentiments of a vast majority of men and women who can be mobilized on the basis of their real sentiments anchored in justice, democracy, and respect for religious and social norms -- not their imagined adherence to violence and extremism.

[ “Who Speaks for Islam?” is available at Amazon.]

-- Rami G. Khouri is Editor-at-large of The Daily Star, and Director of the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut, in Beirut, Lebanon.

www.aljazeera.com

"Siapa yang Berbicara untuk Islam?"

Saturday, 15 March 2008

oleh John L. Esposito dan Dalia Mogahed Ektrimis dan teroris sudah terlalu sering memonopoli liputan media dan demikianlah pesan yang keluar dari dunia Islam. Tapi apa yang sesungguhnya diyakini, dipikirkan dan dirasakan oleh mayoritas besar Muslim aliran utama? Apa harapan, ketakutan, dan kemarahan mereka? Mengapa anti-Amerikanisme yang kokoh tampaknya merembet ke dunia Muslim? Apakah itu pertanda adanya benturan budaya – apakah mereka membenci siapa kita? Atau apa yang kita lakukan? Daripada mendengarkan para ekstrimis atau sekadar mengandalkan pada opini beberapa cendekiawan saja, mengapa tidak memberikan suara pada mayoritas diam? Kami menanyakan umat Islam di seluruh dunia apa yang sesungguhnya mereka pikirkan, dan menemukan bahwa ketika kami membiarkan data memimpin wacana, maka terungkaplah sejumlah wawasan. Penemuan terpenting dari riset kami adalah: konflik antara komunitas Muslim dan Barat jauh dari tak terelakkan. Hal itu lebih ke masalah kebijakan ketimbang prinsip. Bagaimanapun, sampai dan kecuali para pembuat kebijakan mendengarkan mereka secara langsung dan memperoleh pemahaman yang akurat tentang konflik ini, para ekstrimis di semua pihak akan terus menguat. Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think berdasarkan pada riset selama enam tahun dan lebih dari 50.000 wawancara yang mewakili 1,3 juta Muslim, yang tinggal di lebih dari 35 negara berpenduduk mayoritas Muslim atau memiliki populasi Muslim yang cukup besar. Mewakili lebih dari 90% komunitas Muslim dunia, poling ini adalah studi terbesar dan paling komprehensif dibandingkan studi sejenisnya. Hasilnya menentang kebijaksanaan konvensional dan konflik global yang tak terelakkan – bahkan ketika peperangan di Irak dan Afghanistan berlanjut. Studi ini mengungkapkan beberapa penemuan yang mengejutkan. Studi menunjukkan bahwa Muslim dan orang Amerika sama-sama menolak penyerangan terhadap masyarakat sipil dan menganggap hal itu tidak dapat dibenarkan secara moral. Mereka yang memilih kekerasan dan ekstrimisme didorong oleh politik, bukan kemiskinan atau ketaatan. Nyatanya, dari 7 persen renponden yang meyakini bahwa 9/11 bisa dibenarkan, tak satu pun dari mereka yang membenci kebebasan kita; malah, mereka menginginkan kebebasan kita. Namun, mereka percaya bahwa Amerika, dan Barat pada umumnya, menerapkan standar ganda dan menghalangi Muslim menentukan masa depan mereka sendiri. Kita secara terus-menerus dibombardir dengan gambar-gambar remaja Muslim yang marah sedang berdemonstrasi atau berlatih di kamp-kamp Al Qaeda. Namun studi ini menunjukkan bahwa mayoritas besar pemuda Muslim tidak bermimpi untuk pergi berperang; mereka bermimpi untuk mendapat pekerjaan. Demikian pula, ketika ditanya tentang harapan mereka untuk masa depan, umat Muslim dari segala usia mengatakan bahwa mereka menginginkan pekerjaan dan keamanan yang lebih baik, bukan konflik dan kekerasan. Penemuan ini juga mengungkapkan bahwa Muslim di seluruh dunia tidak menginginkan sekularisme maupun teokrasi. Mereka menginginkan kebebasan, hak, dan demokratisasi. Namun, pada saat yang sama, mereka mengklaim bahwa masyarakat seharusnya dibangun di atas nilai-nilai Islam dan bahwa syariah seharusnya menjadi sumber hukum. Singkatnya, mayoritas wanita dan pria Muslim menginginkan hak dan agama, dan mereka tidak melihat keduanya saling terpisah. Barat akan senang mengetahui bahwa sembilan dari sepuluh Muslim adalah moderat – kabar baik bagi mereka yang optimis tentang ko-eksistensi. Umat Muslim mengatakan bahwa hal terpenting yang bisa dilakukan orang Barat untuk meningkatkan hubungan dengan masyarakat mereka adalah mengubah pandangan negatif mereka terhadap Muslim, menghargai Islam, dan mengevaluasi kembali kebijakan-kebijakan luar negeri mereka. Kabar yang kurang menggembirakan adalah bahwa ada sejumlah besar Muslim yang radikal secara politik (7 persen yang tadi disebutkan, yang mewakili sekitar 91 juta orang) yang bisa didorong untuk mendukung atau melakukan kekerasan terhadap masyarakat sipil. Tantangan bagi masyarakat Barat hanya akan berkembang sepanjang masyarakat Muslim ini terus merasa didominasi dan diabaikan secara politik. ### * John L. Esposito adalah seorang profesor di Universitas Georgetown dan Direktur Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding. Dalia Mogahed adalah seorang Analis Senior Gallup dan Direktur Eksekutif Gallup Center for Muslim Studies. Artikel ini ditulis untuk Kantor Berita Common Ground (CGNews) dan pertama kali dicetak di Pittsburgh Post Gazette.