An American tragedy: an American Muslim perspective of the Fort Hood shooting

November 10, 10:08 PMSE Michigan Islamic ExaminerHeather Laird

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Courtesy of the AP

An American tragedy: an American Muslim perspective of the Fort Hood shooting

There is no doubt that Major Nidal Malik Hasan is a Muslim. What divides one who is a Muslim and not a Muslim is the Shahadah, the testifying that there is no God but God and that the Prophet Mohammed is His messenger. If one believes this they are a Muslim, if not they are not.

In Islam, there is no ex-communication. A Muslim is a Muslim whether one is a picture of piety or one is a Muslim in name-only and every variation between those two ends of the spectrum. I accept this, and it is what a Muslim believes. In Islam, there are laws that we abide by which are referred to as Islamic law. Muslims observe Islamic law much like observant Jews abide by the Halakha or Jewish law. There are some variations on specific points and there are a number of madhabs or law schools. Within these law schools are defined rather marginal different understandings on how people should live their lives. All of this works with the underpinning of shared common values and beliefs.  Most criminal law under Islamic law usually has something to do with the realm of that which is brought into the public sphere. Spying, suspicion, hearsay and the like are not welcome friends to the law. Witnesses are usually required to punish individuals for crimes, and because of the high threshold.

As a Muslim, my understanding of terrorism is an aimless act of violence that seeks to scare and frighten people from the highways and by-ways. This is a broader view than American law gives to the definition of terrorism. American law defines it as "the unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons." Under the American law definition it remains to be seen whether Major Nidal Malik Hasan is a terrorist. Under Islamic law, however, there seems to be no doubt that he acted in a violent way which scared and frightened people from the highways and by-ways.

As I listened to President Obama today talk about "due process," I was humbled.  I was humbled because I was reminded of how just this nation seeks to be if only in its ideals. Ideally, all people would receive due process, although we know not all do. Even in Islamic law, people undergo a due process. But, I was humbled because, I share an anger with most of the rest of the Country over this incident at Fort Hood. I grieve and mourn the loss of innocent life that God created. And have such disgust over the selfish acts of this man who called himself a Muslim, but whose actions suggest was not in the least concerned about Muslims. The day he decided to pick up a weapon and shoot innocent people, and seemingly hoping to die himself by calling out "Allahu Akbar" and preparing his household by giving his furniture away he was not thinking of the Ummah or Muslim community. When he made those series of decisions,  he threw Islam and the entire Muslim community under the bus. 

Because there is so much ignorance in America still about Islam and Muslims, people like Senator Joe Lieberman are seemingly able to perpetuate ideas and titles, i.e., Islamic extremists, and frighten people right out of their seats.  That along with the horrific acts of a few Muslims has caused innocent, law-abiding, American-loving Muslims to suffer. I can only pray that people are wiser than usual and do not strike out at innocent Muslims. My mother called me in fear, for every time some strange crime is perpetuated by a Muslim and fear of Muslims is spread across the media, she is worried that someone will take out their anger toward her daughter. My friends, who I grew up with, remind me to watch out for those "jar-heads," a term they use to refer to those people who act on emotion before using reason. I remind them that this isn't the first time. I along with other American Muslims have been through many incidents since the first Gulf war.

The point is Muslims do not believe in relying on their example of right conduct from other people, although some do because they are human, that is also the reason we do not, because we are all human with human flaws. And every time one of these tragic events happens, I stop and check myself about my beliefs. And every time I come up with the same answer, if those that I have grown up with and have known all my life want to persecute me for my freedom to choose my religion then so be it. I became a Muslim for the theology not for a political or other known ideology. I did not divorce myself from my heritage, but ask it to believe enough in itself to accept me as I believe. Some are able to honor this Constitutional heritage and some are not. 

As for this American Muslim, I will continue to pray for a closer relationship between my Muslim community and our neighbors, so that we may know one another and grow in fellowship.  I will pray for healing for those who are the survivors of the lost men and women at Fort Hood. No one, Muslim or otherwise, can escape the tears that spring up in the eyes from the call-out of the fallen soldiers and the playing of Taps. May God help us all and our American community.