(1888PressRelease)
June 23, 2007 - It explores various theoretical arguments surrounding the study of Islam, Islamism, and Islamaphobia in order to explain personal conflicting questions as an Individual Identity, in relation to the British Muslim (group). The purpose of this study is to empower British Muslims, so that they may act responsibly in the representation of their Individual Muslim Identity. By understanding the conflict, one can distance oneself from the defining problem of this new age of global homogenization, where people’s identities are becoming increasingly complex due to colonial history, past influx of immigration and fast increasing media technology.
Hussain approaches the question of British Identity by biographically illustrating how stereotypes of Muslims in the mainstream media effect the loyalty of an Individual British Muslim Identity who is torn between two national, and secular groups; both too which she belongs. By critically engaging with psychoanalytical and social theory around group processes of Inclusions and Exclusions through conscious and unconscious processes of shame, Hussain’s essay, not only seeks to explain how, the pull of Islamic Solidarity is firmer on an Individual British Muslim but also explores how the push is equally harder from feelings of Alienation brought on by the stereotypes of Muslims in mainstream British media.
Her essay engages with the Islamist debate by elaborating on Giles Kepel’s and Meghnad Desia’s argument about the Jihad’s plight as a political revolution for a secular cause, in order to understand why British Muslims feel sympathetic to it’s politics, which she believes can enhance these feelings of shame in a British society that has zero tolerance to terror. It is these conscious and unconscious process of shame that can exclude an individual from Islamic Solidarity, which henceforth can lead to fear of loosing ones authentic identity; this leads her to ask, where and why do the Loyalties lie?
In order to resolve these conflicting loyalties, Hussain looks to the history of Islam through the ages by heeding the different philosophical and theological voices speaking of Islam’s past whilst the religion was passing through its various phases. This essay searches answers by examining the Prophet Mohammed’s preaching, whilst also drawing reference from the Quran, Hadith, to Shari’a Law and various other arguments made by Islamic scholars such as Iqbal, Qatub, and Mawdudi that which have helped to shape and form present day Islam in Britain.
“By doing this I hope that I may understand where the individual draws the line between Islamic solidarity, and an overriding attachment for Umma, and achieve an understanding of how these notions of Islamic Solidarity and Umma can be misinterpreted, but also misrepresented by both Muslim’s and western Media. I also wished to demonstrate the positive negation that young Muslims can take upon themselves to represent British Muslim Identity, by placing this thesis on the World Wide Web; a good platform for unheard voices.”
Najma Hussain.
www.alifeofrecluse.originationinsite.com
