| By Mizan,
on 27-08-2003 12:02
|
Views : 2241  |
Favoured : 89 |
Published in : , Reviews |
A Reflection by M. "Musa" Moes:
I was loaned a copy of this book by my friend Adibudeen. It is a first-person account of an American Muslim, Aukai Collins, who after converting to Islam, then went overseas on several occasions to take part in Jihad. He describes the harsh realities of war - perhaps the most disturbing being the opportunists who run mafia-style operations in and around the war-torn countries where the so-called Jihad is taking place. But he also throws us an additional curve when he makes clear his distinction between Jihad and terrorism and decides to cooperate with the U.S. federal government to inform on terrorists. His frustration in this case is the result of the US governments blind eye to his inside connections - falling short of benefitting from his help due to bureaucracy and then adding insult to injury by trying to convince him that the real terrorist threat lies in the mosque. This leads me to the most pointed part of the book: Collins criticism of the people in the mosques who do not do enough (in his view) to support Jihad. All of it thrown together goes a long way to challenge our assumptions about Jihad overseas, the US governments ideas about terrorism, and the attitude of the average American Muslim toward Jihad.
As a convert myself, I know what it feels like to face the question of Jihad. We see what is happening to our brothers and sisters overseas, and we know we should be doing something about it. On the other hand, there is little activity or energy to mobilize in this fashion through the mosque. In fact, in Collins experience, he was actually shunned for doing so. When I consider the question of what John Walker Lindh was really thinking when he joined the ranks of Bin Ladens forces in Afghanistan, I can only imagine how unclear the picture must have been for him. Now he faces 20 years in prison and is regarded by most of America as a traitor. How forseeable could it have been for him to know that he would go from putting his blood on the line in a foreign land for his brothers and sisters in faith to looking across the battle field at his own countrymen? In some ways Collins book seems to shed some light on this question. On the other hand, I find myself to be one of those whom he is critical of. In the meantime, I have never gone in Jihad, and under the present circumstances, lacking coordinated leadership and the other pre-requisites that would make Jihad an obligation, I do not see myself going unless it is to help civilians with medical care, relief aid, or education.
Regardless of how much I may agree or disagree with the author, I found the book intriguing and thought provoking. I felt it ended a bit abruptly, leaving the reader to wonder if the author ever came to know of the fate of his Chechnyan wife and child. It could be a production flaw in the rush to tap into the post 9-11 market for such material. But perhaps it means there will be a sequel and Aukai Collins will share more with us on his experiences with the ideal vs. the real. His conversion to Islam took a direction into wartorn countries where Jihad is compromised by politics and ganglords. As for me, though I chose to channel my zeal as a convert into Islamic schools, I can not help but feel that our experiences have a common thread.
Last update : 27-08-2003 12:02
|
|
|
Users' Comments  |
|
Average user rating
 (0 vote)
|
|
Add your comment
|
