Muslims, who have migrated to western countries such as US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, have encountered many problems.
There are two major categories of such migrants. They are religious Muslims who have isolated themselves and do not want to interact with western society; and Muslims who disconnect from their country of origin.
The first category sees the western society sinful and living by a different doctrine. They often say, “I do not want to work with them; I will remain in isolation and bring up my children away from them.
They may even wish harm on the western society because of its sins, problems, and way of life. They feel that westerners deserve it.
People in the second category would say, “Let us leave our ignorant countries of origin and their cultures and look up to the real, modern life. I came here to study and gain university degree. I love this society and anything that happens here is always right and good, and anything from our countries is always wrong and bad.”
They not only reject their origins, but also want to imitate the west in all details. Therefore, we see our second generation growing up with similar taste and attitude, quickly integrating into the society.
The middle people
There is also a small group in the middle, a third category. They do not agree with the first or the second type. Their philosophy is positive integration.
Islam and Mohammed the Prophet teach us that integrating into the Non-Muslim society is one of the core principles of Islam. They teach the significance of integration without dissolving our own beliefs and values.
The Prophet said, “The believer who blends or integrates with people, and is patient with their harm to him, is better than the one who do not integrate and does not get harmed.”
There are many stories that describe the patience, love and mercy with which the Prophet dealt with the people of Mecca, which at that time had Non-Muslim in majority. These real-life incidents teach us the value of integration without giving up one’s faith.
Our Muslims brothers and sisters in New Zealand should ask themselves the question, “What have we achieved in all the years that we have been in this country?”
We must establish for ourselves a goal, which is to make a fingerprint in the West and declare that Islam is a religion that should be respected and say, “I am proud to be a Muslim. I am proud with my scarf on, but at the same time, I will integrate positively. What have you done in this New Zealand society, for people to look at us, and say that these are the best people and the best community in our country?
The above is a highly edited version of an article that appeared in the May 2013 edition of Rocket Science, the Newsletter of Mt Albert Islamic Centre, Auckland.
