This morning’s session on Indian Muslims and American Muslims was very well attended. Over 70 people came out to hear a solid panel of scholars (Azam Nizamuddin, Esq., Dr. Muqtedar Khan, Dr. Parvez Ahmed and Dr. Omar Khalidi). I moderated the session.
The gist of the program was to discuss and explore ways for American Muslims to make a positive impact on the lives of Indian Muslims. ISNA worked with the Indian Muslim Council - USA in organizing this panel (is it me, or does it seem like this year’s convention features a lot more collaboration with other Muslim organizations in the sessions?).
Overall Assessment
This was a very well organized session. The four speakers did an excellent job. All four speakers were relevant. As an added bonus the panelist presentations included reflections and recommendations on what American Muslims can do.
Each speaker brought something unique to the audience. Each presentation had at least one valuable bit of information that will be useful to anyone wanting to become more involved with the challenges and problems faced by India’s Muslim community.
Summary of Panel Presentations
Azam Nizamuddin kicked off the discussion with a quick refresher on the history of Muslims in India. Professor Nizamuddin** (he’s an adjunct professor of Islamic Studies at Loyola University of Chicago) provided a great powerpoint presentation to supplement his presentation. An important take away from Professor Nizamuddin’s presentation was that Muslims have made innumerable contributions to India over the centuries they’ve been there, but that not all of these contributions are: (1) recognized as being made by Muslims, and/or (2) acknowledged as contributions.
Muqtedar Khan’s presentation covered Islamophobia. Professor Khan has written about Islamophobia on numerous occasions. Professor Khan didn’t pull any punches in his presentation (I sometimes think it likes rattling people a bit).
This time around, among other targets of his critical assessments, Professor Khan questioned the value of American Muslims wearing Saudi-styled clothing in America; a man in near the front looked visible perturbed and stormed out - he was wearing a long tunic over his other clothes. I guess the attendee took exception. Or maybe he just hand to use the men’s room (I’m just sayin’).
Some of the points from Professor Khan’s presentation that I thought are particularly noteworthy include:
- Islamophobia today is the result of non-Muslims knowing Muslims and Islam itself (selectively when it comes to the latter)
- If things continue as they are in India, then Indian Muslims will remain in Third World conditions as the rest of the country’s population advances
- Because today’s Islamophobia is not caused by a fear of the unknown, per se, just going to a church and putting a name and face to the the word “Muslim isn’t enough
During his presentation Professor Khan brought up the recent barring of Zakir Naik, a well known Muslim preacher from India. Professor Khan suggested that Zakir Naik is on record (literally - on some recording) as saying all Muslims should be terrorists and that this is an example of why people fear Islam.
He used this point to take a few jabs at Shaykh Hamza Yusuf and Zaytuna College as well (he made reference to the cultish following of young American Muslims behind Hamza Yusuf and he suggested that a degree from Zaytuna College isn’t going to be very useful in contributing to the advancement of American society in the same way that, say, a medical degree might help).
The three proposals he recommended for Muslims in America and in India in order to counter Islamophobia are: (1) reject extremist ideologies here and abroad loudly and as often as is necessary to get the message to everyone, (2) reform the way Muslim approach Islam by making it less of an identity and more of a spiritual relationship with God and (3) find as many ways as possible to serve mankind.
Parvez Ahmed picked up on Professor Khan’s points during his presentation. I was impressed with Dr. Ahmed (I met him and heard him speak for the first time today). Dr. Ahmed spoke of empowering Muslims.
Dr. Ahmed discussed the idea that “power” is a zero-sum game and that for one group in a community to gain power, another group necessarily loses it. He suggest that this doesn’t have to be the case. Dr. Ahmed suggested that Muslims pursue integrative power. He described integrative power the power that derives from collaboration, mutuality and sharing between communities and groups and individuals, and he said that integrative power enhances the power of all who participate in its pursuit.
The Hindutva ideology was first brought up by Dr. Ahmed. Yes, the Hindutva movement in India is a cause of the disempowerment of India’s Muslims said Dr. Ahmed. But he noted that the plight of India’s Muslims is not due solely to the Hindutva movement. Rather, he said there are numerous other factors, in addition to the Hindutva movement, which is causing the disempowerment of India’s Muslims. He referenced the Sachar Commission report which exposed incredibly disturbing facts and statistics of India’s Muslims.
For example, Dr. Ahmed cited the Sachar Commission report in noting that while India’s Muslims only make up about 15% of the population, they are heavily over-represented in prisons. He noted the lack of education and the lack of employment among India’s Muslims as well. These factors also contribute to the disempowerment of India’s Muslims according to Dr. Ahmed.
In proposing solutions Dr. Ahmed suggested that first, all Muslims, whether they are in the U.S. or in India, need to understand that they have individual responsibility for addressing the aforementioned challenges faced by India’s Muslims. The failure of local and regional governments in India are also to blame and Dr. Ahmed said that this failure has to be pointed out and addressed. Lastly, Dr. Ahmed suggested that as India enjoys tremendous economic prosperity, it’s business community must bring to India the policies and values it adheres to when conducting business abroad (he specifically noted equal employment and affirmative action policies that Indian businesses abide when doing business in America should be implemented in India as well).
Wrapping up the panel presentation’s was Omar Khalidi. Professor Khalidi was very quick to get to his main point. Professor Khalidi said that India’s Muslims have been and continue to be “givers” to the Ummah, but that India’s Muslims should not expect anything from the Ummah. I surmised that Professor Khalidi was suggesting that India’s Muslims and American Muslims of Indian origin shouldn’t expect much for others and need to address the challenges faced by India’s Muslims on their own.
However, Professor Khalidi went on to explain a little more about what he means by India’s Muslims “doing for themselves”. He was more focused on American Muslims of Indian origin, and he suggested that American Muslims of Indian origin must not only work together between the various Indian Muslim organizations, but that they must work with the broader Indian diaspora in America and make the issue of India’s Muslims relevant and included. In other words, it’s not enough to create and work within Muslims organizations that are made up of Indian Muslims exclusively, and that Indian Muslims must work with all persons of Indian origin in America on the wide range of issues that are important to this diverse community.
Speaker Bios (brief)
Azam Nizamuddin: a lawyer and an adjunct law professor at Loyola University of Chicago. He teaches Islamic Studies and is very active in interfaith work in the Northern Illinois region.
Muqtedar Khan: an associate professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Delaware. He is the director of the Islamic Studies Program at the University of Delaware.
Parvez Ahmed: an associate professor of finance a the University of North Florida. In addition to his academic work, he is also the former board chairman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Omar Khalidi: an independent scholar at the Massacusetts Institute of Technology and the author of “Muslims in the Indian Economy”.
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**I refer to Azam as "Professor Nizamuddin" because that's what he is in the context of this recap. He's also a friend and colleague and when addressing him in those capacities I am more likely to refer to him as dude or Azam.
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