There is no one group of people that gets to decide what Islam is, and nor should there be—Islam is an abstraction, and any attempt at defining it is often a failed attempt. Islamic history, like all history, is an interpretive exercise. Claiming ownership over the entirety of Islamic history is what I have a problem with; history is not for anyone to own. Unfortunately, many Sunnis claim ownership over the recounting of historical narratives through unawareness, or ignoring or discounting of the narratives of other groups. The privilege that comes with being the majority religious sect places an extra responsibility to be informed, and to take particular caution when discussing intra-faith unity. How we construct our historical narratives contribute to our identity, marginalizing people because of disagreements or an unfamiliarity with historical events is disrespectful, privileged, discriminatory, and unfair. Hence, I am calling for Sunnis to acknowledge their privilege. Every year, Muslims, irrespective of Sunni of Shia, will have to make a moral and political choice regarding how they wish to interpret an aspect of Islamic history. We know that less than 50 years after the death of the Prophet, the first caliph (Yazid I) of the first major Islamic dynasty (Ummayad Caliphate) ordered his commanders (with an army of 5000+ soldiers) to intercept Hussain and his 100+ men. After massacring the small group, Hussain was decapitated and his headed paraded into town atop a sword. For some Muslims, the slaughter and humiliation of the Prophet Muhammad’s immediate family is so appallingly repugnant, nothing will eradicate this moment from their retelling of Islamic history. Many Sunni Muslims, on the other hand, will wish people a “Happy Islamic New Year” or fast on the day of Ashura. Because Sunnism is currently the majority sect and wields the most sociopolitical power, it is an example of privilege to never having to justify their choices on Muharram. Their version of Islamic history, along with the practices and rituals that follow, are rarely, if ever, questioned.
Posted on: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 20:01:32 +0000
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