A statement is oft-repeated in pseudo intellectual
discussions - in the United States
the Muslims find their natural allies among the Republicans since both share
conservative values. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Pseudo conservatism
Today’s Republicans do not practice conservatism; they
routinely use that word to deceive unsuspecting masses. Mere attaching label of
conservatism doesn’t make one conservative if it is not followed by action.
Conservatism is a philosophy that urges one to conserve nature, tradition,
values and culture. Modern Republicans are totally at odd with these
principles. In practice, they don’t even pay lip service to preserving nature,
anymore. They want to give free reign to industries to pollute. They want to
disband EPA and do away with all regulations. They want to promote extreme
right wing values totally in opposition to the core Christian teachings. Just
last week the GOP House members met and conspired to abolish the independent
ethics committee, so that no charge could be brought against them for unethical
behavior. So much for principles!
Environment and
Community
GOP is the only political party in the developed world that
does not believe in climate change. They have made it their sole objective to
serve at the feet of the oligarchs in violation of all morals and scruples.
Greed is their driving force and deception is their tool. They have no concern
for the greater good of the community. Self-promotion and ‘profit making at any
cost’ is their mantra.
Muslims on the other hand have community service ingrained in their religious diktat. Their religion encourages them to offer obligatory Friday prayer in a mosque. Purpose of this is to strengthen communal harmony, and extend bonding between members. After the prayer they are encouraged to mingle with their neighbors, find out if there are poor and needy among them, and then help those.
Muslims on the other hand have community service ingrained in their religious diktat. Their religion encourages them to offer obligatory Friday prayer in a mosque. Purpose of this is to strengthen communal harmony, and extend bonding between members. After the prayer they are encouraged to mingle with their neighbors, find out if there are poor and needy among them, and then help those.
The word ‘prayer’ is found 90 times in Quran; in most
instances the word ‘prayer’ is accompanied by the word ‘charity’ in the same
breadth, 71 times in total – such is the importance on charity the holy book
reposes. A Muslim’s duty to God is never
complete unless the person practices generous charity; it is one of the fundamental
pillars of his religion. Service to humanity and preservation of nature is his
basic duty.
Prophet Mohammad led by example, he was the supreme leader
and had unbound power to control the wealth of his nation, yet, he lived
practically a pauper. In life there were days when he remained hungry because
he had given his last piece of bread away. In death he left practically no
possession.
Republican politicians (count 70% Democrats in the same
bracket) live to usurp wealth of the middle class and other low income people
at any cost; they want to take away the safety nets for the lowest of the lows.
They dodge taxes, cut tax rates for the richest at every opportunity. They
preach pulling oneself by one’s bootstraps, and then take the bootstraps away.
They want to dismantle Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and SNAP (food
stamp) programs. They strive continually to transfer wealth from the poor to
the rich. This type of behavior is against the essential teachings of Islam.
Education
Prophet Mohammed had said – if needed one should travel to
faraway China
for learning (China
was a distant land from Arabia in the 7th
century). Following his instruction the Muslims invested in public education
and ruled the world of science for the next few centuries. The Republicans on
the other hand want to remove all government support for education; the GOP
stalwart Reagan began defunding education and now it has reached its peak where
the basic public education system has been weakened so much that the Asian
countries lead in that field.
Social values
Muslims erroneously think the Republicans’ religious stand
on right to life, gay rights, transgender, and other minority folks make them
conservative. They fail to understand that it’s the facade the Republicans hide
under; there is no dearth of people among them who are practicing gays, or
lesbians, and sex offenders. It is sad that great numbers of Muslim are misled
by their spectacle, and lack the ability to dig deeper and examine the reality.
Matthew 25 sums up the teaching of the New Testament:
“Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you
who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty
and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared
for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him and
say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you
drink? When did we see you a stranger
and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison,
and visit you?’…
…He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not
do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ “
This teaching is shared by Islam as well, and a true Muslim
must use this principle as his yard-stick and be guided by it.
