In light of the chaos that has happened in Paris, Sydney, Nigeria and Pakistan, my heart aches for the victims. I am pained, confused and outraged by how people could spread violence and hatred in the name of my beautiful religion of Islam. The Quraish of Makkah did more heinous acts to our beloved Prophet s.a.w. and he did not react with violence; instead aggression was reciprocated with love, peace and understanding. The prophet s.a.w. when stoned till blood trickled down to his shoes, did not even attempt to defend himself, instead he prayed to God asking for forgiveness for what he saw as his own weakness - for in his eyes, he was not a successful enough messenger, for not being able to be someone people listened to or respected.
He did not blame the stone throwers, the Prophet s.a.w. blamed himself.
He reflected on his own weaknesses instead of projecting his frustration on others - he did not see himself as superior. This is true Islam.
Recent events did not come without its many predecessors. So long as an individual finds him or herself superior to others around them, violent acts like these are going to keep happening. It happened with the Quraish and the Muslims because of Quraish's "superior" traditions. Despite a horrific history, it is still happening between "superior" Whites and the Blacks in many parts of the world. Decades of war ensued between the "superior" Israel and Palestine. It happened between the "superior" Hitler, and almost everyone who differed from him. And I don't have to look very far away from home to find Malays who feel that their benefits are a "superior" right rather than a responsibility; or even Muslims who feel that they are better people than Jews, Christians or Atheists. Islam is perfect, but being a Muslim doesn't automatically make you a cut above the rest.
Self-superiority or self-righteousness is a venomous disease of the heart that stems from pure arrogance. And if anyone (me included) has a slither of belief that "my mould is better that theirs, therefore it is best for everyone", our future together as a diverse global community is as murky as our tarnished souls, deluded with beliefs that we are ever "good enough" or dare I say, "great".
