Muslim Americans can be a model community for Muslims elsewhere  

It is not new to say that Muslims are divided into every conceivable faction. It is not strange to see that Muslims are using physical or verbal violence against each other on the basis of their differences. It is also not uncommon to hear Muslim scholars and leaders, living in a pluralistic society, talk about issues that are totally irrelevant to people other than a segment of the community. For instance, the recent internal community discussions whether the act of wearing trousers below the ankle would be forgiven or punished by the merciful God has no relevance to 97 percent of Americans.

We Muslim Americans have a unique opportunity to focus on issues that are relevant and useful for society in general. If we heed to the divine call of consultations, we can create a positive example for Muslims all over the world.

We know now the organizations that speak for Islam in America. We know now the activists, scholars, and writers who are deeply concerned about Islam and Muslims. We also know now the issues that our community and the country face.

How about developing a consultative methodology to help us develop a unified understanding of any issue?

Take, for instance, the issue of gun violence in our country. What if a group like ISNA takes a lead in inviting Muslim leaders and organizations to discuss this issue and produce a position paper that can be shared with the community and the rest of the country?  What if ISNA or any other Muslim organizations invite various Muslim groups and sects to discuss issues such as Shia-Sunni conflict, Sharia or women’s rights, etc. and develop a position paper?

Even if we fail to develop a unified position we can at least understand the nature of the differences that exist among ourselves and then address them later to seek some sort of reconciliation. This methodology may enable us to appreciate each other’s perspective and points of view as well as develop an affinity among our leaders. It would restore the confidence of people with the ability of our leaders to resolve their differences. Above all, a unified voice on key issues concerning the community and the country would also educate the general public about our stand on matters relevant to them.

This methodology might help us to overcome the differences that we have been living with for centuries. It would provide a peaceful forum for our scholars and leaders to iron out their conflicts.

In these days of high-speed communication, it is not difficult to consult each other on a regular or emergency basis.

How can we implement this proposal? Let us ask ISNA or ICNA leadership to invite Muslim leaders and activists to a forum in their upcoming conventions on gun violence in addition to experts on the issue regardless of their religious background. Let the forum deliberate this issue and then develop a position paper. Such a position paper, then, should be circulated among the ranks and files of each of the participating groups and after their input, a final statement may be prepared.

This is the methodology that our Prophet used in designing the constitution of Medina in consultation with the tribes of Median, Muslims and Non-Muslims together.

When we apply this methodology regularly, it would become part of our organizational culture to use consultation as a necessary tool to develop a unified position. It does not mean that we will have a consensus on every issue. All it means that we can focus on points that we all agree and then acknowledge the differences and leave them for the future leadership to address them afresh. After all, our behavioral scientists tell us that 95 percent of differences and conflicts come from our gestures and tone of voice and inability to communicate with each other. Only five percent happen to be differences on the basis of our opinions.