Not “For Sale” in the Market of Labels
Bing generated image in response to the prompt: Silhouettes of a Muslim mother and her child praying for their neighbors at night
If you came away from the last post (the one about Saint Mary) with the idea that the early history of Islam is arguably intertwined with the ripple effects of debates in early Christianity, then you would be quite right. Granted, from a religious perspective each Divine revelation issues forth uniquely from its origin, and the shared features that appear historically are thus byproducts of that common Divine source (i.e. not a plagiarism of sorts).
But if today’s Muslims and their presentation of Islam appear somewhat foreign to Christianity, then this is arguably explainable by subsequent developments in the history of each respective community’s centers of influence. Consider the complex role Roman emperors played in the persecution, spread, and subsequent adoption of Christianity. The history of Islam has also been complicated with its own combination of power dynamics at the crossroads of faith, identity, and political expedience.
That being said, the historian’s lens might lead one to be so immersed in the past that he or she loses focus on the realities of faith for an individual Muslim or Christian. That is, regardless of historical developments, through the teachings associated with the Prophet Muhammad and his successors, Muslims have come to identify with several ideas and personalities that would appear to be a bit exotic (if I avoid using the word “unorthodox”) to many Christians.
For instance, while Muslims see the Virgin Mary as the leading example among the women of all the worlds in her day and age, a common Muslim tradition holds that she is one among four distinctly exemplary ladies throughout human history, the other three being: Asia (the pious wife of Pharoah); Khadija (the accomplished business woman who became the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad); and Fatima (the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad from Lady Khadija and his only daughter to survive him after his passing). Lady Fatima, despite dying so young (apparently less than 30 years old), shortly after the passing of the Prophet Muhammad, has been singled out in Islamic tradition as being the leading woman among all the women in Paradise (without undermining the distinct honor bestowed on Lady Mary). (Reported in some of the most reliable Sunni and Shia Islamic tradition collections –follow up for details).
Her name, Fatima, linguistically refers to a female who brings about liberation (in the sense of weaning off of, unshackling and detaching from something; “liberating lady,” if you will). Within Islamic traditions, some devotional narratives explain her name’s significance in relation to her salvational role as a guide and intercessor –she is unshackled by the bondage of hellfire and so are her sincere followers, as the tradition goes. (There are additional, non-conflicting, devotional narratives as well).
For many Muslims, especially Shia Muslims, Lady Fatima’s role has extended far beyond her short-lived time on Earth to become a major symbol in the history and projected future of the Islamic world. Twelver Shia Muslims, the majority of Shia Muslims today, maintain that their line of 12 Divinely appointed Imams (also revered by many Sunni Muslims, albeit in a different sense of the word ‘Imam’) starts with Imam Ali and continues through 11 uninterrupted generations of Ali and Fatima’s descendants. Moreover, the prophesied “Mahdi,” the figure who most Muslims maintain will lead the masses toward world peace alongside Jesus Christ in his Second Coming, is believed to be a descendant of Fatima.
In a more immediately tangible sense, the timeless snapshots from Lady Fatima’s life as a saintly role model -- for men as well as women -- continue to inspire. For example, when her son, Imam Hasan, reportedly witnessed her selfless prayers throughout the night, hearing her pray for the faithful men and women by name but not praying for herself specifically, and asked her why she did not pray for herself like she prayed for others, Lady Fatima would reply, “The neighbor first, then the home.” (al-Sadūq, ʿIlal al-Sharāʾiʿ, v.1, p.182).
Reflecting on this advice is perhaps timelier now than ever. I do not read this as merely a call toward a higher standard of morality, and surely not as some out of reach idealistic altruism. Rather, I take this as an invitation to contemplate our connectedness as humans and creatures sharing the environments around us and, yes, beyond us. This narrative can serve as a reminder that the wellbeing or lack thereof on one’s “home turf” is likely impacted by the ripple effects of what is going on with one’s neighbors.
Unemployment, poverty, systemic injustices, and the like, on “the other side” can have a way of seeping beyond the artificial (and even physical) borders humans have erected. But it is not merely about injustices. Wishing for the success and prosperity of others is also part of the equation. It is not only an expression of goodwill but a way to embody a vision for one’s own wellbeing as part of the broader community’s wellbeing. Lady Fatima’s prayers reflect and encourage a mindset, a focus, a sincere attentiveness to “the other” that is not ideological (not one of the ‘-isms’), not even simply humanitarian, but holistically in harmony with values so close to home… so cherished that they are meant to remain honored by being silently experienced, not lost in the mazes of utterance and description, not “for sale” in the market of labels.
Intro to this Blog
I have been considering the pros and cons of focusing this blog on a particular theme or intended readership. With all the merits of specialization, I submit that my academic specialization has me niched enough for the rest of my time on Earth, and that I will be looking forward to this blog as a more diversified avenue of expression. It will still be me, just not always the PhD dissertation mode of me. For that, I beg your pardon, you will have to wait for the occasional academic study I announce here, or read parts of my dissertation (hint to fellow academics, in particular). So you can expect this blog to shed light on the more far-reaching implications of my work as an academic, tailored to a diverse and broad readership, weighing in on current events while also contextualizing and drawing lessons from history. Without further ado, welcome to Ali Moughania’s blog!
