“Make Laugh Not War” and the Conservative Muslim Backlash
I went to watch the Muslim comedy show “Make Laugh Not War” last night and I never ever laughed so much since I went for YFM‘s “Blacks Only” Comedy show in 2005. I swear I laughed so much it actually hurt, really. Riadd Moosa (pictured) was the MC and every time he was on stage everybody couldn’t keep from laughing, he picked on everything South African and Muslim and ripped it apart so beautifully every Muslim couldn’t help but laugh at themselves and I’m sure the same effect was made on the non-Muslims.
I’m in the process of getting a bootleg copy of the event (from a friend of a friend *snicker*), so maybe I’ll put up a podcast later :P
What got to me though, was at the end of the show the comedians had said people were claiming the show was” Haraam” (forbidden) and anti-Islam and , I don’t know if this happens else where but it happens in Durban… the spreading of pamphlets. It’s the most irritating thing ever… In Islam, if you don’t like what somebody is doing, the correct course of action is to give that person nasiha (advice), these idiots subvent the entire process and spread hate-speech pamphlets to every mosque they can get their hands on banning whatever they feel is Un-Islamic without ever talking to the people in question.
It’s not unrelated to the cartoon question, where these same people resort to tactics which are extremely UN-ilsamic in order to make a point. These are the people who are giving Islam a bad name.
Specifically with regard to the comedy show, it actually made Muslims laugh at themselves.. which these people obvioiusly never do. No sense of humour, which probably also lends to the point above. Azhar Usman, who sports a lengthy beard actually started his set up with “Check this out, this is what a person who looks like me, actually looks like when they smile…” LOL, it’s sad but true.
They were even being fought with over the name of the comedy show… Originally it was supposed to be called “Allah Made Me Funny.” but they were taken to task for it so they cahgned it to “Make Laugh Not War” and again these “scholars” went on a tangent saying it was against Jihad… if there’s anyone who needs to have a better understanding of the concept of Jihad, it’s these people and here they go sanctioning “going to war” is Jihad… WTF?
Another question… if we are listening to Scholars who are this immature.. what does that say about us? What does it say about the entire Muslim community? Grow up. Ask the questions… Are we that blind and stupid to (1) Not Learn Islam for ourselves and (2) Blindly Follow without questioning?
When I see that picture of Riyaad I always laugh…it’s something about what he said once at a show when he was still a Med Student….something about his parents who told him he can do anything he wants to…as long as he becomes an Orthopaedic Surgeon first…
But coming back to the whole question of whether the show was Haraam or not…I myself did not attend the show but would have liked to…firstly the Nabi (PBUH) was not against humour and was known to have cracked a joke or two in his time…(ok, it wasn’t jokes like: An Imam, a Priest and Rabbi in a rowing boat…..it was more like humorous commentry). Secondly, the artists are not promoting haraam by making a joke about muslims…they are in fact reciting a form of social satire dealing with everyday issues regarding muslims.
I suppose there is one valid point against shows like this, in that there is a free mixing of males and females, but then in today’s society it is impossible for there not to be.
What concerns me though (and obviously you as well) is who our spiritual leaders are. These Moulana’s and sheikhs who proclaim to be our Ulama…what are their qualifications to do this job….how did they enter into this line of work….and what are their intelligence levels? How can we expect them to interpret Islamic Dogma and translate it for the unlearned if they are incapable of abstract thinking?
I’m an academic of sorts….(ok, read: Geek), when I look at my colleagues in my field, they are people who excelled in their schooling careers, albeit through natural talent or hard work….NOW I remember what happened to some of the kids that could not cope with primary, or high school, or the ones who were on their way to delinquency…their parents sent them to study Islamic Studies and become Hafiz….and these kids are now our spiritual leaders? I’m not saying they’re all idiots…perhaps and Islamic school was just the type of discipline they needed to bring out their inner potential….I’m just worried, that’s all….
LOL@ Geek… we’re similar minds :)
To your point…Exactly!… It’s not that we’re changing Islam to fit our standards today… I know what Islam is what the boundaries are and I have had exposure to the studies of Shariah. But what I keep seeing from the Ulamah of this society is a constant.. “Haraam, Haraam, Haraam!” with no explanation, no basis in Shariah, but we are forced to listen.
I am not condemning the Ulama either… they’re not all wrong and I’m not gonna start a smear campaign (read pamphlet spreading propaganda)… that’s just childish. But I really want the people who have the “follower” mindset to step back and think a little bit. Blind obedience is what’ll make us all walk off a cliff.
Peace,
M.
Sigh….im really happy and elighted that i have ppl that think like me! alhamds. I feel lost in this City of Conservatism (Durban)!! As a 21 yr old muslim who without influence from anyone can see how stupid the so called Ulema are in matters of fiqh and consensus. What hurts most is that these men are screamin “Haraam haraam” for every small bit of activism that is created but are missing the beeeg picture!
You know i just heard disturbing stories of muslim kids not just making out but having sex! i mean wtf! and the so called ulema are telling me bloody comedy is haraam!!!
im absolutely fed up ya allah. You know this whole issue confuses our reverts. They get pushed away, lost and confused. We need a saviour!
We need to stop living like indo-pak muslims and get with it!
My message to you….is DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO …as long as your intention is clean, Allah will guide you!
Peace NazJam