The crisis of identity faced by Muslim minorities

Abstract

By the name of Allah who is the most merciful and beneficent. Perhaps, it could say that there is no one be in the world today that not have an identity or be without an identity. Identity has its several types, roots, and formation. Moreover, Identity is very important and has a leading role in the life of a human being. Because, this is an identity to introduce a person to the other persons, a nation to the other nations and differentiate a person from the others. It explains the values of a person to others and indicates its rights and obligations to the others. It leads a person to his or her real success and victory. As identity is important, likewise, its protection and safeguarding have the same importance. Thus, an identity needs for protection and safeguarding. And if it does not protect it or not safeguard it, then it will be lost gradually. So, those who do not protect and not safeguard their identity, then they are facing an identity crisis. As the Muslim minorities face identity crisis due to several factors across the world today. On the other hand, Islamic identity becomes a threat for Muslim minorities since 11/9/2001. Because those who have the Islamic identity labels them by several severe names. Such as extremism, radicalism, and terrorist to harm them or limit their rights or even deprived their rights. Besides these, in 11/9/2001 the Islamophobia incidence (11,451) recorded against Muslim minorities. Which it was in the higher rate than previous years. Moreover, as, earlier mentioned that there is not only one factor or reason which face Muslim minorities to the identity crisis. Such as the term of Ummah and nation also lead the minorities to the identity crisis. Furthermore, after the defeat of Ottoman caliphate (1517-1924) the Islamic identity shape has changed. It means before, all Muslim lived under the one name (Ummah) and one identity (Islamic identity). However, after the Ottoman caliphate (1517-1924) Islamic identity left its place to the national identity. It means the national identity take place of the Islamic identity. Such as Afghani, Pakistani, Indonesian and so forth. Moreover, after the defeat of Ottoman caliphate, all Muslim divided into independent countries or nations. And starting to show up their loyalty to their national identity rather than to their Islamic identity. But, since the mentioned date, they are confusing and not able to decide what to give preference, to which one of their identity (national identity or Islamic identity). So, until, they not able to take the decision of the preference of their identity (Must select or choose one identity, Islamic identity or National identity) to show their supreme loyalty for it. They will never be able to protect their Islamic identity properly and face an identity crisis. Because national identity and Islamic identity both are a different concept and have different requirements. Islamic identity is based on Islamic values and national identity is based on secular. And values and both values are against of each other. So, it is difficult to show their loyalty for both identity (national and Islamic) at the same time and same level. Moreover, the influence of the secular ideology and secular government system also lead them to the identity crisis. Because Muslim minorities are practicing the secular ideology and the secular government system in their daily needs and business. it can be concluded that those Muslim minorities who are facing the identity crisis they become under the influence of secular ideology from wearing of a dress till to their Aqidah (region should be separate from the government or all other worldly matters). Moreover, there are many other reasons or factors which lead Muslim minorities to the identity crisis and it will be mention in details in the following discussion. On the other hand, to raise Islamic identity again or to protect it, it needs to take a series of steps. The first and foremost is the self- responsibility. Moreover, it is the responsibility of the Muslim minorities to Search their identity roots (Quran and Sunnah) to firm their identity and then define themselves clearly. That, who are they and what are their basic values. And whenever they establish their roots and define themselves clearly, then they could or able to protect their identity and promote it to further. Moreover, some scholars mentioned that the Organization of Islamic countries (OIC) could not able to achieve its goals due to the not having responded to the dilemma of national identity (Afghani, Pakistani, Turkey…) and Islamic identity.