A clash of frenetic happiness

While the ‘happy British Muslims’ video should not have in itself elicited a response more than fleeting, bemused scepticism, it was impossible to get over it and move on, given the two million Youtube views, the reams of commentary and discussion it generated. The short clip apparently became the biggest issue in the issue-ridden Muslim world, judging by social media ratings. Ardent supporters of the attempt to showcase Muslims in the west as adaptable and ‘happy’ people, as well as bitter opponents of such meaningless and ‘inappropriate’ depictions of Muslims, all jumped into the fray; soon enough there was a raging storm in a teacup. This all signifies the contradictions, polarities, sensitivities and contentions rife in the Muslim world, like a bubbling, gurgling, steaming cauldron.
The video aims to present an image of Muslims in the west as flexible, creative, adaptable, well-integrated, cheerful and positive-minded so as to dispel negative stereotypes that have dominated public imagination in the west since 9/11. Imam Johari Abdul Malik, from the US, comments on the video: “The narrative about Muslims is so often about being hungry and angry people have started turning it around using the social media.” Underlying this, however, there can also be sensed a desperate attempt to assure the west that, “we are like you too” — a desire to be accepted, owned and integrated into western society. This desperation can be understood in the context of the consistently rising Islamophobia in these societies.
However, the problem with this appeasing, placatory attitude is not so much with Muslims as it is with western societies. These societies seem to be growing increasingly ethnocentric, losing willingness to embrace diversity and allow distinct ethnic, cultural and religious identities to survive and thrive without either being compelled to westernise to be able to integrate, or being socially marginalised. This goes against the essence of the values of pluralism, tolerance and coexistence at the heart of the western liberal tradition the west prides itself on. It is ironic and interesting to note that while the ‘happy British Muslims’ video was doing the rounds, Tony Blair reminded the leaders of western nations to “move the battle against Islamist extremism to the top of the political agenda”. The same day that the video was released, the English Defence League held a demonstration outside London’s largest mosque against Islam in the UK. Against this backdrop, given the grave challenges that beset the Muslim world, projects like the ‘happy British Muslims’ video, appear little more than pathetic. The efficacy of the video message as a response to a pervasive anti-Muslim campaign is highly questionable.
But that is not the only troubling thought. Equally disconcerting, if not more, was the impulsive and inane, utterly dispensable video rejoinder to ‘happy British Muslims’ video, made by some Islamic groups on the internet titled ‘happy Muslims, halal version.’ This video removed the images of all women and re-released it as acceptable by Islamic standards, minus the laughing, clapping, singing females. This reflects a lopsided, immature and almost obsessive fixity on juristic intricacies of Muslim law without even a cursory understanding and appreciation of the spirit of Islam. Such fiqh-obsessed shallow thinking is often manifested in moral panic among Muslims over the visibility of Muslim women.
It is deplorable that the makers of the ‘halal’ version, who deservedly induced ridicule and censure, utterly failed to grasp the idea of true happiness in Islam. For one, given the plethora of the grave predicaments we are caught in, the despondency, frustration, defeatism, confusion and hurt, the cluelessness about the future, the directionless-ness and leaderless-ness, the wars, civil wars, socio-political crises and the rising monster of sectarianism, these are not the happiest of times for Muslims anywhere in the world. Empathy is an essential component of Islamic brotherhood — the fact is that a Muslim feels the pain of another Muslim (no matter how geographically distant) as his own. I wonder how I, as a Muslim, can clap and cheer my deep sadness away. Brecht writes,
“Truly I live in dark times!
A smooth forehead
Points to insensitivity
He who laughs
Has not yet received
The terrible news
What times are these, in which
A conversation about trees is almost a crime
For in doing so we maintain our silence about so much wrongdoing!”
The prospect of declining life and time, and the impending oblivion of death, the eventuality of accountability in the eternal life is the grave and inescapable truth one must confront. The Prophet (PBUH) reportedly said, “If you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep much”.
Happiness in Islam is not the be-all and end-all. It is not to be pursued but, in its deepest sense, it comes to those who discover and live out their purpose in life. Orwell wrote, “Men can only be happy if they assume that the purpose of life is not happiness”. Fun and entertainment as temporary relaxation have a place — and a significant one — but happiness in Islam is gained by tasting the sweetness of faith through complete self-surrender to God. It is attained by giving and selfless sacrifice. “By Time! Man is in Loss. Except those who believe and do righteous good deeds and exhort one another to the Truth and exhort one another to patience,” (The Quran)
Imam Johari, quoted earlier, was perturbed by the image of Muslims as “hungry and angry” but one cannot wish that away or pretend that is not the case by cheering and smiling into the camera. Yes, Muslims writhe in the throes of poverty, starvation and crippling oppression, but happiness is attainable to those who do their small bit to help alleviate some of that. This idea was tried to be conveyed in another video rejoinder titled ‘happy Muslims: sunnah version’ attempted to convey this idea. It is a brief, beautiful and simple message that reflects the Islamic ethos of happiness: it shows clips of Muslims rescuing and saving the lives of the calamity-stricken and ends with the line, “This, my friend, is happiness”. However, this video was blurred and poorly made, and circulated briefly in a few closed Muslim circles. It never went viral. And here is the very heart of the problem: the voiceless-ness and disempowerment of the Muslim visionary, and that “the worst are filled with a passionate intensity” (W B Yeats).

The writer is a freelance columnist