Asra Nomani spent 15 years reporting for the Wall Street Journal before writing “Standing Alone: An American Woman’s Struggle for the Soul of Islam.” Today, she teaches journalism at Georgetown University and writes for the Daily Beast Web site, where she published her unabashed support for this week’s congressional hearings about the radicalization of American Muslims. The pink colors donned by the Mumbai-born and West Virginia-bred 45-year-old symbolize the power of Islamic feminism to counter extremism. She spoke with The Washington Examiner about a faith with which she wrestles and ideals to which she holds true. Do you consider yourself to be of a specific faith?
I was born Muslim and I grew up in that faith. When I became older, I went out into the world — I went on a Hindu pilgrimage to a Shakti temple on the banks of the Ganges River, and I climbed into the Himalayas for a Buddhist pilgrimage. I heard the Dalai Lama speak, and his advice was not to convert from your own faith, but to try to make peace with the religion into which you were born. I honestly think sometimes that I don’t have the moral courage to be an atheist — though I would love to be one because religion expresses itself so dangerously in the world today. But when I was delivering my son, Shibli, and his heart rate was dropping, I immediately turned to the Muslim prayer for protection I was taught as a little girl. Islam is my default, and it gives me a great moral compass in the world.
You came out in support of the congressional hearings on the threat of radicalization among American Muslims — a pretty uncommon stance for an American Muslim. What led to your open approval?
I grew up in West Virginia with people proud to call themselves Rednecks, and they may not have known the difference between Sunni and Shia, but I never felt any anger or prejudice that offended me or frightened me. What does frighten me is the interpretation of Islam that says I can’t be friends with Jews and Christians, or that defends the virtues of martyrdom. Our duty then is not to be in denial, and express hurt because we’re being forced into a conversation for which we didn’t set the rules, but to have an honest conversation. We need to talk about Saudis pumping out their theology, and about frustrations inside our mosques. To do that is not to condemn the faith, but to be honest.
You’ve written that “Islam needs to go back to its progressive seventh century roots if it is to move forward into the 21st century.” What do you mean by that?
When I talk about seventh century progressive roots, I mean progress compared to the sixth century. In the sixth century, women had very limited inheritance rights — Muhammad expanded that not to be equal, but fairer. Women could be thrashed by their husbands. Islam interpreted that to mean that men could beat their wives lightly as a recourse of third resort. Racism and slavery were allowed, but protections were put in place. In these senses, Islam was at least reformist. That spirit needs to continue today so that we can move to full parity. I’m not naive about those seventh century interpretations — they can’t stand the test of time. But progressive values can.
As a longtime journalist, what do you think is most needed today for journalism to prosper?
We have to stay true to our old school ideals. With all of the advances online, there’s nothing more powerful than truth, justice and good old-fashioned reporting where you follow the money, follow the bread crumbs, and investigate, investigate, investigate. Considering the response to things like Wikileaks and citizen journalism, we have the blessing of people worldwide to do what we do. I don’t think I’ll ever lose faith in journalism. Just like religion, you get annoyed with the way it might be practiced at times, but I still believe in the tenets of truth-telling.
At your core, what is one of your defining beliefs?
I believe that we have to follow our hearts in this world — that we absolutely have to use our minds, but we have to be in touch with what matters inside of our hearts. I believe that whatever is clarifying for us, we need to keep that in front of us as a center of focus.
– Leah Fabel
