Dana Nawzar

Applying Imam Ali’s criterion allows us a grey space which is located between action and reaction. Our reactions will no longer be pathological. Others don’t control our emotions easily and our emotions don’t dictate our actions. Try it, see the results.

We don’t have Imam Ali’s consciousness or courage and might not be able to think clearly at such a moment! But most of our confrontations aren’t with a sword in a battlefield. Enlightenment is the moment we start to make this distinction & apply ‘cause or ego’ on our battles.

Imam Ali was about to kill a man in a battle. The man spit on Imam’s face. Imam let him go. People asked Imam why he didn’t kill him. Imam said “Before he spit on me, I was fighting him for the cause. After he spit, I got angry. I wasn’t sure if it was for the cause or my pride.”

Very important thread (100% halal)https://twitter.com/basicbebe1/status/1172948218553847809 …

The only reason so many non-Syrian Muslims are concerned with the topic in the first place is that our collective psyche does not read politics in terms of post-WWI nation state borders. It is everyone’s pain and everyone’s cause. End of discussion for now.

Most arguments made within last few days are deeply embedded in postmodernist conceptual framings. It is not necessarily good or bad but the attempt to apply certain frameworks on entirely different contexts leads to countless fallacies.

This is not about SHY’s apology. It is up to people to accept or reject it. But the underlying assumption that only Syrians get to decide whether it was an apology or not is false. Needless to say most actors on ground today aren’t even Syrian.

The argument is weak. There are millions of Syrians who support Assad, so they get to have a say just because they are Syrians? Of course not. Then what qualifies someone to talk about Syria? Which and how many Syrians can issue the acceptance? Such tribalism is defeating.https://twitter.com/Shack_Rat/status/1172706699280617473 …

‘I’m telling truth to power & if you dare to question my methods, I’ll scream’ is the dominant Twitter discourse. Moderation isn’t for this app but we have to forcefully argue for it. Ethical politics isn’t about telling truth only but also when, where and how to tell the truth.

El Sisi is not the favorite dictator of Trump alone. He is the favourite dictator of almost every regional and international power, very much like Bashar al-Assad. He is the ‘safe option’, ‘the devil they know’. MENA people are paying for a certain’s people phobia of Islam(ism).

All I see here is the beauty of a system which allows free and orderly expression of opinion. It is not due to Johnson’s mercy or people’s courage and awareness (MENA people are more courageous and politically aware) It is all about systems. Systems matter! Institutions matter.https://twitter.com/shahmiruk/status/1172602253649350656 …

There is so much to learn from this saga, both as individuals and groups. A quote from his Syrian friend sums it up. He had told him: ‘I have two pains. The pain of what you said and the pain of what was said about you’ وَلْيَعْفُوا وَلْيَصْفَحُواhttps://twitter.com/hxhassan/status/1172643049551388672 …

There are racist brown Muslims, racist white Muslims and racist black Muslims. But most of it is based on an unconscious embracing of Islam. It’s the Aba Zar type of racism which a single reminder might solve! Western paradigms can’t always be applied. It leads to fallacies.

Invoking ‘white supremacy’ anytime a white convert says something you don’t like isn’t a sign of intellectual sophistication. Faith should bring the kind of consciousness which can take us beyond the jahiliyah. If not, faith is nothing but another boost for ego.

Islam has no colour. Yes, most ignorant racists associate a certain shade of brown or a particular look with Muslims but racists can’t define who Islam or Muslim is. A white convert isn’t a guest Muslim! And your Muslim heritage doesn’t allow you to treat them as such.