Infidel by Ayaan Ali Hirsi: A confusing tale of trauma and ignorance

I am frankly getting quite tired of the debate surrounding "jihad", "women in Islam", "hate in Islam", "peace in Islam". In reality the debate is not about Islam- it is about generations upon generations of confused people being taught by the heavily funded wahabi (Saudi) preachers about how to hate, how to kill, how to pretend to be doing this for the good while in reality going against each and every princple of any religion in this world. It is not about religion- it is about money, economics, day to to day living in corrupt countries that fail to protect their poor and weak, and how the Wahabi preachers have managed to infiltrate most Muslim societies and have brainwashed them in to believing that being from the Prophet Mohammad's country they have a higher understanding and authority on Islam than anyone else.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali seems to fall for this, despite her seemingly 'liberal' (for the Muslim world, and conservative for the rest of the world) mindset. She tries to show a so-called journey through Islam in her book "Infidel", failing miserably in the process of explaining "why"- WHY does she think Islam promotes hate? WHY does she think women are seen as lesser beings in the religion?

I am a Muslim woman, and I had an upbringing very different from Ali's. I grew up in Pakistan, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, yet I did not undergo any one of the so-called Islamic rites nor did I have to face the attitudes Ali faced. We do not have the practice of female genital mutilation in Pakistan- and let me tell you, Pakistan has had its fair share of corrupt politicians implementing a convoluted brand of Islam for power and money, so we are not exactly a 'liberal' country by any means. We also did not have Mullah's preaching hate, or telling us that the West, and the Jews, are our enemies (the wars on Afghanistan and Iraq have effectively changed that though). Yet we were taught the Quran, we had Islamic studies in our school, and we fasted and prayed during Ramadan. Ali's disenchantment with Islam seems to have nothing to do with the religion, but her childhood and the misery she aptly describes growing up in a broken family, and the way she was taught the religion. Insofar as I can remember, Ali does not explore other avenues or means for understanding Islam, leaving it to the Brotherhood, preachers, her parents to define it for her. That in itself is sad, and something that seems to be the message in her book, the tragedy for Islam. What can be a bigger disservice to oneself and others than blind faith? Yes, she questions herself, she questions Islam- but who does she ask these questions of? the same preachers, the same Brotherhood members who are spouting the Wahabi agenda. Never does she mention trying to do her own research- reading what other important historical figures have interpreted to be the essence of the Quran. She does not mention reading the 'sunnah' and 'hadith' (sayings and actions of the the Prophet Mohammad pbuh) explaining the Quran, nor does she mention turning towards the Sahi's that explain the Sunnah and ahadith further. Her interpretation is the same as the Muslim Brotherhood's interpretation, and therefore far from the truth. In a twisted way she gives credence to the words of the uneducated ignorant Mullah's preaching hate.

Sufism is a branch of Islam that is far from Ali's interpretation and understanding. It is a shame that in the many years she spent questioning herself and those around her, she never researched or found anything on Sufism, or never came across the writings of Rumi and Nizami. Her research is therefore incomplete for me, and her analysis flawed based on the lack of evidence she presents for her conclusion. I started off the book feeling sympathy and a certain sense of camaraderie with her and ended with confusion, and yes sympathy. Sympathy for her, the way her life played out, the many people who were effected by what seem to be publicity stunts or perhaps just a reaction to her childhood traumas, and the repercussions her acts will have in the future. No event is ever solitary in nature- there are always causes and problems- which Ali does not think worthy to even consider.

Ali's superficial look at the problems surrounding Muslim societies is not memorable. I agree with her sentiment to write the book, it is her expression and right to free speech, which I respect. I disagree with the effect this book and her actions could potentially have for Muslims in general. And I fear that people without a deeper understanding of Islam will buy into her largely one-sided and ill-researched conclusion.