Hey Mozzie, Over Here…I’ve Got a Conspiracy to Sell You… « Oy, Habibti….
Sis. Sabiwabi on the popularity of conspiracy theories among Muslims, among them the perennial “Shadows” tapes (or series of tapes) and the more recent rumours about how the polio vaccine was part of a conspiracy to stop Muslims, or perhaps African people or whoever, from having children, which led to a resurgence of the disease. When I first became Muslim back in the 1990s, the “Shadows” nonsense was being sold and played over the loudspeaker in Islamic bookshops and even scholars would quote material from it at you (such as the business of hiding backtracked evil messages in pop songs by Madonna and the Eagles). If you didn’t believe it, you were brainwashed or perhaps even part of the conspiracy.
The same was true of the 9/11 conspiracy theories - I remember some guy (not a salafi/jihadi nut) telling me that it was “part of iman not to believe what the kuffar say about Muslims”, and we were supposed to believe nonsense about drone planes or whatever, anything to avoid believing that Muslims were in any way involved. Of course, the conspiracy theories were invented by non-Muslims, so why were they any more believable than the BBC? Not to say these theories no longer go around, but I’ve noticed that these days you can say that actually it was a group of Muslims who carried out the 9/11 attacks and you won’t be condemned as a dupe or a traitor in most places.
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Islam itself is a- supposedly benevolent- conspiracy theory, with everything coming out according to god’s great cosmic plan, so it isn’t surprising that many muslims believe in other conspiracy theories too. It’s something it has in common with communism and christianity: if something is obviously true and will benefit the whole of humanity the only reason so many people reject it must be because there are wicked plots against The Truth which stop people recognising it.
Assalamualaykum
Disclaimer: 1)I do not believe the moon is made of cheese. 2) Those astronauts did land on the moon. 3) The sky is blue.
I understand that as muslims we do not constantly look to blame others for our own faults but on the other hand we do not bury our head in the sand and imagine everyone is an angel. I mean is it not for that reason that we lock our doors at night.
I remember somebody asking Shaykh Nuh Keller a question regarding the events of 9/11 and Shaykh Nuh replied that in order to give a proper response he would need access to the same information as the intelligence agencies. That does not make him a conspiracy theorist, but rather it makes him realistic. We muslims have an agenda and that is ultimately to make it to the garden.Similarly the rich and powerful(both individuals and groups/corporations) have an agenda/agendas. Stating this is not a conspiracy,especially after some of their nefarious activities are admitted in their very own declassified documents.
I am aware that good people generally think well of otherz but that does not detract from the fact that there are absolute scum out there.
I personally meet many people who are nice by all accounts but live in what I call middle class guardianista luvvie land. That is an address I do not live at and neither should muslims or anyone else for that matter.
As for 9/11,the whole official story is unravelling faster than a cheap jumper from primark. If you have seen the footage from the cctv at the pentagon that the US government recently released and still believe that is a paasenger plane of some sort then please get in touch with me because I have a bridge in Australia that is up for sale for cheap.
Remember to take two tablespoons of reality before bedtime
Ali,
You’re right. The astronauts DID land on the moon. And when Neil Armstrong was up there he heard a heavenly Adhan…came back to Earth….visited Egypt, recognized the adhan and became Muslim. We’re rather adept at urban legends too. ;)
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Arti.....strong.htm
I get your point. These days though, reality is full of differing “realities”. There is no harm in investigating things further. My issue’s that these conspiracies run rampant through our communities. I hate to say this, but I have seen people throw in the conspiracies with their DAWAH material (like it’s some sort of sixth pillar to follow Alex Jones). So I guess my question is more of a sociological one. Why us?
BTW, I have seen all the tapes, read all the websites. It’s not like I don’t know what they’re talking about. But it seems the “official 9-11 story” is only “unravelling fast” if you already have your “ear to the wall” within conspiracy circles. Has Mother Jones even run a story on it? Utne reader? They’re on the fringes of independent media and I don’t think it has been a blip on their radar. Of course, I haven’t read them in a while, someone told me they were run by Free-Masons so I had to let my subscription run out. LOL.
As salam alaykum,
I think the point being made is not that these conspiracy theories might not be true, but rather the acceptance of the theories because they are basically what we want to hear. I know people who accept these theories as fact and then look down on others who they see as burying their heads in the sand.
Personally, I think it’s the love of knowing something that no one else knows, it’s a form of arrogance. I have no problem with the belief that it was the CIA who engineered 9/11, but I wouldn’t look down on anyone who thought that that was too far fetched, as it’s understandable that people wouldn’t believe this, hence the reason why it was such a successful cover-up!
As-Salaamu ‘alaikum,
I haven’t bought MJ in a while but read pretty much every copy in the local Borders (great for American import magazines) and it’s never done one on 9/11 conspiracies. If they thought there was anything in it, they would have taken it up very readily, I agree. Haven’t ever read Utne though.
As for loving knowing what everyone else doesn’t, I’ve seen this attitude with members of a certain ‘sufi’ sect. I was once talking to one of them about the pyramids in Egypt, and he said, with absolute certainty, “the Jinn built them”. I asked how he knew and he said, “some of us know these things” or something like that. I mean, they are not exactly impressive structures nowadays - just big piles of stone, not perpendicular, with tombs inside.
Assalamualaykum
@sabiwabi I think I get your point about some muslims and their constant denials. I bump into them now and then and the old classic that its the jews always makes me laugh.
I think me and you are generally on the same page with maybe a few lines to separate us.
If the blame is PROVEN to be ours then we take it. Muslims can and do evil things all the time.
When it comes to governments and ‘intelligence’agencies then I’m afraid for me personally I do not trust them especially considering their track record regarding the whole ‘war on terror’rubbish.
Tie your camel and trust in Allah.
Peace
[…] Conversation on Conspiracies Over at Blogistan. More good points being made….if you’re […]
I don’t believe or reject all theories I hear, but at the same time just as I wouldn’t look down on those who don’t believe them I don’t think you should look down on those who believe them - there is an extreme in both cases…
Anyway check out this article - really can you blame the conspiracy theorists with things like this going on? (!)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8324746.stm
I agree with Ali Khan - at the end of the day most governments and politicians of course will have certain agenda’s, not everyone - especially leaders are angels dn certainly not very honest people.
[…] by Ginny on October 25, 2009 Oy, Habibti (and Yusuf, too) talks about conspiracy […]
Assalamualaykum
Final words on this thread.
@Matthew
When you mentioned Mother Jones my heart sank big time.
Peace
“Shadows” tapes
Hey, I wasn’t aware Muslims also obsessed abt this. I attended a christian boarding school for girls and the “saved” girls used to run lunch time seminars about it, in one session I attended they played a Michael Jackson album. Nearly half the school believed in this nonsense.
Non-Muslims are also into conspiracy theories. For example, with those vaccine conspiracies, actress Jenny McCarthy is notorious for promoting them. And let us remember most conspiracy theories originate from non-Muslims.