Let me start by explaining the title first. Those who understand the meaning of the title may forgive me. ‘Mal’ means bad, ‘adjustment’ means change or alteration and ‘syndrome’ means symptom complex. In our daily life we need to alter or change our thoughts and actions constantly to fit comfortably into the complexity of the world. It goes with out saying that all these adjustments are for positive connotation only. When we can achieve these alterations we find ourself in unison with the world around and a sense of tranquillity and harmony prevails. However, if we fail, we feel odd and complain about those things which do not conform to our preconceived rigid ideas and actions. These complaints are known as symptom complex or syndrome. One must be constantly up and doing to accept the changes or alterations to become a responsible citizen of the world. The basic philosophy of adjustment is to have empathy towards one and all and to live in a symbiotic atmosphere recognising others’ ideas and actions.
There are many things in Islam which prevent Muslims from adjusting themselves in the complex world society. For Muslims, religious identity (mostly Arabic identity) comes ahead of all other forms of identity. In Islam, brotherhood is limited to fellow Muslims only. The five pillars of Islam have made Muslims regimented mentally and physically. The sunnahs and harams have further made the picture difficult. The mind set of “Islam is the best and rest are Jahilia” has made the Muslims utterly egoist. The concepts of Kafir, Dar-al-Islam and Dar-al-harb and use of Jihad as a tool for achieving absolute religio-political power over the whole world have aggravated the situation most. The high importance on orthodox and compulsory religious teachings has inculcated a conscious and overt sense of segregation in the Muslims.
There is no problem so long a Muslim is residing in an Islamic country or Muslim majority locality. But the moment he goes to a non-Islamic country or non-Muslim majority locality (which is no less in number) he feels uneasy. The non-Muslim environment makes him jittery. He can not change himself. He is always suspicious about the non-Muslims. He may even harbour hatred towards non-Muslims. And he suffers from ‘mal adjustment syndrome‘. Such thing did not cause any problem in the past when mobility was extremely limited. But today’s world is a global village and people with divergent views and actions are becoming world citizens, not in the legal term but in practice.
Followers of other religions also faced the same situation earlier. But in about last 50 years, they have learnt to adjust with different situations. In case of the followers of non-Islamic religions, the process of adjustment was facilitated due to lack of absolute control of religions on followers and their urge to change with the changing scenario of the world. But for Muslims, change has remained unthinkable. I, however, do not endorse any other religion. To me all religions are bogus.
Will Bangladeshi youths address this issue?