Muslim Academy’s reason for existence is to be the world’s largest platform to discuss the issues that affect the Islamic and Western Worlds. We began in 2011 as an Arabic school teaching non native speakers the Arabic language. In our cross-cultural education, we quickly came to the realization that there were many misconceptions that existed between the Islamic world and the West. Some misconceptions were silly – like most Americans wearing cowboy hats or most Egyptians living in pyramids.
But other misconceptions were the type that people usually are too afraid to talk about. They go to the root of the issues between the two civilizations. Issues such as terrorism, poverty, injustice, power, and politics. We realized that in the West the world “Muslim” had become a four letter world, and words like “jihad” had been hijacked by people who misused them for other means. In the Islamic world we realized that there was an unheard voice of people who felt powerless and angry. Drone attacks, Palestine, and dictators were symbolic of these types of discussion.
Therefore Muslim Academy, instead of pretending those issues don’t exist, set out to be the world’s largest platform for discussing these differences in opinions. We recognize and respect the fact that there are differences between the West and Islam. Indeed, having words like “the West” and “Islam” are quite difficult as there are many differences and sects within these two concepts as well. Islam in Indonesia is very different from Islam in Saudi Arabia. Plus, America is not England or Germany. There are too many nuances to lump civilizations into mass categories like this.
We have had many successes in our first year. We have thousands of people visit our site each day. We are a platform for people who wish to discuss these issues and gain an audience with a truly global reach. For 2013, we want this success to increase by leaps and bounds. Therefore, our #MyJihad for 2013 is to become the world’s largest platform for discussion the sensitive issues. The issues that other sites don’t want to talk about out of fear or other reasons. We want to confront them head on, with eyes wide open, respecting each other’s differences and learning about them. We believe then, and only then, can we truly begin to understand each other.
We encourage more and more writers to join our community and share in the open marketplace of ideas. Your voice will be heard.
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