You know, when I was younger (and a lot more ignorant, I should add) I always seemed to believe that Non-Muslims never really had that much of an interest in Islam. At school, Non-Muslim teachers and students alike rarely ask you about your religion, why you dress the way you do, why you worship the way you do, etc etc. Everyone knows you celebrate Eid and if you went to a very diverse, multicultural school like I did, the non-Muslim even celebrate it with you and wish you a Eid Mubarak. Everyone recognises that women who were the headscarf are Muslim. They know you don't eat pork or drink alcohol. Some of them push the boundaries and know a little more; that you pray five times a day, fast in Ramadan, participate in pilgrimage etc. 

But there's this general feeling of tolerance and acceptance without question, well at least, there used to be. 

Now, I feel like a lot has changed when it comes to how others perceive Islam and actually, religion/culture as a whole. You're Muslim? Jewish? Buddhist? Arab? Desi? Asian? 

Suddenly there's a lot more interest.

And I strongly believe it depends on this statement: for every action there is a reaction. 

Nowadays, your fellow Australian (at least I can only speak on behalf of Australians) isn't satisfied with just knowing the basic one or two facts about where you're from and what you believe in. They want to get into the nitty-gritty details about why. You know, it's always a question of why. Because when people see others acting and living in a way that they cannot themselves explain or begin to understand, their curiosity is piqued and they just want to know. 

Fear or curiosity can be sparked when an alternative is offered; a different approach to life, to science, race, religion and culture. 

Or, people are just really pissed off and want to know why "those stupid Muslambs just won't stop killing each other."

And this is where I come back to the statement that every action has a reaction.

The best or most relevant example I can give you, is after the 9/11 bombings. There was uproar, there was riots, there was racism and xenophobia, there was hatred. But at the same time, there was interest, concern, inquisitiveness, questioning, debating...

The amount of conversions to Islam after 9/11 was absolutely incredible. Why? Because the whole narrative that the media displayed to the world 'i.e. it's the Muslims fault' fuelled people to actually do something about their anger and curiosity towards our religion. They researched and they read and they came to a logical understanding (hoping that they were gaining knowledge from accurate sources). They saw Islam for the true beauty that it is, rather than what the Western, capitalist word promotes it as.

And it's kind of a win-lose situation. Situations can cause people to react positively or negatively. To combat racism or exacerbate it. 

In Australia, every ethnicity not deemed 'Australian' seemed to have their fair of tough times. The Asians had it tough a few years ago. The Greeks and Italians did too. Aboriginals have always endured it, sadly enough. And now we find that Arabs/Desi's/Indians are having it because of recent events which I have already spoken of in the last posts in 3arab Down Under. Events that also include the current horror and mass destruction that's occurring across the Arab world. 

And since we're automatically linked to 'Muslim' you have a fundamental problem. 

But, we see that these actions within Australia and across the globe have sparked a newfound interest in Islam after a period of virtually nothing.

Take this example for instance...

About three to four months ago I got a new job and this new job forced me to leave my comfort zone and travel to areas that have a lot more Anglo, White Australians as opposed to where I used to work which was populated abundantly by ethnics. And so obviously, now that I'm moving towards area's where there are less Muslims, you're going to get your standard stares and odd looks, scowls possibly...you also are received by lovely people too, don't get me wrong. 

So one day I'm at work and I'm working with two males. My job doesn't require me to interact with them so you know, I'm in my own area doing my own thing when I suddenly get this feeling that I'm being stared at. You know, you just get that vibe. Naturally, I turn around and find that one of the guys, who's young (and I'll add, a White boy, just for future reference), is staring at me from a few metres away. I shrug and think it's probably because he's never seen a Muslim this close in real life. 

It must be such a shock to see one of them out in the real world! (Sarcasm)

I continue to do what I'm doing but for the next fifteen to twenty minutes, his stares haven't ceased. And now I'm thinking, OK, I must look extra hideous today or this guy is planning on hunting me down. Finally, after what seemed like a long time of uncomfortable confusion as to why he was looking at me, he walks over and introduces himself properly. 

It's funny because the first thing he asked after we said our names was, "so where are you from?" Because it's not possible for me to be born and raised in Australia...no, no that's unfathomable. 

And almost immediately after that it was bam, bam, bam, question after question. 

"Oh, you're Palestinian? What do you think of the situation? I had a Zionist friend back in America and I always wanted to know a Muslim's view on it."

"Why do you wear the headscarf?"

"So you wouldn't say it's a form of oppression?"

"What do you think of people who want to implement sharia law in Australia?"

"What are Non-Muslims referred to in your Qur'an again?" 

And the list went on. Honestly, it was like this guy had just been storing all these question in his head for the one day that he'd meet a Muslim and finally get to ask them. And even though I was getting a bit of negative vibes from him, I could tell the guy was genuinely curious. He wanted, no needed answers, more than anything. 

Once he realised that I was friendly and wasn't offended by the fact that he was asking so many questions, he just wouldn't leave me alone and at the end I felt a little brain dead. Because - and this is the sad reality -  when you're answering people's questions about Islam, you have to be careful about how you word what you say. One ill-used  word/statement can give them the wrong impression.

The amount of dawah (spreading of Islam) that I've done in the last few months is incredible...I was shocked to realise how much people actually wanted to learn. And that man is only one example I've encountered so far. 

He took so long to approach me because there was an internal battle going on in his head. Should he let his hate/fear or curiosity conquer?

I guess what the whole point of this chapter was, is that don't underestimate how much people really want to learn from you, and not only in regards to Islam. They want to know your culture, your view on popular and mainstream issues, they yearn for explanations because they want to go straight to the source and learn from there.

And it is absolutely crucial that we are a source of information for these people. Never, never give up on giving dawah and never think that your actions go unnoticed. 

~

Comment below if you've had any similar experiences or if you feel like this interest and questioning is common where you're from as well. I'd like to hear any experiences you guys might have! I know I can't be the only one.