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Arab reformist intellectuals have been addressing the problems facing Muslims who have settled in Western Europe. An Algerian writer contributed an article to an Arabic-language periodical titled “Muslims in the West: Lost within Modernity.” (المسلمون في الغرب تيه في الحداثة) The following are translated excerpts from his article:

“Modernity is radically incompatible with Islam. According to the Islamic worldview, man’s life remains under the supervision of Allah; it is Allah who guarantees man’s freedom and guides him on his life journey. But according to the Western worldview, man determines his own rules of right and wrong, true and false, and belief and unbelief.

“When a Muslim finds himself wandering and lost in the lands of modernity, he tends to isolate himself from his social environment. Within his inner life, a raging civil war goes on; in fact, the clash of civilizations occurs between his faith and the modernity that governs his surroundings, invading his very home!

“Immigrant Muslims don’t care about what the laws of their countries say. Rather, they give heed to what the Shariah demands. In Democratic Lands, where the laws have been promulgated by their Parliaments, Muslims prefer to seek guidance from Islamic fiqh (Jurisprudence). You would be overwhelmed and shocked to learn how many fatwas (legal opinions) are issued daily in the Islamic world. As a Muslim seeks to become a true believer, his behavior must conform to all the demands of the Shariah, whether dealing with a minor or a major subject. Should a Muslim deviate from the demands of his sacred law or neglect its guidance, he would earn the wrath of Allah. These topics haunt the Muslim: Is prayer lawful while flying? And how could one determine the Qiblah (the proper direction for prayer)? May a woman use kohl (similar to mascara) on her eyes during Ramadan? May a man become a doctor of gynecology. Is it haram (forbidden) or halal (permissible) to frequent swimming pools where men and women bathe together?

“Muslims living in the West encounter several problems of adjustment. When choosing an occupation or finding work of any kind, a Muslim must be careful not to displease Allah. When looking for a restaurant, he must find one that offers halal (similar to kosher) food in conformity with Islamic dietary laws. The list goes on. In the final analysis, a practicing Muslim has a tough time becoming a part of Western civilization. For him and his family, the conflict continues and grows deeper!”

This article describes the plight of North African immigrants who have settled in France and find adjustment to the lifestyle of their new homeland quite difficult. The Algerian author blames the strictures imposed upon them by the Islamic Shariah. The guidance they get from their imams at the mosques doesn’t help them cope with the many problems they encounter in their adoptive non-Islamic lands. Thus, “transplanted” Muslims experience a sense of defeat and lostness in the Western world!