• This article aims to critique the influence of non-Muslim intellectuals and wellness gurus on the Muslim world.
• It advocates for asserting the superiority and enduring relevance of Islam through actions rather than relying on validation from Western sources.
If you are a Muslim who once lapped up Dr Jordan Peterson’s teachings, his tweet on October 7th should’ve – no, must’ve – felt like a punch in the gut!After all, he really cared about his Muslim followers, didn’t he? Translating his works into Arabic. And, whilst seated in a masjid in Ealing, passionately discussed with Brother Hijab the purpose of life as ‘trying to make peace (with one another).’ However, Peterson’s true colours marked by terroristic tendencies and vile hatred towards Muslims became glaringly evident when he wrote to Netanyahu:
Perhaps he was never a genuine contender in Western intellectual circles in the first place, but rather a mere pawn of Zionist lobby groups—thus his affiliation with the Daily Wire. Perhaps his autonomy of thought was never truly autonomous, or was lost along the way? For a man of such ideological fragility and inherent instability, aligning with the Daily Wire seemed the safest option (or so he believed).
Peterson’s once substantial influence has waned, with little mention of him in current discourse. Logically and statistically, his decline can be attributed to his loss of support from the Muslim community.
So how can Muslims discern which non-Muslim intellectuals or influencers are suitable sources of knowledge, if any? For the issue of Palestine has indeed separated the wheat from the chaff.
This discussion aims to delve into non-Muslim influential figures who are popular among Muslims, who, while not necessarily academic, may hold sway within our ummah.
To kick off our discussion, we must primarily acknowledge the imperative to move past the ‘western superiority complex,’ acknowledging the ummatic problem of statements seeming to hold more weight if a white man with a particular influence says it. We must refrain from extending our support, time, and financial resources to such individuals who seek to cause us harm.
With that being said, of course there isn’t anything inherently wrong with acquiring knowledge from non-Muslims, provided that knowledge doesn’t contradict any teachings of Islam. Cast your mind back to when you were a kid. I, for instance, didn’t really gain anything from my scary maths teacher Mrs Hickenbottom (this was her actual name), a part from knowledge about what X equals to. However, she helped me pass my GCSE Maths nonetheless.
Jay Shetty
Jay Shetty, renowned as the go-to life coach for Hollywood stars, hosts an award-winning podcast and is a global best-selling author, with notable works such as ‘8 Rules of Love’. Putting aside the recent controversy- the exposé column in the Guardian: The alleged discrepancies of his claimed background as a monk in India, his educational credentials, and his qualifications to offer wellness services- I’d like our focus to remain on the substance of his ideas. After all, celebrity gossip bores me, and whether or not Shetty was a monk in India will be inconsequential to many Muslims.
The essence of my inquiry lies in the potential benefit of Shetty to a Muslim audience. Notably, he maintains popularity among Muslims, even garnering interviews with Arabic chat show hosts.
Hailing from Wembley, North-west London, he adeptly presents Vaishnavism, a branch of Hinduism, tailored to resonate with his diverse audience in much of his work. Drawing teachings from the Iskon (the Hari Krishna movement), Shetty distinguishes himself from others who reference their religious teachings when spreading their message. His influence over Hollywood stems from initially packaging his work as “wellness,” despite its philosophical roots in Vaishnavism.
In light of this, Shetty’s failure to clarify the origins of his ideas could certainly raise ambiguity amongst lay Muslim audiences who may struggle to discern what to accept and what to reject, particularly if they are not equipped enough in their own faith. I, personally, have never seen the appeal. Possibly because his demeanour around his wife strikes me as that of a Simp and Muslims watching such content maybe influenced by this. In my humble opinion, if Gaza has taught us anything, it’s this: real masculine Muslim men reside in Palestine and we are in dire need of such men throughout our ummah. Therefore, such role models are needed for young boys.
Steven Bartlett (Diary of a CEO)
Entrepreneur, orator and investor on Dragon’s Den, Bartlett commands a substantial following of 5.4 million listeners on his podcast ‘Diary of a CEO’.
This wellness podcast regularly hosts renowned academics, celebrities and esteemed scientific researchers-exploring the intricacies of how to live a better quality of life.
Bartlett’s podcast success may be attributed to his approachable demeanor. He portrays a humble disposition while learning alongside his audience during his broadcasts.
The exploratory discussions presented here will never contradict Islam due to other religious teachings (Bartlett, a self-professed non-religious man, appears more inclined to discuss Neo-liberal spirituality as opposed to religion). However, the ideas discussed on his show, occasionally conflict with Islam due to some scientific explanations.
Interestingly, scientists featured on his podcast have delved into enigmatic aspects of life, such as why women’s menstrual cycles synchronize when they live or work in close proximity. As Muslims we know that this is what Allah swt has orchestrated. I have often pondered over why. I digress…
The silence of the majority of Hollywood celebrities on the issue of Gaza is evidently driven by political expediency, a trait shared by the aforementioned figures. Bartlett, for instance, maintains connections with numerous Zionists in his business dealings, reflecting a broader trend within Hollywood.
Despite positioning themselves as purveyors of profound insights into personal growth and relationships, these figures demonstrate a notable lack of courage in addressing one of the most significant travesties of our time: Gaza. Furthermore, their wellness programs appear to prioritise individuals in the Western world and their own self-serving capitalist interests. Whilst we may take some benefit from such ideas, we must always be cognisant of the fact that Islam provides us with everything we need.
Foreign ideas permeating the Dawah
As Muslims, it is essential that we carefully contemplate the ideas we integrate into our narrative, using them to navigate our lives in accordance with our faith.
In recent times, we have seen foreign ideologies seep into the dawah. Whether it’s the ‘compassionate imams’ attempting to appease the Muslim feminist or brothers using terminology and ideas taken from the Red Pill movement- for an example “High value man”, and the “market value of a woman”. If dawah figures have become sociologists (merely reporting what is going on in society today) as opposed to spreading the teachings of Islam- we are in serious trouble. By the standards of this Red Pill logic, Rasool (saw) was a low value man and Khadijah RA, a widow, had a low market value (Asthagfarullah).
It is worth noting that this trend is not occurring throughout the dawah scene. Prominent duat , such as Ustadh Hamza Tzortzis, Mohammed Hijab and Fahim Faruk (Founder of The Green Pill) have made significant contributions within the dawah pertaining to gender issues. They address gender issues by drawing upon Islamic references and not diverging from the deen.
When we truly acknowledge that Islam is not in need of any isms and skims or right-wing figures to affirm our teachings, there will be no lines blurred.
It is time for us to show through our actions that Islam is superior. And holds enduring relevance. Consequently, we should not be in awe of individuals solely based on their Western origin. Our rich tradition of knowledge production far surpasses such influences, and it is incumbent upon us to recognise and uphold this distinction.
