France’s apparent policy contradictions towards Muslims has a lowest common denominator – self interest

Scenes of French President Sarkozy congratulating Muslims and receiving a hero’s welcome in Libya came in the same week that Sarkozy’s Interior Minister, Claude Gueant, condemned scenes of Muslims praying in French streets. Gueant found the sight of Muslims praying in French public spaces “shocking”. The two events appear at odds but have one thing in common – Sarkozy’s bid for re-election in 2012.

The Sarkozy Government’s flagging popularity ratings have been improved by being seen as victors in supporting the desperate Muslims in Libya.  In an increasingly anti-Muslim European political climate electoral popularity is boosted by hitting out at devote Muslims at home, in contrast. This is the art of Machiavellian politics.

We innocently think how can Muslims be friends and enemies at the same time. Yet for democrats there are no friends – there are just interests.

Though these politicians often claim (as would be expected) to be upholding principled values the contradictions and duplicity in their actions over time exposes the truth. We should not be lured by their lofty words.

Since we as Muslims are the subject of their appeals, how should we respond?

Islam advises in a Adhadith reported by Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Prophet (SAW) said, “A believer should not be stung twice from the same hole.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The context of the Hadîth as been reported as following:

“.. the Prophet (saw) had captured the poet Abu ‘Azza (also known as Abu Ghurrah) at the Day of (the Battle of) Badr. So the Prophet gave him amnesty and freed him based on the condition that he would not continue on his hostility and derision. He then caught up with his people and returned to belligerence towards the Muslims and derision against them. Then he was captured on the Day of (the Battle of) Uhud and was asked about the amnesty that was given to him. Upon this the Prophet (saw) said, ‘The believer is not stung from the same hole twice.’ From this it is understood that if one were to suffer injury from a particular element, then they should abstain from it lest they should suffer such again.”

As Muslims we face the condemnation of Sarkozy’s Government in France after that same Government supported the dictatorship Gadhafi. So when France comes to us as the saviour of Benghazi we should remain careful lest we are deceived again. As Muslims we should never be so susceptible that we would be deceived by the same trick more than once, in the same way one who is stung would be very careful not to be stung again.