Take me to your leader
Post-secular society and the Islam industry
The emergence of “Muslim-ness” as an important marker of identity has created a new cadre of “professional Muslims” aware that kudos is to be gained in speaking on the “Muslim problem”. But the “take me to your leader” approach, practiced by governments and replicated by the media, cuts out the majority of Muslims, writes Abdul-Rehman Malik. Muslim communities are looking for leadership and vision, not representation, he argues. If the emerging “Islam industry” cannot offer that, then it is not rising to the challenges of the moment.