The meaning of being a Muslim: An aftermath of the twin towers episode

The bombing of the twin towers on September 11th, 2001, invoked public outcry. As the Americans have tried slowly to come to terms with the annihilation of one of the utmost symbols of their dominance, at the same time Muslims all over the world have had to face their own twin disaster. The destruction of their current understanding of what it means to be a Muslim and the need to grieve as human beings for the tragic loss of human life, for which they are by implication responsible. This research depicts the journey of five individuals who sought counselling in an effort to come to terms with these phenomena. Discourse analysis of their conversations highlights their struggle. A number of common themes emerge: loss (both of life and of the current meaning of Islam), confusion, a need to be different from the perpetuators and, for some, a need to reflect on other injustices committed in the name of Islam. These themes are considered in the light of the theory of psychosocial transitions and bereavement theory.