i feel sorry for britons muslim that their movement will be closely control by a special body to encounter a so-called extremisme element in muslim community.
could you tell what is exactly preached by the imams in british muslim community that cultivate the kind of extreme? is "jihad" no more revelant nowdays or just being manipulated by others?
i would be happy if you can have a strong engagement with the government, in case, in the same vain, they understand what muslim need and practise.
all the best!
Answer
Alaykum as salaam, Zaki
British Muslims and imams are the same as with other Muslims all over the world they teach Islamic faith to the Muslims, however there are some elements of extremism in every part of the world and with every religion and race. Jihad is an Arabic word literally meaning endeavor and exertion. I'm sorry to say some Muslims took the arm struggle (killing) where as we are asked to make jihad in all fields, in the field of knowledge, enlightment, development and all other aspect of human life.
The west today is classified according to the modern scholars that it is Dar Aldawah (state of a call to the way of Allah) no body is stopping the Muslims in this democratic society to spread their beliefs and to invite others to accept it.
We have a strong engagement with the government the Muslim minority in the United Kingdom is the most influential minority in the west. We have members in houses, parliament and House of Commons. Muslims participate in all walks of life in the United Kingdom.
Name
Horace Snigglethwarpe
- Barbados
Profession
World Famous Race Car Driver
Question
When can we expect to read the fatwa excommunicating the bloody bastards who blew up the London subway?
Answer
In Islam it is haraam (forbidden) to kill an innocent person. Muslims from all over the world, scholars and politicians have condemned this barbaric act. The fatwa of the scholars was well published here in the United Kingdom. This kind of act does not need a fatwa it is forbidden according to the Qu'ran and the sayings of the Prophet.
Name
Adel
- Albania
Profession
Question
What do you mean by the political engagement?
Answer
We mean by political engagement participation in public life. We are a democratic society where there is a way to show your anger and concern. Muslims are asked to participate in democratic processes and political activity through joining the political parties, unions, pressure groups and the progressive movement. That is the way Muslims can have a say in this country.
Name
Amera
-
Profession
Question
Muslims have enough reason to react and to say NO to many things so How can Muslims do that without violence ?
Answer
Violence will not solve our problems, since 11 September 2001, if we weight the benefit and the loss in the Muslim ummah. You will find out that the loss is far much greater than what we gain through violence. Islam always grows and expands through dialogue and peaceful means. In the Muslim world, the number of countries where Islam has spread through jihad is much less than the number of countries where Islam has spread through peaceful means. Muslim should be role models to others in order for people to accept their religion.
To call to the way of Allah you need to win the heart and the mind of the people whom you are calling and to look them as a mercy as Allah subhaana wataalah has sent his Prophet Mohamed peace be upon him as a mercy to humanity.
Name
Shaker
- Canada
Profession
Question
Why you do not work to develop an Islamic theory for the nonviolent struggle and to redefine the meaning of Jihad ?
Answer
I reject the current voices I am hearing from some so called scholars calling reform to Islam. Our religion does not need reformation it can co-exist with every age and place. Jihad is one of the main principles of Islam; no one can nullify or abrogate it from the text. There are so many authentic texts supporting jihad. The issue here is that there are some small elements from the Muslim community who are misusing jihad and applying it outside its context.
Terrorism is not a jihad, killing civilians is not a jihad, bombing peaceful cities is not a jihad. The people who are practicing these kinds of evil acts are causing more harm to Islam than the benefit we are getting. Jihad is a defensive act which we need to apply when we are targeted in our countries with lots of conditions put by the Prophet. When the Prophet was sending his companions to Jihad, he said do not kill an elderly person a child, do not cut a fruitful tree or kill a non-combatant. These are the ethics and the high moral values which he taught his companions.
Name
Nadia
- Egypt
Profession
Question
Dear Dr. Sheikh,
Assalamu alaikum. I have frequently been pondering about the fact that second and third generation Muslims living in Western countries can grow up with extremist/violent ideas that would allow them to consider something like a terrorist attack on the very same people these youth grew up with. It's easier to understand violence the source of which is a group of people living in another country. But HOW do Muslim youth born and raised in a country like the UK get hold of extremist views?
Thank you for taking the time to answer this question.
Answer
The world today is a small village with no boundaries, people can follow what is happening in one corner from the other corner. In the United Kingdom we have Muslims from all parts of the world, from all sets and schools. We have here people who are very hard liners who preach hatred rather than teaching the true faith of Islam.
The reason why those young boys who were born and brought up in this country who lived like regular British playing cricket and football turn themselves to bombs blowing up innocent commuters going to their work; is difficult to understand but in one or another they fall into the hands of people who misguided them and made them beleive that they are doing noble work. Youth are always energetic, if they don't get proper guidence they will be destroyed.
Name
John
- Netherlands
Profession
Question
Islam is the ideology of violence do not deny that
Answer
Islam is an ideology of peace, co-existance and dialogue. You were mislead by the right wing media and politicians. I invite you to see your Muslim neighbors, visit you local mosque and see how Muslims are living with total peace and harmony with their fellow neighbors.
There are lots of injustices and oppression falling on the Muslim world.
Name
Soad
- United States
Profession
Question
Dr. Sheikh,
Salam. My question is related to a BBC news program I watched. The program addressed a problem present in the Muslim community in the UK. According to the program, UK Muslim youths were detached from their Muslim leaders. Although Muslim leaders might be against violent methods of protest, these youths weren't listening. Is there truly such a gap, and if so why? If Muslim youths in the UK are not listening to their Muslim leaders, who are they listening to?
Thank you.
Answer
The majority of the Muslim youth do listen to their Muslim leaders but there are always a few elements in every community who will commit a crime. The majority of the Muslims in this country are peaceful and good citizens they participate in all walks of life, they practice their dawah in peaceful manner and they have no problems with the country. It doesn't mean that if there are a handful of people who are criminals that the rest of our youth are criminals. As I mentioned before, this minority is one the most influential in the West, there is no doubt that there are some people who are not happy with the growth of the Muslim community. They will try to capitalize the last tragic event to label the whole community with its youth as terrorists.
Name
Ali
- United Arab Emirates
Profession
Question
Salam,
I've been worrying about what kind of rhetoric is being used in mosques in the UK. How common is it that imams living in the UK take extremist views of Islam and preach them to the masses?
Answer
We have more than one thousand mosques and Islamic centers in the United Kingdom, out of this there are a handful of mosques which have the so-called extremist view. It is the media who is emphasizing on this fringe element of the society and making them heroes. The media has been focusing on the last ten years on a few elements and showing to the world that they are representing the Muslims.
Name
Hisham
- Egypt
Profession
Question
We have just heard on the news that more blasts have happened in London, is that true? Please tell us in details what is happening now?
Answer
Around 1 o'clock today there were four explosions in central London three were targeted at the underground train stations they were shepherds bush, oval and Warren Street. One of them was a bus targeted. There are no fatalities or injuries. This is a type of criminal activity which targets such cosmopolitan cities where you have all religions, all races and all colors of human origin. It is an evil act and we all condemn it.
Name
Rebecca
- United States
Profession
Question
Hi. I understand that Islamic schools are becoming common not only in the US but also in many European countries. Could the Islamic curricula being taught in these schools have anything to do with violent or extremist positions being taken by some Muslim youth? Who designs these curricula? Are they necessarily revised by the governments under which they are taught? By the US or the UK governments, for example?
Thank you.
Answer
The majority of Islamic schools in the UK and USA teach proper Islamic faith. In free, democratic and secular states, governments do not interfere with religious freedom, it can not tell the faiths what to teach and what not to teach although it has the right to eliminate religious incitement. Islamic schools are being scrutinized by the department of education like any other schools. Those guys who committed that atrocity did not go to Islamic school in the UK. There is no allegation against our Islamic schools. We have in this country catholic schools and Jewish schools as well as Islamic schools funded by the government.
Name
Jerry
-
Profession
Question
We just heard that there have been more bombings in London. Do you think it's possible that Muslims again will be accused? If they are the perpetrators, what the heck is going on in the Muslim community in the UK??
Answer
So far no body has been accused of what happened today. We don't know who committed this crime; I hope it's not a Muslim once again.
As far as the Muslim community is concerned there is no problem except a few elements who belong to our faith has unfortunately committed such a barbaric act. As you can not label collective guilt, I am a person from a society, when a few elements from this community commit a crime therefore, avoid criminalizing the whole Muslim community.
Name
Raed
-
Profession
Question
How will the UK Muslim community protect themselves against what is expected to be a backlash against them?
Thank u
Answer
The Muslims can protect themselves through participating in the democratic system and process of this country. It is not an easy task but we have to reach out, extend hand to others and work with our fellow citizens. Definitely the right wing part and media will exploit this kind of tragic event but I am sure the British society will not listen to their rhetoric approach.
Name
Rukaiya
- Nigeria
Profession
student
Question
salam alaikum, Dont you think finding out the reasons why this attacks are carried out is a good beginning on how to end it? Secondly I see this becoming a war against muslims?
Answer
This is one million dollar question. Nobody so far has been charged. This is not a war against Islam or Muslims neither it is a clash of civilization. We have millions of Muslims in the West, in fact there are Muslims who got killed in all these attacks here in the United Kingdom and else where. However there is lots of injustice taking place in the Muslim world, the war in Iraq and the occupation of Palestine, Kashmir and many other part of the Muslim world is something we all feel its pain but nothing justifies what happened in London. We have to pressure our government to review its foreign policy and other local issues facing the Muslims.
Name
Tahira
- United States
Profession
Question
As salamu alaikum. I would like to know if the Muslim leaders who recently met with Blair were elected by the British Muslims to represent them or were they "self appointed".
Jazakallah khyar.
Answer
The prime minister has invited some Muslim mps, peerage and some business men. They were chosen by the office of the prime minister a cording to the list I have seen. There are very few people who can be regarded as representative to the Muslim community. It seems that the government wants to hear from those who are singing from the same hymn and avoiding engaging serious dialogue and discussion with the community leaders who are representing the grass root.
