Assalamu'alaikum. It is said that in order to integrate to the European society, a Muslim must learn and absorb the country's culture. This includes dancing. This has been a very high dispute between Muslims and non-Muslims in my college. Some say that Islamic culture is very rigid because it forbids ladies from dancing. Are the abovementioned statements correct anyway? Are men allowed to dance too?
Answer
Assalamo - alaikum
The question of "integration" is high on the agenda of most European Countries where there is a high and increasing Muslim presence and the United Kingdom is no exception. I disagree with the assertion that in order to integrate I have to absorb all aspects of a countries culture. I am a British Muslim with a Pakistani heritage. I don't feel at all inclined or forced to dance in order to feel British in the same way I don't feel you have to dress a particular way in order to feel a sense of belonging.
I feel belonging is a particular mind set and a feeling. As for Islamic culture being rigid I would pause the question well actually what do we mean by Islamic culture?
As for whether or not dancing is right or wrong in Islam - I am not a scholar so I cannot answer.
But working with young people I do understand that they are faced with many challenges when it comes to identity issues. It is therefore imperative that they like yourself have people they can turn to for advice and guidance so that more informed choices can be made. More importantly I don't feel that such questions should be disputed but rather researched and understood so that individuals are able to make clearer choices.
Name
ahmed
- Albania
Profession
Question
I will start from the title of the live dialogue itself please tell me what are the hopes and the fears of the Muslim youth in Europe ?
Answer
Ahemd, thank you for your question .What I cannot do is making a gross generalization when attempting to answer your question. What I can do, however is to focus the response by recalling conversations I have had, research and trainings that I have conducted both in the past and more recently not only in Britain, but elsewhere too.
During the course of my work - when I have put the same question to young people the response has been multi-faceted On a personal level - like most young people they are worried about, making friends, finding work, doing well in exams, watching Friends or listening to Usher...
On a communal level some have concerns around drugs, violence, unemployment, increasing number of stop and searches since the 9/11 and 7/7 attacks. Some young women are worried about issues in relation to marriage, finding work if they look differently.
On a national level, young people are worried about policies which impact on their fundamental human rights such as not being able to wear the Hijab (head scarf) as in the case of Turkey and France. In the case of Britain young people are worried about the Anti- terror legislation, the shoot to kill policies and the increasing Islamophobic and xenophobic attitudes in certain parts of Britain.
In Europe we have also seen an increase in far right extremist activities all of these are worries.
On an international level , they are worried about, the war in Iraq, Palestine, Nigeria and other countries. They are more and more politicized - especially with the media's constant focus upon the question of terrorism and Islam. They are being forced to ask themselves the question what does it mean to be a Muslim and what does Islam actually mean to them in this day and age.
As for hopes in Britain young people are becoming more and more active; participating in demonstrations, increasingly Muslim women are doing far better educationally. They hope to live in a world where people are respected and communities are able to live along side one another - accepting as opposed to tolerating the "other." They hope to see a world where justice prevails.
They hope to see a world where the wealth poverty divide is no more. Where people don't suffer from extreme poverty, water shortages.. whilst the Elite enjoy prosperity and obesity!
What they want to see is a paradigm shift - which values, and deals justly with the "other".
Of course there are many more hopes and fears, but I hope this gives you a general idea.
Name
Mohamed
- Bahrain
Profession
Question
Do you think that Muslim youth can change the image of Islam in Europe?
Answer
Mohamed , I believe that we are already changing the image of Islam in Europe!
I was in Palestine last year and had the privilege of speaking to many people. But there is one conversation that I will not forget. I went to Ramallah (The West bank) and got caught up in large scale protest against the "wall" whilst I was on my way to meet a wonderful young man called Yemen. A young Palestinian, attending University but also trying to grapple with everything that was/is happening around him. And he made a few poignant comments. He said something along the lines of:
"Wahida, people come to places like Palestine and they absorb all the pain and suffering and go away with the weight of the world on their shoulders...what they don't realize is that sometimes they are better placed to be doing more from there own countries where they can exercise their rights and be of greater benefit to those in Palestine. They can make the world wake up and take heed within those countries"
My feeling is that we will see the emergence of a powerful Muslim voice and leadership from within Western Europe and more specifically from within the United Kingdom. As Muslims we have to accept that we are British; accept that we are living, working, and following the laws of the land. But we have also to remember that we have to challenge, to ask for our rights through legitimate means and condemn those things that ought to be condemned. More importantly if we want to be accepted than we too have to accept.
I am pleased to say that I am beginning to see an increasing dialogue taking place between and within different communities. This dialogue is also taking place between faith groups, political groups and others. We are also seeing Muslims organizing themselves and making their views known in the public sphere. More and more Muslims are getting involved in the political process, the media is engaging with the various communities (though as we are all aware this can be negative at times). We have to and indeed are working within structures whether that be education, health or social services. But we have to ask the question why are there so few "black" and "Asian" managers in these institutions?
To be true agents of change we have to strive hard, challenge and create new and more innovative ways of working. Though this is a slow process it is one that is unstoppable!!!
Name
Rashida
- Egypt
Profession
Question
From your experience how do you see the future of Muslims and Islam in Europe after London bombing and how did it effect the life of Muslims In UK ?
Answer
Thank you for your question Rashida .I see a bright future for Muslims in Britain and believe that a dynamic leadership will emerge from the United Kingdom. And I believe that the world will look to British Muslims for guidance and support in the future.
However since the London Bombings we have seen several things come into fruition. I have seen the government, police officials, and community leaders categorically state that what happened on the 7/7 cannot in any way be attributed to Islam and indeed to all Muslims.
Secondly, we have seen an increase in racial violence/tension.
Thirdly we have seen more and more Muslims being stopped and searched/arrested sometimes without genuine reason. These are all worrying consequences of the 7/7 attacks and have affected all communities in one way or another.
But we have to respond also to the knee-jerk response of the Blair government, especially when they speak about banning organizations such as Hizb-ul-tahrir.
This does not make Muslims feel safe or secure in their country.
Name
Sama
- Iran
Profession
Question
do you think that the young Muslims in Europe are more religious? or at least they are interested more than any time before in Islam ?
Answer
Yes, I do feel that young People that I make contact with on a daily basis are increasingly interested in their religion.
Since the 9/11 and 7/7 attacks The Quran was virtually sold out in most bookshops both Muslims and none Muslims are racing to places like Waterstones to purchase the Holy Quran and find out for themselves. Most people are tired of the same old pictures that the media portrays whether that is the BBC, CNN or the Hollywood flicks. They want alternatives, like Al-Jazeera, or the Islam Channel to give balance to bias.
People are wanting to explore, experiment and actually meet and greet this frequently demonized "other." When they do that they realize "we" that Muslims are not that bad after all. In fact we are seeing more and more coverts to Islam in Western Europe.
Muslims themselves are forced to take a deep look at themselves; who they are and what their roles and responsibilities are in Europe?
In short, yes I do believe that Muslims and indeed none-Muslims are going back to the roots of spirituality , trying to find meaning in a world filled with endless injustice, suffering and pain.
Name
Ibnu Mansor
-
Profession
Question
I am a Malaysian and I would like to know is it better for me to emigrate into any of European countries to help our Muslim brothers and sisters doing their outreach or remain in Malaysia to serve my own nation? I would like to be a European, but I'm proud to be Malaysian as well.
Answer
I have never been to Malaysia but I would love to visit some day - my warmest salaams to you sister.
It is wonderful that you want to help in Europe. But, I am sure that there is so much to do in Malaysia. I am also sure that you have a great deal to contribute - you can be a great role model to all those women that you encounter in your daily life. As Malcolm X once said "women are the bedrock of our society" as such we have to be both the creators of peace and the builders of a sustainable peace.
Last but not least, I am pleased that you are proud to be Malaysian!
Name
Soha
- Australia
Profession
Question
How do the Muslim youth in Europe get their Islamic knowledge ? do they depend on translated books or they have their own books and scholars that understand their needs and the nature of their life ?
Answer
Soha,the young people get there Islamic knowledge through various means.
They have teachers, books that are translated, tapes etc....
It is increasingly coming to the attention of the Muslims community that young Muslims are growing up with a limited grasp of their mother tongue in some cases this is Urdu or Bengali. They are growing up learning English, speaking English, indeed dreaming in English! So we need Imams that can speak the language, understand the youngsters, their needs, priorities, hopes and fears. They need guidance from the right people. If they don't get this - then what we will have and in some instances do have are young people who are lost; feeling alienated and disempowered. Falling prey to the gangster mentality, or other groups.
These are some of the challenges we face. Also the British Government needs to seriously invest in setting up institutions within Britain to teach a new breed of British Imam, one who speaks the language, understands the policies, young people, the value of working together with others to build a better future for all.
We need to look at the rest of Europe for example the Netherlands where I believe they have good practice we can learn from. We need better facilities, mosques linking with schools. In fact in Britain we are seeing some innovative and collaborative work taking place. lets hope it continues....
Name
Dafer
- Malta
Profession
Question
what can Muslim youth in Europe do for the Muslim world ?
Answer
Dafer , As Ghandhi said "be the change you want to see in the world."
We have to work hard, both internally and externally.
We have to Accept that we are British Muslims.
We have to accept that we have a valuable contribution to make and offer locally, nationally and internationally.
We have to accept that we are powerful individuals and can help those Muslims and none Muslims all over the world.
As young people who need to have an awareness of our religion, its richness
and beauty. We have to challenge the myths by being peaceful, caring, compassionate individuals.
As young people we have to be vociferous in demanding our rights but also vociferous in accepting our responsibility. Responsibility entails demanding justice for all - whether that be for Muslims or none Muslims.
Young people have to ask themselves what type of world they want to live in. Then they have to imagine living in that world. Then they have to believe in the possibility of a better world!!
Name
Ahdaf
- Algeria
Profession
Question
It is a fact that there are differences between the different generations in every place but how do you see the differences between the Muslim young generation in Europe and their parents and how they deal with that gap ?
Answer
Ahdaf, thank you for your question. Certainly there is what we here in Britain term a "generation gap" this is not as you quite rightly point out, specific to Muslims. Nonetheless it is a key factor in the Muslim community. For example my father came to England from Pakistan as an economic migrant. Neither of my parents read or write they struggled in Pakistan and came to England to make a better life for themselves , thinking that they would leave after some years having made enough money. But they did not. In fact now they accept they will be here forever. England is definitely my home!
My parents did not fully understand the system, the communities set up mosques. The second and third generations, like myself did not have a good understanding of Islam. We had to grapple with certain cultural elements for example clothes: traditional Pakistani clothes were not always practical - especially the colorful embroidered -ones! So as a second generation I created my own style. A style that in some ways fitted the Western way and Islamic teachings.
I had to teach myself a lot about my faith, and in the process challenged accepted cultural norms.
So certainly there is a gap and parents fear that the language of their fore fathers will be virtually non-existent in years to come. They fear their culture will disappear as the up coming generations carve out a Modern European Muslim identity.
What the future holds is as I would say with the powers that be!
