Finally, we would like to thank our guest for speaking to Islamonline viewers today, and we also thank all viewers who participated with us in this dialogue. We apolgize for not being able to accomodate all the questions within the time allocated to this session. We request our viewers to join us in the upcoming sessions.
Yours, Islamonline Live Dialogue Editing Desk..
Name
Bendig
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
As-Salaam Aleikum!
Sir, how do we progressively eliminate extremism from our masjids without "progressively" denying aspects of the Sunna as some are wont to do?
Answer
There are now over 1000 mosques in the UK, alhamdulillah, which have been built for the sake of pleasing God. This has been achieved due to the dedication of many in our community, especially our elders.
As the Qur'an itself enjoins on the Muslim ummah to become the 'Middle nation', neither verging to extremism on one side or the other, it is important live our lives in a balanced manner.
This does not mean that we neglect an essential aspect of Islam but neither does it mean that we should insist on matters that are not essential to the practise of Islam.
At the last Annual General Meeting of the Muslim Council of Britain there was a whole session devoted to the subject of 'Reform In Our Mosques' and this was chaired by the eminent Islamic thinker Shaykh Rashid al-Ghannushi, so I assure you this topic is very much on our minds!
Name
Aafreen
-
Profession
Student
Question
Asalaam alaykum, I would just like to commend the work MCB/ISB do to not mention other orgs like MPAC. However I know groups like HT hinder us a great deal, and exacerbate a negative image of Muslims, not to mention there constant 'politics is haram' nonsense, what more can we do to discredit HT and argue effectively against them??
Jazakallah Khair
Answer
Alhamdulillah, the MCB and many of its affiliated organisations have made large strides in recent years.
When the Muslim Council of Britain was launched in November 1997 - after a three year consultation period with established national Islamic groups - over 150 Muslim organisations affiliated to it. Today that figure is over 400 organisations. This is a testament to the immense respect in which the MCB is held and the vacuum in the national role it has helped to successfully fill.
Regarding other groups which may disagree with us - I think it is best that we do not allow ourselves to be diverted from the real issues facing us.
As long as we continue to serve the Muslim community - the results will be clear for all to see who is actually trying to play a constructive and beneficial role to enhance the position of Islam in Britain.
From the beginning, the MCB has been very open in its workings and on its website at www.mcb.org.uk you can find the details of its work and achievements. They speak for themselves, alhamdulillah.
Name
Muhammad
-
Profession
Question
Salaam ALeikum.
How do we dispell the Anti-Muslim bias that we Muslim living in the West excounter daily while not sounding appologetic?
Answer
This is a clearly important task. In November 2002, one of the national affiliates of the MCB, the Islamic Society of Britain (www.isb.org.uk) commissioned a public opinion survey by the respected pollsters YouGov to mark the beginning of Islam Awareness week (www.iaw.org.uk).
Astonishingly, the poll found that 74% of Britons said that they knew 'nothing or next to nothing about Islam' while another 64% of Britons said that there main source of information on Islam and Muslims was from the media.
Considering the daily news we hear and see from all parts of the Muslim world on our television screens and in our newspapers, coupled with the presence of over 1.6 million Muslims in the UK (making it the second largest faith in the UK), this was a truly sobering finding.
The MCB's Research and Documentation committee launched a new service called MCBdirect this month precisely to provide journalists, students and the ordinary public with accurate information about our faith.
More generally, this is a task that must be taken on by each of us in the Muslim community themselves. The Qur'an has said that the role of the Muslim community should be to act as 'Witnesses to Mankind' (Shuhadaa 'al an-Naas). We need to share our faith with others around us. With more than 1.6 million Muslims now in the UK, there is no excuse for neglecting this da'wah role anymore.
Name
Zafira
-
Profession
Question
Salaam aliekum, brother.
I would like to ask how I can convince my siblings and friends to become more active in the cause of Islam, they think lobbying, media monitoring, marching etc are useless. Some of them even think it is wrong to take part in any 'kufar' system! Keep up the good work at MCB.
Thanks, Allah hafiz
Answer
Thank you for your kind words.
It is true that the system that we find ourselves surrounded by in the United Kingdom is not an Islamic system, but it is nevertheless better than in many other countries, including Muslim ones, and we should be thankful to Allah for His Mercy and resolve to make the most of the opportunities He has granted us.
The Muslim approach is not one of unconditional acceptance to what we see around us, but neither is it one of blind rejection either.
As a Muslim minority, we have a good example in the situation the Prophet Yusuf ('alayhis salaam) found himself in when he was in Egypt. He decided to take up a position in the King's non-Muslim government because he saw that he was able to do humanity a service by planning for the coming drought in Egypt. According to Muslim ulama this shows that it is indeed permissible to join with others - even if they are non-Muslims - for the sake of helping humanity.
The MCB's motto is 'Seeking the Common Good'. Muslims are well-wishers of all people. We only want good for ourselves and the people around us. So it is imperative that we play a useful role in the wider British society. We do not believe that isolating ourselves is the way forward.
As the the media, I am sure your friends will agree that its current coverage of Islam and Muslims leaves much to be desired. Surely, the best way forward is to engage with the journalists and editors concerned and try and get improvements in the coverage. The MCB has already made some headway in this - see the website's Media section for more details.
Name
Ben
-
Profession
Question
Sir,
On a personal level, what changes have you noticed in the British peoples relations with Muslims after September 11th. Thank you
Answer
The Nov 2002 IAW poll that I mentioned in an earlier answer found that many British people said that they viewed British Muslims in a more suspicious light after the events of Sept 11 2001.
So there is a more urgent need to dispel many widespread myths about Muslims ie they are a violent bunch, they are always angry and you never see them smile, all they want is to destroy but never to build etc.
On the other hand, Britain has had long experience with terrorism in Northern Ireland and consequently many people here are able to distinguish between the acts of a radicalised few and the position of the mainstream Muslim community.
Quite a few journalists have contacted me to commend the dignified and patient way in which the British Muslim community has responded to various acts of provocation against Muslim individuals, some mosques and Muslim cemeteries. Far from being a threat to the Uk, much of the British Muslim community has been on the receiving end of acts of hate in the wake of Sept 11.
