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Name
Muslimah
- Austria
Profession
Question
As-Salamu `Alaykum, I converted in 1987, al-hamdullilah. My Question:
How far Muslims should follow up the integration efforts of governments and what is the meaning of integration? I was grown up in Europe and my parents were European; therefore, honestly speaking, I know very well their intentions, aims and ideas about Islam. I think Roman Catholic religion and Islam too different that integration could really succeed for both sides satisfaction. Thanks wa salamu `Alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu.
Answer
The Western Muslims must know what they stand for and what they want. It is not a question to follow the efforts of the government. To know our Islamic principles and to know the legal environment is necessary to remain fully Muslims and full citizens.
As for their supposed intention, we don’t have to worry about that. It is a question of self-confidence, law, and religious, social, and political participation. It is going to be difficult, but we will find, insha’Allah, fellow citizens ready to understand and cooperate with us.
Name
Khaled Rajeh
-
Profession
Question
For years the Islamic communities in Europe have been calling for a change in vital issues related to their existence, namely the issue of interaction. But the problem is that whenever the issue of interaction is raised, it is not actually meant for nationwide interaction, yet it means a narrow-minded scope of interaction that does not radically change the situation of Muslims in a given country. Why can’t Muslims think globally in the light of the challenges facing them? Why can’t they have a vision to think ahead and plan for the future?
Answer
You are right! We need to think globally and build a nationwide vision for the future. But it is necessary to start at local level, to create links with our nearest partners, and to move forward with what we call “participatory democracy”. It means that at the local level, we should be involved in everything, from public schools, to social problems, and political challenges, and not only dealing with Islamic issues and the Muslim communities. We this experience we can build a nationwide vision and contribute to the future of our society.
Name
Fouad
-
Profession
Question
The subject of the dialogue is isolation or interaction. What do you mean by the isolation of the Muslims in Europe?
Answer
By isolation we mean an intellectual, social, and religious attitude leading us to withdraw into ourselves. Isolation means to cut our relationships and cut ourselves from intellectual and cultural environment. This is the opposite of the Qur’anic teachings that tell us that we have been created into tribes and nations “in order for you to know each other”.
Name
fatima
- Germany
Profession
student
Question
Dear Mr. Ramadan,
In your book To be a European Muslim you are talking about "fundamental principles" of Islam. If the governmental law of a state was not compatible with one of these "fundamental principles", how should a Muslim act? As a citizen should he obey the law or rather as a Muslim obey the fundamental principles of the Qur’an? Thank you for answering.
Answer
I don’t know any European country today that imposes on Muslims to act against one of the fundamental principles of Islam. But if this was the case, it would be necessary for the Muslim community in this country to make their conviction heard and accepted. It is only after the whole process of dialoging and resisting that it could be possible for the Muslims to think of using the concept of “haajah” (need) or daroora (necessity), but this is very rare and we should be careful not to use this daroora excuse to lighten or even to betray our Islamic practice.
Name
Ismail
- Sweden
Profession
Postgraduate student
Question
Assalaam Aleikum,
In light of the current wave of anti-islamic sentiments in Europe and other parts of the world, how should the muslim fraternity respond to forestall the possibility of the trend becoming a permanent stigma ?
Answer
It is not because we are facing this wave of anti-Islamic sentiments that we should react as victims or forget about our own shortcomings. We should start with our own responsibility. Forget about anti-Islamic sentiments and start with our own challenges.
Three things are missing today:
1) The Islamic discourse coming from the Islamic communities in Europe. It is not explicit, it is not clear. We should explain Islam and explain our principles and our spirituality in an encompassing way.
2) We need to be self-critical and not to confuse Muslim brotherhood and uniformity of thoughts. We should face up to our own diversity, divisions, and contradictions. Islam is great, but Muslims are not always so.
3) It is necessary, as I have been saying for the last 15 years, to build bridges with the surrounding society. To improve our relationships with our fellow citizens is going to help us to improve our relationships with our Muslim brothers and sisters. It is a dialectal process which is very important today. We are misleading the community when we let the Muslims think that our problems can only be solved from within.
Name
Rafeeq
-
Profession
Question
I have a concern that I think many young activists do. This concern is whenever we talk about interaction or vital improvement of our situation, we always face the problem of the hegemony of culture. The immigrants in Muslim communities always take the lead in every action, even in areas where the original Muslim citizens of the country can do better job. To me, it is always a lack of trust or a blind following of our own culture. What is the solution to this problem?
Answer
You are totally right, and this should change quickly. The Arabic language is the language of Islam, but the Arabic culture is not the only culture of Islam. When living in the west, we should know and accept that this western culture is going to be ours, so the people who convert to Islam and are coming from this western background, not only must be respected but they can also contribute a great deal to appropriate and the right Islamic presence in the west.
Name
Jose Yusuf
- United States
Profession
Question
Assalamu Alikum
In ther tradition of Hijrah and the preservation of being able to practice Islam. Wouldn't it be wiser for Muslims in France to protest the Hijab ban by simply leaving the country? France has a notorious history in being anti-religious and directly oppressive to Muslims (like the massacre of Algiers and such). Since France are in terrible economic times, a Flight outta france would further hurt their economy, better than a boycott of french products. If a Muslimah can't practice her faith properly, then simply leave, do Muslims also want to be french??
Walaikum assalam
Answer
We should be realistic and understand that the future of the Muslim presence in France could not be solved by leaving the country. Let me tell you that in France today, even though the great majority of French people are supporting the law against the khimar, we are creating partnerships with many nationwide organizations protesting against this discriminatory law.
The future, insha’Allah, is to act in order to be respected both as a Muslim and as a citizen. It is a matter of dialogue, resistance, claim, and permanent social and political presence. The future is not as bad as it could appear, alhamdullilah.
Name
Mona Ghameel
-
Profession
Question
The issue of hijab in France showed clearly how the Muslims are not having profound effect on the country they live in, and how much they are poor in building bridges and good relations with people of different faiths. I don’t think the fatwa of Sheikh Al-Azhar did much of a difference as the lack of interaction did. In your view, what is the way out or the final resort left for the Muslims in France and how do you see their future?
Answer
As I was saying, we have started a very large coalition gathering Muslims and non-Muslims alike. I think that this is the future, insha’Allah. It will take time, it is going to be very difficult, but this seems to be the only way ahead, wallahu a’alam (Allah knows best).
Name
Ibrahim
- Finland
Profession
Student
Question
Assalamu alaikum. On the ban of hijab in French public schools,no muslim scholar provided, in my opinion a good and simple solution. Here is my solution: In line of quranic teaching and tradition of Prophet Muh. (saw) against persecution, don't you think it is most islamic to ask the French muslims to do hijra, you the scholars being the first to do so?
Answer
Wa`alykum assalamu warahmatullah.
Be careful with your very quick, and maybe too simple answers. There are different levels of persecutions. The Muslims in France are not prevented from practicing their religion, and the ban on khimar is only for the secondary schools, and it is not absolute yet. So the Muslims should continue their struggle and let the French people around them understand that they are French as well, and they want their rights to be respected. We don’t have to take from the Prophet’s life incomparable specific situation and to propose wrong solutions.
Name
Anis Rohat
-
Profession
Question
What is your analysis to the situation of Muslims in France?
Answer
Contrary to the ceiling of the great majority of Muslims in France itself and elsewhere, my understanding is that the situation is not so bad. The French Muslims are pushed to wake up and to change their attitude. They will get what they deserve. If they are ready to stand up for their right and to remain independent, it will be insha’Allah possible to succeed in promoting a blossoming Muslim presence in France.
Name
fred
- United States
Profession
Question
Prof. Ramadan, in your book Western Muslims you refer favorably to Sheikh Yusuf Qaradawi and to his organization the European Council for Fatwa and Research. In your view, is Sheikh Qaradawi a moderate voice? What about his support for suicide bombing against Israeli civilians and the Council’s support of such operations against American troops in Iraq?
Answer
As you mentioned, I have great respect to Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi’s work, and I think that he is helping the western Muslims with some new insights, but it is also clear in my last book, I may have a different opinion on some issues. This is but normal as I am speaking from the west dealing with specific environment and facing specific challenges.
Name
Ezzat Fahmi
-
Profession
Question
In all of speeches I always stress on the “right language” used by Muslims. Muslims in Europe, or even in most of non-Muslim countries, always speak as if there are oppressed minority fighting for her rights while they have lots of citizens and European born among them. When can Muslims stop to speak as the “servants” and move to the level of “owner”?
Answer
I think that you are right. The deepest problem the Muslims are facing is not an Islamic problem per se, or even an integration problem, but more importantly a psychological problem. It is as if they want to define themselves against the Other or to react to his oppression. It high time to understand that we need to act in the light of our universal values and they should be able to work with al the citizens and the European living around them.
Name
هشام
-
Profession
Doctorand
Question
What must be the reaction of the Muslims when all law and media don't stop to show enmity to us?
Answer
Once again, we should not assess our activities on the scale of the media coverage. The media, of course, are going to speak about the most visible action, but we should know that many Muslims are doing silently, patiently, but deeply a very great job in the west. Step by step, they are changing the perception of the people around them. So don’t be misled by the mainstream media and come back to the Islamic teachings. Allah says: “Allah is with the patient ones.” and “have beautiful patience, and Allah is the most helper.”
Name
Raed
-
Profession
Question
Why do you seem too apologetic and too lover of western culture. What do you mean by saying that the situation in France is not bad…What would you think if your daughter is forced to uncover her hijab?
Answer
My dearest brother, I think we need to avoid emotional reaction. The Muslims in France are doing a great job, and my feeling is that it is because they are succeeding that the French society is reacting out of fear. So the Muslim women in France are facing difficult time as all the Muslims, but it could be that this is the critical time we should go through to be respected as Muslims in the near future. Allah knows best.
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Answer
Finally, we would like to thank our guest for speaking to Islamonline viewers today, and we also thank all those who participated in this dialogue. We apologize for not being able to accommodate all the questions within the time allocated to this session. We request our readers to join us in the upcoming sessions.
