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Name
Jonas...
-
Profession
Question
As-slam alikym,
How do you think can British Muslims assist French Muslims in their struggle against the headscarf-ban, despite the differnce in the secular settings and the map of the public sphere?
Answer
Assalamu alaikum
I feel that British Muslims can and are doing something about the French situation. We are not a secular country in Britain - in fact we are a consitutional monarchy with an established church - this means that religion can be have a more public face. France however has fought religion in its history and so has a much more negative relationship with religion.
I think, therefore, that it is very important that we show the positive role of Muslims in Britain. We in Britain have to show France that a multicultural society actually works. We have to show that such a blatant attack on religion will have a negative longterm result.
British Muslims are also lobbying and campaigning - as well as Muslims across the world - for the French to make a change and this is important that we keep up that pressure.
At the magazine I edit we are covering it - we have to keep it in the public debate.
Name
Reef
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
Assalamu aleikum sister,
How did your family react to your embracing Islam and did their reaction affect your resolve?
Wassalam,
Answer
Assalamu alaikum,
My family took my conversion quite hard. They are Liberals - and had brought me up not to be prejudice and to be anything that I wanted. When I told them that I wanted Islam - they found it hard because of their view of Islam as something which was backward, violent and oppressed women.
Also, because I took on the hijab right from the beginning, they found that really hard. If I had not worn it straight then it would have been easier - but I wanted to. I think that I was very forceful in my wanting to be a Muslim - maybe too forceful in many ways. I could have been more tactful and that would have been better. It took many years for them to eventually come round - but now they are very happy. They are happy about the way I live my life and that is good. Although they show no signs of embracing Islam themselves.
Name
mahmoud
-
Profession
Question
As-salam alikym,
Do you think the Muslim community has a big role in the creation of Islamophobia in the west--due to their mischeifs which are away from Islam and the acts done by the fanatics among them?
Best,
Answer
Asslamu alaikum,
Obviously the actions of some Muslims sometimes do not help the image of Muslims in the West. We need to be aware that our actions are looked at and people make judgements. There was a survey done in 2002 and 70% of the British public knew nothing or next to nothing about Islam and what they did know they got from the media. The media do not show Islam as something beautiful - they want tension in their articles. So really it is up to us to make our day to day relationships with wider British society a good one, and it is important that Muslism themselves are proactive in a positive presentation of Islam. They can be a wider variety of ways of doing this. I am involved in a number of things - for example Amel magazine and Islam Awareness Week.
Thank you,
Name
Mohamed
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
Sister Sarah, Assalamu alikom,
Is there any statistics around the number of converts in Britain by year to show a trend along time?
Also do you keep statistics on the distribution of your magazine, just interested to know if non-Muslims in this country are eager to learn about Islam through printed media.
Jazaki Allah Khaira,
Answer
Assalamu alaikum,
I did my post grad research into Britons embracing Islam. It is very hard to get figures. We estimate that there are a minimum number of 20,000 converts to Islam and a maximum guesstimate of 50,000. Going to the main mosques there is probably 1000-2000 converting in the mosques per year. However, many people do not take their shahadah at the mosque - some may take it in someone's house, or at an event, or in a bookshop, or in a car!!
We have no stats on non-Muslims reading Emel. We sell in mainstream bookshops and we sell out in many outlets but we dont know if it is Muslims or non-Muslims buying it. However we do receive a lot of positive letters and e-mails from non-Muslims. There is no doubt there is a lot of interest in Islam and it is important that we give them material that they can relate to.
Name
Taqwa Fahmy
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
Salamu ulikom,
Do you plan for da'wah workshop within the UK to equipe Muslims with the necessary skills and manners (from Qur'an and sunna) and to apply this into real world examples?
Thank you,
Answer
Assalamu alaikum,
There are many organisations which really try to equip people with the tools to deal with the real world and present Islam positively. I work with a lot of different organisations - giving lectures etc. The Islamic Society of Britain for example has been at the forefront of building bridges, getting articles in mainstream papers, running Islam Awareness Week, holding workshops for Muslims to give them knowledge. There is so much work to do - working with the Muslims to show them the way to interact with wider society. Often the Muslims are coming from families which have kept themselves to themselves and it is a culture shift to make a change.
Thank you,
Name
Jack
- United States
Profession
Question
Hello,
Could you please tell us what made you convert to Islam and elaborate more on your first experiences (postive/negative) when you first become a Muslim.
Thanks,
Answer
I was a practising Roman Catholic. I was a very serious teenager into social issues, politics and religion. My faith meant a lot to me and it impacted on my social conscience. My family were Liberals though and not religious. My Mother says that I was always religious - since I was tiny child.
When I was about 13 my brother embraced Islam to get married. I was very angry with him. I felt that he had sold his hereafter for a marriage. I was also very scared for him because Islam was so alien, and I had a lot of negative views about it. I had been brought up to never be prejudice however, and it felt uncomfortable to have these negative feelings. I knew that I was fearly of the unknown and that fear was caused by ignorance. I decided to find out more about Islam but was never told anything accurate. This made me more curious - 'how come no one knows anything about this religion?' I thought.
So I set about finding more and one question led to another.
A bit later on I ceased to be a Catholic. This had nothing to do with Islam but was due to the rule of Papal Infallibility. I could not accept that this rule which is so central had come about because of the unification of Italy. I also had problems with the notion of Original Sin and its implications for the Crucifiction.
I did not become a Muslim though - did not want to become one. It seems so much hassle.
So I continued my life - neither a Muslim nor as a Christian. Rather I just tried to submit to God. There was something though that kept me pulling towards Islam. It kept answering my questions - a simple belief in One God, the position of Christ - born of a Virgin through the power of God, but not because of his Divinity. Also, the Qur'an unchanged.
The fianl thing which made me accept Islam was seeing someone pray. As they went down into prostration - I thought that "this is submission". And sumitting to God was what I wanted.
It was hard in the beginning. I have always tested my faith. But ultimately Islam makes no gratuituous demands on my logic. It appeals to my logic as well as my heart. And I have never not found an answer to a question.
Name
Lobna...
-
Profession
Question
When did you convert to Islam? & Why? & What were the obstacles you met?
Answer
I hope I have just answered that question.
Obstacles - family, friends.
My own self in some ways - in that I went into myself rather than expressing Islam through social activity. It took me a while to realise that Islam and my upbringing of social responsibility were interconnected. When my family saw that I was contributing to society as a Muslim then it was easier for them to accept.
Thanks,
Name
Layla
-
Profession
Question
Do you think Britain will follow France, in banning women from wearing the hijab?
Answer
No, I do not think that Britain will follow France. We have a very different tradition of religion in society and we have a far more inclusive way of dealing with people. France has such a narrow view of being French.
However we should not be complacent. Our position in Britain is in flux and we have to stive to make positive contributions to wider society and to make sure society recognises that. The Muslims of history always gave more to the world than they took out and we have to make sure we follow that tradition.
Name
sharmake mahamud
- Canada
Profession
teacher
Question
Is the west a liveable place for Muslims who want to practice their faith fully despite the compaign of pure secularisation from governments who do not want to see Muslims going fundamental to their faith?
Answer
Assalamu alaikum,
Allah (swt) made the World so I feel we should be able to live anywhere. Also we live in a Global village so the issues of secularisation will be with us all over the world.
The West has issues of secularism - yes. There is an attack on religion and morality - not just Islam. But do we just abandon the ship to go and find a tranquil Island? And where is that Island? The Prophets did not give up despite the terrible attacks on religion - we can't give up either.
It is important to show that Islam is relevant to the world and we need to increase our level of discourse to make it understandable.
Also, I feel that the West offers a lot of freedoms of practice and thought which many places in the Muslim world do not offer. We need to use that opportunity of freedom to make sure we can articulate Islam to actually make a real contribution to the world.
Thanks,
Name
Mariam
-
Profession
Question
Assalamu Alaikum,
I hope that you are well.
May I ask you a few questions, please...
How did you come to Islam? what inspired you?
Where did you take your Shahada? and were you supported throughout this time?
Which mosques in london, did you find as being the most supportive to reverts esp. revert sisters?
How long after your revertion did you marry? And was getting married easy or difficult for you?
Also did you go and study Islam and arabic, and how importantly would you recommend this to others?
Sorry if I've bombarded you!
Jazak Allahu Khairan,
Wasalaam,
Answer
Asslamu alaikum,
A lot of questions there!
I think I have answered on how I came to Islam. I took my shahada at Regent's Park Mosque in London - although I had been a Muslim sometime before I went along.
I have never found mosques very helpful - I find them quite difficult places. Although in the early days the Saruday Circle of Regent's Park Mosque was quite helpful.
I had been a Muslim for about 5 year before I married. Alhamdulillah - it was easy to get married. Allah made it easy!
I have tried to study as and when I can. I have attended courses over the years - but I have always found activity and interaction with society the best way of learning.
Thanks,
Name
Faisal
- Pakistan
Profession
Programmer
Question
Sallam,
Sister what you feel after embracing Islam?
Secondly, now what do you think about the purpose of life?
Answer
Salam,
Life is to try and purify your soul and to gain the acceptance and pleasure of Allah (swt).
Islam is for me the simplest way to access God.
I feel we need to focus on the purpose rather than just the dogma. And as the Qur'an was dedicated to those who think - we must think about our actions.
Thanks,
Name
Muhammad
- Canada
Profession
Question
Al-Salamu Alakum,
Did you convert before marriage? In your research do you happen to know how many British women convert to Islam because of their marriage to a muslim (they actually believe in it and not convert for the sake of their husband)? How many British women convert without necessarily being married to a muslim?
Jazak Allah,
Salam,
Answer
As-salam alikum,
Statistics are difficult on this issue,
I converted before my marriage - yes.
I found in my research that many women marry Muslim men and do not convert. After sometime they question their husbands and eventually find that Islam works for them.
Their husbands have acted as the catalyst for study of Islam. This is true of many converts - a personal contact: friend, relative, work collegue, spouse etc - acts as the motivation to study Islam.
Thanks,
Name
Mohammed
-
Profession
Question
Dear sister, Assalam alaikum
My question is - is it true that in west, only black and people who lost hope, are converting to Islam? What makes majority of converters black?
Jazaka Allah Khair,
Answer
Asslamu alaikum,
All sorts of people are embracing Islam. It is true that there are many black converts to Islam. There are large numbers of converts in prisons too.
However, there is a great diversity of people converting. The children of Lords and Ladies, educated women, artists, - all sorts!!!
Thanks,
Name
Muhammad
- Canada
Profession
Question
Al-Salamu Alakum,
Did you convert before marriage? In your research do you happen to know how many British women convert to Islam because of their marriage to a muslim (they actually believe in it and not convert for the sake of their husband)? How many British women convert without necessarily being married to a muslim?
Jazak Allah,
Salam
Answer
I think I have answered that question earlier.
Name
Amril
- Malaysia
Profession
Engineer
Question
What is the good/best way to approach a non-Muslim friend namely Christian, Indian to introduce them to Islam?
Thank you,
Answer
You cannot make generalisations about such things. You need to know that person well. To know what Christian background they are coming from, to know what motivates them in their life. I have found though that personal example is the best thing, people see a life working not theory.
Name
Ejaz
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
Salaam u'alaikum!!
As a brother and a husband how do you think that muslim men can encourage the women of Islam to become more active in all aspects of Islam and related work? I believe that our women are a vastly under-used resource and the attitudes of some brothers is not helping them to make use of the gifts of intellect and others that Allah has given them!
Answer
Assalamu alaikum,
I agree with you. Our sisters need to be activated. We are not using 50% of our potential. Also, sisters often do not work full time and thus have more time for volunteer activities.
I think we need to show sisters the solutions rather than the obtacles. So it can be hard if you have children for example - but you need to take them with you then!! Or find creative solutions.
We do have a lot of education to do of the brothers though! Some brothers in relation to the hijab issue for example will say 'the best hijab for a woman is her house'!!! How does that fit in with the example of the noble companions.
How does that fit with Khadijah - a business woman, Ayesha - a scholar, Nusaybah - on the battle field of Uhud etc. etc. (may Allah be pleased with them all).
Women also have to have more confidence. They need to realise that the voice is only awrah when you speak in gentle lilting tones not when they are talking about the deen and its relevance to the world! I also find tha people are fine about women in professions, or women in the uninversities - but as soon as it is to do with Islam every one gets scared!
So - it is about educating our sisters and our brothers and to realise that at this moment in time no one can have the luxury of not acting within society. We all have to contribute to society and make Islam a living reality for the world in the 21st century.
Thanks,
Name
joshim
- United Kingdom
Profession
student
Question
salam,
I recently attended the 'hijab' talk at SOAS university in which you were one of the speakers. In your talk you said that Muslims are free to choose whether they want to follow the hukm shar'i (ruling of Islamic jurisprudance)or not. And the daleel (prooF) you quoted was 'there is no compulsion in the deen'. Can you please elaborate on this issue, and whether this daleel can be applied to that reality. Also, is it fard for sisters to wear a jilbaab for 'public life'.
jazak allah khair,
Answer
Assalamu alaikum,
I think what I said was that a woman has the right to choose to wear hijab. And I would not support someone if they forced a woman to wear it. I stand by this statement.
I believe that human beings have free will. Allah bestowed that on us for reasons that I do not understand. But He made us different from the angels. To paraphrase the Qur'an - The angels did question Allah on this - why He was putting something on the Earth that would spread bloodshed whilst they praise Him. Allah replied that He knew what they did not. And He taught Adam the names (He gave Adam cognitive reasoning and by teaching him by the pen gave him the ability of accumulative knowledge).
Now I feel that free will is not something to be taken lightly. Totalitarian systems might seek to make us submit to a pattern of behaviour and thus ultimately remove that free will - but that will not help the individual soul to purify itself and to grow in awareness of its Creator.
In the case of hijab - I choose to wear it because I believe that this is acceptable to my Creator. My intention is for Him. If someone forced a sister to wear a scarf and her intention in wearing it was fear of that person - then how valid is that?/!
I am not saying that society does not and should not influence people, but society should not force people. If people only act of fear rather than acceptance of the heart and moral obligation then that society is on a downward spiral.
Your question seemed to suggest that I am putting a forward a line of acceptance of Islam that people can pick and choose. I am not suggesting that in the least. But people have to make a conscious choice, have to have intention of action that is for Him - because of their free will. Ultimately you choose to lead a Muslim life or you don't - but you are a making a choice.
Thanks,
Name
Osman
- Sweden
Profession
Question
Salaamaleikom,
Have you ever felt a inner conflict communicating with Muslims from Muslim countries,when being born and raised in a Western soceity with a value system inhereted from the Enlightment and Industrialization?
Answer
Assalamu alaikum,
No I cannot say I have ever felt an inner conflict.
I appreciate that I am a product of my upbringing and have to recognise and sometimes compensate for that.
Also, I have to recognise that that people from other cultures are a product of their backgrounds and culture.
The only problems arise when people do not recognise that they are influenced by their backgrounds and think that their way of expressing Islam is the only way.
I suppose that it is sometimes easier for me to understand some of the issues of Western thought as a Westerner but that does not distance me from non-Western Muslim communities.
Also, remember that Muslim thought contributed much to the thinking of Enlightenment philosophy (eg. Kant) and so we should not be afraid of discourse.
Finally, where in the world is not impacted by Industrialisation.
Thank,
Name
Radwan
- United States
Profession
Biologist
Question
How do you see the differences among the Muslims, namely the Salafi (theological emphasis), the Sufi (spiritual emphasis) and the Ikhwani (political emphasis)? And how your early learning about Islam and your first teacher(s) influenced such view?
Answer
Assalamu alaikum,
I think it is too easy to put people into these boxes and I have found that people are often mixes of influences. Thus you will get a political activist who is very interested in spiritual renewal and very "sufi" and you will get an activist who is keen on legal interpretation etc.
For me - I think we should be happy that we can accomodate so many different people and characters who are all within the fold of the deen. I shall give you a metaphor - take Islam as the colour green. You can see one blob of green, one single shade or you can have many shades. You can have bottle green, and khaki green, olive green and emerald, lime green and aquamarine. Green which is almost yellow and green which is near blue. But Allah created all these greens and together in a garden they merge and look so beautiful - that to have one block of colour would not be nearly so effective.
Thanks,
Name
shahin
- United Kingdom
Profession
student
Question
assalamu alaikum,
Can you please inform me about the Islamic dress which is required to be worn by Muslim sisters. Is it just the hijab that needs to be worn, or is there more to it.
Jazak Allah khair,
Answer
Assalamu alaikum,
I think it is first worth saying that hijab comes from within and that dress is an outward manifestation of an internal spiritual path.
There are different opinions about the extent of it which is required - but the main rules are these:
- The material should be thick enough so as not to be seen through.
- The garment should be loose enough not to overtly show the shape of the body.
- It should cover everything expect the face and the hands.
How that is interpreted is always interesting to me and I always admire the different cultures of the world and the way they wear the hijab in different countries. This is part of the beauty of Islam for me.
Thanks,
Name
Hassan
-
Profession
Question
Salaam sis,
just want to now at what age did you convert?
thanks,
Answer
Assalamu alaikum,
I was 16 or 17.
Young but very political and religious.
Alhamdulillah, it meant that I grew into the faith without too much adult baggage - although was still a teenager.
Thanks,
Name
shahin
- United Kingdom
Profession
student
Question
assalamu alaikum,
can you please inform me about the islamic dress which is required to be worn by muslim sisters. Is it just the hijab that needs to be worn, or is there more to it.
Jazak Allah khair,
Answer
I have answered this question
Name
mrs shahid
- Pakistan
Profession
HOUSE WIFE
Question
As-salam,
DEAR MISS... I want to ask you that right know am expecting a baby. I decided to name my child(boy) MOHD ANSEL which means follows nobelity & (girl) NAWAIM which means soft. i want complete informstion sbt these names ....
thnking u .....
ALLAHAFIZ,
Answer
Asslamu alaikum,
May Allah bless you and your unborn child. May he or she be a joy unto your eyes and a blessing for you. It is good that you wish to name your child a good name as this is its first right in Islam.
I do not have details as to these names (indeed I have never heard of them here in the UK) but take advice further as it is a very important thing.
