“A Streetcar Named Desire.” Inconceivable Acts on The Streets of the U.K
Published by Suhaib Webb May 29th, 2008 in GeneralAs long as our community allows these kind of things to take place, we will have no one to blame but ourselves when we get, as a good friend of mine Sh. Yusuf al-Shawkani said, “Andalused.” Our greatest threat is, as has shown to be true over the last few years, amongst us. Coupled with violent pasts, leftist hip-hop philosophy and an extreme fetish for literalism, some Muslims in the West are going to sink the ship for everyone else. To be quite honest, I’m still at a loss of words regarding this? Perhaps some of our sisters and brothers from the U.K could shed some light on this? How do we stop such things? What can our communities do to educate and protect others from such anarchy?
AS
I am at a complete loss for words here. It is amazingly mad. Civil disobedience for social justice is one thing but flagrant disrespect of the law is a land where Muslims have been shot and innocents killed is in no way within the “maslaha” of the Muslims in the UK.
We are tilting now into a dangerous trajectory in the UK between this and the extreme liberal tendency and entrenched conservativism. The Muslims in the UK must re-evaluate the tendencies that are present in these polarized discourses emerging lest they see a political move to dismantle their freedoms in entirety under the law and order policy.
Stop now dangerous when slipperly -Indeed you brothers in the UK are on slippery grounds.
Allahu Al’am
I haven’t seen this sort of action since pre 9/11 in the UK and even then people thought it was extreme and ridiculous. This does not occur widely but repurcussions are felt by the whole Muslim community. All they British public have to do is watch this and see how ‘violent’ and ‘angry’ we are, out of control. The police where really scared and backup was needed. Their actions cannot be forgiven, it is shamefull and a disgrace. They, I am sure, will be apprehended for their actions/words - but this is a clear example of childish behaviour, with no care for the wider ummah or local Muslim population.
For the wider Muslim community to ’stop’ these hooligans, would take a lot of work - as these people do not listen, their minds and hearts are closed to understanding - they marginalise people with their dividing words and physical exertion. It is no easy task. The battle is a war of words and putting forth the right approach to dealing with life in the west and we need more and more articulate people who can address the right sort of messages.
What you saw is not the norm, but is enough to provoke anger all over - enough to show Muslims as the enemy within.
Muslims in general are scared of these individuals. There behaviour is abhorrent, but the fear of retribution and also a lack of knowledge of the deen is what is spreading this seed. To be fair however, this is a distinct minority of the muslim population, but as always, a vocal minority.
A lot of these brothers (and lets face it it is mostly young brothers), rediscover Islam as a means for channeling their anger and frustration. However, what is missing is the dampening of their anger and the channeling of their energies. Loudest does not mean the best.
As salamu alaykum, this brother has been arrested and convicted recently,
most people here in Britain don’t pay much attention to brothers like him. There is not much you can do to stop some one who does care what anyone thinks and comes from a ex bouncer, “bad man back ground”. Unfortunately the same character appeared on the national news and shouted down an MP for the whole nation to see. Just an obervation which could be incorrect, but it does seem that brothers who convert from a “street” background have an affinity with the “black and white” Islam sindrome “if you vote for a kafir you are a kafir”.
We need more people who can relate to these brothers and educate as to the reality of Islam as a merciful tradition. Unfortunately the ultra soft sufi stlye will never work with the brothers whose back ground is so far from this type of out look they will see this as an attempt to water down the truth, we need brothers who can realate the message in there language, then we will rarely lose youth to these kind of movements.
Assalamu ‘Alaikum
Being a British Muslim I am both scared and extremely saddened at what I have seen in this video. It’s truly shocking and I really don’t know what to say.
I could say that it’s only a tiny vocal minority who get all the press, which would to a large extent be true, but as we all know it only takes one crazy person to wreak havoc these days. But that has been said before and it has no real value any more.
I could say that Islam is peace and these people don’t understand Islam, but again that has been said before, it’s merely a soundbite and doesn’t even begin to address the problem.
I could say that the only thing driving them to act like this is Western foreign policy and that there is no real problem amongst the Muslims. But that would be extremely naive…
What I will say, is that for those of you from the outside, saying that British Muslims need to address this, we know this already. We have been trying, for several years. But it’s not easy.
We thought that real knowledge was one way to counter this dangerous trend and many of us have taken the steps to try and understand our Deen in a true and holistic way in order to correct the understanding of the youth, but that’s a long road. Even then however, try speaking to some of these people and you will soon realise that it is futile. At the very least you will be met with ignorance, at times with rudeness and accusations of nifaaq and kufr and in some cases with physical violence.
So I ask you not to judge the whole community. We are aware of the immediacy of this problem but we need help in addressing it. I have no qualms in saying that what we are dealing with, to me at least, closely resembles a modern day manifestation of the Khawarij and we know how that chapter played out in history.
We need your du’as and your experience and support. Any suggestions are also more than welcome Insha Allah
Wassalam
Faraz
Salam Shaykh,
I assume the reason for this post was to ’spark’ debate, as it serves no other purpose to publicly vilify or glorify these Muslims in this way (yes i know it exists already - but it needn’t be here)
I live in London and have had much debate and ‘argy - bargy’ with these people. Indeed ‘our’ blood was made ‘Halal’ by these people in various websites and gatherings. But when confronted face to face they always lost the argument and their ‘balls’ to actually do anything.
They are a bunch of small time hot heads that actually have no or little traction with Muslims – in fact they are perhaps the most marginalised of all those that hold participation in elections as Haram, like HT and some super Salafis – both of which are now moving towards the middle ground.
All that these people do is take advantage of the natural hospitality of Muslims and various Islamic centres. But the point is they are insignificant, and I doubt it is in our tradition to actively seek the insignificant and obscure and then promote it in this manner in public. This has been the role some of the media, who are pushing to ‘Andulise’ us, has taken, why join in?
Before anyone jumps and says I’m in denial – please read the second para!
The important thing to remember is that we do not accept the concept of collective punishment, why should any other suffer because of these lunatics? But I assume that is what you are alluding to in your post when you mention “Andalused”. Reading your comment I sense you are in fear of the wrong action of the British Community and its institutions – if that is the case then we need to work hard to stave off this disaster, by engagement, clarity, sincerity, dedication and most importantly holding tightly on to our Deen and all its fundamentals.
If after that we are ‘Andalused’ – then I for one would think that Allah has looked upon us with mercy.
I think that this raving madman with the mike is a good example of what Sh’ Webb has been talking about for a long time when it comes to people being too quick to call other kafir. What is this fool thinking? What does he expect to accomplish? This man needs to seek Allah’s guidance.
All i can say they are not upon sunnah. May Allah guide them and correct them and guide them with quran and sunnah with the understanding of salaf. Even though, i agree with them voting is not permissible in most cases because of the al walaa walbara etc
Assalamu Alaikum,
The brothers in the clip are very much known to us in the U.K. Alhamdulilah they are no longer harming Islam and themselves. With all due respect to Scholars and Imams of masajids I don’t think they have done enough to tackle these extremists. Many Scholars you will find are in agreement with the mentality of these modern day khawarijites.
Asalamu alaykum,
Daroon:
While I can certainly empathize with your comments, I disagree that this dosen’t belong here. This is one of many times people have stated what dosen’t, or does belong on this site. That would imply that they are involved with the sites shura and understand the objectives of means of the site. However, we have our clear objectives and reasons behind posting things. I think it wiser for folks to make their own sites and post what they want, instead of coming to other’s sites and stating what should or shouldn’t be posted. To be honest, it is like going into someone’s home and telling them, you need to buy this shade or carpet, change the fridge and re paint your walls. Really, to be honest, at times I don’t understand Muslims fetish with control and utopia? This is not sole directed to you akhi as I have a lot of love for you. But let us handle our own affairs.
Regarding this short film, I don’t even know who these people are, nor the individual with the mic. Our purpose for posting this was to engage in the objectives mentioned at the end of the post. Coupled with the fact that there are a number of non-Muslims who visit site. Perhaps by reading the comments posted, the will garner an understanding of the reality of such groups, individuals and thoughts.
SDW
The reason no one in the UK challenged these guys was not because we lacked ilm, duaat or ulema (since we have them, albeit at a small amount), but because these guys are thugs. They intimidate, beat and abuse anyone whether Muslim or non-Muslim.
What they need is a heavy hand from the Police and others !
In my local area lived the head of Murhijroon…Anjam…he would pray with us…but never did the Mufti or the local scholars ever challenge him in his views….instead the khutbas which were written 1000 yrs ago were often repeated…totally irrelevant to the masses…
Nor did the masaajid organise symposims, lectures or courses against this fikra…
Fiaz
Imam Suhiab,
the Brother with the mic is Abu Izzadeen he was arrested and convicted on charges of terrorist fund-raising and inciting terrorism overseas on 17th April 2008.
These brothers are from the al-Muhajiroon then later alGhurabah then later Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jammah group. Followers of Omar Bakri Muhammad.
They are a small nearly insignificant group with a handful of folllowers who are abrasive, loud, quick to make takrir and full of hate and anger. However some in the British media like to make it out that they are the voice of Muslims in Britain, hence its not suprising to see them on Newsnight and other news channels/programmes.
Mainstream grassroots Muslim organisations working hard at integration, positive social and community work, common good activities, encouraging active citizenship have faced the brunt of their attacks. But as Daroon mentioned even though they have called many of us Kafir directly when it comes to discussing/debating with them they are found lacking.
It is important for us to deal with extremism within the community but i feel the literature and resources to do so is lacking. we need more material on the issues of Al-wala Wal Bara, participation in elections, voting, citizenship etc. The material aound are very simple we need more indepth and intellactually rigorous information so that we - those who are involved in dawah work and face these brothers and sisters - have some direction and guidance.
I also feel the picture is not that bad… as mentioned by others they are a very small minority. Maybe the best way to deal with them is to contstruct a coherent, powerful message of the Islamic Movement in the West, this is in my opinion a matter of urgency.
Dear Shaykh,
I did not intend to tell you what you can wear, where you can sit, what colour socks you should wear, the shade of your carpet, the height of your fridge, the make of your TV, the amount of salt in your food, and I certainly did not mean to tell you what to post on YOUR own website. I visit the site because it has things that I do not find elsewhere – variety indeed is the spice of life!
What I said was “I assume the reason for this post was to ’spark’ debate, as it serves no other purpose to publicly vilify or glorify these Muslims in this way (yes i know it exists already - but it needn’t be here)”
So the first past of the statement confirms that this is to create debate/discussion – the second part questions whether the same “objective” could have been done without displaying this video? Maybe my wording could have been better, so apologies if I gave you that feeling it was not intended!
Omar Brooks (the guy with the mic) and others are very well known in the community – my worry is proportionality. The amount of air time and space given to these guys would make people who do not live in the UK, specifically London, think these guys have a big following and that they represent a significant number of Muslims – they don’t.
The 3 questions you ask are important and should be discussed – but is it not important to judge the ‘issue’ accurately otherwise you end applying the wrong medicine as can be seen by the birth of Quilliam Foundation and others – the media rhetoric and constant exposure of these guys has made them become far greater than the tiny numbers that they have, resulting in the wider non Muslim community thinking that this is the thinking of the majority of Muslims and hence give credibility to the arguments of neocon Zionists such as Melanie Phillips and Michale Gove – who incidently both heavily promoted Ed Husain’s book – that Muslims are a Fifth Column.
In dealing with these people, we found that the only thing that worked with them was the ability to refute their arguments (and we thank our Shuyukh for that) and the willingness not to be intimidated by them or fear their violence – rather stand tall and look them straight in the eyes (and we thank our Brotherhood for that).
It is important to realise that this is not something that every Muslim can do or should do, it needs to be left to those who have those qualities. It must be stressed that the numbers that are of this type, i.e. Brooks are very, very tiny maybe 10 or 15 – the rest are just your ordinary lads that have nothing better to do. Islam is not in their mind at all, rather a “laugh” a “good time” or an “adventure” is their primary purpose. When you isolate the second category of youngsters, majority of the times you will find that they actually have little or no knowledge of why they are shouting what they were – or on what basis they make the claims they do – rather they come out with – “But that Kafir, he pushed my brother” blah blah.
If this happened in the states, that dude would have been yanked out of the car, thrown on the hood, knocked upside the head with a knight stick, thrown in handcuffs and roughed up some more. One thing is for sure, they wouldn’t have been asked nicely to move to the side. Also the cops would have come deep and would have regulated that crowd. Not doing so only makes these crack pots think they have some sort of power.
I don’t understand why these al-Muhajiroun guys have not been eradicated yet.
Salaam,
I think it all comes down to group mentality. The groups sitting in the middle (ikhwanis, madhabis, salafis) have been calling eachother names for the last 20 years. This has allowed hardliners to steal the baton and brandish it as if they were actually representative of someone. And the rest of the groups weren’t strong enough to label these losers for what they are.
I think the tide is changing now masha Allah. The centre groups are realising that they need to work together. They are making more and more inroads into the muslim community as well as the non muslim ones. They just need to continue with this and insha Allah they will be raised a the position of authority by Allah.
As salaamu 3likum.
At the end of the day, all you brothers and sisters calling for the “eradication” of these brothers should be careful as to what you say. They are our brothers in Islaam. We should ask for their guidance as well as our own. We should ask that they be guided to the straight path and not suffer at the hands of the kuffar. People think that they are so much better than others while they spit venomous hatred at other Muslims and beg the kuffar for their love and acceptance. I ask Allah to guide as all to the truth and grant victory to those who wish to extinguish the light of Islaam. Ameen.
Brother Abu Saleem
With all due respect these brothers are an enermy to Islam, very much how the Khawarij were. Yes they are Muslims, but a danger.
We need an intellectual, spiritual and sometimes a Physical defense. And I, and most Muslims, would not feel guilty to hand over such people - who are on the verge of blowing themselves up on the streets of London- to the Police..
Assalamu Alaikum,
Even though i disagree with the behaviour in the video, i think brother Abu Saleem makes a very good point MashaALLAH.
AS
Abu Saleem, you raise interesting issues here and make clear the reality of many Muslim communities in the West.
The issue you raise, first hand, is what is the responsibility of the Muslim community in this type situation? (Obviously, this is not clear for many)
Secondly, what is our role as Muslims in the West and as citizens?
As Allamah Ibn Bayyah (h) has mentioned to be a citizen and to vote is not an issue of “wala and bar’aa” for Muslims in the West it is an issue of securing our interests and well being and contributing to da’wah and the understanding of Islam.
Let us be sincerly honest and pose some hard questions to the thought and fataawa that we hear, let us ask for dalil and understanding.
Of those questions at the top of the list that need to be ask are the following:
(1.) Where are the millions of Muslims in the West to go to give loyalty to a State or are we to fight the kuffar to the death?
This polarized thinking that many have been backed into adopting under the gun of not being good Muslims or even being kuffar needs to be checked it is not rigorous nor substanitiated at a scholarly level nor does it speak to the reality of Muslims in the West the vast majority of whom are sincerly trying to practice Islam in their context.
(2.) Why have we not tried to build Muslim communities that are thriving and model examples predicated upon knowledge, taqwa, wealth and social services and da’wah?
(3.) Why do we Muslims like to ostracize others and are quick to judge each other as authentic or not (look at how many groups there are all of which emerged after the fall of the Khilafa)?
(4.) Why have we failed to raise the level of literacy in the Muslim community and why are people studying to justify group affiliation rather than to serve Islam?
(5.) Where is the necessary leadership for Muslims in the West and why do we see brothers take to follow extremes (in the liberal, the Sufi, Salafi and movement genres)?
Overall, the question that needs to be dealt with here is how to address our realities and how to be a people of justice in a world dominated by geo-politics which are not always governed by ethics much less morality.
Prior to 911 when the Cold War was engaged there was no problem with using the Muslims and the Islamic call to Jihad to defeat the “Evil Empire” (Soviet-Russia). When the effects of the Cold War struggle reached the West it became evident that the Great Chessboard theory of Brzezinski (the National Security Advisor) failed Muslims. We now became the new Evil empire, the enemy within and some of the people engaged in da’wah fell into the geo-political game and reacted with short term vision and fueled the idea of Muslims being the new enemy.
Let us learn from history brothers look:
“After 9/11 Brzezinski was criticized for his role in the formation of the Afghan mujaheddin network, some of which would later form the Taliban and would shelter Al Qaeda camps. He asserted that blame rightfully ought to be laid at the feet of the Soviet Union, whose invasion he claimed radicalized the relatively stable Muslim society.”
Come on brothers relax a bit learn to be good Muslims, build good families and community and be smart and careful not to get caught up in geopolitical struggles that are not of your making!
Build the community through education rather than pointing the finger at each other or being unjust with the non-muslims. Take the lead and build, do da’wah and be people of ibadah and taqwa and intellect.
I advise all to view the BBC documentary: The Qur’an and The Khalishnikov @johnlocker.com under the US/World History section.
Allahu Al’am
On a technical note the guys on the video are free to say what they like other than ‘incitement to hatred’ - which they did eventualy. So the police couldnt sling them out and cuff them. You can go anywhere and setup a protest and shout your headoff at foreign policy as long as you do not incite hatred.
I recently saw brothers like these in Whitechapel market, they had a stall and where shouting at the Muslims, telling them about the Khilafah (they were not HT!), I couldnt even place them - they looked just like the guys on the video, but had no HT lierature. I spent over an hour tackling their agenda and trying to see what they thought of engagement with the non-Muslim society - but they didnt want ANY of it and hounded me with loud words. They are seriously closed off, but I believe publicaly challenging these brothers with scholarly responses would put themin their place - as it is a war of words and the majority are smart enough to realise that these guys have no place in the Muslim community if they preach only hate.
But, this isn’t to say that we should shy away from key and clear issues such as foreign policty, how the ‘kuffar’ treat Muslims inside and outside of resident countries, but should never forget these issues. But we all know there are good ways and bad ways of addressing everything,
Assalam ou ‘alikoum war wab,
SobhnAllah!SobhnAllah! Ya Allah forgive them…
I’m totally shocked, I don’t understand… Why? Why? Islam is peace, love, understand the other,… I don’t know who said “Hamdulilah I knew islam before muslims” but it’s so true.
Al-hamdulilah that I muslima because if you are not muslim with the media and the type of “actions” you run away, and you still hate Islam!
There is diferents ways to make da’wa if they want, many many ways…
Why they choose the violence?
Personally, I’m totally against this, TOTALLY!!!
They just have to read and read again the seerah of our beloved prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) to understand and see his beautiful caracter and how did he acted… The best behaviour, the best example for all of us!!!
Ya Allah help us, help us, help us to understand better our deen!
Forgive all of us!
(It’s the first time that I see this type of situation, here in France they talked a lot about this but I thought that the media lies again but there is a part of true! I think these brothers are talking more about of the hate that love!)
Allah knows better!
AS
Omar, this is the key issue right what I mean the question stands what are the “proper” rules of engagement? Although exercising free speech seems to be needed in a declining democratic environment this is only a quarter of the battle. After all it is the least to be done to change harm or can that same voice used to speak in the streets be used in a more sophisticated manner to influence various channels. Herein the community is in a Catch 22 and that is you can use democracy to declare what is haram and kufr but you can not use it to build for the Muslims. This is a contradiction.
I believe there is no “well informed” Muslim that believes man made legal speculation is superior to revelation the question we are faced is how to be Muslim in a world going secular. This same issue is plaguing the Muslim world the difference here is the West is home for us we are not a majority and we are not leaving unless Allah (swt) changes this reality of ours.
Strategy for the cause of Islam demands Muslims in the West to be a power bloc by: voice, vote and economy. All those spheres which affect our lives we need to have a say if not now sometime soon.
Unto date we have assisted in legitimizing being branded the enemies of civilization by persona such as Thomas L. Friedman, Pulitzer Prize New York Times Foreign Affairs columnist. He came on television and said we were the barabarians using Roman roads to undermine roads meaning we use technology and the goods of the West to destroy it.
Let the truth be told any where Islam went in the world we left civilization rather than poverty and disaster. Now, we are forced to ask will we leave a mark in history now! If so, how?
If we are going to have a voice and exercise a voice than let it be a real voice. Let it be so powerful that it can get a commercial pulled with Rachel Ray on it because she sported a scarf from Palestine. Let it be a voice that if police officers are abusive they are brought in on charges or the police deparment is take to court. Be the best in your field so the whole field does not move unless you are there. Where is excellence and mastery and grace now especially when we need it most in this game of global proportions?
Let us raise the bar. Enough with childish rants and kidish antics. We live if a world where people are playing for keeps under the Darwnistic theme coined by Spencer “survival of the fittest”.
We want the top professionals and business men and educators we want people who demonstrate with action what they invest their time in.
If we want to see the Muslims have power in the dunya let us start with moral power and move to have economic power and political power. Invest in people and ideas and projects and it might just change the world, inshAllah.
We have seen many groups rave and hollar and speak to the Muslim moral sentiment to realize work to their programs for world domination “Beenie Segal” style. Frankly, we Muslims in the West have been left with nothing as a result of moving on emotion and a cry to be strongmen with swords or to disengage.
Where are our businesses, and elite schools? How many jobs did we create? Where are our institutions? What percentage of influence do we have in media and public policy and foreign policy so let us be creative and try to have a cultural and powerful role in civil society it may be that all may benefit from Muslim efforts to better the world by constructive action and a pursuit for social justice.
Allahu Al’am
Forget the commentary, forget the analysis. If no one has yet, Imam Suhaib, someone, please find out who those police are and personally apologize to them on behalf of the ummah. Please!!!!!!
As salaamu alaykum
Abdus Salaam
LOL @ abdus salaam for expecting ‘the muslim ummah to apologise. i suppose ur still apologising for 9/11 etc.
have you asked for an apology for abu gharib, guantanamo, iraq, afghanistan for hundreds of muslims bros locked up in belmarsh with no charge!!
may allah guide you and us all.
We always wonder and complain why such individuals get more “air time” in our media. Firstly, I think it is quite obvious that media is a corporate institution wishing to make more profit, and quite honestly this is profitable material…To insight emotions like fear and anger (kinda like a movie). Secondly, who can blame them? If you see a mob of angry, hate-mongers ganging up on the local police who were so kind to ask them to step aside and figure things out that would attract your attention QUITE a bit. I couldn’t help but feel complete remorse for those officers, but I have to ask why are there only 4 of them? I agree with Azeem that this would be handled in a heart-beat in America.
These brothers have a delusion that they are “defending Muslims.” This is evident in their words “How dare you raise your hands to a Muslim.” One thing is for sure, I wouldn’t feel comfortable around these brothers I may be considered a Kafir to them.
When someone is to say that we wish these brothers to be “eradicated” we don’t mean physically. We mean their dangerous ideology.
I will spare us with the cliches of “We need to be more involved in the media…We need more journalists.” The fact is we aren’t looking for journalists to join corporate media industries; we need thinkers and money to make our OWN media companies.
Lastly, we just gotta keep doing what we’re doing. If our neighbors, employees, employers, co-students know us then we are already making a difference.
salam
Ibn Muhammad
When I used the word “eradicate” I meant one of its definitions: To remove from the roots. We know extremists are bound to perish, not if but when. But we want to have this sentiment of extremism removed from its roots so it does ear its ugly head again. Unfortunately the Muslim community has failed to educate its own and have left a vacuum for extremists to fill.
The idea of looking at these individuals as our brothers and supporting them because they are Muslim is exactly the type of nonsense said to promote (or make room for Bin Laden or the Taliban). Theres alot of crazy Muslims out there, does that mean we should support them just because they are “our brothers”?
sorry… the website is:
http://www.kalamullah.com/index.html
Assalamu’alaikum, if you want to celebrate British Islam, come to this event:
http://www.livingislam.co.uk
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3S9L9S6WQDo
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ1JYrU9kXM&feature=related
Was’Salaam
Astaghfirullah al azeem, I ask Allah to forgive me for my misdeeds. As muslims we focus on the condition of our hearts. In my heart, I felt bad for those officers. That was injustice, the adab could have been better, as muslims we just cannot stand for that. Brother Yusaf, I apologize if I caused you to misunderstand me. I was really hurt by that video and only wanted to transmit the state of my heart, to someone, anyone who may care or have the ability to do anything about. People talk about doing things, taking action, analyzing the sociopolitical factors which caused this, blah, blah, blah. But how simple of an action is apologizing, a simple act anyone can do, and Allah hu Alim as to the impact such a thing would have on those individuals. We cannot afford to further look at issues from this sort of movement/topdown perspective. This is a modern western construction. In Islam change comes from the hearts of the people. Furthermore, I/We cannot make anyone do anything or apologize for anything, but we can, correct our actions, do good deeds and purify our hearts. I cannot make, force or even expect a non-muslim to apologize for any of the atrocities they have done to us. I pray that Allah guides us all on the straight path, and gives us tawfeeq, and makes us people with compasion. And once again, since i’ve seen this I feel guilty, I feel the need to apologize and not only that but let those men know what islam really is.
Jazak’Allah for your time brothers
As salaamu alaykum
Abdus Salaam
Assalamu alaikum. Astaghfirullah - scenes such as this above video practically hand Islam over to the press/media on a plate for presentationj in whatever light they see fit. I work with New Muslims and make efforts in Dawah in the UK, and honestly, stuff like this makes the job harder and instead of softening the hearts, it closes the ears of those who we should be conveying our message to. Don’t get me wrong, I largely agree that we should be very wary indeed about involvement in voting and non sharia political activity - but we are told to follow the example of Muhammad (saw) and I for one could never see the Prophet (saw) acting anything like this guy. I cannot imagine Him (saw) being happy or pleased if he were here to see this guy today. May Allah swt protect us and give us the proper Akhlaq, so that when we do have to speak out against something we perceive to be wrong, that we do so with Adab, honour and Taqwa.
Assalamu alaikum
AbdulAzeem
A’oothbillah. These people scare me. We should be praying for them, yes, but also dealing with them so that they do not inflict their hate onto other people, whether they be muslims or non-muslims. I find it really hypocritical that this person is using ‘free speech’ to say those horrible things- I am not from the West, but from the UAE, and while things aren’t ideal, I don’t have to worry about someone like that calling me a kafir.
Grassroots muslim organizations in the UK have been doing a lot to combat the hateful rhetoric of such people, but they are also faced with islamophobic garbage from the media (I lived in the UK for four years), as well as government ‘recommendations’ to spy on Muslim students. Nevertheless, there should be greater efforts to educate one’s own community as well as unequivocally condemn the actions in the above video, regardless of whether others have or have not apologized for Iraq and Guantanamo (although there are a lot of people who have stood up to their governments on issues such as Iraq, Palestine, Guantanamo). At the end this is between us and God, and we if we see something wrong, we have to change it by hand, speech. Hating it in our hearts is the weakest of faith.
Kharaja = He went out/To go out/Left
These people are khawarij. The minute he made takfir on Muslims trying to change the kufr in their everday lives it went back on his head. i am truly ashamed as a Muslim living in the UK to see crack pots like this.
Remember, a legtitimate sultan, what he would do to such people who disturb the peice of ordinary people, give Allahs deen a bad name and try to stir up enemy and hatred, you probably could not print on this website.
Incidentally Imam Suhaib, what is the Shariah punishment of Baghys?
asalam alaykum