Instructions for Muslims in the light of the Prevent strategy
In light of the home secretary Teresa May’s launch of the new Prevent strategy, it is important that as Muslim we understand and abide by the following instruction: 1. As a Muslim you are, unless otherwise proven, vulnerable to radicalisation or blowing up a bus, a plane, or possibly both. You would therefore benefit from intervention as part of a prevention strategy. . 2. Please note that “the ideology of extremism and terrorism is the problem; legitimate religious belief is not.” a. For instruction as to what constitutes ‘legitimate religious belief’ please contact the Home Office for your copy of…
Thank You, Mr Ware. And Sorry.
Panorama’s episode aired on BBC on Monday 22nd of November 2010 entitled ‘British schools, Islamic rules’ was unfair, biased, irresponsible and factually inaccurate1. That the report was presented by John Ware comes as no surprise to the Muslim community. While raising concerns about segregation, the program did nothing to increase cohesion, reduce the causes of segregation or lessen mistrust between communities. Rather it achieved the contrary, and would have had three effects: It would have contributed to even more suspicion - if not blatant prejudice and Islamophobia - directed against Muslims and Islam in the UK; it would have made…
A Disturbing Silence
The Catholic church’s views on a number of issues from contraception to homosexuality are not unbeknownst to most. In August of this year, Catholic Care, a Catholic charity, lost in an appeal to prevent homosexuals from adopting their children. The Charity Commission, in its infinite wisdom, said gay people were suitable ‘parents’ and religious views did not justify discrimination. Recently, the Pope’s visit prompted remarks by even those who admire him that they do not agree with his views on abortion or homosexuality. Once upon a time, homosexuality was, of course, wrong in Britain. Oscar Wilde famously found himself behind bars…
Leniency and Consulting the Heart
We give ourselves little time or opportunity to reflect upon our state and our relationship with our Creator. Entangled as we are in the rigmarole of daily life, we deny our souls the sustenance they need, of reflection, of remembrance, and of being in seclusion before our Creator. We are quite happy to do the bare minimum, and take any leniency that we can avail ourselves of, without reflecting upon what the effects of our actions may be on our hearts or on our closeness – or lack thereof – to Allāh the Most High. Ibn Al-Jawzi (6thCentury AH) was…
The Niqab: A Barrier to Integration?
One of the multitudinous quasi-reasons given by a certain Conservative MP in the UK and many others for why Muslim women shouldn’t wear the niqab is that it is, in the words of one observer, ‘a blatant obstacle to integration’. This seemingly unequivocal (and ‘factual’) statement is trotted out not only by right-wing MPs, but many a Muslim called upon by the media to offer their two pence worth in the debate. The argument may hold some water if only someone were able to define quite what integration is. Of course there is a lexical meaning which defines integration as…
Are these the Jewels of Democracy?
These are the democracies that gave us Guantanamo bay, Abu Ghuraib, Camp Breadbasket and internment without trial. Even if Muslims do want to make a democratic choice, and get the rare chance to exercise it, their choice never seems to be quite good enough...
A White Islam
Although the title may suggest otherwise, this has nothing to do with the colour of many people in the UK who, despite the unyielding negative media stereotyping, still amaze us by becoming Muslim. It has more to do with the coloured cards on my niece’s wall, that when combined are supposed to form white light - as in ROYGBIV. Many years ago, we too may have spun around bits of colourful card at the end of a stick and if spun fast enough, the disc miraculously turns white. However, if the colours blue or red were to be taken…