Islam21c Articulating Islam in the 21st Century
Beliefs about “sexuality” and LGBT in particular have been the subject of news coverage recently, due to hundreds of Muslim parents in Birmingham protesting at the actions of their children’s school senior leadership.
The United Kingdom is a multicultural society. The Muslim community is by no means the only community here, and while we encourage constructive, respectful debate of ideas, we condemn one community’s opinions and beliefs being forced upon others, no matter how big or small.
We, the undersigned, are inheritors of a scholarly tradition which from its inception enshrined a methodology for ensuring peaceful coexistence of different peoples, customs, beliefs and even legal systems. Whether it was different religious minorities having judicial and civic autonomy, or different schools of thought among Muslims having overlapping jurisdictions, tolerating differing opinions to relative degrees is in the DNA of Muslim scholars, and something our wider society today would do well to learn from.
One such thing we urge policy makers and executors to pay close attention to is the important distinction between facts and values. It is a fact to say that some people regard same-sex relationships as appropriate, due to their philosophical and moral views; and some people do not—just like it is a fact that some people regard eating meat to be appropriate and some do not. But to go beyond the facts into saying “It is OK and normal to…” is in the realm of values, which should not be imposed on people who disagree.
The types of relationships a person or community regards as good or bad, appropriate or inappropriate, normal or abnormal, are not the result of hard facts, but a product of many interacting beliefs and cultural norms about, for example, the purpose of life, desires and impulses, and conceptions of love, among other things.
Passionately believing in a cause or moral standpoint is one thing, but then enforcing it on others is unacceptable.
There is a clear and unambiguous acceptance in law that the primary givers of philosophical, moral and ethical values to children are their parents. Schools—or anyone else for that matter—may only educate in these areas on behalf of the parents.
When there is a conflict between the philosophical, moral or ethical positions of parents and teachers, schools must respect this and ensure teachers do not transgress the fact/value boundary mentioned above. This includes ideologically or socially-constructed norms which some may passionately believe to be universal facts whilst others do not—such as concerning “sexuality” or “gender”.
It goes without saying that we likewise affirm the rights of those who disagree with our opinions to do so without fear of insult, bullying or any type of oppression whatsoever. However, we also expect the same in return—particularly not being subjected to state enforcement of values and philosophical convictions.
We should respect and tolerate our differences, without the enforcing of some people’s positions on others, especially children.
(For messages of support please use the comment section at the bottom of the page)
Signatories
- Imam Suliman Gani, Purley Masjid
- Shaykh Haitham al-Haddad
- Mufti Amjad Mohammed, Bradford
- Shaykh Zahir Mahmood, As-Suffa Institute
- Imam Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf, Zamzam Academy
- Shaikh Tauqir Ishaq, Nuneaton
- Imam Abdullah Patel, Head teacher, Al-Ashraf Secondary School for Girls, Gloucester
- Imam Shakeel Begg, Lewisham Islamic Centre
- Shaykh Asrar Rashid, Birmingham
- Imam Fakhrul Islam, Hockwell Ring Masjid, Luton
- Molana Sauban, Masjid Heera, Dewsbury
- Imam Dr Louay Al-Alousi (Abu Salam), Masjid-us-Sunnah Leicester
- Imam Abid Khan, Cheadle Mosque, Manchester
- Shaykh Salim Astewani, CMA, Manchester
- Shaykh Abu Umar, Didsbury Mosque, Manchester
- Imam Shah Talha Ahmed, Forest Gate Masjid
- Moulana Hayaat R. Khan, Bradford
- Shaykh Asif Mansoor Khan Al-Azhari, PGCE QTS BA BSc
- Abdul Wahhab – Darul Atfaal and Beacontree Masjid Headteacher
- Imam Abdul Mateen, London
- Maulana Shah Muaz Ahmed, Quwwatul Islam, London
- Imam Ahmed Desai, Masjid Quba Bradford
- M Younus Khan, Madina tul Ilm Academy
- Imam Abdul Hakim, Masjid Noor and Education Centre, Dewsbury
- Imam Mohammed Waseem, Masjid At Taqwa, Bradford
- Maulana Mohammed Farook Kazi, Al-Ansaar Welfare & Education, Preston
- Molana Sulayman Khan, Frizinghall, Bradford
- Hafiz Aziz Khan, Principal of Masjid Ibraheem & Education Centre, Bradford
- Imam Zahed Fettah, Wisdom Cultural and Islamic Centre, Birmingham
- Mufti Sufyan, myislaam.com
- Muhammad Mustaqeem Shah, Abu Bakr Trust, Walsall
- Shaykh Mahmud Mezhar, City Mosque, Preston
- Imam Ismail Bulbulia, Masjid Noor & Education Centre, Dewsbury
- Molana S. Munshi, Masjid Heera/Islamic Research Institute of GB, Dewsbury
- Shaykh Bilal Brown, Chaplain of Oldham Police Station, Member of Oldham SACRE, and teacher at Darul Hadis Latifiah NW
- Shaykh Ousman Annsary, Masjid Al Jannah
- Shaykh Shahrul Hussain, Ibn Rushd Centre of Excellence for Islamic Research
- Imam Khabbaab Ahmad, Al Hashim Academy, Batley
- Moulana Farook Raja, Al Hashim Academy, Batley
- Mufti Sajid Patel, Chadwell Heath
- Maulana Dawood Khan, London
- Imam Ilyaas H Limbada, Yeovil Islamic Centre
- Imam Kassim Essak, CJM Southall
- Imaam Arif Polli, Eldon St. Masjid, Preston
- Moulana Afrooz Ali, Al Hikmah Masjid & Learning Centre, Bradford
- Imam Ibrahim Suleman Badat, Purley Masjid, London
- Zaid Mohammed, Imam Central Masjid Rochdale
- Imam Abdullah Kola, Madina Masjid, Newcastle Upon Tyne
- Imam Shah Muhammed Anas, Zakariya Academy, London
- Molana imtiyaz, Masjid e Saliheen, Preston
- Imam Khubaeb Raja, Balham Mosque and Tooting Islamic Centre
- Imam Hamza Patel, Balham Mosque and Tooting Islamic Centre
- Maulana Naweed Sardar, Scunthorpe Central Mosque
- Imam Bilal Toorawa, MASJID-E-ANWAAR, Blackburn
- Imam Tehsin Abo Barirah, Bait-Ut-Tauheed, Dewsbury
- Imam Salmaan Patel, Kettering Muslim Association (KMA)
- Imam Ashfaq Rafiq Patel, Central Mosque Blackpool
- Imam Zakaullah Saleem, Green Lane Masjid, Birmingham
- Ustadha Marzuqa Karima, Ebrahim College
- Imam Umair Vohra, Purley Masjid
- Imam Safwaan Hussein, Battersea Mosque
- Shaykh Muhammad Yasir al-Ḥanafī, Aylesbury
- Maulana Muhammad Hasan, Al-Haqq Academy
- Yacoob Hafejee , Head Teacher Madrasah Taleemul Islam Manchester
- Mufti Shah Hamza The Fountain London E15
- Mufti Shuaib Mutala Academy London E13
- Maulana Moin Choudhury Iqra Academy Plaistow
- Maulana Hussain Ahmed Darus Sunnah E7
- Maulana Yousaf Baig, Dewsbury
- Moulana Khairul Huda Khan, Shahjalal Mosque, Manchester
- Maulana Abdul Kabir, Southall London, Head Teacher: CJM Madrassah & R.E School Teacher
- Imam Mustapha Azhar, Jamiah masjid and head teacher at Darut Taqwa, Accrington
- Imam Mohammad Karolia, Al Medinah Mosque, Brighton
- Maulana Muhammed Akib Hassan, Bradford
- Maulana Yusuf Mayat, Bradford
- Mufti Bilal Issak, Leicester
- Maulana Haroon Butt, Nottingham
- Maulana Mohammed Shoiab Patel, Dewsbury
- Maulana Ibrahim Patel, Dewsbury
- Maulana Ebrahim Diwan, Manchester
- Maulana Amin Sadiq, Imam Chingford, London.
- Maulana Mohammed Moreea – Imam – Walthamstow, London
- Maulana Adil Patel, Leytonstone, London
- Maulana Ammar Dana, Leicester
- Maulana Huzaifa Kolia, Imam, Walthamstow, London
- Maulana Zayd Mehtar, Imam, Walthamstow London
- Maulana Mohsin Ali, London
- Abbas Afzal, teacher Darul Uloom Muhammadiyyah, Wednesbury
- Imam Salim Ismail, Islamic Centre Upton Park
- Maulana Abdul Rehman Ghani, Birmingham
- Imam Muhammad Sadak, Chingford
- Maulana Abdullah Bhula, Bradford
- Maulana Suleman Collector, Headteacher, Cambridge Street School
- Moulana Abdullah Bham, Islamic Tutor Batley
- Moulana Muhammad Raees, Bradford
- Moulana Abdul Hafeez, Teacher of Quran
- Moulana Ahmed Bismillah, Imam Masjid Hidaya Keighley
- Moulana Ayyaz Iqbal, Teacher of Hadith and Tafseer Leeds
- Moulana Hafeezur Rahman, Bradford
- Maulana Suhail Patel, Bolton
- Maulana Mohammed Patel, Batley, Islamic teacher
- Moulana Mohammed Atiq, Leicester
- Imam Abdul Wahhab, Darul Atfaal, London
- Imam Ruhulamin Bapu, Preston, Madina Masjid
- Maulana Ata Muhammad, Imam Madina Masjid, Wolverhampton
- Hafiz Mehmood Ahmed, Quran Teacher, Wolverhampton
- Sheikh Wasim Kempson, London, Thewisemuslim.org
- Imam Mohammed Amin, Bradford
- Ustadh Ramiz Ibrahim, London
- Moulana Said Ahmed, Preston
- Sheikh Abu Nusaybah Mohamed, Taiba Mosque Complex – London
- Ustadh Abu Haneefah Sohail
- Imam Omar Hajaj
- Moulana Obaidur Rahman
- Maulana Abdul Gaffar, Director, Al-Rushd Academy, London
- Hafiz Mehmood Ahmed
- Imam Amjad Ahmed, Howard Street
- Imam Muhammad Hafiz
- Shaykh Muhammad Ameen Gani
- Maulana Shafiq Ur Rehman Shaheen. Oldham
- Sheikh Abdulbasid Haji Masjid Alfurqan, St.Matthew, Leicester.
- Imam Mohammad Teladia, Masjid Abu Bakr, Reading
- Mufti Quresh Ali
- Molana Suleman Pandor
- Maulana Rashid Ghani Qadiri
- Ustadh Mohammad Quraishi, Quantum Ruqya Education Trust
- Maulana Habibur Rahman
- Shaykh Muhammad Idris Watts, Founder of Quranic Circle
- Sheikh Muhammad Sabahul Haque
- Imam Khidir Hussain, Masjid Ayesha, Tottenham, London
- Maulana Muzakkir Ali, Masjid-e-Hamza, Ashton-under-Lyne
- Mufti Ghulam Sarwar (Hanfia Masjid, Huddersfield)
- Maulana Waseem Patel
- Sheikh Shaqur Rehman
- Shaykh Abu Muhammad Saleh
- Moulana Abdullah Ahmed, Dewsbury
- Imam Muhammad Usman, Nusrat-al-Islam Masjid, Preston Street, Bradford
- Mufti Abbas Ibn Idris, Khatib Zakariya Masjid Luton, Chairman Daarul Huda Bedford
- Imam Shahid Ahmed. UKIM Madinah Masjid, Luton
- Moulana Mahmood Sacha, Teacher Dewsbury
- Shaikh Suhail Is’haq
- Imam Anas Shaikh Nadwi
- Imam Abdul Qayum, East London Mosque
- Imam Abul Hussain Khan
- Imam H Abul Hussain Khan, East London Mosque
- Imam Bilal Mahmood, Nottingham
- Imam Hasan Patel, Teacher, Dewsbury
- Imam Javed bin Abdul Aziz
- Imaan Labib. Masjid Assahabah, Hull
- Maulana Hanzala Khan, Bradford
- Imam Huzaifa Hassan, Masjid Saliheen
- Shaykh Ali Ahmad, Shaporan Masjid
- Moulana Ali Ahmad
- Hafiz Azizur Rahman
- Imam Haafiz Dilwar Hussain, Khatib & Chaplain
- Ustadh Irfan
- Molana Mohammed usman, Teacher Rochdale Islamic Academy
- Bint Saleem Graduate of Noor ul Islam E10
- Molana Mohammed Rashid, Oldham
- Shaykh Musleh Faradhi
- Moulana Mohammad Amin, Bolton
- Maulana Adam Alibhai – London
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Notes:
Also read:
Stop “proselytising” LGBT ideology to pupils, demand parents
Unscripted #6 | LGBT in Schools—why are Muslim parents protesting?
The views expressed on Islam21c and its connected channels do not necessarily represent the views of the organisation.
I’m surprised by how surprised we are that this is happening in the UK. We forget that although we put the West on a pedestal due to their advances in science and technology which leave many of us awe struck, Allah Ta’ala describes them in surah al-Fatiha as ‘dhaaleen’ or those who are astray. Consequently, their moral downward-spiral seems inevitable. Also, we hope that they would be reasonable and abide by the ayah from surah al-Kaafiroon: ‘To You Your Religion and To Me Mine’. However, we forget that Allah Ta’ala also tells us (interpretation of the meaning), “Never will the Jews nor the Christians be pleased with you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) till you follow their religion” [al-Baqarah 2:120] so it seems very unlikely that they will let us be.
Incidentally, during the Islamic Golden Age, when the West was in the dark Ages, we Muslims made great leaps in science and technology without losing our principles and morality or destroying the natural world. The West has failed to achieve this. The Islamic Golden Age lasted around 500 years whereas Islam was a global influence for a millennium. Other great civilisations also contributed greatly to human advancement. In contrast, the Industrial Revolution in the West only began around 300 years ago and the living conditions of most people didn’t improve until only the last century.
Also, I think that as Muslims in the UK, we have this romantic image in our minds of being like the Muslims who brought Islam to places like Indonesia through our morals and ethics especially when trading. Allah knows best, it could happen, but there is a fundamental difference between the two scenarios; Islam has a long and contentious history with Britain, starting with the crusaders, then the orientalists and then the colonialists. Consequently, the efforts of these respected Imams may simply delay rather than eradicate our eventual assimilation into western culture.
Your discourse reminds me of Chinese immigrants to Canada arguing that the Magna Carta was “just for the nobles”.
The free thought and principles of Western Democracy are the lodestone of liberty. It is a fallacy to state Christians and Jews will never accept Islam as where Islam is practised as a religion and not a political ideology, it’s all good.
Lose the tone of moral superiority and condemn the violence of your co-religionists and we will get along just fine.
The problem with the government is that they are forcing people to assimilate instead of integrate, through “equality laws” and “British values” in schools. What’s wrong with live and let lve?
These values stem from liberal/secular values. People of religion, the majority, do not have a say anymore do they?
Schools should be there to teach academic subjects only – relationships (which was not taught in my school days) morality and values should be left to parents and their religious/phiolosphical institutions to teach.
But ‘people of religion’ are no longer the majority in the UK. The majority is the 52 percent of the UK population that state they have ‘no religion’. The rest is 38 percent say they are christian and 6 percent muslim.
The government and education system has lost sight of the purpose of schooling and it is fast making schools a political campaigning ground to promote agendas of various groups. People who choose to go against the natural disposition of human purpose and recreation, should do so without feeling they need to force it onto the masses and gain acceptance. What infact they are doing is creating doubts in young people’s minds, it’s not healthy, its not healthy for their futures nor for the community of Great Britain. May The Almighty Creator guide the lawmakers to sense and sensibility. Amin.
This is brilliant may Allah help us