Review of April, May & June 2015

Posted by: Editor in Current Affairs, Editorials, Featured 17/01/2016 0

Click here for our Review of January, February and March 2015

The last twelve months have been full of monumental events for the Muslim ummah all over the globe. From international events to local action alerts, Islam21c has provided a space for scholars, thinkers, activists and readers to share guidance and take part in crucial conversations for Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

What follows are some of the highlights of the discourse you took part in throughout 2015-1436/37. By the grace of Allāh, with your help readership and engagement has continued to increase with the number of unique visitors doubling every year. We are optimistic for the future of grass-roots, community-led alternative narratives and perspectives on the important conversations that will shape tomorrow, with the permission of Allāh.

April

April 2015 saw the start of UK general election fever.[1] We had a variety of articles ranging from the Islamic ruling on voting in theory to practical online strategies for deciding who to vote for by Muhammad Ibrahim.[2][3] There were nuanced looks at the spirituality and ethics of Muslim activism from Dr Salman Butt,[4] and even a critical look at whether the Muslim vote has any impact from Fahad Ansari.[5] April also saw a glimmer of hope for Islām in politics with the Nigerian election.[6] Neoconservatives also flexed their Islamophobic muscles in the form of Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s latest book propagating racist, colonial stereotypes and myths, which became an automatic USA bestseller. We shared our take on it by pointing out the profound resemblance in interpretative methodologies between those who wish to change Islām and violent deviants like ISIS.[7] April also saw the tragic murder of Sheikh Abdul Hadi Arwani, the outspoken critic of the Syrian regime, who was suspiciously shot in his car in west London.[8]

Sheikh Abu Rumaysah took us on a journey to Allāh’s Throne and back in a short series of what was perhaps the most meticulously researched account of the prophetic al-isrā wal-miʿrāj in the English language.[9] Ahmed Hammuda also offered a thoroughly researched comparison of orthodox Christianity, Judaism and Islām in Does the Bible conform to ‘British Values’?,[10] and a Muslim perspective on the Easter story beseeching Christians to approach God directly for forgiveness without intermediaries.[11] After St George’s Day, Z A Rahman also asked whether the Turkish-Palestinian patron saint of England would have had a hard time in the country today, especially considering he would have been seen as more of a “radical Islamist” than an English nationalist![12]

More articles from April:

– What do Ayaan Hirsi Ali and ISIS have in common?

– The life & death of the murdered Sheikh Abdul Hadi Arwani

– Apathetic Muslim? Do you care about the General Election?

– What does ISIS really want with the Yarmouk Refugee Camp?

– When will we finally unite?

– Shaikh Haitham on the 2015 elections

– Islam is NOT Christianity

– Is Voting Really Haram?

– The Muslim Vote: Time for an Informed Discussion

– Nigeria: A new hope for political Islam

– Muslim Community: Crisis and Opportunity

– Reflecting on your mirror

– Today is another Good Friday. Let us approach God directly for mercy

– Islamic finance benefits EVERYONE, not only Muslims.

– To be or not to be: a 21st-century Rabbani

– How do Prophets respond to anti-Islam arguments?

– Journey to Allah’s Throne

– Between the friends of Allah and the friends of Shaytan

– Only upon us is to Deliver the Message

– Return to Allah’s Throne

– Make Marriage Simple

– St George: more like a “radical Islamist” than an English nationalist!

– Are you afraid of getting old?

– Does the Bible conform to ‘British Values’?

May

In May we pitched an alternative Muslim guide to the general elections before the shocking result signalled the start of very troubling times ahead the start of the real work.[13][14] There were a few significant global events for the Muslim ummah with the 67^th anniversary of the Nakba heralding the need for Israel’s retirement by Abdullāh Ladadwi;[15] relief worker Mohbub Rahman highlighting the plight of the stateless Rohingyan Muslims,[16] and the Middle East Editor’s salutation to President Morsi upon news of his sentencing by the military dictatorship.[17]

Sister Hedieh Ansari-Shirazi exhorted us to Live Each Day As If You Are Preparing For Hajj,[18] and our Editor Ayshah Syed distilled some lessons on assimilation from Sūrah al-Kahf.[19] Being our resident historian, Z A Rahman told the story of when the Muslim ummah met the Vikings in battle,[20] whilst Hamza Andreas Tzortzis wrote an extensive essay on the greatness of the most beloved human being in history, Why we love the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ.[21] Ustādh Asif Uddin wrote a seminal piece on why chapters of the Qur’ān may seem incoherent to some and the wisdom behind it,[22] and Sheikh Alomgir Ali kicked off a long-term project by introducing Islamic political theory.[23]

More articles from May:

– An Alternative Muslim Guide to the General Elections

– Who should I vote for?

– A Muslim Brotherhood Love Story

– Post Election Analysis: now the real work starts

– 67 years after Nakba – 9 reasons why it is time for Israel’s retirement

– President Morsi, We Salute You…Again

– Rohingya – what does it mean to be stateless?

– From Rajab to Ramaḍān

– The Rare, Resolute Man

– Curse of the inferiority complex

– Live Each Day As If You Are Preparing For Hajj

– A lesson on assimilation from Surah al-Kahf

– Money for Da’wah – is it right?

– When Allah Exposes Double-Standards

– On the Road to Mecca

– Reflecting on the Nakba by remembering the Prophet’s Night Journey

– Why do Muslims love the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ?

– Welcome Sha’bān 1436

– Why does the Qur’an seem incoherent?

– Introduction to Islamic Political Theory

– Secularism: the Caliphate’s Final Blow

– Fasting in Sha’bān

– Fasting has no Equivalent

– Muslims vs Vikings

– Sha’bān 1435 vs. Sha’bān 1436

– Da’wah techniques from a Qur’anic Role Model

– Touched by an Angel

– 15th of Sha’bān: Sunnah or Bid’ah?

June

June welcomed the greatest month of the year, Ramaḍān. This year we had a host of new, inspiring content. Abu Haneefah shared valuable advice for parents whose children might have tried fasting the long, summer days from his experience in school senior management,[24] whilst Dr Zahid Siddique gave a dentist’s insight into beating bad breath whilst fasting and Dr Shafiul Amin gave 20 Ramadan health tips.[25][26] Since Ramaḍān coincided with summer in the northern hemisphere, there were plenty of articles and videos explaining the confusion surrounding persistent twilight and ʿIshā’ and Fajr times during summer.[27][28]

Ustādh Asim Khan went through a short video series on Sūrah al-Jumuʿah,[29] focusing on the institution of Jumuʿah as a tool for reforming society. Ghulam Esposito Haydar condemned David Cameron’s slanderous accusation that Muslims “Quietly condone terrorism” during Ramaḍān,[30] and we questioned whether we were breaking our fasts with dates stolen from Palestinian farmers.[31] Abdur-Rahman Ali absolved the religion of Judaism from the terrorism and crimes of Israel,[32] whilst Ahmed Hammuda referred to Turkey’s election results as a humbling victory for Islām.[33]

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Review of April, May & June 2015

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