In this episode of Empowered by Islam21c, Dr. Salman Butt puts audience questions to Shaykh Dr. Haitham al-Haddad on the UK’s racist riots that have made the headlines all around the world.
Source: Islam21c
Shaykh Haitham answers your questions on the UK riots
Why are these riots happening, and what is our duty as Muslims to protect our communities and the society around us?
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Shaykh Dr. Haitham al-Haddad is a jurist who seeks to contextualise classical Islamic knowledge for the modern era. He is a firm believer that Islam is uniquely qualified — more than any other system — to build a divine civilisation capable of helping humanity to enjoy a better life in all spheres by maintaining the correct balance between the rights of the Creator and the rights of the creation. He believes Islam is the only viable alternative to the failing unjust and oppressive contemporary world systems, as Allah says: "You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind: you enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and believe in Allah." (al-Qur'ān, 3:110) According to this verse, Shaykh Haitham identifies the pillars of Islamic reform as īmān (faith), unity of the Ummah, impactful action, and knowledge. Drawing from his expertise in Islamic principles — Usūl al-Fiqh, Maqāsid al-Sharī‘ah, ‘Aqīdah, and other Islamic sciences — he promotes these foundational pillars to guide the Ummah’s revival. He is known for developing advanced theories that explore the role of Islamic jurisprudence in obtaining solutions for the contemporary challenges facing humanity, and he critically re-evaluates how Islamic legal rulings (fatāwa) can be formulated in light of modern sociopolitical realities. Shaykh Dr. Haitham al-Haddad earned his PhD from SOAS, University of London, with a doctoral thesis on Islamic jurisprudence concerning Muslim minorities. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Sharī‘ah and Law from the University of Omdurman, Sudan, and a degree in engineering from the renowned King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) in Saudi Arabia. He has undertaken intensive studies in management, becoming a certified ISO 9000 auditor. In addition, he has studied various Islamic sciences under leading scholars of the Muslim world, including the former Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Aziz ibn Baz, among many others. He has obtained many classical ijāzāt in various Islamic sciences, including Qur'ān and Hadīth. Shaykh Haitham has served as an Islamic judge for several UK-based arbitration and legal bodies for over 20 years; he is a judge at Islamic Council. He has delivered hundreds of courses on topics such as Fiqh, ‘Aqīdah, Usūl al-Fiqh, Maqāsid al-Sharī‘ah, Tafsīr, Sīrah, Islamic Thought, Islamic Leadership and Management, Da'wah, Reform, and Political Engagement. Shaykh Haitham has also submitted many academic papers in many universities around the world. He is frequently consulted by numerous Islamic organisations across Europe and beyond, and serves as a senior scholar at Islam21c. Shaykh Haitham has lectured in various universities around the Muslim world, provided counsel to Islamic institutions, authored several books and textbooks for different institutions, and travelled extensively to advocate for the reform and unity of the Ummah.
Dr. Butt studied Biochemistry at Imperial College London, followed by a PhD in Chemical Biology, carrying out research into photosynthesis.
During his years at university, he became involved in Islamic society da'wah and activism, and general Muslim community projects.
At present, he is the Head of Islamic Thought and a regular contributor at Islam21c, and also has a blog on HuffPost. You may find him on social media.
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It is a small percentage of people, when we look at the population of the UK.
And as for Muslims, we go about our business as normal, we don’t remove our niqab/hijab, we are not that easily intimidated. One thing I find really odd, is how the men will stare at me in a very hostile manner (I wear niqab) and yet they don’t look in my husbands direction and we are clearly together??? And I am English revert, so I do understand their ways. But this cowardice is a new thing, and it says a EVERYTHING about them!! When did it become acceptable as a man, to attempt to intimidate a woman? Real men, don’t hit women, they don’t try to intimidate women, they don’t abuse women, irrespective of the circumstances. Weak little cowards do that, NOT men.
And we need to go about our business in a dignified manner, it would take much more than cowards to intimidate us. We need to pleasant with people in our dealings, just be normal, it is a VERY small minority.
I am not a fan of Kier Starmer due to his stand on Gaza but I do think he has dealt with these thugs quickly and appropriately. That is blessing.