In the name of Allah, compassionate & merciful بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ Peace be with you السلام عليكم

Standard-bearers
Qu'ran, Surah Fatir - The Creator (35:32)

"Then we caused to inherit the Book those of Our servants that We chose. Now, some of them wrong themselves and some follow the moderate course; and some, by Allah's leave, vie with each other in acts of goodness. That [inheritance] is the great bounty." (Qur'an, 35:32)

The Book of God, the Quran, was presented before all mankind and those who stepped forward and accepted it (the Muslims) were chosen to become its standard-bearers after the Prophet, peace be upon him.

These Muslims, however, are not all alike; rather, they belong to the following three categories:

1. "Those who wrong themselves". These Muslims sincerely believe in the Quran as God's Book and in Muhammad as God's Messenger. However, in their practical lives they fail to follow the Book of God and the way of His Prophet to the extent they should. Despite being believers they still commit sin. While such people might be iniquitous, they are not rebels. Their belief might be a bit feeble, yet they are neither hypocrites nor wilful unbelievers. In recognition of this, the Quran brands them as God's chosen servants to whom His Book has been bequeathed. Among the believers of all the three categories, they are the first to be mentioned for they constitute the majority of Muslims.

2. Then comes those "who follow the moderate course". That is, they are the ones who fulfil, though partially, the requirements ensuing from the bequest of God's book on them. They represent a mixture of obedience and disobedience. Such people, however, do not give an altogether free rein to their desires; rather, they try to control them. Nevertheless, at times they let their desires loose a bit which leads to sinful behaviour. Such people are less in number than the people of the first category but outnumber those of the third category mentioned below.

3. Then comes those "who view with one another in acts of goodness". Among the believers, they occupy the forefront. They stand out as the true trustees of the Book of God. They outstrip others as they are exceedingly active in following the Book of God and the way of the Prophet, in communicating God's Message to His servants, in offering sacrifices for the cause of faith, and in doing acts of goodness. They are not the ones who would deliberately commit a sin; but if they happen to fall into sin, they repent as soon as they realise this. In number, these are less than the two groups mentioned above. Although they are mentioned after those groups, they are in fact well ahead of them in acquitting themselves of the trusteeship of the Quran.

Compiled From:
"Towards Understanding the Quran" - Sayyid Abul Ala Mawdudi, Vol. 9, pp. 228-230

Lineage

"Whoever is slowed by his deeds will not be hastened forward by his lineage." [Muslim]

All of mankind comes from the same source, Adam and Hawa. All people share this common lineage. And they have all been created for the same purpose and they are all expected to heed the guidance that has come from Allah.

In reality, there is nothing naturally or inborn that separates one human being from another. The only thing that is going to distinguish them is their consciousness of God (taqwa) that is in their hearts and which is manifested in their deeds. If a person himself did not work for Paradise, then he is not going to be blessed with Paradise due to what others have done, no matter how close their blood relationship may be. If the deeds are not there, one's lineage is not going to help the person whatsoever. This is true for the noblest lineage of mankind.

Compiled From:
"Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi" - Jamaal al-Din M. Zarabozo, pp. 1339, 1340

Arranged Marriages

It may surprise many to learn that arranged marriages are not an Islamic requirement. There is no teaching in the Quran or in the hadiths that calls for this practice. It is, rather, a cultural phenomenon that exists in many Muslim countries even as it exists in much of the non-Muslim world from Zimbabwe to China. In fact, it is really the institution of dating that is the new practice which much of the world is struggling to accept. Islam merely regulates the conduct of people who want to form a marriage, whether arranged or by themselves. The three main points to know about Islam and arranged marriages are as follows:

          1. Islam does not require it.

          2. A woman cannot be forced into a marriage she doesn't want to have.

          3. The arranged pair can have an extended engagement and can break it off if either party wishes to do so.

Are women sometimes forced into marriages? Yes, but this abuse goes against the teachings of Islam and is not limited to Muslim populations. If people fail to follow their religion, it is not the fault of the religion. The Bible forbids people to get drunk, yet alcoholism is one of the most serious national challenges facing Christian countries everywhere. So before people blame Islam for something that appears oppressive, they must learn what the religion teaches about it and then condemn the hypocrites who fail to follow their professed beliefs (or the ignorant who follow cultural patterns not knowing they are contrary to their religion's teachings.)

The Companions of the Prophet demonstrated many different ways of finding a mate. Some married for love and sealed their commitment without intermediaries, others were matched by friends, and still others agreed to arranged marriages brokered by relatives.

Compiled From:
"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Islam, 2nd Edition" - Yahiya Emerick, pp. 276, 277

More Friday Nasiha:
5 Nov 2010: How to Co-Operate - Tribulation - Repentance
19 Nov 2010: A Wise Plan - Ten Great Days - Acts of Merit
17 Sep 2010: Your Wife & Children - Fasting For a Year - Fathers
23 July 2010: Money Circulation - Paradise Guaranteed - Benefits Of Trials

In the name of God, compassionate & merciful بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ Peace be with you السلام عليكم

These details have becomes a personalized catch phrase, that along with a number "27" - the hours of labor I endured. New mums often do compare these small factoids, along with how many nappies they go through in a day, whose child is bigger/smaller, stronger, fussier, calmer than the others; sometimes it can almost become a passive-aggressive contest. It does however make a good topic of conversation and is quite amusing, especially as a new parent, when your childless friends look at you like you're from Mars as the majority of conversational topics you have left to discuss revolve around one bodily function or another.



My faith in Allah deepened the moment my daughter was born. In that exact moment I can't imagine how someone else could deny the miracle of creation - a very painful creation, oh boy don't get me started on my war story. Lets just say the delivery wasn't easy and my sister is traumatized and has decided to never have children... she has the memory retention of a fish though so I'm not worried.

Every du'a, every time I ask for anything it's for my daughter's sake. Becoming a parent is Allah's way of promoting selflessness, overwhelming love and compassion. This is humanity at its best.

I feel an obligation to do everything and anything for Sahar. I never want to put her down, sometimes I can't help but just stare at her and the design Allah gave her. Some nights I lay awake in the few sleepy hours between feeding and stare in awe, my daughter - I touch her little hands and wonder what on earth I did to deserve this perfect little person.


How to save a life
The days following her birth were emotional, besides the surge of hormones you have a new sense of fear. The world is a million times more scary as my every waking minutes are about nothing but her well being. And regardless of the ups and downs of any marriage, how can you not love your husband/wife a million times more for helping you in making this wonderful little person. Life is defiantly put into perspective.

Even though many tears have followed her birth - I didn't cry when she was born - I was in too much shock. Yes I knew she was growing inside of me, it was amazing enough to feel her kick, but the moment she was out and resting on my tummy I just looked at her with utter disbelief: Subhanallah! My first words were "Oh my god, did she just come out of me..? Well ...happy birthday". Ok not the most beautiful or profound words, but I was in shock. My sister on the other hand was balling her eyes out, what a sap!

It's only now that I understand this hadith,
A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, ‘O Messenger of God! Who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship? The Prophet said: Your mother. The man said, ‘Then who?' The Prophet ﷺ said: Then your mother. The man further asked, ‘Then who?' The Prophet ﷺ said: Then your mother. The man asked again, ‘Then who?' The Prophet ﷺ said: Then your father. (Bukhari, Muslim)

No offence to men, but there's no way on earth any other human could love a child as much as their mother, it's pure and instinctive from the moment they are born.

This hadith in another sense scared me. I was raised by my father, my mother was never there for me, this was her choice which of course gave me a whole different set of emotions as to how on earth someone could ever willingly distance themselves from their child. My sister's little girl is adopted, whose biological mother also made her choices. But how, how do you let this happen as a parent, this overwhelming love and bond between a mother and child, how can it be broken, especially when the Prophet ﷺ gave mothers such a high maqaam (status)?

When parents abandon you
I respect my mother, and please don't judge me for telling the truth, but I don't love her. I try to, but I can't. She's a stranger to me, I don't know her personally, and what I do know, what I remember from my childhood is not good. This lack of emotional attachment makes me sad, and because of this it's hard for me to imagine my daughter loving me. My father keeps reminding me that I am not my mother, and Sahar does and will love me unconditionally, inshaAllah.

The rational part of me keeps telling the emotional part of me, motherhood will be okay.

Children can also distract you from certain things, like praying. It's hard to manage especially when you don't have an extra set of hands. But children are also an incentive to learn more and be better not only for yourself, or only Allah but also for the sake of teaching them, and guiding them. My goal to make Sahar a wonderful pious person cannot be possible unless I myself from day one live as an example.

The joys of immigration again
Zain - Sahar's Abu (Dad) is still in in New Zealand -  he has to come over here to Canada and be a father to her. Once he gets here I know he will do a fantastic job. I feel bad though, he missed out the first 6 weeks of Sahar's growth and changes. But it's all Allahs will.

I truly feel things happen for a reason and sometimes even when things don't go out way we should be thankful, who knows what could or would happen. I kind of like having Sahar to myself, I don't like to share her! When people hold her I stare down at them waiting for them to return my heart to my body.

Oh - and on a completely separate note: holding a baby and typing with one hand is exhausting.

So that's were I have been all this long. I was sick and pregnant, then absorbed in motherhood. Now... how to write between feedings, naps and nappies. I'm super Zahra I'm sure I can do it. But lets just take it one day at a time...

By Zahra, The Immigrant

More from The Immigrant:
To Burn Or Not To Burn - Sep 11th Marked As Qur'an Day
My Baby Update - Pregnancy
Sabr In Marriage, EXTRA Sabr With In Laws
Muslim And Held In Immigration
Healthy Relationships

From Sudais to Shatri come and hear Shaykh Nu’mani recite in the style of your favourite reciter. Imagine listening to Ghamidi or Shuraim in YOUR local masjid! This is an experience you can’t afford to miss.

Muslim Aid is lighting up the country with the beautiful recitation of Shaykh Saad Nu’mani. The Shaykh will be travelling with us to a masjid near you to lead the prayer and demonstrate his astounding ability to recite in the voice of 85 different reciters. Along with the inspirational words of the Qur'an we will be praying and fundraising to help heal the pain and suffering of less fortunate children around the world.

Date: 1st Jan 2011 [BROTHERS ONLY]
Venue: East London Mosque
Recitation: Qari Saad Nu'mani

Sponsored by: www.islamicforumeurope.com/

From Generation Islam | 25th Dec 2010 | By Jamal Okae & Abu Luqman

Time: 35 min (worth it) PART 1 | PART 2: Best of Both Worlds

A strong viewpoint in Islam is that this life, material world, this dunya, is like a prison (sijin) for believers of Allah. And this dunya is like a heaven (jannah) for those who deny Allah. Muslims recognise that material wealth isn't built to last and that life is a struggle for contentment and living according to Divine instructions. Society will keep churning out pop stars, scandals, songs, movies and fashion - these fads distract us from "reality", but we keep chasing them. 

Part 1: Here, brother Jamaal passionately describes how this prophetic statement on life is true and what Muslims can do to avoid falling for the see-through dreams (or nightmares) of chasing money, drugs, women, cars and the heart's loves. (Jump to 5:00mins to skip intro)

More:
Sex Sells, So It's Okay?
8 Way To Counteract (spiritual) Stress
Imam Zaid Shakir: The Ethics of Chivalry (emel)
The Enlightenment Diet: Can Fasting Save The World?
What Should President Obama Do With His Nobel Prize Money?

Dates: Wednesday 29th December 2010 - Monday 3rd January 2011

Venue: Markfield Conference Centre, Ratby Lane, Markfield, 
Leicestershire, LE67 9SY




Whether you are a complete novice when it comes to reading and 
writing Arabic or you know Arabic at an intermediate level, you 
will find a Knowledge Seekers course level that suits you out of the four levels 
offered this winter.

 This is An excellent opportunity to learn to read, write and understand 
Qur'anic Arabic that will insha'Allah make our prayers (salat) much more 
meaningful and effective. The course leader is Ustadh AbdulWahid 
Hamid, author of Graded Steps in Qur'an Reading and Access to 
Qur'anic Arabic.




The fee for students and unemployed persons is £150, for everyone else it is 
£175 (if booked before 30th November). This covers tuition, course 
material (excluding books), food and accommodation for six days. 
Parallel scouts activities for 7-11 year olds are also offered. 
Sisters, brothers and families are all welcome.




For more information, fees and bookings please contact:
 e | info@ks-courses.com. 
t | (UK) 07914 839 942 / 07939 919 872 / 0121 246 1360. w | www.ks-courses.com


Got a similar event to promote? contact@muslimness.com

From Pew Research Centre | May 2007 | (Defend The Prophet)

Muslim Americans: Who are they?

The first-ever, nationwide, random sample survey of Muslim Americans finds them to be largely assimilated, happy with their lives, and moderate with respect to many of the issues that have divided Muslims and Westerners around the world.

The Pew Research Center conducted more than 55,000 interviews to obtain a national sample of 1,050 Muslims living in the United States. Interviews were conducted in English, Arabic, Farsi and Urdu. The resulting study, which draws on Pew’s survey research among Muslims around the world, finds that Muslim Americans are a highly diverse population, one largely composed of immigrants. Nonetheless, they are decidedly American in their outlook, values and attitudes. This belief is reflected in Muslim American income and education levels, which generally mirror those of the public.Key findings include:

→ Overall, Muslim Americans have a generally positive view of the larger society. Most say their communities are excellent or good places to live.

→ A large majority of Muslim Americans believe that hard work pays off in this society. Fully 71% agree that most people who want to get ahead in the United States can make it if they are willing to work hard.

→ The survey shows that although many Muslims are relative newcomers to the U.S., they are highly assimilated into American society. On balance, they believe that Muslims coming to the U.S. should try and adopt American customs, rather than trying to remain distinct from the larger society. And by nearly two-to-one (63%-32%) Muslim Americans do not see a conflict between being a devout Muslim and living in a modern society.

→ Roughly two-thirds (65%) of adult Muslims in the U.S. were born elsewhere. A relatively large proportion of Muslim immigrants are from Arab countries, but many also come from Pakistan and other South Asian countries. Among native-born Muslims, roughly half are African American (20% of U.S. Muslims overall), many of whom are converts to Islam.


→ Muslim Americans reject Islamic extremism by larger margins than do Muslim minorities in Western European countries. However, there is somewhat more acceptance of Islamic extremism in some segments of the U.S. Muslim public than others. Fewer native-born African American Muslims than others completely condemn al Qaeda. In addition, younger Muslims in the U.S. are much more likely than older Muslim Americans to say that suicide bombing in the defense of Islam can be at least sometimes justified. Nonetheless, absolute levels of support for Islamic extremism among Muslim Americans are quite low, especially when compared with Muslims around the world.

→ A majority of Muslim Americans (53%) say it has become more difficult to be a Muslim in the United States since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Most also believe that the government “singles out” Muslims for increased surveillance and monitoring.

→ Relatively few Muslim Americans believe the U.S.-led war on terror is a sincere effort to reduce terrorism, and many doubt that Arabs were responsible for the 9/11 attacks. Just 40% of Muslim Americans say groups of Arabs carried out those attacks.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three years on, have any of these American Muslim views and demographics changed?

THE GREEN WAVE is a touching documentary-collage illustrating the dramatic events and telling about the feelings of the people behind this revolution. Facebook reports, Twitter messages and videos posted in the internet were included in the film composition, and hundreds of real blog entries served as reference for the experiences and thoughts of two young students, whose story is running through the film as the main thread. The film describes their initial hope and curiosity, their desperate fear, and the courage to yet continue to fight. These fictional 'storylines' have been animated as a motion comic - sort of a moving comic - framing the deeply affecting pictures of the revolution and the interviews with prominent human rights campaigners and exiled Iranians. Ali Samadi Ahadi's documentary is a highly contemporary chronicle of the Green Revolution and a memorial for all of those who believed in more freedom and lost their lives for it.


MUXLIM viewers watch:: THE GREEN WAVE teaser (ENGLISH) from Jan Krueger on Vimeo.

More:
Video: Q. Islam is a Prison. Discuss.
What's Love Got To Do With It? (full series)
Movie Review: My Name Is Khan
Movie: Asia's Newest Action Hero, Merantau
Muslimness on LikeMedia.tv

And He has made me kind to my mother, and He has not made me a miserable or overbearing. So peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive!" (Qur'an, Maryam, 19:30-34)

In the name of God, compassionate & merciful بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ Peace be with you السلام عليكم

Adamant on presenting alternative and realistic images of contemporary Muslim women, Badass Muslimah's follows the trend of photo essay blogs and has posted hundreds of iconic photos from singer-songwriters to Olympic medalists. Here are a few badass Muslimahs that caught our eye.

Niqabi women with family enjoying the liberating swings 

AIN'T NO GANGSTERS IN PARADISE



by Ustadh Murtaza Khan (Tayyibun Institute)


Date: Friday 24th December 2010

Time: 7.30 pm (after Isha salah)

Venue: Hendon Mosque & Islamic Centre, Brent View Road, West Hendon, 
London, NW9 7EL

A

A unique gritty talk addressing issues relating to the youth, including social trends, gang culture or peer pressure. This will 
be contrasted with the descriptions given in the Qur'an about the 
inhabitants of Paradise - who are far from the gangsta-wannabes we see (are) today. All brothers and sisters welcome.

More information:: e | info@hendonmosque.co.uk
 w | www.hendonmosque.co.uk


Islamic Forum of Europe presents: 

CHILD REARING IN THE WESTERN CONTEXT


Date: Friday 24th December 2010

Time: 7.15 pm

Venue: East London Mosque, 82-92 Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1JQ

The 

fourth and final in a series of seminars on the Fiqh of Social Ills. 
Teachers include Shaykh Abdul Qayyum, Ustadh Shafiur Rahman, 
Ustadh Abdullah Hasan and Ustadh Abdul Malik Sheikh. This 
final session will be especially beneficial for those who 
have young or adolescent children. Parents need to be fully 
aware of the challenges that lie ahead and seek out ways in 
which these can be addressed in an appropriate and timely 
manner. Entrance is free and notes will be provided. All 
are welcome.



For further information contact:
 t | +44 7956 505 053 / 020 7456 1062

e | info@islamicforumeurope.com
  
w | www.islamicforumeurope.com



LOFTY AIMS - OBJECTIVES OF ISLAMIC LAW

 (WEEKEND RETREAT)


Dates: Friday 24th December - Monday 27th December 2010

Venue: Markfield Conference Centre, Ratby Lane, Markfield, 
Leicestershire, LE67 9SY



The topic of Maqasid al-Shariah or the 'higher objectives of Islamic 
Law', tends to drive people towards one of two extremes: those who 
break the letter of the law to allegedly maintain its spirit, and 
those who diligently observe its law without care or understanding 
of its spirit. Come and learn about Maqasid al-Shariah and its role 
in Islamic Law, together with its consideration and application in 
today's society.



Topics to be covered include: Definitions and Proofs for Maqasid; 
Importance of Maqasid; History and Development of Maqasid; Types 
and Levels of Maqasid; Misconceptions regarding Maqasid; Misuse 
of Maqasid; Masalih and Ijtihad; The Greatest Maqsad.
The course 
will be delivered by Shaikh Haitham Al-Haddad, Ustadh Fraz Farhat, 
Ustadh Abu Rumaysah, and others.



The price for this retreat is £140. This includes an interactive 
study course plus case studies; comprehensive notes that outline 
course material; workshops, team building exercises and Q & A 
sessions; spiritual development activities; accommodation; meals 
and refreshments.
The minimum age of attendees is 16 years. Open 
to brothers only.

For further information please contact:
 t | +44 07956 466 309

e | enquiries@mrdf.co.uk
  w | www.sabeel.org.uk

From Majed's Blog
By Zaufishan

Every week the BBC broadcasts their edgy-undercover program Panorama, which attempts to expose Britain’s fraudsters and fears. On Monday 22nd November, Panorama puked out an episode ‘British Schools, Islamic Rules’, a lengthy report of fears that Saudi-funded schools teach anti-Semitism. As a Muslim teacher and student of Muslim schooling I could not hold my excitement within my hijab, knowing that I was about to be represented as another Arab-anti-social-cult-member. Please enlighten me, BBC, what did those Muslims do now?

For those of you not wishing to waste 29 minutes of your life, enjoy my brief reaction of the BBC video posted online by John Ware, and why as a British born Muslim woman, educated in both secular and faith schools, I think it’s another load of how the English say, tripe…

Opening Sequence

The video opens with generalising all three monotheistic faith schools. The reporter researched a variety of school websites and found that sadly Jewish schools are “locked into their own world”. Quite shockingly Christian Evangelical schools state boldly they want to “eradicate Islam altogether”, but this is not what the suckumentary focuses on. No, it is the “anti-Western tones of some Muslim schools” which scares the bejeesus out of them. Well, hide your sons and daughters fellow Britons, those Muslims with their war-tones are prowling the streets again!

The first Muslim school is under scrutiny. An all-female school in Leicester for which students must wear the niqaab (face veil). Needless to say when you see the sight of black-clad women on television, you avert your eyes lest you fall under such oppression, and your minds ring with “save them! save them!” This is how television works; take the ignorant, feed them ignorance. The niqab has become a symbol of dark connotations and that is the power globalisation has. I refuse this and will refute it.

Panorama immediately has issues with the school’s website that lists guidelines for Muslim women:

“Females are encouraged to remain at home… and only leave for necessity.”

Well, surely this is barbaric and a path of segregation (!) Guess again my freedom-loving friend. In Islam women can move anywhere and commit to any ethical form of work with protection. We Muslim women do not encourage flashing the streets at 2am with alcohol in our bloodstream, but this is not to imply our British women do… Note that the guideline above reads “encourage”, this is not a command to remain indoors. Plus, when Muslim women are on the streets in niqaabs some British people have hissy-fits, if they’re indoors with their families they still have hissy-fits. Here’s a suggestion: why don’t you get on with your own lives? 

Quotes on Shariah (Islamic law) then arise. 'Stoning to death'. Yes this exists as a command from God, it’s not implemented in ‘Muslim Britain’ for obvious reasons. But really, how many times has this been implemented in Muslim schools? Is stoning really on the agenda for the school’s morning briefing? Lets move on. “Music is an evil ploy” is another school-curricular quote and thus the viewer thinks, ‘my gosh, these Muzlims don’t like Jay-Z or Justin Bieber, they must be truly evil’. Here’s the 101 with music in Islam: if it’s not connected to lewd behaviour, raving or immorality, it passes, give or take differing opinions. If some Muslims reject it altogether, that’s their right, if other Muslims promote music, so be it. How this fits into the educating of Muslim students is beyond sense. And I took music lessons too. At a Muslim school. I’m a fan of Shakira, Tupac and The Who as much as the next Islamically educated Muslim.

Kuffar

Next we are read a quote on the “kuffar” who are Islam’s enemies (it’s plural). Let me clarify something here. Two words that are perpetuated from the television-Muslim (ie, the only non-English speaking Muslim available for interviewing) are “Infidel” and “Kuffar”. Firstly “Infidel” is a Christian term used for every other non-Christian, which Muslims just so happened to pick up from earlier meetings. And “Kaafir” (singular) applies to a person who knowingly rejects One God, His Prophets and teachings – that person is a dis-believer and is left in the trust of God.

In Muslim schools the curriculum is very fair in teaching the relationship between Islamic linguistic development and how our Christian cousins added to our vocabulary. I however, am not apologising for “kuffar”, it is a valid word that is very heavy to accuse someone of being, no wise Muslim accuses another person of this. John Ware asks Dr Usama Hasan if “kuffar” is derogatory in fundmantalism to which the doctor replies,

“no, God uses it… I would argue that reading scripture out of context is fundamentalism”.

Students from the Muslim schools said their “school values other traditions” and teaches them to integrate with other communities. So, Panorama looked for drama elsewhere.

John Bald, a school inspector, said more effort was needed to “look at [the] contradictions” between what students said and what their schools advocated. Aha, drama found. 

Apparently another Muslim school website included excerpts from speakers along the lines of “we must defend our children to the forces of evil”. Well yes, I would like to think any parent would protect their children against evil such as knife crime and MTV too. Where does it say such and such a school is anti-West? What West? In the accent of Mel Gibson’s Braveheart, “arr yu tryn’u pikk a feight?” And there is still the point of anti-Semitism which the whole report is based on.

Celebrating  Birthdays

Panorama goes on: In ‘Islamist’ schools (much love for the b*st*rdised English language) Muslims are told celebrating birthdays is forbidden. And how does this affect our integration in Britain? Are Muslims holding anti-celebratory demonstrations? Are Muslims cancelling their own Eid? Are these Muslims gatecrashing your proms and parties? Next.

Those Who Have strayed

Sheikh Riyad ul-Haq is highlighted as an anti-Semitic speaker at another Muslim school. He recited the first chapter of the Qur’an aptly called The Opening:

“Guide us to the straight path:- The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked Your anger nor of those who are astray.” (Qur’an, 1: The Opening, Fatiha)

It is a known fact in Islamic history that the Israelites – followers of Prophet Moses – or Banu Israel (Children of Israel), broke God’s commandments and were punished for it. Muslims know this and believe this. Jews know this and believe this. Secondly, unlike Islam which stands by its monotheistic teachings, mainstream Christianity is founded upon the holy trinity, the notion that god is the metaphorical father, who came down in the divine-form of a human, Jesus, and sacrificed himself for the salvation of his children’s sins. As a rational One-God believing Muslim I can vouch that this is one of the most blasphemous “metaphors” to say against God. Anyway…

Riyad ul-haq isn’t being anti-Semitic. This is what the God of the Muslims, Jews and Christians said. Granted, perhaps you wouldn’t open with God’s wrath to every beautiful Jewish friend you were introduced to. And I repeat, none of the reported Muslim schools produced students who came out chanting anti-Semitic slogans. If anything, rational Muslims have set up organisations in defence of Judaism, such as Muslims Against Anti-Semitism.

Another quote from a school’s curriculum read “Do not befriend the kuffar”. The Qur’an says this slightly differently. So we are back at the original meaning of disbeliever and what it takes to become worthy of that title. If Christian schools wish to “eradicate all of Islam”, and Jewish schools do not acknowledge others, which is the worst from all three? In Islam to “not befriend the disbelievers” is not misquoted but is misunderstood. Muslims can befriend anyone they like and must respect everyone. However, when a person openly hates you and wants you dead, when they threaten your life, your family, your freedom to live and worship your religion, do you really invite that person as friends to your forbidden-birthday party? I didn’t think so. And that is the enemy God warns about.

Oldham Riots?

Xenophobia on the other hand is a different issue to schooling altogether and neither Riyad ul-Haq or any of the Islamic schools taught this. Strangely though, 18 minutes into the episode Panorama swipes to the 2001 Oldhams riots, which are completely unconnected to Muslim schooling, and are not a result of anti-Semitism. This is very sensationalist reporting by the BBC.

School inspectors in the report claim Muslim schools are vulnerable to “residential segregation”. Dude, this “apartheid” is bloody everywhere. Go into any low-performing Asian-English secondary school and check the natural apartheid that exists in the younger years. This is a mental barrier that society, society teaches our students. And it takes an encultured teacher and a few months of socialising to remove that barrier from students’ interaction.

School System

On the plus side the report states that British government supports faith schools. This is no surprise to me. In my final year of Islamic education the secondary school was government funded and had a purpose-built brand-spanking-new building built with a fairly large prayer room facing Makkah. It was not the first government funded faith school and it won’t be the last. So it’s not so much the government which has stomach cramps as it is the schooling authorities, media and Ofsted inspectors.

If you don’t know, OFSTED are a regulating body that inspect the quality of British schools’ education and nurturing and grades overall education from poor to outstanding. The secular school I attended had a succession of “poor” results, even the headteacher had given up. This particular school employed Muslim teachers and was strife with anti-Islamic propaganda. In a strange twist of events, a Jewish headteacher stepped in and revamped the whole place, but schooling was still …poor. But I still love Moses’ people. Incidentally the Muslim school I attended was rated “good” and for the past decade has received “outstanding” reports. This school also comes top in the league tables of school GCSE results. Oh, you can just hear the haters burn. Metaphorically speaking!

Self-policing schools who opted out of Ofsted reporting are depicted by Panorama as deficient and in need of the inspecting “regime”. That somehow government inspecting is supreme and God’s law is a moronic implication. Muslim schools govern themselves quite well without interference, thank you very much. I can dare to say one of the primary reasons governments step in to fund faith schools is for good publicity.

Moo Point

The next victim is APEX, a Muslim primary school rated “outstanding” but that was also host to questionable preachers. One such speaker in an adjacent Islamic centre once said “Muslims are ready to fight the enemies of Islam and will pay in blood if they have to.” What bearing does the school’s “outstanding” report have from its speakers? What further evidence was cited to illustrate any negative outcomes on students’ minds from the presence of Muslim preachers? Is this school now a hot-bed for terrorism? -

Say it, you know you were thinking it BBC. Is it the statement that is heresy or just the freedom of speech excercised by passionate Muslim bearded men? This reasoning is illogical. It’s so illogical I have no words left to discredit is. It’s so illogical I am going to reference Joey from Friends who in one episode states, “it’s a moo point – it’s like a cow’s opinion, it doesn’t matter. It’s moo.”

Saudi Schools

Further disliked statements from Saudi’s school books included that other than Islam, all religions are false; anyone not a Muslim, goes to hell; that Shariah law for theft is to amputate a hand; that homosexuality will be punished. I’m not going to deny these facts as they are included in Islam’s law system, but how, and why, and where? These are the important situational contexts that are neglected by all of us, Muslims included. However, these laws are mirrored in Christianity and Judaism – homosexuality, theft and disloyalty to God is not tolerated. Above all, the Shariah is a universal system of lifting oppression and directing people towards God, therefore if these laws cannot be implemented for everyone equally, they are not applied at all.

To conclude, as a Muslim teacher and Islamic student I re-learn important facts from the media: It does not matter whom reporters are able to turn into boogie monsters for viewers; it does not matter how far the current double-father led government destroys the British education system (Lib Dems lied to us about student fees). It does not matter how many times a BNP member is charged for preaching religious and social hatred for anyone who isn’t “pure white bred”, and it does not matter how religiously the poor tabloids blame war, wages or the weather on the Muslims.

What matters is as Muslims we are not representing ourselves in fields of professionalism when we have the skills and know-how. What matters is as British Muslims we expect someone else to defend our Muslim students, our niqab-wearing Muslim teachers, our Muslims schools and we wait in false hope for Superman the messiah to spread the correct truth about Islam’s relationship with the West. The British education system belongs to the people of Britain. The people of Britain are not one category or demographic. The problems with the current education systerm are that it’s being undermined once again, teachers are overworked and underpaid, and while maniac students are set free to reap ASBOs on earth, worthy students are thrown around as though it were a custody battle.

The BBC investigation assumes “hate is on the curriculum” for all Muslim schools which as an assumption, does not hold water. There are major problems in all British schools such as poor standards of education for low-ability children, students with health or mental problems are not a priority, and racism in the playground still exists. Side-sweeping faith schools as the main reason for social segregation is not true, as Ed West stated, it is a product of society as a whole. And while the program highlighted dangers in xenophobia from Saudi-funded schools, I refute that with the Islamophobia held in the minds of current state school teachers, the mainstream news channels and the defective government.

And so help me God, I will not stand for any of it.

From Illume Magazine

Sadaf Syed, recognized as one of today’s leading feminist photographers, is best known for breaking down stereotypes as she educates and inspires her audience through the eyes of photography and the perspectives of her subject.

Born in Illinois, but raised in Los Angeles, Syed graduated from California State University at Fullerton. After freelancing for few years, she got married and moved back to Illinois working as a photojournalist at a newspaper. It was after the events of 9/11 that Syed observed society’s biased notion about Muslim women.





Her career was launched when, based on public nominations, she traveled across the United States with her two young children and their double strollers, trekking state to state, going through airport scanners, and “random checkings.” The result was a limited edition of a stunning photo documentary book, iCOVER: A Day in the Life of a Muslim-American COVERed Girl, sold out within months of being published.



Soon after the self-publication of her second edition of iCOVER, Syed was identified by a White House Official as a leading artist followed by an invite to the White House. On August 13, 2010 Syed joined President Barack Obama and interfaith leaders at the White House to mark the beginning of Ramadan.

iCOVER has been featured and reviewed nationally and internationally by The Huffington Post, Chicago Tribune, Emel Magazine and Zaman Newspaper.

Check out her official website:: {SADAF SYED}

Acquaintances of mine who have participated in recent dialogues between Christian and Muslim theologians, such as those organized by A Common Word, report that one of the biggest misunderstandings shown by Christian theologians is the notion that Islam has little or nothing to say about love.

One of the several reasons for this mistaken view is that the early Orientalists -- those who first studied Islamic thought in the modern West -- imagined that a school of thought known as "Kalam" played the same role in Islam as "theology" does in Christianity. In fact, Kalam has been one of several approaches to knowledge of God, and certainly not the most influential.

Kalam was closely allied with Islamic jurisprudence and typically depicted God as the supreme law-giver. When it mentioned love, it claimed that God loves human beings by issuing commandments, and human beings love God by obeying him. Those who obey go to heaven, and those who disobey go to hell. God deals with human beings strictly in terms of carrots and sticks -- forget about love in any normal meaning of the word.

Despite the fact that more recent scholarship has done a much better job of describing the diverse theological approaches of Islamic thought, this has had relatively little effect on the prejudices that Christian theologians picked up years ago in seminary. Pope John Paul II, with all his remarkable accomplishments, provides a good example. In Crossing the Threshold of Hope, he wrote, "The God of the Koran ... is ultimately a God outside of the world, a God who is only Majesty, never Emmanuel, God-with-us." (his emphasis)

Even a cursory glance at the Quran should lead a reader to wonder why, if God is so majestic, does practically every chapter begin with the formula of consecration: "In the name of God, the All-merciful, the Ever-merciful." In the text itself, divine names and attributes associated with mercy and kindness are far more common than those associated with magnificence and majesty. Many verses say things like, "He is with you wherever you are" (57:4) -- whether before your creation, during your brief stay in this world, or after death. This divine "withness" is tightly bound up with the notion of love and mercy.

The formula of consecration contains the two names "All-merciful" (rahmān) and "Ever-merciful" (rahīm). Both are derived from the word rahma, which is variously translated as mercy, compassion, and benevolence. Rahma is an abstract noun derived from the concrete noun rahim, "womb." Mercy is the mother's attitude toward the fruit of her womb. When God says in the Quran, "My mercy embraces everything" (7:156), this means that God has mercy on the entire universe. Basing themselves on this sort of verse and on the very notion of mercy, some theologians referred to the realm of nature -- that is, the universe in its entirety -- as the divine womb.

The close connection between mercy and motherhood is obvious in many sayings of the Prophet. For example, he said that when God created mercy, he created it in one hundred parts. He kept ninety-nine parts with himself and sent one part into the world. Mothers are devoted to their children and wild animals nurture their young because of this one part. On the day of resurrection, the Prophet added, God will rejoin this one part with the ninety-nine parts -- all for the benefit of those who dwell in the posthumous realms, whether paradise or hell. Among the several points embedded in this saying is the typical stress on tawhīd, the assertion of the uniqueness of the divine reality that is the foundation of Islamic thought: What we experience as mercy, compassion, and love can only be a pale reflection of a tiny fraction of the real thing.

Another account tells us that the Prophet had stopped to rest at a bedouin camp, where a woman with an infant was baking bread over an open fire. The child slipped away and approached the fire, and the mother quickly pulled him back. She turned to the Prophet and said, "Do you not say that God is 'the most merciful of the merciful'?" He replied that he did. She said, "No mother would throw her child into the fire." For a moment the Prophet turned away and wept. Then he said that God puts into hellfire only those who refuse to go anywhere else.

As a divine attribute, mercy is not identical with love, because love demands mutuality: "He loves them, and they love Him" (5:54). In contrast, mercy is one-sided, which is to say that God has mercy on creation, but not the other way around. People must certainly try to be merciful and compassionate, but that means they must love their neighbors as themselves. Failure to do so is a sure recipe for bad karma. As the Quran says repeatedly about those who do not act appropriately, "They are wronging only themselves."

Classical theologians spent a good deal of time explaining the subtle differences between the meanings of "All-merciful" and "Ever-merciful." Commonly they said that the All-merciful mercy is universal and the Ever-merciful mercy is particular.

Universal mercy begins with the bestowal of existence. Nothing has a claim on its own being or its own positive qualities. All are the gifts from the Creator. Everything other than God derives its reality -- however insubstantial that may be -- from the only reality that truly is. Life and livelihood do not come to us by chance, but because of the activity of the All-merciful.

Particular mercy is responsive. Some good things come to us because we seek them out. If you want to become a football player or a physicist, the ambition itself is a gift, and any aptitude you may have is also a gift. But achieving the goal has something to do with your own effort. Every mother will tell you that. If you do not strive for the goal, most likely you will not reach it.

God's particular mercy is his response to human effort. He bestows it on the basis of your engagement, commitment and love. When the Quran says, "God is the friend of those who have faith" (2:257), this means that he has special mercy and love toward those who search him out. Universal mercy reaches people in any case, just as a mother will never stop loving her children. Particular mercy is not guaranteed, because children may refuse to take advantage of their human status.

The goal of love is to overcome separation, to escape from the darkness and pain that define our existential plight, and to enter into the light. Or, it is to take advantage of the universal mercy that embraces everything and to seek out the particular mercy, the path to which is set down in prophetic guidance.

(The best survey of Islamic notions of mercy and motherliness is provided by Sachiko Murata in The Tao of Islam: A Sourcebook on Gender Relationships in Islamic Thought).