| Letter From The Public - The Sufi Problem |
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| Wednesday, 19 December 2007 | |
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And this is what is a danger to the revival, security, well-being and interests of the Muslims - which the Neo-Cons and Zionists seem to have recognized and I believe Muslims need to realize too Muslims who are in tune with current affairs will recognize that Neo cons and Zionists are waging an intense vicious war on Islam - it is a fact, and it is disturbing to say the least that if one flicks through the various think-tank reports produced by policy makers such as from the RAND Corporation and others other than them - post 9/11 - one will see a key component in their agenda to maintain western hegemony and dominance over the Muslim World and the minority communities within the West - is the active promotion of Sufism. If we look at our Muslim community here in Britain - although we may have many problems but we are seeing more and more young Muslims becoming observant of the Faith, and this is coupled together with the fact that more Muslims are becoming more educated, professional and affluent with good jobs and positions of influence and our community is growing and this is also reflected in Europe - the last thing we need is our communities to be steered towards Sufism at the pleasure of Neo-Cons and Zionists that damages our interests - the interests of Muslims in Britain of being a strong, vibrant, influential community that is active in pursuing in securing and expanding our interests here and abroad that has impact and achieves results which also benefits the wider society at large and furthers the cause of Islam. With regards to the "great scholars of out time" such as the likes of Hamza Yusuf one only needs to ask the dedicated enemy of Islam - the Pharaoh of this time who has blood of over a million Muslims on his hands - George W Bush of his opinion of Hamza Yusuf (who happened to be one if his "Islamic advisors" just after 9/11) and will recognize the point I am trying to make. In my view - when the enemies of Islam who viciously wage war on Islam and the Muslims promote certain "Islamic scholars” or “personalities” and see them as the “good guys” the “true Muslims”, “the Moderates”, “the ideal Muslim” - know there is something definitely wrong with them. Comment made by poster 'Reality'           Readers have left 9 comments.
Ali Abdullah:
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There isn't a 'Sufi Problem', but there is a "Neocon Sufi Problem'!
(1)
2007-12-20 05:27:53
Yusaini:
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I want to take up one issue with MPAC here ..is the term 'sufi' so derogatory that you frequently use it on your website in a very negative tone to describe everything bad about the ummah? Yes they claimed themselves as 'sufi' .. but don't be so careless to jump into a neo-con trap and start propogating this 'divisive' tactic that they the sufis are with them and the rest of the 'suffering ummah' are with us !! They want us to smear the noble tradition of sufism and what we do .. took the bait hook line and sinker ...
(2)
2007-12-20 07:30:06
Ibrahim Hussain (1):
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Dear Brother Reality and MPACUK
Aslamu alaikum, I appreciate you do not delve in to issues of faith, I hope you believe in Muslim unity regardless of which denomination one may belong to, of course, there is great difference between unity and uniformity. I believe we need to stop fighting amongst ourselves and focus our energies on those who would curtail our civil liberties, prevent us from practising our faith or persecute Muslims abroad. I find this, predominantly to be the message MPACUK sends out, and it to be one to which those who visit the website ascribe to also. This is why I was startled to read the article on the 14th which was had very sectarian nature to it, I implore MPACUK, Reality and other users of this website to stop equating the actions of some Sufis to all Sufis. I have as other users tried my best to explain it is not true what they say about Sufis but to no avail. I am a young Sufi imam who tries his best to make what little difference he can in his locality, I am familiar with current affairs, I only this so I can say the following. As a Sufi, as someone who is on the inside and not an observer of my beliefs, I want to say comments such as “Sufis tend to be pacifists and defeatists “is not true nor are other comment of this nature, Tassawwuf does not teach this, additionally there is a strong emphasis in Tassawwuf to remain within society so that one may rectify wrongs in the community. Those who are not Sufis and comment on the beliefs of Sufis are similar to non-Muslims commenting on the beliefs of Muslims. I believe there are many misconceptions about Sufis, but it is the responsibility of all to educate themselves about Tassawwuf and more importantly for Sufis to educate others. Would you say the comment “Muslims tend to be terrorists and narrow minded” is fair or even remotely true, of course you wouldn’t, and what would you think of a non–Muslim who says “terrorism is an integral part of the Quran”. Tassawwuf does not teach to be apolitical, not engage the government to stand up for ones rights and so forth. As one who follows current affairs I would like to say, in reference to Realitys comments, perhaps the reason why governments are more willing to work with Sufis is because none of the terrorists thus far, were Sufi. They were Wahabi, Deobandi and Salafi, as for sheikh Hamza Yusuf being an advisor to Bush, yes he was asked to meet Bush, and he did, what is wrong with that, is this not what MPACUK is all about, engaging the politicians? In the aftermath of 9/11 he attended a meeting where there were members of other faith groups also present, and the Sheikh advised Bush not to invade Afghanistan. Bush, as we all know did not take this advice. If Gordan Brown was about to attack Iran and he Invited Zulfi Bukari, Asghar Bukhari or Iqbal Saqrani to hear their views. Would they not attend? Personally I would love to see Asghar Bukhari take on the PM.
(3)
2007-12-20 17:11:25
Ibrahim Hussain (2):
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If one attends a meeting, or works with the government that does not make those people henchmen of the government.
Another reoccurring theme in anti-Sufi comments is Tassawwuf teaches people to live in seclusion and this is unacceptable. I have already said Tassawwuf does not teach this, I would also like to add that the BMF is an organisation set up and run predominantly by Sufis they are engaging the government and taking them up on issues which are detrimental to Muslims, they are working hard to reform mosques in the midlands currently, and will in the near future spread their work across the U.K. If you were not aware of this and have posted anti-Sufi comments, please do research in to those who you are about to criticise. It has also been suggested Tassawwuf creates cowards, Slaah ud din was a Sufi, so were the brave Naqshbandi who fought the Russians and the Albanians who fought Milosevic. I however, do acknowledge, many things that have been said are true for individuals amongst the Sufis, as is true for any other denomination. I would like to know about MPACUKs opinion about all that has been discussed in the last week, I think it is important that it be made clear by MPACUK whether they believe there is a problem with Tassawwuf or just some people who claim to be Sufis but whose action are contrary to Tasawwuf. If it is the former then I am saddened, it was MPACUKs non-sectarian stance which I always found so appealing , there are other organisations out there that are doing similar work to MPACUK but MPACUK are/were unique in that. It would also mean MPACUK are not as mature and open minded as they claim to be. If it is the latter then the word Sufi describing those who worked on the Policy Exchange report should be removed and should not have ever been there as it is not of any consequence, it only leads to division and isolating some from the rest. And finally, I request, the many are not judged by the actions of the few. I pray Allah grants us the strength to be united in the face of oppression, and he creates love in our hearts for each other. Sincerely, Ibrahim Hussain
(4)
2007-12-20 17:12:25
Muhammed Junaid:
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These so called sufis are not sufis at all, since sufis put other muslims above their ownselves.
They are probably driven by groupism and brathery system that runs mosques, which feel threatened by independent muslim thinking that has justice and accountability. Until muslims make mosques for the sake of islam and not brathery then we will not free ourselves from village idiots and oppression.
(5)
2007-12-20 17:40:50
zayba:
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i have to agree with previous comments esp yussaini and ibrahim hussain (mashallah you are wonderful brother) mpac pls learn to differentiate the neo-cons are trying to abuse term sufi to mean someone who is an 'acceptable' and 'apolitical' muslim the fact is we are all influenced by the sufi way (esp indo/pak muslims) accept maybe salafis...secondly its 'biradri' not brathery (sic)...
(6)
2007-12-21 09:53:59
Sufi:
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Among the Sufis who aided Islam with the sword as well as the pen, to quote Reliance of the Traveller, were:
such men as the Naqshbandi sheikh Shamil al-Daghestani, who fought a prolonged war against the Russians in the Caucasus in the nineteenth century; Sayyid Muhammad ‘Abdullah al-Somali, a sheikh of the Salihiyya order who led Muslims against the British and Italians in Somalia from 1899 to 1920; the Qadiri sheikh ‘Uthman ibn Fodi, who led jihad in Northern Nigeria from 1804 to 1808 to establish Islamic rule; the Qadiri sheikh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jaza’iri, who led the Algerians against the French from 1832 to 1847; the Darqawi faqir al-Hajj Muhammad al-Ahrash, who fought the French in Egypt in 1799; the Tijani sheikh al-Hajj ‘Umar Tal, who led Islamic Jihad in Guinea, Senegal, and Mali from 1852 to 1864; and the Qadiri sheikh Ma’ al-‘Aynayn al-Qalqami, who helped marshal Muslim resistance to the French in northern Mauritania and southern Morocco from 1905 to 1909. Among the Sufis whose missionary work Islamized entire regions are such men as the founder of the Sanusiyya order, Muhammad ‘Ali Sanusi, whose efforts and jihad from 1807 to 1859 consolidated Islam as the religion of peoples from the Libyan Desert to sub-Saharan Africa; [and] the Shadhili sheikh Muhammad Ma‘ruf and Qadiri sheikh Uways al-Barawi, whose efforts spread Islam westward and inland from the East African Coast . . . . (Reliance of the Traveller,863).
(7)
2007-12-21 19:11:09
It is about today and tommorw:
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Among the Sufis who aided Islam with the sword as well as the pen, to quote Reliance of the Traveller, were: — SufiIt is not about what anyone did or done but what one is currently doing and will do - that matters. The likes of Imam Shamil(rh) of Dagestan- indeed were great men and Mujahideen and their legacy continues today in the Resistance of Chechnya – But show me examples of Sufis aiding Islam with the sword and the pen TODAY?? - Today many Muslims are oppressed in many parts of the world- where are the Sufis?? Look towards the activities of the current Naqshbandi’s such as the likes of Hisham Kabbani (who seem to be constantly serving the Neo-Cons!) – some have cited Dokka Umarov - the current Amir of the Resistance of Chechnya as being “Sufi” – whether this is correct or not – Allah Knows Best – but look to those in his command structure– they are Salafis or look to the foreigners whom came to assist them from the 90’s – all were Salafis. And ask the Sufi Naqshbandi - Hisham Kabbani about Dokka Umarov and the resistance in Chechnya today and he will slate them as “Wahhabi invaders” - pleasing the Russians. It is all understandable that the Sufis are getting all defensive about their sect when now the activities of some of their adherents are put in the spot light - which has shocked and disturbed a lot of Muslims – but it is absurd to pull out historical incidents of Muslims (be it Sufis) who resisted invasion/colonization and oppression in the PAST to support the Sufi status-quo of today - of being used by Neo-Cons for their agenda against Islam and Muslims? – I mean it is a basic principle for people to fight back when oppressed - so it is not supprising that "Sufis" in the past may have fought in the face of oppression. Dear Sufi brothers and sisters please do remember - it is from Islam to speak the truth even if it is bitter or against oneself.
(8)
2007-12-22 13:11:11
Brother:
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Sufi,
That may indeed be so and these facts are well known. The pertinent question is, do Sufis still believe in this noble tradition? Can you think of a single Sufi who would stand up against injustice today? Can you find any examples from 1900 to the present day? Please do remember to share that information with us when you find it -will appreciate it.
(9)
2007-12-22 19:43:04
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I believe it is not about what they promote or teach (which is another issue in it self)- but rather what is manifested from it either intentionally or un-intentionally and in most cases it may be the latter - many Sufis may be sincere in their way of life but it does not disregard the observation that Sufis tend to be pacifists and defeatists whether this is intended or not - we need to look at the bigger picture - if one chooses to pursue the path of Sufism and become rooted in it secluding oneself from society, busing oneself with excessive rituals etc and all in the name of undertaking the "greater Jihaad" then that is ones choice (whether this is Islamicly correct or not is another issue) - but if one billion Muslims one day decide to do the same thing - then we have a big problem in our hands.
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