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It's official, the Muslim community is so wretched we need a self-confessed Islamophobe: Martin Bright to speak for us, (Bright told a FOSIS conference last year that he had no problem describing himself as an Islamophobe) indeed the concerned man wants to help us to be free of our radical leaders ie: the MCB. Apparently the political Islamists at the MCB do not represent Muslims because 80% of British Muslims comprise of ‘apolitical’ Sufis whose voice is largely unheard. Bright very convincingly interviewed two people: Haras Rafiq (the owner of Bridges TV UK/founder of the Sufi Muslim Council) and Khurshid Ahmed of the British Muslim Forum to make this point, he offered no statistics to back up the 80% figure, nor were we told how he defines ‘apolitical’ or even ‘Sufi’.
The fact is Bright shows a great deal of ignorance when it comes to Islamic terminology: ‘Sufi’ is not a sectarian label not are Sufis inherently ‘apolitical’ many liberation movements have been led by celebrated Sufi/mystics for example in Chechnya/West Africa, moreover the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood (whom he trashes as radical Islamists) Hasan Al-Banna was associated with Sufism, as are all major Deobandi school scholars that in turn influenced the Taliban. Indeed many British Muslims may appreciate the mystical/spiritual attributes of Sufism and our grandparents may have practised shrine-centred folk Islam in the Sub-continent however in the UK this is not really central to our practices as Muslims. Most Muslims cannot claim to be Sufis as this is to be on the ‘Sufi Path’ and to have accomplished more spiritually than most are capable of.
MPACUK cannot claim to represent all the British Muslim community nor can the MCB, now the Sufi Muslim Council has been established which according to Haras Rafiq seeks to ‘fill the vacuum’ within the Muslim community by giving a voice to all the ‘apolitical Sufis’ whoever and wherever they are! Considering the SMC are very enthusiastic to work with the Jewish Board of Deputies whose representatives were also present at its launch we are a bit sceptical as to how representative they really are and what exactly is their ‘apolitical’ agenda.
MPACUK cannot help but agree with the MCB that the Martin Bright documentary was another brazen attempt to divide the Muslim community into political Islamists and apolitical Sufis and so to aggressively discourage political activism/participation, indeed to disenfranchise us. Islamophobes like Bright, Rod Liddle and John Ware are threatened by the increased political activity in the Muslim community and by the voices that clamour to be heard by the Government they would rather we remained silent and ‘apolitical’.
Tell us your thoughts on the new Sufi Muslim Council, since they claim to want to be representative get involved and get your voice heard.
Readers have left 13 comments.
Bridges TV are well known for upporting Israel, both in america (where thy sacked a pro Plestinian presenter) and here where thy backed Lorna Fitsimmons the pro Israeli MP that MPAC removed from power!
Salams,
Beware of Haras Rafiq.
He was the same guy who went on a politics programme last year claiming that Muslims don't care about foreign policy.
MPAC should have a record of it as one of your female spokespersons was also on the same panel and expressed the view of majority of UK muslims that unfair foreign policy is a major concern.
786
Salaam.
A lot of the quotes are in fact not the actual words that have been uttered by the members of SMC. There seems to be a witch hunt (already) by some organisations to try and ply a wedge between groups. In fact one of the groups announced that "SMC is an Israeli lobby" in the Daily Jang, without speaking to anyone from SMC. I have already had some dealings with these guys and most of the things that have been written are untrue. That is why they are quietly focussing on what they are trying to do. The MCB was inadvertantly doing their PR for them as they were feeling very anxious about a new group (Why?). MPAC can work with these guys on some platforms (especially the youth) as they have a very good infrastructure for outreach (through their partners). they also believe in DIALOUGE with all communities. Where that leads to? Not quite sure. Will keep you posted
i suggest that we ALL become members mpac, mcb etc after all what is any movement without members, and how can you influence any movement if you dont have a stake in it.
and surely the Sufi org. will be democratic and its leadership democratically elected?
we couldnt expect anything less ?
;)
One of the founders of SMC, seperated in a very messy case with Bridges TV in USA due to the stance that they took with regards to Palestine etc. There were other reasons as well. This seperation was at his own personal expense, and shows character. Just because he does not shout about it, it does not mean that he does not support certain causes. Jack straw was visited in his capacity as Foreign secretary, and Lorna Fitzsimons was there at Strw's behest. She was particularly anxious to be there as she (incorrectly) believed that the ex CEO of Bridges TV UK, lived in her constituency. After she discovered that he was outside of it, she backed off. This was a meeting that was suggested and recommended by a Muslim advisor in the Foreign Office, to look at how best to learn from lessons in the USA.
Many islamophobes are out there to divide the muslim nation. ( divide and rule) let us be united, we need to be now more than ever
All Muslims are Sufi, including MCB, MPAC, MAB as they encourage sprituality and connection with GOD, to do good, ecourage good and forbid evil and be good citizens. Therefore what is this nonesense about 'Sufi Muslim Council. I think the SMC should be a affliate of the MCB even with the 2 members they have, and beleive me it's is only 2, I know. Sorry 3 forgot about Mr Martin. Who is this donkey 'Martin Bright'. We all will fight these Islamaphobes. ALL pls join MPAC and support MCB.
How can people be pretending to supprt thi so called uncle tom sufi council after the Jewish Board of Deputies has endorsed them!
Can you believe it! The most pro israeli rats on the planet are supprting this council ..if that does not ring alarm belss we muslims are truly sleeping if not mad!
I see that the Sufi group had a speaker from the Jewish community at their launch.
It isn't anything neew bcos Sir Iqbal has regular meetings with the Jewish board of Deputies ..so it seems to me that the MCB ARE RATTLED by a new organise ..what are they worried about ??
Bismillah ir rahman niraheem
As salaamu alaykum (WRTB)
Very dissapointing blog indeed. It is very easy to hide behind an anonymous blog and insinuate allegations to people. As a convert I find the whole concept of hiding whilst eating a brothers flesh very unIslamic and make me question whether Islam is the right choice for me (I later realised that this is not what is preached in Quran and Sunnah). Also as a convert that knows 7 of the founders (including Turkish, Somalian, Pakistani and others) Sufi Shaykhs in the UK, I find the whole concept of lying re "Sufi Surveys" and the claim that no one has heard of them very distressing. Just look at the magazine, and you will see some pictures from some of the largest mosques in UK (including Leicester and Bradford). Also see the photograph of the eldest living Sufi Shaykh (from Pakistan) with over 38 centres in UK - Pir Mahroof. Whether I agree with all of the points that SMC are making or not, at least they are not hiding behind a badge of anonymity. This is a typical roose that we have seen regularly from some organisations to defame characters that do not agree with them. At least the SMC have the courage to stand by their beliefs and to try and make a difference. I and many other Muslims will be praying for their succes on this blessed night of Isra wa'l Mirage.
Having a picture of Pir Maroof in your mag does not prove he is a supporter. The vast majority of Sufi Muslims in this country are from the Indian subcontinent and those of us who know their Ulema know that Haris Rafiq and his motley crew have no support amongst them.
Everyone knows that SMC was set up by the government and has been consulting with Hisham Kabbani's people here for months.
Oh Dawood please answer my question that i asked u over on pickled politics, u claimed there to be a mureed of Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, to the best of my knowledge he has not recieved khilafat of tasawuff from anyone, please could u enlighten me as to who he recieved khilafat from and which tariqah he belongs to.
alot of people here singing the praises for mpac, some rightly some wrongly. i wonder if all these people will put their necks on the line in the community on isssues such as equal rights for women in islam, and yes i have heard the rhetoric about islam and womens equality before......... but will you let your sisters and your daughters and your wives go to the local mosque...............????????
mpac have done some good work on this issue............ anyone openly singing its praises.......?????? i guess its gonna go quite now!!!!!
Syed Abid Qadiri Jilani:
Quote
Sufi Muslim council is doing great job its a super movement and i think some people are loseing their adaab here please refrain from bringing past issues of hamza yunus and sheikh hisham here, those are scholarly matters, hamza yunus can not be classified a knowledgable sufi as in his lecture he stated that the prophet could not handle wahi mazaAllah and was about to astagfirullah i would rather die then utter on my lips, it seems more then anyone him and his people seem rattled .
Howeverm the guy beating the drum from pir maroof sahib please dont present your own dim wit some what biased opinion not only pir maroof but dr tahir al qadirir pir naseer ud deen nasir pir munawar hussain jamaati are all supporting the smc and these are some of the most influential spirtual leaders in the UK
So those here jamming the net waves with their rants take a hike and wtch this space.. The SMC is supported by a vast amount of the UK and i being a member of sirat al muslimeen and quatrain of Ahle Sunnah Wla Jammat south London make it clear the sunni and sufi youth is right behind the SMC and will be consulting them in coming days! InshAllah
God Bless the righteous Muslim and shame upon those after the seat let it be known you will continue chaseing dreams!
MPAC Should try and work with the SMC and see what can be acheived it will make MPAC heard at the moment no one really wants to hear MPAC especially after the programme on C4 alot of people have been given the impression that you alliances seem to be with Hizb ut tahreer
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