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| Masjid Reform = Reviving Muslim Identity? |
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| Wednesday, 25 January 2006 | |
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Identity. The Oxford dictionary defines it as ‘the state of being a specified person or thing; the individual characteristics by which a person is recognized’. Why is this you may ask? Many of us know the answer to this already. It ranges from ignorance to pure fear. Ignorance - some Muslims are so wrapped up in what is around them, such as parties, new technology, careers, cars, anything with a materialistic value. Anything else has no significance in regards to the Ummah and the political Jihad, which we have to fight against Islamophobia and the suffering of the innocent in Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan… Or to turn away in fear, due to draconian changes in the law i.e. terrorism bills. They require a ‘peaceful life’ and to conserve all the pleasures that they are receiving and continue to crave for more. If they put even a fraction of their time towards the actual reason why they are here in this world, and what they are to do here, they can maintain their identity, which is being a MUSLIM.
‘A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim; he neither oppresses him nor does he hand him over to an oppressor. Whoever fulfils a need of his brother Allah will fulfil his need. Whoever brings a Muslim out of discomfort; Allah will bring him out of discomfort on the Day of Resurrection. And whoever screens a Muslim; Allah will screen him on the Day of Resurrection. Mishkatul-masabih 2/422, Sahih Al Bukhari, Sahih Muslim. With public interaction with Imams, the message of Islam will convey further and build confidence in Muslims to live their lives the Islamic way.
Mosque leaders play a vital role in the Muslim community, and with their area of expertise, that is our religion, it defeats the purpose of their role if they are only there for prayers. Many of the youths are not aware of the Qur’anic teachings, whereas the Imams usually know them off by heart. Imams are the best people to explain the true meaning of Qur’an through proper examples of our prophet Mohammed’s (PBUH) way of life. So whatever question, query, or problem they may have, the Imams could advise them according to the Islamic teachings. Yes, there are problems that can surface when interacting with the youth, such as language barriers and familiarity with British society. However it is a situation that consists of compromise from both parties, but it is not one that cannot be accomplished. In addition to education, this would make people realise their true identity and embrace Islam further and therefore result in unity. Behold, the imam is but a shield from behind which the people fight and by which they protect themselves’ There are many organizations that endeavour to unite Muslims in communities, within diverse means. For example the Islam channel held the Global Peace and Unity event, which had a constructive day and facilitated a range of speakers such as Dr Zakir Naik to George Galloway and Yvonne Ridley. This event alone consisted of 25,000 brothers and sisters of every age. Which proves that such unity can exist. Nevertheless, unity beyond this needs to be entailed from listening to talks, and convert unity into action.
Brothers and sisters alike need to work as a team – a vital strength in which we are currently lacking. Collaboration is a necessity from organizations, to specialised authors of Islam - to build profound relationships amongst all so that they can ensure that we remain steadfast in our religion. Essentially the Muslim community craves superior Role Models. Individuals alone will not be capable accomplishing what needs to be achieved. Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) had his companions; the Sahaba who spread the word of Islam.           Readers have left 6 comments.
Fahd:
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Imaam Ibnul Qayyim talked about what people think is the fitnah of our times
. Imaam Ibnul Qayyim said about the ways of Allaah in this creation vis-a-vis the rulers and the ruled -> . And contemplate Allaah's ( Wisdom when He made people kings /people of authority, making them reflect the deens of the RULED, it is as if the RULED's deeds appeared in the form and deeds of their RULERS . if the RULED are upright, ... then their rulers will be upright . if the RULED incline away from uprightness, ... then their leaders will do the same to them . if the RULED transgress and oppress, ... then their kings/ rulers will do the same to them . if there appears deception and plotting from the RULED, ... then it will be the same from their rulers . if the RULED take away the rights of the people and become miser as to the rights of others, ... then their kings / rulers will do the same to them and deprive them of their rights . if the RULED take away from the oppressed /weak among them that which they deserve not to take in their transactions with them, .. then their kings/ rulers will do that towards the ruled's wealth and take what they deserve not, and impose tax on them and assignments . and whatever the RULED take from the oppressed /weak unjustly, .. then their kings will do the same to the ruled and take it by force . so the actions of the RULED appear in the actions of the RULERS and it is not in the Divine Wisdom that Allaah subhanahu wa ta'aala assigns authority to the wicked and evils ones, EXCEPT ones who are of their own kind . since the first generation was of the best generation and of the most righteous, ... so were their leaders righteous . it is not befitting Allaah's Wisdom that in our times ( Ibnul Qayyim's times) that those assigned to authority over us be the like of Muawwiya and 'Abdul 'Aziz, not to mention Abu Bakr and 'Umar, but rather our leaders will be in accordance with our condition . and the leaders of those before us were in accordance with their own conditions and ranks . and in both cases, this is entailed by the Wisdom of Allaah subhanahu wa ta'aala . this is the conclusion of Imaam Ibnul Qayyim concerning his times ... so what do you think about our own times? . . this is the Wisdom of Allaah, this pertains to Allaah's Attributes, He puts things in accordance with His Hikmah, meaning in accordance with what is proper / what fits and the objective of this ( His putting things in proper place) will be most perfect . this is the Wisdom of Allaah, putting things in their proper places and for a noble objective, When the people are not ready and are away from the deen of Allaah, what would you expect? Contemplate this very carefully! . And for those who hasten in making these roads for "deliverance", they make of them as the goal (getting rid of the rulers) when they are really the symptoms of the true illness that we have, the true illness is in us (the rulers reflect the ruled) , the concentration should be on us.
(1)
2006-08-17 05:27:27
anon:
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We muslims always hark back to the good old days of the middle ages when islam was at its peak but we forget that we also have our own role to play in implementing islam in our own lives.
What made the west look succesful and appealing was that it implemeted the learning from islam and even islam itself and then perverted it for capitalist reasons of the rich being able to get richer and mould it so it only beffited the few rather than the many. Islam is about implenting and doing rather than just preaching and critiscing for example how many islamic states have social welfare systems for those4 not able to earn a living when that is clearly a part of islam.
(2)
2006-08-17 11:57:30
mustafa:
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All you who criticise our mosques - why don't you set up your own mosques?
Or schools? You can then teach what you want. The fact is these elders have worked their backsides off building these mosques - and you wanna walk in there and tell them how to run it and complain when they don't listen. Gimme a break! Build your own mosques and schools! Maybe then you'll stop whingeing, cos you'll realise how hard it is and you wont have time to whinge.
(3)
2006-08-17 13:20:30
SirB:
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To MUSTAFA
Brother your comments are so typical of someone who doesn't quite grasp what is at stake here or at which junction we have arrived at, here in the UK in Europe. The 'elders' certainly did a commendable job in setting up masjids, but terrible planning and mis management of funds, (which incidently are funds raised by the community, ie US) not to mention total silence and ignorance of local and world affairs have left Muslims without a vioce. So is it not right we should have a say in the running of these places? The ONLY place to educate and enlighten Muslims en mass is through the Masjid. No we will not build another Masjid, because some taxi driver pot bellied village idiot doesn't like to face up to his wider responsibilities. The Masjids are OURS, get it, the old boys need to move along.
(4)
2006-08-17 23:39:56
mustafa:
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To SirB and anyone else. Ask yourself a few questions.
Who paid for the mosque? Who went round everywhere collecting? The Elders. Not you. They built them, they run them, they paid for them, therefore THEY have the right to decide what happens in them. I disagree with a lot of what MPAC do, cos I believe they are doing things the wrong way and what is at stake is lives. But that doesn't give me the right to tell MPAC to 'move along' and let me run their website! You're an idiot if you think it does. If you want to educate people your way, go and set up a Muslim School. We need Muslim schoos. You can then have kids 7 hours a day, far more time than kids spend in mosques, and you can teach what you like. Answer me that - why don't you build an Islamic school? I think its cos you can't be bothered - you just sit behind your computer all day, pointlessly debating and whingeing while real work needs to be done.
(5)
2006-08-18 11:00:00
Abu Abdul-Haqq:
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Assalamu alaikum
Excellent Article! Points very well made masah'Allah. Thankfully the brother/sister who wrote this article didn't engage in the unnecesary vitriolics which has made Mpac infamous, which are actually inconsistent with Islamic etiquette. Two wrongs don't make a right. The Imam's and mosque committee leaders definately are failing our communities in a big way. There are some that are changing, however i feel it really requires Muslims in their own communities to really start to ask the hard questions of the 'leaders.' Abiding by the Qur'an and Sunnah does not necesitate a 'preistly' class to protect it, but rather in making its eternal truths practical for our own times, where we can find solutions for our problems.I will be forwarding this article to some of the leaders i know.
(6)
2006-08-18 16:54:56
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