How about having a beard and helping fellow humans? - or is that too much to ask.

not such a good word play,bad title,please change it as its offensive and also its confusing to non Muslims who will see it, and may think what the muck?

get my drift..............

you're right - but isn't that what the article's getting at? that don't do one and not the other?

lol best title ever, it's not offensive to islam or to fiqh at all.

the way i see it, it isn't attacking fiqh, but rather the pacified muslims' concept of fiqh - two different things in my opinion :)

keep up the good work mpac :)

The best of actions is to confront liars and deceivers and speak the truth.
whether they like it or not.

Please chnage the title.

It is deeply offensive.

And more offensive that it's Muslims that thought of it.

Is this real - change the title - it is offensive and this is not the way to get the point across.

First point... get it right we are also ordered not to criticise one another as there maybe something in the other which is better with Allah.

Yes I agree if we all stood up and all joined forces to fight for the rights of Muslims then yeah we could maybe cause a stir however no where in society does that happen. How many people do you see at the stop the war events?. Everyone feels angry about it but how many actually turn up???!!!

My point is yeah we need to stand and stand firm together but cannot expect everyone to do it and criticise others who do not feel as strong as us.

Empower and make stronger those who are willing and just shout louder!

Remember its not about quantity its about quality!

MPAC. Poor choice for a title - please change it.

and please don't quote the 'Batman Begins' dialogue "people need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy".

Emotive stunts like this further alienate potential sympathisers....me for one!

I believe that the title is appropriate.
Some of you may find it offensive.
However for recently converted Muslims in Britain like myself, it is useful because the expression the title is based on is on a too-often used expression in western culture.
The whole focus of the article is Fiqh, or "understanding" as it may be translated. The article seeks to promote the progressive understanding of Islam so that the Ummah can better themselves as a whole from learning from each other.

who gives a damn Zubair? your sympathising makes no difference, how about actually getting involved?

I agree with Adam in that the article isn't attacking fiqh, but rather those who trivialise it.

firstly you soft so and so's "on im offended, you offend my religion, my ppl, my wargh wargh"

find out what fiqh means.....Literally, fiqh means understanding, of course we all know its Islamic jurisprudence as well.

but by the way some muslims go on today about so called Islamic jurisprudence, you might as well tell them to "shut the fiqh up" cause thier version of fiqh and thier rethoric and thier lack of understanding and thier mental thinking is a whole load of "f*ck* anyway

It's possible to be involved outside of MPAC i.e. I go regularly to my local MPs surgery to lobby him on issues important to Muslims, I respond promptly to any publication that attacks muslims. I work with my local mosque to ensure that youngsters get more involved and more english is used in sermons.

And i've been effective...I've been doing this before I knew MPAC existed. I think MPAC is a good vehicle, it just needs a serious overhaul before I can think of joining and letting MPAC benefit from my experience.

I;m very interested to know how you're involved? Are u a covert MPAC rep perhaps whose job is to even out all critical comments, I hope your remit includes more than just that.

Regards

if alot of you started to think beyond the title and to what it actually means, u mite get the message into those thick heads of yours.
stop moaning about how offensive the title is and think about what it MEANS, and maybe instead of using this title as yet another excuse (surprise surprise) to avoid helping your ummah, learn from it and maybe act upon it?

Brothers/Sisters, Assalamu Alaikum:
This is not a suitable title, it is not offensive but it doesn't show the wisdom of discussing issues in Islam. No matter how do we think that we pass the message to others, what should matter is "Does it conform to the way of Prophet (SAW)". Just think about it, will the Prophet (SAW) use these kind of titles.....

Typically our Muslim brothers are more concerned about the title then the points actually made.

One of the biggest problems with this Ummah is we have become so superficial with the idea of saving others that we forget to save ourselves. I BELIEVE IN THE IMPORTANCE OF HELPING THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN OUR UMMAH WHO ARE IN DIRE NEED E.G. PALESTINE, IRAQ, CHECYNIA ETC. but if we fixed ourselves by praying 5 times a day, by growing the beard, by observing the hijab and so on (all ordered by the Quran and Sunnath!) then InshaAllah our imaan and taqwa will be strong that we can combat these issues by making dua and taking active part. Have we ever wondered why the ummah is in the way it is... in my opinion, one of the reasons is because we have left what is fundamental in our deen to pursue other things which we think is the fundamental of Islam. Maybe if did what was fundamental, what was commanded in our deen e.g. pray then InshaAllah we would be helped in these matters by the Almighty swt. The article / writer comments that we are so caught up in fiqh issues that we forget other things... well I will say the reverse that there are people who so caught up in Zionism this and Iraq that, that they forget their fundamental duty of praying and following certain prescribed sunnath. THEY USE THE EXCUSE of this work of lobbying for our brothers and sisters as a cop out of not praying or growing a beard. "Indeed successful are the believers who perform prayers with complete devotion" (23:1-2). If we fixed ourselves, maybe then we can fix others and InshaAllah Allah will guide us to that victory over the enemies of Islam. My brothers and sisters, save yourselves from the Hell fire first, don’t neglect your fundamentals to pursue other things. If we fixed our Imaan and really tried to attain taqwa, then InshaAllah we will have that victory by building on and working to gain the victory. AN ADVICE TO MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS AT MPACUK, PLEASE DONT USE CATCHY PHRASES AND PUBLICITY STUNTS. YES HELP THE UMMAH BUT DONT THINK US MUSLIMS ARE STUPID OR QUIET OR NOT HELPING THEIR UMMAH... there are many who do but quietly without sometimes what can be seen as showing off. I know many were and still are upset with your dispatches programme on C4 (with many seeing you selling out) and you Chairperson or what ever he is Bukhari or something saying and I quote "Democracy is the best thing to happen this world" on Sky News which personally upset me. Because the best thing to happen to this world is the Quran - The word of Allah swt and the example of Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) - a mercy to this world. If we followed the Quran and the example of beloved Prophet with true sincerity and taqwa... then maybe just maybe INSHAALAAH this dunya would be a better place.

Have to agree with SOA..twice :-p

Seriously though, im as active as a 3 yr old tanked up on blue smarties and will do whatever I can to defend the deen in the media etc but just like some take go to silly extremes regarding the basics others go the other way, so many people I know go on about politics etc but they don't even know how to actually pray and i don't just mean the actions. Don't abandon the true Scholars just because they are OLD, that's where the wisdom comes from. One writer, Ziauddin Sardar I think his name is, suffers from this as well along with his ilk, complete abandonment of the traditional thinking i.e. referring to hadith and quran and too much trying to be clever yourselves. And falling flat. We're not all perfect, true, but you have put yourselves in the spotlight so the onus is on you to try even harder. Keep trying that's all you can do. And to the excitables on here, chaaaaaalm down, chaaaalm down. Ah the zeal of youth, slowly it fades from me to be replaced by calmness :-)

Bismillah,
Dear Brother/Sister; before writing anything I think its important that you should know the topic very well. First of all, the issues you've mentioned in the first three lines are not related to fiqh as there are clear AHADEETHS for having a Beard, Miswak and keeping trousers above ankle. Even the lenght of the beard and miswak is not a fiqh issue, rather a cultural issue which you'll find in a particular muslim community as how they have perceived Islam.
Secondly the title; the problem with the Muslim ummah is not fiqh but the ignorance about the Islam. Fiqh is there to understand the Islam in the modern context, it addresses the issues that are faced by the Ummah today. Infact the colour of the hijab, lenght of the beard and miswak is the least important issues near the righteous jurists (Fiqhey), however these issues are commonly found in particular communities.
Thus I conclude with the advice that use the Title, which reflects that it has been written by a Muslim who consider using foul language Harram and inappropriate. As the message you wanted to give has completely distorted because of the title.
Jazzakallah.

MPAC are just so dumb, look at the way theyre justifying not to practice islam and just talk about politics which isnt doing anything for the ummah. You trying to help the ummah and forget about yourself??? Astaghfirullah. Just wait when MPAC's doors get closed along with the fitnah it is causing in the Muslim Ummah. I bet you wont even post this up MPAC???

lol i can see your comment :)

i don't think mpac are saying 'don't practise islam' but that you shouldn't use islam as an excuse for being lazy - use islam to be active! i don't see anything wrong with that :)

strange point you are making, mpac do not forget the fundamental duty of praying, in fact they are sayin gpray and then act, that to is a fundamental duty, please do not misquote the Quran to prove your point. A single line from a believer should never be abused in such a way, maybe MPAC can do an expose on why so many muslims think it is ok to misqote the Koran?

Salams everyone! Hope you're all having a great Ramadan.
1) The title although not the most appropriate of titles should not be a cause of so much controversy and emotion as should the subject itself and possibly should not have been deployed.
2) I used to believe a lot of the same as what MPAC used to write and with the same fire and passion but I am now 24 and I realised that sometimes its not the right way. You can get across your point equally well and convert your passion for the subject into constructive energy to achieve the same end result whilst still preserving a moderate image instead of attacking each other viciously as some of you seem to be doing. Sometimes our own (Muslims) perceive seemingly simple things misconstrued, we can correct them with patience and love rather than alienate them further and make them defensive.
3) I think whilst the tone of the article is a little hostile, it makes a good point. HOWEVER, I also firmly believe it is all about priorities. Islam is one of the most simplest religions yet when you consider Hadith etc it can also be complicated where you find yourself calculating exact % of Zakat you have to pay etc etc. I think its purely a matter of priorities. Do the most important things which are needed first as per common sense and helping out in a cause of the Ummah or playing a part to free the oppressed seems to be a far more noble cause than the length of miswaak however if a Muslim reaches this stage of perfecting his practice of Islam then there is no reason why he shouldn't do both? Hence it will only irk some readers if they feel MPAC are critical of trivial things they are doing, even if MPAC are right. You should change your approach a little. NEVER attack anything which is ordained in Islam or the people that practice them. Be gentle in convincing people because you do really have good stuff but I think it gets lost amidst all the controversy surrounding the way in which it is presented. Even if you believe that in your hearts and are angry as a result, you will only further divide Muslims and that is the last thing our Ummah needs if you write explosive articles criticising your own when they are not ACTIVELY doing wrong. Try to draw everyone into the fold of Islam. Practice patience and act tenderly toward the misguided and show them what Islam really is about :) Your passionate beliefs are drawing hostile responses from your readers because some of them feel they are being attacked or criticised and you know how seriously Muslims take religion. By telling them they are bad Muslims because they are practising some part and not another is not the way to go. You can tell them instead that they can be much better if they did so and so for such a cause because their lack of involvement is leading to such a consequence and we shall be held accountable for that on Judgement Day. Words are terribly powerful. The have the power to hurt and to heal. Use them wisely especially as you are responsible for a whole movement. Learn how to use them for maximum effect to the benefit of your cause. Ok your title made people read the article but instead of realising what you said is valid, they started in-fighting. Surely thats not the result you anticipated?? Sad that lives are lost because of war and apathy and your readers are arguing over wording..however this is life and this is the way you will yield the results you so desperately seek. You need to tap into the human mind and learn how to not irritate those whose support you need :)

You know the title realluy makes sense, all my life i have seen these muslims go talking about minor points of 'fiqh' they never raise a finger or even want to discuss wants really happening in the real world - are they 'fiqh' or something!

The fact of the matter is - most are more interested about how big their beards are or high the trousers should be, ask them when was the last time they lobbies their MP attended a march etc - and you will get into a pointless argument - about guess what ....fiqh!

I say the same now ...SHUT THE FIQH UP!

Hasan Fadal i very much like your comments, but may i place a counter argumement. The Muslim mind if given a counter argument, softly may well agree with it, but so many years have they been pacified by the trivial fiqh that they have been taught to make the priority over the mighty and urgent jihad, that all they will end up doing is pasively agreeing. The words 'you are right brother' will issue quickly from thier lips, and you will percieve they have changed into great muslims of old.

Only to find out that to utter these easy words meant nothing to them at all but mere pointless agreement.

If their mind is not shaken, challenged and they are not forced to re-think totally what they hold dear is absurd will they ever start to realise that all the things they think is Islam is nothing but the show of Islam - the reality being the pain and sacrifice for Islam that they have been taught to ignore.

Barbarossa, I agree to an extent you have a point and I was considering the same issue in my mind whilst typing my original comment and wondering why it is that few Muslims respond when you are gentle but most pay attention when you enrage them, however my case still stands...if you look at most of the comments on this page it pertains to the title!!! What about the initial important issue which MPAC are trying to highlight?? Attention is diverted away from that totally. I still don't think Muslims should criticise each other when we are referring to someone who is doing something they should be, like I said persuade them to understand the priorities. On the other hand, its important to educate those not observing important things like salat, hijab and political jihad to guide them to the right way. Its a shame that people don't use their feelings to work for a greater good. I'd say we are just apathetic. The number of times I have seen people get upset over the Iraqi invasion being covered on tv etc but the same people have done nothing actively for the cause. I haven't either by the way so I'm no better. I'm focusing on Palestine right now :)