Bring your own Shisha

I started clearing out one of our bookshelves today and came across a little booklet called ‘Our Message’ by Hasan Al-Banna, founder of Ikhwan Al Muslimun, (The Muslim Brotherhood).

Just giving it a cursory glance I came across a heading called patriotism, and it struck me as so true:

“The Limits of Our Patriotism

The bone of contention between us and them is that while we define patriotism according to the creed of Islam, they define it according to territorial borders and geographical boundaries. For every region in which there is a Muslim saying: ‘There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.’, is our homeland, inviolable and sacred, demanding love, sincerity, and sincere effort for the sake of its welfare. All Muslims in these geographical regions are our people and brethren: we are concerned about them, and share their feelings and sensitivities. Advocates of patriotism alone are not like this, since all that concerns them lies within a specific and narrowly defined region of the earth. This obvious difference is manifested whenever any nation desires to expand itself at the expense of others, for we would not approve of this at the expense of any Muslim nation. We only seek power so that we may all share it. But the advocators of fanatical patriotism see problem in this; and as a result, bonds of amicable relationship are snapped, power is dispersed, and the enemy strikes out by pushing each one against the other

The Goal of Our Patriotism

This is one factor. The second is that those who are only patriots and nothing else seek for the most part to free their own country, and then afterwards to build up its strength materially, just as Europe is doing today. We, on the other hand, believe that the Muslim is duty bound to give up his life, his blood, and his wealth to carry out this trust, namely, to guide mankind by the light of Islam and to lift its banner high above the regions of the earth, without desiring thereby wealth, rank, or power over anyone, nor the enslavement of any nation. One should desire only Allah’s Face and the world’s happiness through His religion and the raising of His word. This is what spurred on the pious predecessors (Allah’s grace be upon them!) to those saintly victories which astounded the world and went beyond anything history had known in all it’s swiftness, justice, nobility, and virtue.”

You can read the whole chapter here.

I can’t believe I missed this one!!

The only thing I would say is that how some this info did not get refuted in the mainstream media as it should. I understand that this may have broken on or around the day of the second failed attacks, but surely this guy needs an apology (but this guy’s family deserves a lot more).

I remember sitting in my living room watching the news and attempting to write a report, to hear an account by eye witness Mark Whitby. I can’t find the account on the BBC website, but this has details.

“I’ve never seen anything like it…I saw them kill a man basically. I saw them shoot a man five times” - Mark Whitby

What was scary however to me personally, was Mark Whitby’s comments that the guy who ran onto the train was “Asian, Pakistani looking”. Photographs clearly show that this guy wasn’t really. Is this a demonstration of how people are seeing brown skin as terrorist?

So I was in London today. And in a taxi going from Green Park to Soho (yeah I was feeling lazy), and we hear on the radio that a series of security alerts have effectively shut down 4 locations and 3 tube lines. 2 of those lines would have been the ones I would use as the Piccadilly line is still out of action.

So there was a serious threat today and there has been an explosion on a bus again.

And in the meantime, the Muslims of Britain campagn published the following in all the UK’s national papers:

“..Whoever kills an innocent soul.. it is as if he killed the whole of mankind, And whoever saves one, it is as if he saved the whole of mankind” [The Quran, 5:32]

Not In Our Name

The Muslim communities across Britain are united in condemning the terrible atrocities of July 7 th in London .

We are united with the rest of the country at this sad time and pray for the victims’ families and those injured. We have also lost close friends and relatives.

Islam forbids the killing of innocent people. We reject anyone who tries to link such brutal acts to the teachings of Islam.

We will not allow our faith to be hijacked by a few extremists. British Muslims should not be held responsible for the acts of a few individuals.

We are determined to work with the wider society to remove pockets of all forms of extremism in Britain .

We urge the media and politicians to maintain the values of our open society, free from prejudice, sustained by tolerance and mutual respect that cares for all.

• We dedicate ourselves to work harder to serve the common good of British society.

• We commit ourselves to building better partnerships with schools, businesses, government and faith communities to address racism, islamophobia and social exclusion.

• We call on the international community to work towards a just and lasting peace in areas of conflict around the world to help eliminate the grievances that nurtures violence.

The unity of our society must be maintained and we should not allow divisions to emerge between citizens of Britain . We must remain friends, neighbours and colleagues and take Britain forward as one nation.

Muslims of Britain Campaign Supported by:

Al Birr Foundation UK n Al-Muntada Al-Islami Trust n Al-Quran Society n Arab Club of Britain n Association of Muslim Lawyers n Algerian Assembly of Europe n Al-Khoei Foundation n Algerian League of Britain n Bradford Council of Mosques n Bristol Muslim Cultural Society n British Lebanese Association n Confederation of Sunni Mosques- Midlands n Conservatives Muslim Forum n Council of European Jamaats n El- Nour Association n Eritrean Muslim Community Association n European Academy for Islamic Studies n European Trust n Federation of Islamic Organisations in Europe n Federation of Student Islamic Societies FOSIS n Glasgow Central Mosque n Imams and Mosques Council n Imams Forum- UK n IMWF Dewsbury n Islamic Cultural Centre ICC / Central Mosque n Islamic Forum Europe n Islamic Foundation n Islamic Relief n Islamic Sharia Council n Islamic Society of Britain n Kensington Mosque Trust n Lancashire Council of Mosques n Lebanese Muslim League n Leeds Grand Mosque n Leeds Islamic centre n Leeds Muslim Forum n London Muslim Centre n Luton Council of Mosques n MAB Youth n Markazi Jamiat Ahl e Hadith UK n Masjid Al Tawheed-Leyton n Mayfair Islamic Centre n Moroccan Citizen Advice Bureau n Muslim Aid Muslim Association of Britain n Muslim College n Muslim Council of Wales n Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre n Muslim Directory n Muslim Doctors & Dentist Association n Muslim Health Network n Muslim News n Muslim Parliament n Muslim Safety Forum n Muslim Scouts Fellowship n Muslim Student Society n Muslim Welfare House Trust n Muslim Women Society n Muslimat UK n National Association of British Arabs n Noorul Islam Mosque- Leyton n North East Scottish Muslims n North London Central Mosque- Finsbury Park n Pakistan Foundation n Pakistan Human Development Funds UK n Pakistan International Forum UK n Q News n Shariah Council n Somali Association of Britain n The Islamic Shariah Council n Tower Hamlet Council of Mosques n UK Islamic Mission n West London Moroccan Wedadiya n World Federation of Khodja Shia Ithna Ashariya WF KSIMC n World Islamic Mission - Scotland n Young Muslims Organisation .

A child is always a child. At 1, 5, 15, 18, 30, 60, 90. At all of those ages, a child is still a child to its parents.

So should a parent know what their child is doing and is thinking? When they are young, yes, but as they get older, they move apart from their parents and secrets are kept. So when the parents realise that their child is capable of a crime, how much of that parent’s life is destroyed?

This piece by Kahlil Gibran summarises how we should look at our children, which is something no parent will ever attain.

Children

Your children are not your children:
They are the sons and daughters of life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot    visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

” It may be that Allah will bring about friendship between you and those whom you hold to be your enemies among them; and Allah is Powerful; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. Allah does not forbid you respecting those who have not made war against you on account of (your) religion, and have not driven you forth from your homes, that you show them kindness and deal with them justly; surely Allah loves the doers of justice. ” (Qur’an: 60:7-8)

So where was I on Thursday 7th July 2005. I was in bed in the morning as I was on study leave. And I get a phonecall saying that there had been a series of explosions across London. So on comes the TV and I see what I have not seen in at least 10 years. Devastation caused by explosions that us Londoners had forgotten about. I was born during a time of Strikes and Bombs. The shadow of the IRA loomed over the UK and bombs hit everywhere. I remember one being in my local SHopping Centre. But then peace reigned over London until last week. The memories came flooding back as I saw the ripped apart bus, the people crying, the sirens wailing, and men and women in fluorescent jackets running round shouting into their walkie-talkies.

This has all the hallmarks of Al-Qaeda. Whatever that means. All I know is that as a born and bred Muslim Londoner, the reality of these attacks is very close to my heart. I have an affinity with this city which I cannot explain. My introduction to Islam was in this city. I have seen this city as the seat of my faith in Europe. Yet these animals want to destroy all that we as a minority faith have worked towards. I wonder, have they ever asked themselves the basic question, “What would the Prophet do?”

Explain why we must kill innocents to the family of Shahara Akhtar Islam, a 21 year Brit-deshi, who is still missing after 3 days. I wonder if she is/was considered enough of an infidel.  Or of course we could use that wonderful phrase “collateral damage”. There will always be casualties. But my question is, when will the majority of Muslims realise that their name is being dragged through the mud by these faith hijackers and will do something about it.

I heard Alkarim Jivani saythat this is considered ‘Pure Islam’, but I’m not sure what he means by that. I have always thought of Pure Islam as being submission to the commands of Allah, and striving to earn the love of Allah. Which brings me back to the quote at the top of this entry.

Oh and Rezwan, We’re all good Alhamdulillah. I have not heard of any of my friends or familybeing affected by this.

The Beeb again have a great set of pictures of Bangladeshi children who have had their sight restored thanks to Sightsavers International.

The piccies can be found here. There’s nothing gory, just pictures of happy children. I especially like the one of five month old Hassan Banna (number 9 in the set).

I’ve been thinking this for the last few weeks and this article on the BBC website prompts me to write on the subject.

It is Trade not Aid which will help the African continent. Wiping away their debt is a commendable first step. But until the same people who Geldof will look to for support are those who should be held accountable. The West has for too long looked on the ‘Dark Continent’ as something which is not really it’s concern but can be used to meet an objective (think of Nigeria and Oil). So corrupt governments are propped up and it is these governments who are the cause of the problem. We need to open up our trade borders and look at the aid we provide. Aid has its place in emergencies, but ultimately, it ends up in the pockets of the receiving government, or even worse, in the pockets of consultants who ‘help’ these countries spend the aid wisely. But trade should also be fair. When the price of commodities like Coffee, Tea and Chocolate fall, it is the small farmers in far away villages who suffer.

More info:

Make Poverty History

Trade not Aid

Fairtrade

<<End of Rant>>

* Ok. I will watch it. But I hope I got your attention.