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When Islam came to the Arabian Peninsula in 7th century AD, it was a call not only to guidance but a call to sanity. I feel somewhere along the way, many of our fellow Muslims have allowed their anger over prejudice, persecution and marginalisation to cloud their sanity.
One need only read a single placard being waved by well-intentioned (?) yet ultimately stupid Muslims in recent protests to see what I am saying:
“Freedom go to hell”
“Slay those who insult Islam”
“Europe you will pay your demolition is on its way”
“Europe you pay your extermination is on its way”
“Behead those who mock Islam”
“Butcher those who mock Islam”
“Be prepared for the real holocaust!”
and most recently:
“Kill Geert Wilders!!!”
Now, living in the U.K I have never met any Muslim who agrees with these sentiments, these people are clearly in the minority. My question is - how can we educate these Muslims? The issue is beyond them being “reactionaries” – there is nothing wrong in principle to "reacting" to injustice - this is in fact imperative. I am not for one second suggesting Muslims should allow themselves to be walked all over by the right-wing media and politicians - but it is simply a case of how we react, which is not only playing into the hands of the right-wing media and political parties, but it is more importantly against the example of the Prophet (pbuh).
One need only remember the story of the old Jewish woman who threw rubbish on the Prophet (pbuh) every day as he walked to the mosque (not just drawing cartoons or making films). He tolerated this with patience, without showing and anger or annoyance. Then one day when he passed the woman was not there to throw the rubbish, so the Prophet (pbuh) asked where she was. When he found out she was sick he asked to see her and make sure she was being taking care of, saying that if any one is sick, a Muslim should visit him and should help him if his help is needed.
So my question is, what can we Muslims do to call these brothers and sisters back to the true Islamic character and the patience and presence of mind which we are commanded to observe in the face of adversity? I somehow get the feeling these people don't attend the same talks we do, let alone talks in general. We are always so focussed on the outer threats but we never seem to want to get our own Ummah sorted.
Surely Allah will not change our condition until we change ourselves...
One need only read a single placard being waved by well-intentioned (?) yet ultimately stupid Muslims in recent protests to see what I am saying:
“Freedom go to hell”
“Slay those who insult Islam”
“Europe you will pay your demolition is on its way”
“Europe you pay your extermination is on its way”
“Behead those who mock Islam”
“Butcher those who mock Islam”
“Be prepared for the real holocaust!”
and most recently:
“Kill Geert Wilders!!!”
Now, living in the U.K I have never met any Muslim who agrees with these sentiments, these people are clearly in the minority. My question is - how can we educate these Muslims? The issue is beyond them being “reactionaries” – there is nothing wrong in principle to "reacting" to injustice - this is in fact imperative. I am not for one second suggesting Muslims should allow themselves to be walked all over by the right-wing media and politicians - but it is simply a case of how we react, which is not only playing into the hands of the right-wing media and political parties, but it is more importantly against the example of the Prophet (pbuh).
One need only remember the story of the old Jewish woman who threw rubbish on the Prophet (pbuh) every day as he walked to the mosque (not just drawing cartoons or making films). He tolerated this with patience, without showing and anger or annoyance. Then one day when he passed the woman was not there to throw the rubbish, so the Prophet (pbuh) asked where she was. When he found out she was sick he asked to see her and make sure she was being taking care of, saying that if any one is sick, a Muslim should visit him and should help him if his help is needed.
So my question is, what can we Muslims do to call these brothers and sisters back to the true Islamic character and the patience and presence of mind which we are commanded to observe in the face of adversity? I somehow get the feeling these people don't attend the same talks we do, let alone talks in general. We are always so focussed on the outer threats but we never seem to want to get our own Ummah sorted.
Surely Allah will not change our condition until we change ourselves...
