:bism:
Welcome to the Forum, bro!
Well, I have mostly grown up around non-Muslims, and I honestly can't claim equal access to the Muslim community because for most of my life that hasn't been the case and even now I don't think it is. I have grown up in the U.S.; so, as an American, I also have a different experience than what you might have experienced in the U.K.
That said, I can understand your concerns; and I'm not saying that yours is not a legitimate concern. Because I think it is. I'm sure, for example, that if if I were in
Daesh controlled territory, I'd be dead even though I am a Muslim for (a) either trying to escape or (b) speaking out against injustices of "Dawlah" ("State") and thereby excommunicated or (c) not recognizing al-Baghdadi as a Caliph because I don't.
Extremism is a reality, even if it is in few numbers, among the Muslim community; and you and I cannot deny that as fact or bury our heads in the sand. It simply
is. Some Muslims are terrorists and some are even if not terrorist terrorist-sympathizers; in either case, this position is dangerous, and you and I are in an era wherein years of foreign aggression has bred this hot-headed mentality in generally young Muslim males. It is really hard to combat this extremist ideology because people who believe in this ideology are young, hot-headed, deluded and jump to
takfeer (excommunication).
Honestly, many of these modern-day terrorists are
Khwaraij, and the solution 1400 years ago given by Prophet :saws:
(peace and blessings be upon him) was to kill the
Khwaraij as Prophet :saws:
(peace and blessings be upon them) said, "If I were to ever find them I would kill them like 'Ad.'" Because there is no reasoning with these type of deluded peoples; they kill Muslims and also innocent non-combatants from non-Muslims, and they scorn Muslims who do not join them as cowards and deviants and have hatred for people whom they say are
kaffirs (non-Muslims),
mushriks (polytheists), and even specific Muslim nations and Muslims generally in any government or any governmental army because the terrorists say these Muslims are apostates.
As Muslims, we also say, "AllahuAkbar" ("God is Great") but we strive to show that in our character, actions, and mannerisms. We live the reality of the words; however, people of
Khwaraij mindset have words that come out of their mouth but does not go beyond their throats as explained by Prophet :saws: (peace and blessings be upon him) because they are mostly sadistic and have a sociopath's minute understanding of Islam. Islam is on their lips but
not beyond their throats to their hearts, and hearts is wherein it should reside as a brightly burning candle to light the darkness in the world. We reject these people, and we reject their version of Islam. We as part of billions of Muslims reject them and will continue rejecting them because we do not accept evil in the name of Islam.
As Muslims, honestly, we can afford to neither fear terrorists nor non-Muslims or anyone or anything else in the world, and we must strive to remember the words of Prophet :saws:
(peace and blessings be upon him), "
Be mindful of God, and He will take care of you. Be mindful of Him, and you shall find Him at your side. If you ask, ask of God. If you need help, seek it from God. Know that if the whole world were to gather together in order to help you, they would not be able to help you except if God had written so.
And if the whole world were to gather together in order to harm you, they would not harm you except if God had written so. The pens have been lifted, and the pages are dry."
Ironically, I do see a lot of non-Muslims in our modern times exhibiting the characteristics of Muslims, whereas many Muslims are leaving the characteristics that should ideally define us as Muslims: trustworthiness, goodness, truthfulness, kindness and acts of selflessness. That is why I think if you really want to feel close to Allah
SubhanAllahwaTaala (Glorious and Exalted is God), read the Quran and study with scholars at their feet and be careful about looking to ordinary Muslims in your everyday life to represent Islam because our characters are not the best even if we have the best example to follow in the Prophet :saws:
(peace and blessings be upon him) and best way of life in Islam.
Wishing you health and happiness,
I agree with all you've said in this post. But as a Muslim brought up in the UK with open and equal access to both Muslims and non Muslims, in my experience it is Muslims who are insular and less inclined to mix and discuss the issues like ISIS, al shabaab, boko haram, al Qaeda, Taliban etc., etc. In fact looking through the posts on this forum all I can see is denial and claims of Islamaphobia. Phobia - fear, events of recent years and the actions of the numerous murderous groups ALL of whom shout allah uh Akbar before murdering innocent people makes me fear Islam and I'm Muslim!
:wa:
