What can we Muslims in the UK do to combat extremism

[Justufy]

I'm getting increasingly fed up of hearing how Muslims in the UK don't do enough to combat extremism, how our silence on extremist matters is deafening and even that by doing nothing we are showing our silent support to extremists.

Now the questions i have are;

1- What can we do about the extremists?

2 - How can we distance ourselves from them?

3 - Will Joe public ever be happy with any of our efforts?

4 - Any other idea on how we can actually change public opinion that the majority of Muslims are normal folk etc etc...

5 - Anything?

I think that the best thing would be to consider the fact that you live in a country with values that are very different from those extremist muslim or even moderate ones share, the public does not have a very good oppinion of muslims in general, you all fit in the same basket for them. And the fact that silence is being kept in moderate muslim community is being seen as a form of support. For isntance when caricatures or satire are made of the prophet muslims get very vocal around the world, burning embassys and whatnot. I guess the people of the united Kingdom would like to see a little bit of that in regard to extremism.

 

[جوري]

What Muslims can do in England is rise up and turn it into an Islamic caliphate insha'Allah.. people will always have an opinion, who frankly cares? are you here to please people or please God?

 

[waqas maqsood]

it's my dog, cody after his bath. I thought the photo was cartoon like with the ears sticking way out. Anyway, he thanks you for the compliment on his appearance and returns the compliment, ugly human.

Ouch! Animal comment has really hurt my feeling! Lol

there are many things we can't see but know are there: Oxygen, radio waves, etc. The difference between these and gods is that these are detectable and tangible and theories are built around these which are then scrutinized in great details.

wow! Believing in science and theories! Thats like believing in fairy tales.. Some are true/some can be false

what about the moon, stars, mountains, river flowing,.... Dont you think they are there for a reason? Whos created those?

On person opinion, i cannot think of not believing in god. You kinda feel empty and hopeless...

 

[Justufy]

wow! Believing in science and theories! Thats like believing in fairy tales.

this quote made my day.

 

[جوري]

this quote made my day.

You should get out more!

 

[theblackcloud]

Muslims already do enough to combat terrorism. The anti-Islamic bigots just hurl hateful insults at the Muslims, while the Muslims actually ARE fighting terrorism and militantism where they can!

In fact, Muslims have done such a good job of cleaning up extremists from their communities, that the extremist elements have ran away to the Internet now. Even on the Internet, the violent extremist community is small. It consists of Youtube, and a couple dozen message boards and propaganda sites. That's it. Just wait until the Internet actually starts to develop laws of control around it, then that factor will be terminated as well.

 

[Ishaaq]

Muslims already do enough to combat terrorism. The anti-Islamic bigots just hurl hateful insults at the Muslims, while the Muslims actually ARE fighting terrorism and militantism where they can!

In fact, Muslims have done such a good job of cleaning up extremists from their communities, that the extremist elements have ran away to the Internet now. Even on the Internet, the violent extremist community is small. It consists of Youtube, and a couple dozen message boards and propaganda sites. That's it. Just wait until the Internet actually starts to develop laws of control around it, then that factor will be terminated as well.

You are right. What you refer to as extremists is actually the resurrection of an ancient sect known as the khawaarij. This ancient sect emerged during the time of the fourth caliph (may Allaah be pleased with him), they rebelled against the fourth caliph, believing he had compromised the Shariah law. Thus they rebelled and revolted against the Islaamic ruler, and assassinated him. They believed that a Muslim who committed a major sin was guilty of apostasy. Now the extremists of today have the same agenda as the ancient Khawaarij, they want to overthrow the Muslim rulers and establish an Islaamic super-state, because they believe the Muslim rulers to be apostates. They engage in acts of terrorism against other Muslims, considering all Muslims who do not follow their ideology to be legitimate targets. The Prophet Muhammad said regarding them that they are the Kilaab un Naar (The dogs of hell).

 

[theblackcloud]

The threat of Muslim extremism in America was determined to have been exaggerated in the media[1].

The media often defines reality for your every day citizen. Negative portrayal in forms of media about Islam goes back to the crusades, when Islam was pushing it's way forward to Christian lands. The ruling elite of the church sought to ensure that Islam would not steal their power over the people or gain any sympathizers in Christian lands [2].

 

[theblackcloud]

One can find plenty of Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Communist (...... leftist.....) and any other type of extremist out there if one knows where to look.

 

[Justufy]

One can find plenty of Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Communist (...... leftist.....) and any other type of extremist out there if one knows where to look.

This does not negate the fact that the most vocal and attention seeking type of extremist nowadays in the new-Kingdom is the islamic sort.

 

[Pygoscelis]

Can we all stop bickering now?

waqas maqsood, some scientific theories may equate to quackery indeed, such as alchemy or pyramidology, but good scientists work to expose the faults and the theories are revised or replaced as new information becomes available. Evolution and the big bang (mentioned above) are both theories that have ALREADY been revised since their initial presentation and will continue to be as more research is done.

This is the key difference between science and religion in regards to knowledge. Science is bottom up, asking the questions and trying to piece together the answers, never completely certain of the truth. Religion is top down, certain of the truth and declaring the answers, and usually discouraging questioners. Science works by questioning and research. Religion works by declaration and faith.

You asked what is my ideology if I lack a belief in God. First, understand that atheism itself is NOT an ideology. Just because I'm an atheist doesn't tell you anything about me besides that I lack a belief in gods. As a human being with opinions I do of course HAVE an ideology but it has no more to do with my atheism as it has to do with my gender, my race, or my height. I'd go into my personal ideology but this really isn't the thread nor the forum for it. My personal ideology would only get people here more wound up than they already are. Suffice it to say I'm likely the most liberal person on this board.

You also presumed that since I lack belief in gods I must live an empty hopeless life devoid of meaning. This simply isn't true. My life has plenty of meaning and is far from hopeless or empty.

Hope I cleared that up Now can we all try to correspond without the fancy attempts to insult one another? I'm interested in your thoughts and opinions. I'm not interested in all this mud slinging.

 

[aamirsaab]

You guys do know this topic is about combatting terrorism, right?

Just throwing that out there...