‘The Post Charlie Hebdo Jihad’ The notion that Muslims resonate with and should answer for the actions of terrorist madmen who claim they are acting within the fold of Islam is, as George Galloway recently pointed out, just as ridiculous as the notion that Christians resonate with and should answer for the actions of terrorist madmen such as Anders Breivik (a self proclaimed ‘Christian Crusader’) or Wade Michael Page, who massacred six Sikhs who he mistook for Muslims at a Sikh Temple in Milwaukee while ‘defending the purity of white Christian society’. When the question of ‘what are Muslims doing to counter terrorism?’ arrises, the response by Muslims aught to be simple. When we live as Muslims following Islam we embody the opposite of terror. Islam by it’s existence IS anti-terrorist. By teaching Islam and highlighting any aspect of Islamic teachings, imams, mawlanas and community leaders ARE countering terrorism. This does’t need to be spelled out in a reactionary, defensive manner. People have to realise that Islam teaches the establishment of order, not disorder and we as Muslims have to articulate Islam well enough so that there can be no question of this. For Muslims, sometimes this isn’t easy. When questions are asked about references to ‘jihad’ in Islamic teachings, how do we respond?. Do we actually know the criteria through Islamic jurisprudence by which it is permissible for Muslims to take up arms?. Do we even know what the root of the word means?. Such lines of questioning require more than a response along the lines of ‘Islam is a religion of peace’. To lend support to the points I am trying to get across I draw your attention to two things: The First: A Jumua Khutbah (Friday sermon) entitled ‘Disorder on Earth’ by Imam Abdassamad Clarke. This is for those that would like to listen to how Muslims address each other when it comes to dissecting issues of terrorism, jihad and how we should live in the world at this time. The khutbah was recording in the Ihsan Mosque in Norwich two weeks ago, lasts 25 minutes, has been transferred from audio to video and edited to display a timeline index on screen indicating when subjects are raised. It should be noted that we usually record all classes and lectures that take place in the Mosque. In this case, due to the Imam’s articulation of relevant issues and offering of insight as to how all people in the world should interpret what we see in front of us, after the khutbah took place, it was felt that the recording should be edited and presented for wider viewing. It was not intended as such. It was not written, recorded and packaged as a PR exercise to garner public support in showing what Muslims think about terrorists. Rather it was written as all khutbah’s are. Articulations of Islamic teaching. An offering of guidance through Islam to Muslim community’s who attend their local Mosque every Friday. The Second: For others who want to further their understanding of key Islamic sciences that we feel Muslims aught to have a clear understanding of at this time, I invite you to the forthcoming Muslim Faculty of Advanced Studies ‘MFAS Residential’s’. Three weekends of six classes that commence on the 7th of February in which aim to cover the teachings of AQIDA, THE FIQH OF JIHAD and THE 40 HADITH. The cost is £80 per weekend with concessionary rates available on request for those that would like to attend but cannot easily cover the full cost. Attendance on site in Norwich is encouraged by not essential. The course can be followed online via HD video recordings of the classes that are uploaded in the weeks following each weekend. https://facebook/photo.php?v=10153578084565288
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 02:59:14 +0000
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