Vote Today, Muslim today and tomorrow and the day after that.

Picture from the SUNBLOG

We see it all the time.  The same old leaflets being handed out.  One particular leaflet caught my eye recently.  It said “Vote Today.  Kafir Tomorrow.”  It makes me wonder why some people believe voting is forbidden in our beautiful religion.  In fact this is so far from the truth.  The reality is gettinginvolved in the political system is high recommended for every Muslim.

One of the greatest things we have in British society is the right to practice Islam freely.  This religious freedom is an example of the contribution democracy has given to the modern world.  Many ‘Ulama have recommended Muslims to go to the ballet box as a way to be politically engaged to benefit not only Muslims in Britain but Britain in general. Read the rest of this entry »

The British Muslim: Conundrum, Compatibility or Contradiction

Written by members of the Young Muslim Advisory Group of which I am a member www.ymag.opm.co.uk

On 1st March, 2010, we once again witnessed the resurrection of the age old stereotypes that seem to have smuggled their way back into our minds, propagated by none other than Andrew Gilligan.

During the ‘Dispatches’ programme, which aired on Channel 4 on Monday evening, a string of false and baseless accusations about the Islamic Forum Europe (IFE), were displayed in front of us on national television. The sinister undertone of the programme insinuated that the Muslims associated with the IFE, and the East London Mosque, are a threat to the social, political and economic stability of our country.

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Meeting the Archbishop

Last week the Christian-Muslim Forum in partnership with MADE in Europe held what was a ground breaking and historical day. The day saw a new movement of young people of faith coming together as part of a global movement. Thirty young Christians and Muslims spent the day at London’s historical and very charming Lambeth Palace working together to develop a statement on how we as people of faith see ourselves as stewards of the earth and demand that more is  done to tackle climate change when the world leaders meet this December in Copenhagen.  The quality and the content of the document produced was amazing and can be read here

The Archbishop Rowan Williams with a Few Faiths Act Fellows

but what went beyond the content is what that statement represents.  I commented at the event that it is “a statement within a statement” – how powerful is the message that two different faiths can come together and using the passion of young people, the future leaders of tomorrow, demonstrate their shared values as stewards of God’s earth.   Today we come together on Climate change, Tomorrow it is the eradication of malaria and then achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Read the rest of this entry »

What are the biggest issues that you feel young Muslims in Britain are facing today? (300 words) – My Response

Below is my response to the above question.

Many young British Muslims struggle with issues of identity.  Second generation Muslims like myself have been born and raised in this country, attending British schools and surrounded by all aspects of British culture.  But there’s a dislocation between “outside” life and life at home and in the community. It often felt like I was living two different lives which I had to keep distinct from each other in order to get on with those around me.  I couldn’t see how faith fits in with modern life and has a place in today’s society.  I questioned how can I be both a Muslim and a British young person. There is often too much debate on what defines us – are we British first or are we Muslim first? As I have grown more confident in my identity and my faith, I have come to think that why should we separate the two? Some the greatest British values that we have in our society are the same as Islamic ones.

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Have your say at Copenhagen …

CMYF

The Christian Muslim Forum and MADE in Europe are holding the Christian-Muslim Youth Forum on Climate Change (CMYF) on Thursday 15 October 2009 at Lambeth Palace in London hosted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, our Founding Patron. The CMYF is your chance to tell those in power what they should be doing about climate change.

You can start right now on this website – so get blogging! The key issues being discussed at the Copenhagen summit are:

• Mitigation
• Adaptation
• Technology Transfer
• Funding

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The Great British Ramadan

Yumm

One of the greatest achievements that Islam has had is the ability to adapt to and co-exist in communities that traditionally are not Islamic. The early companions of the Prophet (saw) never imposed a new culture into a community but would bring in the beautiful aspects of Islam and live alongside the cultures they found. Now we are not talking about things that compromise the commandments of the Almighty but about becoming active members of the community we live in, showing that Islam is a way of life that is not difficult or a burden on people but beautiful and flourishing.

The same is true today – we are young British Muslims who have an identity of being British and yet hold dearly our beliefs – nothing can show this more so then the blessed month of Ramadan. As the moon is sighted to signify the beginning of Ramadan, our attitudes change and we make more of an effort to concentrate on our spirituality while continuing to get on with our normal British lives; we must go to work and yet we must try and get the most and best out of this month and we can do this like the companions who migrated to cities far from their original homes.
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Why I Love Being British

Union Jack

It’s the new age question that is all over the media these days – are we British Muslims or Muslims living in Britain? For me the question is completely irrelevant.

Why should we separate the two? Isn’t splitting the nation into Muslims and Non-Muslims more destructive to society? Who cares if I say I am a Muslim first and a Brit second? I wake up every day swearing that Allah is the one true God and Islam is my faith based on the final messenger Muhammad SAW and throughout my day I read about local and national issues, I support my local MP, I help lobby parliament on issues that are important to me. For example right now I’m writing to Prime Minister Gordon Brown to confirm his attendance as he is yet to do for the Copenhagen conference this December where world leaders will discuss the important issues of climate change and how it is affecting the world we live in. All of this in between my job, my prayers and whatever else I can fit in between.

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