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We need to stop reacting, begin to really understand our priorities, and start contributing. It’s our time to act.

A very close non-Muslim friend from primary school added me on Facebook the other day. I was surprised but pleased that he remembered me, and I spent some time reminiscing looking through his profile. Unfortunately, my heart sunk when I saw that he had been strongly for the ‘Draw Mohammed Day’ and had even designed some distasteful images of the Prophet in the name of ‘Freedom of speech’ (according to his profile). This got me thinking… Firstly, how should I react to this? Secondly, do we as Muslim know enough about our beloved Prophet to engage in discourse with others about him?? I'm fairly certain we all saw the wall of the group “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day” a few weeks back. A cursory glance at the posts on the ‘wall’ of the group made it clear that the outcomes had little to do with promoting freedom of speech and everything to do with insulting Islam and generating anger. Once again, the question of free speech versus respect for religion received world attention – but this time through a medium we ALL engage with on a daily basis. Continue reading "Buckle up sisters and brothers"...

This article was sent-in on behalf of Mohammad Rana Farooq

Islam is a natural Din (practical and complete code of life) which enjoins tolerance and moderation in everything that matters. The Holy Qur'an states explicitly:

Kuloo waishraboo wala tusrifoo innahu la yuhibbu almusrifeena.

"Eat and drink, but waste not by excess, for Allah loveth not the wasters." (7:31)

Salat (prayer), fasting, zakat (obligatory charity) and hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) are all ritual practices of worship but these too are characterized by moderation. There are occasions when offering prayer is forbidden by Shariah. The observing of fast is tempered by sahr and iftar (having pre-dawn and post-sunset meals before and after fasting). The Shariah has imposed strict restraint on constant fasting without taking recourse to sahr and iftar at a stretch. In order to safeguard one's chastity the institution of marriage has been made compulsory so as to realize the natural urges of biological need. Spending in the cause of Allah is a laudable act but it is conditioned by limits so as to ensure a balanced approach that one may not squander away all and go himself a begging.


Continue reading "So, what's up with music in Islam?"...

So, Bilal Hassam e-mailed me for a while about a Nasheed-artist from Canada named Nader Khan. I was interested, but didn't have the opportunity to meet him or listen to his Nasheeds. Well, today in the morning I received a text-message from Zaigham Khan, saying that Nader Khan and Hamza Robertson will be performing in a school just around the corner from my place.

As I wanted to avoid any disappointment in Bilal Hassam's sense of "good" Nasheed, I didn't look Nader up on the internet. As I got there, I came across a lot of familiar faces saying that they were there for the same reasons as I am.

I walked into this room full of brothers and sisters and couldn't figure out who Nader was (as I never looked him up, remember?). So, I just sat quietly waiting till they would announce his name.

Later on they announced Nader's name and wow! You know, I can't really describe how it felt, but it's for you to experience. Here the video as I saw it live today with Nader Khan!

I will be meeting Nader Khan tomorrow again in a private gathering, in case you guys got any questions for Nader, please do send them to info@muslimsinengland.com

A couple of days ago our house was broken into by 3 youths. I am sure that many of us have fallen victim to this and so can empathise with the total feeling of invasion.

Thinking that ours was a typical Asian household, they did not bother with anything downstairs, but totally ransacked the upstairs looking for gold, jewellery, and money. None of which we possess. On failing to find anything valuable, they returned downstairs to try and take the flat-screen, which unfortunately for these fools, was bolted solid to the wall. So, in frustration, they decided to punch it instead.

Continue reading "Broke in more than just a house!"...

O, here I go with my post election blues. I was all ready to title this “Hung, drawn and quartered”: a bitter reflection on the Liberal Democrat loss, but I have decided to try and be a little less biased from the start. Let’s see if it will actually work.

I guess I didn’t really believe that the Liberal Democrats would win but the hope was there, and it may not even be that we wanted a Liberal government but I think what we were all hoping for was a change. I was so sick of seeing the same old politics, the same old parties, and the same old same old. NOT that the Lib Dems were really that drastically different but a refreshing thought nevertheless.

Continue reading "Post election Blues "...

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The “halal bond” of two cultures, or rather said getting married to someone from a different culture. More and more people leave their own boys and girls aside and choose to be with someone from a strange culture. But this process doesn’t run smoothly. Just imagine, you’re a Pakistani and you come home with an Indian, believe me, this is where all the trouble begins, and there are not much people who will accept this with a big smile on his or her face. These two cultures are very close together and have much in common and still it isn’t accepted. What will happen if you bring home a Englishman and yes he is converted. If we’d go into details, then the youth would not find anything wrong with it.

Image: www.paklinks.com

Continue reading "Wedding The Halal Way!"...

Ok it’s not SUCH a giant problem but I wanted that title. Now on to the topic of the day… The Hand Shake screams

There’s a lovely lady whose family I work with; upon our first meeting/interview she said, ‘We’d love you to work with us, but I feel like I need to tell you something: we’re a Jewish family. Will that be a problem?’

Which was incredible because until that point I thought there was a chance we may be distant relatives, as she shares the same surname as my Swiss Grandmother. True story readers!

Anyhoo, I’ve loved them ever since. Whilst playing with her son she’ll ask, ‘Would you regard the term ‘Islamist’ to be offensive?’ and our conversations are always random, diverse and relevant. She has an incredible understanding about similarities between Islam and Judaism, and the difficulties religions face in the modern world.

Introduction over, now back to the story.

Continue reading "One small shake for man, one giant problem for Muslim-kind"...

If there’s one place which evokes a flurry of extreme reactions it’s… a i r p o r t s.

I remember the first few times there was nothing more exciting. Lugging our cases around in a perpetual state of nervous anxiety, our eyes couldn’t move fast enough to take it all in. The smell, the whirlwind of people, the chitter-chatter of a hundred languages, laughter, tears, life itself coming and going: all in one little terminal.

Fast forward a few years, I now seem to spend half my time in airports and there’s still nowhere more fascinating. Watching people emerging from arrivals, blinking in the light of their new, albeit temporary abode, on a conveyer belt of happiness- seeing the moment their blank tired faces suddenly transform into the million dollar ‘ding’ smile as they reach their loved ones. Each has their own story to tell. Then there are those on business- and those whose smiles you never get to see. Continue reading "The Airport"...

I looked at her once, and twice, and yet again. I did not smile at her as I did to everybody else, oh no, I wasn’t about to make her the recipient of my affection. Instead she smiled at me, the cheek of it all, but I merely looked away, ha! A smirk passed over my face and my eyes became cold, devoid of emotion. I crossed my arms and held my chin high. My heart suddenly clenched, what was unseen though was the little green arrow that pierced it. I didn’t realise, but the arrow rapidly spread a vile poison throughout my body and my mind gulped it all, producing all sorts of loathsome thoughts about that girl. Just because she has the beauty, wealth, and authority, just because she has it all, she thinks she’s better than me. I became certain that if I had all that, I would be so much higher in status than her… I became envious.

Continue reading "The Green Arrow "...

He's called Prince Naz and attracts over 100 million people on TV. Before entering the boxing ring, whilst entering the ring and after leaving the ring, Prince Naseem Hamed's team reads Allah-u Akbar [Allah is The Greatest] in front of one million people...

Continue reading "Prince Naseem Hamed"...