This article was written for a leaflet given out at the event: ‘Spiced Spare Ribs’ hosted by the Radical Middle Way on 25th April in the London School of Economics.
http://www.radicalmiddleway.co.uk/events.php?id=2&art=28
Non-Halal Spare Ribs: Does Western Values corrupt the Islamic Mindset?
The four highlighted questions raised by the Government funded secular organisation, the Radical Middle Way are:
Does British Islam need liberation from male leadership?
Is there a lack of ‘good Muslim men’ out there?
Is there a role for mothers in the ‘war against terrorism’?
What is the relationship between families and violent activism?
Islam is a way of life that came to liberate mankind from the darkness of ignorance to man’s purpose and his life’s relationship with his purpose. But the western governments seek to keep Muslim minds enslaved under a secularised ‘reformed’ Islam that can be moulded into whatever is convenient to it’s materialist tastes.
Therefore, it is not for us to use the term ‘British Islam’ like it is some different version of Islam, nor should we use a term given to us by the British Government. Rather, we should use the term ‘Muslim’, because the only thing of Islam connected to Britain is the residence of some of it’s 1.8 billion followers.
As for the call to ‘liberation’, it should be noted that the Western crusade for the ‘liberation of Muslim women’, has seen nothing but propaganda that portrays women who wear hijab as ‘oppressed’. It is then characterised by fashion shows and talks, pushing concepts that seek to define women who cover as veiled sexual objects requiring ‘expression’. Furthermore, those women that reject the Media and the government’s ‘persuasion’ become subject to sweeping bans on hijabs in schools. Indeed, Muslim women are need liberation, but it is liberation from the vicious attacks on their honoured Islamic identities and clothing by the West, and not the laws of Islam.
Islam has defined noble behaviour and the obligation to look after responsibilities, as essential obligations of a Muslim male believer. Conversely, Western attitudes and culture have created a self-centred, materialist outlook on life that naturally causes Men to have a sharp aversion to commitment, empathy and refined Islamic manners.
If we notice that Muslim male community is suffering from traits similar to what we can observe in western males, then it can be safely surmised that the cause of such afflictions is the western culture and mindset, upon the minds of Muslim males. It is because of the adoption of Western ideas that a lot of Muslim males now also possess the inability to handle responsibilities (to spouses), stay faithful and not flirt with other women at work. Adultery is the second highest cause of divorces in England after ‘unreasonable behaviour.
The solution is the positive rejection of western culture and ideas regarding Male and Female relations, the rejection of ‘traditional Asian’ culture which possess anti-Islamic practices and the affirmation amongst the Muslim community of the ideals, laws and solutions that Islam can give to solves their problems in life, marriage and relations with the opposite gender.
As for the causes of violent activism, one need only look towards British and American foreign policy to see very clear correlation between invasions, cluster bombing and torture on one hand, and violent reprisals committed in angry (but at times misguided) retaliation.
The question of the role for mothers in the ‘war on terrorism’ is a deeply sinister and sickening one, it suggests that if the mother does not imbue her child with western values, her son (or daughter – as terrorists are equal opportunity recruiters) will commit a violent suicide that kills and maims many others. This deliberately leaves out the question that should be asked: what is the role of mothers in the Islamic revival and awakening?
The answer to that question, lies in the seeking, teaching of knowledge and work to carry the call of Islam until the establishment of an Islamic state (Khilafah) that will give all Muslims, male or female the opportunity to fulfil their potential to the fullest capacity in the pursuit of their Deen.
