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The Foreign Secretary has called upon Muslims in Britain to act as “ambassadors for Britain,’ letting Muslims in other countries know what life in Britain is really like. British Muslims, more than anyone else, she says, are in a better position to be listened to abroad. In this, she is one hundred per cent right. What exactly, though, does she want these “ambassadors” to say? Does she want them to say that all is well for Muslims living in the UK? Or that Britain is a multi-cultural society where people of all faiths and of none are treated with equal respect? Or that Islam is revered and honoured in the press and on the television news? Does she want them to say that politicians do everything they can to make British Muslims feel at home and as much a part of society as any one else? If she does, then she is living in a fantasy world. Does she think, also, that British Muslims traveling abroad would even consider speaking out in favour of British foreign policy in the Middle East, linked as it is to the biased policies of the US in the region?
What, then, could these “ambassadors for Britain” talk about? Perhaps they could mention Race Hate crimes increasing by six hundred per cent after the London bombings last year. Or maybe how young Muslims are being targeted at university as potential terrorist suspects, or being stopped and searched on the street in a disproportionate way to other young people, or how Muslims are being prevented from boarding aeroplanes for fear of frightening other passengers. They could definitely mention the well-chosen words of Cabinet and other ministers, designed to sow seeds of doubt in people’s minds about the real allegiance and the real intentions of Muslims in Britain.
Isn’t what we need in Britain at the present time a united country, a united kingdom? Combating terrorism and leading our young people away from extremism cannot succeed in an atmosphere of mistrust and suspicion. Casting a slur on British people who are Muslim cannot unite the country. Playing upon people’s fears is not the way to lead a nation. Choosing one group as the scapegoat for the nation’s ills is not worthy of the great values of justice, honesty and decency for which Britain was once long revered.
So, where do we go from here, in a situation that threatens to spiral out of control? Do we settle for things getting worse and worse, or do we act? As Muslims, of course, we must to do something. It is only natural to become outraged at what is going on, but that is only playing into the hands of those who would vilify Islam and all Muslims. What we need now is for Muslims in Britain to hold their nerve and not to be antagonized into doing or saying things which do not belong to the sweet and gentle message which Islam brings. Muslims should not allow themselves to be intimidated by the bullies who want them to keep quiet and to do as they are told. No, Muslims have every right to have their voices heard. What we need is strong leadership at this time. And in Islam, leadership comes from the mosque. It doesn’t come from committees, however well intentioned they might be. Leadership for Britain’s Muslims will not come from those who sit on government task forces, and whose efforts are rewarded with knighthoods and medals. It comes from speaking the words of Allah to mankind.
Muslims in Britain need to show that they will not be taken for fools that they won’t settle for how the government wants them to speak and behave. The Prime-Minister calls for dialogue with moderate Muslims. We can all assent to this. But “moderate Muslims” does not mean Muslims who will just do as they are told. Jack Straw called the face veil a symbol of separation and difference, as though we would all be afraid of such a label. Of course it is a symbol of separation and difference. That is what it’s supposed to be! Muslims have values which are different to the secular values of those who have no place for God in British society and who would make religion seem irrelevant and somehow out of place in the modern world. Our beloved Prophet (pbuh) told us to live in this world as though we are strangers or travelers. Placing Almighty Allah at the centre of our lives and at the centre of British society is not a crime. It is, in fact, what will bring back some sense to a nation that has lost much of its sense of the spiritual. People in Britain are crying out for God in their lives, but they don’t know where to look to find Him. We know where the answer lies. It lies in the message of Islam and in the belief that there is only One God worthy of worship and that Muhammad is His final messenger, the seal of all other prophets.
Our Muslim communities need first of all to be strong in playing a full and active part in every aspect of British society. They need to be strong in showing the rest of society that they have nothing to fear from Islam, but rather that Islam has much to contribute to make Britain an even better place. But, most importantly of all, Muslims must be strong in faith, believing that Almighty Allah is in control. Our mosques should be places not only where we fall down in prostration in worship of our Creator and where we learn and recite His glorious message to mankind. They should be places, too, where we edify one another by good example and teach one another good Muslim manners. The answer to the dilemma of Britain’s Muslims lies quite simply in the revival of Islam in our hearts. If, instead of seeing us as lukewarm and slow to practice our faith, the rest of society could see us as faith-filled men and women, for whom Allah is everything, we might perhaps win their respect and even their love. If we just settle for knighthoods and medals we won’t be any different to anyone else. The best way we can be ambassadors for Britain is by living as good Muslims and truly being ambassadors for Allah.
Idris Tawfiq is a former British Catholic Priest who worked at the Vatican before becoming a Muslim. Idris Tawfiq now divides his time between Egypt and the United Kingdom as teacher, speaker and writer.
Idris Tawfiq UK TOUR
ORGANIZED by FOSIS (The Federation of Student Islamic
Societies of the UK and Ireland)
16 Feb: 6.00pm London University (LSE):
For venue, contact
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17 Feb: 6.30pm Glasgow University:
Charles Wilson Building, Gibson St.
19 Feb: 6.00pm Edinburgh University:
Appleton Tower LT1
20 Feb: 7.00pm Liverpool University:
Guild of Students
21 February: 6pm Roscoe Building LTB, Brunswick Street
Manchester University
22 Feb: 6.30pm Swansea University:
Grove Building (ground floor)
23 Feb: 5.30pm Bristol University:
Student Union, Brunel Suite
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