anyone else loosing sleep over this, i am curious about people’s thoughts and solutions/ ideas etc.
Re: future of Muslims and Islam
there's a famous saying " united we stand , divided we fall " and the consequences muslims r facing today r no doubt the mirror image of this quote, which is a matter of concern for most of the optimistic muslims , giving them not just sleepless night but an annoying uncertainity and insecurity about future.
Re: future of Muslims and Islam
unless we all unite and all Muslims have a sense of unity ( we must curtail and ideally eradicate the conflicts, be they shia/sunni, or inter provincial from different parts of the countries i.e. Iraqi Kurds and shias and sunni must not fight among themselves, Pakistani Sindhi, Punjabi, Balochi, and Pashto should get over the arrogant attitudes towards each other.), self reliance for fulfilling the necessities of life indigenously, an understanding to only be friends with good people, from other races and religious back grounds, who are not pawning with our religion, our ethos & a sense of security in the world, then we have a future.
Muslim generations must look at the bright life and not the past glory by itself, nor live in despair.
we need to make it our nature to build ourselves, no matter how weak we are, Muslim women have a huge responsibility to be the anchors and teachers through their roles in a family as well as citizens of states, to only work toward the best, & with Muslim men, lay the responsibility of strengthening and protecting the nations & the Islamic states' independence - be it in the economic, political as well as social spheres.
in relation to the contemporary modes of governing states and the nationalist ideas, or the models of governments which are essentially created for and by the non Muslim systems, with the agencies, agents who operate from the frameworks of self agg*****zement, media and corporate black worlds, we, as Muslims, have no comparison.
our governmental & economical systems are free of the contaminants such as greed and supremacy.
we ideally should have nation states which have a circulation of monies going around in the form of charities, all people of work force age, are working to earn their decent livelihoods as well as contribute into the countries' treasury for the 'public' to have the equal distribution of the shared lands' resources. ours ideally is a 'state and the state's person-responsible' idea of governing the country.
we cannot have the false luxury of shoving social reform on any outside elements, on conveniently using others as our scapgoats, on damaging others by our misconstrued allegations to cover our own flaws (within our countries or without), we cannot have traitors, we cannot have bigots, we must not be sell outs to the wicked governments of the rest of the world. we must learn to call a spade a spade.
we can still do trade with them, we can still be travelers in other countries, but it does not mean, that we need to fade away our core set of convictions as a separate entity in terms of, a distinct people, with a living system characteristic of Muslim hood.
now, if it sounds, patriotic, fascist, or other wise Muslim fundamentalist, so be it.
to preserve something in its original state, it has to have the properties of that object whose state we want to preserve. its a simple law of physics.
u cannot expect water to become gas, and yet still drip!
we can be intellectual, we can have fun, we can be a bit mean :>, we can be in competitions, albeit not nudity or arms race ones, but the good kind of competitions to brace ourselves in the international community.
we should have our secured, inventive, educational institutes and medical facilities, infra structure, transportation systems, housing areas, industry and agricultural systems. even our grave yards need to speak of who we are. we must have clean living, inside out, as people, & as communities.
we should have our libraries that contain documents from the islamic and the rest of the world' s history so that we can have a guide line to see where we are at, where we evolved from as a nation 'ummah' and where are we suppose to head. if need arise, then our islamic legal jurisprudence system will suffice & take over the decision making.
we must build our own monuments, & not sky scrapers that do not suit the shifting sands, geography of the Arabian peninsula, our architectural, performing and visual arts have a cultural and traditional value, that must be preserved by further creativity in those skills.
women and men should be proactive in teaching the younger generations of Muslims to be strong, intelligent in deciphering who is sincere, in the world community and who is not. religious teaching is essential and we should not feel guilty of it. we must not make the world media, make us feel as if we are missing out on the immorality that looks like adventures of the vibrancy and ambiance of the glittery glam of the miserable over rich, empty minds and failed lives.
that said, one more important thing is that we, as Muslims, must become more friendlier to different Muslim countries, snap Saudi Arabia’s monarchy's out of the palm beach resort in Dubai’s mentality (SA is crucial as it contain our most revered holy sites and as believers, we must have that country in order to be an example leading state for the rest of the ‘ummah’ from Indonesia to Sudan),
& we must have a deterrent effect when it comes to protecting our countries' borders which means that we should have capacity to keep at bay the ploys of those governments, nations and countries who are jealous of us, as better societies,
we must have an environmentally conscientious social contract,
our generations must have balance to prevent odd age gaps, or dysfunctional marriages and homes, & they must contain harmony among various aspects of the life span of the members of the Muslim societies and establishments.
only, this is how i see, that Muslims can have a sure, successful, befitting worthy 'future of their own'.
dushwari
Re: future of Muslims and Islam
isn't in the hadith that the state of ummah will get worse and worse until imam mahdi comes?
Re: future of Muslims and Islam
&
so u suggest that we should wait and sit back, lay low in slumber, mulled over, raked, get beat up, until then?
Re: future of Muslims and Islam
I have losy any hope of Muslims uniting.
Re: future of Muslims and Islam
It has made me closer to my religion, I was drifting away from it, I never was fool enough to deny the Truth but I didn’t bother following it either, out of laziness and hoped God would forgive me, it was something in the background for Eids, Fridays and funerals and I didn’t carry it with me but when Islam came in the spotlight and I see people dissing my religion and my people it pushed me closer to my religion and made me more proud about my Muslim identity. Every time I open a British newspaper or turn on the news and I see them putting down Islam or biased/one-sided reports which condemn OBL but not GWB, the further away it pushes me from identifying with these hypocrite British people and closer I become to my Muslim identity. Also it’s easier to socialise with Muslims than Kaafirs because you’re not constantly having to prove your loyalties to and lick arse or worry about anyone mocking something you hold dear.
Not really had sleepless nights because I know that Islam is Allah’s religion and in the end He will make it prevail over all other ideologies and religions no matter how much the rejecters detest it.
Islam can’t become extinct, that’s for sure but some Muslims can loose their religion to appease the rejecters and that worries me but in the end the loss is there own.
I get angry though the way Muslims and Islam are targeted by everyone, by politicians, journalist and normal people sat at the pub, they label us terrorists yet conveniently forget that the only reason Muslims turn to terrorism is to counter the terrorism committed by their own governments and people against Muslims all over the world, Islam is not the root of terrorism, yes it is a militaristic religion and I am proud of that, proud that it is a religion of lions not pussies but it specifically forbids the murder of non-combatants especially women and children, so Islam is not the root cause of terrorism, the terrorist acts committed against our people by Israeli, American, British, Indian governments and armies is what causes Muslims to blow themselves up and others with them because they are frustrated, upset and angry to see what these governments are doing to their people and they see no other way but to break/twist the rules of their religion against suicide and targeting non-combatants.
Re: future of Muslims and Islam
We should definitely be united. There is no argument on this. But we must flush out the fanatic elements from our society. Also modern laws, thinking and trend should be adapted. All Islamic nations should assemble as a single federation just like the way USA was formed and adopt democratic way of choosing leaders. Old Islamic laws like death penalty and discriminatory divorce procedure should be replaced with modern principles. There should be no death penalty and equal rights to women. Also we must accept the right of freedom of speech. If we adopt all this and give utmost focus to science and technology then Islamic world would surely evolve into an envious position. And then nobody can dare humiliate us. Not even a tiny country like Israel.
But the big question is…how many of us are prepared to accept this change? If this is unacceptable to most of us then Islamic nations would gradually submerge to a state like most of the African countries are today and would live in a state of misery, violence, illetracy and overpopulation.
My above future predictions are already evident in some countries. The muslims in India, the home to second biggest muslim population are gradually degrading into the most backward group thanks to the old conservative way of living.
In order to bring these changes a revolution is needed and this requires emergence of a revolutionary leader. Today there is a leader with this potential but I won’t name it here since he is too controvertial to be mentioned at this point.
(Visit my Blog at http://salimmmn.blogspot.com/ and share your life experiences)
Re: future of Muslims and Islam
^
Islam can't be changed, it is infallible because it is from Allaah, if you think you have the right to abrogate and change His religion then you and those who agree with such a view are Kaafir.
What's the point in identifying with Islam at all if we are to negate some of its aspects (such as the capital punishment for certain crimes)? Because like I said above such beliefs and actions render us apostates and rejecters in the eyes of God, we can kid ourselves but not God.
God forbid if I was to loose faith in Islam to such an extent that I no longer thought it was completely divine/infallible/universal then it would make more sense to leave it altogether than pretend to be a Muslim and try and change something I knew wasn’t perfect, it’s pointless identifying with a religion if you don’t really believe in it, kind of defeats the purpose if you ask me.
By Allaah the only reason I have come over my superiority complex towards certain ethnic groups is Islam, if I didn’t have faith in Islam I would rather not be associated with them at all so the idea of an Ummah without it’s basis i.e. a firm belief in Islam is ridiculous.
In your society caste, religion and ethno-national identities are kind of intervened so I can understand that you’ll want to stick to the Muslim identity and try and “improve” it even if you don’t really believe in it because without it you’d feel disoriented and it it stills beats going back to being a Shudar/Achoot but for those of us who come from non-casteist societies and religion is a (‘importanter’ yet) separate identity from the ethno-national identity there would be no desire to remain Muslim if we lost faith in Islam, but for you guys I guess your folk versions of Islam are more of a cultural identity to do with traditions and what have you.
Re: future of Muslims and Islam
[quote]
In order to bring these changes a revolution is needed and this requires emergence of a revolutionary leader. Today there is a leader with this potential but I won't name it here since he is too controvertial to be mentioned at this point.
[/quote]
Aagha Khaan?
Re: future of Muslims and Islam
i didnt mean just in erms of uniting...but where do u honestly see Muslims, the next generation - do u think they will have it easier, do u think they will be lost.
i am seeing Muslims become better muslims, and i am also seeing people convert, but i also see alot of bigotry against us. though i have to say i believe everyone is hated, if you are white christian american - jews hate you, third world coutnries hate you , some muslim fanatics hate you, if you are jewish - americans hate you, if you are hindu mulims hate you, if you are muslim, some chraistian fanatic hates you...so you could be muslims, jewish, blue green brown - someone out there will hate you for the race/ creed you belong to!!! so being hated is not specific to us, but i feel the magnitude of the divisions b/t muslims and others is alot worse then it is for other groups, i could be wrong.....
so .... thoughts?
Re: future of Muslims and Islam
In your society caste, religion and ethno-national identities are kind of intervened so I can understand that you’ll want to stick to the Muslim identity and try and “improve” it even if you don’t really believe in it because without it you’d feel disoriented and it it stills beats going back to being a Shudar/Achoot but for those of us who come from non-casteist societies and religion is a (‘importanter’ yet) separate identity from the ethno-national identity there would be no desire to remain Muslim if we lost faith in Islam, but for you guys I guess your folk versions of Islam are more of a cultural identity to do with traditions and what have you.
Your above comments show your ignorance about Indian muslims and their history and expose your own thought pattern. In stead of backing your logic with sound argument, you're indulging in personal attack to prove your point. Probably your ancestors were slaves of Arabs, so you believe that all Hindu converts were from achoot/Shudra.
Re: future of Muslims and Islam
Is Aga Khan a leader who can create a ripple at international level? Is he democratic? Is he unselfish?
There are at least two great muslim leaders. I won't name the first one but another one who had similar potential is Dr. MUHATHIR MUHAMMED, a former Malaysian Prime Minister, who just retired. I wish, he should have become the leader of all muslims. His last speech during International Islamic Conference is unmatched. He made Malaysia from a poor nation to one of the progressive muslim society.
The muslim world needs such leaders.
Re: future of Muslims and Islam
sal35 - right on with the no death penalty! as for the need for a good leader, i agree with you its needed, but i dont think we should wait around for that, as for uniting all muslims - impossible! Islam is a religion, not a country! or other such community that shares one language or one tradition! we are too large too diverse for us to be completely united, and if we wait for such impossible unity then we will be waiting i think far too long! i think we need to individually make changes rather then wait for them to happen to us!
we need to change our own perceptions, make ourselves better beings, stop expecting something from the outside to change us, but rather change ourselves from within, and slowly we will become the society we desire to be. I ask you what have you done for your muslim brothers?! i say first heal yourself - make yourself a good being and then or simultaneously, if you can afford it then help your fellow muslim brothers - by sending money for education, or helping build better schools, or even going out to your mosques and volunteering to teach! ororganizing people so we can set up funds to help with medicine and food back home! until we take responsibility for our actions, and stop waiting for the whole muslim world to change, or for that matter wiaitng for the western world to change, until then we will remain where we are!
I like ghandi's saying - you must be the change you wish to see in the world!
though right on!!! with the no death penalty!!! absolutely!!!
I am hoping to make charity and kindness the new black! to make it "hip"/ "cool" "awesome" to be generous and kind and humble!! ....not rich or powerful - yuck!!!
Re: future of Muslims and Islam
i absolutely agree; and i think that youth of our back ground, has this huge opportunity to do this work in this generation to make room for a brighter future for us all. i am lucky that i do get to see the bright side of things from a friend's hopeful discussion and backing up to be able to look at the bright side of things :)
& also reasoning with those who i love and care for. hurt, want, experience of injustice leaves deep impressions of frustrated needs, & on a societal as well as individual levels we need to transform that need from a wistful hope into a steady realization.
religion has its place, although i un until recently did believe that the govt has nothing to do with individual accountability, i kind of still think a bit, just a bit like that, but i get the feeling that the social contract; an understood good thing to do well, out of one's own accord is the way to be whether solitary or in concert with the groups/ roles to which we may belong.
i am against death penalty too. but for the reason that if the criminal has done the crime, then he/she must get a chance to repent what they did and lead a fearing life on wards. the victim's life/lives cannot come back, yet the hurt to their survivors is which cannot be compensated ever. still, taking life, is Allah's preordained destiny for anybody, it is not something to be done by the creatures themselves.
suffering from chronic nostalgia or sitting all dandy for a better day to be somehow gifted, is not the way to be. first, the right kind of work has to be set in place by the people desiring change for better.
Re: future of Muslims and Islam
Okay I'm sorry, wrong of me to speculate and make assumptions but I can't fathom why anyone would want to retain the Muslim label and remain a part of the Ummah when they've no faith left in Islam.
Death penalty is from the religion and is to be applied to crimes such as murder, sodomy, adultery etc. Those who reject this reject a part of Islam and are therefore no longer considered Muslim according to the scriptures.
Common sense would dictate that if you didn't believe Islam was infallible/divine anymore then you'd leave it and not bother with it at all than update it, because following a religion you know is imperfect and manmade kind of defeats the purpose don't you think?
Wouldn't it make more sense to do what Kemal Ataturk did and do away with religion altogether and not bother with the rest of the Ummah but only with ones own nation-state? (My people don't have their own nation-state at the moment but I don't think it will be any less Islamic than the current set-up, because it's not rebelling against the Muslim Khilafat as non exists at the moment and Islam doesn't say anywhere to let Munafiqeen exploit you in the name of Islam and brotherhood.)
The only reason I would see to carry on identifying with it is a nostalgic attachment to the cultural side of it, I don't have those feelings because I make a distinction between South-Asian/Arab culture and the faith itself, I only feel for the beliefs, rules and method of worship etc. I think of articles commonly associated with religion (decorations, architecture, calligraphy, caps, beads, prayer mats) as unnecessary because Islam doesn't have iconography so the only distinctly 'Muslim' thing I have in my house is a cupboard filled with religious media (books and discs). Except for the use of Arabic in liturgy I don’t see Islam promoting any specific culture so I've not developed an attachment with all that to miss it.
Re: future of Muslims and Islam
“Death penalty is from the religion and is to be applied to crimes such as murder, sodomy, adultery etc. Those who reject this reject a part of Islam and are therefore no longer considered Muslim according to the scriptures.”
Who died and made you God! religion is a very personal thing, please dont tell me that if i believe something you don’t - i am suddenly not a muslim. you are not the ultimate authority on what makes one a “muslim”! are you yourself particularly devout, would you consider yourself a perfect Muslim?! and what is this authority ou have given yourself based on?!
Re: future of Muslims and Islam
"The only reason I would see to carry on identifying with it is a nostalgic attachment to the cultural side of it, I don't have those feelings because I make a distinction between South-Asian/Arab culture and the faith itself, I only feel for the beliefs, rules and method of worship etc. I think of articles commonly associated with religion (decorations, architecture, calligraphy, caps, beads, prayer mats) as unnecessary because Islam doesn't have iconography so the only distinctly 'Muslim' thing I have in my house is a cupboard filled with religious media (books and discs). Except for the use of Arabic in liturgy I don’t see Islam promoting any specific culture so I've not developed an attachment with all that to miss it."
Smurf, its really quite sad that you abstain from so much, i dont think Islam requires you to do as much as you are, in fact its a rather lax religion i cant think of the sura and verse right now, but there is one that would better expalin what i am saying, i cant recall it at this time though.
On the other hand i respect your choice to become attached or not to whatever you like, i just think that you have any right or authority to tell other people to make the same choices as you!
even the prophet didnt walk around saying - oh you are not a muslim to those around him so what right do we have to do such a thing! I am sure that in the prophets times there where women around who were loose, he did not kill them or bury them alive, people worshipped stones in his times he did not kill them all, he lived amongst them and treated them with kindness. so what right do we have to do that to others.
i think this "i am holier then thou" attitude is just your arrogance which is not a good quality - mind you!
Re: future of Muslims and Islam
Aagha Khan has no qualifications to be a muslim leader. He is the spiritual head of a group of people called Ismailis. Smurf I dont understand your point about leaving your cultural roots while embracing Islam. Based on your logic Ismailis are the big culprits of cultural attachment as most of their names are half muslim and half hindu.
Re: future of Muslims and Islam
and wat have you have tried to do, that made you loose hope?
Solution is simple. ACCEPTANCE!
(Setup basic criteria Who Is Muslim! then accept them regardless if other's beleifs are different than yours. Respect their opinion.)
If its too abstract / confusing. Just follow the strategies of "Acceptance of multicultirism society in Canada" as much as we can.