Vandals have painted the words “kill the suicide bombers” and “there is a suicide bomber inside the mosque” on the outside of Birmingham Central Masjid. Why has this attack upon the Muslim community appeared all of a sudden? The chairman of the Masjid believes an episode of the BBC show Spooks, in which suicide bombers are recruited from within a fictional Birmingham mosque, may be responsible.
The episode begins with a scene of an MI5 agent being tortured by “Islamic extremists” after he is sent into the Masjid. It has already been shown on the digital channel BBC Three, will be broadcast on BBC One on Monday night. It is almost certain that this attack upon the Masjid is the backlash from broadcasting this programme, which has only been shown so far to a minority of the population. The Muslim community will no doubt be dreading the effects of its broadcast to the whole nation on Monday. However, the BBC has denied that there is any evidence linking the attacks to the programme, and claimed they have followed all guidelines. Perhaps there should be an appeal to all vandals to in future write down the source of their hatred, so that the required “evidence” will be available to the western media.
The western media will always argue that they are only representing “current realities” on screen. However, the only realities that are shown about Muslims are negative ones. The common images of Muslims portrayed on screen are the oppressive and violent father, or the abused daughter running from an arranged marriage, and now the fanatical terrorist bent on killing civilians. There is no other representation of the two million or more Muslims who live and work in this country.
Furthermore, the scale of “terrorist” activity that allegedly occurs is nothing compared to the factual daily cases of abduction, rape, murder and corporate fraud that take up the bulk of daily news reporting. Yet, the media seldom portrays these realities as recurrently as they take isolated cases involving the Muslim community, and blow them completely out of proportion.
This media coverage can only be understood in the light of the “War against Islam”, which is being waged throughout the world, and its repercussions on the Muslim community are also clear to see. The vandalism of the Birmingham Masjid is merely one incident whereas Muslim population feel the abuse and hatred on a daily basis. This hatred looks set to increase, focussing on visible and clear aspects of the Islamic life. Masjids, women wearing Islamic dress, Islamic customs and practices, as well as the mentality and mindset of the Muslim community are all fair game for the western media, thinkers and politicians in this War against Islam. Ultimately the drive is to force Muslims to leave their Islamic mindset, and instead adopt the western and secular way of thinking. The idea is to force Muslims to culturally blend into this Kufr society, leaving the colour of their skin as the only differences between them and the host community.
The irony is that the Muslims migrated to western nations to make life easier for themselves. Having arrived here, they found that there were all sorts of practical problems and issues that conflicted with the Islamic laws, which stopped them progressing in society e.g. Interest bearing mortgages and loans. However, they never expected that their very culture and beliefs would be subjected to the vicious assault that has occurred.
The Muslim community must be strong in the face of this aggression, because the trading of ones belief and culture for the appeasement of the host nations is a grave error. Allah (SWT) will account the Muslims on their deen, and the one who has sold his deen will be at a great loss on the day of judgement. Allah (SWT) has warned us:
"And the Jews and Christians will never be pleased with you until you follow their millah (way of life).” [TMQ Al-Baqarah:120]
And:
”And they will never cease fighting you until they turn you back from your religion (Islamic Monotheism) if they can. And if any of you Turn back from their faith and die in unbelief, their works will bear no fruit in this life and in the Hereafter; they will be companions of the Fire and will abide therein." [2:217]
Rather Muslims in Britain must take a proactive step to counteract the attacks against their beliefs and culture. They must present an ideological and intellectual rebuttal of the twisted western arguments against them, and instead show how the western thoughts and ideas are actually unjust and inhumane. Islam is naturally the superior thought, and it is the job of the Muslim community to demonstrate this superiority. The role of Muslims, especially in countries like Britain, must be seen on the basis of da’wa towards Islam, and on bonding with the Ummah throughout the world in the common pursuit of the return to an Islamic ruling system, the Khilafah. Allah (SWT) told us:
“Invite to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided” [TMQ An-Nahl:125]
