When someone has obvious flaws in their thinking (relative to the islamic way), many muslims jump on them and proceed to verbally slam them on their face without thinking of the consequences. Instead of speaking to them kindly and perhaps trying to persuade them or correct them in a kind manner, they make it sound like they are the scum of the earth.
This in turn makes those with flaws defensive, and in many cases stubborn, pushing them farther away from what may be the correct path/way/thought etc.
This is not what the Prophet Sallallah Alaih Wasalam would have done. Think about it.
its just the norm here these days Maniac. If someone doesnt agree with u, be in in relation to Islam or some other topic, they will insult and degrade u to get their point across..
What happens if even after your gentle persuasion as you called it these people decide to still not follow your beliefs? Will you punish them then or will you tolerate them?
Totally agree with you Brother, this was the spirit which made early Islam so acceptable when compared to the then prevailing religious beliefs…this courtesy shud be extended beyond discussion forums and ppl who wish to question and investigate beyond the norm should be encouraged. Societies who allow questioning of traditional values are more likely to prevent any mistakes and much more successful when it comes to material and spiritual gains.
From election launch to PR panic
By Dominic Casciani
BBC News community affairs
**When a well-organised group of hecklers from a fringe, Islamist group stormed a general election event organised by the Muslim Council of Britain, it was a PR disaster the organisation could have done without. **
In chaotic scenes, **the young and angry demonstrators stormed into one of London’s most prestigious mosques, denounced the MCB leadership, damned the prime minister as a devil and decreed that Muslims who voted committed crimes against their very being. **
**Iqbal Sacranie, the MCB chief well known for his easygoing manner, found himself slapped in the face. **
Some of the great and the good of British Islam looked on with utter dejection as what was meant to be a reasoned gathering descended into a familiar scene of turmoil and embarrassment.
The Muslim Council of Britain had organised the event at Regent’s Park Mosque to talk about what Muslims want from the general election.
With simmering anger over Iraq, protests over anti-terrorism laws and fears of an anti-Islamic backlash, they said they had good cause to probe what the parties were doing for them.
Speakers said it was the civic duty of Muslims to vote and make their voice heard. The organisation announced a series of regional hustings to hopefully culminate with the prime minister himself appearing before Muslim voters.
But that’s about as far as things got.
**Regent’s Park Mosque often has police on hand to protect worshippers from racial harassment. Today, a lone and slightly nervous security guard stood little chance against the dozen very angry young men who descended on the gathering. **
**Chairs were scattered as the group forced their way through to the press conference. ******
**Fists punched the air to an Islamic chant and cameras shifted their focus from the suit-wearing MCB to the slightly scruffy bunch of men, some of whom were masked. **
**“We are here to condemn you for apostasy!” shouted the lead figure with a self-possessed, absolute certainty. “Those Muslims who vote are Kafir [unbelievers]. Vote today and become Kafir tomorrow!” **
Mild-mannered Sher Khan, the MCB’s chair of public affairs, tried to speak up, to no avail. The demonstrators screamed: “You are the mouthpiece of the British government! You are Kafir - go to hell fire!”
The election document handed out to the media before the launch talked of 10 key concerns for British Muslims - poverty, education, Iraq, terrorism, discrimination and so on. This was replaced by a tirade denouncing the policy of western governments on everything from Chechnya to Abu Ghraib.
On the stairwell, a demonstrator slapped a leaflet on to the forehead of Mr Sacranie. His colleague followed that up with an open-handed and aggressive shove in the MCB chief’s face. The blow forced Mr Sacranie’s head onto the wall as he absorbed the blow.
Mr Sacranie tried his best to make light of the incident. It was democracy in action, he mused, a good example of some of the anger felt among younger generations.
"In every community you have these fringe elements. It does not reflect the Muslim community.
“I asked these people one question: Is it part of Islam to behave in such a way? They did not answer.”
Sadly for the MCB, the invasion should perhaps not have been entirely unexpected. Some of those behind it have turned up at previous high-profile Muslim gatherings and prompted chaos.
The leaflets given to journalists were in the name of “The Saviour Sect”, but many senior Muslims said they were the same faces they had seen at stunts organised by Al Muhajiroun, a fringe group (whose members say has disbanded) best known for praising the 9/11 hijackers.
In any case, both organisations oppose participation in British political life.
**Image problem? **
The MCB may be quietly criticised by many Muslims (particularly the young and women) who feel it gets the access but not the influence, but it is undeniably supported in one way or another by many communities throughout the UK.
**Let’s face it, Muslims are not the flavour of the month right now and we have a massive PR job to do **
Ali Miraj, Conservative candidate, Watford
That view was reinforced by presence of representatives from each of the main parties - the Liberal Democrat’s Fiyaz Mughal (standing in Leicester East), Labour’s Sadiq Khan (Tooting) and the Conservative’s Ali Miraj (Watford).
The problem for the MCB leadership, however, is that it clearly does not represent all Muslim voices - and its efforts to face down fringe groups are like watching Labour’s struggle with Militant in the 1980s - a fringe group that had a knack of stealing the headlines.
“Muslims in this country have to recognise that there is a growing cancer among young, vocal and disenchanted Muslims who do not want to engage,” said Ali Miraj.
"We can’t take an ostrich mentality, we have to tackle this issue head-on. “Let’s face it, Muslims are not the flavour of the month right now and we have a massive PR job to do.”
This is self-explanatory…its not just a simple case of image problem…this is fascism at its best…
fartguru - I was just going to post that I have noticed this trend among the younger male Muslims mostly. People of my husbands generation for the most part seem to be more tolerant and argue points effectively rather than with verbal assaults.
Yeah, I'm making generalizations here, sorry. But this is a personal observation, disagree if you like.
There are some issues that need an assertive and confrontational approach, but not everything.
The only thing I have a problem with in this article is associating thug behavior with a religion. Thugs are thugs, even if they proclaim they are Muslims, so these people saying this is a PR problem for Muslims, I don't see it. Seems like another fringe group just got some hyped media attention and the media ran with it.
Aside from that, I don't understand how some of the younger generation came to believe that they know Islaam better than anyone out there and are the official Muslim morality enforcers.
Does it bother anyone else that this anger is directed to their own people? My children are Muslim and I would never want them to run across something like that for doing something as harmless as voting.
And now that they are near marrying age, another headache....
I've been noticing this trend for past five years or so. Tried mentioning hikmat a few times but to some even that is probably bidat or kufar. Its disturbing to see how many consider them selves Allah swts bodyguards and try to show their version of Islam down even other persons throat, that too, without being able to follow the most basic teachings them selves, which makes Islam look like a joke. They don't even realize how many ppl totally reject them during an Islamic discussion because of their obvious hypocrisy.
Whoever teaches them dawa should at least tell them how to motivate ppl to listen and when to preach what, imo. You can't claim that Islam respect women and go on calling them sluts etc.
re above two posts,Just like to point out that it is a FEW young men that behave in this way
its a long story as to why, but it basically boils down to
lack of education, both Islamic and ordinary schooling
identity crisis
boredom
failure in society
rebelling against parents and culture
rebelling against authority
and being incorporated into groups with charismatic deviants as leaders
Those of you who have access to todays Independent (newspaper)
take alook at the statistics regarding health weath and education of the 1.1 million muslims in the UK today
Nowadays, Islam has been associated with rebellion, revenge and terrorism. It is the IN thing for people who are looking for some action. The word Jihad has been *******ized by the muslims of today especially by those who are not even in a war. This gives other lowlifes opportunity to pick on Islam and it's followers.
LD, it is a certain cult of personality that suggests that since I am fat and look terrible in a bikini...I need to pontificate on the evils of bikinis. Never mind the fact that I go to movie theater I not only take up two seats, I cannot even feel the armrest in the middle.
I stay away from those cults..they are bad for your social life. Roman tries to convert them by putting them on an all scotch diet.
LD, it may be few, but they are louder than others, and most of the times others regardless of how many they are don't dare oppose, why else would these 'others' blindly follow idiocy spread by their esteemed brethren? I don't think its lack of education or wealth, I've seen some highly educated ppl on this board use Islam to win a lost case a number of times. Out in real world this game is played on a much bigger scale. These are failed personalities who don't know how to win an argument hence they use Islam to shut up others.
"This gives other lowlifes opportunity to pick on Islam and it's followers"
The lowlife generally pick on Islam, because we use/misuse Islam. If a wannabe Mullah calls all American females sluts because they don't cover themselves according to Islamic teachings, what do we except in return? Muslims should react on our own abuse of Islam before others do, imo.
This thread is not about weather women leading prayer is right or wrong pd. I vehemently believe..as do most muslims..that it is an action going against Islam and what Allah has ordered. This thread however is about how people react to such folks.
Most people who actually agree with the women leading the prayer issue have misconceptions about islam, or are just not knowledgeable enough in it. They need to be tackled with gentle persuasion and kindness instead of insults and anger.
When i say something wrong unknowingly, id be more likely to listen if i am told gently, rather than if i am insulted and slammed for it..in which case id probably become even more stubborn and stick to my position. Its only human nature.
^ again with this "most people who agree with women leading prayers have misconceptions"..Maybe you do? I would urge those people to speak gently to you and change your mind.