I think these recent arrests destroy the islamic values muslims may potentially adapt.
The constant reference to the “radical” change of the young muslims that the media keeps portraying will eliminate potential young muslims from keeping beards, and praying and getting involved in Mosques.
So now anyone who wants to keep a beard will be told to fear the authorities and get ready for racism.
No matter what has happened, Islam is the hardest thing to follow in today’s society, and Jannah definitely isn’t going to be cheap…We all have to work for it.
May Allah give us the taufeeq to abide to his law, and attain his mercy.
If that is the case, then believe you me, it makes my faith more firm for all this reminded me two ahaadeeth talking about the end time:
Prophet:saw: said that Islam began as something strange, and it will revert to being strange as it was in the beginning, so good tidings for the strangers
and he:saw: also said that A time will come when following Islam will become as hard as putting a buring coal on one’s palm. And know that I give glad tidings of paradise to that person who will revive even one of my sunnahs.
The situation is unfortunate because a few bad apples are defining the stereotype for all muslims. Individually and collectively muslims should fight these stereotypes. However, I had written a summary thesis on this topic a while ago, and let me post the link here.
Is it the fault of the Muslims to be stereotyped and persecuted or the shortcomings of authorities to persecute other Muslims…
I mean, as far as stereotyping is concerned, we should stereotype every British for enslaving us for centuries, we should stereotype all Europeans specialy Germans for being a war mongering people, we shoudl stereotype Americans for their violent history against the innocent population of Japan and Vietnam…
Yet, Muslims are the most forgiving of people and let bygones be bygones and to look at each individual as an individual…
We never doubt a person’s integrity once he becomes Muslim then why should any Muslim be doubted once he adopts another nationality based on someone e;se’s actions…?
That would mean that the executions of all the American non-military personnel is justified because they have been executed for the actions of what the military is doing…
Since a Muslim can be judged, persecuted, doubted and ill treated by anyone for the actions of another Muslim, then isn’t it natural that Muslims too will exact retribution from someone else for the atrocities committed against them by another?
If we can accept this natural response from non-Muslims then the Muslims too are humans…Then we must accept that there will be those Muslims who will exact punishment from those who have a link to those committing atrocities against them…
having a beard was considered a sign to be aware of authorities. atleast when you are here. don't you remember the sikh's that were attacked right after 911 cuz people mistook them for being muslim terrorists?