Pop Culture in the Name of Islam

[meer suhail]

was going through sister Yvonne Ridley (yvonne Ridley.org) site as i would often do since this sister has many things to write ,and dares to write which wemost of muslims often dont dare to "inferiority complex ,or something else" as often termed by late Sheikh Ahmed Deedat when he would call on muslims to stand up ,any ways ,just read so thought to share .,,,,,,,,,,

Written by Yvonne Ridley
Monday, 24 April 2006


I FEEL very uncomfortable about the pop culture which is growing around some so-called Nasheed artists. Of course I use the term ‘Nasheed artists' very lightly. Islamic ‘boy bands' and Muslim ‘popsters' would probably be more appropriate.


Eminent scholars throughout history have often opined that music is haram, and I don't recall reading anything about the Sahaba whooping it up to the sound of music. Don't get me wrong. I'm all for people letting off steam, but in a dignified manner and one which is appropriate to their surroundings.

The reason I am expressing concern is that just a few days ago at a venue in Central London, sisters went wild in the aisles as some form of pop-mania swept through the concert venue. And I'm not just talking about silly, little girls who don't know any better; I am talking about sisters in their 20's, 30's and 40's, who squealed, shouted, swayed and danced. Even the security guys who looked more like pipe cleaners than bulldozers were left looking dazed and confused as they tried to stop hijabi sisters from standing on their chairs.

Of course the stage groupies did not help at all as they waved and encouraged the largely female Muslim crowd to "get up and sing along." (They're called ‘Fluffers' in lap-dancing circles!)


The source of all this adulation was British-born Sami Yusuf, who is so proud of his claret-colored passport that he wants us all to wave the Union Jacks. I'm amazed he didn't encourage his fans to sing "Land of Hope and Glory." Brother Sami asked his audience to cheer if they were proud to be British ,and when they responded loudly, he said he couldn't hear them and asked them to cheer again.


How can anyone be proud to be British? Britain is the third most hated country in the world. The Union Jack is drenched in the blood of our brothers and sisters across Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine. Our history is steeped in the blood of colonialism, rooted in slavery, brutality, torture, and oppression. And we haven't had a decent game of soccer since we lifted the World Cup in 1966.


Apparently Sami also said one of the selling points of Brand UK was having Muslims in the Metropolitan Police Force! Astafur'Allah! Dude, these are the same cops who have a shoot-to-kill policy and would have gunned down a Muslim last year if they could tell the difference between a Bangladeshi and a Brazilian. This is the same police force that has raided more than 3000 Muslim homes in Britain since 9/11. What sort of life is there on Planet Sami, I wonder? If he is so proud to be British, why is he living in the great Middle Eastern democracy of Egypt?

Apparently the sort of hysteria Sami helped encourage is also in America, and if it is happening on both sides of the Atlantic, then it must be creeping around the globe and poisoning the masses. Islamic boy bands like 786 and Mecca 2 Medina are also the subject of the sort of female adulation you expect to see on American Pop Idol or the X-Factor. Surely Islamic events should be promoting restrained and more sedate behavior.

Do we blame the out-of-control sisters? Or do we blame the organizers for allowing this sort of excessive behavior which demeans Islam? Or do we blame the artists themselves?

Abu Ali and Abu Abdul Malik, struggling for their Deen, would certainly not try to whip up this sort of hysteria. Neither would the anonymous heroic Nasheed artists who sing for freedom; check out Idhrib Ya Asad Fallujah, and you will know exactly what I mean.

Fallujah is now synonymous with the sort of heroic resistance that elevated the Palestinians of Jenin to the ranks of the resistance written about in the Paris Communeand the Siege of Leningrad. The US military has banned the playing of any Nasheeds about Fallujah because of the power and the passion it evokes.

If those Nasheeds had sisters running in the streets whooping and dancing, however, the Nasheeds may be encouraged because of haram activity surrounding them.

Quite frankly, I really don't know how anyone in the Ummah can really let go and scream and shout with joy at pleasure domes when there is so much brutality and suffering going on in the world today. The rivers of blood flow freely from the veins of our brothers and sisters from across the Muslim world.

Screaming and shouting the names of musical heroes drown out the screams coming from the dungeons of Uzbekistan where brothers and sisters are boiled alive in vats of water. How many will jump up and down and wave their arms in the air, shouting wildly for justice for our kin in Kashmir, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Palestine, and Iraq?

There are many more killing fields as well across the Asian and Arab world. Will you climb on theater chairs and express your rage over Guantanamo Bay and other gulags where our brothers and sisters are being tortured, raped, sodomized, beaten, and burned? Or will you just switch off this concerned sister and switch on to the likes of Sami Yusuf because he can sell you a pipe dream with his soothing words and melodic voice?

Oh, Muslims, wake up! The Ummah is not bleeding; it is hemorrhaging. Listen not to what is haram. Listen to the pain of your global family.

**Originally published in the DailyMuslims

 

[Al-Kashmiri]

As-salaamu `alaykum.

Jazaak Allaah khayr. It amazes and disgusts me that people would behave in such a manner; swaying and singing to nasheeds... publicly! I wonder if these sisters are aware of the reality of the hijaab, and it not being just a colourful headwrap, having no effect on one's character...

While I agree with parts of the article, Yvonne Ridley, may Allaah reward her for her good and forgive her for her shortcomings, is not a scholar of Islaam, and there are at least two points I saw in he above, which contradicted fataawaa from major scholars, and their students.

Islamic ‘boy bands' and Muslim ‘popsters' would probably be more appropriate.

Nothing seriously important, but scholars like Shaykh Saalih Al-Fawzaan, Shaykh Falaah Ismaa`eel (a prominent student of `Allaamah Ibn `Uthaymeen, who many of here are familiar with), have said that it is incorrect to describe nasheeds as Islamic, or even these nasheed artists etc by calling them "Islamic" singers etc. We take our guidance from scholars, not from writers, so I thought it might be worth mentioning this.

Apparently Sami also said one of the selling points of Brand UK was having Muslims in the Metropolitan Police Force! Astafur'Allah! Dude, these are the same cops who have a shoot-to-kill policy and would have gunned down a Muslim last year if they could tell the difference between a Bangladeshi and a Brazilian.

Again, Shaykh Falaah Ismaa`eel, recently in a trip to England, was asked a question about joining the police force and the pledge/s associated with it. He said that there is nothing wrong with this, and if I remember correctly, he didn't see the oath of allegiance as a barrier to joining, and he likened it to a passport.

Screaming and shouting the names of musical heroes drown out the screams coming from the dungeons of Uzbekistan where brothers and sisters are boiled alive in vats of water. How many will jump up and down and wave their arms in the air, shouting wildly for justice for our kin in Kashmir, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Palestine, and Iraq?

Although there are elements of truth, there is nothing to say in Islaam, that one should constantly be in a state of sorrow, due to what is befalling the Ummah. You might as well say you're not allowed to laugh or talk about "this and that" while the Ummah is in this situation, which would therefore be never!

Anyway, I remind myself and everybody else, that Islaam is based upon the Qur'aan- what Allaah says, the Sunnah- what the Prophet, sall-Allaahu `alayhi wasallam, did, said and approved of, and the consensus of the companions/scholars. Emotions are in no way and have never been a source of proof in the shari`ah.

Was-salaam

 

[soeurette]

First, I think that Sami Yusuf's response shoud be posted in reply, because you never just read one side of the story
Secondly, I have been to these concerts and I have never seen sisters act like that. If I did I wouldn't go
Third, I think it is unfair to question whether these same people would react the same way to more serious matters, because as I have seen the youth are more outspoken about atrocities and are more willing to stand up and say something about it
We are always so quick to criticize others for well just about everything. My question is what are you doing to help the youth understand Islam.
As I was a youth myself growing up in this country, learning Islam the traditional way had absolutely no appeal to me. We have to move with the times, teach Islam to the youth in their terms not ours. MashAllah groups like MAS and the MSAs have done a wonderful job with that.
Rather than posting articles like this maybe we should be posting articles about ways that we can present Islam to the youth so that they want to learn.

 

[Libinette]

Assalam aleikum soeurette,

If you have not seen those sisters, then you probably didnot look properly enough for i saw them on TV, and it was horrendous believe me! May Allah guide us all. And i do agree mostly with Yvonne..

Nasheeds are just like that because they have in their lyrics words such as :Islam, Allah, Muslims but apart from that i don't think there's much difference between them and music. Sami Yusuf evens plays piano in his clips? How can someone be guided through such ways? Tell me.

The youths nowadays claim that the 'nasheeds' brings them closer to Islam and help them to deal with the culture they're living in. How? That is just an exuse, on the other hand it just makes you more lazy to listen to the Qur'an 'cos you think nasheeds as okay islamically.

The singers have a part of blame in this, as well as those orginising such events!
We need to educate ourselves, the youths are the hope of tomorrow and they can only a good releve IF they act upon the Qur'an and the Sunnah!

May Allah grant us His guidance!

 

[soeurette]

I wasn't referring to this one that she was speaking of in particular I don't live in England. I am speaking of the ones I have been to in the USA. I cannot speak for the demographic of muslims living in England, but from my observations of those of us who live in the states.
How one is guided and through what means they are guided is not a judgement that anyone of us has the authority to determine the authenticity of. Only Allah knows our hearts and intentions.
these nasheeds are a connection, it is like trying to have someone explain their connection to Islam it can't be explained. We live in societies that have very tempting lifestyles, if we can't present our youth with an alternative then we are going to lose them. I know that growing up sitting in a classroom for 4 hours was not the way to get me interested, in fact it turned me off and I did not want to learn, and when I was alhumdilAllah guided back I was forced to have to find my own way to learn and that included nasheeds, and recitations of Qur'an and Hadiths. There are other artists out there who do not use music or use just a beat not instruments in their nasheeds and still present the teaching of islam.
And no it doesn't if anything you want listen to the Qur'an more, bc we are to recite the Qur'an with a lyrical voice beautifying it. The people we praise for their beautiful recitations, recite in that manner.
I think that if anything is our problem, we are so quick to deal blame about everything and criticize those who would have us see our faults. I actually respect Sister Yvonne very much for that, she isn't afraid to say what she believe and observes. I see so many people say we must act upon the Qur'an and Sunnah, well how about implementing what we are preaching. The companions did not sit around assigning blame, if we do not like the options out there, then alternative needs to be created.

 

[ShyHijabi]

Salaam,

While I was researching Islam and reading about the history and such, I listened to a song by Sami Yusuf. I was touched by the way he described the love of Allah. Frankly I had always felt that Islam treated Allah as an impersonal deity, from the lectures and writings anyways. He was to be feared and respected but I did not find much about mercy or love. After listening to his song I decided that I must be looking in the wrong places to understand Allah swt.

Sami Yusuf will often mention Quranic ayas that have love and kindness mentioned and therefore I looked them up. While my answer is not "correct" according to the scholars it is my own truth. I feel ami Yusuf has made an approach to Islam that will appeal to many non Muslims and help pique their interest. Just my two cents.

Wasalaam

~Sarah

 

[soeurette]

Sister Sarah
I think you were able to put what I was trying to say in wonderful terms.

Sister Libinette I'm sorry if I come across a little strong, I get really worked up about issues. I just don't like that as an ummah we are so willing to blame each rather then sit down communicate and come up with alternative plans. I just think that if our youth see the adults so fractured then they will be worse off

 

[salahdin]

Asalama aleikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu JAZAKALLAH KHAIRAN its a wonderful article , i always say majority of these Nasheeds a like music the have lyric & rythm just like ordinary music why do we have to confuse the the young with these stuff may ALLAH (AZA WA JALLAH) GUIDE US TO THE STRAIGHT PATH AMIN.

"Do ye then wonder at this recital? And will ye laugh and not weep. Wasting your time in vanities?" 53: 59-61
Ikrimah (rahimahu Allah) said Ibn Abbas said Sumood in the verse mean music; when you say "usmud lana" it means sing to us.


"Lead to destruction those whom thou canst among them, with thy (seductive) voice, make assaults on them with thy cavalry and thy infantry; mutually share with them wealth and children; and make promises to them. "But Satan promises them nothing but deceit." 17:64



And Satan will say when the matter has been decided: “Verily, Allah promised you a promise of Truth. And I too promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you except that I called you, so you responded to me. So blame me not, but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me.” (Surah 14, Verse 22)

 

[Libinette]

Uhtii, i was not blaming anyone, nor would i allow myself to do such thing. I was simply expressing my view, which i still hold. I do not believe that nasheeds [containing pure music of some sort] will guide our youths back to the straight back. It is a recent phenomenon which has its dangers. Now, alternatives can be said and repeated but if they aren't acted upon they won't have any value.. but i would more than happy to discuss this with you inshallah
You cleary realised the need for alternatives yourself as you mentionned. Any specific ideas?

 

[Al-Kashmiri]

As-salaamu `alaykum.

The elders being detached from the youth is a problem, one that they (elders) should be more heedful of. Amongst certain groups (by race, nationality and creed) who are living as minorities in the West, you don't find a real relationship between the the elders and the youngsters. Hence you find that many of them can't talk to their parents about issues in which their consultation is needed, and the result is the youth are lead astray. In addition, they don't organise any events for them, hence they resort to other forms of leisure. Some parents keep on saying they've done their bit (by having some "Imaam" beat the Qur'aan into the kids hearts) and that they're not responsible any longer, wana`udhoobillaah.

On the other hand and all praise is to Allaah, I have seen many da`wah organistations, mosques and the likes, pay much attention to the youth. Without having the need to propagate the haraam as if it is halaal, they manage to draw the youth towards Islaam. No music, no free-mixing, none of these silly mIslam expos or nasheed concerts involved. Some of these organisations, may Allaah reward them, have even reduced crime in the area by putting their efforts into anti-drug programmes and help keeping kids (primarily Muslims) off the street by inviting them to the masjid, or youth centres for Basketball games and Soccer matches etc...

The most successful and blessed way of giving da`wah is by following the sunnah, and giving da`wah in accordance to the sunnah. When people start compromising the sunnah for the sake of attracting youngsters to Islaam, the situation doesn't get better, rather it worsens. I've seen this compromising before, many a time and the result is almost always negative. Yes the youth may develop an interest in Islaam, but it is not the Islaam that the Prophet, sall-Allaahu `alayhi wasallam came with. What I'm referring to, is how every issue is taken light-heartedly, so shaking hands with women becomes obligatory, freemixing becomes the norm, music goes from forbidden to permitted, and the observance/meaning of hijaab departs...

May Allaah aid us, guide our youth and forgive our elders.

Was-salaam

 

[anjum chaudhri]

I wanted to comment on this point you make about 'hijabbi sisters' standing on chairs and screaming and generally excited about so called certain nasheed artists. I personally do not find nasheeds of todays artists uplifting or spiritual, i would personally much perfer to listen to the recitation of the holy quran itself, but to get to this stage in my life i did listen to certain nasheed artists when they were not so well known, but as soon as i saw that it too was becoming comercialised like so called boy bands i have stopped listening. However i think it is better for youth today to be going to nasheed concerts than western pop concerts any day, and inshalla this 'moderate' path may lead them to become more spiritual and closer to allah.

was going through sister Yvonne Ridley (yvonne Ridley.org) site as i would often do since this sister has many things to write ,and dares to write which wemost of muslims often dont dare to "inferiority complex ,or something else" as often termed by late Sheikh Ahmed Deedat when he would call on muslims to stand up ,any ways ,just read so thought to share .,,,,,,,,,,

Written by Yvonne Ridley
Monday, 24 April 2006


I FEEL very uncomfortable about the pop culture which is growing around some so-called Nasheed artists. Of course I use the term ‘Nasheed artists' very lightly. Islamic ‘boy bands' and Muslim ‘popsters' would probably be more appropriate.


Eminent scholars throughout history have often opined that music is haram, and I don't recall reading anything about the Sahaba whooping it up to the sound of music. Don't get me wrong. I'm all for people letting off steam, but in a dignified manner and one which is appropriate to their surroundings.

The reason I am expressing concern is that just a few days ago at a venue in Central London, sisters went wild in the aisles as some form of pop-mania swept through the concert venue. And I'm not just talking about silly, little girls who don't know any better; I am talking about sisters in their 20's, 30's and 40's, who squealed, shouted, swayed and danced. Even the security guys who looked more like pipe cleaners than bulldozers were left looking dazed and confused as they tried to stop hijabi sisters from standing on their chairs.

Of course the stage groupies did not help at all as they waved and encouraged the largely female Muslim crowd to "get up and sing along." (They're called ‘Fluffers' in lap-dancing circles!)


The source of all this adulation was British-born Sami Yusuf, who is so proud of his claret-colored passport that he wants us all to wave the Union Jacks. I'm amazed he didn't encourage his fans to sing "Land of Hope and Glory." Brother Sami asked his audience to cheer if they were proud to be British ,and when they responded loudly, he said he couldn't hear them and asked them to cheer again.


How can anyone be proud to be British? Britain is the third most hated country in the world. The Union Jack is drenched in the blood of our brothers and sisters across Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine. Our history is steeped in the blood of colonialism, rooted in slavery, brutality, torture, and oppression. And we haven't had a decent game of soccer since we lifted the World Cup in 1966.


Apparently Sami also said one of the selling points of Brand UK was having Muslims in the Metropolitan Police Force! Astafur'Allah! Dude, these are the same cops who have a shoot-to-kill policy and would have gunned down a Muslim last year if they could tell the difference between a Bangladeshi and a Brazilian. This is the same police force that has raided more than 3000 Muslim homes in Britain since 9/11. What sort of life is there on Planet Sami, I wonder? If he is so proud to be British, why is he living in the great Middle Eastern democracy of Egypt?

Apparently the sort of hysteria Sami helped encourage is also in America, and if it is happening on both sides of the Atlantic, then it must be creeping around the globe and poisoning the masses. Islamic boy bands like 786 and Mecca 2 Medina are also the subject of the sort of female adulation you expect to see on American Pop Idol or the X-Factor. Surely Islamic events should be promoting restrained and more sedate behavior.

Do we blame the out-of-control sisters? Or do we blame the organizers for allowing this sort of excessive behavior which demeans Islam? Or do we blame the artists themselves?

Abu Ali and Abu Abdul Malik, struggling for their Deen, would certainly not try to whip up this sort of hysteria. Neither would the anonymous heroic Nasheed artists who sing for freedom; check out Idhrib Ya Asad Fallujah, and you will know exactly what I mean.

Fallujah is now synonymous with the sort of heroic resistance that elevated the Palestinians of Jenin to the ranks of the resistance written about in the Paris Communeand the Siege of Leningrad. The US military has banned the playing of any Nasheeds about Fallujah because of the power and the passion it evokes.

If those Nasheeds had sisters running in the streets whooping and dancing, however, the Nasheeds may be encouraged because of haram activity surrounding them.

Quite frankly, I really don't know how anyone in the Ummah can really let go and scream and shout with joy at pleasure domes when there is so much brutality and suffering going on in the world today. The rivers of blood flow freely from the veins of our brothers and sisters from across the Muslim world.

Screaming and shouting the names of musical heroes drown out the screams coming from the dungeons of Uzbekistan where brothers and sisters are boiled alive in vats of water. How many will jump up and down and wave their arms in the air, shouting wildly for justice for our kin in Kashmir, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Palestine, and Iraq?

There are many more killing fields as well across the Asian and Arab world. Will you climb on theater chairs and express your rage over Guantanamo Bay and other gulags where our brothers and sisters are being tortured, raped, sodomized, beaten, and burned? Or will you just switch off this concerned sister and switch on to the likes of Sami Yusuf because he can sell you a pipe dream with his soothing words and melodic voice?

Oh, Muslims, wake up! The Ummah is not bleeding; it is hemorrhaging. Listen not to what is haram. Listen to the pain of your global family.

**Originally published in the DailyMuslims

 

[mhamzah]

Open Letter from Sami Yusuf to Yvonne Ridley

:salam2:

Dear Yvonne,

Peace and blessings of God be upon you.

Your recent article on ‘Pop Culture in the Name of Islam’ has been brought to my attention. I commend you for voicing your opinion and raising some very important issues – albeit in a very provocative manner. I thought it would be useful to share some of my thoughts with you on this matter.

As a Muslim artist, I regularly seek clarification and advice from world-renowned scholars on art, music, singing and culture. Be informed that the subject of music is one of the most controversial topics in Islamic Jurisprudence. I respect those who consider music to be haram. Yes eminent scholars of our past have opined such. However, I respect and follow the opinion of other eminent scholars – classical and contemporary, who permit singing and the use of musical instruments. The well-established jurisprudential rule states that ‘in matters where there is ikhtilaf (differences of opinion) there is to be no condemnation of either opinion.’ This is from the beauty of the religion of Islam. The diversity of our cultural, legal and social traditions is something we are in dire need of celebrating not condemning. So let’s agree to disagree on this one.

The obsessive fascination of fans towards any celebrity - be it in arts, music, politics, media, etc - to the point of hysteria and hero-worshipping is definitely unhealthy not to mention un-Islamic. Of course, as Muslims, we are required to abide by certain etiquettes in whatever situation we may find ourselves in. However, I definitely did not see girls dancing or behaving indecently in any of my concerts. To state otherwise is a gross exaggeration if not an outright fallacy. And if indeed that did take place then let’s deal with it in the true Prophetic tradition - a tradition that imparts love, mercy, tolerance and wisdom. Let me share with you the story of the Bedouin who came to the Prophet’s mosque and started urinating in the mosque itself. The Companions rushed to grab him and give him a ‘good beating.’ But the Prophet did not allow them to do so and told them to let him be. After the Bedouin had urinated, the Prophet asked his Companions to bring a bucket of water and wash the place. Afterwards he called the man and with gentleness and affection explained to him that this was a place of worship and that it should be kept clean. Though I have to say that had the Bedouin been around today he would be lucky to get away with just a ‘good beating’!

Indeed the state of contemporary mainstream music is one dominated by celebrity worship, materialism and the constant promotion of a consumerist culture that seeks only to derive instant emotional and physical gratification. The arts industry in general – and the music industry specifically – is being commercialised at the expense of art itself. We don’t value good art or good music anymore – it’s about what can sell most in the market. In the midst of all this, it is upon all conscious and responsible artists who look beyond the commercial to work in refining arts and music. Apart from entertaining audiences, music is a powerful medium to communicate values and social messages. In these times where heinous crimes against humanity are being committed, we as artists – Muslims or non-Muslims, British or non-British – have a duty to use this medium to bring some sanity to this world of unrest, fear, violence, terror and war. Human life and dignity are values that should be cherished and championed by all. Had you listened carefully to the songs in my latest album which is actually entitled ‘My Ummah’ before hastily passing judgements, you would have noticed my modest attempt at addressing issues facing the global Muslim community – such as regaining our lost legacy in all spheres of human life, oppression in different parts of the Muslim world, Aids, landmines, poverty and freedom to wear the hijab.

This leads me to another important issue which you raised – that of identity and culture. Who are we? How do we define ourselves? What do we stand for? Let me remind you again – I am a British Muslim. Proud to be Muslim and proud to be British! Why? Because this is what Islam teaches me to be – loyal towards my faith and my country. Throughout our rich history, wherever Muslims settled they adopted and fused the best aspects of the local culture/society with Islamic teachings and traditions. As Dr. Umar Faruq Abdallah, a leading American Muslim scholar and thinker writes in ‘Islam the Cultural Imperative’:

In history, Islam showed itself to be culturally friendly and, in that regard, has been likened to a crystal clear river. Its waters (Islam) are pure, sweet, and life-giving but—having no color of their own—reflect the bedrock (indigenous culture) over which they flow. In China, Islam looked Chinese; in Mali, it looked African. Sustained cultural relevance to distinct peoples, diverse places, and different times underlay Islam’s long success as a global civilization.

At a time when leading Muslim scholars and thinkers have reached an advanced stage in crystallising theories of citizenship and positive integration into Western societies, any discussion of renouncing parts of our identity is simply ridiculous, dangerous and destructive – especially for someone who has no other homeland. Such emotional fist-pumping and chest-pounding about renouncing our British identity may seem attractive to a minority of Muslim youth, but as Muslims in positions of influence like yourself, we should not play to these base instincts. Rather, we should try to be more far-sighted and responsible in our discourse and not sacrifice this in the pursuit of tabloid-style sensationalist journalism.

Do you not see the Prophet of Islam shedding tears whilst migrating from Makkah – his beloved homeland to Madina despite the persecution he suffered at the hands of its people. Britain is my home. I was raised here as a child, I went to school here, most of my friends – Muslims and non-Muslims - are British and my earliest as well as fondest memories are rooted here. Does being British mean I take pride in the oppressive and exploitative colonial past of Britain? Does it mean I support the British invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq? Does it mean I support the Anti-Terrorism Act? Does it mean I support the erosion of civil liberties and human rights? Of course not! But Yvonne, let us be fair and not forget that it was in Britain that the world witnessed the largest anti-war demonstration – a testimony to the moral consciousness of the British public. I too was in that demonstration voicing my discontent over the foreign policies of our government. Although we have our fair share of racism, Islamophobia, discrimination, under-representation – and in no way am I claiming that we live in a utopian society, but I still believe that British society is amongst the most tolerant, open, liberal, multi-cultural and inclusive societies in the world. We don’t need to go far but Muslims in the Continent would envy the liberties and opportunities that British Muslims take for granted. Actually the real debate that needs to take place is how are we to shape this emerging British / European / Western Muslim identity and what direction it should take. I see my work a humble contribution towards that end.

You are critical of my mention that the Metropolitan Police is inclusive of Muslims. By God, who are you depending on to protect and safeguard our streets? Yes, there is no doubt that the Metropolitan Police have committed a series of grave mistakes and blunders – the recent Forest Gate incident is one such example and the Police must be held fully accountable for their actions. But we as Britons and Muslims have a religious and civic obligation to help maintain a safe and secure Britain. This actually raises serious questions about the participation of British Muslims not just in the Metropolitan Police but in mainstream civil society. We have three options as a community: [1] To assimilate and lose our cultural, ethnic and even religious roots. [2] To ghettoise and divorce ourselves from society and face extermination. [3] To positively integrate and contribute to society whilst remaining loyal to both faith and country. I – like the vast majority Muslims – have chosen option three. We need to build trust and partnerships with civil institutions and engage with them. This path entails that we be active members in our communities and societies; that we participate at all levels of society from politics to sports, from academia to arts, from business to media; that we reserve and exercise the right of dissent and criticism; that we join our fellow citizens in building a safe, peaceful, tolerant and pluralistic society that embodies the values of freedom and justice. Thus I commend you for standing in the last European Elections, General Elections and the recent Council Elections as a candidate in order to get your views heard, to make an impact, and to represent British people – although I hope you have better luck next time. Positive engagement – not anarchist ranting -– is the path we must tread.

It is true that the state of the global Muslim community is saddening but are we meant to live in perpetual grieving and lamenting and dress in black? Despite all the oppression and persecution suffered by the Prophet, he would always find time to celebrate the different joyful moments in life such as marriages, births, Eids and other happy occasions. He, peace and blessings of God be upon him, also found time to enjoy poetry and even had appointed a personal poet – the notable companion Hassan ibn Thabit.

Maintaining balance and adopting the middle way is the key in these troubled times of ours. Extremism and extremists have no place in Islam and in our civil societies. “Perished are the extremists” is a famous Prophetic tradition. Extremism is not a problem unique to Islam. Every religion, every way of life, every ideology has its puritans and those willing to distort and misinterpret it to meet their own agenda. And these are no different to those that commit acts of terror, who preach extremism, and who sow seeds of hatred in the name if Islam. There is no denying that Muslims in places like Palestine, Iraq, Kashmir and Chechnya are facing oppression and tragedy every day, and both the Muslim world and the West need to come together to solve these problems in the greater interest of humanity. Western governments in particular must understand that to help the majority of Muslims defeat the minority of extremists, they must assist us in eradicating the daily humiliation faced by Muslims across many parts of the world. Ending this humiliation is the only way forward for us.

You have every right to criticise and disagree with me or anyone else for that matter, and I always welcome any advice and constructive criticism for I know my defects and shortcomings are many. I am guided by the ancient wisdom which states ‘May God have mercy on the one who shows me my defects – for that is the best gift he could give me.’ However, in the Islamic tradition there are adab (ethics) of criticism and disagreement. I know you wrote your article with sincerity and zeal, but on a more personal level, I was deeply pained and saddened by the hostile tone and the vulgar style of your language that was brimming with sarcasm and was clearly un-Islamic, indecent and a gross violation of the beautiful teachings of our beloved Prophet who said “I was not sent except to perfect your manners.” Using words such as “astagfirullah dude,” “lap-dancing,” ‘whooping and dancing,” and describing the volunteer stewards as “pipe cleaners” and “bulldozers” are inappropriate to say the very least. What shocked and even angered me was the way you shamelessly insulted our pure innocent sisters who were supporting a charity concert by describing them as “fluffers”! (Incidentally, these very sisters managed to raise over £100,000 for orphans all over the world.) I – like the vast majority of those who read your article – was blissfully ignorant about the very existence of this disgusting obscene word, and I would question the wisdom of introducing it to the vocabulary of your readers. As to my performances, I always consciously endeavour to be responsible, respectable, modest and dignified on stage.

It has been my approach that whenever personal criticism is levelled at me I ignore it and get on with my work, as my philosophy in life is to build and not destroy, and to unite not divide. However, on this occasion I felt duty-bound to respond because of the dangerous ideas and notions contained in your article. Yvonne, let us work together as fellow Muslims and Britons in building a better future for our community and all human beings and strive to make our world a safer, more peaceful, tolerant and prosperous place.

Yours faithfully,

Sami Yusuf