Unite against Anti-Islam hate crime- Thurrock Muslims
Asalamu alaykum.
Peace.
As you may be aware, a hateful campaign aimed at terrorising the Muslim community has been circulating recently in the UK. It is unfortunate that far-right sentiment is creeping up on us.
Everyone should work to create a peaceful, safe and productive society. As Muslims, our purpose to do such is especially important, since we live in submission to Allah alone, and know that Islam encourages us to benefit others, spread goodness and remove evil for our communities to prosper.
*Scroll down for duas seeking protection from Allah*
We shouldn’t have to feel intimidated or threatened with verbal or physical abuse on account of adhering to Islam.The Prophet Muhammadpeace be upon him was heavily targeted by the bigots and tyrants among the Arab pagan tribes. Being the prophet of mercy, Muhammad (peace be upon him), refused to abandon his mission and refused to stoop to the lowest levels of his vicious opponents.
Through his patient perserverance in calling to Allah’s Oneness, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) successfuly denounced the vices prevelant among his people. His bravery, patience, mercy and genuine concern for his people softened their hearts. Meanwhile, the aggressive opponents enforced various boycotts and brutal torture campaigns, even death threats and a plot to murder The Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, eventually driving him out of his birthtown, Makkah. However, when the true message of Islam reached the hearts of the masses, their characters transformed dramatically for the better and injustices were successfully eradicated. The tyrants and criminals were eventually losing the battle, and Prophet Muhammad gracefully conquered Makkah, transforming it into the most peaceful city in the world.
Remember these inspirational quotes from the Book of Allah, The Qur’an:
Yes, if you remain patient and conscious of Allah and the enemy come upon you [attacking] in rage, your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand angels having marks [of distinction]
So if they believe in the same as you believe in, then they have been [rightly] guided; but if they turn away, they are only in dissension, and Allah will be sufficient for you against them. And He is the Hearing, the Knowing.
But if they turn away, [O Muhammad], say, “Sufficient for me is Allah ; there is no deity except Him. On Him I have relied, and He is the Lord of the Great Throne.”
The haters want us to fall into their trap and spread hate, terror and violence like they do. As Muslims, we should be the better person and treat everyone with justice.
*Dua’s and ways of seeking protection from Allah and tips to keep safe*
1- Always seek refuge in Allah from the accursed devil.
2-Pray 5 Salah/prayers on time and read the supplications afterwards
6- Put your complete trust in Allah alone, none can allow or prevent harm or benefit to befall us but Allah ,The Most Wise. Allah is the Most Powerful, The All-Capable, The Protector, Our Rabb. Make plenty of dua, ask Allah to grant you and everyone safety and protection, don’t forget our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world.
7- Read the dua’s from the Sunnah of Muhammad peace be upon him, when waking and sleeping, when you leave the house, before entering the toilet, before and after eating, when you fear harm, when feeling anxious… (get hold of the book Fortress of the Muslim or see this link)
8- Continue to practice Islam, inwardly and outwardly. Be brave, observe full Hijab, keep the beard and attend Mosque. Life and death is only in Allah’s control.
9-Look out for each other. Stronger people defend the weaker ones. Sisters try not go out alone. Stick together in groups.
10- Let authorities know if you sense danger. Call 999 for police for emergencies or 101 and don’t hesitate to report crimes.
11- Contact MAMA (Measuring anti-Muslim attacks), let them know about any anti-Islam hate crime encounters.
12- Educate people. Be the best Muslim in your manners, share the Truth, postivity and goodness with everyone. Appreciate those who refuse to delve into terror and anarchy. Thank you to those of you who denounce bigotry and hate crimes, including Islamophobic campaigns.
If you or someone else is genuinley in danger, take action and call 999 , that’s what the police are there for- to help stop crime. You can also call 101 for non-urgent police calls. Let MAMA know too.
For the haters, just chill out! Hate and anger aren’t going to solve anything. Talk to us with a good intention, you’ll find we want good for everyone, including you.
We are now in the sacred month of Rajab walhamdulillah and we would like to remind ourselves about the importance of the four sacred months in Islam. Rajab is the 7th month of the Islamic calendar. They are Rajab, Dhul Qad’ah, Dhul Hijjah and Muharram, the 7th, 11th, 12th and 1st month of the Islamic Hijri calander respectively. (see Surah Tawbah, Qur’an chapter 9 verse 36).
Watch this video on what to do in Rajab and other sacred months, Sheikh Assim Al Hakim explains:
(We should be extra careful not to sin, all the time, but particularly in the sacred months, and avoid aggression…also a word on Isra’ wal Miraaj and religious innovations/bid’ah…and the importance of holding on to the Sunnah of Rasoolullah peace be upon him)
May Allah forgive us, be merciful to us and guide us, for He is the Most Gracious the Most Merciful, The Ever-Relenting. May Allah enable us to witness and observe many Ramadans in His obedience, with sincerity and strength. May Allah unite us in jannat al firdaus. Allah bless His final messenger Muhammad ibn Abdillah in abundance. Amin
In short, Easter is a Christian festival with remnants of Pagan traditions. Christians celebrate the alleged crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, this is the essence of Easter. The holiday has become rather commercial, with increase in sales of confectionary, chocolate and popular toys. (1)
Christians believe in the Trinity (father,son, holy spirit), which essentially means that they direct their worship to God, Jesus and the Holy spirit. So today, Christianity has polytheistic dimensions and is not a faith of complete monotheism.
Easter and Islam
Islam is absolutely Monotheistic. Muslims worship One God alone (Allah), without rivals. The Islamic narrative about prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) is simple. Jesus is not the son of God (as mentioned above, Christianity purports him to be). Muslims believe that God (Allah) is The Supreme Creator of all, The Self-Sufficient Master, He does not have children or a wife, and He does not need these things. It makes perfect sense, we are servants of The One Supreme Master- Allah. We go to Allah for all our needs, we don’t need any intermediaries! We need Allah, but Allah does not need us. That is the truth. And the truth makes sense.
We believe Jesus (‘Eesa) (peace be upon him) was a mighty prophet of God (Allah), born from the virgin Mary, who was pure and chaste. God does not need children. It’s the creation, humans and animals who need children. If God can create Adam without a father and mother, Eve without a mother, than surely it is easy for God to create Jesus without a father. Jesus’ story is mentioned in detail in Chapter 19 of the Qur’an, called ‘Maryam’.
If you remember the Christmas post a few months back and a few other blogs on Islam Explained, you’ll remember that as Muslims, we MUST believe in Jesus in order for our faith to be complete. Jesus never claimed divinity. Rather, Jesus peace be upon him was a messenger and prophet of Allah.
Jesus was not crucified, rather Allah (The One True God) took Jesus up to Him, while he was still alive, and another man was made to resemble Jesus and that man was killed. Jesus will return to earth, under Allah’s command, during the end times to fight the Anti-Christ (The Dajjal).(2)
Conclusion- Why Muslims don’t celebrate Easter
The Islamic narrative on monotheism and beliefs about Jesus are so markedly different to the Christian narrative. Thus, it’s no surprise Muslims do not commemorate a Crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, as these didn’t happen in the first place!
Incidentally, there are various members of society and other faiths who do not partake in such festivals either, each with their own reasoning.
Be wise and kind, there’s no need to offend or be offended. Let your peers know gently and respectfully, it’s not the diet that makes you turn down their chocolate treats, it’s your freedom of personal choice and more importantly, your religious belief which you must hold onto with integrity, because a Muslim must be truthful, first and foremost to Allah. Being truthful in word and deed is important in Islam.
Islamic monotheism is our focus, we worship Allah alone.
Just as we cannot force others to believe, we cannot be forced to disbelieve.
The truth is apparent, falsehood is apparent. May Allah guide us all to the truth. Amin.
‘So will you, won’t you, would you be my Valentine’ he asks…
“Erm,…” she says…
“Sorry” she utters, “but no… I hate to be a heartbreaker…but that’s just not how I roll.”
Feel sorry for the guy? Or the girl?
Perhaps you’ve been in the position of the one pursued…or the one rejected.
Either way, you have your opinions and experiences, but let’s try and understand things from each other’s perspectives.
If you’re wondering whether or not Muslims celebrate Valentine’s day, you’re in the right place. There’s not a great deal of positive press on Islam and Muslims, partly due to our own shortcomings, partly due to misrepresentations and misreporting in mainstream media. It’s high time to reveal the TRUTH. Please read this objectively and share it with your friends 🙂
WHAT IS VALENTINE’S DAY?
In a nutshell, Valentine’s Day was a Roman, Pagan tradition, which was Christianized and associated with Saint Valentine who was killed for a cause he believed in, namely marriage in lieu of celibacy, as one legend suggests. Today, it has come to be known as the festival of “love” (whatever that means!), and has become heavily commercialised. It’s a day where “romantic love” or “lust” is glorified and advocated, as are casual relationships, pre-marital relationships and extra-marital affairs. It can be argued that it is a day where people indulge in their desires.
Do Muslims celebrate Valentine’s Day?
Drawing from the above, Valentine’s Day is a festival unfound in the authentic Islamic texts. Particularly due to the nature of the festival, Valentine’s Day contradicts some of the main principles of Islam. Other world religions such as Christianity an Judaism denounce relationships outside of marriage, but many followers of these religions have adopted liberal and secular values instead.
On the contrary, followers of Islam understand that the primary purpose in life is to worship Allah (The One True God) alone, with sincerity and with an unrivalled love. Acts of worship in Islam are only acceptable if they are done solely for Allah, and in accordance to the ‘Sunnah’ or teachings of the final prophet Muhammad (upon him be peace).
In Islam, we have the concept of ‘Halal’ (permitted) and ‘Haram’ (forbidden), which are ultimately derived from the Islamic sources of legislation, namely The Qur’an and The Sunnah.These laws are still valid from the time they were revealed and thus, we don’t change certain principles as time goes on. Islam governs everything we do, from worship, to food laws, to dress code, to interactions with others and relationships.
Valentine’s day, as mentioned above, encourages fornication & adultery among other forbidden deviances regarding carnal desires. Fornication and adultery are among the major sins in Islam, since Islam teaches that people’s honour and lineages are to be protected. As Muslims we must maintain God-conciousness in our lives and avoid wronging or oppressing ourselves and others. We have to resist our long-term Enemy, the Satan, and fight his insinuations to worship our desires.
What relationships are allowed in Islam?
Islam recognises a man’s natural inclination to need a woman and vice versa, but there are legislated guidelines to adhere to in this respect. Essentially, the only permissible outlet to satisfy the natural desires in man, would be through the institution of marriage. Marriage is highly regarded in Islam, and many factors have to be considered before initialising this great contract. Islamic tradition advises people to choose their spouse for their children, that is, choose someone who would be a good father/mother for your future children (since children are a usual consequence of relationships).
Relationships in Islam, are ultimately formed to achieve the primary purpose, to worship Allah. Marriage entails rights and responsibilities, and as Muslims we don’t do the short term flings, it’s all about the long haul. We believe in accountability, that we will be questioned in the afterlife about what we have done, so we take these things seriously. A relationship is something you commit to for life, not for your own convenience until you find something ‘better’.
So please don’t be offended if a Muslim turns you down if you ever pop them the question, it’s likely the response is standard for everyone that comes their way seeking a casual relationship. Please try to understand and respect that, and you need not take it personally. Feel honoured that they had the courage to be genuine and honest.
What to do if someone asks you out, as a Muslim?
It’s simple, if someone asks you out on a date or whatever, as a Muslim, remember
T-R-U-T-H.
Taqwa of Allah, have God-conciousness and don’t be tempted.
Respectfully reject
foster Understanding
by Teaching them the basics of Islam with evidence,
and be Honest, just let them know what Islam’s stance is on the matter.
And Muslim men and women, ponder over these beautiful ayat in the Qur’an…
May Allah guide us all to the straight path, perfect our belief and worship of Him, allow us to follow the sunnah, and protect us from fornication, adultery, major sins and may Allah save us from the enemy Satan. Allah make us the true believers with the ten characteristics at the beginning of Surah Muminoon that cause us to inherit jannat al firdaus. Wasallallahu ala nabiyyina Muhammad, wa ‘alaa Aalihi wa saHbihi aj’maeen. Amin
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May Allah The All-Able grant us victory over the devil. Allah destroy the devils plots. Allah cure us all. May Allah accept our ibadah, and enter us into Jannat al-Firdaus. Wasallallahu alaa nabiyyinaa Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam. Amin
“Sorry” she utters, “but no… I hate to be a heartbreaker…but that’s just not how I roll.”
Thurrock Muslim Community 