The EU has a population of 500 million, the Muslim Ummah in Europe total 53 million, once again the Ummah is being urged to participate and engage in this week's European election. Whilst European nations are witnessing a decline in participation the Muslim Ummah is being urged by various domestic politicians and by some within the Muslim community to not just vote in the upcoming European election but actively participate.
There are two fundamental reasons the Ummah is being urged to vote, the week before the election many mosques across Europe urged the Ummah in Europe to vote during the Jummah Khutbah's, Imams across Europe have been arguing that its in the Muslims interest to vote. Some have argued that the Muslim community needs to elect their representatives as we have interests in Europe and these can only be achieved if Muslims elect their representatives. Fundamentally Muslim interests cannot be achieved by not entering the democratic parliamentary system.
Muslims are also being urged, incidentally by the mainstream political parties that by not voting the Ummah will be allowing far right parties into power. In a joint Statement, in the UK, some scholars endorsed and urged the Ummah to vote: "On June 4, we have an added responsibility to vote in the European elections. For the first time, openly anti-Muslim parties have a very real chance of gaining national prominence by winning a seat in the European Parliament. They will join Islamophobes from continental Europe to further perpetuate their message of hate against Muslims. In the past, their leaders have described Islam as "a vicious, wicked faith" and have falsely accused Muslims of all sorts of crimes. Their words have led to racist violence - if they get elected on 4 June, they will have public funding that will only amplify their vicious Islamophobia."
There are fundamental shari'ah violations when one votes for a kufr party whatever the perceived benefit as Allah سبحانه وتعالى told us:
وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ
"Those who do not judge by what Allah has revealed, then they are the Kafiroon." [Al-Maaida, 5:47]
Such arguments do not stand up against historical facts when scrutinised. The Muslims in the UK are the most established community in Europe and are the best example to scrutinise.
When Muslims first arrived on British shores they experienced a British population with ingrained racism, this forced Muslim into there own enclaves and to work collectively to fulfil there needs and interests. In Many areas of the UK local community centres were booked in order to hold Jummah prayers and Eid Salah. Many elders collected funds and paid for houses which would be used as makeshift mosques. This eventually allowed many communities to expand such properties and turn them into official mosques. Another challenge the Ummah faced was of Halaal food. This was solved by many Muslim meat specialists purchasing the necessary equipment through raising funds from the Muslim community. The Muslim community came together and raised the necessary funds to achieve there interests.
The scaremongering of the far right British National Party is not a new style used by British government. Muslims are being urged if they do not vote than the BNP, a racist party, with the only policy of expelling Muslims will get into power. Whilst the BNP may have some support amongst a minority of the white population closer scrutiny shows that the government is in fact deflecting attention away from their own anti-Islamic policies.
It was not the BNP that lied to the public and launched the war in Iraq, massacring Muslims. It was not the BNP that took Britain into Afghanistan to support America's crusade. It was the government not the BNP that developed the anti-terror laws, which makes illegal criticism of Britain's foreign policy and bans Islamic groups who speak out against such acts. It was the government that enacted a policy of stop and search (harassment) against any Muslim who looks to be practicing Islam. Whilst the BNP have made many anti-Islamic remarks, the rise of the BNP which is openly racist is an indictment on the morally and politically bankrupt democratic system. Like the BNP mainstream political parties in the UK including the party in power have consistently shown their hatred for Muslims in the UK. Cabinet ministers have openly mocked Islam. It was a cabinet minister that remarked the Niqab was a mark of separation. It was Charles Clark, Home secretary that remarked there would be no negotiation about the Shari'ah and the Khilafah.
The Labour party and Conservatives have worked collectively to attack Islam and defame Muslims at every opportunity like the BNP
The Muslims Ummah should realise that since the first Muslims arrived in Europe working collectively has successfully delivered time and time again. Since the first Muslim MP's entered into Parliaments across Europe nothing beneficial for the Ummah has been achieved, the vote for the Iraq war in the UK is a vivid example. Whilst many may have entered the political process with sincere aims the parliamentary system and its protection of national interests show that very few have remained sincere to there original intentions.
The last 5 years have shown that rather than then the far right attacking Islam it was mainstream political parties that led the attack. It was the French leader Jacques Chirac that implemented the policy of banning the Hijab in France. It was the Labour government of the UK that accuses the Muslims of the UK not integrating. It was the Danish prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen who protected Jyllands-Posten's freedom to insult the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. Across Europe whether the parties are far right or mainstream all have shown their colours. The Ummah needs to collectively work to secure its needs and interests as she has currently done - this path has proven to be successful at protecting the Ummah's identity.
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moulud
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AsSalamualikum, Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim "But no, by your lord they can have no Iman, until they make you the judge in all disputes between them." [An-Nisa, 4:65] "And if you differ in anything amongst your selves refer it to Allah and His Messenger." [An-Nisa, 4:59] The hadith was reported by Imam Muslim on the authority of Nafi’ (via ‘Abdullah b. ‘Umar) that the Messenger of Allah (saw) "The one who removes his hand from obedience he will meet Allah without a proof for himself' and whosoever dies without a bay'ah on his neck dies the death of Jahiliyyah." 1) In Islam there is no place for referring to anything other than Quran and Hadith. All Muslims have to resolve their issues (Political, Social or Spiritual in accordance Islam). 2) Islam is a complete comprehensive Way of Life, which is part of Our Iman: this makes it compulsory on us to work to re-establish the the Deen accordance to Islam... and only the Khilafah can establish the Deen (Islam). 3) How Long will we give leadership and propagate democracy (taghut) instead of giving it to Islam? 4) We are always saying: Muslim Ummah is 1, Muslim Land is 1 etc...then what prevents us from unifying? ...ans is Us! 5) Lastly We have to realise this work is on our neck (fard), we must work (accordance with Islam) to re-establish the Khilafah and wait for the help of Allah(swt). JazakAllah, WasSalam |
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Zeital
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“Only today the Crusades have ended”. General Allenby upon entry to the venerable City of Jerusalem in 1917 “Awake Saladin, we have returned. My presence here consecrates the victory of the Cross over the Crescent”. General Henri Gouraud upon entry to the esteemed City of Damascus in 1920 “England was prepared to grant political freedom to all her possessions as soon as a generation of intellectuals and politicians imbued through English education with the ideals of English culture were ready to take over, but under no circumstances would the British Government for a single moment tolerate an independent Islamic State”. Lord Cromer “Every civil building connected with Mahommedan tradition should be levelled to the ground without regard to antiquarian veneration or artistic predilection”. British Prime Minister Palmerston “Islam is the enemy that replaces a defunct Communism”. British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher “The most irresponsible mistake…was the international recognition of a Bosnian state governed by Muslims”. Henry Kissinger, during dissolution of Yugoslavia The Renaissance and Reformation, followed by Revolutions against Monarchies, the rise of Secularism, and call for the Rights of Man, Liberté, égalité, fraternité have not dampened the hostility against a civilisation across the Mediterranean. Islamic Civilisation still evokes the image of a menacing threat, due to the bitter clashes in Spain, Italy, Sicily, the Levant, Byzantine territories, Southern Steppes, and the Balkans. Moving to liberalism and a post modern society, the legacy of ‘religious’ conflicts in Europe bear hard even after a millennia. Europe’s fear of the ‘other’ has been transported to its offshoot civilisations in the Americas which claims its heritage from Greco-Roman Civilisation. Greco-Roman Civilisation also feared the ‘outsider’ of the day, or those deemed to be ‘barbarians at the gate’. Europeans perspective of non-Europeans since ancient times to the Age of Exploration (overseas expansion) needs careful understanding, alongside Europeans internal perceptions of themselves. |
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Abdul-Kareem
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RE: badreddine Europe is laying a deliberate trap for Muslims in hyping up the far-right groups in Europe. This is all aimed at trying to integrate Muslims in to their corrupt political culture that is based on man-made laws instead of Allah's laws. Our example is the Prophet Muhammed صلى الله عليه وسلم and not the Jews. We have our own political culture, land and people. We must work to establish the Khilafah in these Muslim lands and sort out our own problems of poverty, disunity, occupation and corruption. Once we establish the Khilafah then we can use it to export the Islamic way of life internationally including Europe and bring them out of darkness and into life. This is how the Prophet Muhammed صلى الله عليه وسلم and sahaha worked. |
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badreddine
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In Muslim Land, Muslim leaders behaves against the Sharia. Muslim from Europe should and must vote as there is no one to represent themself, the only way to be represented is to vote someone from within the Muslim community. To be activ in politics is to be heard. Look at the jews, they are in the political spectrum and control, influence, direct...impose..diktact... the Congress politicien etc.. and this everywhere. Me I am a Msulim and I will vote. To vote for a Man made system is haram I know. But where are the Muslim intellect those who should tell all Muslim leader to be a good Muslim? Why Imans dont explain to the Muslim Dictatore that what they are doing is HARAM Why the Imans, during the GAZA genocide , haven't push the "Muslim Leader " to Intervene? Why is that the iman most of the iman more scare of their Leader than Allah. I will vote. If all the musklim from Europe vote for ourself not for Left right etc but only for ourself, People will stop punching us in the face. |
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Zeital
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"I wish I were a commander in chief in India. The first thing I would do to strike that Oriental Race with amazement....should be to proclaim to them that my holding that appointment by the leave of God, to mean that I should do my utmost to exterminate the race upon whom the stain of the late cruelties rested; and that I was there for that purpose and no other, ...now proceeding, with all convenient dispatch and merciful swiftness of execution, to blot it out of mankind and raze it off the face of the Earth". Victorian writer Charles Dickens “Muslims can never be defeated until this is taken from them”. Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, whilst holding a copy of the Qur’an in the House of Commons Karl Marx spoke out against the British atrocities carried out after the rebellions and also the causes that led to this insurrection. However Karl Marx was no supporter of the ‘Oriental’ races. Edward Said’s book on ‘Orientalism’ provides insight into the European attitudes (especially Britain and France) towards Asia and also Islam. “The question is not whether the English had a right to conquer India, but whether we are to prefer India conquered by the Turk, by the Persian, by the Russian, to India conquered by the Briton”. Karl Marx Another country where a large rebellion and Civil War would break out was China. The Qing Dynasty and its impoverished population suffered from the Opium that was smuggled from British territories controlled from India. The Europeans (British and French instigators) intervened against the Chinese trying to remove the autocratic Qing Dynasty. Moving from the period when religion held authority in Europe, to the secular and more liberal politics, Europeans and their overseas settlers continue to fear the ‘other’ Europeans clashed with every civilisation or culture, even those indigenous to the so called New World, China, South East Asia, and those lesser developed societies. |
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Abdullah
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Given the Islamophobic nature inherent in present day democratic setup of govt. ummah's non-participation in voting is not only apt but also obligatory. Rather each muslim should strive for achieving the ultimate goal of Khilafah and liberate the whole humankind from the oppressive regimes of present day flawed governance systems. Having said all that and having good through your article, should the muslims of UK only boycott voting or should it be the action of muslims througout the world not to participate or vote in elections? Kindly guide properly citing from the Glorious Qur'an since many a muslim youth like myself are confused regarding the matter. |
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Zeital
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Some quotes are taken from this book: THE BLIGHT OF ASIA: An Account of the Systematic Extermination of Christian Populations by Mohammedans and of the Culpability of Certain Great Powers; with the True Story of the Burning of Smyrna by George Horton “The barbarian power, which has been for centuries seated in the very heart of the Old World, which has in its brute clutch the most famous countries of classical and religious antiquity and many of the most fruitful and beautiful regions of the earth; and, which, having no history itself, is heir to the historical names of Constantinople and Nicaea, Nicomedia and Caesarea, Jerusalem and Damascus, Nineva and Babylon, Mecca and Bagdad, Antioch and Alexandria, ignorantly holding in its possession one half of the history of the whole world”. Cardinal John Henry Newman, quoted in The Blight of Asia “Let me endeavor, very briefly to sketch, in the rudest outline what the Turkish race was and what it is. It is not a question of Mohammedanism simply, but of Mohammedanism compounded with the peculiar character of a race. They are not the mild Mohammedans of India, nor the chivalrous Saladins of Syria, nor the cultured Moors of Spain. They were, upon the whole, from the black day when they first entered Europe, the one great anti-human specimen of humanity. Wherever they went a broad line of blood marked the track behind them, and, as far as their dominion reached, civilization disappeared from view. They represented everywhere government by force as opposed to government by law.—Yet a government by force can not be maintained without the aid of an intellectual element.— Hence there grew up, what has been rare in the history of the world, a kind of tolerance in the midst of cruelty, tyranny and rapine. Much of Christian life was contemptuously left alone and a race of Greeks was attracted to Constantinople which has all along made up, in some degree, the deficiencies of Turkish Islam in the element of mind!” Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone, quoted in The Blight of Asia “May the Turk be turned out of Europe and sent to . . . where he came from”. Prime Minister David Lloyd George “The Turks are a human cancer, a creeping agony in the flesh of the lands which they misgovern, rotting every fibre of life ... I am glad that the Turk is to be called to a final account for his long record of infamy against humanity”. Prime Minister David Lloyd George “For more than five centuries, the presence of the Turk in Europe has been a source of distraction, intrigue, and corruption . . . Let not this occasion be missed of purging the earth of one of its most pestilent roots of evil”. Lord Curzon |
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Zeital
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“How dreadful are the curses which Islam lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property‹either as a child, a wife, or a concubine must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men. But the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world”. Prime Minister Winston Churchill Even Voltaire, a man of letters, early campaigner for civil rights and prominent French thinker of the Enlightenment had this to say, “I wish fervently that the Turkish barbarians be chased away immediately out of the country of Xenophon, Socrates, Plato, Sophocles and Euripides. If we wanted, it could be done soon but seven crusades of superstition have been undertaken and a crusade of honour will never take place. We know almost no city built by them; they let decay the most beautiful establishments of Antiquity, they reign over ruins”. Some Americans (of European descent), who established the European World View upon North America viewed the ‘savage’ indigenous tribes as ‘Turks’. An American James Gerard thought Turks should be treated as the First Nations and placed in reservations. French historian, André Mandelstam, thought that the Turks had not .done anything to justify their existence from a civilisatory point of view and their historical role was to destroy. It is ironic how the Europeans and their descendents overseas viewed other cultures or established civilisations (Islamic and even Indian or Chinese) with disdain and reprehension. T.E.Lawrence, the English agent and guerrilla campaigner was pleased to use and discard Arabs, who were long vilified by prominent European religious leaders, long before Turkish people became Muslims or encountered Europe. The truth is ever since the Persian invasions of Greece and the bitter conflict between Carthage and Rome, the Europeans always feared the ‘other’ or ‘outsider’. The Turks were viewed as the nomadic Huns, and later Tartar-Mongols as an ominous threat from the far reaches beyond. Europeans feared themselves, had superstitions about werewolves and witches, and in particular the Muslim ‘bogeyman’. This fear would continue during the age of maritime empires, the Soviet Bloc, Yellow Peril, and right up to present the old Islamic invader. "The propagandist's purpose is to make one set of people forget that certain other sets of people are human". Aldous Huxley |
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