Muslims at the crossroads

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Western world turned its attention towards containing the influence of Muslims and Islam. Although they have failed to do so, the West’s hostilities towards Muslims is one of the reasons why many young, emotionally-misguided Muslims have resorted to violence. This has provided the Western media with fodder to initiate anti-Islam and anti-Muslim campaigns.

Despite all their efforts, Islam is still on the rise, especially in the West. The mayors of London, Birmingham, Leeds, Blackburn, Sheffield, Oxford, Luton, Oldham and Rochdale are all Muslims. Most schools in the UK now serve halal meat. All this has been achieved by a population of four million Muslims out of a total population of 66 million. This is indeed an eye-opener.

We should all follow the golden divine principles laid down in Islam and be content and happy. Muslims all over the world are being branded as terrorists and murderers.

While addressing a conference on terrorism, a German scholar who converted to Islam because of its golden rules, while addressing a conference on terrorism, said: “who started the First World War? Not Muslims. Who started the Second World War? Not Muslims. Who killed six million Jews in the Holocaust? Not Muslims. Who killed about 20 million aborigines in Australia? Not Muslims. Who dropped nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Not Muslims.

“Who killed more than 100 million Indians in North America? Not Muslims. Who killed more than 50 million Indians in South America? Not Muslims. Who took about 180 million African people as slaves and let 88 percent of them die and be thrown overboard into the Atlantic Ocean? Not Muslims. But if a Muslim commits the same [crime], he is called a terrorist. So, first remove this double standard. Then come to the point. I am proud to be a Muslim”.

This is what a British judge wrote while sentencing a misguided young Muslim: “…So, Ahmed Hassan, for the offence of attempted murder of which you have been convicted, I sentence you to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 34 years… Finally, Ahmed Hassan, let me say this to you. You will have plenty of time to study the Quran in prison in the years to come. You should understand that the Quran is a book of peace; Islam is a religion of peace. The Quran and Islam forbid anything extreme, including extremism in religion.

“Islam forbids breaking the ‘law of the land’ where one is living or is a guest. Islam forbids terrorism (hiraba). The Quran and the Sunna [sic] provide that the crime of perpetrating terror to ‘cause corruption in the land’ is one of the most severe crimes in Islam. So it is in the law of the United Kingdom. You have, therefore, received the most severe of sentences under the law of this land.

“You have violated the Quran and Islam by your actions, as well as the law of all civilised people. It is to be hoped that you will come to realise this one day. Please go with the officers.” (Justice Haddon-Cave on March 23 2018).

It is to be sincerely hoped that our ulema will concentrate on spreading the real message of the Almighty instead of spreading sectarian hatred and narrow-minded information. Our politicians should also concentrate on following the Quran rather than merely fighting to become the next occupant of the PM House.

Note one: The horrendous and dastardly missile attack on Syria, which was carried out by France, the US and the UK, despite Putin’s strong advice, is a clear provocation for a devastating war. Haven’t the people of Syria suffered enough? Putin should stand his ground. He shouldn’t simply stand by while the West plays politics and innocent people are either killed or forced to suffer more atrocities.

Note two: I am extremely grateful to thousands of Pakistanis across the world for their good wishes and prayers on my 82nd birthday, which I celebrated on April 1. May Almighty Allah shower His infinite blessings on them and their families.

Email: dr.a.quadeer.khan@gmail.com