Radio Islam Podcast: Muslim in Crisis

Podcast of Panel discussion on Radio Islam held on 15 August 2014. Mawlana Muhammad Kara hosted Mawlana Yusuf Abed and myself.
Questions which were posed to me:

• What are your reflections on the current situation Mulsim across the world?
• Gaza, Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan and other parts of the Muslim World are in turmoil and chaos   –  Do we need to use divine logic to make sense of events.
•  We receive most of our information from western media outlets.  Are most people being given the correct representation of what is really happening?
•  Is there an Ideological vacuum within the Muslim Ummah?
• There has been rising elements of ‘extremist’ in certain parts of the Muslim World. Are they causing more damage?
•  What directives have Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam given us - as to how we should conduct ourselves at the times of Fitna?
•  How should the Muslim Ummah be responding to the current crisis?

سليمان الكندي

Twitter: @sulayman_Kindi

Ever heard of Muslim Crimea?

 

 

وَإِذَا جَاءهُمْ أَمْرٌ مِّنَ الأَمْنِ أَوِ الْخَوْفِ أَذَاعُواْ بِهِ وَلَوْ رَدُّوهُ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ وَإِلَى أُوْلِي الأَمْرِ مِنْهُمْ لَعَلِمَهُ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَنبِطُونَهُ مِنْهُمْ وَلَوْلاَ فَضْلُ اللّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ لاَتَّبَعْتُمُ الشَّيْطَانَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً 

If a matter regarding [the community’s] safety or fear comes to their knowledge they spread it. If they would rather refer it to the Messenger and those in command amongst them, those who are capable of discerning [the news] would know it…. [an-Nisā: 83]

 

This Verse indicates that manipulation of the news media in order to demoralise Muslims, is nothing new. Such psychological warfare was waged against Islām from the very beginning. What I wish to address is not the menace from without, but how Muslims allow themselves to be manipulated.

 

Why do we allow their media to set the agenda?

 

As Muslims we should have concern over our brethren wherever they may be. However, have you noticed how CNN and her sisters have greater sway in dictating where our concern should lie rather than an educated and informed Muslim leadership? The fact of the matter is that an educated, informed and sincere Muslim leadership is rarely to be found. Our leaders are steered by outside news agencies no less than the general public.

 

For example, the Muslims of Myanmar have been facing oppression and genocide for decades. When did our leaders appeal to our consciences and remind us of these Muslims? Only when they appeared in the western media! Our leaders have gone back into silence on the issue. Are the Muslims there in peace and security? Or have the leaders returned to silent mode simply because the media is silent on them?

 

Another example, an influential “Islāmic” organisation issued a statement condemning the pagan Tunisian custom of forcing a woman to marry her rapist. Fine, shouldn’t they be commended for such a statement? Not at all. They should be taken to task for only mentioning it after Tunisia had outlawed the practice. Why could they have not defended our sisters before that? Why only mention it when it was highlighted by the media in the wake of the Arab revolutions. When Morocco outlawed its similar practice a while later, there was much less media attention. Not surprisingly, the said organisation issued nary a word, neither before the outlawing nor after. I have yet to hear a squeak in regards the victimisation of Pakistani sisters. See my article Shattering the glass vessels of the Nabi.

 

How many places and issues are there which should concern us, but only receive mention when our mental colonial masters allow us to wag our tails in that direction? We even use the words our masters tell us to use, since our mental surrender is complete.

 

The Crimean Khanate

 

So Russia and Ukraine are squabbling over Crimea, and those are the only parameters within which Muslims might mention this news. Why should it concern only me that they squabble over a land of empty Masājid, an Islāmic land from which the Muslims were driven from? Am I the only Muslim with access to books and the internet? Was history written solely for my reading pleasure?

Why are the following facts not mentioned our discussions?

• Crimea was an Islāmic state from 1441 until its destruction at the hands of Russia in 1783.
• The very name Crimea comes the Tartar language of these Muslims, from the word Qirim, meaning, “My Hill.”
• The Muslim Tartars made up 4 fifths of population at the time of the Russian invasion.
• They had built close to 1600 Masājid and Madāris [Islāmic houses of worship and learning].
• One Khān built the entrance of the Zincirli Madrasah in such a way that the one entering would have to lower his head out of respect to Islāmic knowledge.  Today the Muslims do not know of this Muslim nation at all.
• On 18^th May 1944, Stalin deported the entire Tatar population from Crimea. Have you looked at a map of Ukraine and asked how it is that so far south, cut off from Russia, there is a Russian majority? The answer lies in 1944.

 

How terrible that we do not know our Islāmic history. Note that 18^th  May 1944 was not that long before 14^th May 1948. What makes the exile of one Muslim population of less significance than that of another? I do not belittle Palestinian suffering in any way, nor do I deny the sacred rank of Palestine over other lands such as Crimea, but it seems that Muslims tend “glamorise” and “romanticise” certain lands and people over the other. Part of the problem is how we allow the media to dictate the agenda. How else to we explain the attention given to Iberia and Palestine whilst other nations are treated with complete silence?

 

 It is the need of the hour that Muslim journalists contribute more than copy and paste from the west. Our dialogue must not be controlled by the colonialists. We are indeed slaves, but slaves of Allāh, not the west.

 

 سليمان الكندي

 

Ever heard of Muslim Crimea?

وَإِذَا جَاءهُمْ أَمْرٌ مِّنَ الأَمْنِ أَوِ الْخَوْفِ أَذَاعُواْ بِهِ وَلَوْ رَدُّوهُ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ وَإِلَى أُوْلِي الأَمْرِ مِنْهُمْ لَعَلِمَهُ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَنبِطُونَهُ مِنْهُمْ وَلَوْلاَ فَضْلُ اللّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ لاَتَّبَعْتُمُ الشَّيْطَانَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً 

If a matter regarding [the community’s] safety or fear comes to their knowledge they spread it. If they would rather refer it to the Messenger and those in command amongst them, those who are capable of discerning [the news] would know it…. [an-Nisā: 83]

This Verse indicates that manipulation of the news media in order to demoralise Muslims, is nothing new. Such psychological warfare was waged against Islām from the very beginning. What I wish to address is not the menace from without, but how Muslims allow themselves to be manipulated.

Why do we allow their media to set the agenda?

As Muslims we should have concern over our brethren wherever they may be. However, have you noticed how CNN and her sisters have greater sway in dictating where our concern should lie rather than an educated and informed Muslim leadership? The fact of the matter is that an educated, informed and sincere Muslim leadership is rarely to be found. Our leaders are steered by outside news agencies no less than the general public.

For example, the Muslims of Myanmar have been facing oppression and genocide for decades. When did our leaders appeal to our consciences and remind us of these Muslims? Only when they appeared in the western media! Our leaders have gone back into silence on the issue. Are the Muslims there in peace and security? Or have the leaders returned to silent mode simply because the media is silent on them?

Another example, an influential “Islāmic” organisation issued a statement condemning the pagan Tunisian custom of forcing a woman to marry her rapist. Fine, shouldn’t they be commended for such a statement? Not at all. They should be taken to task for only mentioning it after Tunisia had outlawed the practice. Why could they have not defended our sisters before that? Why only mention it when it was highlighted by the media in the wake of the Arab revolutions. When Morocco outlawed its similar practice a while later, there was much less media attention. Not surprisingly, the said organisation issued nary a word, neither before the outlawing nor after. I have yet to hear a squeak in regards the victimisation of Pakistani sisters. See my article Shattering the glass vessels of the Nabi.

How many places and issues are there which should concern us, but only receive mention when our mental colonial masters allow us to wag our tails in that direction? We even use the words our masters tell us to use, since our mental surrender is complete.

The Crimean Khanate

So Russia and Ukraine are squabbling over Crimea, and those are the only parameters within which Muslims might mention this news. Why should it concern only me that they squabble over a land of empty Masājid, an Islāmic land from which the Muslims were driven from? Am I the only Muslim with access to books and the internet? Was history written solely for my reading pleasure?

Why are the following facts not mentioned our discussions?

·         Crimea was an Islāmic state from 1441 until its destruction at the hands of Russia in 1783.
·         The very name Crimea comes the Tartar language of these Muslims, from the word Qirim, meaning, “My Hill.”
·         The Muslim Tartars made up 4 fifths of population at the time of the Russian invasion.
·         They had built close to 1600 Masājid and Madāris [Islāmic houses of worship and learning].
·         One Khān built the entrance of the Zincirli Madrasah in such a way that the one entering would have to lower his head out of respect to Islāmic knowledge.  Today the Muslims do not know of this Muslim nation at all.
·         On 18^th May 1944, Stalin deported the entire Tatar population from Crimea. Have you looked at a map of Ukraine and asked how it is that so far south, cut off from Russia, there is a Russian majority? The answer lies in 1944.

How terrible that we do not know our Islāmic history. Note that 18^th  May 1944 was not that long before 14^th May 1948. What makes the exile of one Muslim population of less significance than that of another? I do not belittle Palestinian suffering in any way, nor do I deny the sacred rank of Palestine over other lands such as Crimea, but it seems that Muslims tend “glamorise” and “romanticise” certain lands and people over the other. Part of the problem is how we allow the media to dictate the agenda. How else to we explain the attention given to Iberia and Palestine whilst other nations are treated with complete silence?

 It is the need of the hour that Muslim journalists contribute more than copy and paste from the west. Our dialogue must not be controlled by the colonialists. We are indeed slaves, but slaves of Allāh, not the west.

سليمان الكندي

Shattering the glass vessels of the Nabi

ميروى عن أنس أنه قال .. كان للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم

  حاد يقال له أنجشة وكان حسن الصوت .

فقال له النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم رويدك يا أنجشة لا تكسر القوارير " " 

Anas رضي الله عنه narrated that the Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلم had a camel driver with a good voice called Anjashah   رضي الله عنه. The Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلم said to him, "Careful, O Anjashah, do not break the glass vessels." [Muslim]

Anjashah  رضي الله عنه encouraged the camels by means of his voice. As they were going too fast, Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم told him to be mindful of the women who were riding the camels, lest they fall and hurt themselves.

A few short words, which reveal volumes of the beautiful personality of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم. His concern for others, especially weak ones is well known, but look at his choice of words, "qawaareer - glass vessels." Indeed, a sophisticated and subtle personality who was not only the means of giving women dignity in this world, but even his mode of address is so refined and gentle. Women are the delicate glass vessels of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم who should not be broken. 


Yet the sad reality of today is that the delicate glass vessels of this Ummah are most savagely being shattered without any scruple. Mercy might more probably found in the jungle than in that blood-pumping organ certain two-legged beasts dare call their heart. If one were to mention that thousands of our mothers, sisters and daughters are being violated contrary to any civilised norm, the usual Muslim reaction would be to point fingers at Serbs, Hindus, Jews... the usual perpetrators. The sadder reality is that that gang is not limited to Kuffar, but includes those who are supposed to be Muslim.


"Honour" killings is a reality in Muslim lands and whoever has any sense of decency cannot bury his head in the sand any longer. When faced with articles such as this by Robert Fisk Muslims tend to go into denial, similar to what I mentioned in my article on animal rights, and blame everything on a ubiquitous Jewish conspiracy. That the Jews control a media which is against Islam is a fact besides the point. The point is to fix what we are responsible for - the treatment of our women. Ignoring our responsibilities and only focussing on what cannot be immediately changed (such as Jewish control of the media) is nothing but Satanic deception.


  A basic principle of life is that a problem cannot be fixed unless it is first acknowledged. We are riddled with so many problems which never get resolved simply because we cannot admit it. Again, our "honour" is at stake. Yet does the Quraan not state that all honour belongs to Allah? How can it be that Muslims stoop to shattering the glass vessels of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم upon perceived slights to their honour, when even if an actual crime had taken place, Islam teaches us a proper code of conduct including the Hadith, "Legal penalties are dropped at the slightest doubt."?


What kind of two legged beasts walk amongst the ranks of the Muslims who sentence a glass vessel of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم to be gang raped! Serbs did not perpetrate this incident, nor did Jews or Hindus. I cannot but imagine how  Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم would weep if he knew of  male members of his Ummah are the ones  shattering his glass vessels so bestially. 


To add further disgust to this horror, why is it that Muslim countries, organisations and leaders are so silent? Is funding and popularity of higher precedence than the pleasure of Allah or even basic humanity which Kuffar can also feel?


Hajjaj bin Yusuf was perhaps the greatest tyrant in the history of Islam. Yet he despatched an entire army from Iraq when Indians captured a glass vessel of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم. He had some decency in him, some redeeming quality which he can present when his Accounting is taken.


On the other end of the Islamic world, the greed and selfish ambition of al-Haajib al-Masur were the seeds which caused the collapse of al-Andalus (Muslim Iberia) and by extension eventually the colonial nightmare Islam has suffered. Yet he too threatened the Christian north with his armies upon hearing of the capture of one glass vessel of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم. It is well within the realm of possibility that Allah forgives him based just on this one deed. 


The question is, what is our redeeming quality if questioned that through our silence, we too shattered the glass vessels of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم?


Ride faster if you will, O Anjashah, the glasses have already shattered.

سليمان الكندي

Shattering the glass vessels of the Nabi

ميروى عن أنس أنه قال .. كان للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم

  حاد يقال له أنجشة وكان حسن الصوت .

فقال له النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم رويدك يا أنجشة لا تكسر القوارير " " 

Anas رضي الله عنه narrated that the Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلم had a camel driver with a good voice called Anjashah   رضي الله عنه. The Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلم said to him, "Careful, O Anjashah, do not break the glass vessels." [Muslim]

Anjashah  رضي الله عنه encouraged the camels by means of his voice. As they were going too fast, Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم told him to be mindful of the women who were riding the camels, lest they fall and hurt themselves.

A few short words, which reveal volumes of the beautiful personality of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم. His concern for others, especially weak ones is well known, but look at his choice of words, "qawaareer - glass vessels." Indeed, a sophisticated and subtle personality who was not only the means of giving women dignity in this world, but even his mode of address is so refined and gentle. Women are the delicate glass vessels of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم who should not be broken. 


Yet the sad reality of today is that the delicate glass vessels of this Ummah are most savagely being shattered without any scruple. Mercy might more probably found in the jungle than in that blood-pumping organ certain two-legged beasts dare call their heart. If one were to mention that thousands of our mothers, sisters and daughters are being violated contrary to any civilised norm, the usual Muslim reaction would be to point fingers at Serbs, Hindus, Jews... the usual perpetrators. The sadder reality is that that gang is not limited to Kuffar, but includes those who are supposed to be Muslim.


"Honour" killings is a reality in Muslim lands and whoever has any sense of decency cannot bury his head in the sand any longer. When faced with articles such as this by Robert Fisk Muslims tend to go into denial, similar to what I mentioned in my article on animal rights, and blame everything on a ubiquitous Jewish conspiracy. That the Jews control a media which is against Islam is a fact besides the point. The point is to fix what we are responsible for - the treatment of our women. Ignoring our responsibilities and only focussing on what cannot be immediately changed (such as Jewish control of the media) is nothing but Satanic deception.


  A basic principle of life is that a problem cannot be fixed unless it is first acknowledged. We are riddled with so many problems which never get resolved simply because we cannot admit it. Again, our "honour" is at stake. Yet does the Quraan not state that all honour belongs to Allah? How can it be that Muslims stoop to shattering the glass vessels of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم upon perceived slights to their honour, when even if an actual crime had taken place, Islam teaches us a proper code of conduct including the Hadith, "Legal penalties are dropped at the slightest doubt."?


What kind of two legged beasts walk amongst the ranks of the Muslims who sentence a glass vessel of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم to be gang raped! Serbs did not perpetrate this incident, nor did Jews or Hindus. I cannot but imagine how  Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم would weep if he knew of  male members of his Ummah are the ones  shattering his glass vessels so bestially. 


To add further disgust to this horror, why is it that Muslim countries, organisations and leaders are so silent? Is funding and popularity of higher precedence than the pleasure of Allah or even basic humanity which Kuffar can also feel?


Hajjaj bin Yusuf was perhaps the greatest tyrant in the history of Islam. Yet he despatched an entire army from Iraq when Indians captured a glass vessel of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم. He had some decency in him, some redeeming quality which he can present when his Accounting is taken.


On the other end of the Islamic world, the greed and selfish ambition of al-Haajib al-Masur were the seeds which caused the collapse of al-Andalus (Muslim Iberia) and by extension eventually the colonial nightmare Islam has suffered. Yet he too threatened the Christian north with his armies upon hearing of the capture of one glass vessel of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم. It is well within the realm of possibility that Allah forgives him based just on this one deed. 


The question is, what is our redeeming quality if questioned that through our silence, we too shattered the glass vessels of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم?


Ride faster if you will, O Anjashah, the glasses have already shattered.

سليمان الكندي