Abrar A bi-monthly newsletter published by the Abrar Islamic Foundation

45 CrawfordEdior: Place, DrLondon Saeed W!H Shehabi 4LP A bi-monthly newsletter Tel:Published 020 7724 by the 3033 Abrar 45Fax: Crawford 020 7724 Place, 7219 LondonEmail: W1H 4LP Vol 13, No 21(310) 16th -31st May 2017 [email protected] Tel: 020Website: 7724 3033 Dual functionality of fasting; worship and soul-searching Fax:www.abrar.org.uk 020 7724 7219 Of all the opportunities to meditate, worship or ment which leaves no time or space for personal Email: contemplate, the holy month of Ramadan pro- contemplation. The internet era is bombarding vides the best time to conduct soul-searching and people with unstoppable messaging services that Abrarhouse self-confidence building. Thirty days of continu- deprive people of personal peace and choice. @hotmail.com ous worship with total isolation from the earthly Even the Muslim daily prayers have been affect- Website temptations is bound to be the perfect chance for ed by the continuous disruptions of the prayers www.abraronline.net self-cleansing by any human being. Those as the smart phones force themselves on people Charity no. 293802 searching for spiritual fulfilment cannot achieve during prayers. The addiction to those devices that goal fully without re-visiting the holy month has no bounds. It is a social epidemic that de- of Ramadan to realise the extensive “facilities” it prives the people of their precious times of soul- provides for such an exercise. To be able to vol- searching, contemplation and worship. Fasting We stand for: untarily refrain from eating or drinking for 18 breaks this formidable addiction by presenting hours a day is simply remarkable. That is cer- different kinds of engagements. Quran recitation  Inter-faith and inter- tainly a dream for the diet experts who are often is being promoted as a collective exercise which civilisational dialogue disappointed by the lack of will among their may be conducted throughout the month of clients who aspire to control their intake. Here is Ramadan. Competitions have been held to  Respect for the human a total submission to God’s command to stop choose those with the best voices and styles. race and rights eating or drinking during the long summer days This means that people who have been targeted from before sunrise to after sunset. No enforce- by regimes for political purposes, can still prac-  Cooperation for the ment forces are needed to ensure compliance tice soul-searching and proper worship. good of people with these divine commands. God Almighty has Of particular significance is the feelings by wor- left the sincerity of adoption of those principles shippers of the need to feed the poor. This has  Moderation to the person himself. The personal faith is the led to social and relief movements whose work main driving force behind compliance with often concentrated on helping the poor and sal-  Modernity God’s commands. While the state has responsi- vaging the dispossessed. Trusts are run to collect bility to provide the necessary environment to donations from the able people and distribute  High standards of facilitate the conduct of personal and collective them among the needy. The feeling of hunger spirituality worship, fasting is a personal duty the conduct of forces the person to take broader view of the which is left to the individual himself. Muslim communities and how they are dealing The World’s Muslims are awaiting the advent of with those emerging social needs. For those with Ramadan towards the end of May in order to open mind, Ramadan provides a golden oppor- In this issue start fasting. This entails refraining from eating tunity in the process of change especially in the or drinking during the day. But it does not stop Arab and Muslim worlds. It is a time for reflec- Local Events 2 there. The self-cleansing exercise goes further. It tion as well. The Muslims thus possess a golden demands that pious worshippers must also stop opportunity to enhance the levels of their spiritu- other negative social habits; back-biting, steal- ality. This positive approach can provide an Muslim Affairs 3 ing, swearing or any other kind of bad behav- alternative to soul-searching. It is thus a time of iour. This is necessary for the fasting to be in multiple functions, the most significant of which Shia Muslims accordance with God’s commands. It is yet an- is the transformation of the person into a better in diaspora 4 other exercise in self-control and social correct- human; God-fearing, principled and disciplined. ness. Societies which face the prospect of frag- Hashi Mohammad on mentation due to the social illnesses, are sudden- ly required to organise mass gatherings and pray- youth challenges 5 ers. This leads to social cohesion, much needed at the present time when repressive regimes Women and Rama- work hard to disintegrate the Muslim societies. dan 6 The month of Ramadan is thus an opportunity to deal with the children and adults alike. Through- Ramadan stories 8 out history, societies have collected massive treasures of human experiences in collective worship and mass approach to implementation of God’s rules. The modern day life with its advanced techno- logical advances has created ungodly environ- Page 2 Local Events

Persecution of Sheikh Qassim been chosen by the people. There were was chaired by successive movements by The Sanussis Shabir Razvi. The The Abrar’s Thursday meeting on in Libya, the Scholars Front in AlJge- young man spoke 4th May was addressed by two people ria. In recent times there were move- about his personal who talked on two ments that aim at creating Islamic rule experience and subjects. The first such as the AlTahrir Party and the how his hard was Jalal Fairooz Muslim Brotherhood. More extremist work enabled him who spoke about the movements include AlTakfir and Hijra. to achieve what predicament of There were also movements in Yemen, many like him Ayatullah Sheikh Iraq, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Turkey would not have Isa Qassim who was and Iran seeking to change the political achieved. It is a facing court verdict order. The motives for revolt range personal testimony intended to give in Bahrain. He said from religious to economic or social. encouragement and hope to young the country was The issue of governance is important in Muslim youth in UK. He described passing through one the Islamic teachings. There have al- how he managed to develop himself of the most danger- ways been revolts against the rulers and achieve high positions from the ous periods of its modern history. The since the four caliphs after the Prophet. slums of North London. His poor fam- highest religious leader in the country The battles of “the Transgression” hap- ily background did not hinder his pro- had been under persecution for several pened during the reign of Abu Bakr, gress. He encourages the Muslim years and was awaiting the decision by Abu Lulua assassinated Omar, Uthman youth to think, be optimistic, have the tribal Alkhalifa rule whether to be was murdered and Ali faced revolt by confidence and possess a sense of arrested or deported. His house has been Alkhawarej and was eventually assas- purpose (Full text, page 5). protected by hundreds of followers who sinated. God is the source of govern- vowed to defend him to death. The deci- ance, and Prophet Mohammad admin- Conference on Shia Muslims sion had been scheduled for 7th May istered just rule on people. He appoint- (but was postponed for two more weeks ed governors and commanders and A two-day conference was held by the until 21st May). Two years ago the de- sacked some of them. He also signed Edinburgh University on Saturday and cision had been taken to end the majori- treaties and agreements. His tradition Sunday 5-7th May “The Unthought in ty presence of the native Shia Muslims confirms his governing role. There are Islam; The Shi’a and Shi’ism in the through what could only be described as traditions among the Shia and Sunni Western Diaspora”. The aim was to “genocide”. The regime had failed to Muslims that call for obedience of the evaluate the presence of Shi’a Mus- end the people’s Revolution that started ruler. The speaker presented several lims in the West from various angles. in 2011, so it sought to revenge from hadiths (traditions) to show this. Both It was organised by the Centre of Is- their leaders most of whom are lan- Shia and Sunni Muslims agrees on the lamic Studies and guishing behind bars. Sheikh Qassim is need to obey the ruler and not to revolt facilitated by Dr a student of Martyr Mohammad Baqir against him, with differences in the Andrew Newman. Al Sadr who was executed by Saddam extent of this. There are also rules that He worked ex- Hussain in 1980. Senior religious lead- call for revolt if the ruler deviated and tremely hard to en- ers have called for the protection of the became oppressor. Revolting against sure a successful Sheikh and condemned Alkhalifa for unjust ruler is the right of the commu- outcome. The con- persecuting him and the rest of the peo- nity (Ummah). Like Shia Muslims, ference consisted of ple. The speaker said that the defeat of leaders of Sunni Muslims revolted two parts; formal those evil forces in Iraq, Syria and against unjust rulers. Imam Abu Hanifa and informal. On Yemen is pushing them to seek revenge revolted against AlMansoor when he the first day the in Bahrain. killed Prophet’s descendants. He also formal part was held in which five supported Zaid ibn Ali when he chal- papers were presented by distin- Islamic views on “Revolt” lenged the Umayyad rulers. He was guished guests; Dr Matthijs Van den eventually arrested and jailed until his Bos (from Birkbeck College of Lon- Dr Hussain Abu death. Imam Malik ibn Anas also re- don), Dr Mohammad Mesbahi (from AlSaud delivered a volted and was tortured. Ahmad ibn The Islamic College, London, Dr Oli- talk about the con- Hanbal was lashed repeatedly until his ver Scharbrodt from University of tents of his recently- body was mutilated. Imam Al Shafe’I Chester, Dr Yafa Shanneik published book on was also persecuted. The speaker con- (University of Chester) and Dr Liya- revolting against cluded that both Shia and Sunni Mus- kat Takim (of McMaster University in unjust rulers. He lims allow revolting against the oppres- Canada). The informal part was open talked about the his- sors. to the participants to present a brief on toric connotation of their organisations and how they see the Arabic word Personal testimony the way forward as Shia Muslims in “revolt”. It was first by Hashi Mohammad England and Scotland. Suggestions used by the Kha- were also presented as to how the next warij when they revolted against Imam On Wednesday 3rd May a seminar was gathering should be conducted and Ali. It thus became undesirable term. held at Abrar House on “Muslim when. It is clear much needs to be Although challenging unjust rulers is Youth: Escaping the prevailing para- done to explore the doctrines of Shia acceptable or may be recommended digm of terrorism, underachievement Islam especially by those in the diapo- revolt was often instigated against just and alienation”. It was organised joint- ra. Serious interaction with the su- rulers. In the early days of Islam there ly by The Open Discussion and The preme religious scholars and seminar- were revolts against Imam Ali and bat- Gulf Cultural Club. The speaker was ies in Najaf and Qom in order to facil- tles were fought in Siffin, AlJamal and Hashi Mohammad, a young barrister, itate the religious needs of those com- AlNahrawan despite the fact that he had originally from Somalia. The event munities in the West. Muslim Affairs Page 3

Love has made its way called for ending the inhumane treat- Networks behind Islamophobia over radicalism ment of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli in USA jails and ensuring their right to treat- Emmanuel Mac- ment and education. Islamophobia in the USA is an investi- ron, former gation by Al Jazeera Arabic correspond- French banker, Yemen war adds to rising fears ent Abdullah Elshamy into what and won the second for ships in Horn of Africa who is behind the rise of anti-Islamic round of presi- feeling in the United States - what they dential election in Yemen's worsening conflict is contrib- think, how they operate and where their France giving uting to a spike in piracy in the region, funding comes from. hope to his coun- with Somali pirates taking advantage of The investigation uncovers a network of try, Europe, and a reduced international naval presence Islamophobic writers, campaigners, fun- the entire world and more readily available weaponry to ders and politicians who combined to in the present carry out attacks. bring about the conditions in which chaotic situation. "The regional instability caused by Donald Trump would be elected presi- He is the youngest head of state of Yemen is important," Colonel Richard dent in November 2016. France since Napoleon. Cantrill, chief of staff with the Europe- The September 11 attacks on the World The 39-year-old Macron was elected an Union's counter piracy mission EU Trade Center in 2001 was a watershed the president gaining 66.1% of the NAVFOR, told Reuters last week. moment in America's relationship with votes and beating his far-right rival Fighting between Yemen's Iran-aligned the Arab world. Amid the grief and US Marine Le Pen. Houthi rebels and a Saudi-led coalition military response that followed, Ameri- What has to be taken into account is has spilled over into the shipping lanes can fear of the threat of international the number of people decided not to through which much of the world's oil "terrorism" grew. take part in the election which is said to passes. And attacks on merchant ships George W Bush's so-called "crusade" be the highest abstention rate since in recent weeks by Somali gangs against what he labeled the "axis of evil" 1969, Euronews reported. around the Gulf of Aden, the first since fuelled suspicion of the Middle East as a On the whole, around one third of the 2012, have raised fears of a return to whole, and as US military action in- French chose not to vote to any of the hijackings and crews being taken hos- creased and led to the invasion of Iraq in two candidates who ran into the run-off tage for long periods. 2003, this fear turned into one of Arabs voting. This is partially driven by the risk of generally and Muslims in particular. According to Euronews, experts be- famine and drought in the region, navy With the rise of the so-called ISIS, and lieve that Macron’s victory speaks officials said, adding that there have the way the mainstream US media re- more about people wanting to keep Le been around six incidents involving ports on it, fear of Islam further in- Pen out of office than anything else. Somali pirates and international mer- creased, tending to tarnish Muslims and In today’s world and particularly in the chant ships in recent weeks. portray them and their faith as danger- heart of Europe, it is not accepted at all ous and violent. to let the radicalism take the power Twitter suspends Arabic while France itself is the recent victim account of Ayat. Khamenei UNESCO: of extremism and terrorists attacks Jerusalem is occupied city which were brought into this world by In a hostile act, social network Twitter radical policies of the extremists and has suspended Arabic account of Imam far-rights. Khamenei which was publishing news about him.The act is done, while people French activists fast in solidar- and networks linked to Takfiri and ter- ity with Palestinian prisoners rorist groups are working freely and without any restrictions in this network. A number of French activists an- Twitter has not provided any response nounced here on Tuesday an open- on the reasons behind the act so far and ended hunger strike in solidarity with now the following account is replacing The Executive Board of the United Na- hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners in the suspended account: https:// tions Educational, Scientific and Cultur- Israeli jails. twitter.com/ar_khamenei. al Organization (UNESCO) on Tuesday The hunger-striking activists issued a It is noteworthy that the Arabic account voted in favor of a resolution consider- statement saying that their strike is has been subject to cyber-attacks by ing Jerusalem a city under Israeli occu- aimed at exposing the inhumane condi- malwares several times before. pation. The resolution, which confirms tions endured by Palestinian prisoners Accounts related to Imam Khamenei that Israel has no legal or historical in Israeli jails. They called on Israel to are active in Arabic, English, French rights in Old City of Jerusalem, was respond to the demands of the Palestin- and Spanish on Twitter and reflect passed with 22 countries in favor, 10 ian prisoners of liberty regarding the events and news about the Leader of opposed and 23 abstained, while repre- implementation of the standards set out Islamic Revolution sentative of three countries absent. by all international covenants and con- in different lan- Submitted to UNESCO’s Executive ventions for the treatment of prisoners. guages. Board by Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Mo- In their statement, the French activists Following the sus- rocco, Oman, Qatar and Sudan, the reso- called for the cancellation of penalties pension of previous lution on “Occupied Palestine,” affirms imposed on the Palestinian people, Twitter account, that Israel has no legal or historical stressing that these penalties, such as follow new Arabic rights anywhere in Jerusalem. It also the indefinite administrative detention account of Imam includes the recognition that the ceme- and detention of children, are in viola- Khamenei at teries in the city of Hebron and in Beth- tion of international laws. They also @ar_Khamenei. lehem are Islamic cemeteries. Page 4 Great Personalities

Professor Liyakat Takim Shia Muslims in Western Diaspora (McMaster University, Cana- The following are excerpts from the five not give them same da) gave an account on Shia in speeches delivered at the conference or- recognition as church. North America. Earliest Mus- ganised by the Edinburgh University on Shia Islam in UK is offi- lim by the name Esteban Mira Shia and Shiism in the Western Diaspora. cially represented by Caballos arrived in US in Dr Matthijs Van den Bos (from Birk- AlKhoei Foundation. It is 1517. He landed in Florida. beck College of London) presented his well-connected with UN Then there were the slaves, ten paper on “European Shiism in History and Human Rights in Gene- million of them. At least 10-15 Theory” in which he examined the role of va, Jordan and other percent were Muslims. Once Iranian students in the seventies under the places. Nationally it is slavery ended Islam ended. name of “Ettihadiya” in the subsequent usually approached by UK government Some of them went back home, they did struggle against the Shah, referring to per- for advice. One example of Alkhoei in- not marry, they were not able to transmit sonalities like Sayed Murtaza Beheshti tervention is its lobby on religious stud- Islam. In 1880s Islam resurfaced through and Sadiq Tabatabaei in Germany and ies. The Third spatial space are marginal migrants. Among them were Shia. Shia Bani Sadr in France. He talked about the networks. Alkhoei is most outward look- were in Michigan. First mosque was built trans-national dimensions of the Shia ing compared to others. Dar Al Islam in 1918 in Detroit for Sunnis. The second Muslim organisations in Europe. He also affiliate with Hizb Al Da’wa, centre for was a Shia mosque established in 1917 referred to the nature of the unification Shia diasporic politics. It serves other (Badrul Munir} in the city. Ther first approach by Shia Muslim bodies such as purposes; acting only Friday prayers in A’alim was Mohammad Jawad Shirri in the Islamic Unity Forum in UK, and the Brent. It achieved socio-economic status. 1949 in Dearborn, Michigan. They bought similarity of the doctrines of Islamic Main hall decorated with twelve Imams a bank and converted it to a mosque.There Da’wa Party and the Muslim Brotherhood. names. Being official base of Hizb Al are now approximately 2 million Shia, Dr Mohammad Mesbahi (from The Is- Da’wa. Many of its members returned to many of them Iranians. In Los Angeles lamic College, London) talked about the Iraq and took up posts. there are areas called Iran Angeles. There Maraje’I Taqlid and Shia in Diaspora. It does not exhibit affialition to Iraq or are centres and mosques in many places. After giving some figures on Muslim pop- Da’wa. Affiliation to Da’wa is not ap- In many ways Shia community is leaving ulation in Europe he said that the supreme parent behind back home mentality. Another religious leaders in Najaf, Qom and Da’wa shares ideologies of Sunni move- point is the ethnic factor. Ethnicity is Mashad remain a source of guidance of ments. In 2015 it hosted conference of more of a problem with the Shia. Shia Muslim settlers in the West. He men- Islamic Unity Conference. Recurring Sunnis have Juma prayers to which many tioned their efforts to serve those migrants. theme was to counter Western division- people come from various backgrounds. Ayatullah gBorojordi thought of sending ary policy. Prominent speakers repudiat- For Shia they mark Shahadat and Wiladat preachers to Europe because there were ed divisional policies. Dr Schardbrodt of Imams and this fragments the commu- students and businessmen. He sent also talked about Hussainiyat Al Raool nity. Shia are minority within a minority Mahmood Mohaqqiqi to Germany in Al Adham as part of Shirazi network, within a minority. 1950s and Haeiri to US followers of Sayyid Mohammmad Al Another element is diasporic jurispru- Senior leaders like Ayatullah Sistani, Hussaini Al Shirazi (1828-2001) which dence which is more productive in the Ayatullah Khonsari. Ayatullah Hakim and he describe as a “Network outside of diaspora. Now many of Ulama were im- Ayatullah Khoei sent representatives. Najafi marja’iyya and in opposition to ported from outside and are unable to Migrants must fortify themselves by estab- Islamic Republic”. It believes in centrali- relate to the issues of importance. These lishing Islamic centres, schools and link- ty of rituals. ulama are divided along various lines. ing up with the maraje’I who call on them Dr Yafa Shanneik (University of Ches- We need to have fiqh Al Aqalliyya. The to teach their children their mother lan- ter) delivered a lecture titled: The aes- concept of diasporic jurisprudence is ab- guage in order to preserve culture and thetics of death and the poetics of Shia sent. The late Taha Jabir Al Alwani was religion. rituals”. Shia are known for moruning of active in this field for Sunnis. Ahkam Al Dr Oliver Scharbrodt from University of Imam Hussain. One element is compos- Mughtaribeen is good for Shia. How can Chester delivered a lecture titled ing of poetry during religious rituals Shia counter marginalisation, Islampho- “Mapping Transnational and Diasporic called majalis. Lamentation poetry have phobia and marginalisation? Shia Networks in London”. He said there effect on listeners. Writing lamentations Another point is that Shia are minority. is opportunity for Shia to position them- date back to pre Islamic era. AlKhansa is They are more concerned with preserving selves against enemy narratives. A com- known for her eloquent pieces in their existence and are not outward look- plex diaspora has evolved with progres- memory of her brothers. The speaker ing. There is little discussion on Shia Pho- sive and regressive tendencies, between acknowledged influential contribution of bia. You won’t find Shia in ISNA or integration and segregation. He said that Shia women in mourning Hussain. She CAIR or MSA. He talked of four spatial scales. The first is said she attended majalis of women in In Academia we need to have Shia Islam Immigration which created diverse com- UK, Bahrain, UAE and Kuwait. After in proper academic way. Creation of Shia munities, ethnically and culturally. There fall of martyr women would beat their or Imam Ali chair at Harvard Institute is is an interaction with state and society in faces and heads. Hussaini lamentations an example. Today we have only 10 to 15 context of British multicultural politics of have been there since Imam Hussain Shia professors in USA. Sachadina and recognition. He said that in the past 30 martyrdom. In early Islamic history Nasr are retiring. There is Shia phobia on years the London Borough of Brent In last lamentations were used to incite men campuses. Shia in America are discrimi- 30 years became one of world’s global folks for revenge. Since Shia believe no nated against more by fellow Muslims house of Shia Islam There are around 20 vengeance took place for Imam’s killing than non-Muslims. Black Shia are viewed centres for Shii Islam, educational schools women would always call for it in their as heretics by fellow black Muslims. Po- and colleges, offices of maraje etc. Brent lamentations. She recited several exam- litically there are no Shia. There is no as such is known the Shia Mall of London, ples of women’s lamentations. acknowledgement of Shia. the Shia Republic of Brent. The second Women’s production of poetry shows There have been some progress by Shia scale is interaction with state and society. women’s role in Shia ritual practices community in Detroit. It is good example Politics of multicultural recognition have Hussaini Marathi is extension of pre- of future of Shia in America. The more become more complicated. It became Islamic. Women Marathi were written they enter America civil society the more more difficult on how government does since third century till now. they are recognised. Open Forum Page 5 Hashi Mohammad: Today’s youth have better opportunities This are excerpts from a speech by Hashi He was dismissive but I remember that spected even if y our name is Moham- Mohammad about the opportunities moment like yesterday. mad. available to Muslim youth in UK: Today that senior barrister is a judge. Those who came in 50s saw the racism. I am 33 years old and have been in this Today his assistant emailed me and said: In 1961 elections the Conservatives country for 20 yrs. I have the position of His lordship listened to your programme on raised racist slogans in Smethwick (a being able to air my views on Radio 4. Radio 4 and would like to meet you. I ac- town in Sandwell, West Midlands} The Recently I produced programmes on cepted. Labour Party MP was unseated follow- social mobility. I came in 1993 as 9 nine I know those people whom I had sought ing a campaign slogan "If you want a yers refuges. My father died in Kenya. their help in the past. I only have one nigger for a neighbour, vote Labour" a We settled in Wembley. My mother gave chance to meet you. Imagine that teenager WE have had major stride. It is easier to birth to 12 children. When we left Kenya who does not have courage and confidence be minority today than in the fifties. It is my siblings dispersed. Landing in UK to talk to you. Imagine you did not speak to easier to be Muslim here than in Paris was big thing to me them in the way they hoped. and Brussels. What the future holds and what you can In this documentary on Radio 4 I picked up This gives me a feeling of what am I do there are difficult to digest especially three individuals whom I met in my early going to do with this privilege. to a child of my age.” life. It is listened to by millions. That is the This sense of urgency must push us to We grew up in poor area in North East power that you can affect young people if encourage the youth. The mayor of this London, poor on state benefits. you act at the right moment. city is called Siddiq Khan. We do not I am grateful for being in that environ- The first and most important in my view is appreciate the enormity of this situation. ment. We had big pride. We had each confidence. It is the root from which every- Does that mean that we should be con- other’s company. It was happy existence. thing will grow or fail to grow. It is the tent and remain stagnant? We have to When I said we were raised on state ben- base of any foundation you build. ask ourselves: how to go forward? Every efit, I say it because it gives an idea of The schools I went to and those to which single talent has to be harnessed. WE where I came from and how others in Muslims or black males go to, there was can’t afford to remain complacent. similar circumstances grew up. Today, I hefty pressure which means that any hope The final thought is a sense of purpose. am a barrister and air my vies on Radio4. of fulfilling your ambitions will stifle. If a young person is grown in this coun- One thing I am certain about is that when Confidence is critical. I grew up in an envi- try and is constantly bombarded with we went to place like Magandi in Wem- ronment in which my mother and grand- questions and comments about his exist- bley I did not have a queue or how to mother told us that we had much to do. My ence, what sense of purpose do we instil jump it. I had no idea of it. My past grandmother would always tell me that I in our children? This is something that would never be the same as my future. I must hold my head up. We did not have we rarely engage in. was pretty sure that the crab existence much. They would give food vouchers to If we do not make this sense of purpose that we lived would not remain. take to the supermarket and exchange them in the children they may look for sense I have clerks who help me to become for food.It is like cheque book. My mother of purpose in Syria. better barrister. I believe I am barely would say: This is not a dignified life. I did We should say to the kids; We do not scratching the surface of what I can do. not understand this. It stayed with me. condemn you, It is compelling message It has taken great deal of hardship, hard In due course I will have my own kids. My What is at stake with our youth today; work and sacrifices and lots of false nephews and nieces listen to me and I lis- fully understanding of what it means to start. I had occasions when no body re- tened to them. I know that those early years be a minority, a Muslim, a black, a wom- turns my call or email. I am 33 but there are determinative. Sadly many of those an. I do not speak for a community, I is the feeling that I have just started. I children are growing up with their shoul- cannot say I have all answers. But I like went to Oxford on scholarship and to the ders down and would not speak with confi- to think that I understood something. Bar on scholarship. dence, would not articulate or defend them- I am intensely and inherently optimistic How was that transition possible? selves. I am talking of kids who know who because from where I have come from How did that come about? No simple they are and what they want to do. They are and to be setting where I am setting now, answer but combination of things; good the people of the future. I have no choice but to be optimistic and luck, my landing with family in June In my household with my relatives if you to believe that what we want is possible. 1993 and all other circumstances. cannot defend them yourself you would be The road ahead is hard and full of false The average Somali who came here finished. starts, but it will take us a long way on would not be worse than me. No English, For me the number one thing that we deal the horizon towards what is possible. no networks, no actual appreciation of with now is confidence. Without it, young how the system works. people become victims to stronger charac- It is not a case of my difficult start or ters in their lives. disadvantage. Some people were worse They will struggle with many things. It than me. I did not flee war. It was a story comes to the sense of confidence. of meeting people at the right time, who The second point is country context. I lived gave me opportunities. It is also serious in France and visited Germany and Swit- belief that if my past was so bad that my zerland. Britain is the best place in West- future must be better. That is not easy ern Europe to be Muslim or to be black. I feat. defy anyone to disagree with me on this. I am fearless and have no worry of We are not perfect here but have better than where I am going. You can take the most. What are we doing with that? Are we jumps and leaps.Why don’t I give myself trying to squeeze every drop of talent in a chance to make my future better than people? my past. You meet people whom once But there are other things that do not help. you sought help from. These structures that discriminate like the There was a chap whom I met seven class system where people seek to put in years ago. I did not have any legal expe- place a system that does not suit society. In rience. I approached him and said: Can I France I am judged by the class in my CV. seek your guidance and how this works? Here if you are Etonian then you are re- Page 6 Open Forum Women who are homemakers and their role in Ramadan by Reneen Imtiaz Khan meals all-year round. It is to acquire con- at all. What it is meant to convey is trol over your desires and keep them in that the time and energy you spend With the advent of Ramadan, there’s check by will alone. Ramadan is a train- toiling away in the kitchen while fast- joyful anticipation mixed with anxiety ing camp; what we strive for in this ing yourself can be much better spent in the 1.6 billion strong Muslim ummah month should merge with our behaviour reciting the Quran or praying to Allah across the globe. The anxiety stems out for the rest of the year. for this world and the Here-after. Bal- ,declaredﷺ of the intention to do our utmost in Ladies, that is not to say that if you pre- ance is key. The Prophet prayer and be our best selves in this pared two or three dishes for your family “Three persons whose dua is never sacred month. But it’s also the worry to break fast with, you have sinned. Not rejected are: the fasting person until he that with our worldly respon- breaks his fast (in another sibilities, we might lack the narration, when he breaks time or stamina to reap as fast), the just ruler and the much benefit from this month one who is oppressed.” – Ah- as is humanly possible. mad, at-Tirmidhi. We see families preparing Think of all the precious mo- themselves by stocking up on ments lost while we are busy groceries so that more time in our worldly affairs. can be spent in observing our For one month, Allah de- fasts with diligence towards mands from us to be at our ibadah, both obligatory and best behaviour, He even locks voluntary. As far as family up Shaitan to free us from his members are concerned, the evil whispers. Allah helps us person who generally con- in training our minds, our tributes most in the running souls, and our bodies to be of the household in terms of preparing Four women attacked cognizant of Him at all times. The only suhoor and futoor is the woman of the battle that we have to fight is against house. She can be the wife, the sister or Four Muslim women have been assault- our nafs. It is a mercy in itself that we the daughter. And her work doesn’t ed in Sydney in an attack described by get to enjoy Ramadan year after year stop there. The additional work of New South Wales police as “bias- and ask Allah to fulfil all our desires Ramadan is stacked on top of her rou- motivated”. The women were punched for this world and the Here-after. The tine work, be it her career if she has a outside the University of Technology in Messenger (peace and blessings be job or taking care of the children and Ultimo on 10th May, leaving one victim upon him) said: running the house if she’s a homemak- with a bloodied mouth. “[I was] staring “Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith, er. In her struggle to be the best provid- absentmindedly ahead of me when some seeking Allah’s reward, will be forgiv- er for her family, what a woman may lady … came up to me and punched me en all his past sins. Whoever observes lose out on unknowingly, is her connec- in the face,” said Hanan Merheb on Fa- Lailatul Qadr in prayer, with faith, tion with Allah. While she fasts and cebook. “In front of me, another hijabi seeking Allah’s reward, will be forgiv- performs all her obligatory prayers, she had just been punched, and just behind, en all his past sins.” – Sahih Bukhari might feel helpless and cut short her this same woman was about to punch yet 1910. nawafil and study of the Quran to tend another hijabi. “She just punched me and If for all that, Allah asks that we focus to the children or put out other figura- walked off, as casually as if she had justa on Him more this month, that is indeed tive fires around the house. come to say hello.” a very small price to pay, isn’t it? Fasting in the month of Ramadan ais The woman appeared in central local It goes without saying that whether it obligatory for all Muslim men and court on Thursday, charged with two is taking care of your home, your women. It is mentioned in the Holy counts of assault occasioning actual bod- spouse or bringing up righteous kids, Quran, Surah al-Baqarah, Verse 183, ily harm, and two counts of common all of these are feats that guarantee “O you who believe! Fasting is pre- assault. Allah’s favour and if a woman is una- scribed for you, even as it was pre- The four women, two 18-year olds, a 19- ble to go the extra mile owing to her scribed for those before you that you year old and a 23-year old, were all stu- duties, she should take heart in the fact may ward off evil.” dents at the University of Technology. that she’ll be rewarded nonetheless as All of us realize the worth of our wor- Islamophobia Register Australia said it Allah is Al-Alim (All-Knowing) and is ship in this month and so we gladly and was “shocked by the incident” and was aware of her struggle. determinedly set ourselves to please investigating the matter. To all the men, try and make do with Allah so that He may accept our pray- Kais Al-momani posted on Facebook simple suhoor and futoor this month. ers.It has been mentioned in authentic claiming to have witnessed the attack. Don’t put undue pressure on the wom- I didn’t know what had happened but I en in your household, rather help them“ ﷺ sources how our beloved Messenger would eat a handful of dates for suhoor, could see straight with their chores. It’s Sunnah. And and if he didn’t have dates, he’d have away that her mouth remember, they too are fasting. water. The same way, he broke his fast was covered in And to all the ladies, cut back on the as well when it was time. There was no blood. She was cry- housework so that you can partake of concept of elaborate meals and drinks ing and shaking and this month’s blessings to their fullest. in suhoor and futoor that we observe said she’d been Insha’Allah when the month has nowadays. The purpose of fasting is not punched in the face passed, you’ll be sufficed with the just to keep away from food and drink. and knocked to the realization that you accomplished It is to acquire taqwa and to recognise ground by another more this Ramadan than the previous and empathise with the less fortunate woman who she one and isn’t that what this month is who don’t have the luxury of three didn’t know. for? Off the shelf Page 7

al anti-Muslim campaign, Corbett Making Moderate Islam demonstrates, in lively prose, how con- Sufism, Service, and the "Ground Zero Mosque" Controversy ceptualizations of 'moderate Islam' are the product of an interplay between By Rosemary R. Corbett provide social services to the dispos- race, class, and religion in America." Drawing on a decade of research into sessed in compensation for the govern- —Kambiz GhaneaBassiri, author of A the community that proposed the so- ment's lack of welfare provisions in an History of Islam in America. called "Ground Zero Mosque," this book aggressively capitalist environment. Several commentators, includ- refutes the idea that current demands for Calls for Muslim moderation in particu- ing former Daily Show host Jon Stew- Muslim moderation have primarily aris- lar are also colored by racist and orien- art, responded to such hyperbole by en in response to the events of 9/11, or talist stereotypes about the inherent comparing the situation of contempo- to the violence often depicted in the pacifism of Sufis with respect to other rary Muslim Americans to that of Cath- media as unique to Muslims. Instead, it groups. The first investigation of the olic and Jewish Americans during the looks at a century of pressures on reli- assumptions behind moderate Islam in early twentieth century. Similarly, reit- gious minorities to conform to dominant our country, Making Moderate Islam is erating one of his constant themes of American frameworks for race, gender, also the first to look closely at the histo- the preceding decade, Rauf described and political economy. These include ry, lives, and ambitions of the those overcoming nativist discrimination in the encouraging of community groups to involved in Manhattan's contested pro- the United States as part of the general ject for an Islamic community center. “immigrant religious experience”—a "Making Moderate Islam is an im- sociological process Catholics and Jews portant contribution to the urgent ques- had completed, providing Muslims with tions around Muslims and citizenship. a template for how to successfully The central characters and debates here Americanize while retaining core tenets are striking, and even dramatic— of faith. Rauf had long joined this story including a post-9/11 climate, election- of assimilation, upward mobility, and year grandstanding, right-wing pundit- moderation to another exceptionalist ry, think-tank support, and imperial narrative—one created by earlier immi- logics of containment—and Corbett grants who emphasized that they could does a splendid job of identifying and contribute to the nation’s exemplary invoking many of the players, tropes, progress because they supported the and consequences of the story of the same ethics (including work ethics) as 'Ground Zero Mosque.'" dominant white Protestants, as well as —Sohail Daulatzai, author of Black the moral obligation to engage in com- Star, Crescent Moon munity service so as to shore up Ameri- "Scholarship on Islam in America has ca’s free-market system. generally overlooked the practices of Rosemary R. Corbett is Visiting Pro- middle-class Muslims and social elites, fessor at the Bard Prison Initiative. who, in the wake of the 2010 'Ground Zero Mosque' controversy, suddenly Publisher: Stanford University Press found themselves under attack despite Paperback 304 pages $24.95 having played by the rules. By uncover- Paper ISBN: 9781503600812 ing the historical context of this nation- Publishing date: November 2016

Beyond Sunni and Shia Sectarianism in a Changing Middle East Edited by Frederic Wehrey cluding political science, history, soci- ology, and Islamic studies. This collection seeks to advance our Beyond Sunni and Shia draws on exten- understanding of intra-Islamic identity sive fieldwork and primary sources to conflict in the Middle East. Instead of offer insights that are empirically rich treating distinctions between and with- and theoretically grounded, but also in Sunni and Shia Islam as primordial accessible for policy audiences and the and immutable, it examines how politi- informed public. cal economy, geopolitics, domestic Frederic Wehrey is a senior associate of governance, social media, non- and the Middle East Program at the Carne- sub-state groups, and clerical elites gie Endowment for International Peace. have affected the transformation and He is the author of Sectarian Politics in diffusion of sectarian identities. the Gulf: From the Iraq War to the Arab Particular attention is paid to how con- Uprisings (2013), chosen as a Best flicts over distribution of political and Book on the Middle East by Foreign economic power have taken on a sec- Affairs magazine. He holds a DPhil in tarian quality, and how a variety of International Relations from Oxford actors have instrumentalised sectarian- University. ism. The volume, covering Syria, Iraq, Publisher: Hurst Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, Paperback £288pp EUR 27,99 Iran, and Egypt, includes contributors ISBN: 9781849048149 from a broad array of disciplines in- Publication Date: June 2017 Page 8 Words of Faith

My Fasting Experience During Ramadan 183. O ye who be- lieve! Fasting is Medina Tohti Most of the time we gathered in prescribed to As I’m sitting here writing this my grandparent’s house and fe- you as it was during Ramadan, I am in America males in the family prepare food prescribed to thinking of my family and won- together. And this also was my those before dering how they are doing during most favorite moment. Then when you, that ye the most holy month of the year. they broke the fast, they started may (learn) self Fasting in a non-Muslim country with a cup of water. -restraint,- was quite different from Ramadan The first day of fasting, I kept tell- 184. (Fasting) for in Muslim regions where we could ing myself “you should not drink a fixed number feel the atmosphere of joy. During water, you should not eat food.” of days; but if the days most of the stores and And the more I thought about it, any of you is restaurants are closed but when its the more I wanted to eat. By the ill, or on a time for Iftar (break the fast), peo- time to break the fast I felt like I journey, the ple bringing fruits and their home- almost starved to die—the first prescribed num- made food to the neighborhoods and restau- day, I didn’t feel the joy. I felt disappointed by ber (Should be rant owners open their business by giving out myself, but I decided to keep trying. The second made up) from free food. Everyone wants to share; everyone day was not that bad, because I had to wake up days later. For feels pleasure when they break the fast, and in the middle of the night and eat, and during the those who can everyone glad that they made a complete de- day I felt very sleepy, so I spent a lot of time to do it (With votion to their faith. sleep. I woke up in the afternoon, and went into hardship), is a Summer last year was my first fasting experi- living room, I grab an apple and had a bite and ransom, the ence. I didn’t know if I was ready for it, but I then I suddenly realized that I was fasting—the feeding of one know I was afraid. I was worrying about second day, I failed. The third day, I made it but that is indi- spend a day without eating food and drinking I got stomachache by eating too much during gent. But he water; worrying about it will get too hot and I Iftar. that will give will pass out somewhere; worrying about ab- After a few days, I started feeling better and more, of his own surdity of exhausting an organism. I talked to learned how to control myself. Not only during free will,- it is my mom about my worries, and she said if I the day by fasting but also during the Iftar time better for him. am not ready yet, don’t push myself too hard. not eating too much and be not excessive. That And it is better For the first few days, I did not fast, I ob- summer I spent a lot time to read the holy for you that ye served how my parents and other people Quran. And I understood that fasting is not an fast, if ye only around me do when they were fasting. I no- action; its not only abstaining from food; it is knew. ticed that no one complained about hungry or time to searching for blessing and sharing with thirsty (which is not good, you should be will- each others. (Al baqarah) ing to fast by yourself). When it’s got too hot Maidina Tuohuti is an international student during the day (because it was summer) they from China studying journalism at George Fox just took a long nap. By the time the weather University, a private Christian university in got cooler, my mom started prepare food. Oregon.

Tales from days gone make holy month special’ Ruba Haza "The girls used to assist in weaving and cooking Listening to old stories about how her parents until iftar time when they would all gather www.abraronline. and grandparents would spend their days fast- around a huge mat of palm leaves and eat tradi- net ing and observing the traditions of the holy tional Emirati food like adasseiah, khabees and This is our website. month many years ago is what makes Rama- balalet." Have visited it: It dan such a special time for Qadreyyah Al Nowadays most people spend their fasting time will put you face- Kaabi. asleep until iftar, said Ms Al Kaabi. "The best thing about the holy month for me is The 27-year-old Emirati has a lot of respect for to-face with an al- the time when my father sits down at the maj- the old traditions and the life her parents and ternative world, full lis after al isha prayers and starts telling us grandparents experienced in Fujairah, some- of spirituality, mo- stories about how they used to spend Rama- thing she feels today’s generation could learn dan during the old days. from. rality coupled with "Two generations would sit down around him "They used to work so hard in order to live and modern outlooks and listen to his stories," said Ms Al Kaabi. exist and I really respect that." and perspectives. Her 63-year-old father would start his stories Besides the stories and other Ramadan rituals, We want to hear by describing the differences between the such as prayers and family visits, Ms Al Kaabi, olden days and today and how he along with her siblings, have your views on its used to help his parents by picking come up with a way to encourage contents, layout and weaving palm fronds. the children to finish reading the and general quality. "The story would normally start Quran during the holy month. with a comment about the past and "Each year during Ramadan we how it was much harder then – arrange a contest for all family Join us in our Noon telling us what the boys and girls members aged between 7 and 15 and Afternoon would do during fasting time then to read and memorise the Quran. prayers compared to us today. The idea started five years ago "The boys used to help their father and everyone loved it," she said. Everyday in collecting palm fronds and pre- "It’s the family get-together at 13.00 paring it to be used in weaving month, we do everything togeth- roof tops, food baskets and trays, er, prepare food, read the Quran floor mats and much more. and pray."