COMMENT

Freedom (June 2009)

Free will is the very essence of the human spirit. According to the narrative of the Qur’an it is free will that differentiated humanity from the angels at the point of creation. And even when the angels suggested that (as a result) man would “make mischief (on the earth) and shed blood,” God replied, “I know that which you do not” – thus giving divine license to this unique aspect of his creation and acknowledging that while freedom may lead to corruption, it is only through the exercise of free choice that the human spirit can reach the heights for which it was intended. More

The Gender Jihad (May 2009)

Inside the Gender Jihad is the title of a book by Professor Amina Wadud, who has become quite controversial in recent years following her assertion that Islam does not prohibit female Imams from leading a mixed congregation in prayer. My point is not to go into this particular issue, but look at the much wider challenges that confront discussions of gender roles among Muslims. Let’s be honest, when we say ‘gender roles’, we mean ‘women in Islam’ – perhaps one of the most controversial and sensitive (and tired) topics in debates concerning Muslims today. So why is a bloke writing about gender issues?. More

Are we too obsessed with ‘Islamic Law’? (April 2009)

“…...problems facing Muslims are so broad and complex that they cannot be dealt with through a legal prism alone”

I think we are. The process of law, whether something is halal or haram, has arguably been more of a pre-occupation than what the outcome of actions are. In essence, we have downplayed the role of ethics, often translated as ‘akhlaq’ or ‘adab’, (though ethics is broader than moral conduct and also about moral philosophy). This has created a mechanistic understanding of the law, fiqh, and even the Shariah more broadly. But central to ethics is the notion of the ‘good life’, and a sense of what constitutes the good. More

Leaders and followers (March 2009)

“…if scholars are beholden to such a constituency, then what is their role? Who is the leader and who is being led?”

In my last article for emel, I wrote about the need for moral courage, to stand up for what is right regardless of the political situation that confronts us. This month, I want to continue that line of thinking and touch upon a related issue that has been bothering me for a while. How often do we hear scholars and leaders say in private, “yes this is true, but the community is not ready for it”? More

Moral Outrage, Moral Courage (February 2009)

“It is easy for people to show moral courage in the good times. It is when the going gets tough, that these teachings really matter”

As the year began, the world was shaken by the horrific attacks of one of the world’s strongest military machines upon one of the world’s weakest people. After so many hundreds of lost lives, Gaza lies in ruins. More

Do you want to be in my club? (January 2009)

“When Islam taught that wisdom should be embraced it articulated a vision for an open-minded respectful approach to the world in which Muslims are not the sole carriers of truth.”

As Obama comes into office this month, Muslims can learn an important lesson from his approach. He mobilised the widest level of support by moving out of the comfort zone some would have expected of a ‘black politician’. Instead of making his key message one of race or inequality of minorities, he went for issues that would resonate with all, such as welfare and the economy, taking a more universal, rather than parochial, approach. More

Peace on earth and good will to all men (December 2008)

"people, travelling to be with their loved ones, taking time out, thinking about others, exchanging gifts, is profoundly spiritual. It’s the one time in the year when we truly institutionalise thinking about others."

Don’t we live in interesting times? Regime change has come to the US and I hope I am not exaggerating when I keep feeling that the election of Obama seems to be one of those ‘once in a generation’ moments. The sort of occasion you might want to talk to your grandchildren about and explain that, “I was there when it happened”. Barack Hussein Obama has a lot of expectations to live up to, as everyone has commented. More

The art of reformation without Reformation? (November 2008)

Remember, remember the fifth of November, the gunpowder treason and plot...” It’s that time of year again, when the night sky is set alight by Chinese fireworks if you’re lucky enough to have a park nearby, or perhaps it’s the intermittent fizz and pop in the back garden as dad rushes around in the dark, and the rest of the family look on pretending to be impressed. But the story of bonfire night and Guy Fawkes, is a reminder of deep schisms and controversies of European history, partly connected to the Reformation. More

A Community of Communities (October 2008)

"So perhaps what we really need, rather than a drive for ‘unity’ is actually a culture of dissent. We need to learn to disagree, not just agree. Because disagreement is a fact of life and will always exist."

With all their blessings and immense spiritual experience, Ramadan and Eid still tend to remind us of the sorry state of Muslims and how we cannot even agree on days of public holiday. But actually, if one considers the ethnic, cultural, denominational and class differences within the Muslims of the British Isles, it is little surprise that this ‘group’ of people cannot find common voices. More