Oxford clergyman attacks Muslim plans for calls to prayer –

The Times has reported on its popular ‘faith’ pages that the Rev Charlie Cleverley, Rector of St. Aldate’s (Oxford) has opposed plans for the Central Mosque in Oxford to be allowed to relay the ‘Adhaan‘ (Islamic call to prayer) from it’s tannoys. 

Read the full article here.

Personally, I don’t think the debate has anything to do with ‘islamization’ of certain parts of the country, and neither do high-tech advancements sufficiently replace tradition – if this is argued, then the Clock tower bell at westmeinster and every other working church should also stop as we all have watches!!

The Adhaan (call to prayer) is a traditional method of reminding people of their religious and spiritual obligations – akin to a church or temple bell – that is used to remind worshippers that they should forsake worldly desires and seek pleasure in their Lord, and that this is a way to bind the community together.

Just think- the more muslims meet up, the more the Imam can keep an eye on those who are straying and can counter that with timely, grass-roots reform.  Thus it will make the Islamic Community much stronger internally, and thus represent less of a ‘risk’ to fellow non-muslim brethren.

As a Muslim, although church bells don’t choke me, I have a tolerance and respect for them, as I do for the Adhaan: both call people to God!  But the Adhaan holds a certain significance for it is a call to prayer made by the human voice, as opposed to by instruments.

 But maybe, the reverend is more worried here about his sheep flocking to other farms(??)  surely, a religious society, whatever religion they may choose to adopt, is better than an irreligious one – secularist arguments aside, that a revealed religion provides its adherents with a codified set of rules and regulations and inherently confers upon its adherents a primitive moral spirit-level to assist in prevention of the propensity to do the immoral or the unethical, is worth calling to…!!

“Let the bells Ring!!” – I say!  (or in the case of the adhaan: “Let the man Sing!!”)

Muslims in Indonesia – Ahmadiyyah and Prophethood

This is a brief excerpt from correspondence I had with some people in regards to the recent actions that the Government of Indonesia, under compulsion from the Islamic Political Parties,  took against the Ahmadiyyah community.

It was reported in the Jakarta Post, and on the ‘Indonesia Matters’ Blog that Ahmadiyya Leaders in Indonesia ‘caved in’ to pressure from national political and religious leaders and diminished the status of Sayyidna Mirza Ghulam Ahmad al-Qadiani (qaddasa Allahu sirruhu) as demanded by them.

Below is a brief excerpt from som correspondence I partook of, on the Blog.

Khatam al-Nabuwwah

Khatam-un-Nabuwwah

Ahmadiyya; End of the Prophets 

I would like to begin by stating that the author of this document is a simple person and by no means a scholar.

He compiled this brief document of his own volition, not on behalf of Al-Jama’ah Al-Islamiya Al-Ahmadiyya, as he felt that misrepresentations had been made about the claims of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (The Promised Messiah, Imam Mahdi & Reformer of the 14^th Century). 

There are a few point which I would like to address concerning the following video posted on youtube, 

 

Whilst the above video might be a sincere and polite attempt to bring into question some of the Ahmadi tenets there are several items I would like to bring to the attention of its author…

Bishop Michael-Nazir Ali -where exactly are his ‘no-go zones’??

In an article in The Sunday Telegraph, Dr Nazir-Ali said that multiculturalism had turned some communities into “no go” areas. “Those of a different faith or race may find it difficult to live or work there because of hostility to them,” he wrote.

The Right Rev. Dr. Michael Nazir-Ali would do well to distinguish between cultural ‘no-go zones’ and religious.   Having travelled up and down the so-called ‘muslim’ areas in the country, I can attest to the fact that they are not ‘no-go’ zones for those of other faiths.  If anything, they may be ‘no-go’ zones on racial or ethnic grounds, but they are in no way created by Muslims, or by adherents of any other religious group.

Click here to read a profound  rebuttal to the Rev. Dr. Michael Nazir-Ali…

Ahmadis ‘impersonating muslims’ ?? Thank God at least someone is!!

Thank God – at least someone is impersonating Muslims in Pakistan??!!

“Pakistan clerics persecute ‘non Muslims’ “Isambard Wilkinson (London Daily Telegraph)The two million-strong Ahmadiyya community, based in Rabwah in the Punjab, risks charges of “impersonating Muslims” under the country’s controversial religious laws. 

Shameen Ahmad Khalid, a community leader, said: “We have people serving long jail sentences for blasphemy or for ‘posing as Muslims’.”

In an era where one would be hard-pressed to find Islam being practiced in its essence, it should be a cause for celebration that someone is attempting to practice and promote the essential teachings of Islam!!

Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan – services to Islam and the Muslim Ummah

As a jurist, a diplomat and a patriot he stood head and shoulders above the lesser men who have made a mockery of our republic…

Indigo Jo (aka ‘blogistan’) and his opinions on Ahmadiyyah and free and frank debate

I was browsing some blogs recently by a Muslim Londoner - who intrigued me as he had many posts on teh topic of tasawwuf and sufism.  I was even more interested to learn that he displayed an inclination towards a Tariqah which immediately caused me to respect him a great deal more, as I have respect for anyone who joins a Tariqah.  This is because I had assumed that anyone who has adopted a sufi Tariqah will be on a path to cleanse and purify his/her soul and his/her heart and will be free from many of the vices of the average/unserious muslim who is not on such a path, or at least, is not too serious about it.However, as I read on, I found that this person who had an inclination towards the practice of Tasawwuf started to adopt slander and defamation as his mannerisms, towards Mirza Ghulam Ahmad al-Qadiani.

I begin in His Name…

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful

 

Assalaamu ‘alaikum Wa RahmatAllahe ta’ala wa barakaatuhu

Peace, Mercy and Blessings of Allah, the Most High, be upon You

I am an Ahmadi-Muslim living in London (note the latter part of the hyphenated word), and am a graduate in Law, with a Masters in International Islamic Law and Public International Law with Human Rights, and am currently slaving through my Bar Exams with the intention of ultimately becoming proficient and dually-qualified in Islamic Law and English Law.

I have started this blog for certain detailed reasons.  After much thought and much reluctance in starting a blog purely because everyone is ‘doing it’, I have started this blog – However, it is with justification (as opposed to having to much time – as I really do not have much time on my hands!!)

For those who would like to know further, you can find out more about me on the ‘About’ page.  Nothing special though.

Now, the main reasons for satrting this blog are as follows:

1. There are many blogs and websites that refute Ahmadiyyat and the followers of Ahmadiyyat (known as Ahmadis – but commonly referred to as Qadianis in an attempt to vilify) and there are many that also provide rebuttals to such refutations.  However, I have posted responses to many (seemingly) fair-minded muslims (especially some that claim to be followers of certain Sufi Tariqahs) and, to my utter surprise, and disappointment, many have chosen to reject my comments on their blogs without reason.  As will be seen by readers, my views are not rude, nor do I use profane or abusive language – as is expected of EVERY muslim.
2. There are many things that both Ahmadi Muslims and non-Ahmadi Muslims are not aware of  – some which are common – and some of which are of mere interest.  For this reason, I thought of posting links and articles on this site (or links to articles) which will broaden (if Allah so Wills) all our horizons and widen our reading.
3. There are many things which affect Muslims in London and in the UK.  I hope that this blog will be one more platform which adds and reinforces the view that Islam and the West are compatible, and that this is something which Muslims should adopt and add to, obviously within certain immovable limits.
4. I have some ‘opinions’ (in the loose sense of the word) on certain matters of Law with specific reference to Islamic Jurisprudence and International Law.  These are my readings from a semi-academic point of view.  When I speak to people about such matters, they express an interest and thus this part of the blog will be for them, as they always as me to repeat myself hwen introducing me to others of their friends.

So these are the reasons for starting the Blog.

I shall (if Allah so Wills) add more further.

For now I take your leave, as my Bar Exams deserve some of my time…

Wassalaamu ‘alaikum wa RahmatAllahe ta’ala wa barakaatuhu

Peace, Mercy and Blessings of Allah, the Most High, be upon You