Spring magazine - issue 1 -The Letter

Spring A p e ri o d i ca l o f th e S p ri n g I n s ti tu te 足 L o n d o n

Au tu m n 201 5

To the Youth in Europe and North America... i n si d e

Faith in secular society Time for action The Hope of future generations Rediscovering the Sacred

Spring The periodical of the Spring Institute - London

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n the 21st of January 2015 Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei took to social media to address the youth of Europe and North America.

In his open letter he invited them to ask questions about why there has been such a fierce hostility towards the Islamic faith and to gain knowledge of Islam, not from western media but from authentic sources. Ayatollah Khamenei’s direct address is significant as it underscores the importance and hope that Muslims have in today’s youth as possible agents of positive change. The letter also represents an invitation for direct dialogue with the younger generation.

In this Spring issue we have republished the letter along with a number of views and opinions relating to its subject matter in the hope that it will provoke further reflection.

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C on tri bu tors :

Batool H ayd ar Ch ri s H ewer Dr J am es B Th ri n g J u l i a Kh ad i j a Lafen e Razi Ch au d h ry Revd Fran k J u l i an G el l i Sam eer Abbas Zai d i Sh ei kh M oh am m ad Al i Sh om al i Sh ei kh U sam a Abd u l g h an i Tah ereh Sh afi ee Ti zi an a Ci avard i n i

C h i ef E d i tor

Am i r De M arti n o

M an ag i n g E d i tor

An ou sh eh

Pu bl i sh er: I sl am i c Cen tre of En g l an d 1 40 M ai d a Val e Lon d on , W9 1 QB ­ U K

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M i reskan d ari

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To the Youth in Europe and North America...

4 10... Islamic Faith through Quranic verses 14... Rediscovering the Sacred 18... The Hope of future generations 20... Changing perceptions 28... Dear You & Me 32... Time for change 36... Comments

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Message of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei

To the Youth in Europe and North America...

In the name of God, the Beneficent the Merciful

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he recent events in France and similar ones in some other Western countries have convinced me to directly talk to you about them. I am addressing you, [the youth], not because I overlook your parents, rather it is because the future of your nations and countries will be in your hands; and also I find that the sense of quest for truth is more vigorous and attentive in your hearts.

I don’t address your politicians and statesmen either in this writing because I believe that they have consciously separated the route of politics from the path of righteousness and truth.

I would like to talk to you about Islam,

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particularly the image that is presented to you as Islam. Many attempts have been made over the past two decades, almost since the disintegration of the Soviet Union, to place this great religion in the seat of a horrifying enemy. The provocation of a feeling of horror and hatred and its utilisation has unfortunately a long record in the political history of the West.

Here, I don’t want to deal with the different phobias with which the Western nations have thus far been indoctrinated.

A cursory review of recent critical studies of history would bring home to you the fact that the Western governments’ insincere and hypocritical treatment of other nations and cultures has been censured in new historiographies.

The histories of the United States and

Europe are ashamed of slavery, embarrassed by the colonial period and chagrined at the oppression of people of colour and non-Christians.

Your researchers and historians are deeply ashamed of the bloodshed wrought in the name of religion between the Catholics and Protestants or in the name of nationality and ethnicity during the First and Second World Wars. This approach is admirable.

By mentioning a fraction of this long list, I don’t want to reproach history; rather I would like you to ask your intellectuals as to why the public conscience in the West awakens and comes to its senses after a delay of several decades or centuries. Why should the revision of collective conscience apply to the distant past and not to the current problems? Why is it that attempts are made to prevent public

awareness regarding an important issue such as the treatment of Islamic culture and thought?

You know well that humiliation and spreading hatred and illusionary fear of the ‘other’ have been the common base of all those oppressive profiteers. Now, I would like you to ask yourself why the old policy of spreading “phobia” and hatred has targeted Islam and Muslims with an unprecedented intensity. Why does the power structure in the world want Islamic thought to be marginalised and remain latent? What concepts and values in Islam disturb the programmes of the super powers and what interests are safeguarded in the shadow of distorting

say is: Don’t allow this dynamic and effective reality in today’s world to be introduced to you through resentments and prejudices. Don’t allow them to hypocritically introduce their own recruited terrorists as representatives of Islam.

Receive knowledge of Islam from its primary and original sources. Gain information about Islam through the Qur’an and the life of its great Prophet. I would like to ask you whether you have directly read the Qur’an of the Muslims.

Have you studied the teachings of the Prophet of Islam and his humane, ethical doctrines? Have you ever received the message of Islam from any sources other than the media?

“I don’t address your politicians and statesmen

either in this writing because I believe that they have consciously separated the route of politics from the path of righteousness and truth.

I would like to talk to you about Islam, particularly the image that is presented to you as Islam."

the image of Islam? Hence, my first request is: Study and research the incentives behind this widespread tarnishing of the image of Islam.

My second request is that in reaction to the flood of prejudgments and disinformation campaigns, try to gain direct and first hand knowledge of this religion. The right logic requires that you understand the nature and essence of what they are frightening you about and want you to keep away from.

I don’t insist that you accept my reading or any other reading of Islam. What I want to

allow them to besiege you within fabricated and mental borders. Although no one can individually fill the created gaps, each one of you can construct a bridge of thought and fairness over the gaps to illuminate yourself and your surrounding environment. While this preplanned challenge between Islam and you, the youth, is undesirable, it can raise new questions in your curious and inquiring minds. Attempts to find answers to these questions will provide you with an appropriate opportunity to discover new truths.

Therefore, don’t miss the opportunity to gain proper, correct and unbiased understanding of Islam so that hopefully, due to your sense of responsibility toward the truth, future generations will write the history of this current interaction between Islam and the West with a clearer conscience and lesser resentment. Seyyed Ali Khamenei 21

st

Jan. 201 5

Have you ever asked yourself how and on the basis of which values has Islam established the greatest scientific and intellectual civilisation of the world and raised the most distinguished scientists and intellectuals throughout several centuries?

I would like you not to allow the derogatory and offensive image-buildings to create an emotional gulf between you and the reality, taking away the possibility of an impartial judgment from you. Today, the communication media have removed the geographical borders. Hence, don’t

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Faith in secu Sheikh Mohammad Ali Shomali spells out the necessity of unity among people of faith to counter the forces of secularism

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here is a valid point in the concern shown by those who advocate secularism in society. This is the fear of religion being imposed on society or religion being controlled by those in power to produce discriminatory policies.

However only a few would argue against the benefit of religion at the individual level and all - except the most secular - would agree about religion's benefit in private life, considering it an individual right. Yet some are unwilling to admit that religion also contributes positively to public life and it is my opinion that it can do much more.

There is a common understanding today among religious and non-

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religious people that religion and religious practices should not be imposed on others.

As far as Islam is concerned there is a clear Quranic injunction expressed in verse 256 of the second chapter which reads: ‘There is no compulsion in religion’.

Unlike the common understanding, this verse was not revealed in Makkah but in Medina when Islam was in a position of strength. Although Islam was in a preeminent position with many people turning to the faith, God Almighty still revealed the above verse. The revelation of the verse is associated with the story of the children of a Muslim man who converted to Christianity. With this verse God

proclaimed that there is no compulsion in religion and as a result the verse implies that they should not be forced to change again.

While we accept the concept that there should be no compulsion in religion, we must consider that sometimes faithlessness and disdain towards religion have equally been imposed on people - consciously or unconsciously by the secular establishment.

I believe that in today’s secular society, somen government institutions which use public funds are not neutral towards religion and some policies are actually formulated to undermine religious beliefs.

They are very much against certain values and norms to which religious

ular society people adhere and which they consider very important for the prosperity of humanity.

What is evident is that in the name of freedom of thought and expression, religious people are pressurised into accepting all sorts of impositions that contravene their beliefs.

Those opposed to religion use political power, public funds and resources to promote their ideas to the extent that they expect the religious communities to go along with them and endorse what they say.

The Qur’an tells us about a great trust which was offered to the mountains, the sky and other creations and of their refusal to undertake it as they felt it would be too much of a burden.

However human beings accepted the challenge. Man was willing to undertake this trust and be the vicegerent of God on Earth. But two problems soon appeared: mankind began to exhibit signs of ignorance and injustice.

Humanity, to be able to function at its best and become a true vicegerent of God, has to remove the above obstacles. The question now is how can we, without some kind of guidance, confront these problems and get rid of them? If we divest ourselves of religious guidance, received through divine revelations how can we face the challenge of ignorance?

Ignorance is not only about the

absence of scientific knowledge. When it comes to socio-political life a great part of ignorance can only be overcome when we refer to revelation and guidance received from God. So if we deprive ourselves of these, it means we have decided to remain ignorant and this is to no one’s benefit.

Another issue is the presence of injustice in society. If we disconnect our socio-political life from our responsibility and accountability to God and we encourage people to just do what they like, and enjoy life selfishly, even within the limits of the law and without harming anyone, this would not result in the removal of injustice.

Injustice is caused by people’s greed, by

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those who are not happy Today’s paradigm has and content with owning a completely changed and we hile we accept the concept that there country, continent or even a have to understand that planet. Their satisfaction has from now on our success should be no compulsion in religion, we no limits. lies in working together. must consider that sometimes Only when we believe that faithlessness and disdain towards religion we are servants of God and We need associations and have equally been imposed on people. act in a godly way will we be partnerships of people from able to humble ourselves different religions that can and find prosperity and work for the unity and happiness by serving others. happiness of mankind in humanity. Religion is not to be served.

So if we deprive our socio-political life the face of two major challenges. The Rather it has come to serve us. That is of commitment towards God and the first comes from secular and why we want to offer it to anyone who deep desire to serve the children of materialistic life and the forces is interested. We feel that it is the right God, we will not be able to challenge promoting it, and the second from of every human being to be given at and remove injustice. fellow believers who do not want us to least fair access to what religious There is however another problem and work together towards unity. This people have found useful and uplifting. that is the misuse of religion. Religion necessitates partnerships of Muslims, I don’t want to prophesy, but my has at many times been misused. I Christians, Jews, Hindus and people of understanding is that we have entered accept that some terrible events have other faiths, all working towards the a new era. If so far, world religions have and may still happen in the name of same goals.  done well by themselves, we have now religion, but some people are trying to reached a point in history in which our present the idea that religion is the root future can only be guaranteed if we cause of most injustices and atrocities. work together. There won’t be any This is simply not the case. other way for religions to progress in The reality is that any powerful the face of the pressures coming from instrument that has the chance and secularism, liberalism or materialism, ability to unite people can also be unless we work together. We are all in misused by people affected by the same situation. ignorance and lack of justice. Many Unfortunately in the past, not only did things can be potentially misused; this we not see that much the value of is not a sufficient reason to keep working together, we saw each other as religion out of socio-political life. major enemies. Even today, in some So misuse of religion should not mean parts of the world the greatest enemies that we do not need religion at all. That of Muslims are Christians or vice versa. would be akin to arguing that we This thinking belongs to the past. should dispense with the judicial system because of the incidence of miscarriages of justice. No one can claim anywhere in the world that in all If we deprive our sociocourts justice is served. However, political life of despite the occurrence of injustices, nobody in their right mind will commitment towards advocate the abolition of courts. So God and the deep desire why when it comes to religion are to serve the children of abuses rolled out to argue for the elimination of religious influence from God, we will not be able social and political life? to challenge and remove I believe that despite all the difficulties . religious people can do a lot of good. injustice.

Not to serve ourselves, not even to serve our religious ideas, but to serve

W

Dr. Mohammad Ali Shomali is

Imam and Director of the

Islamic Centre of England

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Islamic Faith

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Considered as a primary source of Islamic teaching the Holy Qur’an contains an abundance of unequivocal instructions accessible to everyone. Tahereh Shafiee presents some verses from chapter 49 (The Chambers) as an example of such direct language used by the Qur’an

through

Quranic verses M

uslims believe that God has communicated with humanity through revelations, the last of which is the Qur’an, transmitted in verses into the heart and mind of the Prophet Muhammad(s), in the same way that He did with preceding prophets such as Moses(a) and Jesus(a). The Qur’an is considered a complete book of guidance. One only needs to read it once to appreciate its beauty and meticulousness (even if only in translation). God has left no stone unturned in giving us step by step directions as to how better ourselves, how to understand our existence and how to find our way back to Him.

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ach prophet was chosen due to his personal merits, and each was given miracles to perform by which he would be recognised by his people. The type of such miracles depended on the level of ignorance or intellect of the people at the time.

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uslims believe that the miracle of Prophet Muhammad(s) is in the presentation of the Qur’an especially in

view of the fact that he was known to have had no prior knowledge of reading or writing. Just as the extraordinary Jesus(a) was able to speak when still in the cradle, Muhammad(s) would be recognised by the presentation of words and verses whose beauty and wisdom were beyond the ability of any human agent, gathered in the last divine book known as the Qur’an.

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he Qur’an in fact represents one of the primary sources of Islamic knowledge and it is for this reason that in a recent open letter to the youth of Europe and America, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei asked them to refer to it for an understanding of Islam.

In the following paragraphs we present chapter Hujurat (the Chambers) - the 49th chapter of the Holy Qur’an, as a sample of the educational instructions given to us via divine revelation.

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n the issue social interaction verse 6 says: “O you who believe! If an evil-doer comes to you with important news, verify it, lest you should harm

people in ignorance [out of haste in belief and making decision], and afterwards you become regretful for what you have done.”

This verse is addressed to the believers; if an evil-doer comes to you with some news, do not acknowledge it unless you investigate its veracity, or you may end up doing something out of ignorance which you may later regret. This is what Ayatollah Khamenei is exhorting the youth to do - not to be brainwashed by propaganda against Islam and instead learn it from its true sources. Here the meaning of ‘wrongdoing’ and ‘wrongdoer’ connotes deviation from the straight path. This example has been employed in different contexts in the Holy Qur’an, including disobedience of the Pharaoh and his people to God. The wrongdoers are the deceitful and those who sow discord in society through spreading false news [and creating hatred] among people.

Fortunately for the human being, our Creator has embedded faith in our hearts, and has made disbelief, disobedience to Him hateful to us.

Muslims believe that if one comes to

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obey God, faith shall be deeply rooted in ones’ heart and one shall clearly perceive the truth of His message, whether it is through the Prophet Muhammad(s), Jesus(s) or Moses(s); thus our hearts shall be illumined by the light of His blessings allowing us to find guidance through our belief.

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he Qur’an also gives some explicit instructions in conflict resolution particularly pertinent to today. “And if two parties or groups among the believers engage in fighting, then make peace between them both. But if one of them outrages against the other, then fight you against the one that outrages till it complies with the Command of God. Then if it complies [and ceases outrage], then make reconciliation between them justly, and be impartial. Indeed! God loves those who are impartial.”

aside like indifferent and ignorant onlookers.

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he second obligation that should be taken for granted is that if the wrongdoing cannot be stopped and justice administered through reconciliation, it should be administered even if Muslims’ blood be shed. That is, the blood of the disobedient and wrongdoing side is to be shed if they are to blame for the confrontation.

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n other words, Muslims are not supposed to be content with incapacitating the wrongdoing group, but their fight should serve as a prelude to peace and eradication of the causes of contention and conflict; otherwise, the wrongdoing side will almost certainly resume the conflict as soon as it feels competent enough to start fighting.

uslims believe that the miracle of Prophet Muhammad(s) is in the presentation of the Qur’an especially in view of the fact that he was known to have had no prior knowledge of reading or writing.

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lthough faith requires abstention from fighting and confrontation amongst people it is a part of the human condition to fall into confrontation. In such an eventuality believers are told to assist their brothers, both wrongdoer and wronged.

If one is wronged, help him to reclaim what is due to him and if he is a wrongdoer, prevent him from wrongdoing. To reconcile Muslims [or believers] one is supposed to act immediately. In fact this is a general rule applicable anywhere and anytime. At any rate, it is incumbent upon all Muslims to prevent occurrences of contention, conflict and bloodshed and assume responsibility rather than stand

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od’s creation is based on justice, and the Prophets’ missions aimed at the establishment of justice among people: “Indeed We sent Our Messengers with clear proofs and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance [justice] that people may maintain justice”.

In modern societies, realisation of justice requires abiding by laws and injustice is sometimes synonymous with evading or delaying the law. Now the question arises as to which law? The law legislated by people like us? The law which is subject to alteration each and every day? The law in which some people’s interests lie?

What arises from unmeasured thought, limited knowledge, and alteration?

What is legislated by those who delay

justice and security?

The point is that Divine Laws alone establish peace and justice in society and prevent defects and flaws. This is because such laws are legislated by the Creator based upon His infinite grace and omniscience and the Legislator is the first one Who has acted upon the same.

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erse 10 says: “The believers are nothing else than brethren. So make reconciliation amongst your brethren and fear God that you may receive Mercy.”

The relationship amongst believers is described in the Qur’an as deeply rooted and firm, bilateral, based on their innate nature and disposition rather than on worldly needs or desires.

It is said that two brethren are like two hands washing each other. And this is a

solidarity is plainly visible in the pilgrimage to Makka in which Muslims from all parts of the world congregate as a single community.

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o conclude let us look at verse 13.

“O people! We have created you

from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that you may

know

one

another.

Indeed,

the

most honourable of you with Allah is that

[one]

who

fears

Allah.

Indeed,

Allah is Omniscient, All-Aware.”

The Islamic faith rejects all racial, political, ethnological, tribal, geographical, economic, intellectual, cultural, social, and military segregation and places fear of God as the standard for distinction between virtue and vice.

This verse explicitly traces the genealogy of mankind to a single

t is said that two brethren are like two hands washing each other. And this is a clear proof that the Islamic faith attends to the establishment of peace and reconciliation amongst individuals in society.

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laws and fail to act upon the same?

Could such laws enjoy sanctity and credibility and provide society with

clear proof that the Islamic faith attends to the establishment of peace and reconciliation amongst individuals in society. Thus, one of the most significant social responsibilities of Muslims, the administration of justice, is addressed. It is also worthy of note that the clause: “The believers are nothing else than brethren” is one of the fundamental and deeply rooted Islamic principles, a very remarkable, profound, effective, and meaningful one.

Based upon this significant Islamic principle, Muslims from any ethnicity or cultural background should feel profound brotherly love towards one another, even if they live in different parts of the world. Such love and

source; Adam and Eve. All mankind springs from the same root so taking pride or creating social distinctions in terms of genealogy and ethnicity are pointless.  The

commentary

has

been

adopted

from

‘An

Enlightening Commentary into The Light of The Holy Qur’an’ – Vol 1 7 published by IMAM ALI Islamic Research Centre - Isfahan

Tahereh Shafiee is a freelance writer with

interest on social and religious matters

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Rediscovering the Sacred ..........................

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s I write this article the news has been announced that the pop boy band One Direction are about to go their separate ways. Shock and horror! Millions of young fans are said to be in mourning. Verily, a sign of the times. These are the ‘celebrities’, the role models the young people of our culture are induced to follow, admire and idolise.

There is a tremendous need for many Western young people to recover the idea - I should say the reality - of the sacred. To get back to the paradigm of the holy. The fundamental model which for nearly two

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millennia has shaped and determined the nature of European civilisation. That paradigm has been gravely weakened, distorted and marred by subversive and retrogressive phenomena, the roots of which date back at least to the 18th century – the so-called Enlightenment. The eclipse of the sacred has rapidly and catastrophically accelerated during the last century, leaving genuine culture and institutions virtually in ruins. All the more important therefore for men and women of faith to hold on to a clear spiritual compass. To firm, fixed points of reference anchored in transcendence. In a drifting,

heedless and solipsistic culture such as ours, this is an essential task. The promotion of the sacred, in all its aspects, educational, ethical, cultural, artistic, social and political is a duty, a holy goal.

What is to be done? Earlier this year Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei addressed an open letter to the youth of the West. At a time when the news was filled with negative reports about ugly misdeeds perpetrated in the name of religion, the Ayatollah invited young people to learn about Islam not from biased and onesided commentators but from authentic sources. His remarks impart a valuable

Abrahamic faiths abound in role models representing their rich ethical and spiritual values. Revd Frank Julian Gelli underlines the importance of promoting such models in encouraging Western youth towards the sacred

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lesson. Spiritual, religious values are not promoted but besmirched and defamed when they are connected with acts of violence and inhuman atrocities. For example, the notorious actions of ISIS, the so called ‘Islamic State’ in the Levant, may excite and draw a limited number of misguided and fanatical European youths. In actual fact, they disgust and revolt the overwhelming majority of normal, decent young people. Violence can never be a good advertisement for those who hanker after a sacred dimension of life.

Rather, it results in the opposite alienation, prejudice and hostility towards

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here is a tremendous need for many Western young people to recover the idea … of the sacred. To get back to the paradigm of the holy.

The fundamental model which for nearly two millennia has shaped and determined the nature of European civilisation.

all faiths. When I was a parish priest it was part of my ministry to run youth groups and activities. I was struck by the idealism, the search for meaning, the willingness to help others which I saw shining on those bright young faces.

Sometimes they desired guidance. Often they confronted me with challenging questions like: ‘‘Father Frank, why has God caused me to be born? Can I really hope for a life beyond this one? Why is there so much suffering and evil in the world?’ Of course, they would not always formulate those inquiries in words but I saw them expressed in their behaviour.

They were eager to volunteer for visiting

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and shopping for the old, the infirm and the disabled, collect money for charities, dialogue with other faiths and even to go on demonstrations against abortion and the war on Iraq. It was, I daresay, goodness in action Yet the dangers should not be underrated. In his book, Jihad vs. McWorld, political scientist Benjamin R. Barber offers a sharp analysis of a key conflict of our time.

Consumerist capitalism versus many forms of extreme religious fundamentalism.

We see how capitalism is rapidly melting the traditional forms of political organisations and national life. For instance, the EU is dissolving the old

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…the Ayatollah [Khamenei] invited young people to learn about Islam … from authentic sources. His remarks import a valuable lesson. Spiritual, religious values are not promoted but besmirched and defamed when they are connected with acts of violence and inhuman atrocities. nation states and cultural entities of historical Europe into a single, amorphous, global transnational market.

Historical, genuine identities and values are replaced by a ruthless ‘fundamentalism of finance’ and of the market. In this regard, even a perverse document like Marx and Engels’ Communist Manifesto of 1848 seems to have been oddly prophetic. Bourgeois capitalism verily ‘has left no remaining other nexus between men than naked self-interest…callous cash payment.’

(Though I guess today he would write of ‘credit card payment’.) The resulting estrangements, the tragic ravages inflicted on our society by this anti-human money cult, are there for all of us to behold.

Education provides another dismal example. Although the English school

system is rooted in a questionable division between state schools and private, feepaying ones (NB only about 7 per cent of English pupils go to private schools but they are disproportionately represented later in life in positions of power, privilege and in the professions), one of its redeeming features in the past was that after college many privately-educated young men would choose to work in places of social deprivation, like London’s East End. Some of them would indeed become ordained as Anglican priests.

They shunned a comfortable life in middle class parishes but served instead selflessly as clergy among working-class people and industrial or slum areas. The church of St Barnabas, Jericho, in then

poor East Oxford, is one witness amongst many of how the spiritual ideals of Anglo-Catholicism inspired wealthy young people to dedicate their lives to the marginalised, the humble and the downtrodden.

Alas, all that is in stark contrast with the aspirations of too many up-and-coming secularised young people today, regardless of schooling. The pursuit of the holy, along with the commitment to serve, seems to have receded.

Instead a clever young person may look forward to getting into the City, making millions on the stock market and retiring as soon as possible to a life of leisure and selfish pleasures.

Given these considerations, it is tempting to be lazily cynical about the young. Yet in April 2005 I happened to be in Rome. Pope John Paul II had just died after a long, debilitating illness. Suddenly, Rome appeared to me with devotional scenes like Mecca. Millions of people descended on the holy city of Western Christendom to mourn the Pope’s death.

The roads were chock-a-block with pilgrims from all over Europe. Many of them were young, bright-eyed and bushy tailed. Stirred by the example, the teachings of a man of God like John Paul, they had come to pay their respects, to pray, to praise God for the good man who, in his infinite wisdom, he had sent to lead his flock. It was a spectacle I shall never forget. It gave the lie, in my opinion, to the

notion that all the young have sold out to the consumer society, to unbridled hedonism, promiscuity and atheism.

There is no magic wand to wave in order to conjure away the false lures of an ungodly system. But, if I had to hit on a particular remedy, I would cite the vital importance of role models. Dynamic sacred models, real alternatives to the bland, banal and shallow pabulum of phenomena like One Direction. ‘I don’t care about the Beatles. I want my children to learn about and look up to the examples of the heroes, the champions of my religion’, a Lebanese friend told me once. He mentioned names like Ali, Imam Hussein, Fatima, Ayatollah Khomeini and Hasan Nasrallah. My heart went out to him. Because I too do not want my grandchildren and nephews to be infatuated followers of pop bands like One Direction or, for that matter, any other band. I want them to read about and become enthused by the lives of the Saints. The wonderful men and women in history who dedicated their lives to service of God in Christ. The Saints are not dead – they are alive, in Heaven. From where they are they point all believers to the glories accruing to being servants of God – a selfless task to which they dedicated their lives while still here on earth.

Whenever I feel a bit despondent about the rising tide of atheism and faithlessness in this society, I always draw encouragement from meditating on the life of my own patron saint and hero, St Francis of Assisi.

A stupendous example of ‘Christian dervish’. A better role model no believer, young or old, could possibly desire. 

Revd Frank Julian Gelli is

an Anglican priest, cultural critic and a religious controversialist, working on religious dialogue. His last book ‘The Dark Side of England’. An exposé, is available on Amazon Kindle.

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T h e h op e of f u t u Throughout history societies have nurtured and prepared their youth to continue their legacies. However recent generations are increasingly questioning their forefathers.

Razi Chaudhry offers some reasons for the apparent loss of interest in religious faith and spirituality

“

Humanity is in urgent need of the

witness

courageous

of

free

young

and

people

who dare to go against the

tide and proclaim with vigour and enthusiasm their personal faith in God, Lord and Saviour

".

So wrote Pope John Paul II in his message to Christian youths on World Youth day in April 2003.

In January of this year Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei also exhorted western youths to be impartial investigators in order to remove negative preconceptions and discover the real face of Islam, the last of the Abrahamic faiths.

The young people of today are not substantially different from those of previous generations. They are just as capable of generosity, solidarity and dedication if they are motivated by a cause. Compared to the past today’s youth live in a desert of social

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references and lack a sense of belonging. They are individualists; they want to make their own choices without taking into account social values, ideas or common laws.

They take their reference points from everywhere and are not afraid to experiment with them.

Most young people are heavily conditioned by market forces dominating our society. The political

impose their systems of reference and evaluation in all aspects of life.

Regrettably in today’s secularised societies the youth are experiencing a loss of spiritual identity.

The refusal to recognise the value of a religion-based life has a detrimental effect on the human being. The youth of this generation are particularly affected; they have lost that connection to the spiritual and religious

"It is simply not true that new generations are less interested in religion and matters of faith; the reality is that they have been kept deliberately ignorant. This attitude has produced culturally handicapped young people devoid of any spiritual training or religious culture. "

organisation of society is based on a mercantilist mentality which turns citizens into consumers. Economic rules replace moral ones.

Governments lay down the law and

dimension previously provided via the teachings of the Divine faiths. In many cases they have been left devoid of spiritual references, left to fend for themselves. In part the fault lies with

u r e ge n e r at i on s their parents. They want to see them happy, but have failed to teach them the rules of social life, the faith of previous generations based on universal values, the meaning of his/her conscience, the value of freedom, and a sense of brotherhood and equality.

It is simply not true that new generations are less interested in religion and matters of faith; the reality is that they have been kept deliberately ignorant. This attitude has produced culturally handicapped young people devoid of any spiritual training or religious culture.

Nonetheless, these young people are affected by the phenomenon of sects, terrorism and war, portrayed via tendentious mass media which gives them conflicting and disturbing images of religion, Islam in particular.

Religion draws them but at the same time they are worried when it is presented as a source of conflict in the world, which is a misconception because the conflicts in question are of political and economic

origin. Their knowledge of Islam is tied to clichĂŠs and the intellectual reconstructions that circulate in social representations, news media, television dramas and films.

There is the risk that if the religious impulse, which is inherent in all humans, is not educated and enriched by an authentic message, it will remain stunted and incapable of developing.

Despite all the difficulties and obstacles and cultural, religious and moral uprooting, the youths of all nations are trying to find ways out of this quagmire.

Spiritual life is a human need that people in charge must recognise, respect and honour because it belongs to everyone and is one of the essential components of life. In this context dialogue among faiths can add further support to the rediscovery of a faith-based existence with common values and denominators.

Ayatollah Khamenei’s invitation to western youth to obtain knowledge of Islam from its original sources represents a fatherly

advice for them to draw wisdom from the last of the divine religions in recognition of the fact that Islam does not belong only to Muslims but to humanity as a whole and that its primary consideration is to elevate individuals to a higher level.ď Ź

Razi Chaudhry is a youth

psychologist and an active islamic educator.

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19 19

Changing Perceptions To combat the growing trend of Islamophobia the world Muslims will require a concerted effort as well as a degree of soul searching. Sameer Abbas Zaidi proposes some lines of action

I

slamophobia has increased in recent years. In many parts of the world, an unfounded correlation has been made between militant networks, human rights abuses and Muslims. This scenario has contributed to the resurgence of extreme far-right political parties.

I firmly believe that there is no smoke without fire. The story started with the 9/11 attacks, which was followed by a series of blasts, shootings and other incidents across the globe. Since every action has an equal and opposite reaction, these incidents involving mindless violence in the name of religion gave rise to the current wave of Islamophobia.

What is Islamophobia?

C

ountless anti-Islam events are taking place across the world. In recent months thousands of people have held an anti-Islamic rally in the eastern German city of Dresden; About 250

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people toting pistols, American flags and obscene cartoon drawings of the Prophet Muhammad, surrounded a mosque in the US city of Phoenix; Dutch politician Geert Wilders aired offensive cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad on Dutch national television. Violent crimes against Muslims have exploded, especially in the west. What is common between these events is extreme hate towards Islam and its followers. This hate is termed Islamophobia.

The NASUWT, a union that represents the interests of teachers in England, defines ‘Islamophobia’ as an unfounded hatred of and hostility towards Islam which may be directed against individuals or groups because of their perceived or actual religious background or identification.

This definition is interpreted broadly to cover intolerance and discrimination against Muslims. The organisation further explains that it may include a range of behaviours and practices such as:

Direct verbal or physical attacks against individuals and groups; •Discrimination in relation to access to jobs, goods and services and other civic rights and entitlements; and •Cultural or religious insensitivity, which may create barriers to Muslim people becoming involved and result in them feeling marginalised or excluded from society.

Amongst students in schools and colleges, such prejudice and racism may take the form of name-calling, offensive ‘jokes’, verbal assault, graffiti, intimidation, exclusion from friendship groups and physical attack.

•

Understanding the Current Scenario

I

n today’s fast-paced, technologicallydriven world, people hardly have any time for researching. In this scenario, the canon of ‘seeing-is-believing’ rules. People rely more on ‘what-they-see’ rather than ‘what has been prescribed’ or ‘what actually is’. Incidents like the burning to

death of a Jordanian pilot in a cage or beheading of hostages by Daesh in Iraq, the blasts conducted by Boko Haram or Taliban in Somalia, Nigeria and Afghanistan, have added some more fuel to the fire of Islamophobia.

Interestingly, opinion in the Muslim world is still divided. While some people openly condemned these violent acts, some people support them by considering such incidents as revenge attacks. But this divided opinion sends a wrong message to non-Muslims. It is the time to do away with such ambivalence and formulate a concrete strategy to tackle this menace.

The situation is very alarming and tackling Islamophobia is largely a psychological war that involves changing the mindset of a larger audience. We, the Muslims of the entire world, need to take up this challenge as this issue is directly related to our future generation. If we delay our strategy, then it will prove to be a disaster for our children.

Islamophobia leads to discrimination and

alienates individuals/groups from areas of social, economic and political life. Since tackling this issue is not easy, we need to develop a result-oriented strategy. Only good can outsmart bad. We need to

"Muslims ... majority of are not aware of their religion. So, it is necessary to learn Islam through the Qur’an, the life of its great Prophet and study the teachings of the Prophet of Islam and his humane and ethical doctrines. display the true character of Islam. Our focus is to impress people of other faiths with our character, a character that is

prescribed by the Prophet Muhammad(s), a character that narrates the true spirit of Islam, a character that promotes peace, tolerance and respect for everyone.

That is why Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei recently wrote a letter to the youths of Europe and North America. In his letter, the leader urged youths to study and research the motivations behind this widespread tarnishing of the image of Islam. He encourages them to read the Qur’an for themselves and appeals for ‘impartial judgment’.

What We Can Do

A

s discussed earlier, challenging Islamophobia is just like winning a very tough psychological war, where we need to change the mindset of a large geographically - scattered audience through our character. We can’t win this war without the support of the masses. I personally discussed this issue with some of my friends and we together zeroed in on the following points:

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21

-

Learn

your

religion,

do

not

-

Reboot

the

religious

learning

inherit it

process

I want to start with this famous quote of Imam Ali(a). Learning and understanding the true spirit of Islam is the need of the hour. It has been observed that majority of Muslims are not aware of their religion.

So, it is necessary to learn Islam through the Qur’an, the life of its great Prophet and study the teachings of the Prophet of Islam and his humane and ethical doctrines.

There are some flaws in the current religious-learning system. There is a huge gap between the people who are imparting religious education and people who are receiving it. We have to do some research to make this process smarter and interesting. I think training colleges for religious teachers must be established to raise the bar of imparting Islamic teachings. We have to launch campaigns to spread the message of Islam to others.

- Disowning radicalisation

It’s high time for the entire Muslim world as well as wider society to disown the radical and extremist groups. Our reaction towards the atrocities committed by such groups needs to be as vocal as the one against Israel's state terror.

22

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-

Master

the

art

of

mingling

with

people of other communities

When we meet people of other faiths at colleges, workplaces or other public places, we rarely discuss religion. We need to change this habit. If we start discussing religion, things will change.

- Criticise the bad, praise the good

Whatever is bad is bad. It has been observed that some irreligious people arouse religious sentiments, polarise masses and use religion as a tool to fulfil their personal objectives. For them, their

While some people openly condemned these violent acts, some people support these acts by considering such incidents as revenge attacks. But this divided opinion sends a wrong message to non-Muslims.

It is the time to do away with such ambivalence and formulate a concrete

strategy to tackle this menace.

vested interests are more important than the values of Islam. So, we must blacklist such people and inform others about them. Similarly, we must appreciate the good work done by other communities as well.

-Become

the

brand

ambassadors

of religion

There is no denying of the fact that we can only outsmart Islamophobia with collective efforts. So, every Muslim must consider him/herself as the brand ambassador of Islam, and act strictly according to guidelines prescribed by the religion. Our campaign must be aimed at winning the hearts of people with our character.

-

Presentation

of

role

models

to

the young generation

The young generation is our future.

While imparting religious education, we must narrate the stories of true role models like Prophet Muhammad(s), Imam Ali(a), Imam Husayn(a), Abu Dhar Ghaffari, and others, who selflessly adopted Islamic values and sacrificed their lives for a cause more valuable than their lives.

Karbala and the principles of Imam Husayn must be the used as the foremost example of what Islam is and the place of justice and martyrdom in the religion.

phenomenon. It is a well-designed strategy of a right-wing cadre of intellectual hucksters, bloggers, politicians, pundits, and religious leaders, whose task is to prove that Muslims are their enemy. We, the Muslims of the entire world, have to handle this wellorganised, well-funded anti-Islampropaganda machinery in a very intellectual way. Thinkers, scientists, campaign strategists and journalists from the community must join hands and form communication channels to reach both Muslims and non-Muslims.

-

Imparting

Islamic

education

to

W

hat can we

do?

L

earn you r rel i gi on , d o n ot i n h eri t i t

D

R

i sown i n g rad i cal i sati on

eboot th e rel i gi ou s l earn i n g process

youths of other communities

It has been observed that people hardly have any knowledge about Islam and its principles. Whatever little knowledge they have is comes from media, which is biased against Islam. In this scenario, our task is to impart true knowledge of Islam to people from other faiths as well. Interfaith dialogues, conferences, seminars, debates and other such events are the best ways to impart true Islamic education. Our motto is to fill the communication gap and construct a bridge of thought and fairness over the gaps to illuminate ourselves and the surrounding environment. ď Ź

M C

peopl e of oth er com m u n i ti es

ri ti ci se th e bad , prai se th e good

ecom e th e bran d am bassad ors

B

P

aster th e art of m i n gl i n g wi th

of rel i gi on

resen t of rol e m od el s to th e you n g gen erati on

- Religious tolerance

Many Muslims mistakenly believe that Islam does not tolerate the existence of other religions in the world. In fact, Islam preaches equal love and respect for all.

So, we must respect the religious sentiments of others.

R

T

el i gi ou s tol eran ce

ackl e an ti -M u sl i m propagan d a

- Handling anti-Muslim

propaganda

Nathan Lean, writer and researcher, said that the tide of Islamophobia, which is sweeping through Europe and the United States, is not a naturally occurring

Sameer Abbas ' aidi is a freelance

journalist based in New Delhi

I

m part I sl am i c ed u cati on to you th s of oth er com m u n i ti es

Spring

23

Young Muslims in the UK Some frank opinions

Julia Khadija Lafene interviews five young Muslims from a South Asian background, and two from a British-African background, born and brought up in the west in order to gauge feelings and opinions about their faith

I

spoke to five young women, and two young men, ranging in age from teens to mid twenties. Four are pursuing studies, two have finished their degrees. I asked them about their Islamic education, the role of parents and others, why they held on to their faith and why they think other young people had

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abandoned it. I also asked them their opinions about the education of young Muslims and how they had been affected by modern developments in the Islamic world. While this is not a representative sample, their intelligent and thoughtful comments do show that much more attention needs to be

paid to Muslim youth, their place in the modern world, and how they are influenced by new ideas. Instead of being ‘preached at’ by older people they need to be part of the process of adaptation to the society in which they are living, bringing a new dynamism into the practice of Islam.

...parental attitudes and guidance are absolutely crucial to the spiritual wellbeing of young people. Most described their parents as ‘broadminded’, open to discussion, believing in Islam and promoting human values and ethics.

from Islam was a very important factor for some young people; they wished to disassociate themselves from what they perceived as a negative influence on Islam.

Have

others

you

–

discussed

peers,

your

teachers

etc.

faith

with

Have

you

©AI M I SLAM . com

been influenced by them?

What

part

did

your

parents/family

play in your Islamic education?

Answers to this question show that parental attitudes and guidance are absolutely crucial to the spiritual wellbeing of young people. Most described their parents as ‘broad-minded’, open to discussion, believing in Islam and promoting human values and ethics.

Parents practised and encouraged their children to do so in an inclusive way, so that Islamic practices, such as prayers, fasting, festivals and ethical behaviour were part of normal family life, but not rigidly enforced. One young woman said it was her mother who wanted to separate her Islam from cultural practices, which could become a divisive issue, especially as she grew older. Distinguishing ‘culture’

Four of the young people attended Islamic school (madrasa) and other Muslim activities up to the age of about 10, and two are still attending.- they enjoy this and being part of the Muslim community. One young woman said; ‘I’m a teaching assistant at a madrasa and see first hand that the children are dealt with in a sensitive way and encouraged to learn about contemporary issues affecting them.’ However, another girl said her short experience of madrasa was ‘horrible’ and unnecessarily strict. The others said their parents did not send them to madrasa because the methods used were in sharp contrast to regular schools. It seems that madrasas vary widely in their approach. As regards peers, they said that they varied a great deal; many Muslim girls were ‘stricter’ and quite judgmental.

Teachers also varied; one RE teacher told her students there was no God. If there were only a few other Muslims in the school, they were sometimes asked to share their views on Islam. However no

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25

one mentioned bullying or discrimination; in fact they were accepted at their schools.

One young woman at university said there was a lot of corruption among students, especially male, who have taken to the "drinking culture". These young men pick and choose what they want to follow and intend to return to orthodoxy when they settle down! On the other hand there are students who join sects or groups which uphold certain rigid practices, completely impractical for modern life.

What encourages

faith

-

the

good

you

to

things

stick to

about

your

being

a

Muslim? What are the challenges?

The responses to this question were most heartening. Despite all the ‘media superbias against Muslims’ as one young woman put it, they have all shown amazing faith. ‘Islam gives you the feeling of belonging to a supportive community, where people help each other’. ‘Islam gives you reliance on God, guidance and principles to live by – it’s a balanced way of life.’ ‘Islam gives you reassurance in difficulties; renewing your wudhu (ritual ablution) lifts a weight off your shoulders.

God takes care of you.’ ‘Islam is the best guide to being a human being.’ ‘I am Muslim because I want to be, to protect myself.’ ‘ Maintaining a good relationship with God through spiritual practice.’

Challenges: finding it difficult to fit in practice with life-style; Islam challenges you to ‘push yourself’. There was less prejudice from non-Muslims, but more from other Muslims. Wearing/not wearing strict Islamic dress was a factor in this. One young woman said she had learnt to deal with pressures in appropriate ways. For example when challenged about not drinking, she just said, ‘I don’t drink; nor do lots of other people.’

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Spring

Why do you think some young people

stop practising Islam?

The young people felt that this was mainly due to the following: social and societal pressures; ‘distractions of the world’; negative attitude of the media and society in general; young people are surrounded by ‘anti-Islam’ and feel they don’t fit in (‘It’s not cool to be Muslim’); misunderstanding what is ‘Islamic’ and belief that some practices are Islamic when they are cultural, for example, getting girls married really early or even forcing them. Young people are really put off by these practices.

In fact it seems that the attitudes of some older Muslims can antagonise younger people.

What

do

you

think

about

the

way

youngsters are taught about Islam?

There was a strong feeling that young people should be taught how to practise their Islam in this society; they do not need to go abroad to be good Muslims; educators need to work out how Muslims should interact with and live wherever they are. ‘I think it’s bad that children are taught to be sectarian – that should change.’ One young woman thought living in London was a blessing because prejudice was ‘not cool’. A 17-year-old said not enough attention was paid to youthful curiosity; the teaching methods ‘put them down’ instead of encouraging enquiring minds, but two young women reported a more positive experience.

Generally it was felt that strict hijab should be a choice as it can interfere with normal activities.

Have

you

events?

been

How

affected

do

you

by

Generally they felt that extremists are a very small minority and have nothing to do with them. However one graduate said that ISIS extremism had ‘knocked my confidence – sometimes I question myself – am I following the right path?’

To counter this, she saw herself as an ambassador representing what Muslims can do for society. The 17-year-old sees life as a test – ‘there’s no such thing as an easy life’. The oldest, a law student, believes that ‘Islamic dress’ encourages discrimination. He thinks this became worse after 9/11. He felt this can only be dealt with if there is more unity among Muslims; there is no unified view of Islamic law and this disunity is to the detriment of Islam. When living here Muslims must abide by British law.

To conclude, I was most impressed by the way these young people saw their Islam as a spiritual path which helped them to live ethically, to make decisions appropriate to their lives and by doing so contribute positively to society. Sometimes cultural background could get in the way. The wisdom of their parents was a crucial factor. Where the parents’ attitude was open-minded, willing to discuss anything, as well as being knowledgeable about correct practices and themselves setting good examples, the young people were able to live their Islam and not abandon it.

modern

think

young Julia Khadija Lafene graduated in

Muslims can deal with this?

Modern History from Oxford

It was interesting that my respondents did not on the whole seem much affected.

University. Since embracing Islam she has studied Islamic Psychology and self-knowledge.

ŠAI M I SLAM . com

Spring Spring

27 27

Dear You &

Me Batool Haydar reads between the lines of the Letter of the Ayatullah Khamenei and finds that it applies equally to Muslim as well as non Muslim youth

W

hen I first read the letter by Ayatullah Khamenei to the youth of Europe and North America, I was struck by many of the things he mentioned and over subsequent readings, certain statements have resonated further and made me think about how relevant the same message is to the Muslim youth as well as the non-Muslim youth (whom he is

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predominantly addressing).

One of the sentences that I keep coming back to is ‘What concepts and values in Islam disturb the programmes of the super powers?’ What is it about the principles that we are taught from childhood that make Islam a threat to the status quo of those monopolising power? In a world where the mighty survive by ruling over – and exploiting – the weak, nurturing ideals of peace,

truth, justice, equality, humanity and self-respect is viewed as planting the seeds of revolution.

Ayatullah Khamenei mentions that the reason the letter is addressed to the youth is because the sense of quest for truth is more vigorous and attentive in the hearts of the youth. This is vital to the success of his message as it has been for universal messages, including that of Islam. All the messengers of

"

… the reason the letter is addressed to the youth is because the sense of quest for truth is more vigorous and attentive in the hearts of the youth.

This is vital to the success of his message as it has been for universal messages, including that of Islam."

God directed their efforts and found their firmest and sincerest supporters predominantly amongst the youth for a good reason. We are not only at the peak of our physical energies during this period of life, but also our mental and spiritual ones.

Young people often achieve the seemingly impossible due to the fact that they simply didn’t know it was considered to be so. They have a sincerity that is deeply embedded in their ideals and see truth untainted by the cynicism that often comes with age and experience. These years are a fertile time; a pure, unpolluted planting ground with the perfect conditions in which to grow the kind of character and personality desired for a lifetime. This is also the reason why those who are trying to defame Islam or distort it do so by targeting the young.

It is probably for this reason that in the letter, Ayatullah Khamenei skips over the usual advice that we take our information from: parents, politicians and media propaganda. He asks that the youth form their opinions based on

original sources only and trust the Truth to stand out and influence their worldview.

The Sinusoidal Sea of Faith

The heart is created in a manner that allows it to be swayed in the direction of that which appeals to it and attracts it.

Advertising and marketing campaigns know this and present ‘carrots’ to their audiences that will ‘pull’ them towards their hearts' desires. All cars are metal shells on four wheels, but we buy the one that we believe will give us our particular carrot: coolness, adventurism, sex appeal, and a happy family… the same basic product, tailor-packaged for the target audience.

The tug-of-war begins when the heart begins to want to think for itself. Do I want to be cool or do I want to be eccentric? If I want to be cool, is it a brainy cool or a brawny one? Because questions stem from indecision, we seek out better informed sources to help us make our decision and trust them to have our best interests at heart.

In matters of faith, the same idea applies. The reason why Islam has such a universal appeal is because the principles it promotes seek to create the best atmosphere for humanity to exist and thrive. However, for those whose hearts have already been swayed by greed, power and wealth, this is a threat to their existence. Unable to disparage the actual values, they seek to destroy the ‘package’ that it is delivered in.

For the youth, the message of justice and peace is highly attractive. Their innate essence cries out for these ideals to prevail and the more they see of the war and injustice around them, the more they want to have an enemy to fight, a cause to join, a rally to protest in, something to do - a sense of empowerment.

The youth are at the core of the struggle of each protagonist and the direction in which they are swayed will determine the future of human history.

The danger is that Islam – the strongest source and supporter of these values – is being made out to be that enemy - to be the problem instead of the solution.

Does Islam need a Refresh Button?

As young Muslims try to find an identity for themselves as followers of a faith that is the target of a massive amount of negative propaganda, they can find their hearts swaying between wanting to be like everyone else and wanting to be individual. They recognise that the Islam they are taught and grow up with, is not the Islam that is being propagated by the extremists and fanatics. However they also have the need to belong to the general society they are in.

To do this, they tend to seek out solutions to blend the different aspects of their life. While Islam has always welcomed and celebrated the rich variety of culture, lines must be drawn when the two clash. It is here that the letter becomes most relevant to Muslims.

Seeking out Islam from its original sources is the only way to know when a situation is creating a clash and also the only way to understand where the boundaries should exist.

When we begin to realise that a lot of Muslims grow with a version of Islam that may have started from family or religious sources, but ends up being coloured by the promoted idea of Islam, it becomes easier to understand why Muslim youth end up trying to Americanise or Anglicise Islam.

The results that stem from this attempt are all around us. Whether it is general habits such as videos on how to look hot in a hijab, sharing photos

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29 29

A

s young Muslims try to find an identity for unreservedly online, incorporating themselves…., they recognise that the Islam they are taught and grow up with, is not the Islam that is being propagated by the extremists and fanatics. However they also have the need to belong to the general society they are in.

Islamic phrases and risqué ones or specific ideas and projects such as the infamous Happy British Muslims video of yesteryear, the Mipsterz phenomenon, terms like ‘hijabistas’, or the attempt to incorporate Islamic messages into radical music genres.

Where do we pause to make a distinction on how much it is possible to bring two ideas together? How much does it take before the lines begin to blur? Should we attempt to go down a path, the end of which will lead to something that conflicts with Islamic ideals? These are questions that need to be thought about, researched and analysed.

For this reason, the emphasis on relying on the main unchanging sources rather than on the filtered versions passed on from person to person is so vital. The Islam that we will receive into our souls when we seek communion with God through His unadulterated message in the Qur’an will be a very different Islam from the one that we gather piecemeal from those around us.

It will be a personal conversation and one that we will be involved in on a one-to-one basis with our Creator and the earlier in life that we begin this conversation, the more confidently we will learn to rely on it and trust it. Our choices will be based on a stronger, more dedicated education and our ideals founded on a firmer base.

At the end of the day, whether we are young or young-at-heart, the decision belongs to us – as it always has: Do we want to personalise Islam or do we want to make Islam personal? The choice we make and collectively encourage as an ummah [nation] will determine what kind of Islam survives the current crisis it faces. The choice we make could influence the ability of the human race to coexist and grow together in a world removed from hatred and falsehood – a dream that only the message of Islam can truly make come true.

Making It Personal

It is not as simple as filling a current need. The choices the youth make today will create the foundation for the generations of tomorrow. The Islam we pass on to our children will be the only version they know – how purely we preserve it or how much we choose to dilute it will provide them with the base formula that they will in turn have to make choices about.

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Batool Haydar is a wordsmith who has

written many articles and blogs

.

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31 31

Sheikh Usama Abdulghani explains our responsibilities in the light of Ayatollah Khamenei’s letter to the youth of Europe and America

32 32

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W

hy is the letter important? What is our responsibility towards the letter and the return of the Imam of the Time?

When we look at the narrations of the Ahl ul Bayt(a), we find out when they discuss the End of Time, some of them refer to certain signs before the Imam returns. But there are also other narrations which refer to our practical responsibilities. What is it that should be done before the Imam’s return? I like to study the letter in the light of the responsibilities that are on our shoulders to bring about the return of the Imam of our time.

The narration tells us that knowledge will move from Kufa (present day Iraq) to Qum (Iran) before the Imam returns.

Qum will become a source of knowledge for the world.

The narration reads: “Soon Kufa will become

empty

of

the

believers

and

knowledge will disappear, the same way that

a

snake

disappears

in

its

lair.

Knowledge will reappear in another city, a city called Qum. Qum will become a source

of

knowledge

and

merit,

.

righteousness will flow from Qum”

What happens then?

What we learn from this narration is that knowledge will not stop at Qum. The knowledge of Alh ul Bayt(a) and the message of Islam will spread from Qum to other cities in the East and the West until there is no one who is uninformed about the religion. This does not mean that everyone becomes Muslim before the Imam returns, but rather that there won’t be anyone uninformed about the religion, and they will be able to make a choice.

The truth becomes clear from falsehood and anybody who wants to know about Islam is informed about it. A minority will continue disliking Islam, to hate Islam, but the majority will discover that Islam isn’t the enemy; rather Islam is what they are all looking for. Islam is what is going to bring them salvation, peace and security.

This part of the narration has yet to transpire, while the first part of this prophecy has already happened.

Knowledge has moved from Kufa to Qum and from there started to spread. There are many students from around the world who are studying and gaining knowledge in Qum.

What

happens

when

this

process

starts taking place?

The narration tells us that once everyone is informed about the religion, at this stage the Awaited Imam(ats) will appear.

So

where

do

we

come

into

it.

And

what is our role in all of this?

The reality is that today there are a lot of people who do not know about Islam and they have never had a chance to learn about Islam from its true sources.

The Islam they have been fed is either the Islam of missionaries who pose as Muslims, deliberately destroying the name of Islam and the name of the Prophet or people who have hostile agendas and

“

The truth becomes clear from falsehood and anybody who wants to know about Islam is informed about it. A minority will continue disliking Islam, to hate Islam but the majority will discover that Islam isn’t the enemy; rather Islam is what they are all looking for. Islam is what is going to bring them the salvation, peace and security. want to show that Islam is an enemy to mankind. People get to know about Islam via TV channels which have taken Islam as their personal enemy.

As people haven’t ever been exposed to true Islam, our responsibility is to inform people about Islam itself, to speak to people, neighbours, friends, co-workers, to provide them with the Holy Qur’an, to tell them what the original sources are, and to get people to know about Islam itself.

Once we do that, they may come to know Islam – we are not forcing anyone to become Muslim – then at that stage the proof of God will become clear for humanity and (God willing) we will witness the return of our Imam.

Sheikh Usama Abdulghani

has studied in the Islamic Seminary in Qum. He specialises in Islamic Law and Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence, along with Family Ethics in Islam.

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33 33

An Historical Letter

Italian anthropologist Tiziana Ciavardini describes Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei’s letter to Western youth as a ’historic letter whose impact will be revealed in future’

I

n an interview with the Tasnim

tarnish the image of Islam. This is one of

As to why Ayatollah has addressed the

News Agency, Italian anthropologist

the reasons behind the increase of

youth specifically, she says: “Ayatollah

Tiziana Ciavardini, discussing the

Islamophobia in the West.”

Khamenei understands better than

significance of the letter says:

“When the letter first appeared in

anyone the importance of the new

“Ayatollah Khamenei said that there had

English on the website I told myself: this

generation.

been a flood of misinformation about

will be a historic letter. As far as I know,

because he knows the older generation

Islam in the West. Unfortunately, in

this is the first time that Ayatollah

are already spoiled. He knows that we

western countries people who declare

Khamenei talks to the western youth in

must push our youth to learn and

themselves as ‘expert’ on Islam sometimes

this confidential way. The letter seems -

study, since they are the future. If we

are confused about the understanding of

to me - to say more than the words

encourage our youth to understand

the religion, even the one who tries to

written in it.”: she added.

Islam from the [real] source, we can

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Spring

He is talking to them

hope for a better future with less people

Khamenei has distanced himself from

the ‘other’. This term is exactly what we

being afraid of Islam. Islamophobia is

such terrorist acts. It is unthinkable that

must understand.

just a fear of what we don’t know….. The

someone who really believes in a

Knowing the ‘other’ means knowing

best part of this letter is the way he

religion may commit these acts. How

people who are different from us and

emphasises the education of new

can a religion of peace suggest killing

we must consider diversity as a great

generations. He knows that education

other people? Islam has nothing to do

value to help us to learn more about

is the way to succeed not only in school

with this brutality. What people do not

or university. Education is the way to

understand yet is that the primary

fight the war and bring peace on the

victim of this cruelty is Islam itself. They

earth. It is noteworthy that he didn’t ask

operate in the name of Islam but the

the youth to convert to Islam and be

reasons are not religious but just

Muslim,

to

political. These attacks and terrorist

ourselves.”

She added: “What is written in the letter is very true, we must learn from the real source, I hope that this letter could help the youth to study Islam as a religion, and lessen the bad propaganda against Islam”. 

understand Islam and study from its

groups are damaging the peaceful

real source.

vision of Islam. We [the west] benefit or

he

just

urged

them

He did not refer to

violence directly, but the intellectual

get power by showing Islam as hostile.”

conditions that allows ideologies of

When asked about the best way to

"emphasises The best part of this letter is the way he " Whoever associates Islam with the terrorist the education of new groups surely doesn’t know Islam. Ayatollah generations. He knows that education is the way to succeed not only in school or university. Education is the way to fight the war and bring peace on the earth.

Khamenei has distanced himself from such terrorist acts. It is unthinkable that someone who really believes in a religion may commit these acts.

violence to exist.”

present Islam to the western youth she

She further adds: “Some Western

said: “We know that Islam is spreading

countries are losing values day by day and

in Europe. Islam is the second largest

most of the youth do not have any hope

religion in Italy for example.

for the future, not even dreams. I am not

I think the next step must be taken by

a Muslim, but I have not seen in any

Western governments by increasing

other religion the devotion I see in Islam.

useful projects to let people understand

I think Islam can help all of us to

Islam better. In Italy we have schools

understand better the world we live in.

with scholars from diverse nationalities

The lands of Islam have given birth to

and I hope in the future we will be able

the

to

most

famous

scientists

and

introduce

Religious

Education

intellectuals. How can we believe that

instead of studying one religion only.

the same lands can give birth to people

Studying other religions does not mean

who spread death? Whoever associates

converting to them, but learning more

Islam with the terrorist groups surely

about something we don’t know. In the

doesn’t

letter Ayatollah Khamenei wrote about

know

Islam.

Ayatollah

Tiziana Ciavardini is a cultural

anthropologist, and president of Italy’s Ancis Anthropology Forum

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35

Commments

F

ollowing the publication of Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei’s letter to the youth of Europe and North America - mostly on social media, Taqrib News (TN) interviewed interfaith experts - Chris Hewer and political and peace activist - Dr James B Thring asking them to comment on the letter and related issues. The following is an abstract from the interview.

Chris Hewer has

worked as an adviser on interfaith relations to the Bishop of Birmingham between 1 999 to 2005.

Dr James B Thring is a

British academic, author and anti-war activist. He is

also

pressure group ‘Ministry of Peace’

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director of the

Can

Islamophobia

in

the

West

be

uprooted by western youth after studying Islam carefully?

“Islamophobia unfortunately has many roots.

Like any other phobia, it is based on irrational fear and not on reasoned argument. It can be fuelled by those who wish to sow discord between peoples. It can be made to serve political, religious and economic ends. A well-grounded knowledge of Islam on the part of Muslim youth will enable them to be advocates of a truly Islamic way of life in the West. It is crucial that ways are found to communicate the message of Islam to non-Muslims rooted in the West for the sake of their education and for world peace and not just as a means of seeking converts. The most powerful tool in the hands of young western Muslims is to live a life based on the true teachings and spirit of Islam so that others may observe Islam in action and thus be engaged to learn more, so putting an end to ignorance and distortion.”

Chris

Hewer:

“Western youth has a role to play in appraising itself of the beneficence of Islam. Sadly, it is unlikely that many will study Islam carefully under the current regime of prejudice and indoctrination. There are however useful summaries, such as 'loyalty, freedom, equality, respect, peace' and some distinctive features of Islam' which I found being distributed by some centres and that can be easily assimilated as a start.

Once intrigued, the youth that often reacts to diktats from older generations, should recognise the social and moral leadership of Islamic teaching and dismiss the prejudices that have been planted by those who propagate anti-social and immoral practices.

The youth have a role in complaining about these prejudices by writing to the media which otherwise grows complacent about the public's tolerance of their increasingly rampant propaganda….”

Dr

Thring:

Which

factor

important the

in

or

factors

spreading

West? ' Lack

are

of understanding

politicians' media'

more

Islamophobia

in

Islam'

'

“Ignorance is the most important factor in spreading Islamophobia in the West. We can think first of ignorance of what it means to live a whole way of life based Hewer:

on a religious understanding, a sense of living in the presence of God and of being accountable on the Day of Judgement. Many in the West are ignorant about religion in general and not just Islam.

A media that serves sensationalism and economic ends rather than seeking knowledge and portraying it accurately undoubtedly fuels the spread of Islamophobia. It is unfortunately true that there are many dreadful actions and words that defy the teachings of Islam but are committed under that label; they give plentiful scope for media misrepresentation.

Islamophobia can be stimulated by those who seek to make political, economic or religious gain from it. In a world in which the human life of “the enemy” has been cheapened and in which nations and others have access to weapons of terrible magnitude, and it seems the motivation to use them, the present state of ignorance and other forces that drive towards wrong interpretations of Islam and the Muslim way of life, on one hand, and equally the ignorance and false interpretations of “the West”, on the other, must be regarded as some of the most serious issues facing modern global society.”

“Lack of understanding facilitates the Islamophobia propagated by the media and certain politicians. Immigration concerns also play a secondary role although no phobia is allowed of non-Muslim immigrants from Africa, Asia or Europe. But the most important factor in the UK and probably the 'west' in general, is the supremacy in media..... this insidious denigration of Muslims also occurs in other sectors: In education Muslims are pilloried for inculcating 'extremism' into UK schools using a 'Trojan Horse'. This conspiracy theory has been exposed but is still regurgitated by the syndicated media to terrify students and parents against Islam….In food processing, Halal killing of animals is abhorred although similar methods are practised by the Jewish community which is scarcely mentioned.”

“I see the Grand Ayatollah's letter as reinforcing the openness of the Islamic Republic of Iran to listen to other faiths and cultures and to encourage dialogue and understanding between them.

His letter will promote understanding of Islamic culture by asking searching questions, exposing the propaganda poisoning the minds of those exposed to largely 'western' orchestrated media; by encouraging research and a scientific attitude towards the Holy Qur'an. It will make people think and discuss the contributions of Islam to global progress. Thus they will appreciate its peaceful, edifying and moral influences.

Dr

Thring:

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37 37

How

much

civilisations

can and

dialogue cultures

among

help

religions'

humankind

to

Can

the

inform

elite

the

and

youth

western

thinkers

about this

eradicate war and violence and promote better

mention

understanding and friendship?

and negotiating with the real Islam?

“The only way to eradicate war and violence is to

Hewer:

change the hearts of human beings. No amount of external laws or resolutions of international bodies will achieve this end. The motto of all the prophets of God might be written: “Good people make for good societies”.

Dialogue takes

place on four levels. We can think first of people working together to create a way of life in their society in which human life can flourish; this requires true dialogue as “talking things through” in which everyone is prepared to learn from the other. Second, people improve the world in which we live by cooperating to go to the help of those in need, to relieve the hunger and sickness of the poor, and to promote education and better mutual understanding. Such joint action demands that we see beyond our own selfish ends and also that we learn to work together. On the third level, we are intelligent beings possessed of reason and thus our scholars need to sit together, build mutual trust and eradicate misunderstandings. God is one and the human family is one, thus we need to be able to hear God speaking to the human condition through the faith tradition of the

the

necessity

of

try to

message

studying

and

about

“It is the duty of all people of good will to work to eradicate ignorance and promote harmony between peoples. Dialogue is too important to be left to politicians or specialists in the field. Many non-Muslim religious people and the thinkers of society lack the knowledge and will to promote a better understanding of Islam. We must realise the truth of the saying that, “There can be no peace between peoples without peace between religions, and there can be no peace between religions without a deep understanding of religions other than one’s own. Ayatollah Khamenei rightly points out the debt which Europe owes to the Islamic civilisation of the 9th to 13th centuries, as a vehicle for transmission of Greek thought and the richness of Persian and Indian civilisations; all of which had been substantially enhanced by their passage through the multicultural and multi-religious Abbasid Empire. Any serious inter-faith dialogue needs to be based on sound scholarship and an empathetic understanding of “the other”. The Islamic intellectual history is not only rich and deep but also, being based on reason and philosophical structures, readily accessible to people in the West who have been trained in philosophical thought.”

Hewer:

other. Finally, if we take God seriously, dialogue must have a spiritual dimension, in which we weigh carefully in our hearts before God the spiritual truths and practices of others and seek to allow God to direct us all in this process. We can never reduce another community worshipping the one God to a cultural expression and deny the Divine - human relationship at its centre.”

Dr Thring:

“There is plenty of room for such dialogue.

Rigorous debate can clear the air of prejudicial indoctrination and thus de-escalate the violence and wars

promulgated

by

avaricious

and

aggressive

politicians covertly exploiting phantom ogres.

There is also much enlightenment to be gained by comparing religious codes which underpin most of our civilised societies and by highlighting the similarities as opposed to the differences. This should normally dispel misunderstandings and engender friendship.”

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“It would help if they did. But it is rare because everyone is made to fear supporting Islam owing to the false association with 'terrorism' which has been associated in the public psyche with Islam. As the lies and deceptions are exposed the truth will dawn on people who will want to revise their misperceptions about Islam in general, possibly with extreme anger at the lies they have been fed.

There is thus plenty of material for preachers and academics to deploy to energise discussion about the truth about Islam and the horrific tragedies its adherents have suffered in the last century or two. And there is much to be revealed about the motives and beneficiaries of the somewhat ignominious colonial activities of 'western' nations… There is also more that can be taught about the ethical, cultural and scientific achievements of Islam, many of which have been covertly incorporated into western culture.  Dr Thring:

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39 39

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People’s Michael Van Arragon

Social Service Work Student, Hamilton, Ontario - Canada

“

It’s an interesting exercise to

engage in a letter writing campaign like this one…… If our youth are to

Edward Lovo

have a clear picture of anything happening today, academics and journalists must engage with some form of relativistic inquiry that weighs fact favourably against the dogmatic and contradictory epistemology of corporatist

governments..

"

Freelance writer and a member of the Young Communist League in Canada

“

Dear Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei,

Leader of The Islamic Republic of Iran, Besides your correct estimation of the youths' intellectual capabilities in the West, your letter reflects a deep understanding of the incongruity between historical truths and journalistic integrity.

Lisa Guliani

Islamophobia serves a function: it is a frame

Former Internet-based Political Talk Show Host, Political writer, Researcher, Activist, Conscientious Objector

creates the target of its own bigotry… The future’s hindsight will look at Western attitudes toward Islam as another

“

manifestation of the “mission civilisatrice,”

I think it’s an important message,

one more pretext the imperialists required to

valuable not only to the youth of this

pursue their foreign policy aims––and one

world, but to everyone.

more blemish on the West’s historical

I hope when

people read Khamenei’s message, it gives them pause to explore more deeply on their own, because with increased knowledge comes clearer understanding, and in this way, we inform our collective and individual consciences – critically needed in today’s world.

40

of mind which justifies the very war that

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"

record.

"

response Anthony Hall

Professor of Globalisation Studies, University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

“

Dear Supreme Leader; I have been

Joaquin Flores

inspired by your inspired and

Analyst at the Centre for Syncretic Studies Belgrade, Serbia

blessed letter to North American and European youths. I noticed you refer specifically to academics who write

“

about issues in the past like the

given the US’s propensity for war, given

believe your wise reflections have

the Islamophobia being used as a tool in

close application to my research,

this, and given the power of habit and

teaching and publication

genocide of Indigenous peoples, Given the crossroads we are at, and

slavery, imperialism and such. I

"

…

prejudice over many in the west – we can see the thoughtful intention behind Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei’s recent Letter to the Youth in Europe and North

Richard Falk

America, dated January 21 st of this year.

He reflects an understanding that the advances in new media and communication allow a new generation of people in Europe and North America to see beyond the fences and walls

Professor Emeritus of International Law at Princeton University - USA

“

A fine and humane statement,

although directed at youth is of importance for all of us. Its viewpoint

created around them by their own

would create the spiritual and ethical

societies. While he is clear that no single

foundation for feeling of community

person or push can mend the rift between the Western and Islamic worlds,

species. Such a feeling is urgently

he asks that each one of us can see beyond the hyperbole and dangerous rhetoric, and seek out understanding.

that extend to the entire human

needed to overcome the distrust and

"

special interest that block movement toward nuclear disarmament and climate security.

"

..

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41

Charles Taliaferro

Professor of Philosophy at St. Olaf College -USA

Caleb Maupin

American Journalist & Political Analyst

“

“

I believe that this message from the

Leader of the Islamic Republic, to the

I was very moved to discover that the

leader of the Islamic Revolution of Iran

youth in the West is most welcome. It should be welcomed by those of any age

had chosen to address the youth of

in the West. His analogy about Islam

Europe and North America. It shows

and Christianity is deeply wise. … today,

that he is very interested in the events

everyone, perhaps especially the youth

taking place far beyond the borders of the Islamic Republic, and he is closely

who are trying to be open minded and find wisdom, need to discern what is truly Islam and what is false. While the

tuned in to world events.

The Supreme Leader has confidence that this new generation can be better than that. We can aspire to actually stand up for truth and justice, see beyond the deception, and change the

world…

"

letter’s focus is on challenging those who portray Islam as innately dangerous and bent on violating the rights of others, it implicitly challenges and condemns those who wrongly use the name of Islam and the Prophet to carry out acts of violence which are clearly in violation of Qur’anic teachings

"

.

Rev. John Bryson Chane

Former President and CEO of the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation - USA

“

I am delighted to read the Leader’s letter. It is for me an opportunity to echo what

Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei has expressed in his letter to the youth. The future of the world rests squarely in the hands, hearts, minds and souls of the youth of the world. …The great challenge before us as Muslim and Christian leaders is to work tirelessly with the young whether in Western Europe or North America to focus on religious values and the moral principles that define both the core of the Prophet Muhammad’s teaching as experienced by reading the Holy Qur’an and also the teachings and theologies of other prophets and Jesus…

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"

Dr. Peter Cohen

Anthropologist

“

The recent letter by Iranian Leader …

is a reaction to the recent disturbing developments of alleged Islamic extremism, and the equally disturbing anti-Islamic fear, hatred and violence that has accompanied and mirrored it.

It is a plea for tolerance and bridge building between our two societies. It addresses Western biases and the fact that they tend to be recognised only well after the fact. It demands reflexivity

Sinead O'Connor

from Western youth on the increasingly negative perceptions of Islam in their societies and the deeper historical, economic and geo-political reasons behind them. It is an appeal to logic, critical thinking and understanding, and an invitation for young westerners to discover Islam for themselves and

Irish Singer-Songwriter, Activist and Pacifist

“

Dear Sir, Message from a European

mother of four of the youths you have publicly written to. I’m assuming you were expecting replies from mothers and fathers who might wish to pass your

make up their own minds. ..I applaud letter on. The majority of European and Mr. Khamenei’s attempt to reach out and bridge the manufactured divide between our peoples…

"

North American people, youth or otherwise are in fact intelligent and aware enough to have composed your letter almost word for word themselves, in their sleep. It’s a pristine letter …, it’s really quite wonderful, every word of it is true. As long as it denounces every warmonger, terrorist, rapist or childsnatcher who claims to be part of any religious tradition on earth…

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"

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