Muslims help to build a better Britain
Muslims helping to build a better Britain
Arshad Gamiet gave this talk at the Surrey Muslim Association Launch 3rd June 2015
Woking Mosque, Surrey, UK
Bismil-Laahir Rahmanir Rahim! In the Name of Allah, the Ever Merciful, the All Compassionate!
Distinguished guests, learned imams and scholars, brothers and sisters, I greet you with the greeting words of Paradise, As-salaamu’alaykum! Peace be with you!
I’ve chosen the topic, British Muslims: helping to build a better Britain.
Before I begin, I have something else to say. It’s no good if I stand here sharing warm words with you, whilst you may be worried about what’s happening out there: the brutal killings in parts of Africa and the Middle East. These atrocities are being carried out in the name of my beautiful religion. Let’s be clear. Islam emphatically forbids murder and forced conversions. On this table I have some copies of an open letter signed by 126 leading Islamic scholars from around the world. The letter sets out what Islam allows and what Islam forbids. The chaos out there has absolutely nothing to do with Islam. It has everything to do with politics and power. We are seeing the consequences of bad decisions made by some Western leaders and by some Muslim leaders, not just recently but over many years.
So, what can you and I do about this? You and I can’t unravel the past. But we can and must make the best of our situation today. No one can expect more than that. We must work hard, together, to make things better for everyone, whenever and wherever we can. The Surrey Muslim Association seeks to do so at a local level.
You’d have noted that even before I greeted you today, I invoked God’s names of Mercy and Compassion. Muslims say this many times a day. We remind ourselves that everything we do, we must do with Mercy and Compassion. Talk is cheap. The big challenge is to show mercy and compassion to others, even in the most difficult situations.
Islam teaches us that every shepherd must care for his flock. Every one of us will be held accountable for our families and our communities. Our decisions today, good or bad, will have consequences for our children tomorrow and for our grandchildren the day after tomorrow. Believers of every kind know that we will reap what we sow, if not in this life then surely in the next life.
I thought for days about the topic. Here we are, launching one more Muslim organisation in Britain. What could I say that’s fitting for this occasion? What does the Quran say? We face so many challenges. What useful lessons can we learn from the life of Prophet Muhammad?
“La ikraha fid deen,” says the Holy Quran: “Let there be no compulsion in religion.” [repeat].
In another eloquent verse, one of my personal favourites, we read:
“O mankind, I have created you from a single pair of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may know and respect one another, not so that you should despise one another. Truly, the most honoured of you are those who are best in good deeds….”
Respect for others is a divine command, and our human diversity is a divine gift. We shouldn’t fear diversity and we certainly shouldn’t harm or hate anyone who’s different.
How did Prophet Muhammad deal with diversity?
His first advice was to promote peace. He hated war, and always sought ways of reconciling enemies. When he reached Medina at the end of his epic migration from Makka, his first assignment was to make peace between two warring tribes, the Aus and Khazraj. For this he was appointed Governor of Medina. His first khutbah or Friday Sermon stated the entire purpose of a Muslim’s life in one short sentence. He said:
“Spread peace, feed the poor, pray for part of the night, and you will enter Paradise.” It’s as simple as that! [repeat].
He also said that “A Muslim is someone from whose tongue and hands other Muslims are safe. A true Muslim is someone in whom all of mankind has safety for life and property.”
My dear friends, whenever someone claims to act in the name of Islam, then we must judge them by these criteria: Do they spread peace or war? Do they care for others? Can all of humanity feel safe in their presence?
Prophet Muhammad was scrupulously fair. He treated other faiths with respect. Here in 7th Century Medina he produced the world’s first written Constitution which guaranteed the rights of all minority groups.
When his enemies from Mecca launched an attack on Medina, many Jews helped him to defend the city. They were led by a learned Rabbi, Mukhayriq, who died in the battle of Uhud. This deeply saddened the Prophet. He described Muhhayriq as “the best of the Jews.”
Before his death, Rabbi Mukhayriq had bequeathed all his property, two farms with date trees and his livestock and weapons to Muhammad. These assets became the first waqf, the first Charitable Endowment in Islam. Imagine that! Islam’s first charity was established by a Jewish martyr who died defending our Prophet! In Islam, loyal citizenship is crucial. Rabbi Muhayriq and Prophet Muhammad didn’t just talk about interfaith respect and unity. They lived it, and the Rabbi died for it!
My dear friends, we should be guided by these noble and inspiring examples. This is how to deal with diversity. This is how to build trust and cohesion in modern Britain. Treat others with respect. Recognise the humanity in others. I’m sure many of you were as saddened as I was, when one tabloid journalist wrote about those boat people risking their lives to reach Europe. She called them ‘cockroaches’ and ‘scum.’ Not surprising. This is what happens when newspapers drip feed us, day after day, with scare stories about asylum seekers, immigrants and Muslims. We should beware of this dangerous ‘them’ and ‘us’ mindset. When we degrade or humiliate others, we lose something of our own humanity.
Jesus said: “Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.” Prophet Muhammad said: “Desire for others what you desire for yourself.” All religions teach the Golden Rule, the Ethic of Reciprocity.
Prophet Muhammad visited St Catherine’s monastery. It lies at the foot of Mount Sinai [where Moses brought the 10 Commandments]. The Coptic monks who lived there welcomed him with courtesy and respect. He responded by issuing a Covenant of Protection to the Christians. This is an amazing document. Despite the Crusades and other wars, this Covenant was faithfully observed by Muslim rulers, over 14 centuries. It guaranteed the safety of all Christians in the lands ruled by Muslims. If you like, you can have a copy of the English translation here on this table.
One day, the Prophet said: “He is lost, he is lost, he is utterly lost.” His followers asked, who is this person? The Prophet replied: “The one whose neighbours are not safe from his mischief.” (Hadith)
We Muslims should ask ourselves: How many of our neighbours really feel safe from our mischief? It’s not enough to blame the tabloids. Stop making excuses! What are we doing to improve our neighbours’ lives? How many of us are doing voluntary work? Are we too busy minding our own business, literally looking after number one and not caring about others out there, less fortunate than we are? If we really want to be respected, then we must earn it. Let’s consider what some Muslims are already doing ….
Recently, 14 mosques teamed up in East London and raised £17,000 for the Richard House Children’s Hospice. Right now, Muslim Aid volunteers are filling backpacks with food and warm clothing for homeless people. Some of you may have heard about the Bradford Synagogue. Its roof was leaking, and the few Jews living there couldn’t afford to fix it. Local Muslims decided to help. They raised the money and fixed the roof.
I’m quite sure that for every well publicised feel-good story like these, there are many more acts of generosity and kindness that go on, quietly, far beyond the media spotlight.
It’s not only the big things that count. Prophet Muhammad said that “the best deeds are small ones, repeated often.” It’s much better than the grand gesture that comes once in a while. What matters most is sincerity. We mustn’t devalue our good deeds by seeking publicity and massaging our fragile egos. Islam teaches us that when the right hand gives, the left hand shouldn’t even know about it.
Never belittle the smallest good deed. Be sincere. Do it because it’s the right thing to do. Be driven by love and compassion towards others, and gratitude to God. We know that God blesses every good action and magnifies the rewards. The Holy Quran reminds us:
“The likeness of those who spend their substance in the way of God is that of a grain of corn: it grows seven ears, and each ear Has a hundred grains. God gives manifold increase to whom He pleases: And God cares for all and He knows all things.” (Chapter 2:261)
The consequences of even the smallest act of kindness can be amazing. I’d like to tell you this inspiring true story:
In 1984, a British medical doctor went to visit his family in Cairo. When it was time to return to London, he decided to give his young nephew a little gift. He searched his pockets for cash, but all he could find was one Egyptian pound. That’s about 20p to us. He gave this to his nephew but the boy handed it back saying, “No, thank you, Uncle. That’s very kind of you, but I don’t need it. Please give it to someone who really needs it.”
Dr Hani El Banna was deeply moved by this gesture. On the flight back to Heathrow, he kept thinking about his nephew’s words. Finally, he decided use that 20p to start a charity called Islamic Relief. Within one year, the 20p had grown to £100,000. Today, 30 years later, Islamic Relief’s income is well over £100 million a year. It helps anyone in need, anywhere in the world regardless of race, religion or nationality. It’s widely recognised internationally. It’s also accredited as an NGO at the United Nations. Like I said, never belittle even the smallest good deed!
My dear friends, our modern world has become interconnected and interdependent as never before. Whether we like it or not, we all need each other. In my high school days in Cape Town, we had to memorise this 17th Century meditation by John Donne:
No man is an island,
Entire of itself
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less
As well as if a promontory were
As well as if a manor of thy friend’s
Or of thine own were:
Any man’s death diminishes me
Because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.”
In the 1960s when Martin Luther King led the Civil Rights campaign, he warned his fellow Americans:
“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
Dear friends, we must reach out to one another. We must join hands in working for the common good. Muslims should ask for no favours, no special treatment. We British Muslims have much to offer…. Please don’t judge us by the worst amongst us…. There are sinners and saints in every community. We have to attract each other’s higher and nobler instincts. The best of British values are also universal Islamic values: Honesty, hard work, fair play, taking care of others. Muslims are already playing their part in making Britain a better place. We can share the best of our diverse cultures and religions for the good of all. This country is seen by many as a real beacon of hope in a troubled world.
Interfaith groups such as Surrey Faith Links and the Three Faiths Forum are doing great work by seeking common ground. I’m sure you are all aware of the good work Kauser is doing, not only through her job at the Diocese of Guildford but also in her personal capacity. We owe her children and her husband Imam Hashmi a special debt of gratitude. She has to balance her community work with the responsibilities of family life. We have a good role model, right here! Thank you, Kauser!
We also owe a special thanks to the Bishop of Guildford for the help and support he gave us in getting started.
Many organisations fail because there’s too much talk and too little action. This new kid on the block, the Surrey Muslim Association must avoid the trap of becoming just another talking shop. Warm words are no substitute for action. To promote community cohesion and cross-cultural understanding we must always do things together. We must help the most needy and vulnerable. And there’s no need to re invent the wheel. We should join other voluntary groups; food banks, charities for the homeless, youth activity groups and so on. We will also encourage our members to join school governorships, PTAs and become more proactive in local and national affairs generally.
Today’s launch of the Surrey Muslim Association is an attempt to synergise with our fellow British citizens. Islam teaches us to be inclusive, not exclusive. That’s why we have Shias and Sunnis working together, right from the start. Our God-given asset is our diversity. Race, religion and culture shouldn’t stop us from promoting good and preventing evil. Together we can make our neighbourhoods safer and more secure for our children and grandchildren. Together, we can and must work to make Britain even better.
I thank you all for supporting us in this worthy effort.
I pray that God will guide us all, and help us to succeed. Ameen.
As-salaamu alaikum. Peace be with you all