I would first ask what can be done? What are the options?
I think there's a lot of strategies that are currently being implemented by various different ulama, with overall very little success.
However before any strategy is implemented, the fundamental aims and objectives need to be clearly defined. Rarely are the aims and objectives clearly identified, therefore the strategies do not have much effect, or worse still they have negative effect.
Anyway, generally, I can think of a few loosely defined categories of what ulama are doing:
1) Some ulama think we are not in any power to be able to do anything about the anti Islam trend. On top of this they realise that there can be no revival without a spiritual revival, so their methods are solely focused on tazkiyah, whether that is through tabligh, tasawuf or other. They are simply passive with regards to the anti Islam trend. The deobandis, brelvis and generally most of the madhabis seem to be of this category.
2) Some Ulama are trying to use media to counter the anti Islam trends, but they are not doing it very successfully as it is like an army of a million non Muslims against 10 muslims and on top of that they realise they have to be extremely careful about what they say as things get taken out of context for the worst and they have contributed more to the anti Islam trend.
3) Some ulama think we have to simply survive with our deen, especially in the west, so their aim becomes survival and their strategy often times becomes one of sacrificing as much as possible of deen, whilst still perhaps loosley being acceptable according to some isolated fiqhi opinion. This is so as to not allow the west to criticise Muslims and increase the anti Islam trend further. They are being sacrificial and sacrificing many aspects of the deen whilst perhaps trying not to look like outright modernists. Those that classify themselves as traditionalists seem to be of this category.
4) Others want to start appealing in order to try and appease the anti Islamists, and so they start completely changing the laws of Allah. They actually think that we have to now completely become like them, and so they abandon and change the laws of Allah. These are the modernists.
Needless to say, example 4 is off limits and in my opinion example 3 is treading on dangerous waters.
Example 1 and 2 are in my opinion the best options, which a number of Ulama are involved in. But are they our only options?
Once again I would like to ask what else can be done? It's not just the Ulama that need to think of strategies. We can think of strategies and ask Ulama to implement them.
Good question. Very recently some brothers organized a couple of lectures on spirituality in Islam and on following the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad salalahu alayhi wasalam. The lectures were held in a hall, not in the Masjid and was open to Muslims and non Muslims. The non Muslims themselves said their needs to be more discussions and dialogue between Muslims and non Muslims . Such events are not common in my area. The speaker in this case was a qualified shaykh who was touring the region.
Regarding the local ulama, well some of them have been individually giving khutbas on the topic, but there has been no collective effort on their part similar to the events that were organized. Only a couple of them even attended the event, and of course there is no collaboration with the event organizers and no advertisements in the Masjid because 1) the visiting shaykh was not deobandi and 2) women aren't even allowed a space in the mosque to pray when necessary so the fact that the event was open to all Muslim and non muslimn males and females , there is the automatic assumption that there is going to be opening the doors to fitna, although this assumption only comes up when there is an Islamic event and everyone is quite fine when ladies attend weddings etc.
i been asking this question for many years and have even had heated exchanged regarding this sometimes even with ulema themselves. always considered them off bein sell outs and too quiet but know i think its for the best they dnt get involved as if and when they do they make a fool of themselves.
ulema remind me alot of MPs. they have very little life expereince are not in touch with reality on the street. most have been bought up in very conservative and religious upbringing ( which is a good thing) but also has its disadvantages as they haven't mixed with the crowds.
so i think the best thing scholars can do is take more of an advisory role and promote groups who are dealing with issues were facing such as cage, mend, 5pillars, islam21c mpacuk to name a few as well as giving their support to individual whos speak out be it muslims or not, again you got likes of john rees, chris bambury or my fav at the moment russell brand. never used to like him but ever since he got into his politics he been very good and mashAllah the way he dealt with racist islamphobes and right wing media is amazing i recommend you watch him defending the halal againt the pathetic sun newspapers or his video on medias selective coverage on atrocities. it burns me when Muslims come out like house muslims when non muslims are attacked but not a word for the Muslims around the world.
back to the point of ulema do want to do something they have to learn how to deal with the media and tackle issues properly not just coming out with the most annoying sentence ' islam is a peaceful religion' that is worse thing to say after isis do their barbaric attacks. also would help if they have very good command of the english language. i think mufti abdur rahmah (ha) will be a good start and maybe shaykh riyadhul haq. but i wont hold my breath. i remember a few weeks ago ulema (deos) where sending out msgs to support sadiq khan. i mean seriously??? i rather have firown than sadiq khan running my affiars at least you know what to expect with firown. sadiq is a complete shaytan and doubt he is even a muslim anymore with the amount of filth he comes out with and oh yh he is a friend of israel too. this is what i mean about scholars not having a clue about what goes on.
ulema should do what they do best and let those who are already fighting our cause get on with it and support them. question should be what are WE and i include myself too are doing? i recommend we attend events by cage mpck mend and fund them too. its the least we can do. if they were to stop runnning due to funds and lack of support we will regret it. perhaps ulema should work with them behind the scenes giving islamic adivse and stuff but not taking a forefront role
I posted this before in another Thread, but a non Muslims raised this point at the event. OK you are showing us the loving side of Islam , but what are you Muslims doing to educate other Muslims about the correct way to interpret certain verses of the Quran?
These lectures full of love and peace are part of Islam and good for non Muslims to learn about Islam, but I in my ignorance think that this is not providing a balanced view of Islam. I think there is a need for the ulama to explain the fiqh of running an Islamic state, and the aim of the state and the Muslims in the state and dealing with non Muslims and their rights etc. There is a need to explain the verses and hadith groups use to justify their actions, rather than just countering the arguments with verses and hadith that promote peace. I see this as necessary due to the fact that other groups have come up with their own fiqh so now the fiqh of those issues are acclipable to us in this day and age.
I also assume that this topic would be very problematic to cover without outing your self at risk of getting in trouble with the authorities.
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
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