Jazaakallaahu khayran for this response and Jazaakallaahu khayran brother abuzayd2k for your contribution. I was a bit worried when I read the last paragraph.
Quote:
It is a welcome sign when traditional scholars such as Asrar Rashid distance themselves from extremist takfiri ideology and start speaking up on contemporary issues that Muslims find themselves struggling with.
I was asking myself if the shaykh is in reality distancing himself. I'm not so sure there though the shaykh's addressing other issues is welcome however knowing his stance I would feel right recommending his talks to youth
I was asking myself if the shaykh is in reality distancing himself.
Yes, sister UT, you are right. I was wrong here. He is not distancing himself from his extremist views, as in retracting them, but rather, he is choosing to not speak on those sectarian issues, and instead focusing on contemporary issues in modern society. Jazakallah for the correction.
I also agree with your reservations about him. Recommending Asrar Rashid to someone else might be problematic if they are not able to recognize where he strays into controversial opinions.
No Asrar Rashid has not distanced himself his position is the same. Just because he is speaking on a broader range of issues and not limiting himself solely to sectarianism, does not mean his postion has changed.
I think the other Brothers are posting from other parts of the world and not familiar with the U.K. So for their benefit.
Historically in the U.K. the Barelvis have been behind every other group when it came to accomodating the Youth, or addressing the social and political issues affecting the muslim communty. Or even lobbying the government to give certain rights and religious freedoms to muslims in the U.K. The Barelvi contribution was Zilch.
The Deobandis, The Jammat E Islami, Ahle Hadith etc. Set up institutes and Madrassahs decades ago, To train English speaking Ulemah. To cater for the needs of the younger generation and wider community.
The Barelvis prior to the year 2000 had hardly any majlis or Halaqas in their Masajid or speakers who were fluent in English. All their gatherings where in Urdu with every lecture including advice to stay away from "Wahabis". Every talk from Eid Khutabah to Janazah would some words about the evil of Wahabis.
In the early 1990's in the era of Audio Cassette lectures, eloquent Islamic speakers started emerging who were Salaafi, Deobandi etc. Who gave talks in English. (Note: upto that point majority of our muslim youth did not understand Urdu or even the very basics of Islam what we had was youth engaging in some Islamic practices only as a ritual and as part of their heritage with Zero understanding) . So these speakers made basic Islamic knowledge and undersranding accesible to the youth.
The Barelvi response was to tell their youth to avoid listening to these lectures or attending their talks even if the topics discussed were neutral. Because the speakers were evil "Wahabis" the youth in their naivety might become misguided and being a "Wahabi" was the worst thing ever if you was Barelvi.
So this situation pushed the Barelvis to set up their institutes. And train English speaking Ulemah. Another common grievance amongst the Lay people of the Barelvis...Was that they were obsessed with "Wahabis" and warning people against "Wahabis" and offering no real alternative when it came to addressing social issues and political it was these same so called "Wahabis" and their institutes and Scholars at the fore-front of dealing with them. The Barelvis other then their Khatams offered nothing.
Fast-forward 30 years or so later they have been trying to address that imbalance and be more pro-active.
As far as unity the Barelvis have no inclination for it they will never unify with Deobandis. Even in big events at their Masajid historically if there has been any doubt that a particular speaker does not endorse the fatwa of kufr against Deobandis he will be excluded and campaign is launched to have the speaker banned from given a platform in any Barelvi Masajid. Case in point would be Dr Tahir Ul Qadri.
Anyone claiming to be Sunni and not agreeing with the fatwa of
Ala Hazrat Ahmed Rada Khan is akin to committing Blasphemy for the Barelvis atleast for the Barelvi Scholars in U.K. it is emphasised in Khutbahs that being Sunni is to be on the Maslik of Ala Hazrat.
Beyond that I personally think this sectarian disputation for the average muslim has no real benefit and is spiritually destructive. And can lead to an unhealthy obsession were one is only concerned with refuting the otherside and learning ways to refute. Rather then perfecting their own Imaan and practice.
In the greater scheme of things for those of us living in the west the biggest threat now for us is this modern progressive heretical Islam coming out of America.
The Barelwis with their uncompromising attitude along with the Deobandis and Salaafis represent a major front in defence of Islam against the modernists...Even if all three groups refuse to unify or work in unison they are all still independently making a powerful contribution against the fitnah of the modernists ...The muslims in U.K. are still in better position then muslim minorities in other countries.
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
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