Asslamo Allaikum,
I believe that we have a difference set of challenges facing Muslims in the West, perhaps they have roots in the East but these challenges are morphed…So lets discuss this.
Challenge Number 1: Apsotasy
We have a growing numbers of Muslims who are becoming apostate OR are functional apostates i.e. don't really have Eemaan and just go through the motions.
- What are the reasons?
- How do we remedy the situation?
Challenge Number 2: YouTube Islam
We have a growing numbers of "Scholars" who are proficient in using Social Media and thus the laymen are attracted to them instead of the Ulama.
- What are the reasons?
- How do we remedy the situation?
Challenge Number 3: Links with Pakistani Ulama
Media is increasingly targetting Ulama and Institues with links to Pakistan, digging up old Bayans and books (i.e. Allamah Khalid Mahmood (HA)) etc.
- What are the reasons?
- How do we remedy the situation?
Personal Opinion: I DO NOT believe that disowning Pakistani Ulama en masse will solve the problem legally or politically but there are others who are advising our Ulama to disown "Pakistani Islam". However, I do believe that "Indian Islam" is more of a model for us because they are also minority like us.
Challenge Number 4: Women
Deobandees are traditional in nature and cannot come to terms with the role of women in Muslim society. We don't live in Pakistan so like it or not our women are out and about so how do we solve the issue of their involevement in Islam?
- What are the reasons?
- How do we remedy the situation?
Challenge Number 5: Current Affairs
I am directly involved with a lot of Ulama and it is clear that our Ulama (majority of them) neither care nor have any knowledge of current affairs. They also fail to foresee how it will (and is) impacting us.
- What are the reasons?
- How do we remedy the situation?
Challenge Number 6: National Involvement
I am directly involved with a lot of Ulama and it is clear that our Ulama (majority of them) neither care nor have any practical involvement in National issues. When they do talk about this it is generally conspirationalist (and as a result) so do most Deobandees
- What are the reasons?
- How do we remedy the situation?
Challenge Number 7: Communication with Ulama
Our Ulama don't seem to take the input of "specialists" in their fields who may be Non-Ulama.
- What are the reasons?
- How do we remedy the situation?