The Muslim News in Britain asked this of its readers (thanks to Ali Dashti for the link):
Who do you think you are? British-Muslim? British Muslim? Muslim in Britain? English / Indian / Jordanian / Nigerian / Other Muslim in Britain?
The Muslim News is interested in your views of what you feel defines your identity in Britain in the 21st Century. What makes you proud to be living in Britain? What makes you despair? Who do you support when international sporting fixtures feature British teams? What do you call ‘home’?
Some of the responses are quite reasoned. Others are quite revealing. Here are just a few:
well I don’t know what being British has to offer any Muslim in terms of culture or idea’s. Islam is a unique sytem and unique Identity. I ask you Muslims in Britain, would you fight for Britian in Iraq? Would you let your children “decide” if homosexuality is ok? Would you let your children decide if they should be Muslim or Kafir?I am sure you would say no to all. This “British” Muslim rubbish seeks to divide Muslims from Britian from the rest of the Ummah!!! Don’t let this happen!!!
Rashaad, Faisalabad, PakistanAndrew Ipswich: 2 things following your comment. firstly, all Muslim countries today are non Islamic and are run by greedy, Machiavellian rulers and cronies using Islam for their own benefit. That’s why we’re trying to get rid of them. The last true Islamic state (Caliphate) was the Ottoman empire that stretched from East to West.
Secondly, if freedom is ones capacity to exercise choice: what better choice is there than to worship the Creator rather than the disparing man-made laws?
Umm Sulayman, London, United KingdomI was bor and raised in a predominatly muslims country. Thre, we accepted them, but they never accepted us. Why is this? A Christian accepts a mulim, but a muslim will never accept a Christain? Why is this? We offer yiou peace, but you never accept it. Why? We belive you, but you never believe us. Why? We are trutful to you, but you are devious to us. Why? We allow muslims teachings in our countries (which we shoul not), but you dont. Why? You have a choice of leaving, why dont you?
Peter Lumaj, New York City, United StatesI believe first and forthmost as truely Muslim. I support any country who are Truely Muslim country. I don’t believe be british culture.Howevery British society are very good poeple as ordinary society but government and police services are racist. I would not advice any truely muslim persons to come in UK whether to live or to work
Mohamed, London, United KingdomI consider myself as a muslim, first and foremost, where i come from is irrelevant. I am most definetly not a British muslim but a muslim living in Britain. I don’t ascribe to the corrupt values thoughts of this society. Some people ascribe to the view that if we don’t like it here then why don’t we leave. Simply because i was born here. Also, at this moment in time there isn’t a country which is implementing Islam in its entirety. We need to interact.
Saghir, United Kingdom>EXPLORE YOUR BRITISH MUSLIM IDENTITY HERE
>what british Muslim identity? is there a seperate ‘british’ or ‘french’ to being a muslim?
where are the sura’s and hadith in this site!salam
abdul, Reunioni got a british passport but am not british. am muslim
zamzam, london, United Kingdomsalam,
being muslim or british has two diffrent identities and the two oppose each other u cannot mix islam with kufr, u cannot be a muslim and accept british values.
selina, United KingdomASSALAMUALAIKUM, Im a muslim & proud to be a muslim.Iwant 2be knowned&lookedat as a muslim.The word British does not make me happy or sad.Im happy to be called British MUSLIM becoz of d word MUSLIM and not british.Muslims shouldnt worry about being british,french etc coz dat would make muslims into groups of citizenship. Muslims all around the world are of one race,one family,one body,under one flag…………… ISLAM.
WASSALAAM.
eEnam, west london, AlbaniaI am a Muslim and this can only mean one thing that I’m a slave of Allah, my life, my death and my wealth are for the cause of Him and his Messenger (s). How does a person geographical location of residence, passport or language have a role to play in defining his view towards life. This is a question of alliegence to the doctrines of Islam or the doctrines of secularism. There is no room within Islam to support secularism in any manner whatsoever, which is the cornerstone being British.
salman rahman, London, United KingdomThere can only be one path a muslim follows and that is Islam a complete way of life which has given us our identity,values and a vision for our lives this give us a strong personality.Surely we saw the best example in Muhammad (saw) while He (saw) lived and worked in Makkah he (saw)never compromised on Islam. There can be no other answer then we are Muslims and belong to one Ummah.
ummjanaan, Rochdale, United KingdomIf eating fish & chips,wearing a pinstripe suit makes me british so be it,as this is ok with Islam but if supporting british troops in iraq makes me british than I am definitely not that.I have heard people say “why don`t we go back to where we came from?” We cannot go back, we all came from our mothers womb just like all other humans.I am a muslim living in UK no more no less, our values are extracted from our sources i.e Quran & Sunnah and not from situation or circumstances past or present.
Abu Usayd, London, United KingdomAn individual is defined by his/her values, so when we look to the muslims throughout the world not just in the UK they see themselves as one collective people not divided by borders (despite the efforts of the west).
I have heard the voice of cowardice say that if we dont like it here we should leave. Such a notion does not belong in the mind of a muslim. We believe Islam is a complete system for life, it is superior to anything dreamed of by men and we will never accept secularising Islam.
Mohammed Michael Rashid Khan, Birmingham, United KingdomThe only identity I believe is relevant is that of Islam, my allegiance is to Allah and his Messenger (SAW) and unity is with the believers. I happen to reside/was born in UK. My duty is the same regardless of geography, ie adhere to Islam comprehensively.
Abdul-Rashid Hamid, Slough, Berkshire, United KingdomThe Westerners who live/work in the Arab/Muslim countries say they are “ex-pats”: they do not integrate, they maintain their Western culture, lifestyle and habits & are proud of them, & display them to the locals to adopt. In the same way, the Muslims in the West must consider themselves as “ex-pats”, & be proud to maintain our Islamic lifestyle, & resist any call to reject it for the bankrupt diseased culture we find here. One day we will return home to an Islamic State so lets be ready for it.
Ziad, Bradford, United Kingdomi view myself as a muslim living in Britain.Islam is a complete way of life and has soloutions for all problems.Our identity is clear we are muslims and our values,beliefs and principples have to emantae from our aqeeeda.
Islam covers all sapects of live from polititsc,economics,social and has soloutions to all problems faced by an individual and society.
If by being British we condradict any part of Islam then this is not allowed our allegiance is to nothing but Islam.
belal moahmmed, stoke-on-trent, United KingdomI am very dissapointed that people evenconsider this question as valid. The reality of what you are saying is like “are you half muslim and half non-muslim”. I am sure that you are well aware of the fact that our creator did not address us in the above ways but just as Muslims. Therefore anyone that is calling for muslims to be recognised as Pakistani muslims or even British Muslims is working with those who are trying to water down the pure thoughts of Islam.
your Brother In Islam
Bashurat
Bashurat Ali, Birmingham, United KingdomWe are Muslims Period.
If we were in Occupied Palestine would we be “ISRAELI Musim” nauzubillah.
Our Aqeedah is Islam our values come from Islam our solution is Islam. Integration into secularism is apostasy from Islam.
“the jews and christians will never be pleased with you till you don’t follow them” & “who takes them as friends is then one of them” [al Quran)
May Allah destroy the hypocrite integrationist who are puppets of the west
Yaser fasel, bradford, United KingdomI am a Muslim living in Britain; I don’t believe that Muslim should be divided based on nationalism because, Quran and Sunnah have prohibited it.
Britain is a place were I reside nothing more and nothing less.
I believe that International sporting events are a means of promoting division and nationalism. Sport has been used by the international community as a vehicle to carry this dis-unifying idea to the masses, and we should reject all it’s guises.
Muslim nation is one nation.
A. Milad Ali, London, United Kingdom
Asalamu Alykum
Muslims who calls themselves ‘British Muslims’attribute themselves to the ingredients of British Society.
We have our own islamic values which are incompatible with any other creed. There will always be a clash of cultures between Islam and the Secularists in West.
British Muslim?
Just like saying Halal Pork.
Asalamu Alykum
Mohammed Nasir, Dundee, United KingdomDr Navidul Haq Khan, what alot of rubbish!! i shall remind u what being a British means…
1 Personal Freedom e.g Muslim girls should be free to date or marry non-Muslims?
2 Freedom of Expression-the Western media should be free to slander the Prophet (saw)
3 Sexual Freedom- Muslim youth should be free to express their sexuality anyway they choose?..& Muslim men should be free to commit adultery with women who consent?
Who can say there is no conflict with being British and Muslim??
Ramzan Haneef, Dundee, United KingdomSaying that your a ‘British Muslim’ is like saying that you are a ‘Christian-Muslim’ or a ‘Capitalist-Muslim’ – the source of our values is only the Quran and Sunnah – nothing else. British values include believing in homosexuality as legitimate, that human beings have the right to determine laws regardless of what Allah says, etc. Islam and Kufr (non-Islam) cannot be mixed. We are only Muslims, where we reside is irrelevent to our identity.
Abu Hafsa, Leicester, United Kingdomaslam i am only muslim born in britain not a british muslim and i only go by the sharia not by the so called freedom that democrcy says aslam naveed G
naveed, glasgow, United Kingdom