Patriotism

Sister Yvonne Ridley vs Brother Sami Yusuf

Sister Yvonne
“The source of all this adulation was British-born Sami Yusuf, who is so proud of his claret-colored passport that he wants us all to wave the Union Jacks. I’m amazed he didn’t encourage his fans to sing “Land of Hope and Glory.” Brother Sami asked his audience to cheer if they were proud to be British, and when they responded loudly, he said he couldn’t hear them and asked them to cheer again.

How can anyone be proud to be British? Britain is the third most hated country in the world. The Union Jack is drenched in the blood of our brothers and sisters across Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine. Our history is steeped in the blood of colonialism, rooted in slavery, brutality, torture, and oppression. And we haven’t had a decent game of soccer since we lifted the World Cup in 1966.“

Brother Sami
“This leads me to another important issue which you raised – that of identity and culture. Who are we? How do we define ourselves? What do we stand for? Let me remind you again – I am a British Muslim. Proud to be Muslim and proud to be British! Why? Because this is what Islam teaches me to be – loyal towards my faith and my country. Throughout our rich history, wherever Muslims settled they adopted and fused the best aspects of the local culture/society with Islamic teachings and traditions. As Dr. Umar Faruq Abdallah, a leading American Muslim scholar and thinker writes in ‘Islam the Cultural Imperative’:

In history, Islam showed itself to be culturally friendly and, in that regard, has been likened to a crystal clear river. Its waters (Islam) are pure, sweet, and life-giving but—having no color of their own—reflect the bedrock (indigenous culture) over which they flow. In China, Islam looked Chinese; in Mali, it looked African. Sustained cultural relevance to distinct peoples, diverse places, and different times underlay Islam’s long success as a global civilization.

At a time when leading Muslim scholars and thinkers have reached an advanced stage in crystallising theories of citizenship and positive integration into Western societies, any discussion of renouncing parts of our identity is simply ridiculous, dangerous and destructive – especially for someone who has no other homeland. Such emotional fist-pumping and chest-pounding about renouncing our British identity may seem attractive to a minority of Muslim youth, but as Muslims in positions of influence like yourself, we should not play to these base instincts. Rather, we should try to be more far-sighted and responsible in our discourse and not sacrifice this in the pursuit of tabloid-style sensationalist journalism.

Do you not see the Prophet of Islam shedding tears whilst migrating from Makkah – his beloved homeland to Madina despite the persecution he suffered at the hands of its people. Britain is my home. I was raised here as a child, I went to school here, most of my friends – Muslims and non-Muslims – are British and my earliest as well as fondest memories are rooted here. Does being British mean I take pride in the oppressive and exploitative colonial past of Britain? Does it mean I support the British invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq? Does it mean I support the Anti-Terrorism Act? Does it mean I support the erosion of civil liberties and human rights? Of course not! But Yvonne, let us be fair and not forget that it was in Britain that the world witnessed the largest anti-war demonstration – a testimony to the moral consciousness of the British public. I too was in that demonstration voicing my discontent over the foreign policies of our government. Although we have our fair share of racism, Islamophobia, discrimination, under-representation – and in no way am I claiming that we live in a utopian society, but I still believe that British society is amongst the most tolerant, open, liberal, multi-cultural and inclusive societies in the world. We don’t need to go far but Muslims in the Continent would envy the liberties and opportunities that British Muslims take for granted. Actually the real debate that needs to take place is how are we to shape this emerging British / European / Western Muslim identity and what direction it should take. I see my work a humble contribution towards that end.“

Ah yes, the Muslim identity crisis.  Far be it from me to solve this problem in a few lines.  I’m a Canadian-born Muslim myself with Indian heritage, but the identity crisis has never really been an issue.  I’m simply a Muslim, loyal to Allah (SWT).

I tend to see the whole identity crisis issue as a problem of fitting in – apologetic Muslims trying to fit in with the mainstream West.  It’s going in on America, and it continues to a certain extent in Europe.  Meanwhile, the right wingers are complaining that Muslims are holding on to their old identities and don’t wish to shed them (damn immigrant terrorist camel jockeys!).  Heck, Turkey is a prime example, trying for years to get accepted into the European Union.  Seems we’re a bit anxious to crawl into the lizard’s hole.

In the end, I see this type of mentality as simply wanting to get absorbed and accepted into a hostile collective.  Doesn’t make much sense, and it feels like there are some esteem issues embedded in brother Sami’s post.

Round 3 Winner:  Yvonne

The Disease of Popmania

Sister Yvonne Ridley vs Brother Sami Yusuf

Sister Yvonne
"The reason I am expressing concern is that just a few days ago at a venue in Central London, sisters went wild in the aisles as some form of pop-mania swept through the concert venue. And I’m not just talking about silly, little girls who don’t know any better; I am talking about sisters in their 20’s, 30’s and 40’s, who squealed, shouted, swayed and danced. Even the security guys who looked more like pipe cleaners than bulldozers were left looking dazed and confused as they tried to stop hijabi sisters from standing on their chairs. Of course the stage groupies did not help at all as they waved and encouraged the largely female Muslim crowd to “get up and sing along.” (They’re called ‘Fluffers’ in lap-dancing circles!)

The source of all this adulation was British-born Sami Yusuf…"

"Apparently the sort of hysteria Sami helped encourage is also in America, and if it is happening on both sides of the Atlantic, then it must be creeping around the globe and poisoning the masses. Islamic boy bands like 786 and Mecca 2 Medina are also the subject of the sort of female adulation you expect to see on American Pop Idol or the X-Factor. Surely Islamic events should be promoting restrained and more sedate behavior.
 
Do we blame the out-of-control sisters? Or do we blame the organizers for allowing this sort of excessive behavior which demeans Islam? Or do we blame the artists themselves?

Abu Ali and Abu Abdul Malik, struggling for their Deen, would certainly not try to whip up this sort of hysteria."

"If those Nasheeds had sisters running in the streets whooping and dancing, however, the Nasheeds may be encouraged [Note from Siraaj:  She probably meant discouraged, not encouraged] because of haram activity surrounding them."

Brother Sami Yusuf
"The obsessive fascination of fans towards any celebrity – be it in arts, music, politics, media, etc – to the point of hysteria and hero-worshipping is definitely unhealthy not to mention un-Islamic. Of course, as Muslims, we are required to abide by certain etiquettes in whatever situation we may find ourselves in. However, I definitely did not see girls dancing or behaving indecently in any of my concerts. To state otherwise is a gross exaggeration if not an outright fallacy."

"Indeed the state of contemporary mainstream music is one dominated by celebrity worship, materialism and the constant promotion of a consumerist culture that seeks only to derive instant emotional and physical gratification. The arts industry in general – and the music industry specifically – is being commercialised at the expense of art itself. We don’t value good art or good music anymore – it’s about what can sell most in the market."

So the basic idea here is that both agree popmania is bad for our ummah.  However, it is clear that sister Yvonne, while not able to quite pinpoint the root of the problem, does find fault with brother Sami and company for encouraging popmania behavior at his concerts.  Brother Sami disagrees with her interpretation of events, that the out of control behavior she claims to have witnessed did not really occur.

Did it happen?  Allah knows best.  I've read one blog entry stating it did happen, but I cannot remember where I read it.  I do note, however, that the site http://www.samiyusuf.cjb.net is very much the pop fan site that should be discouraged.  In doing a little (very little, mind you) research on this topic of popmania as it relates to Sami Yusuf, I did find a LOT of posts about pictures and other such things on this site, mainly from sisters.  I also found moderators from brother Sami Yusuf's official site sending out pics of him to this site.  I think it's an official fan club, so perhaps this is why it happens.

I also watched other video footage of Brother Sami in concert, and while I heard lots of cheering and whistling, I could not substantiate or corroborate that it was sisters who were guilty of the "whooping" (on the other hand, I can't imagine brothers cheering like that for brother Sami Yusuf, talented as he is).  On the other hand, I would imagine it's pretty safe to say the majority of brother Sami Yusuf's fan base and concert attendees are female.  But, without any proof, I have to simply give him the benefit of the doubt.

On a side note, it's horrible that SO MANY sisters are obsessed with his pictures.  This reminds me of the story of the woman in Madeenah who wrote a poem about a handsome young man she had seen in Madeenah.  When 'Umar found out about this man, he first tried to shave his head, then dress him up to reduce how good looking this man was, but the more he tried to reduce his appearance, the better he looked, and then 'Umar sent him to a military town in present-day Iraq and told him not to come back to Madeenah until he (meaning 'Umar) had passed away because of the fitnah that guy would bring with his good looks   I'm not saying we should ban brother Sami Yusuf, but maybe he could stop having so many official photographs of himself taken?  Just a suggestion.

Round 2:  Draw