Professional Documents
Culture Documents
British Islam
How extremist literature is subverting mosques in the UK
Denis MacEoin
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Trustees
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Robin Edwards, Virginia Fraser, Lizzie Noel, George Robinson, Tim Steel, Alice Thomson, Rachel Whetstone.
The hijacking of British Islam
Denis MacEoin is the Royal Literary Fund University. He has also written several
Fellow at the University of Newcastle-upon- books, including Islam in the Modern World
Tyne. He holds MAs from Trinity College, (1983), A People Apart: The Baha'i
Dublin and Edinburgh in English, Persian, Community of Iran in the Twentieth Century
Arabic, and Islamic Studies, and a PhD in (1992), New Jerusalems: reflections on Islam,
Persian (Islamic) Studies from Cambridge. Religious Fundamentalism, and the Rushdie
From 1979-80 he taught English and Affair (1993) and From the Shaykhi
Islamic Civilisation at the Mohammed V Movement to the Babi Religion (forthcom-
University in Fez, Morocco and was later ing). He has also written numerous articles
lecturer in Arabic and Islamic Studies at in Islamic Studies, and contributed widely
Newcastle University. In 1980 he became to the Encyclopedia Iranica, the Encyclopedia
an Honorary Fellow in the Centre for of Islam, and the Encyclopedia of Islam in the
Middle East and Islamic Studies at Durham Modern World.
Published by
Policy Exchange, Clutha House, 10 Storey’s Gate, London SW1P 3AY
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ISBN: 978-1-906097-10-3
2
Contents
Executive summary 5
Key quotes from the material 9
1 Preface 13
2 Introduction 14
3 A mosque-by-mosque survey 29
London 31
Birmingham 102
North-West England 118
Yorkshire 145
Edinburgh 148
Southern England 150
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The hijacking of British Islam
And if he apostatises after that, his head should Jihad against a tyrant, oppressors, people of
be chopped off, according to the Hadith: bid'ah, or wrongdoers. This type of Jihad is
'Whoever changes his religion, kill best done through force if possible
him'[emphasis added]. [emphasis added], otherwise, by tongue, or
else by abhorring their deeds in one's heart.
Fatawa Islamiyah - Islamic Verdicts, volume 5;
found at the East London Mosque; the London The Islamic Digest of Aqeedah and Fiqh [The Islamic
Central Mosque and Islamic Centre (the ‘Regent’s Digest of Belief and Jurisprudence];
Park Mosque’). found at the Al-Muntada Al-Islami Trust,
west London.
You will not find any confusion in which the In the beginning of the twentieth century, a
Jews did not play a role…Their attempt at movement for the freedom of women was
trying to immerse nations in vice and the launched with the basic objective of driving
spread of fornication. The Jews controlled women towards aberrant ways. This was
this kind of trade and promoted it. They man patronised by Jews and Christians who made
age the bars in Europe and the United States known that their ambition was to lead astray
and in Israel itself. the aliens [sic].
4
Executive Summary
This report is the result of a year long On the one hand, the results were reas-
investigation carried out by Policy suring: in only a minority of institutions -
Exchange into the character of the litera- approximately 25% - was radical material
ture currently available in mainstream found. What is more worrying is that these
sites of Islamic religious instruction in the are among the best-funded and most
UK. dynamic institutions in Muslim Britain -
During 2006 and 2007, four Muslim some of which are held up as mainstream
research teams travelled to towns and cities bodies. Many of the institutions featured
across the UK. They visited a large number here have been endowed with official
of important Islamic religious institutions, recognition. This has come in the form of,
including leading mosques, to determine official visits from politicians and even
the extent to which literature inculcating members of the Royal Family; provision of
Muslim separatism and hatred of non- funding; 'partnership' associations; or
believers was accessible in those institu- some other seal of approval.
tions - both in terms of being openly avail- Within the literature identified here, a
able and also being obtainable 'under the number of key themes emerge - many of
counter'. In total, almost 100 sites were which focus around the twin concepts of 'loy-
visited. alty' and 'enmity'. Simply put, these notions
demand that the individual Muslim must not
merely feel deep affection for and identity
Altogether some 80 books and
with, his fellow believers and with all that is
pamphlets were collected for this authentically Islamic. The individual Muslim
report. Thirtyeight (48% of the must also feel an abhorrence for non-believ-
total) were in English. Thirtysix ers, hypocrites, heretics, and all that is deemed
were in Arabic (45%) and six (7%) 'un-Islamic'. The latter category encompasses
in Urdu. those Muslims who are judged to practise an
insufficiently rigorous form of Islam. Much of
the material is thus infused with a strident sec-
This material was then passed to an expert tarianism, in which many Muslims - particu-
academic authority, Denis MacEoin, who larly the very large number of Sufis in this
together with a team of independent country and around the world - are placed
experts, translated it (where necessary) and beyond the pale.
then analysed its content. The result is this More widely, Muslims are urged to sep-
report. It provides excerpts of that material arate themselves from people and things
in easily accessible, reference format - that are not considered Islamic; a separa-
offering a detailed compendium of exactly tion that is to be mental, emotional, and at
what was found and where. The texts pre- times, even physical. Western society, in
sented here have been arranged according particular, is held to be sinful, corrosive
to the locations at which they were discov- and corrupting for Muslims. Western val-
ered. Some of them were available at mul- ues - particularly concerning the position
tiple locations: that is why the reader will and rights of women and in the realm of
encounter several texts more than once. sexuality generally - are rejected as inimical
The end product is the most comprehen- to Islam.
sive academic survey of such literature ever On occasion, this attitude of deep-
produced in this country. rooted antipathy towards western society
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The hijacking of British Islam
can descend into exhortations to violence itual challenges with either an implied or
and jihad against the 'enemies' of Islam. an explicit threat of violence; nor do they
Such instances have been highlighted seek to place the blame for developments
where they occur. Usually, the literature such as birth control on dark conspiratori-
does not go that far, but is no less prob- al forces (such as the notion that contra-
lematic for that. Without condoning or ception is a plot to keep Muslim popula-
inciting terrorism, portions of it can tions low).
sometimes provide a cultural hinterland -
couched in religious terms - into which Extremist literature enjoys a
those who do encourage and conduct vio- potency through its availability in
lence can move. They inculcate disgust
prestigious sites of Islamic reli
for, and separation from, the unbelievers
or 'kuffar', creating an ideological space gious instruction across the UK.
which can be exploited by those who are This makes it a major impedi
prepared to justify and engage in terror- ment to efforts by Muslims to
ism against the West. integrate into mainstream British
society.
According to Deputy Assistant
Commissioner Peter Clarke, Beyond the character of the literature
Head of the Counter Terrorism under focus here, the report also exposes some
Command at New Scotland Yard, of the forces vying for control of Britain's
five of the publications contained mosques: the Jamaat-e-Islami, the Deobandis
and, in particular, the Wahhabites. With
in this report have been found by
regard to the latter, it is clear that the influence
the Metropolitan Police during
of Saudi Arabia is both powerful and malign.
the course of their criminal inves Much of the material featured here is con-
tigations into acts of terrorism nected in some way with the Saudi Kingdom
since 9/11. - whether by virtue of being written by mem-
bers of the Wahhabite religious establishment;
being published and distributed by official, or
We recognise, of course, that hate and semi-official Saudi institutions; or being
separatist literature is not the exclusive pre- found in Saudi-funded, or linked, mosques
serve of Muslims. On the contrary, offen- and schools in this country. For this reason,
sive and troubling material is generated the report argues, there needs now to be a
under the banner of most faiths. However, proper audit of the costs and benefits of the
the hate and separatist literature found in Saudi-UK relationship.
some mosques and reported in these pages This report offers a series of policy recom-
is of a wholly different order from that mendations that might help the Government
which one would expect to find in main- respond to the major problems identified
stream religious institutions of other faiths here. Amongst the key proposals are:
in this country today.
Adultery, apostasy and homosexuality, z Saudi Arabia is the ideological source of
for instance, are deprecated by all the much of this sectarianism - and must be
Abrahamic religions, and many others held to account for it. In particular, it has
besides. But mainstream Christianity and made little progress in halting the export
Judaism, at least as practised in western of such materialss. It must be far more
Europe today, do not respond to these spir- transparent in disclosing the nature of the
6
publications it produces - and when, z The Government and other authority
where and why they are sent overseas. figures - including politicians, members
The Kingdom of Saudi Arab bia should of the Royal Family and those in posi-
also be pressed to give full disclosure as to tions of influence more generally - need
the extent and character of the support to set a higher standard for their public
whicch it provides to a range of and partneers and stakeholder organisations.
Islamic institutions in the United They must insist that those Islamic part-
Kingdom. The British Government must ners and stakeholders remove such
demand a far greater level of transparen- extremist literature from their midst,
cy from Saudi charitable institutions even when they did not publish or dis-
operating in thiis country - and these tribute it themselves. The authorities
should be monitored, regulated and held should also urge that umbrella bodies
to public account on a regular basis. must not tolerate such materials ap ppear-
Finally, the public must be told whether ing in locations associated with affiliated
Islamic preachers and teachers in the bodies. For example, the Metropolitan
United Kingdom are graanted diplomatic Police Serviice and the Association of
status, as in the US - and if so, how many Chief Police Officers should reassess their
of them enjoy this. willingness to embrace bodies such as the
Muslim Safety Forum - the self-designat-
z Islamic institutions in the UK must ed 'advisory body… on issues concerning
clean up their act. It is not acceptable Britishh Muslims' - when some of their
that a minority - many of them pur- affiliate organisations have not cleansed
porting to represent mainstream their premises of the literrature featured
British Muslims - should provide a here. The terms of engagement with
home for extremist and separatist liter- these bodies need now to be re-examined
ature. This literature not only con- - and a prroper audit conducted as to what
demns non-Muslim society, but also is to be gained and lost by such engage-
frequently denigrates other Muslims - ment.
those whose standards of Islamic obser-
vance are deemed by the authors to be z The Government and other authorities
insufficientlly pure or rigorous. It thus should reassess whether it is right to place
promotes both Muslim ghettoisation even a measure of responsibility for the
and Islamic sectarianism. Such literaa- future direction of policy towards
ture must immediately be removed Britain's Muslim communities in the
from religious institutions. The institu- hands of groups such as th he MCB and
tions themselves should d be subject to the Islamic Foundation in Markfield,
greater regulation aimed at establishing which are implicated in this report. For
a new 'gold standard' for genuinely instance, th
here needs to be reconsidera-
moderatee Islam. tion of whether the Islamic Foundation is
an appropriate organisation to develop
z Islamic organisations to which the 'leadership' among Muslim communi-
'offending' institutions are currently ties, or whether other, more suitable part-
linked - notably groups such as the ners for Government exist. Establishing a
Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) - body as a governmental 'partner' confers
must categorically repudiate the extrem- respectability and legitimacy. Greater
ist, seeparatist and often sectarian material 'due diligence' must be observed with
uncovered in this report and exert pres- respect to those who are to be seen as
sure for change. 'representatives' of British Muslims - and
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The hijacking of British Islam
8
Key quotes from the material
The scholars have mentioned that a person may become apostate for many reasons which can nullify
his faith. These reasons would make someone’s blood permissible to spill [to be killed for apostasy] and
his wealth permissible to be usurped, because he is no longer a Muslim.
Al-‘aqida al-sahiha wa ma yudaduha, wa risalat al-Ma‘iyya [Correct beliefs, their opposite, along
with the treatise of the Divine presence]
Al-Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre, west London; Islamic Centre of Edinburgh; Birmingham Centtral
Mosque; Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith (Green Lane Mosque), Birmingham; Madinah Mosque, Oxford
It is forbidden for a Muslim woman to marry a Christian man or any other disbeliever….
And when he makes a contract of marriage with her, it must be annulled immediately; and if the wife
knew this [that she had married a Christian] and knew the ruling, she deserves to be chastised as does
the guardian, the witnesses and the registrar, if they knew that. And if she bears children, they follow their
mother in Islam. And if the husband embraces Islam, the contract of marriage should be renewed, after
the truth of his acceptance of Islam has been confirmed, so that it should not be a device (in order to
make the marriage legal). And if he apostatises after that, his head should be chopped off, according to
the Hadith: ‘Whoever changes his religion, kill him’.1
Fatawa Islamiyah – Islamic Verdicts, volume 5:
East London Mosque; London Central Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre (The Regent’s Park Mosque).
1. Emphasis added.
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The hijacking of British Islam
Those who call for birth control or contraception are a group whose aim by this call is to plot
against the Muslims in general, and against the Arab Muslim community in particular, so that
they are able to colonize the lands and their people.
… birth control is not permissible under any circumstances …
Fatawa Islamiyah – Islamic Verdicts, volume 5:
East London Mosque; London Central Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre
(The Regent’s Park Mosque)
Whoever takes part in stoning a married adulterer, is rewarded for that, and it is not fitting for
anyone to abstain from it if a ruling of stoning is issued.
Fatawa Islamiyah – Islamic Verdicts, volume 6:
East London Mosque
The shameful act of sodomy is one of the most repugnant of shameful acts…
It has been reported from the Companions2… that the punishment for one who does that or
allows it to be done to him is that he be killed. Or, to be burnt or to be stoned. Or, to be thrown
from the highest point (mountain, tower, lofty building etc.), then to follow it with stoning.3
Fatawa Islamiyah – Islamic Verdicts, volume 6:
East London Mosque
10
Key quotes from the material
Jihad is considered as the peak of Islam, and one of the best acts or worship. Some scholars
went as far as considering it as the sixth pillar of Islam.
[…]
The Kinds of Jihad
[…]
2 Jihad against the unbelievers and the hypocrites. This kind of Jihad may be by heart, or by
abhorring their deeds, by tongue, i.e., by establishing the evidence against them and refut
ing their arguments, or by finance, i.e., by financing da’wah4 programs, or maintaining
those who participate in such programs; and by force.
3 Jihad against a tyrant, oppressors, people of bid’ah5, or wrongdoers. This type of
Jihad is best done through force if possible [emphasis added], otherwise, by
tongue, or else by abhorring their deeds in one’s heart.
Jihad is the best of righteous deeds.
The Islamic Digest of Aqeedah and Fiqh [The Islamic Digest of Belief and Jurisprudence]:
Al-Muntada Al-Islami Trust, west London
We do not forbid a woman to do things outside her house, provided this is in conformity with
the following rules:
1. She must have a need to do these things (or society must need them to be done), provid
ed no man can be found to do them.
2. This must be done after she has completed her housework, which is her basic work.
3. This work must stay within her limitations, such as teaching women, or doctoring or
sick-nursing women, and (must take place) in segregation from men.
Tanbihat ‘ala ahkam takhussu bi’l-mu’minat [Warnings regarding laws related to believing women]:
The UKIM North London Mosque; Birmingham Central Mosque; The Salafi Mosque and Islamic
Centre, Birmingham; Madinah Mosque, Oxford
In the beginning of the twentieth century, a movement for the freedom of women was
launched with the basic objective of driving women towards aberrant ways. This was patron
ised by Jews and Christians who made known that their ambition was to lead astray the aliens
who were very devoted to their religion so that they keep away from their religion and feel shy
to describe its salient features. …
Women Who Deserve to go to Hell:
East London Mosque; Muslim Education Centre , High Wycombe
Islam today, its lands and countries are in a condition known and fully understood to the
Muslims: looted and separated by the hands of the rapists, desired by those who are greedy.
[To the Muslims], jihad is now a dictated obligation and essential necessity. It is upon their
leaders and heads to lead and mobilise them to it. For this they will have the triumph, the glory
and consent in this world, and the reward and heaven in the afterworld…
Minbar al-Jum‘a [The Friday Pulpit]:
The North London Central (‘Finsbury Park’) Mosque
Abiding by the laws which are contrary to Islam and accepting them as superior to Islamic
laws is a rejection of Faith (Kufr).
The Concise Collection on Creed and Tauhid:
The Tauheed Mosque and Islamic Centre, east London
4. Da'wah - proselytising.
5. Bid'ah - innovation.
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The hijacking of British Islam
Congratulating the unbelievers on the occasion of Christmas, or for other occasions is a for
bidden act by consensus as has been related from Ibn alQayyim …
Even if they congratulated us during our holidays, we do not congratulate them during theirs,
because theirs are not our holidays and because God is not pleased with their holidays
[…]
For the Muslim to accept their invitation to these events is forbidden, because it is worse than
congratulating them since you are participating with them. It is also forbidden for the Muslims
to imitate the unbelievers by throwing parties during these occasions …
Fatawa wa Adhkar [Religious Edicts and Reminders]:
The Muslim Student Centre, The University of Manchester
… Do we find an example that the Prophet (PBUH) and his companions ever sent any mis
sionary groups in other countries before Jehad [sic] and waited for their reaction to allow or
disallow the missionary work? …In my humble knowledge there has not been a single incident
in the entire history of Islam where Muslims had shown their willingness to stop Jehad just for
one condition that they will be allowed to preach Islam freely …
Aggressive Jehad is lawful even today for the purpose it was lawful in those days [early Islam].
Its justification cannot be veiled only because the peaceloving inventors of Atom Bombs and
Hydrogen Bombs label it as ‘Expansionism’ and resent those who have put the chains of slav
ery around the necks of the people of Asia and Africa. They are still bleeding under those
heavy chains.
Islam and Modernism:
Muslim Education Centre, High Wycombe
12
Preface
Preface
Most readers will be shocked by this agenda infused with hatred, misogyny, vio-
report. However, its contents ought not to lence and anti-semitism.
come as a surprise. Over the past three Much of the offending material con-
years several highly responsible broadcast- tained within these pages hails from Saudi
ers and investigative journalists have Arabia. This in itself calls for a number of
sought to alert the public to the fact that comments. First, comparatively few of the
some of Britain’s mainstream Islamic insti- world’s Muslims – somewhere between one
tutions give cause for concern. Those who and two per cent – are Saudi nationals.
have questioned their integrity or accused Second, many of the latter reject the dis-
them of Islamophobia should now have torted hate-filled version of Islam repre-
second thoughts. The findings presented sented here and will be as distressed by the
here demonstrate unequivocally that sepa- contents of the report as the average
ratist and hate literature, written and dis- English person.
seminated in the name of Islam, is widely Third, because the Muslim World
available in the UK. The report also lends League, departments of the Saudi Arabian
weight to my longstanding conviction that Government and other agencies within the
senior politicians and government agencies Kingdom expend vast sums of money in
too often confer legitimacy on those whose propagating this aberrant ideology, the
credentials are highly suspect. For although report must nevertheless be taken extreme-
offensive material was found in only a ly seriously.
quarter of the places visited, they include Fourth and finally, every cloud has a silver
some of the largest and most prestigious lining: the good news is that the researchers
institutions. who collected the material were all Muslims
A work of this nature is inevitably selec- – members of the silent majority who are suf-
tive. Many of the excerpts are from books ficiently worried about the situation to ren-
and pamphlets that are in other respects der this service. It is my hope that this report
unexceptionable. Nevertheless it would be will galvanise many British Muslims to repu-
wrong to accuse the compilers of bias or diate the kind of material featured here. I
sensationalism. Having scrutinised all the therefore whole-heartedly welcome its publi-
Arabic and English sources that they draw cation as a basis for informed discussion.
on, I can confirm that my choice of pas-
sages would have been much the same as Neal Robinson
theirs. Indeed I venture to suggest that it is Professor of Islamic Studies
a choice that would more or less force itself
on anyone with a genuine concern for har- Neal Robinson holds the chair in Islamic
mony and social cohesion in contemporary Studies at Sogang University in Seoul. He
Britain. was previously Professor of Islamic Studies at
In the pages that follow, there is no the University of Wales, at Lampeter and
desire to impugn Muslims; that was cer- Senior Lecturer in the Department of
tainly not the aim. Rather, this report Theology at the University of Leeds. He is
should be seen as an effort to force an hon- the author, amongst many works of, Islam:
est reappraisal of some of the things that A Concise Introduction (2000), Christ in
are said and done in the name of Islam. It Islam and Christianity (1991) and
is about the abuse and misuse of that reli- Discovering the Qur’an: A Contemporary
gion by those who would propagate an Approach to a Veiled Text (1996).
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 13
The hijacking of British Islam
Introduction
14
Introduction
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 15
The hijacking of British Islam
16
Introduction
In some cases, this literature was avail- million, this means that some 58 per cent
able openly and could be accessed with of Muslims attend mosques on a regular
little effort. On other occasions, it was basis.12 10. The figure is the one usually
offered by the Muslim Council of
only accessed on a private basis after the The mosque is to Britain’s Muslim com- Britain (MCB). See, for instance,
teams had won the trust of the suppliers. munities what the church, the chapel, and 'MINAB launch - 27th June',
MCB News, 27 June 2006, avail-
In such instances the teams were tasked to the synagogue have been to our Christian able at, http://www.mcb.org.uk/
spend several days, even weeks, in the rel- and Jewish communities. All three share article_detail.php?article=announ
cement-567. Also, the 'Sala@m'
evant mosque/school in order to max- common features. They are places to pray portal of information on Islam in
imise the reach of their investigation. In in, study in (in particular the mosque and the UK (recommended by the
Muslim Council of Britain),
these cases, the presence of this hidden lit- synagogue), marry in (the church and syn- claims to have 1699 mosques in
its database. See, 'Mosque
erature may not always have been known agogue), deliver and hear sermons in, and
database', Sala@m, available at,
to mosque elders, who, at a minimum, are celebrate religious festivals in.13 http://www.salaam.co.uk/mosqu
es/index.php.
clearly in need of official support in the Like many churches and synagogues, the
11. Nicholas Hellen and
task of eliminating such material from mosque can be put to numerous supple- Christopher Morgan, 'Muslims
their places of worship. Sometimes, the mentary uses – beyond its immediate reli- outpace Anglicans in the U.K',
The Sunday Times, 25 January
elders themselves may be in need of gious function. As Sean McLoughlin has 2004, available at,
replacement altogether. written, ‘since the 1980s at least, some http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/
news/uk/article1002743.ece.
Much of the objectionable material mosques in Britain have also functioned as
12. Ibid; for further population
obtained was in Arabic (thirty-six books, advice centres for the unemployed, MPs’ figures, see, 'Muslim Statistics',
Muslim Council of Britain, avail-
or 45% of the total), with some also in surgeries, homework clubs, youth centres, able at, http://www.mcb.org.uk/l
Urdu (six books or 7%). Most startling is elderly day-care centres, and spaces to pre- ibrary/statistics.php.
the fact that the largest category was pare food for communal gatherings such as 13. The Muslim wedding is sim-
ply a civil contract, without
English - with thirty-eight books (or 48%) weddings.’14 We are now entering the days sacraments of any kind. It can
in that language. With regards to the for- of ‘cathedral mosques’, from Birmingham take place in a mosque or else-
where, and may be simple or
mer two categories, these works were sub- Central Mosque to the proposed ‘mega- highly elaborate.
sequently translated into English. These mosque’ which is to be located close to the 14. Sean McLoughlin, 'Muslims
and Public Space in Bradford:
translations were then checked by inde- 2012 Olympics complex in east London;
Conflict, Cooperation and Islam
pendent scholars, led by myself, who were but for the average Muslim, the mosque is as a resource for Integration', p.
3, available at, http://www.euro-
commissioned by Policy Exchange and frequently a smaller and more intimate islam.info/PDFs/seanPuca.pdf.
who also scrutinised and analysed the place, a home church rather than a place for Dr. McLoughlin is part of the
Muslims in Britain Research
totality of the material. communal assembly. ‘More often than not, Network.
they [mosques] are converted nineteenth 15. McLoughlin, 'Muslims and
century terraced houses not to mention for- Public Space in Bradford', p. 2,
at: http://www.euro-
The mosque in British society mer laundries, lorry and brush factories, islam.info/PDFs/seanPuca.pdf,
schools, banks, photography studios, citing the Centre for the Study of
Islam and Christian-Muslim
As should be apparent, whilst the project churches, caravans, post office sorting Relations (CSIC), British Muslims
Monthly Survey, Birmingham,
remit covered sites of religious instruction depots, taverns and betting shops.’15 1993. Dr. McLoughlin is part of
in general, central focus was placed on the Such origins identify Islam as part the Muslims in Britain Research
Network.
mosque. Although there are no official fig- grassroots British urban fabric. The sig-
16. The Commission was first
ures for the number of mosques in the UK, nificance of this is that when the set up under the aegis of Ruth
estimates give a figure of around 1,600.10 Government appointed UK Commission Kelly's Department of
Communities and Local
Attendance rates are high. In 2004, a on Integration and Cohesion (CIC) pre- Government in June 2006. It
British Government source said that some sented its report in June 2007, it placed delivered its final report on 14
June 2007. It is not yet clear
930,000 Muslims attend the mosque once great emphasis on working locally.16 whether there will be a perma-
nent body to carry its work fur-
a week - rather more than the number of ‘Integration and cohesion are crucial at a ther. For further information, see,
Anglicans (916,000) who attend a place of local level,’ wrote CIC chairman, Darra 'Homepage', Commission on
Integration and Cohesion, avail-
worship over the same period.11 Given an Singh. ‘It is at a local level that leaders can able at, http://www.integratio-
estimated UK Muslim population of 1.6 understand in detail the profile of the nandcohesion.org.uk/.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 17
The hijacking of British Islam
population, the changes that are taking Cohesion warned that some ethnic groups
place and the impact of these changes on were leading ‘parallel lives’ and some of
the local economy and services. And most its conclusions are worth quoting at
importantly it is only at this level where length:
specific initiatives can be crafted and
delivered to build better integration and ‘It is unfashionable to speak of loving one’s
cohesion.’17 neighbour, but unless our society can move
Over several years, and especially since at least to a position where we can respect
the events of 7 July 2005, the debate about our neighbours as fellow human beings, we
Islam in Britain has often been framed in shall fail in our attempts to create a harmo
terms of social cohesion. Across the coun- nious society in which conditions have
try there has been growing unease over the changed so radically in the last 40 years.
viability of a society in which citizens live Such respect depends, in part at least, on
parallel lives and deny themselves any sense being open with one another about differ
of a common destiny or purpose. In 2005, ences of belief, tradition and culture. In our
Trevor Phillips, chairman of the anxiety to eliminate the forms of insulting
Commission for Racial Equality, articulat- behaviour and language, we have created a
17. Darra Singh, Chair of the ed a sentiment many of his fellow citizens situation in which most people are now
Commission, in his introduction already harboured: ‘The aftermath of 7/7,’ unwilling to open any subject which might
to Commission on Integration
and Cohesion - Our Shared he said, ‘forces us to assess where we are. possibly lead to uncomfortable differences
Future, (London, 2007), p. 6.
And here is where I think we are: we are of opinion. In this lies a big danger. If neigh
18. For the full text of the
speech see, Trevor Phillips,
sleepwalking our way to segregation. We bours are unable to discuss differences,
'After 7/7: Sleepwalking to seg- are becoming strangers to each other, and they have no hope of understanding them.
regation', Commission for Racial
Equality, 22 September 2005,
we are leaving communities to be Those who wish to cause trouble then have
available at, marooned outside the mainstream.’18 a fruitful field in which to operate. The rec
http://www.cre.gov.uk/Default.as
px.LocID-0hgnew07s.RefLocID- 2005 also saw Coventry University ommendations in our report seek to create
0hg00900c002.Lang-EN.htm. establish its Institute for Community conditions in which all of us can engage in
19. For more on Coventry
Cohesion and in the following year, the open debate on issues which affect us all
University's Institute for
Community Cohesion, see their Government set up the Commission on and when, as is inevitable, disagreements
website, available at,
http://www.coventry.ac.uk/icoco/a
Integration and Cohesion.19 Clearly, the become plain there will then be a real
/264. For more on the subject has moved close to the heart of chance that they can be accepted with
Commission on Integration and
Cohesion, see their website,
British society and near to the centre of mutual respect.’22
available at, 'Homepage', government. In July 2007, the
Commission on Integration and
Cohesion, available at, Government released a report, The Set against this background, it is clearly
http://www.integrationandcohe- Governance of Britain, which included a significant that – as this report will demon-
sion.org.uk/.
focus on achieving a ‘clearer definition of strate – too many mosques are being used,
20. The Secretary of State for
Justice and Lord Chancellor, The citizenship’ and emphasising the ‘core not as centres from which to foster integra-
Governance of Britain, London,
July 2007, pp. 53-8.
democratic values that define what it tion, but as bases for generating Muslim
21. For reports on the race riots,
means to be British’, so as to reinvigorate a separatism.
see, 'In depth: summer of vio- sense of shared national identity.20 Existing research has already drawn
lence', BBC News Online, avail-
able at, http://news.bbc.co.uk/
Such initiatives were clearly not just renewed attention to the possibility that
1/hi/in_depth/uk/2001/sum- knee-jerk responses to the 7/7 bombings. some mosques may be playing a key role in
mer_of_violence/default.stm.
As far back as 2001, in a policy initiative the radicalisation of elements of the
22. Community Cohesion: A
Report of the Independent following the riots in Burnley, Bradford Muslim community. A number of them
Review Team, Chaired by Ted
and Oldham, the then Home Secretary acquired a reputation for extremism in the
Cantle, Home Office, available
at, http://image.guardian.co.uk established a Community Cohesion early years of the new century – most
/sys-files/Guardian/docu-
ments/2001/12/11/community-
Review Team, chaired by Ted Cantle.21 notably the Finsbury Park Mosque (now
cohesionreport.pdf. The team’s report, entitled Community North London Central Mosque), where
18
Introduction
that were racist and an incitement to mur- instruction, ‘never touch religious artefacts Though they concluded that they
had not, they did decide to refer
der’.24 or books’.28 Channel 4 to Ofcom, claiming
that the programme had 'com-
These issues were given fresh momen- The reality is, therefore, that literature pletely distorted' what the
tum in September 2007, when an investi- kept under the sanction of religious invi- speakers had said - a move that
prompted an outcry in many
gation by The Times revealed that almost olability enjoys a protected status not quarters. For the police state-
half of Britain’s mosques are under the con- available to bookshops or community ment see, 'Joint Statement
regarding Channel 4 Dispatches
trol of the hardline Deobandi sect, many spaces; and this status makes it extremely programme', West Midlands
of whose adherents preach a message of difficult for official agencies to intervene Police, 8 August 2007, available
at, http://www.west-
antipathy for and opposition to western against it. Thus, a key goal for this midlands.police.uk/stechford/new
s.asp?id=2. For more on this
society (for more on the Deobandis, see endeavour is to generate pressure for the
generally, see, Sherwin, 'Muslim
below, page 22).25 flushing out of hate literature and other outrage at Channel 4 film
prompts new inquiry by watch-
It is in this context that the revelations extremist materials from every mosque in dog', The Times, 9 August 2007;
contained in the present report are a cause Britain. At a minimum, these serve as a 'C4 'distorted' mosque pro-
gramme', BBC News Online, 8
for such concern. Recently, disquiet was brake on the efforts made by a majority of August 2007, available at,
voiced over the presence of extremist Muslims to find ways to integrate into http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/eng-
land/west_midlands/6936681.stm
Islamic literature in publicly-funded British society while leaving the most
25. Andrew Norfolk, 'Hardline
libraries in the UK. However, those seek- valuable parts of their heritage intact. Yet takeover of British mosques', The
ing to play down the significance of such more troubling is the possibility that such Times, 7 September 2007. See
also, A. Norfolk, 'The homegrown
findings could argue that stocking all materials can act as a de facto ‘bridge’ to cleric who loathes the British',
The Times, 7 September 2007.
kinds of books, including the ‘weird and radicalisation.
26. James Brandon & Douglas
wonderful’, is part of the raison d’être of It is thus worth considering the likely Murray, Hate on the State: How
libraries; and thus, the discovery of that impact of the following kind of passage: British libraries encourage Islamic
extremism, The Centre for Social
literature in such a setting was scarcely Cohesion (2007), available at,
unexpected.26 By contrast, the same argu- It is mandatory to hate and dislike the http://www.socialcohesion.co.uk/
pdf/HateOnTheState.pdf.
ments cannot be applied here. The fact unbelievers and polytheists, to never ask
27. 'A Guide to Police Activity at
that such literature can actually be them for support against the Muslims, to Religious Premises', National
Community Tension Team,
obtained in mosques cannot be so easily never follow their example in anything, to
Association of Chief Police
set aside; rather, it raises a whole new set never obey them in matters of religion, to Officers (n.d.), pp. 3, 5, 15, 23.
of issues and problems. never imitate them. Actually it is mandatory 28. Ibid.
Precisely because mosques are often to stay far away from them and to separate 29. Abdullah Al-Tarifi, Al-Wala' wa'l-
'ada' fi 'alaqat al-muslim bi-ghayr
treated as almost inviolable sacred spaces, from them, and to do what is necessary in al-muslim, [Loyalty and enmity con-
into which entry by ‘outsiders’ may be cir- terms of jihad and its like against their cerning relations between Muslims
and non-Muslims] (London, 1990).
cumscribed or discouraged, the presence of fighters.29 See pages 31-34.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 19
The hijacking of British Islam
There is a serious body of evidence to sug- ancestors Salaf (‘ancestors’) have a pivotal
gest that terrorists have been influenced by role to play in Islamic conceptions and
what they have read and heard in mosques ideas’; they are thus said to be of the ‘Salafi’
and Islamic centres; it is not just a question trend.34
of ‘self-radicalisation’ on the internet. Both In this context, it is perhaps surprising
Zaccarias Moussaoui, the ‘twentieth that there is a relative dearth of material
hijacker’ linked to 9/11, and Richard Reid, from the forces of political Islamism –
the ‘shoe-bomber’, were radicalised at the which often constitute the most readily-
Finsbury Park Mosque in London in the identifiable form of this brand of Islam.
30. Sean O'Neill & Daniel
McGrory, The Suicide Factory: 1990s.30 Mohammad Atta, the leader of There are, for instance, only two exam-
Abu Hamza and the Finsbury
the 9/11 conspiracy, attended an Islamic ples of Muslim Brotherhood publications
Park Mosque (London, 2006),
pp. 90-2. prayer group at Hamburg University, – a fact which seems to conflict with the
31. Hannah Cleaver, 'Terrorist where he was recruited into terrorism.31 broad range of Brotherhood activity in
was “devout student who want-
ed to work for a charity'', Daily
Elsewhere, pro-jihad material was found in this country. However, the greater orien-
Telegraph, 17 September 2001. buildings used by the Islamic Society at tation of the Brotherhood towards poli-
32. Roya Nikkhah & Andrew London Metropolitan University, despite tics needs to be remembered; as does the
Alderson, 'Inside this building, a
terror suspect ran a London uni- the efforts of the University’s Muslim fact that they, for the most part, do not
versity's Islamic group. Was it chaplain, Sheikh Musa Admani.32 directly control mosques in this country.
also a recruiting ground for “holy
war'', Daily Telegraph, 13 August Indeed, according to Deputy Assistant The same logic explains the total absence
2006.
Commissioner Peter Clarke, Head of the of material from groups such as Hizb ut-
33. Peter Clarke interview with
Policy Exchange 3 October
Counter Terrorism Command at New Tahrir (HT) – an organisation which has
2007. Scotland Yard, five of the publications list- risen to particular prominence recently.35
34. See, Jorgen Nielsen, ed here have been found by the Their material appears to remain external
'Transnational Islam and the
Integration of Islam in Europe', in Metropolitan Police during the course of to mosques and other religious institu-
Stefano Allievi and Jorgen their criminal investigations into acts of tions – available instead in bookshops or
Nielsen, Muslim Networks and
Transnational Communities in terrorism since 9/11.33 in car-parks and other public spaces sur-
and across Europe (Leiden,
rounding them.
2003). The term 'Salafi' refers to
the immediate companions of More significant here, by contrast, is the
the prophet and the first three
generations of Muslim leaders -
Britain’s mosques: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) or ‘Society of Islam’ –
the Salaf, or 'righteous prede- the Salafi challenge the radical Islamist political party founded
cessors' - who are held by
adherents of this view to have
by Abu al-A‘la al-Mawdudi in 1941 in
practised a purer, more pristine Britain’s mosques are far from homogenous India, which now has branches across
version of the faith.
in character and the results of this investi- south east Asia and beyond. Akin to the
35. Ed Husain's account of his
time as a radical Islamist por- gation throw into sharp relief some of the Muslim Brotherhood, the JI’s primary
trayed his own encounter with HT key forces vying for control of these and objective is the creation of an Islamic polit-
in the UK. See Ed Husain, The
Islamist: Why I joined radical other Islamic institutions: amongst them, ical order. It seeks to accomplish this
Islam in Britain, what I saw inside
and why I left (London, 2007).
the Ahl-e-Hadith, the Deobandis, the through a mixture of education, mission-
Similarly, Shiraz Maher, another Jamaat-e-Islami, the Muslim Brotherhood ary work, political activism, and at times,
former member of HT has spo-
ken out against the organisation.
and the Wahhabites – all of which origi- violent struggle. The JI’s importance in
See, Panorama: How I became a nated in the Middle East or on the Indian southern Asia and elsewhere is overshad-
Muslim extremist, BBC One, 1
October 2007, http://news.bbc.
sub-continent, but now have strong bases owed only by the worldwide legacy of al-
co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panora- within the UK. Taken together, these dif- Mawdudi, one of the most prolific archi-
ma/7016299.stm
ferent strands might be said to form a loose tects of modern Islamist political thought.
36. For more on this, see
Nielsen, 'Transnational Islam and ‘network’ or ‘family’ of movements. In the In spite of the fact that it does not for-
the Integration of Islam in
words of one academic observer they are mally exist in this country, the UK serves
Europe', in Stefano Allievi and
Jorgen Nielsen, Muslim unified by a shared, ‘understanding that as the de facto base of JI outside the
Networks and Transnational
Communities in and across
the Islamic theological and jurisprudential Muslim world and it enjoys close links
Europe (Leiden, 2003), pp. 35-6. foundations laid by the learned and pious with a number of organisations in this
20
Introduction
country.36 The United Kingdom Islamic being largely ‘civilisational’ in nature, focus-
Mission (UKIM), for example, which is ing on the degeneracy and decadance of the
headquartered at the ‘Euston Mosque’ on west.
North Gower Street in London acts as a
representative of the JI in this country - a
fact confirmed by the website of Pakistani Britain’s mosques:
JI.37 the battle for control
Beyond the UKIM, the JI is also repre-
sented in the UK by the Islamic Foundation, In the context of the growing prominence
which is based in Markfield, near Leicester. of those movements that might be
This organisation – which acts as a major described as ‘Salafi’, a perhaps more perti-
publishing, translation and distribution cen- nent division within Britain’s Islamic insti-
tre for Islamic texts in the UK (and pub- tutions – and one often expressed in stark
lished two of the books highlighted in this terms – is that which exists between those
study) – was founded by the current Vice- who adhere to a ‘Deobandi’ form of Islam
President of the Pakistani JI, Professor and as those who sit within the ‘Barelwi’
Khurshid Ahmad in 1973.38 Ahmad also tradition.
served as the Foundation’s first Chairman.39 Both groups are Sunnis of the Hanafi
The Foundation is itself, in turn, linked to legal school and both can have a Sufi ori-
the Markfield Institute of Higher Education entation; yet they differ widely. The
(MIHE), which is described on its website as Deobandi outlook leans more towards a
an ‘affiliated body’ (for more on the MIHE puritanical, Wahhabi-style Islam, though
see pages 183).40 sometimes this is blended with an under-
For these reasons, it is no surprise to stated brand of Sufism. Historically, this
find the writings of the JI’s founder, al- is not unusual: in the past it has been per-
Mawdudi, amongst the works uncovered fectly normal for orthodox Muslims to
in this study – with UKIM’s Cheetham adhere to one or another of the ‘sober’ 37. ‘Basic Facts’. Jammat-e-
Islami Pakistan, available at
Hill Mosque in Manchester, in particular, Sufi orders. In this case, however, http://www.jamaat.org/overview
turning up several of his works. One of al- Deobandism represents something of a 38. 'JI: Leadership: Prof
Mawdudi’s publications was also found at break from the popular Sufism of the sub- Khurshid Ahmad', Jamaat-e-
Islami Pakistan, available at,
the Finsbury Park Mosque which is now continent.41 http://www.jamaat.org/leader-
under the control of the Muslim It is the Barelwi tradition that most ship/pka.html; 'The Islamic
Foundation', The Islamic
Brotherhood-friendly Muslim Association often preserves the continuity of the popu- Foundation, available at,
http://www.islamic-
of Britain (MAB) – an indication of the lar, celebratory, and saint-oriented tradi- foundation.org.uk/.
informal, yet real, connections that have tion that employs Qawwali music to con- 39. Ibid.
been forged between the different branch- vey a passionate, emotional expression of 40. 'Affiliated bodies', The Islamic
es of political Islamism. the faith. Barelwis, like so many Muslims Foundation, available at,
http://www.islamic-
Nevertheless, despite these notable excep- actross the world, visit the shrines of Sufi foundation.org.uk/.
tions, it will become quickly apparent to the saints and celebrate festivals like the Birth 41. For more on this subject see,
Usha Sanyal, Devotional Islam
reader that there is, overall, very little mate- of the Prophet (Mawlid al-Nabi); this is
and Politics in British India:
rial that can be described as overtly ‘political’ controversial among Wahhabites and Ahmad Riza Khan Barelwi and
His Movement, 1870-1920
in character. There is, for instance, hardly Deobandis.42 (Oxford, 1999).
anything here about British foreign policy. It has been argued that the reason for the 42. Ibid
Criticism of UK involvement in the inva- great hostility between the two groups 43. See Peter Hardy, The
sions of Afghanistan and Iraq – commonly derives from their original closeness.43 If Muslims of British India,
Cambridge University Press,
held to be the foremost ‘Muslim grievances’ either party was to grow, it had to exaggerate 1972; Barbara Metcalf, Islamic
– are notable only by their relative absence. its differences with the others. Still, one cru- Revival in British India: Deoband
1860-1900, Princeton University
Instead, the material might be described as cial point of difference between the two Press, 1982.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 21
The hijacking of British Islam
22
Introduction
far beyond Britain’s shores. The significant nexus. The same is equally true for groups
rises in oil prices in that era endowed Saudi such as the Jamaat-e-Islami and the
50. For more on the 'mega
Arabia with an enormous amount of Muslim Brotherhood, both of which have
mosque', see, Andrew Norfolk,
immediately disposable wealth; much of previously benefited from Saudi largesse.56 'Muslim group behind 'mega
mosque' seeks to convert all
this was made available for the proselytisa- Beyond such organisational links, mean- Britain', The Times, 10 September
tion abroad of the Wahhabite brand of while, it is clear that much of the material 2007; For more on the Tablighi
Jamaat, see Elke Faust, 'Close
Islam that dominates the religious estab- highlighted in the coming pages can be ties and new boundaries: Tablighi
lishment in the Kingdom (for more on connected in some way with the Kingdom Jama'at in Britain and Germany',
in Muhammad Khalid Masud (ed.),
this, see below). As the Saudi purveyors of of Saudi Arabia. Regardless of the language Travellers in Faith: Studies of the
Wahhabism looked around for potential they are written in, many of the publica- Tablighi Jama'at as a Transnational
Islamic Movement for Faith
surrogates and partners, the Deobandis of tions presented here were published by var- Renewal (Leiden, 2000); Marc
Pakistan were an obvious choice – sharing ious departments of the Saudi state, or offi- Gaborieau, 'Transnational Islamic
Movements: Tablighi Jamaat in
as they did the Wahhabite insistence on the cial religious institutions. Some were even Politics,' ISIM Newsletter
(International Institute for the
need to purify Islam through a return to marked ‘not for sale’ – ‘gifts’ to be distrib- Study of Islam in the Modern
what were believed to be the practices of uted at the discretion of the Saudis’ UK World), July 1999, available at:
http://www.isim.nl/files/
the prophet and his companions (the associates. newsl_3.pdf.
Salaf ). For this reason, significant financial The significance of this is that whereas 51. See at length Usha Sanyal,
resources were made available to Deobandi the other sources of this material are organ- Devotional Islam & Politics in
British India - Ahmed Riza Khan
missions in this period - resources that isations, or networks of organisations and his Movement 1870 - 1920,
began to alter the balance of power within (which are often hard to define with any OUP (Delhi, 1996).
to see the Deobandis making much of the 1765). Together, they (and their succes- 54. Husain Haqqani, Pakistan:
Between Mosque and Military,
running for control of British Islam. sors) forged an empire in the sands; one Washington, Carnegie
Certainly, there is little doubt that their that would eventually comprise most of Endowment for International
Peace, 2005; Mumtaz Ahmad,
influence has grown significantly and they the peninsula and one that rested on the 'The Crescent and the Sword:
may be inching towards a majority position intrinsic fusion of religious and political Islam, the Military and Political
Legitimacy in Pakistan, 1977-85',
in terms of their influence over individual authority into a single polity. in The Middle East Journal, vol.
50:3, summer 1996, pp. 372-86.
mosques. Indeed, in The Times’ estimation, Wahhabites has come a long way since
55. Andrew Norfolk, 'Hardline
‘almost half of Britain’s mosques’ are now it first arose in the eighteenth century takeover of British mosques', The
under Deobandi control.55 Bedouin deserts of modern Saudi Arabia’s Times, 7 September 2007.
Najd region. The net result of the teach- 56. On Saudi/Brotherhood links,
see Lorenzo Vidino, 'The Muslim
ing of its founder, ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab, Brotherhood's Conquest of
The Saudi connection was a theology of Islamic revivalism that Europe', Middle East Quarterly,
Winter 2005. On the Jamaat, see
was homicidally opposed to any assumed Sayyed Vali Reza Nasr, The
Vanguard of the Islamic
It is clear that the growing strength of ‘deviations’ from the path of pure Islam.
Revolution: The Jamaat-e-Islami
Deobandism – both in the UK and abroad Wahhabites often refer to themselves as of Pakistan, University of
California Press, Berkeley, 1994.
– owes much to the Deobandi-Wahhabi ‘Salafis’, which reflects their desire to go
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 23
The hijacking of British Islam
back to Islam as they believe it was taught religious claim passes to the rest of the
and practised by the first three genera- country through its chief religious insti-
tions of the faith (the ‘Salaf ’ or ‘righteous tution, the Council of Senior ‘Ulama,60
57. On this controversial issue, see
the recent U.S. State Dept predecessors’). This means, among other whose current chairman, Sheikh ‘Abd al-
Trafficking in Persons Report, June
2006. For a partial transcript, go to:
things, a strict reliance on the Qur’an and ‘Aziz Al al-Sheikh, is also the Grand
http://gvnet.com the Hadith as sources for religious law Mufti of Saudi Arabia. This Council is
/humantrafficking/SaudiArabia-
2.htm. For wider references, go to:
(or, indeed, any law, since there is no where the ruling family meets its clerical
http://gvnet.com/humantraffick- western-style separation between ‘church’ representatives, in weekly meetings. Its
ing/SaudiArabia.htm. Not all the
links in the last group can be veri- and ‘state’ in Islam). remit is wide, running through every
fied. In all likelihood, this form of Islam – aspect of public and private life:
58. The full name is the Committee
considered by many other Muslims to be
for the Propagation of Virtue and
the Prevention of Vice (Hay'at al- sectarian in origin and belief – would have z The judicial system61
amr bi'l-ma'ruf wa'l-nahy 'an al-
munkar).
remained limited to the Arabian peninsula z The implementation of the rules of the
59. Thus in English. His Arabic
or perhaps a small part of it had it not been Islamic Shari’ah
title is: Khadim al-Haramain, for the extraordinary wealth that has z The Religious Guidance Group with
Servant of the two shrines.After
his accession to the throne in accrued to the Kingdom following the dis- affiliated offices all over the Kingdom
1982, King Fahd (1921-2005) covery of vast deposits of oil there in the z Islamic legal education and theology at
adopted the title ‘Servant of the
Twin Holy Enclosures’, a style twentieth century. This financial windfall all levels
carried on by his successor,
has been used to spread Wahhabism far z Religious jurisprudence
King ‘Abdullah.
24
Introduction
Islamic mission at home and abroad.70 He and Bonn, and Institutes of Islamic Studies University Press, 2005), p. 189-212.
Ministry of Islamic
Affairs, Endowment, Ministry of Education
Da’wah & Guidance (Headed by Abdallah bin
(Headed by Sheikh Salih bin Salih al-Ubayd)
‘Abd al-Aziz al-Sheikh)
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 25
The hijacking of British Islam
26
Introduction
s/2007/10Oct/03OctWed/qds01.pdf.
See also Y. Admon, ‘Criticism of the
such religious leaders have been sacked objection that was raised against the pro- Religious Discourse in Saudi Arabia’,
MEMRI, 19 October 2007, available
since 9/11 on these grounds. But accord- gramme. As the Foreign Secretary, David at, http://www.memri.org/bin/latest-
ing to an authoritative recent report by the Miliband, has recently confirmed, the news.cgi?ID=IA40007.
United States Commission on Saudi Ambassador in London wrote to his 83. Saudi Arabia, United States
Commission on International
International Religious Freedom, a bi-par- predecessor expressing his concern about Religious Freedom, 18 October
tisan federal body, the Saudis have provid- the content of the Channel 4 programme. 2007, available at, http://www.uscirf.
gov/mediaroom/press/2007/octo-
ed no statistics or detailed information Alongside this, the Embassy issued a ber/SaudiArabia_4.pdf.
about exactly what has been accom- statement in which it took great offence 84. Letter by The Foreign Secretary,
David Miliband, to Paul Goodman
plished.83 with the documentary and denied any
MP: Channel Four Dispatches
An even greater lack of transparency involvement with extremist views. In that Programme: Undercover Mosques, 21
September 2007. The letter also
surrounds the issue of Saudi materials sent statement, they said ‘The Government of states that the then Foreign Secretary,
out of the Kingdom. Indeed, the reassess- Saudi Arabia, working in close co-ordina- Margaret Beckett, responded by
emphasising the independent nature
ment described above does not apply to the tion with the British and other of Channel Four and informed the
flow of propaganda and literature abroad – Governments, has gone to great lengths to Saudi Ambassador that if he wished
to make a complaint about the pro-
and few countries have been more affected combat the type of extremism featured in gramme he would have to go through
by this than the UK. Saudi-backed the programme. The Saudi Arabian the television regulator, Ofcom. See
also, 'Press Release: Dispatches -
mosques and centres thus retain an influ- Government has gone on record a num- Undercover Mosque', Royal Embassy of
ence here that authentically reform-mind- ber of times to make it clear that it does Saudi Arabia - London, 16 January
2007, available at, http://www.mofa.
ed and genuinely moderate Muslims find not support radical or extreme ideology.’84 gov.sa/Detail.asp?InNewsItemID=59235.
hard to combat. That statement and the accompanying 85. It may also be contrasted with
some of the contents of a website
In the wake of the afore-mentioned Saudi protestations of innocence may run by the Saudi Ministry for Islamic
January 2007 broadcast of Dispatches: now be tested against the Saudi publica- Affairs, which has a section extolling
the superiority of jihad and fighters in
Undercover Mosque, the Saudi Embassy in tions reproduced or translated in the the ‘holy war’: http://www.the-saudi.
the UK lent its voice to the chorus of pages that follow.85 net/saudi-arabia/government.htm
and http://www.al-islam.com/eng/
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 27
28
Institutions visited during the conduct of our research
London Tauheed Mosque and Islamic Centre (Masjid & Madrassa AlTawheed) 78 High Road, Leyton, London, E10 Y 95
London Al Manaar The Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre 244 Acklam Road, London, W10 5YG Y 31
London AlMuntada AlIslami Trust 7 Bridges Place, Parsons Green, London, SW6 4HW Y 59
London Darul Amaan Islamic Centre (The ‘Colliers Wood Mosque’) 54 Merton Road, London, SW1910A Y 67
London East London Mosque 92 Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1JQ Y 38
The hijacking of British Islam
London The UKIM North London Mosque (The ‘Euston Mosque’) 202 North Gower Street, Euston, London, NW1 2LY Y 68
London King Fahad Academy Bromyard Avenue, London, W3 7HD Y 51
London Muslim World League/Darulifta Office 46 Goodge Street, London, W1T 4LU Y 71
London North London Central Mosque (The ‘Finsbury Park Mosque’) 715 St. Thomas Road, Finsbury Park, London, N4 2QH Y 77
London The London Central Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre (The ‘Regent’s Park Mosque’) 146 Park Road, London, NW8 7RG Y 82
London UK Turkish Islamic Trust Mosque and Cultural Centre 915 Shacklewell Lane, Clapton E8 2DY N
London Al Khoei Foundation Chevening Road, Kensal Rise, London, NW6 6TN N
London Walthamstow Jamla Mosque 439451 Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, London E10 7EA N
London Sultan Selim Mosque 277 St Anne’s Road, Tottenham, LondonN15 5RG N
London Darul Uloom Qadria Jalani 1 St Mary Road, Walthamstow, London E17 9RG N
London Manhaj ul Quran International 292296 Romford Road, Forest Gate, London, E7 9HD N
London Islamia School (Cat Stevens) 129 Salusbury Road, London NW6 6PE N
London Minaret 303 North End Road, Fulham, London W14 9NS N
London Fethullah Gulen Centre 30 Drayton Park, London N5 1PB N
London Mosque and Islamic Centre of Brent Cricklewood 33A Howard Road , Cricklewood, London NW2 N
London New Peckham Mosque 99 Cobourg Road, Peckham, London SE5 0HU N
London Muzzamil Mosque 8 Gatton Road , London, Tooting , SW 17 N
London The Sunni Muslim Association 20 Tooting Bec Road, London, SW17 8BD N
London Aziza Mosque 117119 Stoke Newington Road, London N
London Balham Mosque 47a BalhamHigh Road, London SW12 N
London Aga Khan Jamaat Khana and Centre Knightsbridge, London N
High Wycombe Muslim Education Centre (MEC) Totteridge Drive, High Wycombe HP13 6UH Y 154
Camberley The M. A. AlKharafi Islamic Centre (The Camberley Mosque) 282 London Road, Camberley, Surrey GU15 3JP Y 164
Manchester Didsbury Mosque and Islamic Centre of Manchester 271 Burton Road, West Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2WA Y 118
Manchester The Islamic Academy of Manchester 19 Chorlton Terrace, Manchester, M13 9AJ Y 129
Manchester The Muslim Student Centre, University of Manchester (The ‘McDougall Mosque’) Burlington Street, Manchester Y 132
Manchester Cheetham Hill Road Islamic Centre, Mosque (Markazi Jamia Masjid Khizra) 425 Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester, M8 OPF Y 120
Manchester Manhaj ul Quran International 122 Withington Road, Whalley Range, Manchester, M16 8FB N
Manchester Manchester Central Mosque 32 Upper Park Road, Victoria Park, Manchester M14 N
Manchester North Manchester Jamia Mosque 3 Woodlands Road, Manchester M8 N
Manchester Qadria Jilania Islamic Centre St Johns Road, Manchester N
Manchester Jamia Rasooliya Upper Chorlton Road, Manchester N
Manchester Jamiiyah al Karamiyah Platt Lane, Moss Side, Manchester M12 N
Manchester Stockport Islamic Centre 2 Longshut Lane West, Shaw Heath, Stockport, SK2 6RX N
Manchester Shahjalal Mosque & Islamic Centre 1 Eileen Green, Manchester, M14 5WE N
The Islamic institutions covered in this report
Town Mosque/Institution Address Hate/Separatist Lit Page
www.policyexchange.org.uk
Rochdale Bilal Jamia Mosque Bulwer Street, Rochdale N
Rochdale Ghamgolia Jamia Mosque Derby Street, Rochdale N
Rochdale Urdu Centre 5660 Morley Street, Rochdale N
• 29
Introduction
30
The hijacking of British Islam
London
Al-Manaar (The Muslim Cultural Office and the Muslim Council of Britain in
Heritage Centre) December 2003.89 More recently, in April
2007, the Centre was the venue for a speech 86. ‘Press Release: Laptop link-
up: A day at the mosque’, Al
Address: 244 Acklam Road, London, W10 5YG by Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Manaar: Muslim Cultural
Telephone: 020 8964 1496 Communities and Local Government, in Heritage Centre, 7 December
2006, available at,
Email: info@mchc.org.uk which she announced funding for a new http://www.almanaar.org.uk/pres
Website: http://www.almanaar.org.uk/ Faith and Social Cohesion Unit within the s/view_release.cfm?press_id=9.
Last accessed 10 July 2007.
Charity Commission Registration No: 1059085 Charity Commission.90
87. Paul Tumelty, ‘Reassessing
Local MP: Karen Buck (Labour) The Al-Manaar Centre also runs a the July 21 London bombings’,
Terrorism Monitor, 3, 17
Local Authority: Royal Borough of Kensington and ‘Diversity Awareness Programme’ that sets
(September 2005), Global
Chelsea its aim as promoting ‘understanding and Terrorism Analysis Website,
available at,
Affiliations: Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), respect between communities’. Amongst the http://jamestown.org/terrorism/n
Muslim Safety Forum (MSF) current client groups of the programme are ews/article.php?issue_id=3455;
Abul Taher & John
the Metropolitan Police.91 Elliott,‘Bombing suspect tried to
have moderate imam sacked’,
Sunday Times, 31 July 2005;
Points of Interest ‘Press Release: Statement
Books found here included: issued on behalf of the Muslim
Cultural Heritage Centre’, Al
The Al-Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Manaar: Muslim Cultural
Heritage Centre, 4 August 2005,
Centre in west London plays host to some 1A. Al-wala’ wa’l-‘ada’ fi ‘alaqat al-
available at,
5,000 people a week. According to its web- Muslim bi-ghayr al-Muslim http://www.almanaar.org.uk/pres
s/view_release.cfm?press_id=6.
site, ‘many of these come simply to pray in [Loyalty and enmity concerning Last accessed 10 July 2007.
the mosque that takes up a quarter of the relations between Muslims and 88. ‘Press Release: Statement
building’; however, the centre does also non-Muslims] issued on behalf of the Muslim
Cultural Heritage Centre’, Al
claim to run ‘a wide range of cultural, social Author: Abdullah Al-Tarifi Manaar: Muslim Cultural
and educational projects for both the Publisher: The Office of Da‘wah in Britain Heritage Centre, 4 August 2005,
available at,
Muslim and wider local community’.86 Published: 1411 (1990) http://www.almanaar.org.uk/pres
In 2005, the centre hit the news in the Language: Arabic s/view_release.cfm?press_id=6.
Last accessed 10 July 2007.
wake of the alleged failed bomb plot on This book was also found at The Muslim
89. ‘Building a strong relation-
London’s transport system on 21 July. One World League, London (see pages 71-76) ship with British Muslims’, News:
Foreign and Commonwealth
of the men arrested in relation to that inci- Office, 10 December 2003, avail-
dent (and subsequently convicted of con- This short book, published in Arabic by the able at, http://www.fco.gov.uk
/servlet/Front?pagename=Open
spiracy to murder), Ramzi Mohamed, was Saudi Office for Da’wah in the UK, is devot- Market/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=
linked to the centre by the Evening Standard ed entirely to the issue of separation and the Page&cid=1007029391629&a=K
Article&aid=1070989704700%20
and the Sunday Times; links that were subse- antipathy between Muslims and western &year=2003&month=2003-12-
quently rejected by the centre itself.87 The society. Its title is a variant on the concept of 01&date=2003-12-10. Last
accessed 10 July 2007.
imam of the mosque at the Al-Manaar loyalty and dissociation, which is a regular
90. ‘Winning hearts and minds:
Centre insisted both that he had never feature of this material. working together to defeat
extremism’, Communities and
known Mohamed or his associates and that According to this text: separatism is Local Government, 5 April 2007,
the Centre would never permit extremists to mandatory; jihad is the struggle against the available at, http://www.commu-
nities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1509
use its facilities.88 enemies of Islam (i.e. all unbelievers); 407. Last accessed 10 July
Notable visitors to the Centre have showing favour to non-believers is enough 2007.
included the then Foreign Secretary, Jack to make a Muslim an apostate – they are to 91. ‘Services: Diversity
Awareness’, Al-Manaar - Muslim
Straw, who addressed a reception to mark be hated; it is treachery to join the army of Cultural Heritage Centre, avail-
able at , http://www.almanaar.
the Muslim festival of Eid-al-Fitr, jointly a non-Muslim state; it is recommended
org.uk/services/diversity_aware-
hosted by the Foreign and Commonwealth that a conscripted Muslim should do noth- ness.cfm.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 31
The hijacking of British Islam
ing in battle; and to see anything good in disobedience. Everyone who pos
other religions is enough to make a sesses any of these elements must
Muslim an apostate and worthy of death; be hated according to how much he
there are grave dangers in loving non- possesses such elements. There is
believers. Throughout, there is total con- though a general hatred and a spe
tempt for all that is unIslamic. cific hatred. The general hatred is
Here is a typical example: toward unbelievers and heretics and
their likes because of how far they
As for enmity, we already said it is the are from the circle of Islam. The spe
opposite of loyalty. If loyalty means to cific hatred is towards a Muslim who
love, support and follow some and be mixes between good and bad deeds
close with them, enmity has the oppo …
site meaning, shown in terms such as
hatred, no support, and to stay far and The first kind: absolute and limited
separate from something. loyalty/guardianship to unbelievers:
Hatred then is part of enmity; it is the Absolute loyalty: this is to take them
beginning state of enmity and its cause… as guardians in an absolute manner,
through love, closeness, turning to
From the above we can say this: it is them in need, asking for their support
mandatory to hate and dislike the unbe and obeying them in what they like
lievers and polytheists, to never ask and similar things.
them for support against the Muslims,
to never follow their example in any This type of loyalty is general and
thing, to never obey them in matters of absolute and whoever amongst the
religion, to never imitate them. Actually it Muslim practises it, he is considered
is mandatory to stay far away from them an unbeliever even if he claims to be
and to separate from them, and to do a Muslim or practises some of its
what is necessary in terms of jihad and practices.
its like against their fighters. That is what
is intended by enmity, whoever falters in As for limited loyalty: it is to take the
applying enmity becomes a supporter of unbelievers as guardians in limited
unbelievers. If he harbours any love and specific matters: an example is
towards them, or turns to them for help, to accommodate them, to prefer liv
or asks for their support against other ing amongst them to living amongst
Muslims, or obeys them in any legal rul the Muslims, to hold them in high
ings, or imitates any of their specific esteem, to imitate them in things
traits, or takes them as friends … which pertain to them exclusively, to
befriend them, to live with them or to
From such a perspective, even minimal ask for their support against other
regard for non-believers is enough to render Muslims …
a Muslim an apostate:
If any of these forms of loyalty was
Should we then have enmity towards found in a Muslim, it would be con
everyone even if they were nonmilitary sidered a limited or special loyalty.
personnel? The verdict on such loyalty differs
according to the amount of loyalty; it
The believers believe in hating polythe can be considered unbelief or dis
ism, unbelief, atheism, deviation, and obedience.
32
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www.policyexchange.org.uk • 33
The hijacking of British Islam
34
London
Fahd Mosque and Islamic Centre of Muslim becomes an apostate and there-
Edinburgh, Scotland. To be distributed for fore liable to the death penalty:
free, not to be sold’.
Published: 1419 (1998) The scholars have mentioned that a
Language: Arabic person may become an apostate for
This book was also found at many reasons which can nullify his
Birmingham Central Mosque (see faith. These reasons would make
pages 102-106); the Islamic Centre of someone’s blood permissible to spill
Edinburgh (see pages 148-149); [to be killed for apostasy] and his
Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith, wealth permissible to be usurped,
Birmingham (see pages 107-109); and because he is no longer a Muslim.
the Madinah Mosque, Oxford (see We will mention some of the worst
pages 150-153) and the most prevalent causes for
turning someone into an apostate
This book, written by one of the leading [...]
Saudi scholars of his day, ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin 4. Whoever believes that the guid
‘Abdullah bin Baz (d. 1999), stands as a ance brought by someone other than
statement of Wahhabite belief. It is essen- the Prophet (pbuh)94, is better than
tially a theological treatise on belief and his guidance; or that the laws of
faith, in which the distinction between someone else is better than his laws
the true believer and the non-believer is … is an unbeliever.
clarified. Ten matters (nawaqid) that [...]
invalidate one’s faith are listed within its 9. Whoever believes that some peo
pages. ple have the right not to follow the
The book opens with a discourse on law of Muhammad (pbuh).95
correct belief, which is said to come
through faith in God, his angels, his The author provides a list of things that
books, his prophets, the Day of can nullify someone’s faith. He ends with
Judgement, and fate. The author then the following, ruling out any acceptance
examines the following themes: the sha- of secular legal systems:
hada (the profession of faith); God as the
Creator; God’s names and attributes; Among those who belong in section
belief in angels; belief in the prophets; four (above) are those who believe
belief in the finality of Muhammad (as that the statutes and laws which the
the last prophet); belief in the Last Day; masses (the people) enact are better
and belief in fate. Faith in God is said to than the legal system of Islam, or
involve love for Muslims and hatred of that the Islamic system does not fit
unbelievers. The Sunnis are held up as readily within the twentieth century,
‘the Saved Sect’. Marxism is described as or that it causes divisions among the
a dangerous falsehood. The author also Muslims, or that it is confined to the
condemns Sufism alongside long extinct relationship between a man and his
Muslim sects like the Jahmiyya and Lord without playing any part in other
Mu‘tazila. Stress is laid on the need to aspects of his life. In section four too
worship God alone, and on the means you will find those who think that
available for defeating the enemies of enforcement of God’s decree in cut
94. Pbuh is an abbreviation of
Islam. ting off the hand of the thief or ston the English formula ‘Peace be
In the following passage, the author ing the proven adulterer does not suit upon him’, the standard form
appended to Muhammad’s
declares that by obeying human laws, the present age. In the same catego name.
over and above God’s injunctions, a ry we also find those who believe it is 95. Ibid.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 35
The hijacking of British Islam
36
London
their minds with numbers and materi 1. The Jews: They are of all people
al desires.’ the keenest on corrupting humanity,
and on destroying their beliefs and
Finally (and unsurprisingly given the title values. The reason why they work so
of this volume) Jews are also viewed as hard to corrupt humanity is that they
the greatest enemies of women: cannot see an existence for them
selves except through the destruction
The enemies of women are also the of others, or corrupting them. That
enemies of men, there is no distinc way they will live like slaves for them
tion. They are four types: as they say.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 37
The hijacking of British Islam
38
London
Books found here included: This book was also found at the Muslim
Education Centre, High Wycombe (see
2A. Questions and Answers: pages 154-163)
Pertaining to Learning the
Fundamental Principles of the This short study, published by the Karachi
Creed and Clarification of the based Darul-Ishaat publishing house, is
Obstacles which Hinder Imaan available in the UK from the Azhar
Author: Abdur Rahmaan ibn Nasr as-Sadee Academy Ltd book suppliers. It is an
Publisher: Al-Hujjah Publication & Masjid English translation of an eschatological
Rahmah book in Arabic and deals with different
Published: 2006 kinds of conduct that is said to lead women
Language: English to hell. The book is dedicated to every
Muslim woman and is divided into three
This is an English translation of an Arabic chapters. Chapter one explains that most of
‘questions and answers’ book, which ‘clarifies the inhabitants of hell are women, and gives
some of the most fundamentals of the creed details of their types (see below). Chapter
of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah and refutes two is a Dante’s Inferno style tour of hell and
some of the shubuhaat [doubtful things] of its inmates. Chapter three recounts the fate
the atheists’. It claims to do this by utilising, of ‘historical’ women who went to hell, such
‘the prophetic methodology of questions and as Noah’s wife, Lot’s wife, Umm Jamil (a
answers, which was also used by the Salaf up pagan woman of the Prophet’s time),
until our time right now’. It is divided into Salome and Herodias (‘Salume and
17 chapters. Hirodiya’). The book claims its purpose is to
In the passage that follows, the author awaken women to reality, serving as a ‘guid-
provides answers to the question: ‘What are ing light in this difficult hour of trial and
the characteristics, by which, the Muslim during the great signs of the Last Hour, that
can distinguish himself from the disbeliever we have observed with our eyes’, so they
and the atheists?’ Describing the ‘disbeliev- may be ‘cautions [sic] and not misled by
er’, the author writes: mischievous promise of a liberated life’.
In this kind of literature, stereotypes of
His heart simmers with rancour and women and female behaviour abound. A
hatred. He doesn’t desire good or bene well-known Prophetic Tradition (Hadith)
fit for anyone, except if there is some says: ‘I looked at Hell and saw that the
worldly gain in it for him. majority of its inhabitants were women’.The
author relates this here as an illustration of
Furthermore, female deficiency:
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 39
The hijacking of British Islam
[…]
2. The Woman Who Adorns Herself
[…]
3. The Woman Who Apes Men, Tattoos,
Cuts Hair Short and Alters Nature
[…]
4. Women Who Kill Animals and Birds
There are women who are careless in
looking after pets. They neither feed
them nor allow them to look for their
food themselves.
40
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guardian of a woman who does not – from the exotic to the mundane. Given the
cover her body is also a fleshpedlar seniority of the clerics involved, these fatwas
[sic] who will not be admitted to represent the nearest thing to pronounce-
Paradise on whose gates will be ments by the Saudi religious establishment
inscribed, ‘Cuckolds are disallowed on spiritual, political, and personal matters,
entry.’ A cuckold is one who does not and cannot be challenged by those without
insist on modesty of his wife. What training in fiqh, the system of Islamic
can be more immodest for a man than jurisprudence. This particular volume deals
to let his wife move about unveiled? with issues collated under the heading of
‘creed’.
Just as not veiling cancels out all pious acts, The following passage justifies the practice
disobedience to one’s husband has the same of polygamy, claiming that this is the way in
effect: which a man’s sexual urges may be taken care
of:
If a woman obeys her husband, offers
salah108 five times a day, keeps fast in Q. Why did the Prophet marry a number
Ramadan, observes what Allah has of women?
enjoyed and forbidden then by Allah’s
will she will enter paradise. A. … This was not something new in
the Law, nor does it oppose common
On the other hand, she who is disobedi sense…. For women are more in num
ent to her husband will enter Hell even if ber than men, as censuses continually
she is careful about salah, fasting, and prove, a man may possess so much
other duties to Allah. A woman’s entry physical strength that he needs more
into Paradise is dependent on her hus than one wife, in order that he may be
band’s pleasure. able to indulge his desires in a permis
sible way, rather than in a prohibited
2C. Fatawa Islamiyah – Islamic way. Otherwise he will be forced to
Verdicts, volume 1 repress his desires; or the woman may
Authors: ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz, be suffering from some illness, some
Muhammad bin Saleh al-‘Uthaimin, ‘Abdullah thing that may prevent him from fulfill
bin ‘Abdul Rahman Al Jibreen and the ing his needs, such as menstruation or
Permanent Committee (of Saudi Arabia) postnatal bleeding, or anything else
Publisher: Dar-us-Salam that prevents a man from fulfilling his
Published: 2001 desires with her. So he may need
Language: English another wife with whom he may fulfill
This book was also found at The London his desires, rather than repressing
Central Mosque and Islamic Centre, (see them or committing indecency.
pages 82-94); Tauheed Mosque and
Islamic Centre (see pages 95-101); and Since plurality of wives is permissible
The Salafi Mosque and Islamic Centre (see and justified, logically, in accordance
pages (110-117). with the Fitrah109 and the Islamic law,
and since the Prophets of old used to
The Fatawa Islamiyah is a multi-volume col- practice it – indeed it could be said to 108. The salah is the obligatory
prayer, which is to be said and
lection of contemporary rulings (fatwas) be obligatory in cases of necessity or performed five times a day.
from a group of Wahhabite scholars based in need sometimes – then it is not sur 109. Fitrah (or fitra) is the natural
state into which human beings
Saudi Arabia, who hand down authoritative prising that our Prophet, Muhammad
are born, before their upbringing
opinions on all areas of public and private life did so. changes them.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 41
The hijacking of British Islam
Living with Christian (and other) ‘non- A. There are two reasons why it is not
believers’ is said to pose spiritual risks for permissible to obtain copies of previous
Muslims, as the following exchange and rul- scriptures, regardless of whether it is the
ing shows: Injil or the Tawrah [Torah]:
42
London
ments,110 all of which are incompatible Mathhab [sic] from ‘the people of inno
and inconsistent with Islamic tenets. vation’…
[…]
The strong links between the Masons Sufis are also heavily criticised. The following
and International Zionist Jewry has [sic] fatwa deals with the best known of the North
become absolutely clear to all of the African orders, the Shadhiliyya. It is worth
people. By such means they have been noting that many sheikhs of Cairo’s al-Azhar
able to control the activities of many mosque/university, the leading seat of
leaders in Arab and other countries in authority in Sunni Islam, have been and are
the matter of Palestine, and they have Shadhilis. What is shocking in both the ques-
prevented them from carrying out many tion and the fatwa is that they show consid-
of their obligations with respect to this erable ignorance of what Shadhilis believe
most important matter, to the advantage and do.
of the Jews and the International
Zionists. Q. There is a sect known as Ash
Shathliyyah [sic], who neither pray nor
For this reason and many other fast, nor give Zakat,114 and there is a per
detailed facts concerning the danger son whom they call Sayyiduna (Our
ous activities of the Masons, their evil Master)115 and they say that he occupies
deceptions and cunning designs, the the place of their ‘lord’, and he is their
111
Fiqh Academy has determined that representative on the Last Day, he for
the Masons are one of the most dan gives them everything which they do in 110. Neither the Lions Clubs
International, nor Rotary
gerous, destructive organizations to their lives in this world…. International are branches of
Freemasonry. As far as is
Islam and the Muslims. And that who
known, there is no such thing as
ever joins them, knowing the truth of A. …. If the situation is as you say, that ‘The Leons’.
them and their aims, is a disbeliever in your father and those with him in this 111. The Islamic Fiqh Academy
(Akadimiyya al-fiqh al-islami) is
Islam who should be avoided. sect do not pray and do not fast and an institution for the advanced
that they believe that their leader or their study of Islam, with headquar-
ters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It
It is not just non-Muslims who are defined as Shaikh holds the position of a lord, who was proposed at the second
false, but followers of differing Islamic groups will guarantee them paradise and forgive summit conference of the
Organisation of the Islamic
as well: them all of their evil deeds, then they are Conference (OIC) 1974, and
inaugurated in February 1988.
disbelievers and if your father orders you
112. The meaning of ‘blindly fol-
Q. Some people consider that it is an to be one of them and forbids you to
low’ (taqlid) is that it is widely
obligation upon the Muslim to blindly fol pray and fast, then do not obey him…. 116
believed that independent rea-
112 soning in matters of religion and
low one of the four well known schools law ended by the tenth century,
of Islamic Jurisprudence in order for their Other groups are condemned as well. The and that all Sunni Muslims must
act in accordance with the rul-
acts of worship and their deeds to be Qadyanis/Ahmadiyya are based mainly in ings of four law schools (mad-
correct. Yet the Mathab [sic] of the Pakistan, but have a small international fol- hhab, pl. madhahib).
Shiites is not included amongst them, lowing: 113. A minority Shi‘a sect, main-
ly restricted to Yemen.
not even the Mathhab [sic] of the Zaidi
114. Zakat: alms for the poor.
Shiites.113 Does your Eminence agree The Ruling on Qadyanis and Their
115. This refers to Abu’l-Hasan
absolutely with this view, and thus pro Membership: al-Shadhili (d. 1258), the founder
of the order.
hibit the blind following of the Mathhab
116. Like other mainstream
[sic] of the Shiites…? The Committee of the Fiqh Academy Sufi orders, the Shadhili do, in
has examined the matter of the Qadyani fact, perform the salat, fast at
Ramadan, and pay the zakat
A. … It is not permissible for the Muslim sect, which appeared in India in the last alms-tax. See, for example, the
to blindly follow the Shiite Imamate century (the nineteenth century of the following Shadhili web page:
http://www.suficenter.org
Mathhab [sic], nor any other such like Christian era), and which is also known /faq.html.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 43
The hijacking of British Islam
as the Ahmadiyyah movement. The Fiqh sect which appeared in Persia (Iran) in
Academy has studied their beliefs…. the second half of the last century and
which is professed by a number of peo
A summary of these follows, including the ple who spread throughout the Muslim
Ahmadiyya rejection of Jihad: and nonMuslim countries until today.
[…]
Having studied these documents and It became clear to the Fiqh Academy,
others like them, including the numerous based upon the evidence of the texts
manuscripts which make clear the concerning the beliefs of the Bahais, that
beliefs of the Qadyanis, its [sic] founder they were intended to destroy Islam, in
and its [sic] establishment and its [sic] particular its firm stance against the wor
dangerous aims – the destruction of cor ship of mankind [i.e. human beings], with
rect Islamic beliefs and the diversion of the Bahai claims of Divinity and the
the Muslims away from it, and towards authority to alter the law of Islam
misguidance, the Fiqh Committee has […]
unanimously determined that the beliefs The Academy warns the Muslims in all
of the Qadyanis, known also as corners of the world118 against this
Ahmadiya [sic], are unIslamic and that criminal, disbelieving sect and appeals
the pretension of its followers to be to them to oppose them and take pre
Muslims is no more than an attempt to cautions against them, especially since
misguide and deceive; and the it is evident that they enjoy support
Committee of the Fiqh Academy from the colonialist nations whose aim
declares that it is incumbent upon the is the destruction of Islam and the
Muslims – governments, scholars, writ Muslims.
ers, thinkers, preachers, and others – to
oppose this misguided sect and its fol 2D. Fatawa Islamiyah – Islamic
lowers all over the world. Verdicts, volume 5
Authors: ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz,
If the Ahmadiyya are viewed as carrying out Muhammad bin Saleh al-
a dangerous heresy, members of the Baha’i ‘Uthaimin, ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abdul Rahman Al-
religion (the Baha’i Faith) occupy a special Jibreen and the
niche in the ranks of religions Muslims Permanent Committee (of Saudi Arabia)
should loathe. Baha’ism is a worldwide reli- Publisher: Dar-us-Salam
gious movement of Shi’a origin numbering Published: 2001
some five or six million, most of whose fol- Language: English
lowers outside Iran come from Christian, This book was also found at The London
Hindu, Buddhist and animist backgrounds. Central Mosque (‘Regent’s Park Mosque’)
Baha’is, unlike the Ahmadiyya, make no (see pages 82-94)
claim to be Muslims, although they regard
Muhammad as a ‘divine manifestation’ and This volume of the Fatawa Islamiyah series
the Qur’an a divinely revealed scripture. In covers a wide range of topics: insurance;
Islamic countries, especially Iran and Egypt, trusts; lost property; endowments; wills and
they have been denied all rights to worship, testaments; inheritance; slavery; marriage
117. Some basic Baha’i beliefs
include the abolition of jihad, the meet, hold ceremonies, or publish literature. (this is the main section); looking at women
oneness of mankind, the one-
ness of all religions, and the
Many have been killed.117 (which is forbidden); the media; relations
equality of men and women. between the sexes; female conduct; mixing of
118. Note the assumption of uni- The Committee of the Fiqh Academy the sexes (forbidden); sexual matters in gen-
versal validity for the rulings of
this Saudi academy.
has examined the Bahai [sic, for Baha’i] eral; masturbation (with some very dubious
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‘medical facts’); the guardianship of women; according to your ability and your
marriage to Jewish and Christian women; need….
dowries; contraception (forbidden);
polygamy (approved); the obedience wives Elsewhere, it is stated that a boy may marry
owe their husbands; and different forms of as young as age 10:
marriage.
To take an example, the following passage When a boy reaches ten years of age,
confirms that polygamy is prescribed under he is considered to have started puberty,
Islam: and naturally, he feels inclined towards
Q. Is plurality of wives permitted in Islam, women, because the like of him may
119
or is it prescribed as a Sunnah? marry and do what a man does.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 45
The hijacking of British Islam
to the Hadith: ‘Whoever changes his reli other, is this action considered to be for
gion, kill him’ [emphasis added]. bidden?
The same volume also puts the case that, not A: This action is not permissible,
only is birth control forbidden, but it is to be because it excites desire between the
considered yet another plot against Muslims two, and incites the urge to arrange
. meetings and telephone calls...
Those who call for birth control or con
traception are a group whose aim by Finally, a further ruling claims that it is better
this call is to plot against the Muslims for women to marry, rather than study, since
in general, and against the Arab they do not need anything beyond primary
Muslim community in particular, so education:
that they are able to colonize the lands
and their people . . . birth control is Q. There is a widespread custom, which
not permissible under any circum is a young woman or her father refusing
stances. proposals of suitors, so that she can
complete her high school or university
Meanwhile, women are considered so dan- education, or, so that she can study for
gerous that even shaking hands with one a number of years. What is the ruling on
through a cloth can lead to temptation. this, and what is your advice to those
who do it? And what is your advice to
shaking hands with unrelated women those who delay it such that the young
might lead to some temptation (Fitnah) women might reach the age of thirty or
over them, like looking at them, or more without marrying?
even more so.
[…] A. The ruling on that is that it is contrary
It is not permissible for a man to shake to the order of the Prophet, because the
hands with a woman who is unrelated Prophet said:
to him, even if she placed a piece of ‘If one whose religion and character
cloth over her hand when shaking pleases you proposes to you, then marry
hands. (your daughter to) him’120...
Even speaking with a woman on the tele- Refusing marriage causes loss of the
phone is deemed dangerous: benefits of marriage, so my advice to
my Muslim brothers who are guardians
It is not permissible to speak with an of women and to my adult Muslim sis
unrelated woman in a manner which ters is not to refuse marriage in order to
may excite desire, such as by speaking complete their education or teaching.
words of love, flirting and subduing one’s However, it is possible for a woman to
voice, whether on the telephone or oth make it a condition of marriage that she
erwise. be allowed to continue her studies until
she has completed them, and likewise
In addition, it is decreed that writing letters to continue to teach for a year or two,
(or presumably e-mails?) to a woman is like- as long as she is not busy with children
ly to lead to trouble: and there is no objection to this.
Although the idea of a woman pro
Q: If a man corresponds with an unrelat gressing in university studies in subjects
120. Al-Tirmidhi No. 1084. ed woman, and they come to love each for which there is no need should be
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The hijacking of British Islam
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www.policyexchange.org.uk • 49
The hijacking of British Islam
A long and a short invocation are provid- Q. Is Jihad in the way of Allâh the
ed. Other medieval sources are referred to, same level regardless of whether it is
before the author continues: with one’s life, wealth, or supplication,
even if somebody is capable of the
But when the faith weakens, so type that involves one’s life?
weakens the self acceptance of
Shari’ah cures. People nowadays A. There are different kinds of Jihad —
place more trust in physical remedies with one’s self, wealth, supplication,
than in remedies prescribed by the teaching, giving guidance, or helpling
Shari’ah. When a person’s faith is others in good in any form. The high
126. The idea of fighting in the
strong, the Shari’ah remedy is more est form of Jihad, however, is with
path of God with one’s life or
self (nafs) and one’s wealth is effective, and faster in results than one’s life; then come Jihad with one’s
derived from a number of
Qur’anic verses, such as the fol-
other cures. wealth and Jihad with teaching and
lowing: ‘Believe in God and His guidance, and in this way Da’wah
Messenger, and fight (tujahiduna)
in the way of God with your
Elsewhere, a ruling indicates that the great- [preaching and summoning to Islam] is
properties and selves. That is est form of striving (jihad) in God’s path is a form of Jihad, but Jihad with one’s
better for you, if you know
(61.11). with one’s life: life is the highest form.126
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The King Fahad Academy127 the only form of technology they are taught
is ‘home technology’. This disparity of treat-
Address: Bromyard Avenue, Acton, ment prompted Dr. Mai Yamani – a
London W37HD Research Fellow at the Royal Institute of
Telephone: 020 8743 0131 International Affairs and the daughter of
Email: academy@thekfa.org.uk Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani (the former
Website: http://www.thekfa.org.uk/ Saudi Oil Minister and spokesman for the
Charity Commission Registration No.: 327342 Organisation of Petroleum Exporting
Local MP: Andy Slaughter (Labour) Countries (OPEC)) – to withdraw her two
Local Authority: London Borough of Ealing daughters from the school.133
Affiliations: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, AMSUK In February 2007, further allegations were
levelled at the King Fahad Academy over the
127. The King Fahad Academy
content of its teaching. On this latter occa- is named after the former King
Points of Interest sion a former teacher, Colin Cook, claimed of Saudi Arabia, Fahd - albeit
with a slightly modified version
that pupils were being taught to describe Jews of his name.
The King Fahad Academy in London caters as ‘apes’ and Christians as ‘pigs’.134 He also 128. ‘About the King Fahad
Academy’, The King Fahad
for 1,000 students, amongst them the chil- claimed that the quality of instruction at the Academy, London, available at,
dren of Arab diplomats serving in London, school had taken a definitive turn for the http://www.thekfa.org.uk/index.p
hp?lang=en&content=about&sub
as well as other Arab and Muslim children worse from 2005, when many of the British =school.
living in London.128 It is a member of the teachers had left and there had been, ‘a move 129. ‘King Fahad Academy’,
Association of Muslim Schools UK towards a pro-Saudi agenda’.135 Association of Muslim Schools
UK, available at, http://ams-
(AMSUK).129 According to its website it In response to all such controversies, the uk.org/index.php?option=com_c
operates ‘under the support and supervision King Fahad Academy in London has repeat- ontent&task=view&id=125&Itemi
d=243&sid=68.
of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi edly denied that its pupils have ever been
130. ‘History of the Academy’,
Arabia in London’; this is confirmed by the subjected to extremist teaching.136 The King Fahad Academy,
London, available at,
fact that ‘His Excellency the Ambassador of High-profile visitors to the Academy (as http://www.thekfa.org.uk/index.p
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Court listed on its website) have included King hp?lang=en&content=history&su
b=school; ‘Frequently asked
of St. James chairs the Council of Fahad of Saudi Arabia (1987), the future Questions’, The King Fahad
Management for the Academy’.130 King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, (1988) Academy, available at,
http://www.thekfa.org.uk/index.p
Furthermore, the Academy has been a fre- HRH the Prince of Wales, Baroness hp?lang=en&content=faq&sub=s
quent port of call for Saudi Ambassadors to Thatcher, Lord Major and Lord Owen. chool.
reputation for academic excellence; however, 3A. Al-Tawhid [Divine Unity] – 1st 132. Emma Hartley & Julie
Henry, ‘Girls at London Saudi
it has been the subject of some controversy Grade High School school are treated ‘as inferiors’,
as to the teaching methods it employs. In ‘To be distributed for free - not to be sold’ Daily Telegraph, 29 May 2004.
May 2004, the Daily Telegraph reported that Author: None Listed 133. Ibid.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 51
The hijacking of British Islam
passages that follow are taken from a sec- Also showing happiness on their occa
tion entitled, al-Wala’ wa’l-bara’, which sions, taking time off from work and
deals with issues of loyalty to Islam and cooking food. Also using the solar cal
enmity to all that is not Islamic. The sec- endar, because it commemorates their
tion revolves around a series of Qur’anic Christmas.
texts.
Asserting loyalty and enmity along con- As for participating with them in their
fessional lines acts as a barrier to normal lawful celebrations, or in their tragedies,
social intercourse. Here, in this ‘first grade’ or in offering them sympathy and con
school textbook, Muslims are asked to dolences during calamities, the right
avoid any sort of engagement with non- way is the impermissibility of congratu
believers, such as attending their celebra- lating them or offering them condo
tions, showing happiness ‘on their festi- lences, as many of the scholars have
vals’, offering them sympathy or condo- conclusively ruled. The reason for this is
lences, cooperating in artistic activities like that closeness to them will result, and
singing, dancing, theatre, and taking part then love towards them will become firm
in sports: because of treating them with esteem. It
is forbidden because of these dangers.
‘Defining alWala’ wa’lbara: It is also forbidden to greet them before
they greet you, or to give way to them
alWala’: Its root is Wali which means on the road.
close to him.137 Its intended meaning is
closeness to the Muslims through loving Other types of imitating the unbelievers:
them, helping them, supporting them 1. That which they call art, like singing
against their enemies and living with and playing instruments, dancing,
them. acting, and establishing theatres and
movie theatres which are visited by
alBara’: Its root is bara which means to those who have lost their sense of
138
cut off … Its intended meaning here is righteousness, and do not take life
to sever all connections with the unbe seriously.
lievers, so he does not love them, sup 2. Taking great care in making pictures,
port them, or live amongst them. statues, and paintings …
3. Taking care to reestablish what has
One of the great requirements for hating been disregarded of games, distrac
the unbelievers and showing enmity tions, and traditions.
towards them is to stay away from their 4. A great interest of the youth in sports
ceremonies and celebrations. The great which distracts them from remem
est of their ceremonies is their holidays bering Allah and being obedient to
which are related to time and place. The Him.
Muslims must stay away from such
events. Similarly, Muslims are even prohibited from
using the western solar calendar:
... Also attending their time related festi
vals such as New Year and Christmas, One of the great requirements for hating
137. More correctly, the root is
the verb waliya, ‘to be near because it shows closeness to them, the unbelievers and showing enmity
someone… to be a friend’.
participation with them in establishing towards them is… using the solar calen
138. Correctly, the root is the
one of their ceremonies, and imitating dar, because it establishes their
verb bara’a, ‘to be or become
free, be cleared’. them. Christmas holiday.
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Here too, Muslims are greatly restricted in for a Muslim to travel to the lands of
their employment relations with non-believ- the unbelievers without a legal exemp
ers, since they should never appoint a non- tion and the power to exhibit his reli
Muslim to a responsible post when they are gion; when his visit is completed, he
employers, and should not take employment must return to the lands of Islam.
in junior positions when working for non-
Muslims. Once more, this seems like a bla- 3B. Sharh Kitab al-Tawhid [A
tant breach of regulations against discrimi- Commentary on The Book of the
nation in the workplace: Divine Unity] - 1st Grade
Intermediate
… they [nonMuslims] were forbidden ‘To be distributed for free - not to be sold’
from having authority over Muslims – Author: None Listed (This is a commentary
meaning in job positions – actually hiring on a central text by Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-
a Muslim with less qualification than a Wahhab)
nonMuslim is more beneficial to the Publisher: The Ministry of Education, Learning
Muslim’s religion. and Educational
[...] Advancement, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
You cannot give the disbeliever a posi Published: 2006-7
tion with authority over Muslims, or a Language: Arabic
position in which they have access to
secrets about Muslims, like ministers, This book offers 21 lessons for first-grade
and advisors pupils on ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab’s most impor-
[…] tant work, the Kitab al-Tawhid. The following
It is permissible to hire them for certain topics are covered: the virtues of divine unity,
marginal jobs which do not pose any how the believer in divine unity will enter par-
threat against the policies of the Muslim adise, fear of polytheism, summoning to the
government, like building buildings and confession of faith (al-shahada), customs that
paving roads, with the condition that amount to polytheism, spells and amulets (at
there are no Muslims who can do the length), making trees and stones sacred, sacri-
same job fice done in the name of any but God, oaths,
[...] and interpretations of two Qur’anic verses.
Working for the unbelievers and living In this passage discussing Islamic propa-
amongst them: gation (da’wah), it is made clear that, should
non-believers refuse to convert, they may be
It is forbidden for the Muslim to let him killed:
self be hired by an unbeliever, because it
would mean the unbeliever could com The basis of Islam is the divine unity.
mand the Muslim and could humiliate This requires bearing witness that ‘There
him. is no god but God’; it therefore is
incumbent on the people of Islam that
Finally, it is said that Muslims must not live their aim in jihad is to guide mankind to
among western societies without due cause: Islam, and to enter into it.
It is, therefore, preferable to call them
God has made it obligatory to migrate to Islam before fighting them, even if the
out of the lands of unbelief to the summons had already reached them
lands of Islam and warned against before that. But if it had not already
neglecting this [duty] without an reached them, it is necessary to sum
excuse in Shari‘a law. It is forbidden mon them before fighting them.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 53
The hijacking of British Islam
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www.policyexchange.org.uk • 55
The hijacking of British Islam
• Bringing down the Islamic Ottoman Publisher: The Ministry of Education, Learning
Caliphate, and it is no secret the role and Educational Advancement, The Kingdom
139
the Jews of the Donma [sic] of Saudi Arabia
played in it. Published 2005-6
• The Bolshevik Russian Revolution Language: Arabic
against the rule of Czar: it is well
known that the roots of Marxist One stage up from the book of the same title
thought are Jewish … for first grade secondary pupils (see above),
• You will not find any confusion in this Saudi school textbook starts with nine
which the Jews did not play a role. Hadiths, followed by a section on civilisa-
tion. Topics include: the bravery of the
2. Their attempt at trying to immerse Prophet, youth, bravery and manliness,
nations in vice and the spread of wealth in Islam, expenditure, the mosque,
fornication. The Jews controlled neighbours and their rights, greetings, visit-
this kind of trade and promoted it. ing, feasts, and sleep and waking. Section
They manage the bars in Europe Two begins with seven Hadiths, then the
and the United States and in Israel rights of guardians, honouring women, for-
itself. bidding the mixing of the sexes, the rights of
3. Controlling literature and art by married couples, polygamy, the rights of
spreading the immoral pornographic children, the characteristics of the human
literature... tongue (lying, back-biting etc.), the heart
4. Controlling the movie industry and art and its sicknesses, self-restraint, the danger
in the western world and elsewhere. posed by the Crusaders/Christians, danger-
5. Cheating, bribing, stealing, and ous sects (atheism, Communism,
conning. Existentialism, nationalism, Qadyanism,
Babism and Baha’ism), and meetings.
A very common feature of modern Muslim As ever in this kind of material, a central
anti-Semitism is the association of other focus is placed on the position and role of
groups with Zionism. This has the added women in society. Here, the author describes
effect of making it more difficult for how women, collectively, are innately dis-
Muslims in the West to integrate by joining posed to behave badly:
societies that might bring them into contact
with their fellow citizens: Some of the collective character traits
women possess is that they complain
The destructive movements which were too much and they are not content with
employed by Zionism to achieve its the favours their husband provide for
goals: them. These are blameworthy traits
1 The Masons … which will lead them to hellfire, which is
2 B’nai B’rith … why the Muslim woman must avoid
3 The International Lions Clubs … such traits, and must be keen on stay
4 The Rotary Clubs … ing away from them.
3E. Al-Hadith wa’l-thaqafa al- Following on from this, women are por-
139. Dönmeh is a Turkish word
meaning convert. In its technical Islamiyya [Prophetic Tradition and trayed as fundamentally weak in nature and
sense it refers to certain follow-
ers of Sabbatai Sevi, who out-
Islamic Culture] – 2nd Grade High needing to be led (presumably by men):
wardly practised Islam, but School
inwardly remained Jews – con-
vinced that Sabbatai Sevi was
‘To be distributed for free - not to be sold’ For sure the nature of the woman is that
the Messiah. Author: None Listed she is weak; if she is left without being
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directed, or without being led by her This book offers a set of lessons on Prophetic
hand, she will become corrupted and Tradition (Hadith) for third-grade interme-
she will corrupt others. diate pupils. There is a total of twenty-six les-
sons, most of which deal with two traditions
Furthermore, men and women are deemed apiece. A range of topics are woven into this:
to be so volatile that just to mix with the adultery, death, the prohibition on the mix-
opposite sex at all will inevitably provoke a ing of men and women, homosexuality
sexual storm. According to such a view, if (where the meaning of ‘the doings of the
western women have become commodities, People of Lot’ are described as ‘putting their
men are no more than wolves: penises into their buttocks’), the prohibition
on mistreating animals, thanking God at the
One of the most effective methods for end of a meal, dreams (nightmares are from
corrupting the character (of Muslims) is Satan), the prohibition on men wearing gold
the free mixing [of] women and foreign ornaments, the prohibitions on smoking
men [other than her legal guardian], in and drinking alcohol, etc. There is an appen-
a way in which they are alone together dix giving brief biographical descriptions of
without a legal guardian with the the transmitters of the traditions cited.
woman. The unbelieving woman, in In this short excerpt, it is not only that
the east and west, fell in this free mix Muslims are enjoined to be the enemies of
ing trap, so she became decadent in ‘non-believers’, but also there is an assump-
the mud of corruption and sin. She tion that Jews and Christians must be ene-
became a cheap item for sale mies of Islam:
amongst the wolves of men; her hon
our was trampled on, her dignity was The Jews and the Christians are the
polluted and she became a commer enemies of the Muslim, and they will
cial item in the stores and market never be pleased with the Muslims
places … this is the state of the unbe
lieving woman 3G. Al-Tafsir [Qur’an Exegesis] – 3rd
[…] Grade Intermediate
There is no doubt that free mixing ‘To be distributed for free - not to be sold’
between men and women activates the Author: None Listed
sexual instincts within the self, lights the Publisher: The Ministry of Education, Learning
fire of excessive desires and tempts and Educational
each of the sexes with each other. It Advancement, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
loosens the reins of the unrestricted Published: 2005-6
sexual desires, which cause each of the Language: Arabic
sexes to become the prisoner of his or
her desires. This third-grade school textbook delivers
lessons on Qur’an exegesis (tafsir). There are
3F. Al-Hadith [Prophetic Traditions] – twenty-six lessons in total, each based on a
3rd Grade, Intermediate clump of verses from different suras. This is
‘To be distributed for free - not to be sold’ a primer in the Islamic science of Qur’an
Author: None Listed interpretation. A verse or series of verses is
Publisher: The Ministry of Education, Learning selected, dictionary definitions are given,
and Educational Advancement, The Kingdom then legal and general conclusions are
of Saudi Arabia reached. We have taken passages from sever-
Published 2005-6 al places, many with a bearing on
Language: Arabic Muslim/non-Muslim relations.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 57
The hijacking of British Islam
In the following passage, for instance, the stabbing throughout the centuries,
author asserts that no matter how close the and they do not keep their word nor
bond between people, it must be superseded honour their promise
by the ties of faith. This feeds into the notion […]
that a Muslim must define him/her-self as a The Jews who lived in Medina were
Muslim first and foremost; which, in turn, three tribes: Banu Qainuqa‘, Banu
promotes the concept of the world-wide Nadhir, and Banu Qurayza. They all
Islamic umma – to which a Muslim must betrayed the agreement they had with
give his or her allegiance over and above all the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). This is
else: the practice of Jews in every age. That
is why they deserved quick retribution,
1. The tie of belief is the strongest of either to be exiled or to be killed or
ties. Faith in God and the end of enslaved.
days cannot meet with loving and
supporting the unbelievers, even if 3H. Al-adab al-‘Arabi [Arabic
the unbeliever is the closest of those Literature] – 3rd Grade High
close to you such as father, children, School
brothers, or tribe. ‘To be distributed for free - not to be sold’
2. Every Muslim is obliged to love his Author: None Listed
[fellow] Muslims, to assist them in Publisher: The Ministry of Education, Learning
their problems, to share their misfor and Educational Advancement, The Kingdom
tunes. This is one of the requirements of Saudi Arabia
of belief, namely love for the Muslims Published: 2003
and enmity towards the disbelievers. Language: Arabic
3. The absence of friendship or love to
the unbelievers; does not abstain This Saudi school textbook, whilst sup-
from treating them with justice, so posedly about Arab literature, is in fact
long as this does not involve being mainly about Islamic matters, including
friends to them or loving them. da’wah (Islamic propagation) in the past
4. Those who abandon love for the and the present. The modern part main-
unbelievers shall be rewarded by God ly focuses on Saudi religious literature,
but it also includes a song by Sayyed
In another passage, meanwhile, the fate of Qutb, a main ideologue of the Muslim
the Jews of Medina (many of whom were Brotherhood. There is also a section on
either expelled, or executed as traitors within modern culture in Saudi Arabia.
five years of Muhammad’s arrival in Medina The passage we have drawn attention
in 622 CE) is presented as desirable because to is from an address to Arab youth by
of the supposedly innate deceit of the Jews as Mustafa Sadiq al-Rafi‘i (d. 1937), a
a people. The implication seems to be that Syrian-Egyptian writer considered one of
mistreating or executing Jews is justified, the greatest Arab poets of the twentieth
first because the Prophet commanded it in century:
his day, and secondly because the Jew is
always treacherous. The battle between us and colonialism
is a psychological battle, if levity is not
• The Jews are a people who were killed, the duty [of fighting the battle]
moulded with treachery and back will be killed insteard.
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Points of Interest the Metropolitan Police.145 It is also part 141. Cristina Odone, ‘Faith
Invaders’, New Statesman, 18
of the Muslim Safety Forum (MSF) – an April 2005.
The al-Muntada al-Islami Trust was set up in ‘advisory body’, which liaises with the 142. Abdul Mohamed, ‘Letters –
We Strive Only for Harmony’,
the UK in 1986 and has since spread to over Metropolitan Police Service and the New Statesman, 9 May 2005,
twenty African and Asian countries. Its Association of Chief Police Officers on available at, http://www.new-
statesman.com/200505090033.
declared purpose is ‘to follow the path of Al- ‘issues concerning British Muslims’.146
143. ‘Al-Muntada Islamic School
Sunnah Al-Jama’a and call Muslims to Further, the Trust even participated in the (Eden High School)’, Association
believe in Allah and remind them of their 2006 ‘Borough Peace Breakfast’, which of Muslim Schools UK, available
at, http://www.ams-
method in neither excess nor deficiency’.140 was hosted by the police and the organi- uk.org/index.php?option=com_c
ontent&task=view&id=125&Itemi
In April 2005, New Statesman maga- sation, Peace Alliance, in an effort to pro-
d=243&sid=23.
zine published an article by Cristina mote interfaith community engage- 144. ‘Activities: Community
Odone in which she categorised al- ment.147 Relations’, Al-Muntada Al-Islami,
available at, http://www.almunta-
Muntada as being part of a Saudi-funded In addition to this, the Trust also states datrust.org/home/index.php?opti
effort to disseminate ‘a rigid, censorious it has carried out ‘interfaith work’ with on=com_content&task=view&id=
57&Itemid=75.
form of Islam, which includes the strict ‘local churches and their congregations’, as
145. See, ‘Hammersmith:
observance of prayer times, learning the well as having organised ‘seminars for pub- Diversity Action Plan 06/07’,
Qur’an by rote, and a wholesale rejection lic sector workers aimed at educating them Metropolitan Police Service,
available at,
of the habits, attitudes and values of about the Muslim faith, practices and http://cms.met.police.uk/met/bor
oughs/hammersmith/03work-
mainstream society’.141 In response Mr. community’.148 ing_with_the_community/diversi-
Abdul Fatah S. Mohamed, the Director of In 2005, the local Conservative ty_action_plan_06_07.
the Al-Muntada Al-Islami Trust, wrote a Councillor Greg Hands (now Member of 146. ‘Home’, The Muslim Safety
Forum, available at,
letter that was published on the Letters Parliament for the constituency of http://www.muslimsafetyforum.o
page of the New Statesman under the Hammersmith & Fulham) visited the rg/. Last accessed 3 October
2007.
headline, ‘We strive only for harmony’. Centre.149
147. See, ‘Hammersmith:
Therein, he claimed that the Trust ‘does Diversity Action Plan 06/07’,
Metropolitan Police Service,
not promote any version of Islam except
available at,
middle-path and mainstream. It is totally Books found here included: http://cms.met.police.uk/met/bor
oughs/hammersmith/03work-
independent and has never been part of ing_with_the_community/diversi-
any sect or group. Odone wrongly says we 4A. Al-wala’ wa’l-bara [Loyalty and ty_action_plan_06_07.
are ‘Saudi-funded’: we have never been enmity] according to the 148. ‘Activities: Community
Relations’, Al-Muntada Al-Islami,
funded by the Saudi Government’.142 ‘aqeedah [belief] of the Salaf available at, http://www.almu
Since 1989, the Trust has owned and [Righteous Companions] ntadatrust.org/home/index.php?
option=com_content&task=view
run al-Muntada Islamic primary school Author: Muhammad Saeed al-Qahtani &id=57&Itemid=75.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 59
The hijacking of British Islam
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supreme and the present age of ignorance — This work covers the main issues of faith
an echo of the thought of the major Muslim and jurisprudence and claims to have been
Brotherhood thinker, Sayyed Qutb (d. 1966). written in order to, ‘serve as a reference for
Whether his own original thinking or, as is the English speaking Muslims in general
likely, a borrowing from Qutb, bin Baz’s use and Muslims who are living in the West in
of the ‘Age of Ignorance’/‘Age of Islam’ has particular where scholars and Islamic refer-
profound implications. ence works are minimal’.
Thus, in this passage he outlines that the A key theme within much of the literature
original ‘Age of Ignorance’ was the situa- examined here is an emphasis on the notion
tion of the pagan Arab world, before the that whatever a Muslim does in worship –
coming of Islam: whether that be through prayer, fasting, giv-
ing alms, or going on the hajj pilgrimage – it
Islam then reigned supreme and pre means nothing without an inner intent for
vailed over all religions … The situation jihad. Several writers come very close to
changed again after ignorance domi making jihad a sixth pillar of the faith (the
nated and an overwhelming majority of four components of worship just mentioned
people reverted to their foolish, igno are four of the five pillars, with the testimo-
rant practices … ny of faith as the fifth). The following pas-
sage is a classic example in this regard:
The author then describes how, when the
pagans refused to accept his claims, Jihad is considered as the peak of
Muhammad (and later, the Caliphs who suc- Islam, and of the best acts or worship
ceeded him) had recourse to outright vio- [‘one of the best acts of worship?].
lence. Implied here is the notion of ceaseless Some scholars went as far as consid
enmity between Muslims and ‘disbelievers’, ering it as the sixth pillar of Islam.
with the two locked in an existential struggle.
This is certainly how Qutb intended the con- As to what is meant by jihad, the broad
cept to be used, and many extremists have scope of jihad as a tactic to be used against
turned to his works to justify their actions. As a variety of evildoers is also elaborated
the following extract shows, bin Baz is an here. Whilst the use of non-violent meth-
active proponent of this logic: ods is discussed it is clear that force
remains as an option:
Belief in Allâh also necessitates love
for His sake, hate for His sake, and The Kinds of Jihad
making friends and enemies for His […]
sake. A true believer loves the 2. Jihad against the unbelievers and
believers and takes them for friends, the hypocrites. This kind of Jihad may
and shows hate towards the disbe be by heart, or by abhorring their
lievers and does not take them for deeds, by tongue, i.e., by establishing
friends. the evidence against them and refut
ing their arguments, or by finance,
4C. The Islamic Digest of Aqeedah i.e., by financing da’wah151 programs,
and Fiqh [The Islamic Digest of or maintaining those who participate
Belief and Jurisprudence] in such programs; and by force.
Author: Mahmoud R. Murad
Publisher: Dar-us-Salam 3. Jihad against a tyrant, oppressors,
Published: 1998 people of bid’ah152, or wrongdoers. 151. Da’wah - proselytising.
Language: English This type of Jihad is best done 152. Bid’ah - innovation.
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The hijacking of British Islam
through force if possible, otherwise, by her finery, but if the jilbab is colorful
tongue, or else by abhorring their and decorative, it becomes an orna
deeds in one’s heart. ment in itself and defeats its own pur
pose.
Jihad is the best of righteous deeds.
In his renowned book, AlKabaa’ir (The
Another key theme covered in this vol- Grave Sins), Imam adthDthahabi [al
ume concerns the position of women in Dhahabi]154 asserts:
society. According to the author, a
woman’s body is so dangerous that most Among other things for which a woman
rapes in the West are inspired by female would be cursed, are disclosing the
‘nudity’ (which for some Wahhabites can fineries which she wears under her
mean the uncovered face and hands of a outer garment, wearing perfume in her
woman). The answer, therefore, is to outings, wearing colorful outer garment,
wear an all-covering garment, the jilbab – or a short cloak. Tabarruj includes all
and one that is not too colourful. Here, these things. Allah, the Exalted, hates
we see a form of puritanism that abhors tabarruj and women who practice it.
bright colours and perfumes, stands jux-
taposed to western norms, and which 4D. Fatawa al-Lajna al-Da’imiyya li’l-
even for many practising Muslims Buhuth al-‘Ilmiyya wa’l-Ifta’. Al-
around the world runs counter to the Mujallad al-Awwal, al-‘Aqida
tenets of Islam itself: [Religious Edicts (fatwas) from
the Permanent Council for
all of the woman’s body is vulnerable Knowledge and the Issue of
which must be covered with a gar Fatwas, volume 1, Belief]
ment which hides the details of her Compiler: The Permanent Council for
body. While in the West, most rape Knowledge and Edict Research,
cases are sparked by nudity. Not only The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
that, nudity is one of the most effec Publisher: Al’Abikan Library
tive factors behind reluctance in mar Published: 1412 (1991)
riage, and a major factor in divorce. Language: Arabic
Women display their naked bodies day This Saudi-issued compilation of reli-
and night, and as a result fornication gious edicts covers a variety of themes.
and adultery prevail to the point that it The passages that follow indicate serious
has become a matter of fact in the problems with the acceptance of non-
west. Thus the men evade the shackles Muslim law, respect for the symbols of the
of marriage and take a girlfriend instead. country in which Muslims live (described
[…] as ‘an ugly habit’), and democracy. These
Tabarruj [correctly: tabarruj]153 of echo statements in ‘Loyalty and Enmity’
woman, is displaying her beauty and (see above, pages 31-34) which emphasise
153. From the fifth form of the ornaments to strangers, or men dis a belief in Muslim superiority over non-
Arabic verb baraja, ‘to adorn
herself, to make herself pretty (of
tantly related to her, and wearing in Muslims and the unacceptability of
a woman)’. public, makeup or whatever may Muslims obeying ‘unbelievers’ in any
154. Muhammad ibn Ahmad al- excite men’s lust. sphere of life:
Dhahabi (1274-1348) was a
leading scholar in several Islamic
disciplines. The Kitab al-kaba’ir The purpose of the jilbab is to conceal Q: Is it permissible to stand up for the
is the best known of the roughly
one hundred works he penned. the details of the woman’s body and national anthem or the national flag?
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religions stand, and the laws of their they corrupted, and to guide them and
God. Some examples of this are: the to guide others to the straight path…
Jews claim Uzair [Ezra] was the son of
God, or that God was tired from creating But they have rejected him and turned
the heavens and earth and what is away from him because of their trans
between them in six days, so he needed gression, enmity, and jealousy;
to rest on Saturday; their claim that they although the truth was known to them
crucified and killed Jesus son of Mary
(pbuh) … other examples are the claims In another exchange, it is confirmed that
of the Christians that Jesus (pbuh) is the taking holidays in non-Muslim countries is
son of God, that he is God with Allah; also forbidden:
they also believed the Jews in their claim
that they crucified and killed Jesus. Both Q: I go every year with my wife and lit
of these groups claimed that they are tle daughter on vacation to Greece
the beloved children of God, they disbe and Austria. We spend two weeks at
lieved in Muhammad (pbuh) and what he the beach or visiting the beautiful
brought, they harboured malice and Greek islands and their gardens as a
envy towards him … form of innocent vacation. Is doing so
permissible knowing that both me and
How then can a sane person who my wife maintain our prayer discipline,
knows their insistence upon falsehood, and my wife does not uncover her
and knows their hatred (towards body, and we only eat fruits and veg
Muslims) openly and knowingly, due to etables, and we do not interact with
their envy and of following their whims, the foreigners nor do we look at their
call for closeness between the nakedness. Please advise us.
Muslims and these people?
A: It is forbidden to travel to the coun
... those who convince themselves that tries of polytheistic people without a
they can bring together these two con legal reason, and vacation is no legal
tradictions, or to bring Islam closer to reason for travel …
Judaism and Christianity, is like someone
who tries hard to bring together another That is why we advise not to go to
two contradictions, truth and falsehood, such countries for the reason you
or disbelief and faith … mentioned, because you may become
confused, or because you would be
2. Based on what we said, we can see living amongst the unbelievers …
that the foundations of all faiths which
God sent is to his servants are one … And unsurprisingly, taking citizenship in a
the Jews and the Christians have falsi country whose government is composed of
fied their faith and changed what was unbelievers is also forbidden:
sent to them from their Lord. This way
their religions became counterfeit, a Q: Many Muslims who come to this
grave lie, disbelief, and misguidance. land, they come with the intention of
That is why the Messenger residing here. They finally get the
Muhammad was sent to them and to American citizenship. Is it permissible
other nations in general, in order to that they do so knowing that it is the
uncover what they tried to cover of the land of unbelievers and polytheism
truth, and to unveil the beliefs which and deviancy? How could they give
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The hijacking of British Islam
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Darul Amaan Islamic Centre (The then deals in detail with the concept of
‘Colliers Wood Mosque’) divine unity, the Qur’an, the act of witness,
angels, the Prophet, the Last Day, the Salaf
Address: 54 Merton Road, London, SW19 1DH (the first three generations of Muslims),
Telephone: 020 8543 5687 apostasy, and unbelief. There is a presenta-
Email: n/a tion of the principles of Islamic propaga-
Website: n/a tion, its aims and supports. Jihad is covered
Charity Commission Registration No.: 275579 in some detail, and after that the Islamic
Local MP: Stephen Hammond (Conservative) umma and its leadership. An account of
Local Authority: London Borough of Merton the religious scholars and their position
Affiliations: MCB within society follows and then a section
on holding fast to the Qur’an and the
Traditions. The book ends with an account
Points of Interest of studying the Islamic sciences.
In this passage, the author engages in a
The Darul Amaan Trust that runs the discussion of jihad, arguing that it is for-
Islamic Centre was established in 1978 and bidden for believers ever to abandon it.
its stated objective (according to the
Charity Commission’s website) is, ‘to pro- Abandoning jihad is one of the great
mote the faith of Islam and Islamic chari- est of things prohibited. It is forbidden
table institutions, and relief of poverty in for the people of Islam to abandon the
the United Kingdom’.155 jihad, especially defensive jihad;
indeed, it is one of the greatest of
things prohibited and one of the sever
Books found here included: est of mortal sins. Ibn Hazm156 has
said: ‘There is no sin after that of unbe
5A. Al-Sirat: usul manhaj ahl al- lief greater than the sin of anyone who
sunna wa’l-jama‘a fi’l-I‘tiqad refuses to fight jihad against the unbe
wa’l-‘amal [Conducts/Way of life: lievers and orders the Muslim women to
the principles of the followers of be given to them. 155. ‘Darul Amaan Trust’, Extract
the Prophetic path concerning from the Central Register of
Charities, available at,
belief and [religious] action] It is not a condition for undertaking http://www.charity-
Author: ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Abd al-Khaliq; jihad that a general leader be present. commission.gov.uk/registered-
charities/showcharity.asp?regno
ed. Sheik ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz =275579.
Publisher: n/a There is no disagreement among the 156. Ahmad ibn Sa’id ibn Hazm
(d. 1064) was a famous
Published: 2000 followers of the Prophetic path that
Andalusian theologian and
Language: Arabic there doesn’t have to be a leader in writer. He is best known for his
erotic poem, Tawq al-hamama
order to undertake the duty of jihad, (The Dove’s Necklace).
This book contains a full-length discussion whether voluntarily or defensively…157 157. Some Islamic scholars
based closely on the central Wahhabite argue that under normal condi-
tions, so long as jihad is under-
text, Kitab al-Tawhid [The Book of Divine The fighters (mujahidun) who under taken by some Muslims, it is not
Unity] by Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al- take jihad in the path of God from binding on the rest. But should a
Muslim country come under
Wahhab. It summarises proper belief among the believers are the best of attack, then defensive jihad
becomes a duty binding on
according to the Wahhabite world-view, the people of Islam.
everyone.
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The hijacking of British Islam
in the house. She forces her husband In addition, the following ruling declares
to hire foreign servants to raise their that listening to singing can turn women
children, and organise their home into prostitutes. Here, what amounts to an
affairs, which causes lots of problems obsession with music solely as a path to
and brings great evil. ‘homosexuality and fornication’ acts as a
bar to Muslims taking a fuller part in one
Beyond this, al-Fouzan emphasises that of the most important aspects of western
women are forbidden from driving in a car civilisation:
with a man (as in a taxi) or attending a
male doctor: listening to music, singing and forbid
den instruments which distract the
A woman riding in a car with a man heart from the Qur’an and makes it
unchaperoned is an obvious blamewor [the heart] intent on deviation and
thy act... It entails many corruptions disobedience … it is a recipe for
which cannot be taken lightly. A man homosexuality and fornication.
who accepts his women to do this is Through it the lover gets his utmost
not a real man and his faith is weak. desire (sexual intercourse) from his
[…] beloved … As for women who listen
Some women and some of their to music, it is of the greatest forbid
guardians take the matter of women den acts, and most corrupting of reli
visiting male doctors lightly; they use gion … how many women became
the excuse of their need for treatment. prostitutes because they listened to
This is a grave sin, and a great danger singing.
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London
Saudi Arabia Goodge Street – home to a number of 166. ‘Muslim World League
holds press conference’,
other Islamic organisations. The UK Ministry of Hajj: Kingdom of
branch of the World Assembly of Muslim Saudi Arabia, 20 June 2007,
available at, http://www.hajinfor-
Points of Interest Youth (WAMY) – another Saudi-founded mation.com/main/y1410.htm.
entity – is head-quartered here (for more Last accessed 10 July 2007;
‘The Secretariat-General’,
The Muslim World League (MWL), or on the WAMY, see page 26), as is the Muslim World League, available
Rabitat Al-‘Alam Al-Islami, was founded in Institute of Muslim Minority Affairs at http://www.muslim-
worldleague.org/mwlwbsite_eng/
1962 by Saudi Arabia to promote globally (which produces the Journal of Muslim index.htm. Last accessed 10
July 2007.
the Wahhabite version of Islam that is Minority Affairs) and the Muslim Families
167. ‘The Constituent Council,
practised within the Saudi Kingdom, and UK Charitable Trust.169 The building is Muslim World League, available
as a counter-weight to the pan-Arabist also utilised by the MCB, which has held at, http://www.muslim-
worldleague.org/mwlwbsite_eng/
propaganda of Egypt’s Gamal Abdel legal affairs meetings there.170 There is also index.htm. Last accessed 10
Nasser. a prayer area in the Muslim World League July 2007.
The MWL has since become a major to which all who are in the office are 168. ‘Forum for Muslim Scholars
opened’, Saudi Press Agency,
player in world affairs. It is represented at a expected to come when the call to prayer is available at,
http://www.spa.gov.sa/English/d
number of international organisations, made.
etails.php?id=350165. Last
including: the United Nations, where it In 1989, the MWL was at the forefront accessed 10 July 2007.
enjoys a category (A) observer status on a of the protests against Salman Rushdie’s 169. ‘Homepage’, World
Assembly of Muslim Youth,
consultative basis with the Economic and Satanic Verses; on that occasion, its press available at,
Social Council; the United Nations attaché in London, Ayman Ahwal, noted http://www.wamy.co.uk/;
‘Introduction’, Institute of Muslim
Educational and Scientific Council that only a world-wide ban of the publi- Minority Affairs, available at,
(UNESCO); the United Nations cation would bring an end to their http://www.imma.org.uk/;
‘Muslim Families UK Charitable
Emergency Children’s Fund (UNICEF); protests.171 Trust’, London Online, available
at, http://www.londononline.
and the Organisation of the Islamic More recently, in 2006-7, its French
co.uk/profiles/113869/.
Conference (OIC) where it holds observer branch, in alliance with other Islamic 170. ‘Legal Affairs: Dates of
status which entitles it to attend all confer- organisations, brought a case against the Committee Meetings’, Muslim
Council of Britain, available at,
ences organised by the OIC including the magazine Charlie Hebdo for publishing a http://www.mcb.org.uk/comm_d
Islamic Summit and Foreign Ministers controversial series of cartoons (that first etails.php?heading_id=52&com_i
d=7.
conferences.165 appeared in the Danish newspaper
171. S. Ward, ‘Salman Rushdie –
The current Secretary-General of the Jyllands-Posten satirising Islam and The Satanic Verses: Publishers
Muslim World League is ‘Abd Allah Ibn Muhammad), accusing it of ‘publicly abus- may print apology in ‘Satanic
Verses’, The Independent, 27
‘Abd al-Muhsin al-Turki. Al-Turki operates ing a group of people because of their reli- February 1989.
out of the League’s head-quarters in gion’. Ultimately, however, the charges 172. Angelique Chrisafis,
‘Cartoons did not incite hatred,
Mecca, Saudi Arabia and is effectively the against the magazine and its director were French court rules’, Guardian, 23
day-to-day Chief Executive of the organi- dismissed.172 March 2007.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 71
The hijacking of British Islam
Books found here included: lievers, but also they were innovations
leading to heresy or outright unbelief
7A. Fatayatuna bayna’l-taghrib wa’l- among Muslims. Viewed from such a per-
‘affaf [Our daughters between spective, a Muslim living in a western soci-
westernisation and modesty] ety – which is filled with apparently end-
Author: Nasir Sulayman al-‘Umar less ‘sources of innovation’, faces serious
Publisher: The Office of Da‘wah in Britain problems. In theory, endless fatwas are
Published: n/a required to define what is and what is not
Language: Arabic permissible, with ‘imitation’ of the ‘unbe-
lievers’ considered the worst of all sins.
This book offers, as the title implies, a short Here, for example, the author offers an
discussion of the westernisation of young opinion on the apparently trivial matter of
women. Various ways in which westernisa- beauty salons and hair salons. The objec-
tion can take place are outlined - the press, tion is not to the principle of a woman
films, propaganda, education, clothes, hair- looking beautiful for her husband (provid-
dressing salons, the ‘mania’ of women leaving ed she covers herself fully when out of the
the house and thinking it a prison. The ‘rem- house), but to the salons in themselves,
edy’ that the author proposes is the establish- and to the adoption of western styles:
ment and preservation of a cohort of modest
young women, and it is to them that the Beauty and hair salons:
remainder of the treatise is addressed. These places are strange to the
As the following passage reflects, a key Muslim societies. Do not ask about the
theme here (and one that is common to much new hair cuts, but ask which prosti
of the material covered in this study) is the tute’s name is given to a hair cut....
general ban on anything that brings innova-
tion (bid’ah) into the faith. There has always These tragedies we call hairdressers
been a belief that innovation leads to unbelief. reveal to what new levels the grand
This is based on a number of Wahhabite daughters of the great conquerors (of
interpretations of Prophetic Traditions, Islam) have stooped to
including these: ‘every innovation is error.’ ‘If
anyone makes an innovation or accommo- Underlying such warnings against ‘imita-
dates an innovator, the curse of Allah, the tion’ and ‘innovation’ is a fear of corrup-
angels, and all persons will fall upon him, and tion – especially of Muslim women. Here
Allah will not accept any obligatory or (in another passage that draws on the infa-
supererogatory act as recompense from them’, mous forgery, The Protocols of the Elders of
it notes.173 Even trivial matters that can lead to Zion), Jews and Freemasons are seen as
innovation are to be eschewed: ‘Avoid novel- particular corrupters of Muslim woman-
ties, for every novelty is an innovation, and hood. Quotations are placed in their
every innovation is an error’.174 mouths with a clear indifference as to their
The struggle against innovation became source or plausibility:
much more difficult once Muslim coun-
tries came into direct and regular contact The Jews say in their Protocols of the
with western societies from the late eigh- Elders of Zion: ‘We must win over the
173. Ibid 7:3163; Abu Da’ud, teenth century onwards. Almost every- woman, once she gives us her hand,
Sunan, 39:4515. See also al-
Bukhari, Sahih, 12:41, Muslim
thing that came from Europe was an inno- we would have won the fight.’
9:140. vation. This created a double dilemma:
174. Abu Da’ud, Sunan, 40: western products, ideas, institutions, and Another Jew said: ‘The situation in the
4590; cf. ibid, 460&; al-Tirmidhi,
Sunan, 2676. laws were not only the creation of unbe- east would not be resolved (for them)
72
London
until the girls take off the veil.’ He did Author: Abdullah Al-Tarifi
not stop there with his maliciousness, Publisher: The Office of Da‘wah in Britain
he continued, ‘until she lifts off her veil Published: 1411 (1990)
and covers with it the Qurán.’ Language: Arabic
This book was also found at Al-Manaar
One of the leaders of the Masons said: (The Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre),
‘A drink and a prostitute are more west London (see pages 31-37)
effective in destroying the nation of
Muhammad than a thousand artillery This short book, published in Arabic by
guns, so drown them in the love of the Saudi Office for Da’wah in the UK, is
physical desires.’ devoted entirely to the issue of separation
and the antipathy between Muslims and
This corruption is assumed to owe much western society. Its title is a variant on the
to enticement by fashion and perfume. concept of loyalty and dissociation, which
Again, the apparently malignant hand of is a regular feature of this material.
‘the Jews’ is assumed to be behind these – According to this text: separatism is
even if the passage actually reveals how mandatory; jihad is the struggle against the
uninformed the author is of western histo- enemies of Islam (i.e. all unbelievers);
ry. Below, the author refers to ‘the Jewish showing favour to non-believers is enough
Harry Ford’: a double confusion. This to make a Muslim an apostate – they are to
must be a reference to Henry Ford (of the be hated; it is treachery to join the army of
motor company), who was neither called a non-Muslim state; it is recommended
Harry, nor was a Jew. Indeed, Ford was that a conscripted Muslim should do noth-
well known for his extreme right-wing and ing in battle; and to see anything good in
anti-Semitic sentiments, and was closely other religions is enough to make a
associated with a notorious collection of Muslim an apostate and worthy of death;
anti-Jewish articles, The International Jew: there are grave dangers in loving non-
believers. Throughout, there is total con-
… The Jewish Harry Ford said: ‘The tempt for all that is unIslamic.
Jews have controlled three things in Here is a typical example:
order to achieve their goal; one of
these things is fashion.’ As for enmity, we know it is the
opposite of loyalty. If loyalty means to
The Jews admit that fashion is one of love, support and follow some and
the three things they used to western be close with them, enmity has the
ise our girls … opposite meaning, shown in terms
such as hatred, no support, and to
As for perfumes, everyday there is a stay far and separate from some
new perfume trend … they rob the thing.
pockets of our girls and women and
put the money in the treasure chest of Hatred then is part of enmity; it is the
the thieves. beginning state of enmity and its
cause…
7B. Al-wala’ wa’l ‘ada’ fi ‘alaqat al-
Muslim bi-ghayr al-Muslim From the above we can say this: it is
[Loyalty and enmity concerning mandatory to hate and dislike the
relations between Muslims and unbelievers and polytheists, to never
non-Muslims] ask them for support against the
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The hijacking of British Islam
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one who does such a thing is inno participating with [the unbelievers] in
cent of the religion and an unbeliever, their religious practices:
unless he was ignorant or compelled
to do so. Like their prayers, chanting, funerals,
holy day celebrations, and other reli
Working for non-believers, or under their gious activities they have. This kind
authority, is regarded as subjugation, of participation is taking them as
which is ruled out. Taken at face value, this guardians no doubt
greatly reduces the possibilities for Muslim [...]
employment in the West. Not accepting the Muslim must set himself apart from
the authority of non-Muslims strikes even others in all his states, whether it is in
deeper, since it may easily be interpreted to his beliefs and perceptions, or in his
mean acceptance of any form of authority religious practices and manners, or in
in any non-Muslim state: his morals and values, or in his deal
ings and relations, or in his traditions
to subjugate oneself to [the unbeliev and culture
ers] may be motivated by respect and
love, or it may be due to a weakness It is considered reprehensible for Muslims
of a person: or it may be as a compli to imitate unbelievers even in how they
ment, all these things are inappropriate eat, sleep or dress. It is not a minor matter,
for the Muslim. for the Muslim who imitates non-Muslims
brings on himself or herself a charge of
This subjugation has many forms: apostasy:
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like learning a certain type of knowl • Supporting them and aiding them to
edge, or a certain trade… fight the Muslims.
• Imitating them due to being
As for staying with them for a worldly impressed with and liking their
matter it is not permissible except with matters of religion and worship
the ability to openly practice one’s reli [...]
gion and as long as his stay is tempo 2. And some types are the
rary. greatest of the great sins; a man
would become an unbeliever if he
What it means to show love or loyalty tow- thought them permissible. Examples
ards unbelievers is summed up as follows: are:
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North London Central Mosque Britain (MAB).181 Five MAB members were
(The ‘Finsbury Park Mosque’) made the new trustees of the institution.182
One of the trustees is Dr. Azzam Tamimi,
Address: 7-15 St. Thomas Road, Finsbury Park, another member of the MAB who is also
London, N4 2QH director of the Institute of Islamic Political
177. Dominic Casciani & Sharif
Telephone: 020 7424 5252 Thought.183 Tamimi was the same man who, Sakr, ‘The battle for the
Email: info@nlcentralmosque.com in November 2004, told the BBC that he was mosque’, BBC News Online, 7
February 2006, available at,
Website: http://www.nlcentralmosque.com prepared to be a suicide bomber against Israel http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/46
Charity Commission Registration No.: 299884 if the opportunity arose.184 Tamimi has since 39074.stm.
Local MP: Jeremy Corbyn (Labour) claimed that the MAB was asked by the 178. Sean O’Neill & Daniel
McGrory, The Suicide Factory:
Local Authority: London Borough of Islington authorities to take control of the mosque: Abu Hamza and the Finsbury
Affiliations: MCB, MAB, IIPT ‘MAB was approached by a combination of Park Mosque (London, 2006),
pp. 90-2; Sean O’Neill, ‘The
people - the old trustees, the police, the Home drifters and dropouts who turned
on their adopted home’, The
Office, MPs, and we were asked could we, if
Times, 10 July 2007.
Points of Interest we had the opportunity, run this mosque’.185 179. O’Neill & McGrory, The
In February 2005, the mosque reopened its Suicide Factory, pp. 253-264.
Formerly known simply as the ‘Finsbury doors to the public, replete with new imams 180. Ibid., pp. 265-295.
Park Mosque’, the North London Central and a new Board of Trustees. In line with 181. Casciani & Sakr, ‘The battle
for the mosque’, BBC News
Mosque was founded in 1988 at a cost of Tamimi’s assertions that the mosque has been Online, 7 February 2006, avail-
£8million.177 ‘cleansed’, it now claims to have firmly turned able at, http://news.bbc.co.uk
/1/hi/uk/4639074.stm.
It gained nation-wide notoriety for its its back on extremism and to be concerned
182. ‘Terror link of “moderate”
association with the activities and rhetoric only with ‘serving the local Muslim commu- Muslims at London rally’, Daily
Mail, 11 February 2006.
of the radical preacher, Abu Hamza al- nity’ and ‘working with everyone to promote
183. ‘Home page’, Institute of
Masri. This was particularly so after it dialogue and understanding in our multi-cul- Islamic Political Thought, avail-
emerged that convicted terrorists linked to al- tural society’.186 In line with the latter aim, the able online (cached) at,
http://66.102.9.104/search?q=ca
Qaeda – Richard Reid and Zaccarias mosque’s mission statement talks of its desire, che:sTxqswJq560J:www.ii-
Moussaoui – as well as members of the failed ‘to reach out to the rest of society to give them pt.com/+tamimi+insititute+politi-
cal+thought&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=
21/7 bomb attacks in London (Muktar Said a better idea about Islam and to dispel any 1. Last accessed 10 July 2007.
Ibrahim, Yassin Omar and Ramzi myths and misconceptions they may have in 184. Tamimi cited in ‘Hardtalk:
Interview with Dr. Azzam al-
Mohammed) had either attended the mosque an effort to promote good relations in society. Tamimi’, BBC News 24, 2
or been radicalised in extremist circles con- This includes holding interfaith conferences November 2004. Transcript
available online at,
nected with the institution.178 Such revelations and running Islam awareness courses for http://www.geocities.com/mar-
prompted the Charity Commission to express workers in the public sector.’187 tinkramerorg/Documents/Tamimi
Hardtalk.htm. Last accessed 10
concerns over the management of the mosque July 2007.
and its use for political activities. 185. Tamimi cited in Casciani &
In January 2003, the mosque was raided Books found here included: S. Sakr, ‘The battle for the
mosque’, BBC News Online, 7
by the Metropolitan Police during the course February 2006, available at,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/46
of its investigation into the so-called ‘ricin 8A. Bayna’l-da‘wa al-qawmiyya wa’l-
39074.stm.
plot’ – with police claiming that several of the rabita al-Islamiyya [Between the 186. Tamimi cited in Glenn
men involved in the plot were also attendees call to nationalism and the call to Frankel, ‘Muslim leaders in
Britain pledge solidarity despite
at the mosque.179 In the wake of this raid, Abu the Islamic League] divisions’, Washington Post, 20
Hamza was forced out and the mosque was Author: Abu al-A‘la al-Mawdudi July 2005; ‘Home’, North
London Central Mosque Trust,
closed – though he continued to preach on Publisher: Al-Ansar Publishing House available at, http://www.nlcen-
the streets outside until his arrest in May Published: n.d. tralmosque. com/. Last
accessed 10 July 2007.
2004.180 Language: Arabic
187. ‘Home’, North London
In early 2005, the mosque was subject to a Central Mosque Trust, available
at, http://www.nlcentralmosque.
‘takeover’ by a new management committee This book is a translation into Arabic of a com/. Last accessed 10 July
of men from the Muslim Association of famous volume by the south east Asian radi- 2007.
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The hijacking of British Islam
cal Islamist, Abu al-A‘la al-Mawdudi, the man darity around country and progeny, as for
who created the Jamaat-e-Islami political you, oh Muslim, your solidarity is due to
party. Running through the text is an insis- the strength of your faith’.
tence on a separatist philosophy for Muslims
that impinges on all areas of life, but is partic- Some people may say that it is possible
ularly divisive in one respect; namely, alle- to maintain the ties of Islamic nationality
giance to the country of which a Muslim is a while having a sense of country and race
citizen. This is made clear in the following nationalism. Such people are cheating
short passage. themselves and wronging it [Islamic
When he speaks of ‘Islamic nationality’, al- nationality] by saying that both nationali
Mawdudi means allegiance to the umma, ties are compatible …
which he envisages as a sort of Islamic super-
nation uniting all Muslims in the world into Since man was not made with two
a single, indivisible community. Note the cru- hearts in his chest, there is no way that
cial phrase at the end, identifying the non- conflicting emotions and contradictory
Muslim as ‘alien’. Note too the opening state- feelings towards two different nationalities
ment, that western and Islamic principles are would coexist in one heart. It is a given
contradictory: that if feeling towards one nationality
grew in a person’s heart, he must then
The principles of Islam and the principles distinguish between what is familiar (to
of the West are contradictory and in that nationality) and what is alien. Based
opposition in terms of nationality. That on this, it is natural for the Muslim to look
which is a source of strength and vigour upon the Muslim as familiar and to the
there is a source of weakness and failure nonMuslim as alien.
here; and that which is the water of life
here is the deadly poison there. On this Introducing the ‘sources of Islamic national-
matter the Muslim poet and the wise ism’, al-Mawdudi asserts a bi-polar world-
man of the East Muhammad Iqbal said, view that juxtaposes the Islamic sphere with
‘Do not compare the West to your all else:
nation, because for sure the nation of the
Hashemite Prophet (pbuh) is unique in its It is as if humanity as a whole is divided
content. They (the West) believe in soli into two Nations: the Nation of Islam and
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belief – whose followers are all one humans is a deficient civilisation. A civili
Nation [umma]; and the Nation of disbe sation, which ignores the spread of
lief and those who deviate from what is crime, ignores moral sickness, is a los
right. The followers of this [latter] route ing and anxious civilisation. All these
also comprise one Nation, in spite of all dangers will cause it to decline and
the disagreements and controversies that wither …
they have.
Elsewhere, meanwhile, the author explains
Furthermore, in another place, al-Mawdudi the problems he sees in the Muslim world.
insists that Muslims should completely isolate He argues that this world has, since the
themselves from those he deems not to be beginning of the nineteenth century, failed
Muslims, saying: to defend itself against what he terms ‘for-
eign forces’ – meaning the West – due to
Whoever is a Muslim and would like to the fact that it was disunited. He then goes
remain a Muslim, surely must drive from on to suggest seven reasons, ranging across
his mind any attitude that is not based on social, political, generational and cultural
the Nationhood of Islam; he must cut all factors to explain this lack of unity.
other ties and connections based on Underlying these, however, is said to be a
race, or friendship. familiarly malign hand:
8B. ‘Ala hamish sahwat al-‘alam al- World Jewry focuses all its efforts on
Islami [At the edge of the isolating Islam from society and plans
awakening of the Islamic world] to force it out of the region. It con
Author: Mahmoud al-Naku’ stantly suggests to other foreign forces
Publisher: MWH/Dar al-Ri‘aya al-Islamiyya that the Islamic religion is an obstacle
Published: n.d. to peace and coexistence between
Language: Arabic the nations.
This publication is from the London-based 8C. Risalat al-Hijab [The Treatise
‘Muslim Welfare House’ (MWH or Dar al- regarding the Veil]
Ri‘aya al-Islamiyya). The MWH is based close Author: Muhammad ibn Salih bin al-‘Uthaimin
to the Finsbury Park Mosque, at 233 Seven Publisher: Thurayya Publishing House
Sisters Road – on the same site as the offices Published: n.d.
of the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB). Language: Arabic
In this book the author makes clear his con-
tempt for western society. This is a short treatise on veiling that considers
As the following passage reflects, western the proofs for the necessity of women being
civilisation as a whole is deemed to have covered from the Qur’an, the Traditions (the
failed: sayings and doings of the Prophet), and anal-
ogous reasoning. The author also examines the
In the areas of organising social relation proofs of free-thinkers in support of uncover-
ships, achieving economic justice, provid ing the face, and provides a rebuttal of these.
ing safety, establishing peace, and affirm As the following passage reveals, the rulings
ing love and social cohesiveness; the on veiling here show little sign of being rele-
western civilisation has failed to achieve vant to twenty-first century norms and
its ideal state. demands:
A civilisation which gives more attention A woman should not stamp her feet, for
to dogs and cats that it does to that will make known what she hides of
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The hijacking of British Islam
her anklets and the like, with which she shame or embarrassment in compet
adorns herself for men. So, if a woman is ing [with men]; in this lies great mis
forbidden to stamp her feet for fear it chief and vast corruption.
may be a temptation for a man when he
hears her anklets and other ornaments 8D. Manhaj al-Islam fi bina’ al-usra
tinkling, how much more needful is it for [Islam’s way of building the family]
her to cover her face. Author: ‘Abd Allah Ibn ‘Abd al-Muhsin al-Turki
Publisher: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, The
Feet are not the only problem. Letting Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
women uncover a single eye to see with is seen Published: 1419 (1998)
as a major concession: Language: Arabic
Ibn ‘Abbas has said: ‘God ordered the In this book, published by the Saudi
wives of the believers that, when they go Ministry of Islamic Affairs, the author –
out from their houses for some necessity the Secretary-General of the Muslim
they must cover their faces from the top World League and a former Saudi
of their heads to their cloaks, and they Government Minister188 – argues that
are to show no more than a single eye.’ Islamic rulings on the family are derived
… Some of the clergy have said that the from religious principles and are part of
command goes back to the Prophet and the perfect religion of Islam: issues con-
his saying ‘let them show only one eye’ cerning the family are deemed to fall
was only a concession for the sake of between duties and rights. He discusses the
necessity and the need to see the road; if aims of the family, the sexual question in
there were no such need, it would not be Islam, adultery, the family in western soci-
required to reveal one eye. ety (decadent).
In the following passage it is described how
The basis for such injunctions as these is the a woman who asks for a divorce without
notion that the threat of woman’s beauty has enduring ‘hardships’ deserves to go to hell:
great potential to cause social mischief.
Uncovering her face, it is argued, can lead to He [Muhammad] (pbuh) said : ‘Any
the following corruptions: woman who asks her husband for
divorce without enduring hardship, will
Mischief: Woman enchants herself when never even smell the perfume of para
she makes her face beautiful and pretti dise.’
fies it and displays it in a tempting form.
This is one of the great causes of evil and Elsewhere, it is also described how any breach
corruption. of the sexual rules under Islam can lead to
severe punishment:
The disappearance of shame from the
woman, which is part of faith and one of Islamic law slams shut the doors of
the requirements of her innate nature. what is forbidden and, by way of com
pensation, opens the door of what is
Men’s being tempted by her, especially if permitted. What is forbidden in Islam
she is beautiful… applies in the first degree to the crime
of adultery or fornication. The other
188. For confirmation of al- The mixing of men and women. If offences, such as homosexuality and
Turki’s position, see, for exam-
ple, Muslim World League, avail-
woman considers herself equal to men lesbianism, are deviations that go
able at, http://www.muslim- in uncovering her face and walking against nature and are rare (in Islamic
worldleague.org/mwlwbsite_eng/
index.htm. about unveiled, she will show no society). Nevertheless, their fate is
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derived from the warnings in Islamic In the following passage, which is taken
law and its strict and severe punish from the ‘Jihad Tract’ [Risalat al-Jihad], al-
ments, suited to the nature of the Banna brings a series of quotes from the
crime and its severity. Qur’an and Hadiths on the jihad being a
religious duty. He concludes by saying:
As for adultery, it has taken up a large
amount of legislative concern, consider Islam today, its lands and countries are
ing that it is the most widespread of in a condition known and fully under
offences. Whoever thinks adultery is per stood to the Muslims: looted and sep
missible in Islam is an unbeliever. arated by the hands of the rapists,
Whoever perishes in it without thinking it desired by those who are greedy. [To
permissible [i.e. knowing it is forbidden] is the Muslims], jihad is now a dictated
corrupt and should be stoned if married obligation and essential necessity. It is
and flogged and banished if unmarried. upon their leaders and heads to lead
and mobilise them to it. For this they
8E. Minbar al-Jum‘a [The Friday will have the triumph, the glory and
Pulpit] consent in this world, and the reward
Author: Hasan al-Banna and heaven in the afterworld…’
Publisher: Dar al-Da‘wah
Published: 1988 In another tract, the ‘art of death’ [fan al-
Language: Arabic mawt], al-Banna speaks on the novelty of
death for the sake of Allah, and concludes
This is a collection of sermons of Hasan al- with the words,
Banna, the founder of the Muslim
Brotherhood. The book brings together sev- Oh Muslims, you are now on the edge
eral of al-Banna’s basic tracts (rasa’il), which of a new year. If you accept [the mes
were, for a period, published on Fridays by sage of love of this world and hate to
the Muslim Brotherhood’s first daily paper death] in the souls between your
Jaridat al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun (until this waists, love life, hate death and keep
organ was closed down by the Egyptian away from the responsibilities of jihad,
Government in 1948). Here, various topics you will end up getting nowhere. But, if
are covered, including the Night Journey you change those souls, substitute the
and Ascent to Heaven (mi‘raj) of the cowardice and weaknesses, love
Prophet, faith, proof, idols, the single death for the sake of truth and master
umma, the nation, revolution, jihad and the its tools and methods, no doubt you
‘art of death’. The title page carries the sym- will get by the permission of Allah to
bol of the Muslim Brotherhood and pro- the triumph in this world and the
claims ‘Fifty Years of Jihad’. immortality in the afterworld…’
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 81
The hijacking of British Islam
The London Central Mosque the advisory body that works with the
and Islamic Cultural Centre (The Metropolitan Police Service and the
‘Regent’s Park Mosque’) Association of Chief Police Officers on
issues relating to Muslim communities.193
Address: 146 Park Road, London, NW8 7RG
Telephone: 020 7724 3363
Email: directorgeneral@iccuk.org Books found here included:
Website: http://www.nlcentralmosque.com
Charity Commission Registration No.: 231920 9A. Four Essays on the Obligation of
Local MP: Karen Buck (Labour) Veiling
Local Authority: Westminster City Council Authors: ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz,
Affiliations: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, MCB, MSF Muhammad bin Saleh al-‘Uthaimin, Saleh
Bin al-Fouzan and Zayd bin Muhammad bin
Haadee Al-Madkhalee.
Points of Interest Publisher: Al-Ibaanah Book Publishing
Published: 2006
Also known as the ‘Regent’s Park Mosque’, Language: English
the London Central Mosque was founded
during World War Two, with Churchill’s This text is a compilation of four essays by
189. ‘London Central Mosque’, War Cabinet allocating £100,000 for the leading Saudi scholars. The first deals with
((Regent’s Park Mosque’),
Sacred Destinations Travel acquisition of the site for the mosque next tabarruj, the shame-provoking unveiling of
Guide, available at,
to Regent’s Park.189 The Islamic Cultural women; the second focuses on hijab in
http://www.sacred-destina-
tions.com/england/london- Centre, which would later include the general, employing citations from the
regents-park-mosque.htm. Last
accessed 10 July 2007. See
mosque, was officially opened in Qur’an, Hadith, and Muslim scholars;
also, Idris Tawfiq, ‘A Mosque in November 1944 by King George VI. essay three provides general advice to
the Centre of London’, Islam
Online.net, available at,
Building work on the mosque itself did Muslim women (on covering up, not trav-
http://www.islamonline.net/servl not begin until 1969 when a design was elling without a proper male companion,
et/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=116
8265593343&pagename=Zone- finally approved and construction staying at home, etc.); and number four
EnglishEuro_Muslims%2 began.190 discusses the obligation of veiling the
FEMELayout. Last accessed 20
September 2007; A. Tibawi, The principal source of initial funding hands and face (in the extreme form of
‘History of the London Central
for the project was a donation of £2 mil- total veiling). A central theme throughout
Mosque and the Islamic Cultural
Centre 1910-1980’, Die Welt des lion, made by King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. is that women enjoy no independent exis-
Islams (1981), pp. 193-208.
The mosque was finally completed in July tence.
190. ‘London Central Mosque
(Regent’s Park Mosque’), Sacred
1977, at a total cost of £6.5 million.191 As the following passage shows, they
Destinations Travel Guide, avail- Over the years the mosque has played exist only as daughters, sisters, wives and
able at, http://www.sacred-desti-
nations.com/england/london-
host to many prominent visitors – from mothers and can enjoy no social role
regents-park-mosque.htm. Last both the UK and abroad. These have beyond that:
accessed 10 July 2007.
included (as displayed on the mosque’s
191. ‘The Islamic Cultural Centre
and London Mosque’, available own website), HRH Prince Muhammed women are obligated to stay in their
at, http://www.iccuk.org/icc/his-
bin Nawaf al-Saud (Saudi Ambassador to homes and are forbidden to come out
tory/history.htm. Last accessed
10 July 2007. the UK), Sheikh Salih bin Abdul Aziz Al from them.
192. ‘Famous Visitors to the al-Sheikh (Minister of Islamic Affairs,
ICC’, The Islamic Cultural Centre
& London Mosque, available at,
Saudi Arabia), Rt. Hon. Jack Straw MP, Following on from this, the more a woman
http://www.iccuk.org/icc/vip.htm Mike O’Brien MP and Nasim Ali (former stays at home, the better:
. Last accessed 10 July 2007.
Mayor of the London borough of
193. ‘Home’, The Muslim Safety
Forum, available at, Camden).192 From the new forms of this forbidden
http://www.muslimsafetyforum.o
In addition, the Islamic Cultural Centre type of privacy that has appeared in
rg/. Last accessed 3 October
2007. is a member of the Muslim Safety Forum – our times is a woman riding in a car
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[as a passenger] by herself with a driv Shaikh Saalih AlFawzaan was asked:
er that is not mahram194 to her. So he ‘What is your advice to the male
takes her to the school, to the market guardians [sic] of certain women who
and even to the masjid [mosque]! This are lax when it comes to the issue of
is not permissible. It is not permissible Hijaab and who are engrossed in
for a woman to ride in her car alone exposing their alluring bodily features
with a driver that is not a mahram to to malestrangers [sic] in the markets
her because this is from the prohibited and other places? What is the role of a
forms of privacy woman’s maleguardian in safeguard
[...] ing her Religion?’
A Muslim woman must also not be
excessive in going out from her house So he replied: ‘Allaah says: ‘Men are
unless it is for a valid necessity that the protectors and maintainers of
cannot be fulfilled unless she goes out. women because of the fact [sic] that
So if she has a need to go out, she Allaah has favoured some of them (i.e.
must cover herself and not go out per men) over others (women).’ [Surah An
fumed. The reason for this is that if Nisaa: 34]. Allaah has enabled and
she goes out perfumed, it is a cause entrusted men to take care of and be
for the occurrence of evil and the responsible for women. And He com
drawing of looks towards her, as well manded the women to obey Him and
as men gazing at her and their follow forbade them from disobeying Him.
ing after her. This includes the Hijaab. The Hijaab is
one of God’s commandments. So
So, however much a woman is able to therefore it is an obligation on her
stay at home, this is more protective of maleguardian to oblige her to wear it,
her. Allah addressed His Prophet’s regardless is he is [sic] her direct male
wives – who are our role models – guardian such as her father, son,
saying: ‘And remain in your homes’. brother or someone who has
[Surah AlAhzaab: 33] guardianship over her, or if he is a
[...] general guardian, such as the Muslim
Many women are afflicted today with ruler who may mandate the Muslim
going out of their homes – not for women to wear the Hijaab.
something important but rather to just
roam around the marketplaces whilst Therefore, a Muslim ruler may oblige
adorning themselves, perfuming them the women of his country to wear the
selves and uncovering their faces. Hijaab, in the general sense, while
When they enter the shops and go the maleguardians in charge of
inside the showrooms, they uncover households may oblige the women
their faces in front of the workers and that live in their homes to wear the
the salesmen as if they were her Hijaab (in the specific sense). They
mahaarim [i.e. mahrams]. And they are responsible for these women. If
have friendly conversations with them, the women knew that the general
joking and laughing with them. Where ruler in charge of her affairs as well
is the modesty, O Muslim women?! as her specific maleguardian oblige
Won’t you fear Allah?! her to obey Allaah and abandon dis
obeying Him, she would not put up
194. A mahram is someone who
Men are given guardianship over women any resistance in these matters. But
cannot marry a woman (e.g.
and can force them to wear the veil: when the maleguardians show laxity father, brothers, or sons).
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The hijacking of British Islam
in these matters, the women become those who follow them. And know that
bold. remaining silent with them (when they
commit these evil deeds) is the same
Apart from the need to keep a woman at as participating with them in their sin
her tasks as a wife and mother, as the fol- and in receiving Allaah’s anger and
lowing passages make clear, the need to punishment. May Allaah protect you
keep her in the home is inspired by an and us from the evil of that!
underlying sense of female weakness. […]
Added to this is the belief that the female From the greatest forms of depravity is
body, in each and every part, compels men when many of the (Muslim) women
to lust and thus potentially brings about imitate the disbelieving women, such
the collapse of social order. It is this that as the Christians, by wearing short
creates an imperative to keep women cov- garments, exposing the hair and other
ered, under control, and disciplined: body parts, getting hairstyles accord
ing to the fashion of the people of dis
Everyone with some understanding is belief and wickedness, adding hair
aware of the misfortunes that have extensions and wearing manufactured
occurred in many of the lands, such as hairpieces known as wigs.
women indecently exposing them
selves, revealing their faces and not We know very well what comes as a
195
observing the proper Hijaab in front result of this imitation and wearing of
of men, as well as their openly expos scanty garments that make women
ing their adornment, which Allaah has look naked, such as depravity, tribula
forbidden them from revealing. No tions, lenience in the Religion and a
doubt, this is from the great wrongs decrease in modesty. So it is an obli
and manifest sins. And it is from the gation to beware of that and to restrict
greatest causes for punishment and the women from doing that, whilst
wrath descending upon the ummah.196 being stern in this matter. … It is not
This is because of what comes as a permissible to be lenient about these
result of unveiling and indecent expo things with young girls since bringing
sure, such as the appearance of them up with that will only lead them
immorality, the enactment of crimes, a to grow accustomed to it … they will
decrease in modesty and widespread fall into the dreaded mischief, sin, and
mischief.... fitnah,197 which the older women fall
into.
restrict your women from that which […]
Allaah has made forbidden for them There are women that have been
whilst requiring from them that they afflicted by this crime of plucking the
observe the Hijaab and veil themselves eyebrows based on their following of
properly. the disbelieving women, lewd sinful
[…] women and ignorant women that do
So Fear Allaah O Muslims! And take not care about disobeying Allaah and
hold of the hands of your women and His Messenger.
prevent them from doing what Allaah […]
195. Hijab - covering. has forbidden, such as unveiling, The societies of the past and the pres
196. Umma - the Islamic nation. showing off their adornment, exposing ent were not destroyed except due to
197 Fitna –used here to mean their features, and imitating the ene the cause of women in most cases.
corruption, can also mean disor-
der, strife. mies of Allah, from the Christians and So a woman is a means leading to
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The hijacking of British Islam
It is not just non-Muslims who are defined their Shaikh holds the position of a
as false, but followers of differing Islamic lord, who will guarantee them paradise
groups as well: and forgive them all of their evil deeds,
then they are disbelievers and if your
Q. Some people consider that it is an father orders you to be one of them
obligation upon the Muslim to blindly and forbids you to pray and fast, then
201
follow one of the four well known do not obey him….205
schools of Islamic Jurisprudence in
order for their acts of worship and Other groups are condemned as well. The
their deeds to be correct. Yet the Qadyanis/Ahmadiyya are based mainly in
Mathab [sic] of the Shiites is not Pakistan, but have a small international
included amongst them, not even the following:
Mathhab [sic] of the Zaidi Shiites.202
Does your Eminence agree absolutely The Ruling on Qadyanis and Their
with this view, and thus prohibit the Membership:
blind following of the Mathhab [sic] of The Committee of the Fiqh Academy
the Shiites…? has examined the matter of the
A. … It is not permissible for the Qadyani sect, which appeared in India
Muslim to blindly follow the Shiite in the last century (the nineteenth cen
Imamate Mathhab [sic], nor any other tury of the Christian era), and which is
such like Mathhab [sic] from ‘the peo also known as the Ahmadiyyah move
ple of innovation’… ment. The Fiqh Academy has studied
their beliefs….
Sufis are also heavily criticised. The follow-
ing fatwa deals with the best known of the A summary of these follows, including the
North African orders, the Shadhiliyya. It is Ahmadiyya rejection of Jihad.
worth noting that many sheikhs of Cairo’s
al-Azhar mosque/university, the leading Having studied these documents and
seat of authority in Sunni Islam, have been others like them, including the
and are Shadhilis. What is shocking in numerous manuscripts which make
both the question and the fatwa is that clear the beliefs of the Qadyanis, its
they show considerable ignorance of what [sic] founder and its [sic] establish
201. The meaning of ‘blindly fol- Shadhilis believe and do. ment and its [sic] dangerous aims –
low’ (taqlid) is that it is widely
believed that independent rea- the destruction of correct Islamic
soning in matters of religion and
Q. There is a sect known as Ash beliefs and the diversion of the
law ended by the tenth century,
and that all Sunni Muslims must Shathliyyah [sic], who neither pray nor Muslims away from it, and towards
act in accordance with the rul- 203
ings of four law schools (mad-
fast, nor give Zakat, and there is a misguidance, the Fiqh Committee
hhab, pl. madhahib). person whom they call Sayyiduna (Our has unanimously determined that the
204
202. A minority Shi‘a sect, main- Master) and they say that he occu beliefs of the Qadyanis, known also
ly restricted to Yemen.
pies the place of their ‘lord’, and he is as Ahmadiya [sic], are unIslamic and
203. Zakat is alms for the poor.
their representative on the Last Day, that the pretension of its followers to
204. This refers to Abu’l-Hasan
al-Shadhili (d. 1258), the founder he forgives them everything which they be Muslims is no more than an
of the order.
do in their lives in this world…. attempt to misguide and deceive;
205. Like other mainstream Sufi
orders, the Shadhili do, in fact,
and the Committee of the Fiqh
perform the salat, fast at A. …. If the situation is as you say, that Academy declares that it is incum
Ramadan, and pay the zakat
alms-tax. See, for example, the
your father and those with him in this bent upon the Muslims – govern
following Shadhili web page: sect do not pray and do not fast and ments, scholars, writers, thinkers,
http://www.suficenter.org/faq.
html. that they believe that their leader or preachers, and others – to oppose
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this misguided sect and its followers is the destruction of Islam and the
all over the world. Muslims.
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The hijacking of British Islam
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Meanwhile, women are considered so she can complete her high school or
dangerous that even shaking hands with university education, or, so that she
one through a cloth can lead to tempta- can study for a number of years. What
tion. is the ruling on this, and what is your
advice to those who do it? And what
shaking hands with unrelated women is your advice to those who delay it
might lead to some temptation (Fitnah) such that the young women might
over them, like looking at them, or reach the age of thirty or more without
even more so marrying?
[…]
It is not permissible for a man to shake A. The ruling on that is that it is con
hands with a woman who is unrelated trary to the order of the Prophet,
to him, even if she placed a piece of because the Prophet said:
cloth over her hand when shaking ‘If one whose religion and character
hands. pleases you proposes to you, then
marry (your daughter to) him’.209
Even speaking with a woman on the tele-
phone is deemed dangerous: Refusing marriage causes loss of the
benefits of marriage, so my advice to
It is not permissible to speak with an my Muslim brothers who are
unrelated woman in a manner which guardians of women and to my adult
may excite desire, such as by speak Muslim sisters is not to refuse mar
ing words of love, flirting and subduing riage in order to complete their edu
one’s voice, whether on the telephone cation or teaching. However, it is pos
or otherwise. sible for a woman to make it a condi
tion of marriage that she be allowed
In addition, it is decreed that writing let- to continue her studies until she has
ters (or presumably e-mails?) to a woman is completed them, and likewise to con
likely to lead to trouble: tinue to teach for a year or two, as
long as she is not busy with children
Q: If a man corresponds with an unre and there is no objection to this.
lated woman, and they come to love Although the idea of a woman pro
each other, is this action considered to gressing in university studies in sub
be forbidden? jects for which there is no need
should be examined. I consider that if
A: This action is not permissible, a woman has completed primary
because it excites desire between the school level and is able to read and
two, and incites the urge to arrange write sufficiently well to benefit from
meetings and telephone calls... this knowledge in reading the Book of
Allah [the Qur’an], its explanation and
Finally, a further ruling claims that it is recitation and the Hadiths of the
better for women to marry, rather than Prophet and their explanation, then
study, since they do not need anything that is enough. Unless she is studying
beyond primary education: knowledge which is essential for the
people, such as medicine and the like
Q. There is a widespread custom, – as long as there is nothing danger
which is a young woman or her father ous, such as mixing [with men] or
refusing proposals of suitors, so that other things. 209 Al-Tirmidhi No. 1084.
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• What about a man who says that is used for what is good – for spread
he finds it impossible to turn off his ing the truth, for the recitation of the
television when music or women Qur’an, explaining the truth, for calling
appear? to good and warning against evil –
• Are the shows I described above in then it is permitted.
concordance with the Shari’ah?
• Is it permissible for men and Another area in which the tenets of west-
women, in general, to watch the ern society are deemed antithetical to the
programs I described? teachings of Islam as propounded here is
[…] that of medical practice. It is, for example,
A: No doubt, all of the points you suggested that mental illness may be cured
mentioned describe programs that are through prayer in preference to modern
unlawful (forbidden), a fact that no one medicine:
will deny, or at least no one who is
aware of the Islamic Shari’ah, due to Q. Does a believer ever become
the harm these shows have on society affected by mental illness? What is the
– corruption of the character and cure for mental illness, considering that
morals of those who constitute our modern medicines and chemicals are
societies. used [sic ‘only based on’?] only pres
[…] entday theories to cure it?
No doubt, obtaining a television set for
the purposes you outlined is unlawful, A. For sure, man is often beset with
for watching what is unlawful is itself worries regarding the future and sad
unlawful. A person is sinning when he ness regarding the past. Some forms
persists in obtaining a television if he of mental illness are more detrimental
knows that he will not be able to pro to the body than physical ailments
tect himself or his family from evil pro are.210 The cures to these diseases are
grams. Even if he does not watch tele better achieved by what the Shari’ah
vision himself, he is sinning, because prescribed – the Ruqya211 – much
he is helping others to do what is more so than but the use of modern
unlawful … Watching television without medicine….
actually acquiring one as property is of
three kinds: A long and a short invocation are provid-
[…] ed. Other medieval sources are referred to,
2.Watching what is harmful to one’s before the author continues:
religion; this is unlawful. A Muslim
must protect his religion from all But when the faith weakens, so weak
negative influences. ens the self acceptance of Shari’ah
3. Watching what is neither beneficial cures. People nowadays place more
nor harmful: this kind of viewing is a trust in physical remedies than in
waste of time, something that does remedies prescribed by the Shari’ah.
210. This may in part be correct:
not befit a determined believer. When a person’s faith is strong, the see Alok Jha, ‘Depression more
harmful than angina, says
Shari’ah remedy is more effective, and study’, The Guardian, 7
There is no ruling for television itself, faster in results than other cures. September 2007, at:
http://www.guardian.
but rather for how it is used. If it is co.uk/science/2007/sep/07/medi
used for what is unlawful – such as for Elsewhere, a ruling indicates that the great- cineandhealth.lifeandhealthinsur-
ance.
music, for lies, for disbelief, or for est form of striving (jihad) in God’s path is
211. Reading over a sick person,
licentiousness – then it is unlawful. If it with one’s life: usually with part of the Qur’an.
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The hijacking of British Islam
Q. Is Jihad in the way of Allâh the helpling others in good in any form.
same level regardless of whether it is The highest form of Jihad, however,
with one’s life, wealth, or supplication, is with one’s life; then come Jihad
even if somebody is capable of the with one’s wealth and Jihad with
type that involves one’s life? teaching and guidance, and in this
way Da’wah [preaching and sum
A. There are different kinds of Jihad moning to Islam] is a form of Jihad,
— with one’s self, wealth, supplica but Jihad with one’s life is the highest
tion, teaching, giving guidance, or form.212
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The hijacking of British Islam
Other beliefs which contradict the with the unanimous agreement of all
true belief include AlBatiniyah216 and Muslim scholars.
Sufism whose followers believe that
their socalled saints are Allah’s part 10B. Al-’Adl fi Shari‘at al-Islam, wa
ners in His rile and disposition of the laysa fi’l-dimuqratiyya al-
world’s affairs. … Indeed, this is the maz‘uma [Justice is in the Law
worst form of Shirk217 with relation to of Islam and not in the
Allah’s Lordship; it is even far worse acclaimed democracy]
than the form of Shirk which was Author: ‘Abd al-Muhsin ibn Hamad
prevalent in PreIslamic Arabia, for Publisher: Al-Mughni Publishing House
the Arabs at that time joined part Published: 1426 (2005)
ners with Allah only in worship not in Language: Arabic
His Lordship.
This is a short work arguing the need for
Meanwhile, this text also makes clear the creation of a Caliphate (Islamic
that to seek any kind of modernisation state), which will rule by shari’ah law,
for Islamic law, including the abolition which is itself deemed to embody justice.
of physical punishments, makes a Islamic justice is held to include human
Muslim an apostate: rights [albeit by a different standard to
contemporary universal human rights
The fourth point mentioned above theory]. Also within this text, there is a
also includes those who believe that discussion of the role of consultation in
manmade laws are better than the Islam and the Caliphate. The author
Islamic Law, that the Islamic Law is examines how power is obtained in a
not suitable to be implemented in democracy, then criticises democracy,
the present century, that Islam is the freedom and equality between men and
reason behind Muslims’ backward women, arguing that women cannot rule
ness in some spheres of life, or that over men.
it is not applicable in other spheres As the following excerpt reveals:
of life apart from regulating one’s life
with one’s Lord. This point also To govern in a socalled democracy
includes those who believe that cut is based upon political parties. Each
ting off the thief’s hand is a back party will have one candidate after
ward law that should not be imple which there will be an election in
mented in the presentday society. It which any citizen can elect whom he
also includes those who believe that or she wants. After the vote count,
it is permissible to dispense with the the winner will be the one with most
Islamic Law in matters relating to the votes. This method, which the
social life and the boundary limits for Muslims have imported from their
the lawful and the unlawful even if enemies, contradicts Islam in many
they do not believe that other laws ways.
are not better than the Islamic Law. […]
For this means that they have made In the socalled imported democracy
216. The term means literally, lawful what Allah had already made freedom is absolute, it is not
‘those who believe in inner reali-
ties’ and whilst it more common- unlawful. Whoever by some necessi restricted by morals or religion, and
ly refers to a form of Shi‘ism, ty makes lawful what Allah has each person in it has the right to
here it is related to Sufism.
declared unlawful, things that are believe whatever he wants to
217. Shirk – attributing partners
to God. known in religion … is a disbeliever believe, even if he believes in athe
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It is not just non-Muslims who are that your father and those with him 223. Zakat is alms for the poor.
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The hijacking of British Islam
leader or their Shaikh holds the posi ments, scholars, writers, thinkers,
tion of a lord, who will guarantee preachers, and others – to oppose
them paradise and forgive them all of this misguided sect and its followers
their evil deeds, then they are disbe all over the world.
lievers and if your father orders you
to be one of them and forbids you to If the Ahmadiyya are viewed as carrying
pray and fast, then do not obey out a dangerous heresy, members of the
him….225 Baha’i religion (the Baha’i Faith) occupy
a special niche in the ranks of religions
Other groups are condemned as well. Muslims should loathe. Baha’ism is a
The Qadyanis/Ahmadiyya are based worldwide religious movement of Shi’a
mainly in Pakistan, but have a small origin numbering some five or six mil-
international following: lion, most of whose followers outside
Iran come from Christian, Hindu,
The Ruling on Qadyanis and Their Buddhist and animist backgrounds.
Membership: Baha’is, unlike the Ahmadiyya, make no
claim to be Muslims, although they
The Committee of the Fiqh Academy regard Muhammad as a ‘divine manifes-
has examined the matter of the tation’ and the Qur’an a divinely
Qadyani sect, which appeared in revealed scripture. In Islamic countries,
India in the last century (the nine especially Iran and Egypt, they have been
teenth century of the Christian era), denied all rights to worship, meet, hold
and which is also known as the ceremonies, or publish literature. Many
Ahmadiyyah movement. The Fiqh have been killed.226
Academy has studied their beliefs….
The Committee of the Fiqh Academy
A summary of these follows, including has examined the Bahai [sic, for
the Ahmadiyya rejection of jihad. Baha’i] sect which appeared in
Persia (Iran) in the second half of the
Having studied these documents last century and which is professed
and others like them, including the by a number of people who spread
numerous manuscripts which make throughout the Muslim and non
clear the beliefs of the Qadyanis, its Muslim countries until today.
[sic] founder and its [sic] establish […]
ment and its [sic] dangerous aims – It became clear to the Fiqh
the destruction of correct Islamic Academy, based upon the evidence
beliefs and the diversion of the of the texts concerning the beliefs
225. Like other mainstream Sufi
orders, the Shadhili do, in fact,
Muslims away from it, and towards of the Bahais, that they were
perform the salat, fast at misguidance, the Fiqh Committee intended to destroy Islam, in partic
Ramadan, and pay the zakat
alms-tax. See, for example, the
has unanimously determined that the ular its firm stance against the wor
following Shadhili web page: beliefs of the Qadyanis, known also ship of mankind [i.e. human beings],
http://www.suficenter.org/
faq.html. as Ahmadiya [sic], are unIslamic with the Bahai claims of Divinity and
226. Some basic Baha’i beliefs and that the pretension of its follow the authority to alter the law of
include the abolition of jihad, the
ers to be Muslims is no more than Islam
oneness of mankind, the one-
ness of all religions, the equality an attempt to misguide and deceive; […]
of men and women.
and the Committee of the Fiqh The Academy warns the Muslims in
227. Note the assumption of uni-
versal validity for the rulings of
Academy declares that it is incum all corners of the world227 against this
this Saudi academy. bent upon the Muslims – govern criminal, disbelieving sect and
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Birmingham
102
Birmingham
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The hijacking of British Islam
104
Birmingham
This book was also found at Al-Manaar many reasons which can nullify his
(The Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre, faith. These reasons would make
London – see pages 31-37; Markazi someone’s blood permissible to spill
Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith, Birmingham (see [to be killed for apostasy] and his
pages 105-109); the Islamic Centre of wealth permissible to be usurped,
Edinburgh (see pages 148-149); and the because he is no longer a Muslim. We
Madinah Mosque, Oxford (see pages will mention some of the worst and the
150-153). most prevalent causes for turning
someone into an apostate
This book, written by one of the leading […]
Saudi scholars of his day, ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin 4. Whoever believes that the guidance
‘Abdullah bin Baz (d. 1999), stands as a brought by someone other than the
statement of Wahhabite belief. It is essen- Prophet (pbuh)237, is better than his
tially a theological treatise on belief and guidance; or that the laws of some
faith, in which the distinction between one else is better than his laws … is
the true believer and the non-believer is an unbeliever.
clarified. Ten matters (nawaqid) that [...]
invalidate one’s faith are listed within its 9. Whoever believes that some people
pages. have the right not to follow the law
The book opens with a discourse on of Muhammad (pbuh).
correct belief, which is said to come
through faith in God, his angels, his books, The author provides a list of things that
his prophets, the Day of Judgement, and can nullify someone’s faith. He ends with
fate. The author then examines the follow- the following, ruling out any acceptance of
ing themes: the shahada (the profession of secular legal systems:
faith); God as the Creator; God’s names
and attributes; belief in angels; belief in the Among those who belong in section
prophets; belief in the finality of four (above) are those who believe
Muhammad (as the Last Prophet); belief in that the statutes and laws which the
the Last Day; and belief in fate. Faith in masses (the people) enact are better
God is said to involve love for Muslims than the legal system of Islam, or that
and hatred of unbelievers. The Sunnis are the Islamic system does not fit readily
held up as ‘the Saved Sect’. Marxism is within the twentieth century, or that it
described as a dangerous falsehood. The causes divisions among the Muslims,
author also condemns Sufism alongside or that it is confined to the relation
long extinct Muslim sects like the ship between a man and his Lord
Jahmiyya and Mu‘tazila. Stress is laid on without playing any part in other
the need to worship God alone, and on the aspects of his life. In section four too
means available for defeating the enemies you will find those who think that
of Islam. enforcement of God’s decree in cut
In the following passage, the author ting off the hand of the thief or ston
declares that by obeying human laws, over ing the proven adulterer does not suit
and above God’s injunctions, a Muslim the present age. In the same catego
becomes an apostate and therefore liable to ry we also find those who believe it is
the death penalty: permitted to judge by something
237. Pbuh is an abbreviation of
other than the law of God, whether in the English formula ‘Peace be
upon him’, the standard form
… The scholars have mentioned that a everyday matters or crimes or any
appended to Muhammad’s
person may become apostate for thing else, even if they do not think name.
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239. Ibid.
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The hijacking of British Islam
impression that our institution is a hotbed The book opens with a discourse on cor-
of fanaticism. We have nothing to hide.’242 rect belief, which is said to come through
In 2007, the Green Lane Mosque was faith in God, his angels, his books, his
shortlisted as a finalist in the Islam prophets, the Day of Judgement, and fate.
Channel’s ‘Model Mosque’ programme – The author then examines the following
reaching the ‘last eight’ before being elimi- themes: the shahada (the profession of
nated.243 The producer of the programme, faith); God as the Creator; God’s names and
Abrar Husain, was subsequently quoted as attributes; belief in angels; belief in the
saying, ‘We did our homework. We did prophets; belief in the finality of
not find any evidence of this radicalisation Muhammad (as the last prophet); belief in
that’s supposed to be everywhere.’244 the Last Day; and belief in fate. Faith in
God is said to involve love for Muslims and
hatred of unbelievers. The Sunnis are held
Books found here included: up as ‘the Saved Sect’. Marxism is described
as a dangerous falsehood. The author also
12A. Al-‘aqida al-sahiha wa ma condemns Sufism alongside long extinct
yudaduha, wa risalat al-Ma‘iyya Muslim sects like the Jahmiyya and Mu‘tazi-
[Correct beliefs, their opposite, la. Stress is laid on the need to worship God
along with the treatise of the alone, and on the means available for
Divine presence] defeating the enemies of Islam.
Author: ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz In the following passage, the author
Publisher: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, declares that by obeying human laws, over
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and above God’s injunctions, a Muslim
This book claims to be, ‘A Gift from the becomes an apostate and therefore liable to
Servant of the Two Sanctuaries [King of the death penalty:
Saudi Arabia] on the Occasion of the
Opening of King Fahd Mosque and Islamic The scholars have mentioned that a
Centre of Edinburgh, Scotland. To be dis- person may become apostate for
tributed for free, not to be sold’ many reasons which can nullify his
Published: 1419 (1998) faith. These reasons would make
Language: Arabic someone’s blood permissible to spill
This book was also found at Al-Manaar - [to be killed for apostasy] and his
242. Authi & Swingler, ‘Brum’s
extreme Muslims exposed’. The Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre, wealth permissible to be usurped,
243. ‘Finalists: Model Mosque @ London (see pages 31-37); Birmingham because he is no longer a Muslim. We
Islam Channel.tv’, Islam
Channel, available at,
Central Mosque (see pages 102-106); the will mention some of the worst and the
http://www.islamchannel.tv/Mod Islamic Centre of Edinburgh (see pages most prevalent causes for turning
elMosque/finalists.aspx.
148-149); and the Madinah Mosque, someone into an apostate
244. Husain cited in Riazat Butt,
‘Faith meets reality TV in contest Oxford (see pages 150-153) [...]
to find the best mosque in
4. Whoever believes that the guidance
Britain’, The Guardian, 6 October
2007. For more on the pro- This book, written by one of the leading brought by someone other than the
gramme, see ‘Model Mosque @
IslamChannel.tv’, Islam Channel,
Saudi scholars of his day, ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin Prophet (pbuh)245, is better than his
available at, http://www.islam- ‘Abdullah bin Baz (d. 1999), stands as a guidance; or that the laws of some
channel.tv/ModelMosque/about-
mm.aspx.
statement of Wahhabite belief. It is essen- one else is better than his laws … is
245. Pbuh is an abbreviation of tially a theological treatise on belief and an unbeliever.
the English formula ‘Peace be faith, in which the distinction between the [...]
upon him’, the standard form
appended to Muhammad’s true believer and the non-believer is clari- 9. Whoever believes that some people
name.
fied. Ten matters (nawaqid) that invalidate have the right not to follow the law
246. Ibid.
one’s faith are listed within its pages. of Muhammad (pbuh).246
108
Birmingham
The author provides a list of things that the thief or stoning the proven adulter
can nullify someone’s faith. He ends with er does not suit the present age. In the
the following, ruling out any acceptance of same category we also find those who
secular legal systems: believe it is permitted to judge by
something other than the law of God,
Among those who belong in section whether in everyday matters or crimes
four (above) are those who believe that or anything else, even if they do not
the statutes and laws which the mass think that doing so is better than judg
es (the people) enact are better than ing according to the shari‘a. This is
the legal system of Islam, or that the because they have thus made permis
Islamic system does not fit readily sible what God has forbidden in all
within the twentieth century, or that it things; and anyone who permits what
causes divisions among the Muslims, God has forbidden, of what is known
or that it is confined to the relationship of the religion by necessity, such as
between a man and his Lord without fornication and drinking alcohol and
playing any part in other aspects of his usury, and judging by anything but
life. In section four too you will find God’s law – such a person is an
those who think that enforcement of unbeliever by the general agreement
God’s decree in cutting off the hand of of all Muslims.
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The hijacking of British Islam
The Salafi Mosque and Islamic This short tract by an eminent Saudi cler-
Centre (The ‘Salafiyah Mosque’) ic deals with the ‘science of Tawheed’
[monotheism], mainly based on the writ-
Address: Wright Street, Birmingham, B10 OUG ings of Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn al-Qayyim [al-
(472 Coventry Road, Small Heath) Jawziyya] and Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-
Telephone: 0121 773 0033/0003 Wahhab and his students - ‘the Imams of
Email: admin@spubs.com the blessed Daw’ah’. It contains four chap-
Website: http://www.salafi.com ters. Chapter 1 deals with deviation in
Charity Commission Registration No.: 1083080 human life, and has sections on polythe-
Local MP: Roger Godsiff (Labour) ism, unbelief, hypocrisy (nifaq), apostasy,
Local Authority: Birmingham City Council and the killing of apostates. Chapter 2 is
Affiliations: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, AMSUK about words and deeds that either contra-
dict the divine unity or decrease it. These
include practising sorcery, recanting oaths
Points of Interest at graves, mocking religion, claiming the
right to make laws, belonging to false sects
The site of the Salafi Mosque on Wright and parties, indulging in materialism,
Street is also the home of the ‘Salafi book- swearing an oath by anything but God,
store’ and Islamic Centre.247 It is also and wearing amulets. Chapter 3 focuses on
linked to ‘Salafi publications’ and the the need to love Muhammad, the impor-
‘Salafi independent school’.248 The latter is tance of obeying and following him, as
part of the Association of Muslim Schools well as the merits of his household and his
UK (ASMUK) and is an Ofsted-regis- companions. Finally, chapter 4 deals with
tered institution catering for 200 innovation, including the appearance of
pupils.249 innovation among Muslims, with exam-
A UK-registered charity, the ‘Salafi’ ples of contemporary bid’ah given as cele-
247. ‘Welcome to
Salafibookstore.com’, available
establishments describe their objective as brations of the Prophet’s birthday, putting
at, http://www.salafibookstore. being to ‘promote the knowledge of allaah blessings on places, etc.
com/sbs/index.cfm?scn=dona-
tion. Last accessed 10 July
(God) as portrayed in the authentic As the following passage reflects, obedi-
2007. sources of Islam and according to the way ence to man-made laws is described as
248. Ibid. of the Salaf-as-Saalih (pious predeces- shirk or joining partners with God (i.e. a
249. ‘Salafi Independent
sors’).250 form of polytheism, because it means
School’, Association of Muslim
Schools UK, available at, According to its website, the Salafi obeying man’s laws, not God’s):
http://ams-
uk.org/index.php?option=com_c
Mosque maintains close links with Saudi
ontent&task=view&id=125&Itemi Arabia – often hosting live ‘tele-link’ Hence, the obedience of the Christians
d=243&sid=99; ‘Welcome to
Salafibookstore.com’, available
conferences, involving leading figures to their learned men, with regards to
at, http://www.salafibookstore. from the Saudi Arabian clerical establish- illegalization and legalization is consid
com/sbs/index.cfm?scn=dona-
tion. Last accessed 10 July ment. ered as worship and major Shirk252…
2007.
110
Birmingham
And following on from this, the author an established fact, and inescapable
rules out membership of political parties: reality after Europe raided it political
ly and culturally. Its people rush fran
1. Joining … groups such as tically to revive such schisms which
Communism, Secularism, Capitalism, Islam squashed.
and other schism of disbelief consti
tutes apostasy. It should be known that such parti
[…] sanships are only a torment to which
While secularism recognises only Allâh subjects those who turn away
materialism whose main objective in from His laws and rejects His deen.
this life is living like animals.
Whilst, elsewhere, the author is clear that
While the main objective of capitalism the punishment for apostasy is death:
is to amass wealth, regardless how,
and is restrained by neither lawful, 1. If the apostate repents: If he repents
unlawful, nor mercy or pity for the poor and returns to Islam in the space of
and needy. Its economy is based on three days, it is accepted from him
usury which is an opposition to Allâh and he should be left alone.
and His Messenger, and carries
destruction of states and individuals 2. If he refuses to repent he must be
and sucks the blood of poor nations. killed, in accordance with what he [the
Prophet] has said: ‘he who changes
There is no sane person, let alone a his religion, kill him’.254
believer, who would be content to live […]
under the system of such schools of 5. If he [the apostate] dies or is killed
thought, with neither reason, religion while persisting in his apostasy, he
nor a clear purpose in his life for which must not be ritually washed or prayed
he struggles. Such schools have raid over, nor may he be buried in a Muslim
ed Muslim countries when the majority cemetery, but must be buried in a
of those people of those countries cemetery belonging to unbelievers, or
253
drifted away from the true deen, and must be buried in the earth anywhere
grew up in such loss, depending on you like so long as it is not in a Muslim
such schools. burial ground.
1. Joining the parties of ignorance and 13B. Tanbihat ‘ala ahkam takhussu
racist nationalism constitutes apostasy bi’l-mu’minat [Warnings regard-
too, for Islam rejects racism and ing laws related to believing
nationalism, and other schism of igno women]
rance. Author: Saleh Bin al-Fouzan
Publisher: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs,
Citizenship and nationalism are both con- The Kingdom Saudi Arabia
demned as falsehoods: Published: 1419 (1998)
Language: Arabic
Allâh, Glory be to Him, wants us to be This book was also found at the UKIM
one party, that is, the prosperous party North London Mosque (see pages 68-
of Allâh. But the Muslim world has 70); Birmingham Central Mosque (see 253. Deen - religion.
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The hijacking of British Islam
In this volume, published by the Saudi 3. This work must stay within her limi
Ministry of Islamic Affairs, the carefully tations, such as teaching women,
delineated gender roles for the separate sexes or doctoring or sicknursing
are outlined. The author, Saleh Bin al- women, and (must take place) in
Fouzan, is a member of the Saudi Council of segregation from men.
Senior Religious Clerics, the Fiqh 4. Thus, there is no prohibition –
Committee of the Muslim World League, indeed it is a duty for women – to
the Permanent Committee of Jurists, and teach their religion, and there is no
the Committee for the Supervision of prohibition on her teaching those
Missionaries, and the Permanent matters of her religion for which she
Committee for Islamic Research and Fatwas. has a need. The teaching must be
Here he provides an exposition on the done among women. There is no
various laws relating to women including: harm in her attending classes at the
the place of women in Islam; how to treat mosque or somewhere similar, but
one’s hair and eyebrows; teeth (there she must stay hidden and be kept
should be no gaps); tattooing (which is for- away from men.
bidden); and menstruation and childbirth
(including prohibitions on facing Mecca or Elsewhere, al-Fouzan reserves considerable
touching the Qur’an during these periods, antipathy for women who decide to take
because of ritual ‘uncleanliness’). In addi- up any work outside the home; and if she
tion, there are injunctions on: clothing and should succeed in attaining employment,
veiling; rules affecting a woman’s prayers; it is clear that a large range of occupations
the preparation of dead women for burial; are forbidden:
fasting; performing pilgrimage (hajj and
‘umra); marriage (the ethos being that a Those Muslims who have a sickness in
woman’s work is in the house); the obedi- their hearts, they want the woman to
ence of a wife to her husband (which is be cheap merchandise, in the market
deemed compulsory and she is forbidden place of the people of lowly desires
from rebelling); divorce; widowhood; and and satanic tendencies, to be uncov
laws that protect a woman’s honour. ered merchandise in front of their
As the following passage reflects, al- eyes, where they can enjoy her beau
Fouzan believes there are to be clear limits ty or even do with her what is worse.
to what a woman can do, which emphasise
that her position, first and foremost, That is why, they wish that she left the
should be in the home: house to join the men, to be with them
side by side in their jobs; to serve men
We do not forbid a woman to do as a nurse in the hospital, as a flight
things outside her house, provided this attendant, as a student, as a teacher in
is in conformity with the following a coed school, as an actress in the
rules: theatre, or as a singer and announcer in
the different media outlets, unveiled and
1. She must have a need to do these seductive through her voice and
things (or society must need them appearance. The pornographic maga
to be done), provided no man can zines are using the pictures of seductive
be found to do them. naked girls, as a means to sell and pro
2. This must be done after she has mote their magazines. Some merchants
completed her housework, which is and factories also use these pictures to
her basic work. sell their merchandise; they put these
112
Birmingham
pictures on their merchandise and greatest forbidden acts, and most cor
products. rupting of religion … how many
women became prostitutes because
Because of this false way of doing they listened to singing.
things, the woman quits her real job
in the house. She forces her husband 13C. Fatawa Islamiyah – Islamic
to hire foreign servants to raise their Verdicts, volume 1
children, and organise their home Authors: ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz,
affairs, which causes lots of problems Muhammad bin Saleh al-‘Uthaimin,
and brings great evil. ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abdul Rahman Al-Jibreen
and the Permanent Committee (of Saudi
Beyond this, al-Fouzan emphasises that Arabia)
women are forbidden from driving in a car Publisher: Dar-us-Salam
with a man (as in a taxi) or attending a Published: 2001
male doctor: Language: English
This book was also found at the East
A woman riding in a car with a man London Mosque (see pages 38-50); the
unchaperoned is an obvious blamewor London Central Mosque and Islamic
thy act... It entails many corruptions Centre (The ‘Regent‘s Park Mosque’)
which cannot be taken lightly. A man (see pages 82-94); and the Tauheed
who accepts his women to do this is Mosque (see pages 95-101)
not a real man and his faith is weak.
[…] The Fatawa Islamiyah is a multi-volume
Some women and some of their collection of contemporary rulings (fatwas)
guardians take the matter of women from a group of Wahhabite scholars based
visiting male doctors lightly; they use in Saudi Arabia, who hand down authori-
the excuse of their need for treatment. tative opinions on all areas of public and
This is a grave sin, and a great danger private life – from the exotic to the mun-
… dane. Given the seniority of the clerics
involved, these fatwas represent the nearest
In addition, the following ruling declares thing to pronouncements by the Saudi reli-
that listening to singing can turn women gious establishment on spiritual, political,
into prostitutes. Here, what amounts to an and personal matters, and cannot be chal-
obsession with music solely as a path to lenged by those without training in fiqh,
‘homosexuality and fornication’ acts as a the system of Islamic jurisprudence. This
bar to Muslims taking a fuller part in one particular volume deals with issues collated
of the most important aspects of western under the heading of ‘creed’.
civilisation: The following passage justifies the prac-
tice of polygamy, claiming that this is the
… listening to music, singing and for way in which a man’s sexual urges may be
bidden instruments which distract the taken care of:
heart from the Qur’an and makes it
[the heart] intent on deviation and dis Q. Why did the Prophet marry a num
obedience … it is a recipe for homo ber of women?
sexuality and fornication. Through it
the lover gets his utmost desire (sexual A. … This was not something new in
intercourse) from his beloved … As for the Law, nor does it oppose common
women who listen to music, it is of the sense…. For women are more in num
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The hijacking of British Islam
ber than men, as censuses continually liever. Indeed, it is incumbent upon the
prove, a man may possess so much believer not to take the disbeliever as a
physical strength that he needs more friend…. It is not permissible for the
than one wife, in order that he may be Muslim to describe the disbeliever –
able to indulge his desires in a permis whatever his brand of disbelief, be he
sible way, rather than in a prohibited Christian, Jewish, Magian or apostate
way. Otherwise he will be forced to – as a brother; so beware, my brother,
repress his desires; or the woman may of using such expressions.
be suffering from some illness, some As for the answer to the question, I
thing that may prevent him from fulfill say: It is necessary to avoid mixing
ing his needs, such as menstruation or with nonMuslims, because mixing
postnatal bleeding, or anything else with them causes the loss of one’s reli
that prevents a man from fulfilling his gious zeal from the heart and may
desires with her. So he may need even lead to affection and love for
another wife with whom he may fulfill them.
his desires, rather than repressing
them or committing indecency. Believers are even discouraged from own-
ing or reading the Bible, with serious
Since a plurality of wives is permissible implications for the possibility of genuine
and justified, logically, in accordance interfaith outreach if such strictures were
with the Fitrah255 and the Islamic law, to be adhered to:
and since the Prophets of old used to
practice it – indeed it could be said to Q. Is it permissible for me to obtain a
be obligatory in cases of necessity or copy of the Injil [Gospel] so that I may
need sometimes – then it is not sur learn what Allah’s words were to ‘Isa
prising that our Prophet, Muhammad [Jesus]? And is the presentday ver
did so. sion of the Injil authentic? I ask this
because I heard that the authentic
Living with Christian (and other) ‘non- version is lost at the bottom of the
believers’ is said to pose spiritual risks for sea.
Muslims, as the following exchange and
ruling shows: A. There are two reasons why it is not
permissible to obtain copies of previ
Q. I am living in Jordan in a house ous scriptures, regardless of whether it
populated mostly by Christian broth is the Injil or the Tawrah [Torah]:
ers, and we eat and drink together. Is
my prayer invalid, and is my living with 1. Allah Almighty has related in the
them permissible? Qur’an all that is of benefit to us
from those scriptures.
A. Before answering your question, I 2. The Qur’an contains in it what suf
would like to make a point: I hope that fices us from all previously revealed
it was a slip of the tongue when you books…. So all the good contained
said: ‘I live with Christian brothers’, for in the previous scriptures is present
there is absolutely no brotherhood in the Qur’an… Furthermore, the
between the Muslims and the Injil that is present among us today
255. Fitrah (or fitra) is the natural Christians. Brotherhood is of faith…. has been distorted. We find that
state into which human beings
are born, before their upbringing
There is absolutely no brotherhood there are four Injils, not one, and
changes them. between the believer and the disbe each one of them contradicts the
114
Birmingham
others. Thus we cannot depend on For this reason and many other
any of them for the truth. detailed facts concerning the danger
ous activities of the Masons, their evil
Elsewhere, in the context of a ruling about deceptions and cunning designs, the
freemasonry and related organisations, the Fiqh Academy257 has determined that
intentions and activities of ‘international the Masons are one of the most dan
Jewry’ are impugned in a manner that is gerous, destructive organizations to
wholly resonant with traditional anti- Islam and the Muslims. And that
Semitic tropes: whoever joins them, knowing the
A Legal Judgement regarding the truth of them and their aims, is a dis
Ruling on Membership of the Masonic believer in Islam who should be
Movement avoided.
[…]
7. The organization [Freemasonry] is It is not just non-Muslims who are defined
Jewish in origin and is secretly man as false, but followers of Islamic minority
aged and directed at its highest lev groups as well:
els by international Jewry and its
activities are Zionist in character. Q. Some people consider that it is an
8. It is, in fact, in its hidden aims, obligation upon the Muslim to blindly
against all religions, its intentions follow258 one of the four well known
being the destruction of all of them schools of Islamic Jurisprudence in
in general, and Islam in the hearts of order for their acts of worship and
its adherents in particular. their deeds to be correct. Yet the
[…] Mathab [sic] of the Shiites is not
10. It has many branches, which included amongst them, not even the
bear other names, in order to Mathhab [sic] of the Zaidi Shiites.259
deceive and divert attention, so Does your Eminence agree absolutely
that they are able to continue their with this view, and thus prohibit the
activities under different pseudo blind following of the Mathhab [sic] of
nyms, the most well known of the Shiites…?
256. Neither the Lions Clubs
which are: The Lions, The Rotary International, nor Rotary
International are branches of
Club, The Leons, and other such A. … It is not permissible for the Freemasonry. As far as is
256
evil movements, all of which are Muslim to blindly follow the Shiite known, there is no such thing as
‘The Leons’.
incompatible and inconsistent with Imamate Mathhab [sic], nor any other
257. The Islamic Fiqh Academy
Islamic tenets. such like Mathhab [sic] from ‘the peo (Akadimiyya al-fiqh al-islami) is
[…] ple of innovation’… an institution for the advanced
study of Islam, with headquar-
The strong links between the Masons ters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It
was proposed at the second
and International Zionist Jewry has Sufis are also heavily criticised. The fol-
summit conference of the
[sic] become absolutely clear to all of lowing fatwa deals with the best known Organisation of the Islamic
Conference (OIC) 1974, and
the people. By such means they have of the North African orders, the inaugurated in February 1988.
been able to control the activities of Shadhiliyya. It is worth noting that many 258. The meaning of ‘blindly fol-
many leaders in Arab and other coun sheikhs of Cairo’s al-Azhar mosque/uni- low’ (taqlid) is that it is widely
believed that independent rea-
tries in the matter of Palestine, and versity, the leading seat of authority in soning in matters of religion and
they have prevented them from carry Sunni Islam, have been and are Shadhilis. law ended by the tenth century,
and that all Sunni Muslims must
ing out many of their obligations with What is shocking in both the question act in accordance with the rul-
ings of four law schools (mad-
respect to this most important matter, and the fatwa is that they show consider-
hhab, pl. madhahib).
to the advantage of the Jews and the able ignorance of what Shadhilis believe 259. A minority Shi‘a sect, main-
International Zionists. and do. ly restricted to Yemen.
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The hijacking of British Islam
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Birmingham
against the worship of mankind [i.e. criminal, disbelieving sect and appeals
human beings], with the Bahai claims to them to oppose them and take pre
of Divinity and the authority to alter the cautions against them, especially since
law of Islam it is evident that they enjoy support
[…] from the colonialist nations whose aim
264. Note the assumption of uni-
The Academy warns the Muslims in all is the destruction of Islam and the
versal validity for the rulings of
corners of the world264 against this Muslims. this Saudi academy.
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The hijacking of British Islam
The North-West
of England
Didsbury Mosque and Islamic the mosque’s executive manager, was
Centre of Manchester recorded saying, ‘I very much doubt there
is anyone else here who has these extreme
Address: 271 Burton Road, West Didsbury, views… People know our opinions here
Manchester, M20 2WA and they know not to come here with
Telephone: 0161 434 2254 extreme views or they will get found out
Email: info@didsburymosque.com very quickly. If someone is going to recruit
Website: www.didsburymosque.com people for something like that, they are not
Charity Commission Registration No.: 327235 going to do it in a very public place like
Local MP: John Leech (Liberal Democrats) this.’267
Local Authority: Manchester City Council
Affiliations: MCB
Books found here included:
118
The North West of England
Didsbury Mosque. ©
Manchester Evening News
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The hijacking of British Islam
Finally, in this extract he emphasises the ers (in Islam) remain committed to dic
importance of a woman covering herself tates of God Almighty:
and the dangers that are said to arise from
any failure to do so: A Muslim man needs to look down
respectfully to maintain his self
As said elsewhere, a lady is a complete respect as an expression of sanctity
woman and it is incumbent on her that as God Almighty is fully aware of
she keeps herself as much covered as whatever a man does. Muslim
possible; and, as ordained, she is to women too need to look downward
remain fearful of shamelessness so that respectfully to secure their chastity
she lowers her gaze; there is no room and cover all body parts, especially
for any doubt that she is not supposed the necklines, except the ones that
to exploit her (beauty of) eyes while are uncoverable, and do not expose
being aware of her body that can easily themselves to any one but their hus
lead to sacrilege and fights. Every jus bands or their children, brothers, etc.
ticeloving man must know of and – all close relations or those chil
understand these facts. dren who are not required to observe
[...] purdah (veil), and not walk so ‘heavi
In conclusion, I maintain that it is ly’ that she (women) becomes dis
important that men and women believ cernible.
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The North West of England
Council this also ‘comes under the preparation for this task. … 269. ‘Madrassa Talim-ul-Islam’,
Education in Manchester, avail-
umbrella of the UK Islamic Mission’ and able at, http://www.manchester.
‘follows a modified syllabus (devised by The root of all the evils you find in the gov.uk/education/diversity/ema/s
upp_schools/madrassa-eng.htm.
the UK Islamic Mission) for Islamic stud- world lies in the bad character of the
270. Ibid.
ies’.269 The stated aims of the school are, government.
271. This is an echo of the fol-
‘to provide Urdu and Arabic language […] lowing statement by Muhammad
teaching’ as well as ‘cultural and Islamic Therefore whatever evils there are in ‘Abduh (d. 1905), the first of the
great modern Salafi thinkers:
Education to 5 to 15-year-old children of the life of the people are either spread ‘the Islamic religion is based on
the quest for invasion, power,
[the] Pakistani community including a by the government itself or with its
expansion and glory. It is based
wider participation’.270 help, because the power required to on the opposition to every secu-
lar law (qanun) which contradicts
make anything prevail rests with the its own religious law (shari’ah)
government. As an example, you and the rejection of any authority
whose owner does not rise to
Books found here included: notice that adultery is openly indulged implement the principles of the
in and is carried on publicly in brothels. religious law’. (Muhammad
‘Abduh, ‘Al-nasraniyya wa’l-
15A. Fundamentals of Islam What is the reason? The reason is Islam wa ahluhuma’: Christianity,
Author: Abu al-A‘la al-Mawdudi nothing else except that adultery is not Islam, and their people).
Language: English to stop it, this evil could not be carried 273. Zakat is alms for the poor.
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The hijacking of British Islam
on with such impunity. … You notice And the struggle to make this change is
that indecency and immorality are jihad:
increasing in the people. Why is it so?
This is merely because the govern How can it be considered correct to
ment has made arrangements to govern God’s subjects by any other
impart this very kind of education and law except that of God …
training to the people and it appreci […]
ates these models of morality and Nobody should have the power to
humanity which you witness. … You change this [religious] law or to amend
notice that blood shedding is going on it or to cancel it so that it may not be
extensively in the world. … This is just distorted due to the infusion of human
because the most wicked and mis ignorance, selfishness and improper
chievous from among the children of desires.
Adam are holding the reins of authority
and leadership of the nations of the This is the basic reform that Islam
world. wants to introduce. … The name of
[…] this striving is Jihad.
The pollution of people’s thoughts, the
degeneration of morals, the diversion This further section from al-Mawdudi’s
of human capacities and capabilities volume involves several unfamiliar words
into wrong channels, the prevalence of and concepts. Yet, it adds up to the
wrong concepts of business and deal notion that whatever a Muslim does in
ing, bad methods of living, the preva worship, whether that be through prayer,
lence of oppression and misdeeds and fasting, giving alms, or going on the hajj
destruction of God’s creation, all these pilgrimage, it means nothing without an
result from one thing: the keys of inner intent for jihad. Al-Mawdudi comes
authority and power being in wrong very close here to making jihad a sixth pil-
hands. lar of the faith (something argued by a
number of earlier jurists). The four com-
For al-Mawdudi, the first step towards ponents of worship just mentioned are
reform is to gain control of the government: four of the five pillars, with the testimony
of faith as the fifth. The meaning of jihad
So this is an obvious matter requiring here is quite clear: ‘So go ahead and fight,
no great thinking, that no scheme of and remove the rebels of God from the
reform for the people can be imple government and take over the powers of
mented without acquiring control of caliphate.’
the government machinery. Whoever
really wants to root out mischief and ‘Ibadaat’ [acts of worship] – a training
chaos from God’s earth and is gen course
uinely anxious to ameliorate the con
dition of God’s creation, it is useless These Salah [daily prayer], fasting,
for him to work as a mere preacher. Zakat [alms] and Hajj are in reality
He should stand up to finish the gov meant for this very preparation and
ernment run on wrong principles, training [for jihad]. … And when Islam
snatch power from wrongdoers and prepares its men in this manner, then it
establish a government based on cor tells them: ‘Now you are the most
rect principles and following a proper pious slaves of God on the surface of
system. earth. So go ahead and fight, and
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The North West of England
remove the rebels of God from the In this passage, he describes how
government and take over the powers Muslims are to launch an organised strug-
of caliphate.’ gle to take control of society. It is consid-
[…] ered unacceptable for Muslims to live
But now I tell you that all the ‘Ibadaat under the government of ‘disbelievers’.
of that person are meaningless in Jihad – the term for this struggle – is again
whose heart there is no intent of Jihad portrayed as a touchstone of belief:
and who does not keep in view this
purpose of Jihad. If you imagine that … it [Islam] desires that the law of God
by these meaningless ‘Ibadaat you should become the law by which peo
can win the favour of God, then on ple lead their lives. It demands, too,
going before Him you will yourself see that injustice be eradicated, that those
how much they have brought you evils which incur God’s anger be
nearer to Him. wiped out and that those virtues and
social values which are liked by God
Elsewhere, meanwhile, al-Mawdudi’s writ- be fostered.
ings show vividly how the conviction that
believers must not love non-believers leads to These aims cannot be realized so long
the belief that Muslims are superior to all as power and leadership in society are
other people: in the hands of disbelieving rulers and
so long as the followers of Islam con
Every Muslim personally believes and fine themselves to worship rites ….
you too must be surely believing alike, Only when power in society is in the
that a Muslim’s rank is higher that that hands of the believers and the right
of an unbeliever. God likes a Muslim eous, can the objectives of Islam be
and dislikes a Kafir [unbeliever]. A realized. It is therefore the primary duty
Muslim will get salvation from God of all those who aspire to please God
while a Kafir will not. A Muslim will go to launch an organized struggle, spar
to Paradise and a Kafir will go to Hell. ing neither life nor property, for this pur
pose. The importance of securing
15B. The Islamic Movement: power for the righteous is so fundamen
Dynamics of Values, Power and tal that, neglecting this struggle, one has
Change no means left to please God ...
Author: Abu al-A‘la al-Mawdudi
Publisher: The Islamic Foundation if anyone rebels against such a com
Published: 1984 munity, it is incumbent upon all
Language: English Muslims to fight him even though he
may profess belief in the unity of God
This volume is an English translation of and perform prayers and observe
one of the most significant works by al- Fasts.
Mawdudi, which was originally written in
Urdu. It is said to be ‘essential reading for Jihad is but another name for the
all those whose Islam, surrender to one attempt to establish the Divine order;
God, is not confined to their individual the Qur’an therefore declares it to be a
selves, or is not privatised, but which also touchstone of belief. In other words,
encompasses their societies. Put simply, it people who have faith in their hearts
is aimed at all those who have joined the will neither succumb to domination by
contemporary Islamic movement’. an evil system, nor begrudge giving
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The hijacking of British Islam
their wealth and even their lives in the should in the main devote themselves
struggle to establish Islam. Those who to household duties in their homes and
show weakness in such situations cast men should attend to their jobs in the
doubt on the reality of their faith... socio economic spheres. Outside the
pale of the nearest relations between
The nature of their faith requires them whom marriage is forbidden men and
to concentrate all their efforts upon women have been asked not to mix
wresting leadership from unbelieving freely with each other and if they do
and corrupt men in order to entrust it have to have contact with each other
to the righteous … they should do so with purdah. When
women have to go out of their homes,
There must exist a godfearing com they should wear simple dress and be
munity devoted to the sole purpose of properly veiled. They should also cover
establishing and maintaining the sover their faces and hands as a normal
eignty of God on earth. course. Only in genuine necessity can
they unveil, and they must recover as
15C. Towards Understanding Islam soon as possible.
Author: Abu al-A‘la al-Mawdudi
Publisher: U.K.I.M. Dawah Centre Along with this, men have been asked
Published: 1998 to keep down their eyes and not to
Language: English look at women. And if somebody acci
dentally looks upon some woman, he
This is an English translation of a work by should turn away his eyes. To try to
al-Mawdudi by Khurshid Ahmad, a see them is wrong and to try to seek
founder and former chairman of the their acquaintance is worse…
Islamic Foundation (based at Markfield),
who is now Vice President of the Jamaat-e- Elsewhere, meanwhile, al-Mawdudi emph-
Islami. Al-Mawdudi, who wrote a preface asises the importance and centrality of
to this edition says: ‘My object in writing jihad – which is defined as a military act.
this book has been to provide all those – He outlines how, in certain circumstances,
Muslims and non-Muslims alike – who the obligation to jihad is to be considered
have no access to the original sources with as important a tenet of Islam as any of the
a brief treatise giving a lucid, comprehen- ‘pillars’ of the faith, such as daily prayers or
sive and all-embracing view of Islam’. fasting – the implication being that it
In this passage, al-Mawdudi advances a should be considered an unofficial ‘sixth’
very particular view of the position of pillar of the faith:
women:
Jihad is part of this overall defence of
Some of the injunctions of the law of Islam. Jihad means to struggle to the
Islam… are as follows: utmost of one’s capacity. A man who
exerts himself physically or mentally or
1. To preserve the moral life of the spends his wealth in the way of Allah
nation and to safeguard the evolution of is indeed engaged in Jihad. But in the
society on healthy lines, free mingling of language of the Shari’ah this word is
the sexes has been prohibited. Islam used particularly for a war that is
effects a functional distribution between waged solely in the name of Allah
the sexes and sets different spheres of against those who practice oppression
activity for both of them. Women as enemies of Islam.
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The North West of England
This supreme sacrifice of life devolves the range of material covered in this report:
on all Muslims. If, however, a section of namely, that a woman’s ‘real job’ is in the
Muslims offer themselves for the Jihad, house. On this basis, it is argued, women
the community as a whole is absolved should refrain from taking up any other
of its responsibility. But if none comes form of employment:
forward, everybody is guilty. This con
cession vanishes for the citizens of an Islam does not require women to par
Islamic State when it is attacked by a ticipate in trade, the vocations or pro
nonMuslim power. In that case every fessions unless it is very necessary. As
body must come forward for the Jihad. we have seen earlier, the realm of
If the country attacked has not enough activities for which men and women
strength to fight back, then it is the reli are created requires a woman to look
gious duty of the neighbouring Muslim after her matrimonial home, bring up
countries to help her; if even they fail, children in a befitting manner and so
then the Muslims of the whole world on. If she is not neglectful of these
must fight the common enemy. In all duties, or she has reliable household
such cases, Jihad is as much a primary help available to look after her children
duty of the Muslims concerned as are and relieve her of some of her domes
the daily prayers or fasting. One who tic work, while at the same time she
shirks it is a sinner. His very claim to needs a little income to supplement
being a Muslim is doubtful. He is a hyp her husband’s earning, there is no
ocrite whose ‘Ibadah and prayers are a objection in the Shari’ah [religious law]
sham, a worthless, hollow show of if she goes out to work, but only with
devotion. the consent of her husband. ...
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The hijacking of British Islam
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One is quite a handful for any hus to have physical relationships outside
band, let alone two. But, if you feel marriage. If the husband is not physically
you can provide for both wives, then satisfied by his wife, then she may be
there is nothing stopping you from tak driving him to seek fulfilment elsewhere.
ing a second wife – least of all the law
in this country. Marriage in Islam does Elsewhere, homosexuality is strictly con-
not depend on the registry office – that demned and made subject to the same
is just a civil record. One extra wife is treatment as adultery:
no extra burden on a legal system that
allows you to have 10 girlfriends and Q: Islam is often said to be the religion
15 commonlaw spouses. best suited to human nature and
capable of fulfilling all needs both in
On the issue of relations within marriage, the present and in the future. Since
meanwhile – and particularly with regard sexual need is amongst the strongest
to the issue of spousal abuse – the author’s of human needs, then why does Islam
position is somewhat troubling. Hence, deny true homosexuals (those who
though the answer to the following ques- feel sexual attraction only to members
tion contains a ‘qualifier’ at the end, it still of their own sex) the opportunity to ful
leaves open the fact that, within terms of fil this need? And if this is so, can
Islamic law, a woman may not have Islam still be considered to be capable
recourse in cases of marital rape: of fulfilling all human needs?
A: When we speak about Islam as the
Q. I have heard it said that the concept religion which is best suited to human
of rape within marriage does not exist nature, we mean healthy meaningful
within Islam because the marriage con nature…. It is not suited to any deviant
tract itself grants consent. Doesn’t this or sick type of behaviour within human
give any wicked husband the right to society – and as such, if we speak about
force himself upon an unwilling wife? homosexuality, we need to ask ourselves
A. Yes, there is no concept of rape what sort of role does it perform in life?
within marriage. The contract of mar Is it only a matter of physical pleasure? –
riage states that the two partners have but this needs to be transformed into a
rights to a conjugal relationship. In a beneficial and harmonious way of
Hadith of the Prophet, blessings and expressing our relationships in this life.
peace be upon him, it is stated that a As far as homosexuality is concerned, it
wife should never deny her husband, does not fulfil the real basic need of
whenever she is approached. But at human society. If you reflect on male and
the same time, there are etiquettes female sexuality, it has a purpose; it fulfils
and decent norms of behaviour to be a need which is beyond satisfying physi
observed by the husband. cal desire. It replenishes the earth with
offspring – and not only in all human
There follows a very reasonable paragraph, society, but for all earthly creatures.
emphasising the need for ‘skill, care and Those who indulge in homosexuality do
understanding’ in the bedroom. But it is not consider the immoral implications of
followed by the next passage: what they are doing. During the men
strual period, Muslims are forbidden to
But at the same time, the wife should have physical relationships, as the
show due regard for the feelings of the Qur’an says so. This is natural.
person whom she has married. We Homosexuality is an act of humiliation
always insist that it is haram [forbidden] upon the person who is jumped on. This
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The hijacking of British Islam
person loses all dignity and respect. It is very severe terms – the same way as
against human decency and manners. It for sodomy and adultery.275
has to be treated early – if a person has
been spotted, he needs to be treated in Finally, in a rare foray into more overtly
a rational way to make him more suit ‘political’ territory, the author effectively
able to fulfil, appreciate and enjoy the offers a justification for suicide bombing:
qualities which Allah has given him.
[…] Q. What is the position of a hunger
Q: How should Muslims perceive and striker in Islam? Is a fast to the death,
treat Muslims who are gay? for an Islamic cause, considered sui
cide or is it shahadah [martyrdom]?
A: We have to see that such a person
receives psychological treatment. A. The hungerstrike is a recent devel
Commenting about this issue recently, opment; it is the latest weapon in the
an Arab producer came across many arsenal of the oppressed in their fight
Muslim psychologists who were falsely for liberation against their enemies.
promoting the view that this is a natu Islamically speaking, however, this is
ral inclination. It is a psychological dis one weapon which we Muslims are
ease which must be treated as such. forbidden to use…. A hungerstrike to
Q. My cousin freely admits to being the death is considered suicide and is,
homosexual…We are a very close family therefore, forbidden.
and fear a split caused by a potential […]
feud… How can we persuade my cousin According to Islam, only that life which
to give up his current behaviour which has been taken on the battlefield, or in
we assume he did not freely choose? If a battlefield situation, qualifies for sha
he refuses, or says that he is incapable of hadah, martyrdom.
marriage, what can we do as a family in
practical terms? How can we explain his Hungerstrikers are often compared to
behaviour to other members of our family suicide bombers, such as Muslims from
and to our community? the Lebanon who drive jeeps packed
A: The issue at hand is not one of with explosives straight into Israeli mili
facesaving measures for his family…. tary bases. However, suicide bombers
What should be of greater concern is and hungerstrikers are, in fact, two very
(sic) the consequences of your different things. If a Muslim feels that
cousin’s actions in this life, and in the throwing himself against enemy lines or
hereafter. There is ample Islamic evi an enemy target will benefit his side, this
275. The punishments referred dence that homosexuality is unaccept is allowed, as the action is considered
to here are: flogging for the
able. There are many Hadiths which positive and will almost certainly cause
unmarried; execution, usually by
stoning, for the married. call for dealing with homosexuality in serious damage to his opponents.
128
The North West of England
Muhammad al-Salman, an expert on you), because of the tradition narrat 279. ‘Muslim PC refused to
shake hands’, BBC News
Islamic law, looks at: the correct forms of ed by Abu Huraira: ‘Do not be first in Online, available at:
http://news.bbc.co.
animal slaughter; Islamic names; jihad; greeting the Jews and the Christians,
uk/1/hi/england/lon-
hijra (leaving the territory of unbelief for and if you meet them on the road don/6284347.stm.
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The hijacking of British Islam
push them to walk on the narrow side Ibn alQayyim said: I will demolish it,
of it …’ because building higher than Muslims is
corrupting … they must also be stopped
If he was first to greet someone think from building new churches and temples
ing he is a Muslim, and later he found in the land of Islam, or building a sanctu
out he is a Dhimmi, he must go back ary for the monk, or a place where they
and ask him to return back his greet congregate for prayers …
ing to him … If a Muslim meets a
Dhimmi on the road, he should not Finally, as this short exchange emphasises,
make way for him to pass, and he it is not enough simply to humiliate the
should force him to walk on the nar unbelievers:
row end of the road … It is also for
bidden to shake his hand … Q. Tell us about the value of jihad, its
rules, and its characteristics. [Tell us
Q: What is the ruling regarding taking also] why it represents the final stage
the Jews, the Christians, and the rest of all acts of worship...
of the unbelievers as guardians? …
A. The word jihad is derived from jahd
A: It is forbidden to take any of the [struggle], which is hard labour. It has
unbelievers as guardians been said ‘He put a strain on his ani
[…] mal when he put a load on it during a
He [the Prophet] said (peace be upon journey that was beyond its strength
him), the Christians and the Jews are to bear.’ … And the saying goes:
traitors, may Allah never support ‘Exert your efforts in the matter, i.e.
those who honour them. Omar said: stretch yourself to the limit’. God has
‘do not honour them when Allah has said: ‘Struggle with proper striving in
humiliated them, do not trust them God’s [path]’;280 and ‘They swore their
when Allah has called them traitors, strongest oaths to God’.281 And in
do not believe their words when Allah Shari’ah law, [it means] exerting efforts
has called them liars. Ibn Habeira said in the slaughter of the unbelievers.
‘it has been related that Ahmad [the
Prophet] used to close his eyes when 16B. Three Important Rules of
he saw a Jew or a Christian; he Religion
would say do not copy this action of Author: Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab
mine, because I have not found that Publisher: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs,
our predecessors did this, it is just The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
that I cannot look at someone who Published: 1998
lied about Allah.’ Language: Urdu
[…]
They must be forbidden from raising This Urdu text, published by the Saudi
their building over their Muslim neigh Ministry of Islamic Affairs, is a translation
bour’s building … because of this of a work by the founder of Wahhabism,
Tradition: ‘Islam is high and nothing Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab.
else is higher than it.’ The part of their In this short excerpt, the connection
280. Qur’an 22:78. building which is higher than their between worship and jihad – another com-
281. Qur’an 5:53, 6:109, 16:38, Muslim neighbor’s building must be mon theme of the material in this report –
and 24:53. Here, jahd serves as
demolished in order to remove their is made explicit, with jihad raised to the
an intensifier to the following
words ‘their oaths’. aggression. ‘pinnacle’ of Islam:
130
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The substance of this religion is submis soldiers, and claims that this originates
sion (to God) and its pillar is salat282 and within Islam itself:
its highest, noble dignity and pinnacle is
jihad for Allah. The necessity for military training accord
ing to the basic principles of Islam ...
16C. Dawr al-talaba fi bina’ mustaq-
bil al-‘alam al-islami [The role of As regards military training in the
the students in building the Islamic countries, since you have wit
future of the Islamic world] nessed in some battles that some of
Author: Abu’l-A ‘la al-Mawdudi the soldiers and officers belonging to
Publisher: Dar al-Qur’an al-Karim the army (perform) brave actions; and
Published: 1980 you have observed in them powerful
Language: Arabic feelings for the holy jihad, and an
impulsive longing to sacrifice them
This short treatise examines the role selves in the path of God, and an
played by students in the advancement of astonishing readiness to defy death.
Islam. The author discusses ‘the Islamic But the source of all this sort of educa
umma’ as distinct from ‘the Islamic lands’ tion is not to be found in military train
– emphasising that his concern is with ing schools. The source of this sort of
Muslims the world over, rather than in education is only to be found in the
any specific geographical location. bosoms of Muslim mothers who recited
Attention is given to: the need to pass a in the souls of these brave mujahidin
cultural heritage from one generation to the names of God and His Prophet
the next; the basics of Islam; the need for (while they were still) in the softness of
a struggle to preserve these basics; the their youth. Or its roots are the Islamic
harm caused to Islamic culture by non- society, whose eternal remnant of
Muslim countries; and the supposed whose traditions were drawn on he
spread of ‘treachery’ in society. hearts of these heroes: the concept of
In this arresting passage, the author God, the concept of the Prophet, the
praises the inculcation of ‘an impulsive concept of the holy jihad, and the con 282 Salat – Urdu form of the
Arabic salah: the five daily oblig-
longing to sacrifice themselves’ in Islamic cept of martyrdom in the path of God. atory prayers.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 131
The hijacking of British Islam
132
The North West of England
There follows a discussion of: making vis- self, still it is forbidden for the Muslim to
its to graves and shrines (forbidden); be pleased with the practices of unbelief
women visiting graves and attending funer- or to congratulate others for them
als (forbidden); women covering their faces […]
and hands; marrying (or staying with) a Even if they congratulated us during
man who does not pray (the wife should their holidays, we do not reciprocate
consider him as a stranger to her); women because these are not our holidays
wearing tight clothes (forbidden); and the and because God is not pleased with
right sort of drum to play at weddings. their holidays …
In this passage, the authors assert that any
type of formal kindness between Muslims For the Muslim to accept their invitation
and the followers of other faiths is unaccept- to these events is forbidden, because it
able. To congratulate a Christian for bowing is worse than congratulating them since
down in front of the cross is worse than con- you are participating with them. It is also
gratulating him for having committed mur- forbidden for the Muslims to imitate the
der or fornication. Even if Jews or Christians unbelievers by throwing parties during
congratulate Muslims on their religious holi- these occasions …
days, this must not be reciprocated:
A key aspect of this attitude towards Jews
Congratulating the unbelievers on the and Christians is a belief that they are
occasion of Christmas, or for other always busily plotting against Islam:
religious occasions is a forbidden act
by consensus as has been related It is not a secret to anyone how these
from Ibn alQayyim … He said: ‘as for people of error from among the Jews
congratulating him on the occasions of and Christians and others have plotted
unbelief specific to him is forbidden by against this religion. They have
consensus, such as congratulating expended their time and money in
them on their celebration and fasting order to defame this faith and put
by saying ‘have a blessed celebration’ doubts in the minds of Muslims.
or other terms. If the person who is
congratulating did not become a dis 17B. Al-wala and Al-bara in Islam
believer because of that, he would [Loyalty and Enmity in Islam]
have at least have committed a forbid Author: Saleh Bin al-Fouzan
den act. It would be as if he was con Publisher: Cooperative Office for Call and
gratulating him for prostrating to the Guidance in Al-Batha (under the supervision
cross, and that is more sinful and of The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, The
spiteful to God than congratulating him Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
for drinking alcohol, or killing a soul, or Published: 1998
fornicating and other acts …’ Language: English
As for congratulating the unbelievers In this volume, the author, a leading Saudi
during their religious holiday is forbidden cleric, starts by defining loyalty and enmi-
and is on a similar standing with what ty, and enumerates the signs of loving
has been mentioned above by Ibn al unbelievers (a practice which is to be dis-
Qayyim, because it contains an accept couraged), the signs of loving believers
ance of their way and practices of unbe (which is to be encouraged), and the types
lief. He is accepting it for them, even of people whom it is obligatory to love. He
though he does not accept it for him concludes that ‘Those who should be
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 133
The hijacking of British Islam
hated completely without any love at all. believers in their specific traditions,
Those are the non-believers, the hypocrites their worshipping, their morals (such
and the polytheist [sic]’. as shaving their beards), speaking their
In the following passage, the author language except for necessary pur
draws on the theme of the utter incompat- poses, wearing their clothes and eat
ibility of Muslim and western society, to ing and drinking like them or any other
emphasise that Muslims are not allowed to way of imitating them….
use the western solar calendar (an echo of a
similar call issued in a Saudi ‘first-grade’ Those who should be hated complete
textbook found at the King Fahad ly without any love at all. Those are the
Academy in west London – see pages 51- nonbelievers, the hypocrites and the
58): polytheist.
Signs (indications) of loving the non 17C. Man tashabbaha bi-qawm fahuwa
believers… Using their date (calendar) minhum [Whoever imitates a peo-
as it represents their religion marking ple becomes one of them]
the birth of Jesus in remembrance of Author: Dr. Nasir ibn ‘Abd al-Karim al-‘Aql
Jesus’ birthday: This is not from the reli Publisher: The Office of Da‘wah in Britain
gion of Jesus but they innovated it. So Published: n.d.
using this date is joining them in their Language: Arabic
religion and belief.
This Arabic language volume was pub-
Elsewhere, meanwhile, he asserts that lished by the Saudi-funded ‘Office of
even calling non-believers ‘brothers’ is Da‘wah in Britain’.
ruled out: In the following passage, the author
expresses his disapproval of celebrating
You even hear lots of people, who are even national holidays. Along with prohi-
counted as preachers for Islam, call the bitions on honouring a national flag and
nonbelievers brothers – a very danger rejection of citizenship as a basis for soli-
ous word. darity, this sort of injunction places great
obstacles in the way of Muslims integrating
More generally, the main thrust of this lit- into mainstream western society:
tle work (as identified in the title) is repeat-
ed all the way through: Holidays like birthdays, national holi
days, organised celebration estab
One of the major aspects of Islamic lished by the nation which take place
Creed is that every Muslim must once a year or once a month; all
have love and loyalty to all Muslims these fall under the matter of imitation
(this is called alWala) and [i.e. are imitation of the nonbelievers,
dislike/hate every nonbeliever (this which is utterly condemned].
is called AlBara)….
Furthermore, imitation of the non-believ-
Allah (SWT) made it forbidden on the ers is again deemed dangerous because
believers to have the nonbelievers as non-Muslims are inherently corrupt:
friends even if they are very close rel
atives to them…. We can say that there are many reasons
for speaking against imitating the unbe
So it is forbidden to imitate the non lievers … Firstly: the deeds of unbeliev
134
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The hijacking of British Islam
Islamic Educational Society advance the Islamic faith through the provi-
(Masjid-e-Noorul Islam) sion of a wide range of spiritual, educational
and social services enriched with Islamic val-
Address: 108-110 Audley Range, Blackburn, ues that fulfil the needs of our members and
BB1 1TF the wider community.’ It also speaks of
Telephone: 01254 261 573 becoming, ‘a centre of excellence for Islamic
Email: n/a learning and practice providing a beacon for
Website: http://www.masjid-e-noorul-islam.com/ both Muslims and other faith communities
Charity Commission Registration No.: 526572 who wish to gain a deeper knowledge and
Local MP: Rt. Hon. Jack Straw (Labour) understanding of Islam.’294
Local Authority: Blackburn with Darwen Borough The Islamic Educational Society runs
Council the Al-Islah private girls school, for ages
289. ‘List of MCB Affiliates – Affiliations: Blackburn Council of Mosques (BCM), 11-16 (affiliated to the Association of
March 2005’, The Muslim
Council of Britain, available at, Lancashire Council of Mosques (LCM), MCB, Muslim Schools UK). This opened in
http://www.mcb.org.uk/affili-
AMSUK 1995 and occupies the first floor of the
ates.php. Last accessed 10 July
2007. mosque; it was the subject of a BBC Radio
290. ‘Executive Members’, 4 programme, Qur’an and Country: Inside
Lancashire Council of Mosques,
available (cached) at,
Points of Interest a Muslim School, in 2000.295 Speaking to
http://66.102.9.104/search?q=ca that programme, the school’s head teacher,
che:SLg8Ow7dSUoJ:www.lan-
cashiremosques.com/execu-
The Islamic Educational Society of Nizamuddin Makda, had emphasised that
tive_members.asp+Salim+Mulla Blackburn, also known as the Masjid-e- the school’s mission was to ensure that
&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7. Last
accessed 10 July 2007; ‘Islamic Noorul Islam, was founded in 1967 and children were educated ‘morally and aca-
& Muslim Associations, Schools, adjoins the town’s Noor ul-Islam demically’.296 The programme’s producer
Groups & Charities around
Greater Manchester’, Mosque.289. It is part of the Lancashire also noted the ‘good’ GCSE results
Manchester Islamic and Muslim
Mosques & Organisations in
Council of Mosques and shares premises achieved by the school and said that,
Greater Manchester, available at, (and is presumably also a member of ) the despite accusations that Muslim schools
http://www.manchester2002-
uk.com/worship/worship8a.html.
Blackburn Council of Mosques.290 were ‘too narrowly focused and not equip-
Last accessed 10 July 2007. In June 2006, the mosque caused local ping children to live in modern Britain…
291. ‘Mosque gets go-ahead controversy over its plans to build a larger over the three days we spent recording at
despite objections’, Lancashire
Evening Telegraph, 26 June facility on the opposite side of the road al-Islah, the impression we got from the
2006, available online (via the from its present location. The proposal for students we spoke to was that they are very
Preston Citizen) at,
http://archive.prestoncitizen.co.u the new building was only narrowly aware of their potential role in the world’
k/2006/6/26/911675.html.
approved by a divided planning committee and ‘they do not regard the Islamic values
292. Ibid.
of the local council, which gave the go- and discipline they are being taught as lim-
293. ‘Masjid-e-Noorul Islam,
Blackburn, Lancashire: Islamic
ahead despite receiving some 92 letters of iting their horizons. In fact, just the oppo-
Educational Society’, available objection and being advised by officers to site’.297
at, http://www.masjid-e-noorul-
islam.com/index.aspx. turn it down.291 Speaking in the wake of
294. Ibid. the council’s decision, the vice-chairman of
295. ‘Al-Islah Schools’, the Society, Ibrahim Wadee, was recorded Books found here included:
Association of Muslim Schools
saying that the new construction was like-
UK, available at, http://ams-
uk.org/index.php?option=com_c ly to cost between £1million and £1.5mil- 18A. Islam: Beliefs and Teachings
ontent&task=view&id=125&Itemi
d=243&sid=15; Linda Pressly,
lion, though at the time planning permis- Author: Ghulam Sarwar
‘Islam underpins schools’ les- sion was received only £300,000 had been Publisher: Muslim Educational Trust
sons’, BBC News Online, 24
November 2005, available at,
raised.292 The Society is currently running Published: 2004
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/edu- an appeal to raise £1.2 million to fund the Language: English
cation/4467370.stm. Last
accessed 10 July 2007. new building.293
296. Ibid. According to its website, the purpose of This work - cited by the ex-Islamist, Ed
297. Ibid. the Islamic Educational Society is, ‘to Husain as a key introductory text on his path
136
The North West of England
towards extremism – is a well-produced and That would destroy the social balance.
comprehensive overview of Islam.298 Society would not prosper but would
According to the author, this is a seventh instead have insoluble problems such
revised edition of the book, which has been as broken marriages, children born
printed in English since 1980. It is mainly outside marriage and the breakup of
aimed at school pupils aged 11-16, and cov- family life. These problems are already
ers briefly ‘the essential aspects of Islam’ rife in western society. Schoolgirl preg
including the Divine Unity, fate, prophet- nancies, an increase in abortions,
hood, angels, the books of God, the Qur’an, divorce and many other problems
death, the afterlife, Islamic duties, prayer and have resulted from a permissive out
fasting. There then follow passages on: shar- look and the socalled freedom of
i’ah law; social life; the Islamic economic sys- women championed by feminists.
tem; and the Islamic political system. Finally,
the author presents selected verses from the Throughout history, men and women
Qur’an, together with selected Hadiths and a have never been treated the same.
list of Muslim countries of the world. The Islam has given women the right posi
book, continues the author, is ‘increasingly tion and has not attempted to violate
used in maintained schools in England to divine laws. Other religions and man
teach Islam as part of the Religious Studies made systems have failed to define
curriculum’, and also ‘motivated a number of the exact and appropriate role of
non-Muslims to come to the eternal bliss of women. In the West, women have
Islam’. The author makes use of a wide range been reduced almost to a plaything of
of sources, including prominent Jamaat-e- enjoyment and fancy. Women have
Islami members such as Abu al-A’la al- tended to degrade themselves proba
Mawdudi and Khurshid Ahmad, as well as bly unwittingly in modern times for the
Muslim Brotherhood ideologues such as sake of real or imaginary equality. They
Sayyed Qutb. have become objects of exploitation
In this passage, the author, Ghulam by men and the slogans of liberty and
Sarwar (founder of the Muslim equality have virtually reduced them to
Educational Trust), expresses the idea that playful commodities. … They have nei
total equality between the sexes is against ther gained liberty nor achieved full
nature, and would have terrible conse- equality; rather they have lost their nat
quences for society if indulged.299 The ural place in the home.
problem is framed in terms of the exploita-
tion of women by the West: The natural balance, fairness and mutu
298. See Ed Husain, The
ality have been disturbed. The outcome Islamist: Why I joined radical
Allah has not made man and woman has been horrendous for social peace Islam in Britain, what I saw inside
and why I left (London, 2007),
identical, so it would be against nature and stability. The natural peace at home pp. 20-3.
to try to have total equality between a cannot be restored unless the exploita 299. For more on the Muslim
man and a woman. Educational Trust, see page 183.
tion of women stops.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 137
The hijacking of British Islam
Address: Cumberland St, Blackburn, BB1 1JP This compilation work explains in very
Telephone: 01254 608 683 simple language the major aspects of belief
Email: info@jaamemasjid.org and practical implementation of belief in
Website: http://www.jaamemasjid.org the everyday life of the believer.
Charity Commission Registration No.: n/a In this passage, the reader is instructed
Local MP: Rt. Hon. Jack Straw (Labour) that cross-dressing - which in this context
Local Authority: Blackburn with Darwen presumably means jeans for women and
Borough Council long hair for men - is strictly prohibited.
Affiliations: LCM, MCB Women may not cut their hair short, and
men may not shave their beards:
138
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www.policyexchange.org.uk • 139
The hijacking of British Islam
This book, from the same series as above, book) would have served better in terms of
also describes basic conducts of behaviour, comprehension. More broadly, in all of the
drawing on the Qur’an and the Hadith. extracts from this text, it is worth noting
This volume is focused mainly on family the extremely poor quality of the English
ties. used here in a book meant to instruct
In the following passage, the author young children:
decrees that only Muslim dress is to be
worn.306 For a man, even low trousers can Allah Ta’ala has bestowed a special
be enough to send him to hell: and superior life upon Nabi (Sallallahu
Alayhi Wa Sallam) granting him life in
Men should wear their pants (lower his Mubarak Qabr. His Mubarak body
garments) above the ankles. is protected from decomposition and
[…] this belief is termed ‘Hayaatun Nabi[‘]
Those men who wear their pants … (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam).
below their ankles will on the Day of
Qiyamat,307 have fire on their ankles and Children are warned against practices that
Allah Ta’ala shall not look at them with are common to the popular Islam of South
mercy. Asia, including Sufi practices:
[…]
Muslims should distinguish themselves Some examples of Bid’at [bid‘a, hereti
in dress from other nations. They cal innovation] are:
should not imitate nonMuslims in their a) to observe such ceremonies and
dress or in any other way. commemorations which have no
sanction, nor have they been grant
19E. Tas-heelul Aqaa-id [Beliefs ed any status in the Shariah as well
Made Easy] volume 7 as regarding those who do not par
Author: None Listed ticpate in these functions, as sin
Publisher: Jamiatul Ulama Taalimi Board ners.
Publisher: 1418 (1997) b) to build upon graves, to place domes
Language: English and structures over or to unnecessari
ly raise the grave in excess of the
This basic textbook offers a series of Shar’ie [legal] requirement.
short lessons (fourteen in all) on God, c) to place decorations, lights and
unbelief, prophethood, Muhammad, sheets over graves.
innovation, good deeds, sin and repen- d) to observe three days, seven days,
tance, the Companions of the Prophet, and forty days ceremonies and
the first four Caliphs, imitation (of feasting on the death of family
unbelievers), and the signs of the Day of members.
Judgement. The English text includes
many Arabic words and phrases and it is 19F. Tas-heelul Aqaa-id [Beliefs
worth remembering that this kind of Made Easy] volume 8
book is aimed explicitly at children – Author: None Listed
something which makes its uncritical Publisher: Jamiatul Ulama Taalimi Board
presentation of certain ‘facts’ all the Publisher: 1418 (1997)
306. One problem with this con- more noteworthy. Language: English
dition, of course, is that there is
no single ‘Islamic style’ of dress.
The following passage shows an almost
307. Day of Qiyamat – Day of
obsessive concern for the use of Arabic This basic textbook is made up of ten
Judgement. terms when English (the language of the lessons on the following themes: baseless
140
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www.policyexchange.org.uk • 141
The hijacking of British Islam
142
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The hijacking of British Islam
will live like slaves for them as bration of Mother’s Day is deemed to
they say. cause offence:
144
Yorkshire
Yorkshire
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 145
The hijacking of British Islam
Darul Islam Mosque (Masjid the following passage shows, the ‘unbeliev-
Nimra), Bradford ers’ are taken to include those who do not
follow a Wahhabite version of Islam – a
Address: 9-10 Hanover Square, Bradford, definition which would incorporate many
BD1 3BX Muslims in the UK (mainly those from
Telephone: 01274 733 439 South Asia) who define themselves as Sufis
Email: n/a and followers of one form or another of a
Website: n/a more mystical style of Islam:
Charity Commission Registration No.: n/a
Local MP: Marsha Singh (Labour) [The following is unbelief]: to claim that
Local Authority: City of Bradford Metropolitan there are great saints [called Qutb in
District Council Sufi terminology, which literally means
Affiliations: MCB axes (of creation)] who have control
over what happens in the universe,
even if this claim is accompanied with
Points of Interest the admissions that Allah, the Soverign
[sic] Lord exists. People who have this
The Darul Islam Mosque sits in the most- belief are in a worse condition than the
ly-residential Hanover Square, in the idol worshippers before Islâm …
Manningham area of Bradford. Since its
founding it has maintained a low-profile 4. Or the statements of some Sufis
and little is known about it. that Allah pervades in His creation …
146
Yorkshire
ness (from Allah). If he/she repents sidered to have left Islam. That person
that is better for him/her. Otherwise, will be killed because they are guilty of
based on this, that person will be con accusing the Qur’an of falsehood.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 147
The hijacking of British Islam
Edinburgh
Islamic Centre of Edinburgh (ICET) The opening of the Islamic Centre saw
the issuing of several of the books under
Address: 50 Potterow, Edinburgh, EH8 9BT examination here (many of which were
Telephone: 0131 667 1777 found at locations beyond Edinburgh).
Email: info@icet.org.uk This would appear to indicate that this
Website: http://www.edmosque.com or event was used to disseminate a wide range
http://www.discoverislam.com/col/htm/links/links.htm of material – much of which appears to
Charity Commission Registration No.: SC029809 have been printed at the mosque attached
Local MP: Rt. Hon. Gavin Strang (Labour) to the centre itself (several list Masjid
Local Authority: City of Edinburgh Council; Khadim al-Haramayn al-Sharifayn – the
313. ‘Planning the Mosque and Scottish Executive name of the Edinburgh mosque – as their
the Centre and General Plans for
the Site’, Edinburgh Central Affiliations: MCB, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia distributor).
Mosque, available at, More recent visitors to the mosque and
http://www.discover-
islam.com/col/htm/about/plan- Islamic Centre have included the Rt. Hon.
ning.htm. Last accessed 10 July
2007; ‘Financing the Project’,
Points of Interest Jim Wallace who visited while still Deputy
Edinburgh Central Mosque, First Minister of Scotland and leader of the
available at, http://www.discov-
er-islam.com/col
The Islamic Centre of Edinburgh adjoins Scottish Liberal Democrats (prior to his res-
/htm/about/finance.htm. Last the city’s King Fahd Mosque, which provides ignation from both posts in 2005).319
accessed 10 July 2007.
prayer facilities for some 1200 people and
314 ‘Financing the Project’,
Edinburgh Central Mosque, cost ‘more than three million pounds’ to
available at, http://www.discov- build.313 The mosque’s own website notes Material found here included:
er-islam.com/co
l/htm/about/finance.htm. Last that construction was plagued by a variety of
accessed 10 July 2007.
problems, particularly ‘financial difficulties’. 23A. Al-‘aqida al-sahiha wa ma
315 Ibid.
These were only resolved with the support of yudaduha, wa risalat al-ma‘iyya
316 ‘McLeish speaks at opening
of Edinburgh Mosque and
King Fahd of Saudi Arabia who provided a [Correct beliefs, what opposes
Islamic Centre’, The Scottish contribution ‘amounting to 90 percent of them, along with the treatise of
Office, 31 July 1998, available
at, http://www.scotland. the total cost of the project’.314 Moreover, the Divine Presence]
gov.uk/news/releas98_2/pr1540. since building work was completed, the Author: ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz
htm. Last accessed 10 July
2007. mosque claims to have benefited from the Publisher: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs,
317 ‘Official visits to the ‘unceasing patronage’ of Prince (now King) Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Edinburgh Central Mosque’,
Edinburgh Central Mosque,
Abdullah and Dr. ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Abd al- This book claims to be, ‘A Gift from the
available at, http://www.discov- Muhsin al-Turki, the current Secretary- Servant of the Two Sanctuaries [King of Saudi
er-islam.com/col/htm/
gallery/Official%20visits/index.ht
General of the Muslim World League.315 Arabia] on the Occasion of the Opening of
m. Last accessed 10 July 2007. The Mosque and Islamic Centre were King Fahd Mosque and Islamic Centre of
318 ‘Islamic center and mosque opened in July 1998 in a ceremony Edinburgh, Scotland. To be distributed for
opened in Edinburgh, Scotland’,
Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, presided over by Henry McLeish, then free, not to be sold’.
Washington D.C., 3 August Minister of State at the Scottish Office.316 Published: 1419 (1998)
1998, available at,
http://www.saudiembassy.net/19 Also present on that occasion were the Language: Arabic
98News/News/IslDetail.asp?cInd
Saudi Arabian Minister of State, Prince This book was also found at al-Manaar
ex=1511. Last accessed 10 July
2007. Abdul Aziz, the Saudi Ambassador, the (The Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre,
319 ‘Official visits to the then Secretary of State for Scotland, London) (see pages 31-37); Birmingham
Edinburgh Central Mosque’,
Edinburgh Central Mosque,
Donald Dewar and Eric Milligan, Lord Central Mosque (see pages 105-106);
available at, http://www.discov- Provost of Edinburgh.317 News of the cen- Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith, Birmingham
er-islam.com/col/htm/
gallery/Official%20visits/index.ht tre’s opening was carried on the website of (see pages 107-109); and the Madinah
m. Last accessed 10 July 2007. the Saudi Arabian embassy in the US.318 Mosque, Oxford (see pages 150-153).
148
Edinburgh
This book, written by one of the leading Prophet (pbuh)320, is better than his
Saudi scholars of his day, ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin guidance; or that the laws of some
‘Abdullah bin Baz (d. 1999), stands as a state- one else is better than his laws … is
ment of Wahhabite belief. It is essentially a an unbeliever.
theological treatise on belief and faith, in [...]
which the distinction between the true 9. Whoever believes that some people
believer and the non-believer is clarified. Ten have the right not to follow the law of
matters (nawaqid) that invalidate one’s faith Muhammad (pbuh).
are listed within its pages.
The book opens with a discourse on cor- The author provides a list of things that can
rect belief, which is said to come through nullify someone’s faith. He ends with the fol-
faith in God, his angels, his books, his lowing, ruling out any acceptance of secular
prophets, the Day of Judgement, and fate. legal systems:
The author then examines the following
themes: the shahada (the profession of faith); Among those who belong in section
God as the Creator; God’s names and attrib- four (above) are those who believe
utes; belief in angels; belief in the prophets; that the statutes and laws which the
belief in the finality of Muhammad (as the masses (the people) enact are better
last prophet); belief in the Last Day; and than the legal system of Islam, or
belief in fate. Faith in God is said to involve that the Islamic system does not fit
love for Muslims and hatred of unbelievers. readily within the twentieth century,
The Sunnis are held up as ‘the Saved Sect’. or that it causes divisions among the
Marxism is described as a dangerous false- Muslims, or that it is confined to the
hood. The author also condemns Sufism relationship between a man and his
alongside long extinct Muslim sects like the Lord without playing any part in other
Jahmiyya and Mu‘tazila. Stress is laid on the aspects of his life. In section four too
need to worship God alone, and on the you will find those who think that
means available for defeating the enemies of enforcement of God’s decree in cut
Islam. ting off the hand of the thief or ston
In the following passage, the author ing the proven adulterer does not suit
declares that by obeying human laws, over the present age. In the same catego
and above God’s injunctions, a Muslim ry we also find those who believe it is
becomes an apostate and therefore liable to permitted to judge by something
the death penalty: other than the law of God, whether in
everyday matters or crimes or any
… The scholars have mentioned that a thing else, even if they do not think
person may become apostate for many that doing so is better than judging
reasons which can nullify his faith. These according to the shari’ah. This is
reasons would make someone’s blood because they have thus made per
permissible to spill [to be killed for apos missible what God has forbidden in
tasy] and his wealth permissible to be all things; and anyone who permits
usurped, because he is no longer a what God has forbidden, of what is
Muslim. We will mention some of the known of the religion by necessity,
worst and the most prevalent causes for such as fornication and drinking alco
turning someone into an apostate hol and usury, and judging by any 320. Pbuh is an abbreviation of
[…] thing but God’s law – such a person the English formula ‘Peace be
upon him’, the standard form
4. Whoever believes that the guidance is an unbeliever by the general agree appended to Muhammad’s
brought by someone other than the ment of all Muslims. name.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 149
The hijacking of British Islam
Southern England
Madinah Mosque (The ‘Stanley This book was also found at Al-Manaar
Road Mosque’), Oxford (The Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre,
London) (see pages 31-37); the Islamic
Address: 2 Stanley Road, Oxford OX4 1G Centre of Edinburgh (see pages 148-149);
Telephone: 01865 243 142 Birmingham Central Mosque (see pages
Email: n/a 102-106); and Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-
Website: n/a Hadith, Birmingham (see pages 107-109).
Charity Commission Registration No.: n/a
Local MP: Rt. Hon Andrew Smith (Labour) This book, written by one of the leading
Local Authority: Oxfordshire County Council; Oxford Saudi scholars of his day, ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin
City Council ‘Abdullah bin Baz (d. 1999), stands as a
Affiliations: Unknown statement of Wahhabite belief. It is essen-
tially a theological treatise on belief and
faith, in which the distinction between the
Points of Interest true believer and the non-believer is clari-
fied. Ten matters (nawaqid) that invalidate
The ‘Stanley Road Mosque’ was founded in one’s faith are listed within its pages.
Oxford in 1984.321 Attached to Oxford’s The book opens with a discourse on cor-
Madinah Mosque is the Muslim Welfare rect belief, which is said to come through
House. Since 2001, the mosque has been faith in God, his angels, his books, his
one of six ‘incident reporting centres’ set up prophets, the Day of Judgement, and fate.
by the police to report racist attacks.322 In The author then examines the following
May 2005, the Oxford Mail reported the themes: the shahada (the profession of faith);
outcome of a seven year internal dispute over God as the Creator; God’s names and attrib-
who should control and run the mosque.323 utes; belief in angels; belief in the prophets;
belief in the finality of Muhammad (as the
last prophet); belief in the Last Day; and
Material found here included: belief in fate. Faith in God is said to involve
love for Muslims and hatred of unbelievers.
24A. Al-‘aqida al-sahiha wa ma The Sunnis are held up as ‘the Saved Sect’.
yudaduha, wa risalat al-ma‘iyya Marxism is described as a dangerous false-
[Correct beliefs, what opposes hood. The author also condemns Sufism
them, along with the treatise of alongside long extinct Muslim sects like the
the Divine Presence] Jahmiyya and Mu‘tazila. Stress is laid on the
Author: ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz need to worship God alone, and on the
Publisher: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, means available for defeating the enemies of
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Islam.
This book claims to be, ‘A Gift from the In the following passage, the author
Servant of the Two Sanctuaries [King of declares that by obeying human laws, over
Saudi Arabia] on the Occasion of the and above God’s injunctions, a Muslim
321. ‘Worshippers suffer split’,
Oxford Mail, 9 July 2004. Opening of King Fahd Mosque and Islamic becomes an apostate and therefore liable to
322. ‘Six racial incident centres Centre of Edinburgh, Scotland. To be dis the death penalty:
set up in city’, Oxford Mail, 9
tributed for free, not to be sold’
October 2001.
150
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reasons which can nullify his faith. These because they have thus made permis
reasons would make someone’s blood sible what God has forbidden in all
permissible to spill [to be killed for apos things; and anyone who permits what
tasy] and his wealth permissible to be God has forbidden, of what is known
usurped, because he is no longer a of the religion by necessity, such as
Muslim. We will mention some of the fornication and drinking alcohol and
worst and the most prevalent causes for usury, and judging by anything but
turning someone into an apostate God’s law – such a person is an unbe
[…] liever by the general agreement of all
4. Whoever believes that the guidance Muslims.
brought by someone other than the
Prophet (pbuh)324, is better than his 24B. Tanbihat ‘ala ahkam takhussu
guidance; or that the laws of some bi’l-mu’minat [Warnings regard-
one else is better than his laws … is ing laws related to believing
an unbeliever. women]
[...] Author: Saleh Bin alFouzan
9. Whoever believes that some people Publisher: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs,
have the right not to follow the law of The Kingdom Saudi Arabia
Muhammad (pbuh). Published: 1419 (1998)
Language: Arabic
The author provides a list of things that can This book was also found at Birmingham
nullify someone’s faith. He ends with the fol- Central Mosque (see pages 102-106); the
lowing, ruling out any acceptance of secular Salafi Mosque, Birmingham (see pages
legal systems: 110-117)
Among those who belong in section In this volume, published by the Saudi
four (above) are those who believe that Ministry of Islamic Affairs, the carefully
the statutes and laws which the mass delineated gender roles for the separate
es (the people) enact are better than sexes are outlined. The author, Saleh Bin
the legal system of Islam, or that the al-Fouzan, is a member of the Saudi
Islamic system does not fit readily Council of Senior Religious Clerics, the
within the twentieth century, or that it Fiqh Committee of the Muslim World
causes divisions among the Muslims, League, the Permanent Committee of
or that it is confined to the relationship Jurists, and the Committee for the
between a man and his Lord without Supervision of Missionaries, and the
playing any part in other aspects of his Permanent Committee for Islamic
life. In section four too you will find Research and Fatwas.
those who think that enforcement of Here he provides an exposition on the
God’s decree in cutting off the hand of various laws relating to women including:
the thief or stoning the proven adulter the place of women in Islam; how to treat
er does not suit the present age. In the one’s hair and eyebrows; teeth (there
same category we also find those who should be no gaps); tattooing (which is
believe it is permitted to judge by forbidden); and menstruation and child-
something other than the law of God, birth (including prohibitions on facing
324. Pbuh is an abbreviation of
whether in everyday matters or crimes Mecca or touching the Qur’an during the English formula ‘Peace be
or anything else, even if they do not these periods, because of ritual ‘uncleanli- upon him’, replacing the Arabic
Sala’llah ‘alayhi wa sallam, ‘May
think that doing so is better than judg ness’). In addition, there are injunctions God bless him and give him
ing according to the shari’ah. This is on: clothing and veiling; rules affecting a peace’.
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The hijacking of British Islam
woman’s prayers; the preparation of dead it is clear that a large range of occupations
women for burial; fasting; performing pil- are forbidden:
grimage (hajj and ‘umra); marriage (the
ethos being that a woman’s work is in the Those Muslims who have a sickness
house); the obedience of a wife to her in their hearts, they want the woman
husband (which is deemed compulsory to be cheap merchandise, in the mar
and she is forbidden from rebelling); ketplace of the people of lowly
divorce; widowhood; and laws that pro- desires and satanic tendencies, to be
tect a woman’s honour. uncovered merchandise in front of
As the following passage reflects, al- their eyes, where they can enjoy her
Fouzan believes there are to be clear limits beauty or even do with her what is
to what a woman can do, which emphasise worse.
that her position, first and foremost,
should be in the home: That is why they wish that she left the
house to join the men, to be with them
We do not forbid a woman to do side by side in their jobs; to serve men
things outside her house, provided this as a nurse in the hospital, as a flight
is in conformity with the following attendant, as a student, as a teacher in
rules: a coed school, as an actress in the
theatre, or as a singer and announcer in
1. She must have a need to do these the different media outlets, unveiled and
things (or society must need them seductive through her voice and
to be done), provided no man can appearance. The pornographic maga
be found to do them. zines are using the pictures of seductive
2. This must be done after she has naked girls, as a means to sell and pro
completed her housework, which is mote their magazines. Some merchants
her basic work. and factories also use these pictures to
3. This work must stay within her limi sell their merchandise; they put these
tations, such as teaching women, pictures on their merchandise and
or doctoring or sicknursing products.
women, and (must take place) in
segregation from men. Because of this false way of doing
4. Thus, there is no prohibition – things, the woman quits her real job in
indeed it is a duty for women – to the house. She forces her husband to
teach their religion, and there is no hire foreign servants to raise their chil
prohibition on her teaching those dren, and organise their home affairs,
matters of her religion for which she which causes lots of problems and
has a need. The teaching must be brings great evil.
done among women. There is no
harm in her attending classes at the Beyond this, al-Fouzan emphasises that
mosque or somewhere similar, but women are forbidden from driving in a car
she must stay hidden and be kept with a man (as in a taxi) or attending a
away from men. male doctor:
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who accepts his women to do this is of the most important aspects of western
not a real man and his faith is weak. civilisation:
[…]
Some women and some of their … listening to music, singing and for
guardians take the matter of women bidden instruments which distract the
visiting male doctors lightly; they use heart from the Qurán and makes it [the
the excuse of their need for treat heart] intent on deviation and disobe
ment. This is a grave sin, and a great dience … it is a recipe for homosexu
danger … ality and fornication. Through it the
lover gets his utmost desire (sexual
In addition, the following ruling declares intercourse) from his beloved … As for
that listening to singing can turn women women who listen to music, it is of the
into prostitutes. Here, what amounts to an greatest forbidden acts, and most cor
obsession with music solely as a path to rupting of religion … how many
‘homosexuality and fornication’ acts as a women became prostitutes because
bar to Muslims taking a fuller part in one they listened to singing.
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154
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yourselves to give charity even if you boasted that they had converted many
have to give your jewellery because to atheism.
you outnumber men in Hell. You curse
too much and show ingratitude to your As to how women can avoid hell, the book
husband. And I have not seen anyone contains various prescriptions that they
as deficient in religion and in intelli must follow if they are to save themselves.
gence as women yet they gain an Foremost among these is the demand that
upparhand [sic] over men. women should veil themselves. Not veiling
properly is said to negate the value of all
Furthermore, the women in hell are said to the other good deeds of Islam – and to
fall into several categories, as follows: endanger both the woman concerned and
her male ‘guardian’:
Some Kinds of Women Who Will Go
to Hell [Women who uncover some portions
of their bodies and cover others…]
1. The Grumbler This kind of woman lays claim to piety
… the woman who complains though she neglects the veil. We read
against her husband every now and in the foregoing Hadith that neglect of
then is one of Hell. the veil effaces [sic] the advantage of
[…] pious deeds like fasting, prayer, Hajj,
2. The Woman Who Adorns Herself Umrah,331 zikr332 and others. In fact, the
[…] guardian of a woman who does not
3. The Woman Who Apes Men, cover her body is also a fleshpedlar
Tattoos, Cuts Hair Short and Alters [sic] who will not be admitted to
Nature. Paradise on whose gates will be
[…] inscribed, ‘Cuckolds are disallowed
4. Women Who Kill Animals and Birds entry.’ A cuckold is one who does not
There are women who are careless in insist on modesty of his wife. What
looking after pets. They neither feed can be more immodest for a man than
them nor allow them to look for their to let his wife move about unveiled?
food themselves.
Just as not veiling cancels out all pious acts,
Elsewhere, the feminist movement is disobedience to one’s husband has the
derided, with the author explaining that it same effect:
was the creation of Jews and Christians in
order to lead Muslim women astray: If a woman obeys her husband, offers
salah333 five times a day, keeps fast in
In the beginning of the twentieth cen Ramadan, observes what Allah has
tury, a movement for the freedom of enjoyed and forbidden then by Allah’s
women was launched with the basic will she will enter paradise.
objective of driving women towards
aberrant ways. This was patronised by On the other hand, she who is dis 331. The ‘umra is a lesser pil-
grimage to Mecca, distinct from
Jews and Christians who made known obedient to her husband will enter the hajj.
that their ambition was to lead astray Hell even if she is careful about salah, 332. Zikr (more correctly, dhikr)
the aliens [sic] who were very devoted fasting, and other duties to Allah. A is remembrance of God through
chanting and reciting.
to their religion so that they keep away woman’s entry into Paradise is
333. i.e. the obligatory prayer to
from their religion and feel shy to dependent on her husband’s pleas be said and performed five times
a day.
describe its salient features. They ure.
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The hijacking of British Islam
25B. Twenty Lessons for Muslim And while there, a woman’s top priority is
Women to be keeping her husband happy:
Compiler: Maulana Muhammad Aashiq Elahi
Publisher: Private Publisher, Karachi The Prophet said: ‘You [women] curse
Published: 2000 a lot and are not obliging to your hus
Language: English bands.[‘] In another Tradition the
Prophet commanded that a woman is
This is a short, but very detailed assort- mostly ungrateful even if her husband
ment of teachings and rulings. It is part of has been gentle for a long time and
a series that aims to provide ‘teaching for disregards him for trivial displeasure.
women’ in the hope that it will ‘help to The Prophet also said: ‘Allah will not
uplift the know how of the basic require- look towards a woman (due to His
ments of the religion’. Divided into 24 anger) who is ungrateful to her hus
chapters, subjects include: prayer; band, although she is dependent on
supererogatory prayers; alms-tax (zakat) him.[‘]
with detailed rulings on how many grams Some women curse a lot, often use
of gold or silver are payable under which abusive language to others, has [sic] ill
circumstances; the hajj pilgrimage; the feelings for others as if Allah wishes to
fast of Ramadan; retreats (i‘tikaf); learn- seek her advice.334
ing and teaching Islam; a list of 45 books
found to be useful for this last purpose; In terms of dress, meanwhile, the author
rearing and educating children; remem- asserts that Muslim women should not
brance of God; human rights; public serv- wear the dress of unbelievers, or adopt the
ice; rights of and obedience to parents; Hindu style of wearing a sari:
the rights of husbands; the rights of
neighbours; sincerity of intention; control Further the Muslim women of the
of speech (lies, tale-bearing, singing, present age imitate infidel women and
back-biting all are forbidden); lawful the dress which these ladies
food; dress and ornaments (including the (Christians, Hindus etc.) wear.
‘different aspects of being naked though Remember, to wear the dress of aliens
fully dressed’); the veil; injunctions that is a grave sin…. If a sari (hindu dress)
women should not see men (‘even a blind is worn it should be long enough and
person’); that women should remain in the allied clothes should also be such
the house; on the reformation of society that no part of the body is bare. These
(through avoidance of short stories, nov- days the style of wearing Sari is such
els, radio, TV, theatres, and cinemas); that a woman’s bare back and a por
enjoining the right and forbidding the tion of the stomach can vividly be
wrong. seen. This is a vice and even your
In this excerpt, the author emphasises brother or father should not see these
that a woman should stay in the house: parts of the body.
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ing to music and other rubbish relayed Britain. This is followed by a chapter on
to corrupt the society….Two or three the social position of ‘Western Women’
decades ago there used to be an today, in the course of which consideration
appliance which was known as is only given to negative isues, including
Gramophone on which Records were abortion, rape, marriage, divorce, single
played. The Records were mostly of parents, health problems, alcoholism,
music or of the Recitation of Qur’an. smoking, and pornography. Chapter 3
To listen to such Records of recitation takes up the subject of Muslim women,
is an insult of the Holy Book. covering the ‘spiritual equality’ of the sexes
under Islam, as well as Islamic marriage,
The musical heritage of Muslims from a motherhood, polygamy, divorce, modesty,
Sufi or related background is likewise con- and economics. The last chapter is a criti-
demned: cal but quite well-informed survey of the
feminist movement, based on western
The kind Prophet has said: ‘that I have studies and it covers Marxist, liberal, and
been sent by Allah as merciful and a radical forms of feminism, sexual libera-
Reformer of all the worlds and Allah tion and ‘the Tyranny of Beauty’ (citing
has ordered me to destroy all the Naomi Wolf ). In addition, there is a bibli-
musical Instruments, the Cross ography and a glossary.
(respected by Christians) and the roots In the following passage, the author out-
of illiteracy. Alas, the claimants of love lines strict regulations governing men and
for the Prophet have engaged them women:
selves vehemently with music.
Surprisingly they listen [to] the praise The free mixing of men and women
of the Prophet through couplets on from the time they become sexually
musical instruments. The musical aware to the time they are no longer
instruments which the Prophet came sexually active is prohibited. On the
to destroy are used for his praise. face of it, this may appear rather
harsh, but if we examine the effects of
25C. Islam: the choice of thinking unrestricted contact between the
women sexes, the person who is blessed with
Author: Ismail Adam Patel understanding and insight will soon
Publisher: Ta Ha Publishers, London see the wisdom behind this restriction.
Published: 1997 Today, in the Western world, every
Language: English type of crime that results from free
mixing of the sexes is on the increase.
The author of this volume is a member of
the British Muslim Initiative (BMI). The Elsewhere, the total covering of women is
book aims to ‘clarify what is arguably the taken to confer dignity and independence
most frequently discussed aspect of my on them:
faith: the position of women in Islam’. It
seeks to provide a ‘positive understanding The main aim of hijab [total covering
of why women are embracing Islam in of a woman] is to restrain individuals
increasing numbers’, and claims that out of of the opposite sex from being unduly
every ten ‘new’ Muslims, seven are women. attracted to one another. However,
The book is divided into four chapters. hijab has numerous secondary
It starts by offering a ‘cross-cultural per- advantages that bring benefits to
spective’ that goes from ancient Greece to women. It gives women their own
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The hijacking of British Islam
identity and their own sphere, which The following passage comes from a dis-
exists parallel to that of men. Women cussion about the nature of jihad and mar-
are thus freed from the strain of tyrdom:
Westernstyle social pressure in
which women are expected to look Q. We hear a lot of talk about Jihad
impeccable and sexually attractive at these days, like the Afghanistan
all times, and they are relieved of the Jihad, the Kashmir Jihad. Then, we
‘necessity’ of spending large amounts have the proliferation of shaheeds
of time and money in visiting beauty [martyrs] in our society with political
parlours and applying chemicals, parties and activist groups claiming
lotions, potions and scents to their shahadah [martyrdom] for those dead
bodies for the purposes of gratifying from among their ranks. All this is
men. Above all, it allows Muslim very confusing. We seem to have lost
women to have an identity, an ability the yardstick which could help us
to express their personality and intel distinguish between Jihad or bilateral
lect of their own, independently of hostility, shahadah or natural or
men’s whims and desires. crimeoriented death and straight
selfruination. Please help us with
25D. Contemporary Fatawa your advice.
Author: Justice Mufti Muhammad Taqi
Usmani A. The first subject requires a larger
Publisher: Azhar Academy, London frame of discussion where we have to
Published: 1999 determine what becomes Jihad, and
Language: English when, and what conditions are binding
therein.… As for Shahadah, the rule is
This is a lengthy collection of contempo- that one who lays down his life fighting
rary fatwas, in which the author in the way of Allah is Shaheed.
responds to questions on various aspects
of shari’ah. Part of these were posed by As for the ‘proper’ behaviour for women,
readers of the English language monthly the author draws on familiar restrictive
journal, Albalagh International, which is themes that have appeared elsewhere in
produced by the Darul Uloom in this report. For instance, women may not
Karachi. The author, Justice Usmani, shake hands with male strangers:
previously sat for 20 years as a shari’ah
judge in Pakistan’s Supreme Court and is Q. Muslim women living in Western
one of the most prominent Deobandi countries have to shake hands with
clerics.335 The book is introduced by M. male strangers who sometimes visit
S. Omar, writing on ‘The Islamic their offices or schools. Similarly there
Message’ and the ‘Principles of Fatwa’. are occasions when Muslim men get
There then follow eight chapters giving into nogo situation when they have to
religious rulings on a vast range of sub- shake hands with female strangers. In
jects. These include: obligatory prayer; the event of a refusal to do so, the likeli
335. He was the focus of much
alms-tax; fasting; the hajj and ‘umra pil- hood of harm coming from them is not
of the recent research done by
The Times into the activities of grimages; family law; economics; inheri- that remote. Does the Shari’ah of Islam
the Deobandi movement in the
UK. See, for instance, Andrew
tance and religious endowments (waqf, permit a handshake in this situation?
Norfolk, ‘Our followers ‘must live pl. awqaf); the duties of women; bank-
in peace until strong enough to
wage jihad’’, The Times, 8
ing; conversion, translating the Qur’an, A. Women shaking hands with male
September 2007. jihad; and martyrdom. strangers and men shaking hands with
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The hijacking of British Islam
ments. Such governments are not the only religion adaptable to modern
Islaamic governments. Those govern ideas); a critique of the (progressive)
ments that do not give preference to Pakistan Institute of Islamic Research
the Law of Allaah Ta’la [God the (then headed by the liberal academic
Exalted] and they say they are a gov Fazlur Rahman); a critique of new inter-
ernment for the people by the people pretations of Islam; a further attack on
(National governments, etc.), such modernists (including those who tried to
governments are not Islaamic govern take the task of Qur’an and Hadith inter-
ments, but they are rather govern pretation out of the monopoly of the
ments of kufr [unbelief]. Muslim religious scholars); science and
The Khalifah [Caliph] of Islam is the Islam; and space exploration (money
deputy of Nabi Muhammad [the would be better spent on curing problems
Prophet Muhammad]… As the deputy on earth). The book ends with a discourse
of NabieKareem [the Noble on aggressive and defensive jihad (both
Prophet], he is supposed to rule deemed to be permissible today).
strictly according to the Shari’ah. If Realisation of the dual nature of moder-
any country professes by tongue only nity results less in a rejection of its more
that they are a Muslim country, but brutal effects than its moral outrages.
they consult with irreligious people These are not always well understood. The
and implement such laws and benefits of modernity are understood in
statutes that are against the Qur’an, material terms (and are deemed accept-
Sunnat [Sunna] and the Ijma [consen able), but there is little understanding of
sus] of the Ummat [Muslim communi the real nature of Enlightenment values
ty], then such a government is a gov and progress in areas like human rights,
ernment of hypocrisy. The leaders of democracy, women’s rights, and other less
such governments are very akin to material benefits.
the kuffaar [unbelievers]…
Such leadership is poisonous to the However, in its own sphere it remains
[religion] of Islaam. It is Fardh [fard: a a reality that whereas modernity has
duty], according to the Shari’ah and elevated man’s material status to great
rational reasoning, to vehemently heights, given him newer inventions
oppose and thwart such a govern and provided him with better means of
ment, provided one has the surety a comfort and ease in life, it has, at the
good possibility to establish another same time, caused man to suffer from
proper Islaamic government after the many depravities and led him to many
removal of the deviant one. disastrous ends. It is due to the same
modernity that human history is full of
25F. Islam and Modernism Pharaohs and Shiddads339 who were
Author: Justice Muhammad Taqi Usmani not contented with any limit of power
Publisher: DarulIshaat, Karachi and authority. Their lust for authority
Published: 1995 took them to the extent of claiming
Language: English deification to them [sic]. The same
modernity gave birth to Hitler and
This is another book by the prominent Massolini [sic] whose ever increasing
Deobandi cleric, Justice Muhammad Taqi urge for ever expanding territorial
339. Shiddad or Shaddad was
the king of the city ‘Iram of the Usmani. This volume covers a variety of boundaries demanded a new piece of
Pillars’, mentioned in the Qur’an.
topics: Islam and modernity; Islam and the land every day. It is the same moderni
His adventures are recounted in
the Thousand and One Nights. Industrial Revolution (Islam is held to be ty that has engulfed the whole world in
160
Southern England
the tornado of nudity and obscenity, getic attitude [sic] simply for the objec
and has provided an excuse for forni tions coming from nonMuslims. No
cation, and more so it has led, under single person has ever been forced to
thunder claps to the passage of a bill accept Islam nor is it permitted, other
in the British House of Commons to wise the Islamic institution of ‘Jizyah’342
legalise homosexuality. It is in the would have been meaningless.
shadow of the same modernity that Muslims’ sword [sic] has, however,
Western women are openly displaying been raised to established the grandeur
banners on the street demanding of Islam. If anybody wants to stay in the
legalisation of abortion. And it is the darkness of disbelief, he may do so,
same modernity which is providing but the rule of Allah must prevail in the
argument for justifying marriage with world created by Him. Muslims wage
true sister, daughters and other blood Jehad to raise the name of Allah and to
relations.340 subdue His rebels. Why should we feel
shy in expressing this fact before peo
Despite his seeming moderation, the same ple whose entire history is full of blood
author has a positive view of jihad in the shed [sic] for colonialism, and who have
modern age. The following passages are massacred millions of people simply to
from a correspondence with Sayyid Badr satisfy their lust and greed.’
al-Salam, living in Jeddah. The first section
is from Badr al-Salam’s letter: I wish to make two submissions to
you about this critique. Firstly in my
… my view is that the real job of opinion it is wrong to deduce from [a
Muslims is preaching of Islam through previous citation] that […] only defen
out the world rather than attaining a sive Jehad [sic] is permissible, while
power for total elimination of unbeliev he has also written that ‘Jehad is the
ers from the earth and establishing an name of protection of self determina
Islamic State everywhere (which is the tion’ which can include every offen
view of Moulana Moududi) [sic]. 341
sive Jehad. Moualana Thanavi
However attempts (through Aggressive [Thanvi] has stated:
Jehad) [sic] must be made against
hostile and noncompromising non ‘Jehad is meant to defend Islam and
Muslim states to subdue them in order protect self determination…. With this
to be safe from their mischiefs. it should not be thought that initiative
You [Usmani] have commented, for Jehad should not be taken. The
‘From these sentences it appears that purpose of an initiative itself is this
only Defensive Jehad [sic] is permissible defense and protection because there
while the real purpose of Jehad is prop is great chance of resistance. It is for
agation of Islam’ which means ‘To checking this resistance that Jehad is
establish the supremacy of Islam and obligated. In short the defense that 340. It is not clear which coun-
try, if any, has proposed such
damage the authority of the infidels’. provides a motive for Jehad is general legislation.
For this purpose taking initiative for [sic] against defense for existing situa 341. Abu al-A’la al Mawdudi.
Jehad is not only permissible but at tion [sic] and defense for anticipated 342. Jizyah is the poll tax
times obligatory and a means for resistance in future.’ payable by Jews and Christians
to Muslim rulers.
reward from Allah. Apart from the [...]
343. Pbuh is an abbreviation of
Qur’an and traditions the entire history Moulana Abdul Shakoor must have the English formula ‘Peace be
Upon Him’, the standard form
of Islam is full of such Jehads. We need been aware of many Aggressive
appended to Muhammad’s
not make excuses and adopt apolo Jehads of the Holy Prophet (PBUH),343 name.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 161
The hijacking of British Islam
and hence he cannot call such Jehads authority is established in the world, it
as [sic] unlawful. has led to developing a universal feel
[...] ing which forms a greater obstacle
I certainly do not mean that than the greatest legal binding [sic] in
Aggressive Jehad should never be the way of a free propagation of Islam.
done. Rather, I believe that Jehad is
obligatory against hostile, noncom For this reason the most important
promising, nonMuslim states if purpose of Jehad is to break this
Muslims have enough power to carry grandeur so that the resulting psycho
it out, so that their force is broken logical subordination should come to
and they do not obstruct the preach an end and the way of accepting the
ing of Islam. Aggressive Jehad is not Truth become smooth. As long as this
advisable against those nonhostile grandeur and domination persists [sic]
and compromising nonMuslim states the hearts of people will remain sub
who allow preaching of Islam in their dued and will not be fully inclined to
territories particularly these days accept the Religion of Truth. Hence
when territorial subjugation is general Jehad will continue. The Qur’an said:
ly condemned in the world, contrary ‘Fight those who do not believe in God
to the times when capture of land or in the Last Day, who do not forbid
was common. The Aggressive Jehads what God and His Prophet have for
of the major part of Islamic history all bidden, who do not accept the
belong to the same period. However, Religion of Truth, from among those
Muslims must attain their martial who have been given the Book [i.e.
superiority and keep expanding it so Jews and Christians], until they pay
that nonMuslim states remain sub the jizya tax freely and are brought
dued ‘for fear of Jehad’, to say noth low.’
ing of actual Jehad. Here, killing is to continue until the
unbelievers pay Jizyah after they are
In his reply, Usmani takes a much less humbled or overpowered. If the pur
restrictive view of the grounds for fighting pose of killing was only to acquire per
jihad against a non-Muslim state: mission and freedom for preaching
Islam, it would have been said ‘until
[Reply from Usmani] Whatever you they allow for preaching Islam’. But the
have written about Jehad [sic] can be obligation of Jizyah and along with it
summarized as this ‘If a nonMuslim the mention of their subordination is a
state allows for preaching Islam in its clear proof that the purpose is to
country, Jehad against it does not smash their grandeur….
remain lawful.’ If this is what you
mean, my humble self does not agree Do we find an example that the
with it. Obstruction in the way of Prophet (PBUH) and his companions
preaching Islam does not mean only a ever sent any missionary groups in
legal obstacle, but greater power or other countries before Jehad and wait
domination of a nonMuslim state ed for their reaction to allow or disal
against Muslims is by itself a great low the missionary work? …in my
obstacle in the propagation of Islam. humble knowledge there has not been
There are no legal restrictions in most a single incident in the entire history of
of the countries today on preaching Islam where Muslims had shown their
Islam, but since their grandeur and willingness to stop Jehad just for one
162
Southern England
condition that they will be allowed to Publisher: Islamic Book Service, New Delhi
preach Islam freely. On the contrary Published: 2001
the aim of Muslims as declared by Language: English
them in the battle of Qadsia
[Qadisiyya]344 was, ‘To take out people This volume offers a detailed overview of
from the rule of people and put them the laws relating to marriage, with diver-
under the rule of Allah.’ sions to ancient Arabia and Roman law.
[He then quotes his father, Mufti The writer is a Professor of Law, and he
Muhammd Shafi‘ Usmani] ‘… Jehad fills the text with references to Roman rul-
[sic] against the enemies of Islam is ings. However, the text is generally well-
obligatory on Muslims until the danger informed, even if the constant references to
of their mischief or evildoings is over, non-Muslim legal systems make for some
and the domination of Islam is estab complication. There is a general account of
lished over all other religions. Since the Qur’an, the Hadith literature, and the
this will occur only near the end of the founders of the four main law schools
world, the command of Jehad remains (Hanafi, Hanbali, Maliki, and Shafi‘i).
till the last day.’ This is followed by a discussion of the legal
Aggressive Jehad is lawful even aspects of Islamic marriage (nikah), invalid
today for the purpose it was lawful in marriages, dowries, and finally, the types of
those days [early Islam]. Its justification divorce.
cannot be veiled only because the As this passage reflects, divorce remains
peaceloving inventors of Atom Bombs the husband’s prerogative:
and Hydrogen Bombs label it as
‘Expansionism’ and resent those who Under the Muslim Law divorce is an
have put the chains of slavery around arbitrary act of a husband and he may
the necks of the people of Asia and divorce his wife at his pleasure with or
Africa. They are still bleeding under without her consent. Divorce may be
those heavy chains. verbal only and no special expressions
are necessary; it suffices, if it denotes
344. A historic battle in 636 at
25G. Woman in Islamic Sharia: Laws a clear intention to dissolve the mar which an Arab army defeated a
large Iranian army, precipitating
of Marriage and Divorce riage and writing is not necessary to
the collapse of the Sassanid
Author: AlHaj MuhammadUllah the legal validity of divorce. Empire.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 163
The hijacking of British Islam
164
Southern England
give a decision against God’s ruling God Almighty has ordained that the
and nor is he supposed to accept any Muslims must use all resources at their
thing contrary to verdicts under Islamic command to face the enemies of God
Law (Shari’ah). So, no one has the so that Islam and Muslims can be
right to call a ‘haram’ (forbidden) as defended and the enemies get scared
‘halal’ (permitted). Any one (doing so) and disillusioned.
will be called a ‘kafir’ (infidel) who […]
repudiates wilfully the Supreme Law or The Muslims are ordained to first invite
finds as acceptable a verdict or ruling the nonbelievers and sinners to
outside the limits of Shari’ah. embrace Islam, and if they refuse to
do so they be asked to pay Islamic
In a further passage, the author emphasis- taxes and honour Islamic laws; and if
es that shar‘ia law is to be taken in its they still refuse to obey, then they are
totality. There can be no compromise on to be wiped out to put an end to their
matters such as the enforcement of capital sins and perpetration of torture so that
punishment, or the cutting off of thieves’ the religion (Islam) of God Almighty
hands: remains supreme.
Those who are critical of Islamic expla 26B. Khwateen Key Makhsoos
nations and Shari’ah compulsions Masayel [The Special Problems
should be mindful of the fact that (He) of Females]
formulated those laws/rules which are Compiler: Saleh Bin alFouzan
not ordinary and bear wisdom and He Publisher: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs,
is fully knowledgeable of His creations’ The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
ways and conditions. And, at the Published: 2002
same time, He is the one who offers Language: Urdu
mercy and blessings on them. This book was also found at the
Therefore, the relevant punishments Didsbury Mosque in Manchester (see
are imposed by Him as an alternative pages 118-119)
to the sins of Muslim criminals and He
has in this way secured the (Muslim) This Urdu publication issued by the Saudi
society from those and other sins. Ministry of Islamic Affairs – a translation of
Those who object to the (capital) a work by the eminent Saudi cleric, Saleh
punishment of the murderers and dis Bin al-Fouzan – focuses on issues relating to
memberment of hands of thieves are women. He draws on certain verses in the
actually opposed to cutting of the Qur‘an to describe the position of women in
crime whereas if this is not done, the society according to Islam and the behav-
cancer of crime would take roots in ioural dictates that they must follow.
the whole society, which then could be In the following passage, the author
totally destroyed. But, the same peo confirms that polygamy is permitted, even
ple, on the other hand, encourage encouraged under Islamic law:
killings and extreme violence and
spilling of blood for their own conceit With the relationship of marriage, Allah
and motives. made boundaries for a man that he
should have four wives.
Elsewhere, the issue of Muslim relations
with non-Muslims is portrayed in stark In addition, the same volume makes clear
terms: what is expected of a woman once she is
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 165
The hijacking of British Islam
married: her real job is assumed to be in man will cause idleness. Because of
the house and there is a ban on her taking this idleness, these females are step
up any other form of employment: ping out of their houses and working.
Females leaving their homes and
In reality, [allowing women to leave the beginning to work and following in the
home] is the belief of females and the footsteps of men is causing both loss
enemies of humanity. When the female of human values and loss of faith at
leaves the home and works, she this time.
stands equal to males and stands side
by side with them. In this way, those Finally, in this extract he emphasises the
who leave the boundaries of their importance of a woman covering herself
homes give themselves the freedom to and the dangers that are said to arise from
be relieved from the responsibilities of any failure to do so:
the homes. This way they give away
their responsibilities and work [in the As said elsewhere, a lady is a complete
home] to others and they take away woman and it is incumbent on her that
work [outside the home] from others. she keeps herself as much covered as
Because of this, the peace of the fami possible; and, as ordained, she is to
ly and home has been destroyed and remain fearful of shamelessness so that
at the same time the beauty of the she keeps her eyes down; there is no
established understanding between room for any doubt that she is not sup
husband and wife is now gone. It is posed to exploit her (beauty of) eyes
replaced by misunderstanding and dis while being aware of her body that can
tance from each other. This situation easily lead to sacrilege and fights. Every
also causes separation, dilutes home justiceloving man must know of and
life and makes daily life miserable to understand these facts.
live. [...]
[…] In conclusion, I maintain that it is
These uneducated, narrowminded important that men and women believ
unbelievers and the followers of these ers (in Islam) remain committed to the
people believe that the female who dictates of God Almighty:
gets out of the house and works
alongside males has the same rights A Muslim man needs to look down
as men. In this reality, these people respectfully to maintain his selfrespect
have lost belief, faith, and human val as an expression of sanctity as God
ues. On the other hand, very com Almighty is fully aware of whatever a
monly seen example [that women man does. Muslim women too need to
should not work] is that females during look downward respectfully to secure
their menstrual cycle, during pregnan their chastity and cover all body parts,
cy, and during and after childbirth are especially the necklines, except the
unable to perform hard work. If both ones that are uncoverable, and do not
men and women work outside of the expose themselves to any ones but
home then who will take care of the their husbands or their children, broth
children, who will feed the newborns ers, etc. – all close relations or those
and toddlers, who will cook meals for children who are not required to observe
the males when they come back home purdah (veil), and do not walk so ‘heavi
after work? If you hire a man to do all ly’ that you (women) becomes dis
of this work and pay him then that cernible.
166
Conclusions and policy recommendations
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 167
The hijacking of British Islam
the believer undergo a literal and spiritual sparked off a nationwide debate. There
withdrawal from the contamination of sur- have been similar controversies over
rounding society. schoolgirls insisting on wearing the jil-
This translates to an attitude of aloof- bab.352 Elsewhere, many human rights
ness from surrounding society, a preference activists are concerned about the preva-
for ghettoization, separation, and conver- lence of female genital mutilation in some
sion. In line with this, many of the extracts Islamic countries and, as an underground
quoted here warn Muslims against making practice, here in the UK.
friends with Jews and Christians, attending Sexuality, broadly defined, remains a
their celebrations, working with them, and great problem. What most causes concern
so on. More generally, there is an insistence for modern western observers are the
on regarding Muslims as the superiors of punishments associated with breaches of
all others. the strict sexual code, leading to floggings
Such views inevitably create practical and executions for adultery or homosexu-
problems for Muslims living in the West. ality in countries that claim to follow
They have to find jobs, their children have strict Islamic law codes such as Iran or
to go to school, they have to negotiate a Saudi Arabia.353 Homosexuality, in partic-
host of daily situations calling for some ular, remains an issue of major difficulty;
sort of accommodation with the West. for as the literature presented here
Most Muslims do that without difficulty; reflects, it continues to be discussed in a
but those who read texts like those present- manner that runs counter both to modern
ed above may find themselves pressurized psychology (which no longer defines it as
not to compromise and to instead to pur- an illness in need of treatment) and legis-
sue entirely separate, purely ‘Islamic’ lives. lation (which no longer treats it as a crim-
Much of western society is deemed sinful, inal offence). It is thus emblematic of the
hateful, out of bounds, inimical to desire to create two parallel spheres of
Muslims. All of this adds up to a level of existence – one ‘Islamic’, the other
negativity that would make life for ‘Western’ – in which two entirely differ-
Muslims in non-Muslim countries barely ent forms of normative behaviour and
liveable; it can also help stimulate a mind- social conduct apply; fuelling a sense of
set rooted in a kind of ‘clash of civilisa- separation and, ultimately, mutual hostil-
351. In 2004, a pan-European
police task force was set up to tions’ approach which sees ‘Islam’ and ‘the ity.
combat ‘honour killings’.
West’ as inherently incompatible. The significance of all this, it is worth
Following on from this, the
Metropolitan Police have also A key area of contention, for instance, emphasising, is not that all of the passages
now opened files going back ten
years, believing many
surrounds the portrayal of Muslim women reproduced here themselves condone or
‘manslaughters’ to have, in fact, in such literature and how their treatment incite terrorism; rather that they provide a
been ‘honour killings’. See, for
example, ‘Europe tackles “hon-
under some Islamic societies differs from cultural hinterland – couched in religious
our killings”‘, BBC News Online, that in western societies - an issue that has terms – into which the minority that is
22 June 2004, available at,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europ gained growing prominence in recent sympathetic or prone to violence can
e/3828675.stm. times. Currently, for instance, there has move. They inculcate disgust for and sep-
352. See, for example. been much debate over the prevalence (or aration from the ‘kuffar’, creating an ide-
‘Schoolgirl wins Muslim gown
case’, BBC News Online, 2 otherwise) of ‘honour killings’ within sec- ological space that can be exploited by
March 2005, available at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/eng-
tions of Britain’s Muslim community and others. How each individual jihadi arrives
land/beds/bucks/herts/4310545. other minority groups here.351 Last year, at that point is beyond the scope of this
htm.
meanwhile, the challenge posed to women study. But one cannot ignore the testimo-
353. On this phenomenon, see
my article in Middle East
wearing niqabs by the then Commons ny of Deputy Assistant Commissioner
Quarterly, Fall 2006, at: Leader (and now the Secretary of State for Peter Clarke of New Scotland Yard’s
http://www.meforum.org/arti-
cle/1000. Justice and Lord Chancellor) Jack Straw, Counter Terrorism Command - that five
168
Conclusions and policy recommendations
of the publications featured in this report ble progress has been made by the Saudis in
were found by the Metropolitan Police their efforts to close down the export of
during investigations into acts of terror- extremist ideology outside the Kingdom.354
ism since 9/11. Indeed, the Commission received vague and
at times conflicting messages from the
Saudis on the issue of which government
Policy Recommendations department within the Kingdom was
responsible for materials sent abroad. In
1) The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia must come addition, the Commission reported that it
clean about the publication and dissemination was unable to establish whether a formal
of this maaterial abroad - and the British mechanism existed within the Saudi system
Government must demand transparency. for reviewing and revising such materials. As
it observed: ‘There is very little transparency
The shadow of Saudi Arabia falls heavily in the process of textbook revision, curricu-
across these pages. Altering the message lum reform and teacher training efforts.
coming out of certain Islamic institutions Moreover, there is evidence that intolerant
in this country requires a change to the and inflammatory elements remain in text-
input. It is crucial that the root source of books. Despite numerous requests to obtain
much of the literature featured here be copies of textbooks during and after its visit,
challenged – which, in many cases, means Saudi government officials did not provide a
challenging the Saudi connection. Five of single textbook to the Commission.’
the ‘offending’ institutions identified here In 2006, a pioneering report compiled
enjoy an obviously close relationship – by the Center for Religious Freedom of
whether based on the provision of major Freedom House in the United States –
levels of funding, or the existence of organ- entitled Saudi Arabia’s Curriculum of
354. See Saudi Arabia, United
isational ties – with the Saudi Kingdom. Intolerance – called on the Saudi States Commission on
International Religious Freedom,
They are the East London Mosque/London Government to ‘thoroughly reform its edu- 18 October 2007, available at
Muslim Centre; the King Fahad Academy; cational system’, noting that ‘as a signatory http://www.uscirf.gov/media-
room/press/2007/october/Saudi
the Muslim World League/Darulifta to the Universal Declaration of Human Arabia_4.pdf).
Office; the London Central Rights, and a Member State of the United 355. ‘Saudi Arabia’s Curriculum
Mosque/Islamic Cultural Centre; and the Nations, Saudi Arabia is obliged to uphold of Intolerance: with Excerpts
from Saudi Ministry of Education
Islamic Centre of Edinburgh. Similarly, tolerance and respect pluralism and reli- Textbooks for Islamic Studies’,
elsewhere - such as in the cases of the gious freedom’.355 Center for Religious Freedom of
Freedom House: With the
Tawheed Mosque and Islamic Centre, the Both reports shows that the Kingdom Institute for Gulf Affairs, May
2006, available at,
Salafi Mosque and Islamic Centre in os Saudi Arabia still has a very long way to http://www.freedomhouse.org/u
Birmingham and the Jaame Mosque of go in this department. The Kingdom ploads/special_report/48.pdf.
Last accessed 23 July 2007.
Blackburn – it is clear that there is some must acknowledge that its own sectarian
356. See, for instance, David
form of ‘Saudi connection’. Many of the ideology is a key part of the problem. Blair, ‘Saudi Arabia hails project
books and pamphlets carry the Saudi Indeed, even the cure which Saudi Arabia to reform fighters’, Daily
Telegraph, 3 April 2007;
imprimatur; often they were provided to prescribes for terrorism is in itself highly Christopher Boucek, ‘Extremist
the institutions concerned free of charge, as problematic. Thus, the Kingdom has Reeducation and Rehabilitation
in Saudi Arabia’, Terrorism
a ‘free gift’ to mark the opening of the been praised in some quarters for creating Monitor, 5, 16 (16 August 2007),
available at,
Saudi-funded Islamic Centre of Edinburgh. ‘rehab’ centres, to ‘reprogramme’ extrem- http://www.jamestown.org/ter-
This is not the first time that Saudi ist imams and also to turn would-be rorism/news/article.php?arti-
cleid=2373620; ‘Saudi youth
Arabia’s role has been scrutinised - and jihadis away from violence.356 Yet, the enter rehab to overcome their
found wanting. The recent report of the US question needs to be asked: on what basis terrorist ways’, Fox News, 22
August 2007, available at,
Commission on International Religious do such centres attempt to deflect the rad- http://www.foxnews.com/story/0
Freedom concluded that too little measura- icalism? How far are those jihadis who ,2933,294005,00.html.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 169
The hijacking of British Islam
170
Conclusions and policy recommendations
2) Islamic institutions in the UK must move all parties should be encouraged to moni-
to clean up their act: extremist literature tor what is being said in mosques and
must immediaately be removed and the insti- schools in their own ‘backyard’. Where
tutions themselves should be subject to appropriate, politicians, members of the
greater regulation Royal Family, and public should not con-
fer legitimacy and political respect on those
Pressure must be applied to ensure that institutions that do not come up to the
hate-filled or separatist literature is mark – whether by attending mosque
removed from Islamic institutions in the ‘open days’, carrying out other visits or
UK. In response to this, some will suggest endorsing mosque leaders. Prominent fig-
that there are inherent dangers in driving ures must undertake far greater ‘due dili-
this kind of material ‘underground’ – argu- gence’ about what is being done and said
ing that it will thus be removed from all in the mosques and Islamic institutions
possible scrutiny. This, however, rests on a they patronise; and they should refrain
false assumption: that such literature is reg- from praising institutions for their sup-
ulated at the current time. Moreover, as the posed ‘moderation’ when they have too lit-
conduct of our research revealed, some of tle idea as to whether those bodies are fully
this literature enjoys ‘quasi-underground’ deserving of that label.
status now anyway. By being driven fully It is therefore important to arrive at a
underground the material would at least more rigorous definition of what consti-
lose such respectability that it currently tutes a ‘moderate’ Islamic institution.
enjoys. It would forfeit the protection Hitherto, a number of institutions have
accorded it by its current association with been labelled as such, because of their
sites of religious instruction, however apparent willingness to espouse ‘moderate’
unwanted it may be amongst genuine positions, particularly in relation to the use
moderates within these institutions. of violence in the United Kingdom, or to
It is very difficult for the authorities to undertake interfaith work. What needs to
act decisively in such matters – as has been be ascertained, however, is to what extent
described (see page 19). Institutions such these positions are adopted on largely
as the police are hamstrung by the sensitiv- methodological or tactical grounds, or
ities associated with handling matters of whether they stem from a genuine readi-
religion. In the first instance, therefore, it ness to embrace the values of western
falls to mosque officials themselves to take democracy and society. It needs to be
the lead on this issue. That is why there recognised that it is not enough for
must be explicit recognition that there is a mosques and other institutions to oppose
problem in some areas.362 Mosque officials violence on these shores, but still consider
and those connected with such institutions western society ‘haram’ and non-Muslims
must instead adopt a more critical as people they must distain.
approach. They must be prepared to deter- In this context, it perhaps is worth ask- 362 Riazat Butt, ‘Faith meets
reality TV in contest to find the
mine how far that which goes on within ing whether some new form of regulation best mosque in Britain’, The
their institutions is helpful to the process for sites of Islamic instruction is required. Guardian, 6 October 2007. The
‘Green Lane’ mosque in
of Muslim integration within British soci- The UK’s mosques and other Islamic insti- Birmingham (the Markazi Jamiat
ety - and, where necessary, take a stand tutions for the most part escape scrutiny. Ahl-e-Hadith mosque, see pages
107-109) is the institution that
against the forces of separatism and In the wake of the 7/7 attacks on London has made it to the ‘Final’ of
‘Model Mosque’. For more on
extremism operating in their midst. in 2005, the ‘Preventing Extremism the programme, see ‘Model
To encourage this approach, pressure Together’ Taskforce (set up by the Home Mosque @ IslamChannel.tv’,
Islam Channel, available at,
can be applied from the outside to those Office) recommended the creation of a http://www.islamchannel.tv/Mod
institutions that are featured here. MPs of ‘new national advisory body/council of elMosque/aboutmm.aspx.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 171
The hijacking of British Islam
imams and mosques’, which would serve as to see the mosque become ‘the hub of the
a self-regulatory body for such institu- community’ and a ‘source of regeneration
tions.363 The result was the creation of the for the community’.366 If he and his col-
Mosques and Imams National Advisory leagues are genuine in expressing such hopes
Board (MINAB) in June 2006, under the then they need to be at the forefront of
aegis of the Muslim Council of Britian efforts to ‘clean up’ mosques – and they
(MCB), the Muslim Association of Britain should be prepared to dissociate themselves
(MAB), the British Muslim Forum (BMF) from institutions that come under their
and the al-Khoei Foundation.364 Though umbrella and refuse to change. Failure to do
the instincts behind its creation were laud- so should lead the Government once again
able, MINAB has, to date, failed to live up to reconsider the extent to which the MCB,
to expectations; in the year of its existence the Islamic Foundation and others are suit-
there has been insufficient evidence of a able ‘partnership’, or ‘stakeholder’ organisa-
determination to take on all forms of tions, with which it can work in order to
extremist ideology and drive these doc- ‘win the hearts and minds’ of Muslim com-
trines out of the mosque. It must now be munities. The granting of that status confers
considered whether a fresh approach is respectability and legitimacy on such bodies
required – and whether the Government and institutions. But do they really deserve
should involve itself more vigorously in the it? To this end, greater ‘due diligence’ must
process of regulating the UK’s mosques. be undertaken with respect to those who are
to be seen as ‘representatives’ of British
363. ‘‘Preventing Extremism
Together’ Working Groups 3) Organisations to which the ‘offending’ Muslims. Public engagement should only
August-October 2005’, institutions are affiliated must categorically be with those who encourage an authenti-
Department of Communities and
Local Government, available at, repudiatee the extremist and separatist mate- cally moderate form of Islam.
http://www.communities.gov.uk/
rial uncovered here – and exert pressure of Furthermore, the Government and
pub/16/PreventingExtremismTog
etherworkinggroupreportAugOct their own for changee other authorities should themselves take
2005_id1502016.pdf. Last
accessed 10 July 2007.
the lead in this process of repudiating those
364. ‘Muslim organisations
The religious institutions featured here institutions that fail to meet the test of
launch Mosques and Imams hold affiliations of various kinds with other genuine moderation. Unfortunately, at
National Advisory Board’, British
Muslim Forum, available at, groups. The Muslim Council of Britain present, key elements within the system
http://www.bmf.eu.com/news.ph (the MCB), for instance, appears frequent- appear to be failing in this regard. Some
p?nws=minab. Last accessed 10
July 2007. ly as an organisation to which many of the police forces, for instance, seem to be have
365. In the wake of the alleged mosques identified as ‘offending’ institu- particular difficulty in being able to dis-
plot to blow up transatlantic air-
liners in August 2006,
tions are affiliated. It is crucial that groups cern who, or what, constitute, suitable
Muhammad Abdul Bari and the like the MCB now clarify their position partners among Britain’s Muslim commu-
leaders of other Muslim organi-
sations, signed a public letter
and repudiate this material: they them- nities. Thus, the Metropolitan Police
blaming UK foreign policy for selves should call for its removal from the Service and the Association of Chief Police
making the country a target for
extremists. See ‘Full text: mosque. There needs to be an explicit Officers have hitherto worked unreserved-
Muslim groups’ letter’, BBC acknowledgement that the problem here is ly with groups such as the Muslim Safety
News Online, 12 August 2006,
available at, http://news.bbc. the ideology of Muslim separatism, victim- Forum (MSF) - the self-designated ‘key
co.uk/1/hi/uk/4786159.stm. Last
hood and antipathy to western society. It is advisory body…on issues concerning
accessed 24 July 2007; ‘I yearn
for a foreign policy of which we not, as has been claimed in the past, a British Muslims’.367 Yet, amongst the affili-
can be proud’, Guardian, 17
August 2006.
question of ill-judged foreign policy; ates of the MSF are the Al-Muntada Al-
366. Joanna Sugden, ‘A very
indeed, it is noticeable that there is very lit- Islami Trust, the Islamic Cultural Centre in
British Islam’, The Times, 20 July tle mention of foreign policy issues here.365 London and the United Kingdom Islamic
2007.
In a recent interview with The Times, the Mission – which appear in this report. The
367. ‘Home’, The Muslim Safety
Forum, available at, http://www. Secretary-General of the MCB, affiliates of the MSF also include the MCB
muslimsafetyforum.org/. Muhammad Abdul Bari, spoke of his desire umbrella body, to which the majority of
172
Conclusions and policy recommendations
mosques featured here are also affiliates.368 tutions are registered charities means that
The police authorities must re-examine they can maximise the benefit of these
the terms on which they engage with donations; indeed, some claim that as
groups like the MSF. Obviously, not every much as 90% of overall mosque funding in
organisation with which the police must the UK comes from this source.369 It is
have dealings can measure up to its own therefore clear that many Islamic institu-
extremely rigorous code of conduct and tions are, to a considerable degree, depend-
ethical standards – as embodied by the ent on the financial benefits that accrue
usual email disclaimer of the Metropolitan from their status as ‘charities’
Police Service, which disavows ‘racist, Secondly, and related to this, existing
homophobic, sexist, defamatory, offensive, Charity Commission guidelines impose
illegal or otherwise inappropriate material’. certain obligations/criteria that must be
Nevertheless, the key question is whether met by institutions qualifying for ‘charita-
some of the institutions which are referred ble status’ and the benefits (both moral
to here should be accorded public recogni- and financial) that this brings. On the basis
tion as formal associates of the police – of the evidence uncovered in this study,
with all the prestige and legitimacy that there may be grounds for suggesting that
this confers. What message does such pub- some of these mosques may be in breach of
lic recognition send to the moderate these existing requirements.
majority in Britain’s Muslim communities? As the Charity Commission’s website
How does the perception of such forms of outlines, in order to qualify for charitable
engagement tilt the balance towards one status, an organisation must act for the
faction or another within those communi- ‘benefit of the community or an apprecia-
ties? Are Muslims who do not agree with bly important section of the community’.
thes choices of Muslim partners increasing- Crucially, ‘‘benefit” in this context means
ly reluctant to talk to the police - perceiv- the net benefit to the public.’ Indeed, ‘it
ing that their information may be shared is not simply a question of showing that
with the police’s preferred Muslim inter- some benefit may result. For example, it
locutors? may be that the achievement of a given
aim would provide some degree of bene-
4) The charitable status of institutions that fit, but would for other reasons cause
harbour or purvey extremist and separatist greater harm so on balance it would be to
literaature must be reviewed and made sub- the public disadvantage.’ Where an insti-
ject to possible revocation. tution harbours or purveys the kind of lit-
erature identified here there may well be
22 of the 26 institutions featured in this grounds for challenging that institution’s
report have been identified as charities that charitable status. Furthermore, if this is
are officially registered with the UK chari- not the case, the question must surely be
ty commission. The significance of this is raised: do guidelines need to be altered to
two-fold. First, many Islamic institutions state that it is not enough for a charity to
rely heavily on the donations they receive bring ‘benefit’, but also it must refrain
from those who utilise their facilities. They from inflicting injury (even if only verbal)
are major beneficiaries of zakat – a dona- on other sections of the community? This
tion, amounting to 2.5% of his/her may seem otiose, but is not explicitly stat-
income, that each Muslim is obliged to ed and may be worth doing so in the con- 368. Ibid.
give to charitable causes each year (and one text of this literature which purveys 369 Neelam Verjee, ‘Why charity
of the five recognised ‘pillars’ of Islam). hatred and denigration of certain groups begins at home for Britain’s
Muslims’, The Times, 21 June
Moreover, the fact that many Islamic insti- of people. 2007.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 173
The hijacking of British Islam
174
Conclusions and policy recommendations I
General of the Muslim Council of Britain tions that spread hatred or cross the bound-
(MCB), Muhammad Abdul Bari has ary of legality should be prosecuted under
acknowledged that the number of imams the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006.
speaking English in British mosques needs Several passages reproduced from the litera-
to be dramatically increased.376 ture here also appear to condone other
But all this is nowhere near enough. forms of illegality. In one short passage, for
Some of the most offensive material cited instance, it is made clear that a father has
here is in English – indeed, more of the the right to marry off his daughter before
books and pamphlets identified here were in she reaches adulthood. Others deny a
that language than any other. It is not ade- woman the right to leave her home, or go to
quate simply to increase the number of work, or continue her studies after marriage.
English-speaking and English-trained In particular, attention should be
imams. It is about finding imams who not focused on UK-based printers and dis-
only speak English, but who have also fully tributors of the literature. Of the 24 sep-
embraced western society and do not hold arate publishing institutions identified
‘the West’ somehow responsible for most of here (see pages 181-186), over one third
the problems of the Muslim world. Indeed, (9) are either based here, or have UK
there is a short-term danger that in placing branches, or affiliates. These are: Al-
an emphasis solely on the former, space is Firdous Publications (a London-based
again created into which extremists – many operation, which is located in the
of whom are fully conversant in English – Finsbury Park area); Azhar Academy Ltd
can move.377 As this report shows, much of (also based in London and attached to a
the troubling literature uncovered here school of the same name); Dar-us-Salam
(48%) is in English, rather than Arabic, or Publications (which, whilst being head-
Urdu. It is this new prominence of material quartered in Saudi Arabia, has two
available in English which has made extrem- London branches – one of which operates
ist ideology more accessible to second and out of the Regent’s Park Mosque); Ta-Ha
third generation Muslims – many of whom Publishers (based in London); the
are less-than-fluent in their parents’ mother Muslim Educational Trust (also located in
tongues. There needs to be recognition that London); The Muslim Welfare House
it is not enough simply to change the way (also known as Dar al-Ri‘aya al-Islamiyya
people receive the message in mosques, if that is based near the Finsbury Park
the message itself remains unchanged. The Mosque); The Office of Da‘wah in Britain
teaching of English is not a panacea for the (based in London at the same Goodge 376. Joanna Sugden, ‘A very
British Islam’, The Times, 20 July
challenge of extremism; rather, it nibbles at Street premises as the Muslim World 2007.
the edges of a problem that is fundamental- League); the UKIM Dawah Centre 377. For further evidence on this
see Shiv Malik, ‘My brother the
ly about ideology.378 (which is the missionary arm of the bomber’, Prospect, 135, June
United Kingdom Islamic Mission, which 2007
6) Action should be taken against those has its headquarters at London’s ‘Euston 378. For details of the ‘imam
training’ course currently offered
individuals and institutions in the UK that Mosque’) by these organisations see:
propagate a messaage of sectarianism ‘Short Courses’, Markfield
Institute of Higher Education,
7) The Government needs to revise its view of the available at,
http://www.mihe.org.
Publishing houses whose work contains institutions connected with the Islamic
uk/html/shortcourses.htm. Last
extremist literature or passages likely to Foundation. accessed 23 July 2007; ‘An
overview of EIHS’, European
encourage Muslim separatism or undermine Institute of Human Sciences,
human rights should be publicly ‘named This organization is Mawdudist in orienta- available at,
http://www.eihs.org.uk/docu-
and shamed’. Institutions which persist in tion and is critical not only because it is one ments/Prospectus.pdf. Last
printing or distributing extremist publica- of the foremost publishers and distributors accessed 23 July 2007.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 175
The hijacking of British Islam
of Islamist material in the UK. But it is also speech and behaviour as something divinely
important because there are suggestions that sanctioned.
it could be encouraged to play a role in the It is equally unacceptable that Muslims
‘Preventing Violent Extremism: – both young and old – should be
Community Leadership Programme’, which immersed in material that advances a bitter
was launched by the Department for sectarianism towards certain other groups
Communities and Local Government in of Muslims. Those whose standards of
June 2007.379 Beyond this, it is also highly Islamic observance are considered deviant
likely that the Government announcement from, or inferior to, Wahhabite norms, are
of projects, with £1million funding, to often branded ‘un-Islamic’ by many of the
reform Islamic studies courses in the UK will authors of the books and pamphlets cov-
be put under the aegis of the Markfield ered in this report. As such they are exclud-
Institute of Higher Education (MIHE). This ed from the Muslim community – and
is a sister body of the Islamic Foundation judged eligible for the kind of ill-treatment
(indeed, the report on which this new policy that is prescribed in some places for non-
is based was produced by Dr. Ataullah Muslim society.
Siddiqui, Director of the MIHE).380 The
wisdom of investing such responsibility in 9) Islamic Schools must be subject to clear
the Markfield institutions must surely be regulation and made part of a genuinely
open to challenge, given their espousal of the shared system of national education
sectarian Mawdudist ideology described in
this report. Though they are located in It is clear from this report that some
Britain, the mindset of both these institu- Muslim schools are still using textbooks
tions appears to remain overwhelmingly that that carry objectionable material. This is
of southern Asia; certainly they hardly seem deeply worrying; if Muslim school-chil-
379. For more on this pro-
at ease in modern British society. dren are being taught to view themselves
gramme, see, ‘Preventing Violent as apart from and antithetical to the rest
Extremism: Community
Leadership Programme’, 8) Sectarianism - against Christians, Jews of society, there are clearly negative
Department for Communities and other Muslims cannot be tolerated implications for social cohesion.
and Local Government, June
2007, available at, Moreover, it should not be the function
http://www.communities.gov.uk/
The 2006 all-party report on anti- of British Muslim schools to prepare chil-
documents/communities/doc/Pr
eventingViolentExtremism. See Semitism drew attention to Muslim rheto- dren for life in Saudi Arabia or other
also, ‘Preventing violent extrem-
ism – Winning hearts and
ric and actions as a growing source of anti- Islamic countries; rather it should be to
minds’, Department of Semitism.380 Some of the examples given prepare them to enjoy properly integrat-
Communities and Local
Government, April 2007, avail-
here speak for themselves, as do wider ed lives as British citizens. What is taught
able at, http://www.communi- materials from the Middle East and else- in these schools must be measured
ties.gov.uk/pub/401/Preventingvi
olentextremismWinningheartsan where. It is appalling that books like The against what is taught in non-Muslim
dminds_id1509401.pdf. That the Protocols of the Elders of Zion – a nineteenth schools in respect of civic values, social
government is looking to the
Markfield institutes to play a key century forgery – should often be held up cohesion, good community relations, and
role in this was confirmed to
as an authentic, reliable and authoritative the building of friendships with children
Policy Exchange by civil service
sources historical source; worse that sections of it of all faiths and none.
380. All-Party Parliamentary should and be repeated here in books One further point that might be made
Group Against Antisemitism,
Report of the All-Party
aimed at school children.381 UK publishers, in this regard relates to a more mundane,
Parliamentary Inquiry into importers and sellers of The Protocols and yet no less important issue. Setting aside
Antisemitism, September 2006,
at: http://thepcaa.org/ other overtly anti-Semitic and sectarian writ- the content of the school-books featured
Report.pdf, pp. 26-32. ings must be brought to book. Prosecutions here, it is clear there is also a ‘quality gap’
381. See, for example, books at should be brought in order to put on notice in terms of the way in which they put their
the King Fahad Academy, pages
51-58. those who would defend their anti-Jewish message across. In other words, books such
176
Conclusions and policy recommendations
as those from the Tas-Heelul Aqaa-id series where, ‘a complaint has been received’ or
(volumes seven and eight), that were where ‘it has other concerns about a
obtained at Blackburn’s Jaame Mosque (see school’.385 In the instances identified here it
pages 138-141), can hardly be said to be seems clear that there are very real grounds
preparing Muslim children for successful for concern and inspectors should now
lives in the UK, given the sub-standard return to these institutions. In addition, it
quality of English in the texts. It is scarce- seems clear that inspectors of Islamic
ly acceptable that one section of the UK’s schools must be capable of identifying and
child population should be exposed to reading Arabic texts; if not, they will be
books that are semi-literate at best, but incapable of accessing the full scope of
which still retain an authority couched in what the schools are teaching. It is equally
religious terms.382 critical that these inspectors be genuinely
At present, it is a legal requirement for independent of the institutions and ideolo-
all schools – whether state-run or inde- gies that they are examining - on the quis
pendent – to be inspected on a regular custodet principle.
cycle to ensure that they comply with the Where the nature of this teaching is
standards set out in the 2002 Education found to be unacceptable, or where ‘there is
Act. Crucially, those standards cover, ‘the a risk of serious harm to the welfare of the
quality of education provided by the school’ pupils’ (as must surely be the case in those
and ‘the spiritual, moral, social and cultur- instances where such literature is being
al development of pupils’.383 In relation to propagated), the DfCSF must be prepared 382. ‘Teaching of Islam is out-
dated’, BBC News Online, 4
the schools covered in this report there to send the strongest possible signal to the June 2007, available at,
must be serious question marks as to schools concerned that this cannot be toler- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/edu-
cation/6713373.stm.
whether these standards are being met; if ated. As the DfCSF’s guidelines indicate,
383. For more on the scope of
children are being taught about the this should include a readiness, if immediate illiteracy in the UK, see A. Frean,
‘shortcomings’ of their fellow citizens, can remedial action is not taken, to ‘order that Y. Yobbo & I. Duncan, ‘A-level
students unable to write essays’,
this really be said to be furthering their the school be removed from the register of The Times, 15 August 2007;
‘One in five UK adults ‘illiterate’’,
‘spiritual, moral, social and cultural devel- independent schools’ – a move that would BBC News Online, 29 June
opment’? force the school in question to close. Such 2000, available at,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/81
Recent reports suggesting that ‘more action may seem drastic, but it is not 1832.stm.
than half of Muslim schools have not been unprecedented. In February 2007 the 384. ‘The framework for inspect-
inspected for five years, while some have Jameah Islameah school in Mark Cross, East ing independent schools’,
Ofsted, http://www.ofsted.
not received a full inspection for a decade’ Sussex was shut down after it failed to gov.uk/assets/Internet_
make this all the more alarming.384 True, all implement an Ofsted-imposed ‘action plan’ Content/Shared_Content/Files/In
dependent%20School%20Form
but one of the schools covered here have for improvement.386 On that occasion, the s/Guidance%20and%20forms%
20for%20schools%20Document
been inspected by the Office for Standards Schools Minister, Jim Knight was reported s/fwk_indschls2007.pdf
in Education (Ofsted) and apparently to have said, ‘It is important that parents 385. Julie Henry, ‘Half of Muslim
given the ‘all-clear’. Still, it is crucial that and the wider public are assured that all schools not inspected’, Sunday
Telegraph, 4 March 2007.
new and in-depth inspections be undertak- schools - whether in the maintained or
386. Ibid.
en in these institutions. The Secretary of independent sector - provide their pupils
387. Tim Ross, ‘Raided Islamic
State for Children, Schools and Families with a suitable education, and that we will school closed down’,
Independent, 10 February 2007;
has the power to request that Ofsted con- take strong action against those that are fail-
see also, Julie Henry, ‘Half of
duct an inspection in a school; further- ing.’387 It is imperative that this commit- Muslim schools not inspected’,
Sunday Telegraph, 4 March
more, the guidelines for inspecting inde- ment now be applied across the full spec- 2007.
pendent schools confirm that the trum of Islamic schools – particularly in 388. Alexandra Frean & Ruth
Department for Children, Schools and light of the recent policy announcement Gledhill, ‘More faith schools are
planned in an effort to integrate
Families (DfCSF) can request Ofsted to that points towards increased provision for minorities’, The Times, 8
under-take ‘an emergency visit’ to a school state-funded faith schools.388 September 2007.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 177
The hijacking of British Islam
178
Conclusions and policy recommendations
and those that deny girls the right to study 11) Genuine Inter-faith activities need to be
sciences. All these are amongst the injunc- encouraged
tions found in these pages that sit ill at ease
with those rights guaranteed under British Many of the institutions under the spotlight
law and in much western human rights leg- here have professed their commitment to pro-
islation. moting inter-faith dialogue, community
A Royal Commission should be set up cohesion and Muslim integration with the
to examine the status of Muslim women - rest of UK society. Yet the reality is that the
and, indeed, females from all minority sincere pursuit of such goals is an anathema to
groups. How can expressly religious invita- those particular Muslims who look on all
tions to confine women to a particular sta- non-Muslims – and indeed, many other
tus be countered? How can the authorities, Muslims – as untouchable. There is a serious
such as the police and social services be problem with certain institutions expressing
empowered to intervene more effectively one thing in public, whilst publications found
on behalf of Muslim females? The Royal on their premises propagate an apparently
Comission should look into issues like contradictory message. For this reason, the
effective home imprisonment, denial of advocates of interfaith dialogue must also per-
the right to work and refusal to allow full form greater ‘due diligence’ on their Muslim
and extended education. interlocutors.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 179
The hijacking of British Islam
180
Appendix I
tarian slant. We are wholesalers, retailers, the Muslim Information Centre, the
publishers, and distributors to main book Islamic Medical Association and the
shops all over the world including the Albanian Islamic Society. In 2006, The
UK, Europe and USA’.406 Its authors Minister of State for Foreign and
include ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Commonwealth Affairs, Dr. Kim
Baz, Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaimin, Howells, visited the publishing house as
Sheikh Saleh Bin al-Fouzan, Nasir al-Din part of an unofficial series of meetings
al-Albani, Salih ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz Al al- held by elected officials in the Foreign
Sheikh, Muhammad ibn Jamil Zino, ‘Abd Office to try to create more understand-
Allah al-Jibrin, Ibn Taymiyya (1263- ing with the younger Muslim genera-
1328, the main Salafi precursor), tion.412
Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab, and the
Saudi Fiqh Council.407 Ta-Ha Publishers
TaHa Publishers Ltd. 406. ‘About us’, Dar-us-Salam,
available at, http://www.darus-
Muslim Welfare House (MWH)/ Unit 4, The Windsor Centre, salamlondon.com/test/AboutUs.
Dar al-Ri‘aya al-Islamiyya Windsor Grove, asp.
the community’.409 In addition to its London 412. For the FCO report in
Arabic of Howells’ visit, go to:
headquarters, the organisation has seven The Islamic Foundation (IF) http://tinyurl.com/2ct7wx; or
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Fr
regional branches, based at Loughborough, Ratby Lane
ont?pagename=OpenMarket/Xc
Durham, Leicester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Markfield elerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=
1089129254579&a=KArticle&aid
Nottingham and Newcastle.410 Leicestershire
=1142707302747.
The MWH premises at 233 Seven LE67 9SY 413. ’Home’, TaHa Publishers
Sisters Road occupy the same site as the This is the main Mawdudist organisation Ltd, available at, http://www.
taha.co.uk/index.php.
offices of the Muslim Association of in the UK – publishing al-Mawdudi’s
414. ‘About us’, TaHa Publishers
Britain (MAB). The director of the works along with those of other radical Ltd, available at, http://www.
taha.co.uk/about.php.
MWH in the mid-1990s was Kathim al- Islamist ideologues, such as Sayyed Qutb.
415. ‘Contact us’, TaHa
Rawi, who today is the Principal of the Its focus is on research, training, and polit- Publishers Ltd, available at,
Wales-based European Institute of ical outreach. This latter is complicated by http://www.taha.co.uk/contact.p
hp. With regards to the location
Human Sciences.411 The current director its view of British society as ‘alien, secular of its former base on Wynne
is Fadi Itani. Facilities at the MWH, and tyrannical’. Founded in 1973 by Road, see cached web page,
available at, http://66.102.9.104
include a bookshop, a prayer room, and Professor Khurshid Ahmad, an economist /search?q=cache:LOUtMtqlI3UJ:
offices that have been used over the years and a Vice-President of the Jamaat-e-Islami www.taha.co.uk/authors.php+ta
+ha+publishers+wynne+road&hl
by a variety of organisations, including in Pakistan, it has published hundreds of =en&ct=clnk&cd=2.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 181
The hijacking of British Islam
books and many journals, all taking a strict demic research and publications’.418 In
Salafi line.416 Ahmad was the organisation’s January 2006, the then Health Secretary,
first director until he returned to Pakistan Patricia Hewitt visited the Foundation and
to become Minister of Planning under praised its work stating, ‘In the modern
President Zia ul-Haq. He was succeeded world, there is nothing more important
by Khurram Murad, another leading than enabling different faiths and tradi-
member of the Pakistani Jamaat-e-Islami. tions to understand and learn from each
The current Director-General is Dr. other…Thank you for the wonderful work
Manazir Ahsan.417 you are doing in Islamic scholarship and
The IF was the first British Islamic interfaith dialogue.’419
organisation to establish formal ties with
higher education institutions – with links The Muslim Educational Trust (MET)
to Leicester University and the Centre for 130 Stroud Green Rd,
the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim London
Relations at Selly Oak College, N4 3RZ
Birmingham. In keeping with this focus on The MET is the oldest Islamic body in the
tertiary education it operates closely with UK devoted to the education of Muslim
416. ‘Report on the Teaching of
the Markfield Institute of Higher children. It describes its purpose as being to
Islam in British Universities’,
Institute for the Study of Islam Education (MIHE), with the two organi- meet the, ‘challenge of catering for the
and Christianity, 5 July 2007,
available at, http://www.isic-cen-
sations both based at the Markfield site Islamic educational needs of the British
tre.org/briefing_detail.php?recor near Leicester. The Director of the MIHE, Muslim children and advising their parents
dID=55. For more on Khurshid
Ahmad and his role in the
Dr. Ataullah Siddiqui (who is also Head of on how to bring up their children in an un-
Islamic Foundation, see, ‘Prof. the Interfaith Unit at the IF), recently pro- Islamic materialistic society’.420 The MET
Khurshid Ahmad’, JI:
Leadership, available at, duced a report entitled, Islam at universities was founded in 1966 by Ghulam Sarwar – a
http://www.jamaat.org/leader- in England: meeting the needs and investing member of the UK Islamic Mission, one of
ship/pka.html.
in the future; this had been commissioned whose books - Islam: Beliefs and Teachings –
417. See, for example,
‘Interfaith’, The Islamic by the Minister of Higher Education, Bill is represented here. Sarwar remains Director
Foundation, available at,
http://www.islamic-
Rammell MP. This report is available from of the organisation to this day.421 Sarwar’s
foundation.org.uk/. both the MIHE and IF websites and the book has been repeatedly revised and
418. Cited on the Islamic Director General of the Islamic reprinted, with over 196,000 copies printed
Foundation website: ‘Welcome
to the Islamic Foundation’, avail-
Foundation, Dr. Manazir Ahsan spoke in by 1998.422 Beyond this, the MET produces
able at, http://www.islamic-foun- the aftermath of the report’s release to clar- a wide range of Islamic literature in English
dation.org.uk/indexEnglish.htm.
ify its content. The central thrust of the and trains personnel to teach Islam in
419. Cited in ‘Islamic group is
praised for creating harmony’, report was that the British Government schools. The academic, Gilles Kepel, has
Leicester Mercury, 24 January
should undertake to reform Islamic studies described it as attempting to ‘perpetuate a
2006
182
Appendix I
enterprise, with a physical presence on to Saudi Arabia. Their aim is ‘to translate 425. ‘About us’, UKIM Dawah
Centre, available at,
Ludlow Road in Alum Rock, and publish Islamic books from the http://info.ukimdawahcentre.com
Birmingham.427 Arabic language to the English lan- /content/view/21/27/.
a steady output of Arabic-language titles addition to the books that can be pur- 428. ‘About us’, Al-Hujjah
Publication, available at,
since the 1990s. [Possibly connected with chased it is also possible to access a num- http://alhujjahpublication.org/ind
Sheikh Abd Al-Muhsin Al-Abikan, a mem- ber of smaller ‘e-books’ for free, direct ex.php?act=viewDoc&docId=1.
ber of Saudi Arabia’s Shura Council and from the site. These ‘e-books’ cover a 429. ‘Mission Statement’, Al-
Ibaanah, available at,
consultant for the Saudi Ministry of range of subjects and include titles such http://www.al-ibaanah.com/sup-
Justice] as: ‘My experiences in Great Britain’, port.php?page=mission.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 183
The hijacking of British Islam
which is described as giving, ‘an account tion title, a study on the creation of the
of the situation of the Muslims residing in Islamic State, and works from the
the lands of kufr’. Tablighi Jamaat.
184
Appendix I
the Tablighi Jamaat. They were directly ties all over the world, including the organ-
involved in protests concerning the isation of conferences and seminars.434
reprinting of the Danish cartoons of
Muhammad in 2006. The Ministry of Education, Learning
and Educational Advancement,
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Saudi Arabia
[Religious] Endowments, Da‘wa and (Saudi Arabia)
Guidance, Saudi Arabia This Saudi Government department works
(Saudi Arabia) alongside the Ministry of Higher
This is the chief religious body in Saudi Education, ‘supervising the education and
Arabia. It supervises all areas of religious learning in Saudi academic institutes and
life in the Kingdom, as well as waqf schools abroad’.435 The Ministry’s website
endowments, missionary work (da‘wa), claims that its education policy, ‘is prima-
and public guidance in Islamic matters. Its rily derived from the Islamic religion, its
current head is Sheikh Salih ibn ‘Abd al- creed and from the glorious history of the
‘Aziz Al al-Sheikh, whose name appears Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’; on such a basis
434. See also, ‘Islam –
elsewhere in these pages as the author of does the Ministry claim to set the schools’ Resources and Information’,
different texts, mainly fatwas. The curricula, ‘based on the prevailing situation Ministry of Islamic Affairs,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, avail-
Ministry forms part of the Saudi and requirements’. The current Minister of able at, http://www.al-
Government and oversees the Muslim Education is Dr Abdullah bin Salih Obeid, islam.com/eng/.
World League (MWL), the International a former Rector of the radical Islamic 435. ‘Saudi Academic Schools
and Institutes Abroad’, Ministry
Islamic Relief Organisation (IIRO) and the University of Medina (1982-95) and of Education, Kingdom of Saudi
World Assembly of Muslim Youth Secretary-General of the Muslim World Arabia, available at,
http://212.71 .35.4/open
(WAMY). It funds Islamic outreach activi- League (1995-2000). share/englishcon/.
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 185
The hijacking of British Islam
Appendix II:
Books featured here
1A
Title: Al-wala’ wa’l-‘ada’ fi ‘alaqat al-Muslim bi-ghayr al-Muslim [Loyalty and
enmity concerning relations between Muslims and non-Muslims]
Author: Abdullah alTarifi
Publisher: The Office of Da‘wah in Britain (Darulifta Office)
Published: 1411 (1990)
Language: Arabic
Collected from: AlManaar (The Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre), 244 Acklam Road, London, W10 5YG
1B
Title: Al-‘aqida al-sahiha wa ma yudaduha, wa risalat al-Ma‘iyya [Correct
beliefs and what opposes them, along with the treatise of the Divine Presence]
Author: ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz
Publisher: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Published: 1419 (1998)
Language: Arabic
A Gift from the Servant of the Two Sanctuaries (King of Saudi Arabia ) On the Occasion of the Opening of
King Fahd Mosque and Islamic Centre of Edinburgh, Scotland. To be distributed for free, not to be sold.
Collected from: AlManaar (The Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre), 277 Acklam Road, London, W10 5YG
Date collected:
1C
Title: Al-mar’a wa kayd al-a‘da’ [Women and their scheming enemies]
Author: Abdullah bin Wakil alSheikh
Publisher: The Office of Da‘wah in Britain (Darulifta Office)
Published: 1412 (1991)
Language: Arabic
Collected from: AlManaar (The Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre),244 Acklam Road, London, W10 5YG
2A
Title: Questions and Answers: Pertaining to Learning the Fundamental
Principles of the Creed and Clarification of the Obstacles which Hinder
Imaan
Author: Abdur Rahmaan ibn Nasr asSadee
Publisher:aHujjah Publications and Masjid Rahmah
Published: 2006
Language: English
Collected from: East London Mosque, 92 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1JQ
2B
Title: Women Who Deserve to Go to Hell
Author: Mansur Abu’l Hakim
Publisher: DarulIshaat
Published: 2004
186
Appendix II
Language: English
Collected from: East London Mosque, 92 Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1JQ
2C
Title: Fatawa Islamiyah – Islamic Verdicts, volume 1
Authors: ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz, Muhammad bin Saleh al‘Uthaimin,
‘Abdullah bin ‘Abdul Rahman AlJibreen and the Permanent Committee (of Saudi Arabia)
Compiler: Muhammad bin ‘Abdul‘Aziz alMusnad
Publisher: DarusSalam
Published: 2001
Language: English
Collected from: East London Mosque, 92 Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1JQ
2D
Title: Fatawa Islamiyah – Islamic Verdicts, volume 5
Authors: ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz, Muhammad bin Saleh al‘Uthaimin,
‘Abdullah bin ‘Abdul Rahman AlJibreen and the Permanent Committee (of Saudi Arabia)
Compiler: Muhammad bin ‘Abdul‘Aziz alMusnad
Publisher: DarusSalam
Published: 2001
Language: English
Collected from: East London Mosque, 92 Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1JQ
2E
Title: Fatawa Islamiyah – Islamic Verdicts, volume 6
Authors: ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz, Muhammad bin Saleh al‘Uthaimin,
‘Abdullah bin ‘Abdul Rahman AlJibreen and the Permanent Committee (of Saudi Arabia)
Compiler: Muhammad bin ‘Abdul‘Aziz alMusnad
Publisher: DarusSalam
Published: 2001
Language: English
Collected from: East London Mosque 92 Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1JQ
2F
Title: Fatawa Islamiyah – Islamic Verdicts, volume 8
Authors: ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz, Muhammad bin Saleh al‘Uthaimin,
‘Abdullah bin ‘Abdul Rahman AlJibreen and the Permanent Committee (of Saudi Arabia)
Compiler: Muhammad bin ‘Abdul‘Aziz alMusnad
Publisher: DarusSalam
Published: 2001
Language: English
Collected from: East London Mosque 92 Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1JQ
3A
Title: Al-Tawhid [Divine Unity] – 1st Grade High School
Author: None Listed
Publisher: The Ministry of Education, Learning and Educational Advancement,
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 187
The hijacking of British Islam
Published: 2004
Language: Arabic
School Textbook – to be distributed for free, not to be sold
Collected from: The King Fahad Academy, Bromyard Ave, London, W3 7HD
3B
Title: Sharh Kitab al-Tawhid [A Commentary on The Book of the Divine Unity] -
1st Grade Intermediate
Author: None Listed (This is a commentary on a central text by the Wahhabi founder, Muhammad ibn ‘Abd
alWahhab)
Publisher: Ministry of Education, Learning and Educational Advancement,
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Published: 20067
Language: Arabic
School Textbook – to be distributed for free, not to be sold
Collected from: The King Fahad Academy, Bromyard Ave, London, W3 7HD
3C
Title: Sharh Kitab al-Tawhid [A Commentary on The Book of the Divine Unity] -
2nd Grade Intermediate
Author: None Listed (This is a commentary on a central text by the Wahhabi founder, Muhammad ibn ‘Abd
alWahhab)
Publisher: Ministry of Education, Learning and Educational Advancement,
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Published: 20067
Language: Arabic
School Textbook – to be distributed for free, not to be sold
Collected from: The King Fahad Academy, Bromyard Ave, London, W3 7HD
3D
Title: Al-Hadith wa’l-thaqafa al-Islamiyya [Prophetic Tradition and Islamic
Culture] - 1st Grade High School
Author: None Listed
Publisher: The Ministry of Education, Learning and Educational Advancement,
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Published: 20052006
Language: Arabic
School Textbook – to be distributed for free, not to be sold
Collected from: The King Fahad Academy, Bromyard Ave, London, W3 7HD
3E
Title: Al-Hadith wa’l-thaqafa al-Islamiyya [Prophetic Tradition and Islamic
Culture] – 2nd Grade High School
Author: None Listed
Publisher: The Ministry of Education, Learning and Educational Advancement,
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Published: 20052006
Language: Arabic
188
Appendix II
3F
Title: Al-Hadith [Prophetic Traditions] – 3rd Grade Intermediate
Author: None Listed
Publisher: The Ministry of Education, Learning and Educational Advancement,
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Published: 20052006
Language: Arabic
School Textbook – to be distributed for free, not to be sold
Collected from: The King Fahad Academy, Bromyard Ave, London, W3 7HD
3G
Title: Al-Tafsir [Qur‘an Exegesis] – 3rd Grade Intermediate
Author: None Listed
Publisher: The Ministry of Education, Learning and Educational Advancement,
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Published: 20052006
Language: Arabic
School Textbook – to be distributed for free, not to be sold
Collected from: The King Fahad Academy, Bromyard Ave, London, W3 7HD
3H
Title: Al-adab al-‘Arabi [Arabic Literature] – 3rd Grade High School
Author: None Listed
Publisher: The Ministry of Education, Learning and Educational Advancement,
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Published: 2003
Language: Arabic
School Textbook – to be distributed for free, not to be sold
Collected from: The King Fahad Academy, Bromyard Ave, London, W3 7HD
4A
Title: Al-wala’ wa’l-bara [Loyalty and enmity] according to the ‘aqeedah [belief]
of the Salaf [Righteous Companions]
Author: Muhammad Saeed alQahtani
Publisher: Al Firdous Publications
Published: 1993
Language: English
Collected from: AlMuntada AlIslami Trust, 7 Bridges Place, Parsons Green, London, SW6 4HW
4B
Title: The Authentic Creed and the Invalidators of Islam
Author: ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz
Translator: Abu Hamzah
Publisher: DarusSalam
Published: 2000
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 189
The hijacking of British Islam
Language: English
Collected from: AlMuntada AlIslami Trust, 7 Bridges Place, Parsons Green, London, SW6 4HW
4C
Title: The Islamic Digest of Aqeedah and Fiqh [The Islamic Digest of Belief and
Jurisprudence]
Author: Mahmoud R. Murad
Publisher: DarusSalam
Published: 1998
Language: English
Collected from: AlMuntada AlIslami Trust, 7 Bridges Place, Parsons Green, London, SW6 4HW
4D
Title: Fatawa al-Lajna al-Da’imiyya li’l-Buhuth al-‘Ilmiyya wa’l-Ifta’. Al-Mujallad
al-Awwal, al-‘Aqida ([Religious Edicts (fatwas) from the Permanent Council for
Knowledge and the Issue of Fatwas, vol. 1 Belief)
Compiler: Sheikh Ahmad ibn ‘Abd alRazzaq alDuwish
Publisher: Al‘Abikan Library
Published: 1412 (1991)
Language: Arabic
Collected from: AlMuntada AlIslami Trust, 7 Bridges Place, Parsons Green, London, SW6 4HW
4E
Title: Fatawa al-Lajna al-Da’imiyya li’l-Buhuth al-‘Ilmiyya wa’l-Ifta’. Al-Mujallad
al-Thani, al-‘Aqida (([Religious Edicts (fatwas) from the Permanent Council for
Knowledge and the Issue of Fatwas, vol. 2 Belief)
Compiler: Sheikh Ahmad ibn ‘Abd alRazzaq alDuwish
Publisher: Al’Abikan Library
Published: 1992
Language: Arabic
Collected from: AlMuntada AlIslami Trust 7 Bridges Place, Parsons Green, London, SW6 4HW
5A
Title: Al-Sirat: Usul manhaj ahl al-Sunna wa’l-jama‘a fi’l-I‘tiqad wa’l-‘amal [
Conducts/Way of life: the principles of the followers of the Prophetic path concerning
belief and [religious] action]
Author: ‘Abd alRahman ibn ‘Abd alKhaliq; ed. Sheikh ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz
Publisher: n/a
Published: 2000
Language: Arabic
Collected from: Darul Amaan Islamic Centre, 54 Merton Road, London, SW19 1DH
6A
Title: Tanbihat ‘ala ahkam takhussu bi’l-mu’minat [Warnings regarding laws
related to believing women]
Author: Saleh Bin alFouzan
Publisher: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, The Kingdom Saudi Arabia
190
Appendix II
7A
Title: Fatayatuna bayna’l-taghrib wa’l-‘affaf [Our Daughters between
westernization and modesty]
Author: Nasir Sulayman al‘Umar
Publisher: The Office of Da‘wah in Britain (Darulifta Office)
Published: n.d.
Language: Arabic
Collected from: Muslim World League/Darulifta Office, 46 Goodge Street, London, W`T 4LU
7B
Title: Al-wala’ wa’l-‘ada’ fi ‘allaqat al-Muslim bi-ghayr al-Muslim [Loyalty and
enmity concerning relations between Muslims and non-Muslims]
Author: Abdullah AlTarifi
Publisher: The Office of Da‘wah in Britain
Published: n.d.
Language: Arabic
Collected from: Muslim World League/Darulifta Office, 46 Goodge Street, London, W1T 4LU
8A
Title: Bayna’l-da‘wa al-Islamiyya wa’l-rabita al-Islamiyya [Between the call to
nationalism and the call to the Islamic League]
Author: Abu alA‘la alMawdudi
Publisher: Al’Ansar Publishing House
Published: n.d.
Language: Arabic
Collected from: North London Central Mosque, 715 St. Thomas Road, Finsbury Park, London, N4 2QH
8B
Title: ‘Ala hamish sahwat al-‘alam al-Islami [At the edge of the awakening of
the Islamic world]
Author: Mahmoud alNaku‘
Publisher: MWH/Dar alRi‘aya alIslamiyya
Published: n.d.
Language: Arabic
Collected from: North London Central Mosque, 715 St. Thomas Road, Finsbury Park, London, N4 2QH
8C
Title: Risalat al-Hijab [The Letter regarding the Veil]
Author: Muhammad ibn Salih al‘Uthaimin
Publisher: Thurayya Publishing House
Published: n.d.
Language: Arabic
Collected from: North London Central Mosque, 715 St. Thomas Road, Finsbury Park, London, N4 2QH
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 191
The hijacking of British Islam
8D
Title: Manhaj al-Islam fi bana’ al-usra [Islam’s way of building the family]
Author: Dr. Abdullah bin Abdul Muhsin alTurki
Publisher: Ministry of Islamic Affairs, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Published: 1419 (1998)
Language: Arabic
A Gift from the Servant of the Two Sanctuaries (King of Saudi Arabia ) On the Occasion of the Opening of
King Fahd Mosque and Islamic Centre of Edinburgh, Scotland. To be distributed for free, not to be sold.
Collected from: North London Central Mosque, 715 St. Thomas Road, Finsbury Park, London, N4 2QH
8E
Title: Minbar al-Jum‘a (The Friday Pulpit)
Author: Hasan alBanna’
Publisher: Dar alDa‘wah
Published: 1988
Language: Arabic
Collected from: North London Central Mosque, 715 St. Thomas Road, Finsbury Park, London, N4 2QH
9A
Title: Four Essays on the Obligation of Veiling
Authors: ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz, Muhammad bin Saleh al‘Uthaimin, Saleh Bin alFouzan, and
Zayd bin Muhammad bin Haadee AlMadkhalee.
Translator: Abu Maryam Isma.eel Alarcon
Publisher: AlIbaanah Book Publishing
Published: 2006
Language: English
Collected from: The London Central Mosque, 146 Park Road, London, NW8 7RG
9B
Title: Fatawa Islamiyah – Islamic Verdicts, volume 1 Creed
Authors: ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz, Muhammad bin Saleh al‘Uthaimin,
‘Abdullah bin ‘Abdul Rahman AlJibreen and the Permanent Committee (of Saudi Arabia)
Compiler: Muhammad bin ‘Abdul‘Aziz alMusnad
Publisher: DarusSalam
Published: 2001
Language: English
Collected from: The London Central Mosque, 146 Park Road, London, NW8 7RG
9C
Title: Fatawa Islamiyah – Islamic Verdicts, volume 5 Insurance and Other
Issues, Endowments, Gifts, Wills, Inheritance, Slavery and Marriage
Authors: ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz, Muhammad bin Saleh al‘Uthaimin,
‘Abdullah bin ‘Abdul Rahman AlJibreen and the Permanent Committee (of Saudi Arabia)
Compiler: Muhammad bin ‘Abdul‘Aziz alMusnad
Publisher: DarusSalam
Published: 2001
Language: English
Collected from: The London Central Mosque, 146 Park Road, London, NW8 7RG
192
Appendix II
9D
Title: Fatawa Islamiyah – Islamic Verdicts, volume 8 Jihad, Da‘wah, Employees
and Workers, Teachers and Students, Dreams and Visions, Bribery and its
Effects, the Orphan’s Wealth, Pictures, Media, Singing and Music, Collection of
Various Topics
Authors: ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz, Muhammad bin Saleh al‘Uthaimin,
‘Abdullah bin ‘Abdul Rahman AlJibreen and the Permanent Committee (of Saudi Arabia)
Compiler: Muhammad bin ‘Abdul‘Aziz alMusnad
Publisher: DarusSalam
Published: 2001
Language: English
Collected from: The London Central Mosque, 146 Park Road, London, NW8 7RG
10A
Title: The Concise Collection on Creed and Tauhid [The Divine Unity]
Author: None Listed
Publisher: DarusSalam
Published: 2002
Language: English
Collected from: Tauheed Mosque and Islamic Centre, 78 High Road, Leyton, London, E15 2BP
10B
Title: Al-‘Adl fi Shari‘at al-Islam, wa laysa fi’l-dimuqratiyya al-maz‘uma [Justice
is in the Religious Law of Islam and not in the acclaimed democracy]
Author: ‘Abd alMuhsin ibn Hamad
Publisher: Almughni Publishing House
Published: 1426 (2005)
Language: Arabic
Collected from: Tauheed Mosque and Islamic Centre. 78 High Road, Leyton, London, E15 2BP
10C
Title: Fatawa Islamiyah – Islamic Verdicts, volume 1
Authors: ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz, Muhammad bin Saleh al‘Uthaimin,
‘Abdullah bin ‘Abdul Rahman AlJibreen and the Permanent Committee (of Saudi Arabia)
Compiler: Muhammad bin ‘Abdul‘Aziz alMusnad
Publisher: DarusSalam
Published: 2001
Language: English
Collected from: Tauheed Mosque and Islamic Centre, 78 High Road, Leyton, London, E15 2BP
11A
Title: Tanbihat ‘ala ahkam takhussu bi’l-mu’minat [Warnings regarding laws
related to believing women]
Author: Saleh Bin alFouzan
Publisher: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Published: 1419 (1998)
Language: Arabic
A Gift from the Servant of the Two Sanctuaries (King of Saudi Arabia ) On the Occasion of the Opening of
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 193
The hijacking of British Islam
King Fahd Mosque and Islamic Centre of Edinburgh, Scotland. To be distributed for free, not to be sold.
Collected from: Birmingham Central Mosque, 180 Belgrave Middleway, Highgate, Birmingham, B12 0XS
11B
Title: Al-‘aqida al-sahiha wa ma yudaduha, wa risalat al-ma‘iyya [Correct
beliefs and what opposes them, along with the treatise of the Divine Presence]
Author: ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz
Publisher: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Published: 1419 (1998)
Language: Arabic
A Gift from the Servant of the Two Sanctuaries (King of Saudi Arabia ) On the Occasion of the Opening of
King Fahd Mosque and Islamic Centre of Edinburgh, Scotland. To be distributed for free, not to be sold.
Collected from: Birmingham Central Mosque, 180 Belgrave Middleway, Highgate, Birmingham, B12 0XS
12A
Title: Al-‘aqida al-sahiha wa ma yudaduha, wa risalat al-Ma‘iyya [Correct
beliefs and what opposes them, along with the treatise of the Divine Presence]
Author: ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz
Publisher: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Published: 1419 (1998)
Language: Arabic
A Gift from the Servant of the Two Sanctuaries (King of Saudi Arabia ) On the Occasion of the Opening of
King Fahd Mosque and Islamic Centre of Edinburgh, Scotland. To be distributed for free, not to be sold.
Collected from: Markazi Jamiat AhleHadith (Birmingham), 20 Green Lane, Small Heath, Birmingham, B9 5DB
13A
Title: Kitab al-Tawhid: The Book of Divine Unity
Compiler: Saleh Bin alFouzan
Translator: Mahmoud Ridha Murad
Publisher: DarusSalam
Published: 1997
Language: English
Collected from: Salafiyah Mosque and Bookstore, Wright Street, Birmingham, B10
13B
Title: Tanbihat ‘ala ahkam takhussu bi’l-mu’minat [Warnings regarding rulings
related to believing women]
Author: Saleh Bin alFouzan
Publisher: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Published: 1421 (2000)
Language: Arabic
Collected from: The Salafi Mosque and Islamic Centre, Wright Street Birmingham, B10 0UG
13C
Title: Fatawa Islamiyah – Islamic Verdicts, volume 1 Creed
Authors: ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz, Muhammad bin Saleh al‘Uthaimin,
‘Abdullah bin ‘Abdul Rahman AlJibreen and the Permanent Committee (of Saudi Arabia)
Compiler: Muhammad bin ‘Abdul‘Aziz alMusnad
194
Appendix II
Publisher: DarusSalam
Published: 2001
Language: English
Collected from: The Salafi Mosque and Islamic Centre, Wright Street Birmingham, B10 0UG
14A
Title: Khwateen Key Makhsoos Masayel [The special problems of females]
Compiler: Saleh Bin alFouza
Translator: Dr. Raza UlAllah Muhammad Idrees Mubarakpuri
Publisher: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Published: 2002
Language: Urdu
Collected from: Didsbury Mosque and Islamic Centre, 271 Burton Road, West Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2WA
15A
Title: Fundamentals of Islam
Author: Abu aAla alMawdudi
Publisher: Islamic Publications (Pvt.) Ltd
Published: 2004
Language: English
Collected from: The UKIM Cheetham Hill Road Islamic Centre, 425 Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester, M8 OPF
15B
Title: The Islamic Movement: Dynamics of Values, Power and Change
Author: Abu alA‘la Mawdudi
Publisher: The Islamic Foundation
Published: 1984
Language: English
Collected from: The UKIM Cheetham Hill Road Islamic Centre, 425 Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester, M8 OPF
15C
Title: Towards Understanding Islam
Author: Abu alA‘la alMawdudi
Publisher: U.K.I.M. Dawah Centre
Published: 1998
Language: English
Collected from: The UKIM Cheetham Hill Road Islamic Centre, 425 Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester, M8 OPF
15D
Title: Woman in the Shari‘ah
Author: Abdur Rahman I. Doi
Publisher: TaHa Publishers
Published: 1989
Language: English
Collected from: The UKIM Cheetham Hill Road Islamic Centre,
425 Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester, M8 OPF
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 195
The hijacking of British Islam
15E
Title: Questions and Answers about Islam
Author: Syed Mutawalli adDarsh,
Publisher: TaHa Publishers
Published: 1997
Language: English
Collected from: The UKIM Cheetham Hill Road Islamic Centre,
425 Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester, M8 OPF
16A
Title: Al-as’ila wa’l-ajwiba al-fiqhiyya [Jurisprudence questions and answers],
Part III
Author: ‘Abd al‘Aziz alMuhammad alSalman
Publisher: n/a
Published: 1409 (1988)
Language: Arabic
Collected from: The Islamic Academy of Manchester, 19 Chorlton Terrace, Manchester, M13 9TD
16B
Title: Three Important Rules of Religion
Author: Muhammad ibn ‘Abd alWahhab
Publisher: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Published: 1998
Language: Urdu
Collected from: The Islamic Academy of Manchester, 19 Chorlton Terrace, Manchester, M13 9TD
16C
Title: Dawr al-talaba fi bina’ mustaqbil al-‘alam al-islami [The role of the stu-
dents in building the future of the Islamic world]
Author: Abu’lA‘la alMawdudi
Publisher: Dar alQur’an alKarim
Published: 1980
Language: Arabic
Collected from: The Islamic Academy of Manchester, 19 Chorlton Terrace, Manchester, M13 9TD
17A
Title: Fatawa wa Adhkar [Religious Edicts and References/Citations]
Authors: ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz and Mohammed bin Salah Bin Uthaimin
Publishers: n/a
Published: 1413 (1992)
Language: Arabic
A Gift from the Servant of the Two Sanctuaries (King of Saudi Arabia ) On the Occasion of the Opening of
King Fahd Mosque and Islamic Centre of Edinburgh, Scotland. To be distributed for free, not to be sold.
Collected from: The Muslim Student Centre, University of Manchester, Burlington Street, Manchester, M13 9PL
17B
Titlle: Al-wala and Al-bara in Islam [Loyalty and enmity in Islam]
Author: Saleh Bin alFouzan
196
Appendix II
Publisher: Cooperative Office for Call and Guidance in AlBatha (under the Supervision of Ministry of
Islamic Affairs, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
Published: 1998
Language: English
Collected from: The Muslim Student Centre, University of Manchester, Burlington Street, Manchester, M13 9PL
17C
Title: Man tashabbaha bi-qawm fahuwa minhum [Whoever imitates a people
becomes one of them]
Author: Dr. Nasir ibn ‘Abd alKarim al‘Aql
Publisher: The Office of Da‘wah in Britain (Darulifta Office)
Published: n.d.
Language: Arabic
Collected from: The Muslim Student Centre, University of Manchester, Burlington Street, Manchester, M13 9PL
18A
Title: Islam: Beliefs and Teachings
Author: Ghulam Sarwar
Publisher: Muslim Educational Trust
Published: 2004
Language: English
Collected from: Islamic Educational Society, 108 – 110 Audley Range, Blackburn, BB1 1TF
19A
Title: Ta’leemul Haq: An Authentic Compilation of the Five Fundamentals of
Islam
Author: None Listed
Publisher: Azhar Academy Ltd.
Published: 1998
Language: English
Collected from: Islamic Cultural Centre (Jaame Mosque), Cumberland Street, Blackburn, BB1 1JP
19B
Title: Bahishti Zewar – Heavenly Ornaments
Author: Maulvi Ashraf Ali Thanvi
Publisher: Idara Isha’ateDiniyat (P) Ltd
Published: 2005
Language: English
Collected from: Islamic Cultural Centre (Jaame Mosque), Cumberland Street, Blackburn, BB1 1JP
19C
Title: Tas-heelul Akhlaaq Wal Aadaab [Morals and Manners Made Easy], volume 5
Author: None Listed
Publisher: Jamiatul Ulama Taalimi Board
Published: 1417 (1996)
Language: English
Collected from: Islamic Cultural Centre (Jaame Mosque), Cumberland Street, Blackburn, BB1 1JP
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 197
The hijacking of British Islam
19D
Title: Tas-heelul Akhlaaq Wal Aadaab [Morals and Manners Made Easy], vol-
ume 6
Author: None Listed
Publisher: Jamiatul Ulama Taalimi Board
Published: 1418 (1997)
Language: English
Collected from: Islamic Cultural Centre (Jaame Mosque), Cumberland Street, Blackburn, BB1 1JP
19E
Title: Tas-heelul Aqaa-id [Beliefs Made Easy], volume 7
Author: None Listed
Publisher: Jamiatul Ulama Taalimi Board
Published: 1418 (1997)
Language: English
Collected from: Islamic Cultural Centre (Jaame Mosque), Cumberland Street, Blackburn, BB1 1JP
19F
Title: Tas-heelul Aqaa-id [Beliefs Made Easy], volume 8
Author: None Listed
Publisher: Jamiatul Ulama Taalimi Board
Published: 1418 (1997)
Language: English
Collected from: Islamic Cultural Centre (Jaame Mosque), Cumberland Street, Blackburn, BB1 1JP
20A
Title: Al-mar’a wa kayd al-a‘da [Women and their scheming enemies]
Author: ‘Abd Allah ibn Wakil alSheikh
Publisher: The Office of Da‘wah in Britain (Darulifta Office)
Published: 1412 (1991)
Language: Arabic
Collected from: Central Mosque of Rochdale, Mere Street, Rochdale, OL11 1HJ
20B
Title: Fatawa al-mar’a [Religious Edicts concerning Women]
Authors: Muhammad ibn Salih ibn ‘Uthaimin and ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Abd alRahman al Jibrin
Publisher: The Office of Da‘wah in Britain (Darulifta Office)
Published: n.d.
Language: Arabic
Collected from: Central Mosque of Rochdale, Mere Street, Rochdale, OL11 1HJ
21A
Title: ‘Aqidat ahl al-Sunna Wa-al-Jama’a [Belief of the followers of the
Prophetic Path]
Compiler: Muhammad bin Salih al‘Uthaimin
Translator: Hafiz Abdul AlRasheed Azher
Publisher: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Published: n.d.
198
Appendix II
Language: Urdu
To be distributed for free, not for sale
Collected from: Markazi Jamiat AhleHadith (Bradford), 5 Camden Terrace, Bradford, BD8 7HX
22A
Title: The Pillars of Islam and Iman [faith] and What Every Muslim Must Know
About His Religion
Author: Muhammad ibn Jamil Zino
Translator: DarusSalam Publications
Publisher: DarusSalam
Published: 1996
Language: English
Collected from: Darul Islam Mosque (Masjid Nimra), 910 Hannover Square, Bradford, BD1 3BX
22B
Title: ‘Aqidat ahl al-Sunna Wa-al-Jama’a [Belief of the followers of the
Prophetic Path]
Compiler: Muhammad bin Saleeh AlAseymeyeen
Translator: Hafiz Abdul AlRasheed Azher
Publisher: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Published: 2003
Language: Urdu
Collected from: Darul Islam Mosque (Masjid Nimra), 910 Hannover Square, Bradford, BD1 3BX
23A
Title: Al-‘aqida al-sahiha wa ma yudaduha, wa risalat al-ma‘iyya [Correct
beliefs and what opposes them, along with the treatise of the Divine Presence]
Author: ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz
Publisher: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Published: 1419 (1998)
Language: Arabic
A Gift from the Servant of the Two Sanctuaries (King of Saudi Arabia ) On the Occasion of the Opening of King
Fahd Mosque and Islamic Centre of Edinburgh, Scotland. To be distributed for free, not to be sold.
Collected from: Islamic Centre of Edinburgh, 50 Potterrow, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH8 9BT
24A
Title: Al-‘aqida al-sahiha wa ma yudaduha, wa risalat al-Ma‘iyya [Correct
beliefs and what opposes them, along with the treatise of the Divine Presence]
Author: ‘Abdul ‘Aziz bin ‘Abdullah bin Baz
Publisher: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Published: 1419 h
Language: Arabic
A Gift from the Servant of the Two Sanctuaries (King of Saudi Arabia ) On the Occasion of the Opening of
King Fahd Mosque and Islamic Centre of Edinburgh, Scotland. To be distributed for free, not to be sold.
24B
Title: Tanbihat ‘ala ahkam takhussu bi’l-mu’minat [Warnings regarding laws
related to believing women]
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 199
The hijacking of British Islam
25A
Title: Women Who Deserve to go to Hell
Author: Mansur Abu’l Hakim
Publisher: DarulIshaat
Published: 2004
Language: English
Collected from: Muslim Education Centre, Totteridge Drive, High Wycombe, HP13 6UH
25B
Title: Twenty Lessons for Muslim Women
Compiler: Maulana Muhammad Aashiq Elahi
Publisher: Private, Karachi
Published: 2000
Language: English
Collected from: Muslim Education Centre, Totteridge Drive, High Wycombe, HP13 6UH
25C
Title: Islam: the choice of thinking women
Author: Ismail Adam Patel
Publisher: TaHa Publishers, London
Published: 1997
Language: English
Collected from: Muslim Education Centre, Totteridge Drive, High Wycombe, HP13 6UH
25D
Title: Contemporary Fataawa
Author: Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani
Publisher: Azhar Academy, London
Published: 1999
Language: English
Collected from: Muslim Education Centre, Totteridge Drive, High Wycombe, HP13 6UH
25E
Title: Aqaaidul Islam (Beliefs in Islam)
Author: Moulana Idris Khandelvi
Publisher: n/a
Published: 2001
Edited Translation: Mufti Afzal Hoosen Elias
Language: English
Collected from: Muslim Education Centre, Totteridge Drive, High Wycombe, HP13 6UH
25F
Title: Islam and Modernism
Author: Muhammad Taqi Usmani
200
Appendix II
25G
Title: Woman in Islamic Sharia (Laws of Marriage and Divorce)
Author: AlHaj MuhammadUllah
Publisher: Islamic Book Service, New Delhi
Published: 2001
Language: English
Collected from: Muslim Education Centre, Totteridge Drive, High Wycombe, HP13 6UH
26A
Title: Deen-e-Haq [Religious Rights [in Islam]]
Author: Abdur Rahman bin Hamad AlAmr
Publisher: Ministry of Islamic Affairs, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Published: n/a
Language: Urdu
To be Distributed for Free; Not to be Sold
26B
Title: Khwateen Key Makhsoos Masayel [The special problems of females]
Author: Saleh Bin alFouzan
Publisher: Ministry of Islamic Research, Auqaf , Irshad& Dawah, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Published: M.I.A.
Language: M.I.A.
To be Distributed for Free; Not to be Sold
Collected from: The M. A. AlKharafi Islamic Centre, 282 London Road,
Camberley, Surrey, GU15 3JP
www.policyexchange.org.uk • 201
The hijacking of British Islam
Acknowledgements
Denis MacEoin
October 2007
202