The very prevalent but equally misleading practice of quoting and following a Single Hadith -- Can a woman and if so, should a woman go to the Masjid for Prayers

The very prevalent but equally misleading practice of quoting and following a Single Hadith

Can a woman and if so, should a woman go to the Masjid for Prayers

                                                                                             

The other day I received a hadith in my email:

Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah

Narrated Salim's father (Radi-Allahu 'anhu):

The Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) said, "If the wife of anyone of you asks permission to go to the mosque, he should not forbid her.” Bukhari Vol. 7 : No. 165

This Hadith, from the standard reference book of Hadith, Sahih Bukhari is direct and clear. A wife is free to go to a masjid if she wishes to, said the Holy Prophet.

However Hanafia, the major School of Thought in the traditional Sunni Islam and comprising 75% of the Muslim Ummah strongly discourages if not forbids women from going to the masjid for prayers. In Surinam, South America, the Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa‘ah forbid women to go to the mosque, saying that the first Imaam (Imaam Abu Haneefah) learned to do what pleases the Holy Prophet SAWS (peace be upon him), and he had said once that it is better for the women to perform prayer at home, because there is more sawaab (reward) in that, and as we come here to earn sawaab, it is better to do this. 

This is exactly opposite of what the hadith is saying. How come this glaring contradiction between the saying of our Holy Prophet and the fatwaa of one of our Great Imaams.

 This is the challenge in Hadith study. The prevalent and very common practice can be very misleading. A hadith is mentioned in the words of the speaker in a lecture or Halaqua discussion. He describes the substance of the hadith in his own words. And that is all. That is final. Anything that is preceded by “this is a hadith” becomes the final truth.Even educated folks who are very successful in their mundane pursuits because of their intelligence and reasoning offer a blank face even if the hadith mentioned is going against their basic knowledge and common sense. “How on earth can I question a hadith” is the dominant attitude. Uncritical conformity to the valuable hadith literature has inadvertently caused “humanization” of our Divine Religion. Human weaknesses and idiosyncrasies take the garb of religion. This has led to visible distortion in the image and message of Islam. Recently there is a trend to just print the English translation of the text of the Hadith; no references and no Arabic text. This is a real danger; can lead to gross misunderstanding and corruption. It is a very common practice to quote a hadith -  substance of the hadith in our own language — during a lecture or a discussion. This is regarded as the final verdict on the subject; cannot be questioned, cannot be discussed because “hadith may ayaa hai”; it is mentioned in hadith. This sort of respect is due for the Holy Quran and the Sunnah but not for hadith.The last needs many more details to asses it; it’s weight, the level of the source (marfoo’, mauqoof or maqtoo), the context, the audience, reason behind it, what are the other ahaadith on the subject, what is the reference, what is the background, what is the occasion for it. This analysis is needed even for a sahih of Bukhari. Hadith is NOT the Sunnah of the Prophet. But it is a major source to find the Sunnah. It has facts and details quite unrelated to our deen but very personal to our beloved Prophet. The Sahaabaas were simply enamored and captivated by the personality of their hero and superstar, the Messenger of Allah. No wonder they went out of their way to catch and record every moment, every move, every word and every action - religious or otherwise - of their idol. All this data has found it’s way into the hadith literature. Unfortunate but unanimously accepted is the fact that this literature has many spurious and fraudulent ahaadith. Imam Bukhari had to reject 995 ahaadith for every 5 that he accepted. Hence the science of Hadith has laid down several rules and directives to understand and follow ahaadith. Some of them are:

It should not contradict the Quran

It should not be against a heavier hadith

It should not challenge the common sense etc  

Let us be reminded that the Holy Prophet condemned a person to hell if he attributes a lie to him. We should therefore think twice before ascribing a statement to our Prophet. 

Let us browse the Hadith literature to find the answer: Can and should women pray in mosque?

“Abu Hurairah relates that the Prophet said: "Do not keep the slave girls of Allah (believing women) from going to the mosques of Allah. And they are to go out un-perfumed.”

“Ibn 'Umar reports that the Prophet said: "Do not prevent the women from going to the mosques, although their houses are better for them.” Related by Ahmad and Abu Dawud.

“Umm Humayd, the wife of Abu Humayd al-Saa‘idi reported that she came to the Prophet and said: "O Messenger of Allaah, I love to pray with you." He said: "I know that you love to pray with me, but praying in your house is better for you than praying in your courtyard, and praying in your courtyard is better for you than praying in the mosque of your people, and praying in the mosque of your people is better for you than praying in my mosque." So she ordered that a prayer-place be built for her in the furthest and darkest part of her house, and she always prayed there until she met Allaah (i.e., until she died). Reported by Imaam Ahmad; the men of its isnaad are thiqaat (trustworthy)).”

There are several authentic narrations in the Sunnah where it is recorded that the believing woman used to pray in congregation behind the Messenger of Allah (saws) in the mosques.

"A woman’s prayer in her house is better than her prayer in her courtyard, and her prayer in her bedroom is better than her prayer in her house." Reported by Abu Dawud in al-Sunan, no. 3833, indicating that whenever a woman prays in a place that is more private and more hidden, that is better for her.”

“From Abdullah ibn Umar, who said: "I heard the Messenger of Allaah say: “Do not prevent your women from going to the mosque if they ask your permission.” Bilaal ibn ‘Abdullah said, "By Allaah, we will prevent them." (Ibn ‘Umar) turned to him and told him off in an unprecedented fashion, saying: "I tell you what the Messenger of Allaah said, and you say ‘By Allaah, we will prevent them’!!" (reported by Muslim, 667).

A marfoo’ hadeeth of Umm Salamah: “The best places of prayer for women are the innermost parts of their houses.” Narrated by Ahmad in al-Musnad

The Messenger of Allaah  said: “Prayer in congregation is twenty-five times better than the prayer of one of you on his own.” Abu Hurayrah

To assess a hadith the other relevant directives of the Shari’ah on the same subject have to be taken into consideration. In this case, the literalists and salfees would like to add:

(1) She should wear complete hijaab.

(2) She should not go out wearing perfume.

(3) She should have the permission of her husband. Also:

Her going out should not involve any other kind of prohibited acts, such as being alone in a car with a non-mahram driver. If a woman does something wrong like that, her husband or guardian has the right to stop her; in fact it is his duty to do so. And Allaah knows best.

Some of the scholarly opinions I came across on this subject:

A woman's prayer in her house, even if it is offered alone, is better and brings a greater reward than her prayer in the mosque, even if it is offered in congregation. 

“As women are encouraged to go out to the mosque, they should be equal with men (in reward) because the fact that men are mentioned with regard to the reward for actions is does not mean that the reward is limited to them in sharee’ah.(Ibn Daqeeq al-‘Eid)

“With regard to the virtue of praying in congregation in the mosque, this is only for men, because they are the ones who are commanded to go out to it, except for the Eid prayer, the reward of which is multiplied for women too, because they are commanded to go out to it.”

Al-Haafiz Ibn Rajab said: “(The reward for) the prayer of a man offered in congregation is multiplied.” This indicates that the reward for a woman’s prayer offered in congregation is not multiplied, because her prayer in her house is better for her.” (Bukhari)

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:  “The multiplied reward which is attained by praying in congregation applies only to men, because they are the ones who are called to it in the sense of it being obligatory. Hence the wording of the hadeeth is: “(the reward) for a man praying in congregation is twenty-five times greater than (the reward) for his praying in his house or in the marketplace.” Based on this, women do not attain this reward; indeed the scholars differed with regard to whether it is prescribed for women to pray in congregation separately from the men in their houses or in schools. Some of them said that it is Sunnah for them to pray in congregation; others said that it is permissible for them to pray in congregation; and some said that it is makrooh for them to pray in congregation.”

“Let me begin by saying categorically, that Islam does NOT forbid women from going to the mosque. In fact, it was encouraged by the Prophet when he said, “‘Do not prevent the female servants of Allah from going to the mosque…” (Muslim, Abu Dawud).”

“Now, the most oft-quoted tradition supporting women praying at home states, “It is more excellent for a woman to pray in her house than in her courtyard, and more excellent for her to pray in her private chamber than in her house” (Abu Dawood, al-Tirmidhi). In context, this saying was related to the people after the Prophet had announced that men gain more reward when they pray in congregation at the mosque. Nonplussed by this announcement, a woman approached him and said, “but I’m at home with the kids and the housework. I can’t get to the mosque — that’s not very fair, is it?” The Prophet agreed, but explained it in terms of a woman’s responsibility in the private sphere: In context, the tradition is saying that while men get more reward by going to the mosque, women who have responsibilities at home get the same reward when they pray at home.” I think this an excellent example to demonstrate that knowing the background can can significantly alter the interpretation of a hadith. As I understand it now, Shari’ah acknowledges that a woman’s trip to the mosque may seriously hinder her obligations at home. Hence it has elevated her home as the best place for her prayers and promised her the same reward as for a man praying in jamaa’h in the mosque; yes including the extra 27 times.

What is the take for us, the PPK Muslims from this confusing data:

Women cannot and should not be stopped from praying in the mosque. Doing so can be regarded as bidah and in transgression of the commandment and guidance of the Messenger of Allah.

Acknowledging the the domestic responsibilities of Women, our Shari’ah has upgraded their home as the place for worship. They will get as much sawaab by praying solo at home as men get in the masjid by jamaa’h including the extra 27 times.

There is scholarly opinion to support that our beloved Prophet encouraged women to go to  the masjid. 

In the final analysis it is the choice of the woman to go or not to go to the masjid, depending on her duties and responsibilities at her home.

In the Western countries, it is entirely different ball game as most masaajid are Community Centers as well. 

And Allah knows best.

Michael Moore Plan to Stop Trump

Michael Moore Plan to Stop Trump

This article The Michael Moore Easy-to-Follow 10-Point Plan to Stop Trump  was referred to me by an active member of our social group. It is indeed well written and comprehensive in the typical Michael Moore style with a heavy dose of optimism and even a pinch of wishful thinking. The author wants us to work on these ten steps:

1. THE DAILY CALL to  Congress .

2. THE MONTHLY VISIT to your member of Congress in his local office.

3. YOUR OWN PERSONAL RAPID RESPONSE TEAM  made of  5 to 20 friends and family members.

4. JOIN! JOIN! JOIN!: To be part of a greater whole, let’s actually physically sign up online and JOIN some of our great national groups.

5. THE WOMEN’S MARCH MUST NEVER END.

6. TAKE OVER THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY

7. HELP FORM BLUE REGIONS OF RESISTANCE

8. YOU MUST RUN FOR OFFICE

9. YOU MUST BECOME THE MEDIA: Stop complaining about the media, stop wishing they were something they’re not

10. JOIN THE ARMY OF COMEDY: Trump’s Achilles heel is his massively thin skin. He can’t take mockery. So we all need to MOCK HIM UP!

Here is a note of dissent. If you embark on this program as “Easy to Follow”, you will be starting on the wrong foot. The plan needs real dedication. It requires time and energy, lots of it. The suggestions are trying to make you sort of a political activist. Certainly it is worth it. As a matter of fact it is the need of our time. We all will need lots of Good Luck in addition to our efforts.

The Quran and Shari’ah Advice on Orphans and Contracts For Muslims

The Quran and Shari’ah Advice on Orphans and Contracts
For Muslims

ABSTRACT

“And do not touch the substance of an orphan, save to improve it, before he comes of age. And be true to every promise - for, verily, [on Judgment Day] you will be called to account for every promise which you have made!

The ayah gives the ninth and tenth injunctions which deal with the financial rights; where as the earlier ones tackled with the physical rights.  As the ninth tenet, the ayah instructs us about our dealings with the orphans. This is a collective responsibility of the society as the order is given in the pleural (Sayyid Qutb). “I am the guardian of the one who has no guardian" declared our Noble Prophet. The ayah wants us to tackle the property of the orphan with utmost care and diligence with the only aim to protect and enhance it; the guardian, charged with the protection and management of orphan’s property is forbidden to take any personal advantage out of this duty. His responsibility lasts till he reaches “ashuddah” i.e he comes of age.

As the tenth injunction, we are then asked to be true to our promise and undertakings with the orphan. However it has a generic meaning here and is generally translated as “every promise". Mufti Mohammed Shafi therefore has included here all the types of Covenants and Contracts, between the servant and his Creator and between human beings themselves. This will include all forms of pacts and pledges between individuals or institutions, personal, financial, political. Javed Ahmed Ghamdi extends this concept of contracts a step further. He suggests that this in fact includes fulfillment of all our duties and responsibilities at all levels whether as a result of contracts, blood relations or any other association.

Lastly we are warned that we will be responsible and accountable on the final Day of Judgement for each and every promise and pledge that we have made in our lifetime anywhere and to anybody. Needless to say, accountability heralds the possibility of consequences. May Allah Ta’aala Subhanahoo save us from HIS retribution.

February 27, 2017

 Read ONLY,  IF AND WHEN you have time and mood for: 

 “An Ayah of the Quran for 30 Days” -- February 2017

Choose the section you have time, in the next 30 days to read this ayah:-

Prelude:                       Recurrent Primary Message          1st.          Page

Starting Dua, a note & The Ayah                                      2nd.        Page

A Short Summary:       For the Busy Bee                            None      Pages

The Main Story:           Recommended                                One         Page

Footnotes:                   For the Perfectionist                        One         Page

PRELUDE

From the Pen and Perspective of a self-styled PPK Muslim (Proud, Practicing, Knowledgeable) with a humble submission that Islam totally rejects Blind Following BUT vigorously focusses on the Limitations of Pure Human Reasoning..............and clearly and comprehensively AlLAH knows best.

In the beginning of the seventh century C.E., the folks of Mecca and Medina had a fascinatingly unique window: they had direct access to the Heavens through one of their own. They were blessed with a regular stream of Divine counseling and guidelines. Question and answer sessions were part of the program. Even individual questioner was graced by an answer. In the short Introduction to this scheme they were assured that at the end of this twenty-two year project, Divine Directions and Admonitions will continue through the agency of the PEN. The whole discourse has been preserved and archived till eternity under the guarantee of our Lord and Creator. This record in known as the Quran. 

It should sound unbelievable but factually appears to be true: Many of our prevalent, widespread and important concepts and opinions about religious matters do not have a basis in the Quran and sometimes even appear to be in obvious conflict with the teachings of the Quran. It would be very educative and helpful to discuss an Ayah once a month to see if it supports or rejects our views and actions in our daily life. I wish and hope this email generates a fruitful interactive discussion. 

DUAA’

بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ

In the name of Allah, we praise HIM, seek HIS help and ask for HIS forgiveness. Whosoever Allah guideth none can misguide; whosoever HE allows to fall astray, none can guide him right. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah alone and we bear witness that Mohammed, SAW is HIS slave-servant and the Seal of HIS Messengers. 

Further, we recall that Allah Ta’aala has declared in HIS Book¹

 “He granteth wisdom to whom He pleaseth; and he to whom wisdom is granted receiveth indeed a benefit overflowing; but none will grasp the Message (or remember or receive admonition) but men of understanding (or intellect)”

 and we also recollect that he has warned us about the day of judgement² 

“Then on that day you shall most certainly be questioned about the boons (joy, pleasure).” 

We realise, that there cannot be a greater boon or blessing or benefit than wisdom and we wonder if this should be a timely reminder to very many of us sincere and practicing Muslims who use our critical thinking to enhance the mundane for ourselves and our families but resort to compulsory following -- taqleed, doctrine of classical Sunni Islamic Fiqh  -- in matters religion. 

(NOTE:  I have filtered out the proofs and details into the Footnotes for those who have the time and interest for them. The main email will then be reasonable length, hopefully for the busy majority. What follows is not a sermon; I do not feel qualified to give one, anyhow. I wish, it may provide a food for thought. A caveat seems in order: If the ayah selected pertains to issues we face in our daily life with our family, friends, neighbours or peers it may affect us personally and lead to some self analysis and soul searching which in turn could be divisive and distressing. If taken in the right spirit, it can be a humble attempt towards finding the “straight path”.) 

THE AYAH

Surah Al Isra (No. 17), Ayah 34

وَلا تَقرَبوا مالَ اليَتيمِ إِلّا بِالَّتي هِيَ أَحسَنُ حَتّىٰ يَبلُغَ أَشُدَّهُ ۚ وَأَوفوا بِالعَهدِ ۖ إِنَّ العَهدَ كانَ مَسئولًا

“And do not touch the substance of an orphan, save to improve it, before he comes of age. And be true to every promise - for, verily, [on Judgment Day] you will be called to account for every promise which you have made!

A SHORT VERSION

None

THE MAIN STORY

“I am convinced about the veracity of my opinions, but I do consider it likely that they may turn out to be incorrect. Likewise, I am convinced about the incorrectness of the views different from mine, but I do concede the possibility that they may turn out to be correct.” — Imam Shafa’i

We are nearing the end of the “the ten commandments of the Quran” which we had started few sessions earlier. The ayah gives the ninth and tenth injunctions which deal with the financial rights; where as the earlier ones tackled with the physical rights.  As the ninth tenet, the ayah instructs us about our dealings with the orphans. This is a collective responsibility of the society as the order is given in the pleural (Sayyid Qutb). This subject has high priority in our Shari’ah; the Quran deals with the this subject on numerous occasions because they were unable to guard their own interests and rights; this is the place where the demand of Allah Ta’aala Subhanahoo takes over. Later this principle was extended to other folks in the same category — those unable to look after themselves. When the Islamic State came into existence, legal and administrative measures were adopted to implement these moral instructions. "I am the guardian of the one who has no guardian" declared our Noble Prophet. Some of the other ayahs on this subject:

“and do not touch the substance of an orphan - save to improve it - before he comes of age…………..”³         and 

“…….And they will ask thee about [how to deal with] orphans. Say: "To improve their condition is best." And if you share their life, [remember that] they are your brethren:1 for God distinguishes between him who spoils things and him who improves………….”⁴            

The ayah wants us to tackle the property of the orphan with utmost care and diligence with the only aim to protect and enhance it; the guardian, charged with the protection and management of orphan’s property is forbidden to take any personal advantage out of this duty. His responsibility lasts till he reaches “ashuddah” i.e he comes of age. In the mundane world the legal age varies from eighteen to twenty one years . However according to most jurists, special precaution is called for in this situation; it is not the chronological age but the maturity and judgement of the orphan under consideration. Hence the desired age can vary from eighteen to thirty years. 

As the tenth injunction, we are then asked to be true to our promise and undertakings with the orphan. The definite article “al” has been used here with “ahad” indicating “the promise” to the orphan. However it has a generic meaning here and is generally translated as “every promise". Mufti Mohammed Shafi therefore has included here all the types of Covenants and Contracts. First, between the servant and his Creator which has been made on two occasions: in the eternity by every human being before he becomes a “believer or non-believer” that Allah Ta’aala Subhanahoo is our Lord and Creator and again, when he takes the Shahadah and professes the Kalima. Second, refers to dealings between human beings themselves. This will include all forms of pacts and pledges between individuals or institutions, personal, financial, political. On the basis of loyalty to these pacts and pledges a righteous family, society and government will be ensured. Javed Ahmed Ghamdi extends this concept of contracts a step further. He suggests that this in fact includes  fulfillment of all our duties and responsibilities at all levels whether as a result of contracts, blood relations or any other association. In other words keeping up pledges is in fact tantamount to fulfilling everybody’s rights, overt or covert. Thus the rights of Allah and HIS Messenger, parents, wife and children,  relatives, family, neighbours, teacher and the taught, boss and his servant, and society and nation are all covered under this injunction. When the Islamic State was established, this became the guiding principle for the conduct of all internal; and external affairs by the Muslim Community and the Islamic Government” says Maulana Maudoodi. 

Lastly we are warned that we will be responsible and accountable on the final Day of Judgement for each and every promise and pledge that we have made in our lifetime anywhere and to anybody. Needless to say, accountability heralds the possibility of consequences. May Allah Ta’aala Subhanahoo save us from HIS retribution.

........and Allah knows best. 

May Allah Ta’aala bless us with true understanding--“fahm”--of our Deen, Aameen.

Dr. Khalid Mitha

FOOTNOTES

(1) Surah 2/269

يُؤتِي الحِكمَةَ مَن يَشاءُ ۚ وَمَن يُؤتَ الحِكمَةَ فَقَد أوتِيَ خَيرًا كَثيرًا ۗ وَما يَذَّكَّرُ إِلّا أُولُو الأَلبابِ

(2) Surah 102/8

ثُمَّ لَتُسأَلُنَّ يَومَئِذٍ عَنِ النَّعيمِ

(3) Surah 6/152 (part of ayah)

وَلا تَقرَبوا مالَ اليَتيمِ إِلّا بِالَّتي هِيَ أَحسَنُ حَتّىٰ يَبلُغَ أَشُدَّهُ

(4) Surah 2/220 (part of ayah)

فِي الدُّنيا وَالآخِرَةِ ۗ وَيَسأَلونَكَ عَنِ اليَتامىٰ ۖ قُل إِصلاحٌ لَهُم خَيرٌ ۖ وَإِن تُخالِطوهُم فَإِخوانُكُم ۚ وَاللَّهُ يَعلَمُ المُفسِدَ مِنَ المُصلِحِ ۚ

Islamophobia? Yes. What about the flip side, Christophobia: Yes? No?

Islamophobia? Yes. What about the flip side, Christophobia: Yes? No?

(N0te: I had started writing this piece much before the recent Executive orders on Immigrants)

I must start with expression of deep sympathy and pain for the innocent victims of “Islamophobia”. What follows is no attempt to minimize their humiliation and suffering. We all must do our bit to fight this evil. 

If a person is slapped because he is a Muslim, it needs to be condemned as Islamophobia. Two blocks down the road a person is kicked because he is Christian. Now what? Do they neutralize each other? No. Does one justify the other? Certainly not. But taken together the two incidents convey a sharp message. We have to change our orientation to look at this problem. Get out of this framework of “phobia”. Each side can tell the other emphatically “look who is talking”. Instead we have to plan, work and fight for Religious Tolerance and Understanding from both sides. 

We are very sensitive to possible phobia against Islam. But are we as sensitive to understand its teachings in this connection. Islam sets a very high bar for justice and equity in our problems with others and even with our enemies. Let me quote two very powerful ayahs of the Holy Text which illustrate the high standards of morality that Islam teaches to its followers:

يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنوا كونوا قَوّامينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَداءَ بِالقِسطِ ۖ وَلا يَجرِمَنَّكُم شَنَآنُ قَومٍ عَلىٰ أَلّا تَعدِلُوا ۚ اعدِلوا هُوَ أَقرَبُ لِلتَّقوىٰ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبيرٌ بِما تَعمَلونَ

“O YOU who have attained to faith! Be ever steadfast in your devotion to God, bearing witness to the truth in all equity; and never let hatred of anyone1 lead you into the sin of deviating from justice. Be just: this is closest to being God-conscious. And remain conscious of God: verily, God is aware of all that you do.” (Surah Al Mai’dah (no. 5) Ayah 8).

Please note that we are commanded to show justice even to those who are our enemies and we hate them!

يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنوا كونوا قَوّامينَ بِالقِسطِ شُهَداءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَو عَلىٰ أَنفُسِكُم أَوِ الوالِدَينِ وَالأَقرَبينَ ۚ إِن يَكُن غَنِيًّا أَو فَقيرًا فَاللَّهُ أَولىٰ بِهِما ۖ فَلا تَتَّبِعُوا الهَوىٰ أَن تَعدِلوا ۚ وَإِن تَلووا أَو تُعرِضوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كانَ بِما تَعمَلونَ خَبيرًا

“O YOU who have attained to faith! Be ever steadfast in upholding equity, bearing witness to the truth for the sake of God, even though it be against your own selves or your parents and kinsfolk. Whether the person concerned be rich or poor, God's claim takes precedence over [the claims of] either of them.1 Do not, then, follow your own desires, lest you swerve from justice: for if you distort [the truth], behold, God is indeed aware of all that you do!”  (Surah Al Nisa no. 4 Ayah 135).

Once again  please note the intensity of this injunction: uphold justice even if it goes against oneself, ones parents and relatives. 

If we are really concerned about the fear about and hate against our Deen, then we cannot and should not ignore these high principles of our Deen while claiming to protect it. We must attempt to see the other side of the story. On the other hand if the driving force is our antipathy and bias against “them”, then my views will sound senseless. 

While we are perfectly justified in complaining and protesting about Islamophobia, it is our Islamic duty to assess and find out how “Islam” is behaving in areas where it holds a majority. Taken together, we can achieve a sense of balance and treat the problem with justice and equity as demanded by our Deen. We must compare the extent and the manifestations of the “phobia” on both sides. How does ugly gestures, sarcastic remarks, pulling the scarf, spitting on the face and vandalizing a musjid compares with bombings and mass killing etc. 

The Growing List of Anti-Islam Incidents since ParisI quote here some statistics from both sides. 

 ThinkProgress has published an article on December 1, 2015 The Growing List Of Anti-Islam Incidents since Paris https://thinkprogress.org/the-growing-list-of-anti-islam-incidents-since-paris-ac243c55abde#.he8lruw9u  by Jack Jenkins, Celisa Calacal, and Adrienne Mahsa Varkiani. The list was last updated on October 28, 2016.

The opening statement says “The United States has seen an “unprecedented” spike in Islamophobia since the tragic terrorist attacks struck Paris, France on November 13, 2015, with Muslims all over the country falling victim to shootings, personal assaults, harassment, protests, and attacks on their houses of worship”.  Their list of hundred and eleven incidents is designed to track egregious instances of Islamophobia, focusing on violent attacks, threats, assaults, protests, firings, airport profiling cases, and instances of vandalism. They have not included the sharp rise in Islamophobic political rhetoric coming from Republican presidential candidates such as Donald Trump.

I have edited the very long list just to focus on the physical manifestations of the “Islamophobis” without trying to minimize the psychological trauma:

Al Noor was vandalized overnight with red spray paint. The culprits reportedly painted the word “TRUMP” on the outside of the mosque…………Police arrested a 20-year-old man for defacing a Muslim community center. The man reportedly covered the center in hateful messages, such as “Fuck Muslims,” “Fuck ISIS,” “Fuck Allah” and “Fuck Arabs.” He also allegedly scrawled the words “Donald Trump” on the walls……………..allegedly plotting to bomb a mosque -The men, who reportedly called themselves “the Crusaders,-”members of the group referred to Muslims as “cockroaches” and “fucking rag head bitches,” and one declared “the only good Muslim is a dead Muslim.” ………..The Islamic Center, was set on fire …………..A mosque in Rhode Island was vandalized……. A gunman opened fire on the Islamic Community of mosque early ;No one was injured, …………..The Islamic Center has been refused a security detail……posting threats online against a Mosque ………The Islamic Center outside Orlando was vandalized…… A woman in an SUV wearing a T-shirt with the word “Pride” threatened several people at the Islamic Association, telling them to get out of America and that someone was coming back to kill them……..The Islamic Association was desecrated overnight ……..The headquarters of the Islamic Society which also houses a mosque, was vandalized early Sunday morning. ……. TheIslam Center was burglarized, with security camera footage showing a white male breaking doors and windows before stealing computer equipment and causing an estimated $5,000 worth of damage………The Council on American-Islamic Relations reported a threatening Facebook comment ……………. Members of the Islamic Center repeatedly discovered alcohol bottles and other objects in the mosque’s parking lot,………….Common Council meeting to protest a proposed mosque in the region. ……residents actively protested the planned construction of a Muslim community center……………The Islamic Center was once again vandalized…………… Islamic Center defaced by red markings ……… A suspect was caught on camera vandalizing the Islamic Society ;using a machete to smash cameras, lights and windows………mosque was desecrated when someone reportedly wrapped bacon around the building’s door handles ………The Islamic Center fell victim to an apparent firebombing ;The source of the small blaze, which damaged the mosque door, appeared to be a molotov cocktail……..A fire erupted at the Mosque causing significant damage to the building while some 200 worshippers were inside. People were eventually able to escape the blaze………. The Islamic Center was vandalized over a weekend, with graffiti scrawled on the back of the building………..Two windows of the Islamic Cultural Center were shattered by vandals…….A fire broke out at the Islamic Society which officials are investigating as an arson and which mosque officials called a firebombing. No one was injured in the blaze………….— The words “hunt camp?” were spray-painted across the Islamic Center ……. A Sikh Gurdwara, or temple, was spray painted…………..A severed pig’s head was thrown at the door Al-Aqsa Islamic Society. ……….The mosque reported receiving a threatening voicemail from a man claiming to be with the “Jewish Defense League,” saying “We are checking if one Jew has been killed in California. You all will be sorry. You all will be killed.”………….notorious anti-Muslim activist Jon Ritzheimer reportedly posted a video of himself cocking a gun and threatening to go tell them to “go [expletive themselves] themselves,” while also encouraging all Americans to “carry a long rifle” everywhere they go……… A Kentucky mosque reportedly received a death threat via email…………… A group of armed protestors in military fatigues protested outside a mosque, holding Ted Cruz signs and placards that read “Stop the Islamization of America.”…………… A letter sent to a local mosque reportedly included a cartoon depiction of Muhammad — an action offensive to many Muslims — along with the instruction “Convert To Christianity Before It’s Too Late!!!” A man was charged with making a terrorist threat after posting a message with the phrase ”I’m going to shoot up a mosque” ………….Vandals reportedly spray-painted a picture ………..man left a voicemail on the answering machine of a local mosque that threatened to “come down” and “firebomb you and shoot whoever is there in the head.”A man wearing Muslim attire was inexplicably punched in the throat by a stranger while walking to the metro station………… A woman in Brooklyn was set on fire while window shopping, she first felt heat on her arm, noticed her shirt was on fire………… A woman attacked two Muslim women, tried to pull off the women’s hijabs……… A Muslim woman in Virginia claims that she was fired from her job because of her refusal to remove her hijab at work……….A Muslim man was attacked and beaten outside the Fort Pierce Islamic Center ….. A year ago on Independence Day, a Muslim woman was kicked and strip-searched by police officers during her commute home. …….A Muslim woman in D.C. was verbally and physically assaulted………….A Muslim couple was removed from a Delta Airlines flight from Paris to Cincinnati, Ohio, reportedly for saying “God” in Arabic. 

Few examples of the other side of the coin: Christophobia:

Recently I came across two short write-ups in the Economist of August 20, 2016 about Christians in the Arab world. As per the first one “Crimes and no punishment; Violence is only one of the problems faced by Christians in Egypt”. http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21705365-violence-only-one-problems-faced-christians-egypt-crimes-and-no. the Coptic Christians make up between 5% and 15% of the population in Egypt. Recently a shop-owner Ashraf, a Coptic Christian and a resident of Karam village in Minya, could not pay the dues to his Muslim suppliers resulting in an argument over money. A  rumour was started that Ashraf was having an affair with a Muslim woman. In May a group of enraged Muslim men burned down his house along with several other homes owned by Christians. Ashraf’s elderly mother was stripped naked and dragged around the village. Unbelievable, I feel. Tensions are rising between Egypt’s two largest religious communities. The head of the Coptic church, Pope Tawadros says attacks against Christians occur about once a month. At least ten incidents this year have resulted in discord, death and destruction. Three years ago protesting supporters of Muhammad Morsi were violently dispersed by the government. In response, they burned dozens of churches. Bishop Makarios, the church’s leader in Minya claims that Christians still face discrimination in the job market and are under-represented in government. He maintains that the authorities often treat them like second-class citizens. It is, for example, exceedingly hard to get the state to recognise conversions to Christianity from Islam. A teacher in Minya filmed his students mocking the jihadists of Islamic State. He was convicted in court of blasphemy and sentenced to three years in prison. Four other teenage students received sentences of up to five years in prison. An attempt to build a new church usually ends up in sectarian violence. Permits for building a new church is extremely difficult to obtain.

In the second article Under the Gun http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21705366-archbishop-laments-his-flocks-flight-under-gun  an archbishop laments his flock’s flight. Nicodemus Daoud Sharaf, archbishop of Mosul’s Syriac Orthodox church,  has been chased out of one

of Christianity’s oldest dioceses. Most of his congregation fled when the city was conquered by the

jihadists of Islamic State (IS) in July 2014; now he ministers to what is left of it in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdish region Since then, he says, 32 churches in Mosul and in the surrounding plain of Nineveh have been burnt or put to other uses. His cathedral is now a mosque dedicated to jihad. “For the first time in the history of Christianity, there are no Christians praying in Mosul,” he adds, weeping. “Even under the Mongol hordes and Hulagu Khan [in the 13th century] it wasn’t so bad.  He adds that When Iraq became independent in 1932, Christians made up 12% of its people. By the time Saddam Hussein was ousted in 2003, they had fallen to 6%. Since America’s invasion, two-thirds of Iraq’s remaining 1.5m Christians have left. The full article discusses some more problems of Christians in Iraq. 

Another article in Economist of November 19, 2016 Tolerance on Trial http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21710290-accusation-blasphemy-upends-election-campaign-tolerance-trial describes religious bias in Indonesian politics when an accusation of blasphemy may destroy an entire election campaign. The campaign is set for election of Jakarta’s next governor on February 15th as “a showcase of Indonesia’s vibrant democracy”. The incumbent and front-runner is Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, known as Ahok, a Christian. In a speech to fishermen in late September “Ahok appeared to suggest that any attempt to dissuade Muslims from voting for him by citing a verse in the Koran that warns Muslims against taking Christians and Jews as allies was deceitful. He has apologised for his comments, insisting—not unreasonably—that he was criticising not the verse itself, but the use to which it was being put”. Muslim protest groups, however, accused him of denigrating the word of God. They stirred up outrage through social media and filed complaints with the police. The Islamic Defenders Front, or FPI, a Muslim vigilante outfit, organised an unusually large protest—of more than 100,000 people—in Jakarta on November 4th. Many carried placards calling for the governor to be jailed, or worse. On November 16th police investigating complaints of blasphemy said they were formally declaring him a suspect. The most recent opinion polls suggest that his lead in the race for governor may be slipping. Admittedly the fuss  is not all, or even mostly, about religion. Dirty politics has crept in. However Indonesia’s blasphemy law, as in Pakistan  is vague and confusing allowing courts to punish words or actions deemed “hostile” to religion by up to five years in prison. Andreas Harsono of Human Rights Watch reckons it is “very likely” that Ahok would be found guilty, based on precedent. In the dozens of blasphemy cases to go to trial since 2004 the defendant has always been convicted.

An additional news in the Economist of December 17th 2016 A massacre of Coptic Christians;

Egypt is hit by terror attacks is also relevant. http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21711734-terrorism-egypt-compounds-presidents-problems-egypt-hit-terror   The article mainly discusses the increasingly volatile situation in Egypt despite the draconian laws and a crackdown on dissent by Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, Egypt’s president and self proclaimed protector. The violence against the government is extended to Christians also. A bomb tore through Cairo’s Coptic cathedral during Sunday mass, killing at least 25 worshippers, mostly women and children. The interior ministry say exiled Brotherhood leaders directed it, sending the bomber to train with jihadists linked to IS in the northern part of the Sinai peninsula. Whereas, after claiming the Coptic bombing, IS vowed to continue its “war against apostates”. Egypt’s Christian Copts, who make up about 10% of the country’s population, are a common target. They have long faced persecution by the Muslim majority asserts the article.

Judge for yourself. Should we just protest about “Islamophobia” or recognise the other side of the coin and call for religious tolerance on both sides?