بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
News & Comment
The Attack of Muslim Women Continues
News
This week, Muslim women featured once again in British newspapers, with the Guardian sporting the headline “British Muslim women don't need male chaperones - this isn't 7th century Arabia”. This was in response to the post of the Blackburn Muslim Association, which in response to a question from one of their readers, deemed it “not permissible” for Muslim women to travel more than 48 miles - deemed to be equivalent to three days walk - without her husband or a male relative.
Many have been quick to condemn the advice. Justine Greening, the International Development Secretary, called it “disgraceful” and continued to say, “It has no place in Britain and is contrary to our British values and I think the Blackburn Muslim Association should very clearly and publicly withdraw those comments.’
While Dr Sheik Howjat Ramzy, a prominent adviser to the Muslim Council, says, the guidance isn’t just “medieval”, it's downright “offensive.”
Comment
Muslims in the UK ought now to be used to the continual attacks against those who practice their Deen. Despite travel being a private action that does not apply to any non-Muslims, such a practice is deemed as unacceptable and extreme, and all notions of individual freedom are suddenly not applicable. Once again the token rationale of not conforming to the strangely indefinable “British values” is used to insinuate that regulations of how Muslim women choose to travel are an obstacle to cohesion and participation in the wider community.
However, it is the vindication of the Muslim community in this manner, such that every opinion and action is under scrutiny that is the true hindrance to community cohesion. The media and politicians have created such an atmosphere of fear and intolerance, that the Muslim community is viewed as the “other” preventing genuine engagement and the clarification of misconceptions.
The government has also enlisted certain Muslim individuals to validate their criticism of the Deen, in an attempt to “divide and conquer” the Muslim community.
Whilst those that adhere to Islam are attacked and labelled, those that choose to support the predominant narrative despite having to compromise are rewarded and lauded.
This is to be an expected trial of those who uphold Allah’s (swt) words as Truth as He (swt) says in Surah Al Ankabout verses 2-3:
(أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَنْ يُتْرَكُوا أَنْ يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لاَ يُفْتَنُونَ * وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْكَاذِبِينَ)
“Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: "We believe," and will not be tested? And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make known the truth of those who are true, and will certainly make known the falsehood of those who are liars.”
The outlook for Muslims in the West is bleak, with attacks on Muslims individually and in the media daily. But it is in remembrance of this ayah that the Muslim community must persevere against the plans of the enemies of Islam in order to be successful.
Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Aisha Hasan