Verily, Allâh enjoins Justice and Correctness, and helping kith and kin and forbids lewd acts and all kinds of evil deed and oppression. He admonishes you so that you may take heed. (An-Nahl: 90)

Recent Arrests in the UK

The high profile raids and arrests that have recently taken place come only a week after figures showed that 32,000 'stop and search' incidents, mainly targetting the Muslim community, had taken place last year. Most of these produced no formal arrests, no prosecutions, and no convictions. However, the media frenzy this time has been no different. Immediately following the arrests, the detainees were effectively labelled as guilty of terrorism, or of being disloyal, or disgruntled fanatics. Portions of the general public, including some Muslims, have taken as blind truth what the papers, who regularly spin untruths, have said about those arrested. The fear, intimidation, and anxiety our community feels is all too clear to see. This is part of a campaign which has been instigated against the community. However, our response should be in a manner that is rooted in the Islamic way of life.

At the end of all of this, we may find there has been some wrong doing on the part of certain individuals. However, as Muslims have
we lost our sense of justice, and the principles that Islam teaches us? Have we started pointing the finger at others without any proper proof and protocol? Accusing someone in Islam, without conclusive proof, is a serious wrong doing, and we must not simply adopt such vices just because they are prevalent in the societies we are living in. We may feel oppressed, bullied, and weary of having to apologise at every moment for things we haven't done, but this should not lead us to react in a way which contradicts our beliefs.

Being suspicious of Muslims, driving them out from mosques, spying on them, and slandering them, are not the way of Islam. Moreover, apologising needlessly and grovelling humiliatingly will only cause someone who is intimidated to be further bullied. At the same time, to react to this situation in an emotional, violent or reactionary way also contradicts Islam. Thus we must show, as a community, the best attributes, in all the relationships we have. It needs to be exhibited in a way that will serve as an example for the wider community. As Allah (SWT) says in the Qur'an:

"O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even though it be against your ownselves, your parents, or
your near relatives, be he rich or poor; Allah is nearer to them both in compassion. So do not follow (your) low desires, lest you may avoid justice; and if you swerve or turn aside, then verily Allah is well aware of what you do."

The way of the Muslims must be dignified. We should not humiliate ourselves, nor attack others; but adhere to Islamic principles at
all times. We should advise our brothers who may do wrong, in whatever matter, by abiding by the Shari'ah, and explain these principles to the wider society.

Maybe then Allah will save us all from propaganda, gossip and lies.