Pop Culture in the Name of Islam

Sirusits well known what circles she rides in, ahemm...wobblers....ahhem, so its nothing less of what i expect from her

comeon. No need to use such terms.

Admin

Sirusits well known what circles she rides in, ahemm...wobblers....ahhem, so its nothing less of what i expect from her

comeon. No need to use such terms.

what term? 🙂

parts that infuriated me...

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

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

Apparently Sami also said one of the selling points of Brand UK was having Muslims in the Metropolitan Police Force! Astafur'Allah! Dude, these are the same cops who have a shoot-to-kill policy and would have gunned down a Muslim last year if they could tell the difference between a Bangladeshi and a Brazilian. This is the same police force that has raided more than 3000 Muslim homes in Britain since 9/11. What sort of life is there on Planet Sami, I wonder? If he is so proud to be British, why is he living in the great Middle Eastern democracy of Egypt?

Apparently the sort of hysteria Sami helped encourage is also in America, and if it is happening on both sides of the Atlantic, then it must be creeping around the globe and poisoning the masses. Islamic boy bands like 786 and Mecca 2 Medina are also the subject of the sort of female adulation you expect to see on American Pop Idol or the X-Factor. Surely Islamic events should be promoting restrained and more sedate behavior.

Sirusvery well put^^

MuslimSisLilSisu tell em Islam ONLINE 8)

Muhammad Al-Mukhtar Al-Shinqiti, Director of the Islamic Center of South Plains, Lubbock, Texas - the brother who wrote that answer for islam online. with all due respect, i don't think he's qualified to be making fatwas. he isn't an 'Aalim let alone a Mufti. and its all well and good saying the arguments and evidence against the use of music are weak, but then where is his evidence to back his argument?

SirusMs Ridley also needs to control her anger, have you seen the words she uses? calls peoples fools, idiots, dogs, etc - so much hate, and allegedly a muslim voice, surely isnt good

agreed.

MuslimSisLilSisshe acts like an HT teenager

the only reason she gets away with it cos she's a convert

:shock: thats not a very nice thing to say. 🙁

Sirusshes great if you want to jump up and blow something up!!

that's ridiculous, how on earth you extrapolated that is beyond me. :?

i dunno, i've met yvonne ridley twice, and she seemed nothing like how you guys describe her. i feel most of her sentiments are justified (such as those expressed in the article about jack straw) but calling people dogs is going a bit far (if that is indeed the case). i suppose both times i met her was when she was still a 'new' convert, it isn't unlikely that she has changed since then, looks like its time for me to meet Ms. Ridley for a third time and see what she's really about. 😉

*DUST*
shock: thats not a very nice thing to say. 🙁

and what yvonne says is? lol

Sirusand what yvonne says is? lol

tit for tat? :?

What we are forgetting is that there is a point in her article.

You may or may not agree with how she articulated it, but if there is no diference between an 'Islamic Nasheed concert' and a modern music festival, then there is an issue that needs to be addressed.

I have not been to any nasheed concert, so I do not know how it really is, but if the crowd is being egged on to rave, its not a good thing.

AdminWhat we are forgetting is that there is a point in her article.

You may or may not agree with how she articulated it, but if there is no diference between an 'Islamic Nasheed concert' and a modern music festival, then there is an issue that needs to be addressed.

I have not been to any nasheed concert, so I do not know how it really is, but if the crowd is being egged on to rave, its not a good thing.

she had 1 valid point, but used that to make 1001 made up exxaggerated from her own viewes points

i been to nasheed concert, probably my 1st as a concert rather than appearences by artists, and i agree'd on the stupidity of the girls who scream and act like groupies

The way she expressed her views were tactless, and offensive to some. However that's no excuse for the schoolboy malicious comments some of the members have been making about her here. You're going way too far simply because you disagree with her, and like the nasheed artists in question. End of the day regardless of what she said she's still your sister in deen, such comments are kind of disgusting, and seem way out of proportion. Clearly some of the members disliked her prior to the article and this has just fired them up further. Comments like " she's great if you want to jump up and blow something up" aren't justified just coz of her article.

Maybe you should ask her for an interview for your magazine you could get some clarification, and question her on some other issues too.

yashmakiThe way she expressed her views were tactless, and offensive to some. However that's no excuse for the schoolboy malicious comments some of the members have been making about her here. You're going way too far simply because you disagree with her, and like the nasheed artists in question. End of the day regardless of what she said she's still your sister in deen, such comments are kind of disgusting, and seem way out of proportion. Clearly some of the members disliked her prior to the article and this has just fired them up further. Comments like " she's great if you want to jump up and blow something up" aren't justified just coz of her article.

Maybe you should ask her for an interview for your magazine you could get some clarification, and question her on some other issues too.

lol, we have actually interviewed her

but these are my veiws, nowt to do with the mag

and despite what you think, i had no opinion of her before as i had not really seen or read much of her stuff. i've read two articles and that made my mind up pretty easily.

Yes, she's my sister in islam and i said some harsh stuff.....but her, in the public eye, said some very degrading stuff about her brother sami.

anyhow, before im provoked to say more, i'll stop with this discussion

Is she the one who accuses Muslims of abusing their children?
Sami Yusufs tracks are the only religious songs I listen to. If she doesnt like his music she should show him how to be a better performer.

people, here's a fair refutation of yvonne ridley's article from another forum. i thought i'd post it up here because i did not totally agree with what she said either, but i was also quite shocked by some of the comments people came out with on this thread - that wasn't refuting an argument, it was attacking a person, and the latter does not get us anywhere.

anyway:

I usually have a lot of time for Sister Yvonne, but I'm afraid I find this article uninformed, rash, and incredibly irresponsible. If she were writing only about Nasheeds, concerts, and sisters; then I might have been okay with it. But in her article; she rather skillfully links the concerts, sisters jumping around to Sami, the oppression that muslims are facing around the world, and how muslims are too busy screaming for Sami than complaining about President Niyazov of Uzbekistan.

I can perhaps understand where she's coming from, and sisters in their "20s, 30s and 40s" should know better - if indeed they were really involved. But were they? I was at both events, London and Birmingham, infact in Bham, was on all levels - I did notice sisters in their teens, probably upto their late teens doing all that, but after that? Yvonne talks about the london event... it was no different to the bham event, but louder, due to the numbers royal albert held. but i didnt see women in 30/40s jumping and jiving around!! and i had gallery view!

The language she uses in the article is also designed to provoke, and it's not warranted - at least not in the way she's articulating. Lap dancing circles? Such a metaphor is completely uncalled for, especially given how the event was all muslim barr Mike O'Brien, the MP who spoke on stage. Is she really suggesting that the event was anything like a lap dancing club? Even remotely?

Her rather shameful usage of 'Rivers of Blood' flowing from the veins of our brothers is also shocking. This was a phrase used by Enoch Powell in the 1960s to create hatred of ALL immigrants, not just muslims; and yet here she is using that very same phrase in the context of just muslim. Such a statement can only have one purpose - to stir up hate! As a consequence, I think that this is an incredible misuse of not only language, but also of her position. She needs to be more responsible than this.

Now, onto the proud to be British thing - I don't see the problem. One can be proud to be British, yet ashamed of the acts committed in its name. It is interesting how she has ignored the fact that Sami did ask everyone if they were proud to be muslim also - at Symphony Hall, Bham, that got an infinitely louder cry than the first one. She also goes back to British colonialism as a reason to hate Britain. Firstly, the people involved in 17th to 20th century British colonialism are dead! Are the sins of the father really to be bestowed upon the son? Secondly, is it possible to hate Britain?

Britain is an island nation - it's an abstract, not an individual; and you can't hate an abstract. We hate the people who are oppressing muslims yes, but you can't hate a nation - It's just not possible. You can hate a nation of people, yes, but that would be uncalled for too given how opposition to Iraq went far beyong just muslims.

I was at some of the anti-war demos, and muslims were hopelessly outnumbered by white Christians. Sister Yvonne's article therefore evokes images of a clash of civilisations where there is none. We were all born here, we've been educated here, we live here, and most of us will probably die here. We are therefore just as British as the white/brown/yellow, etc. people who opposed the war, and even as those who supported it. We have to work together, not against each other as the atrocities she highlights being committed are crimes not only against muslims, but against the whole of humankind!

She asks the question about whether we would stand on our chairs and express rage over Guantanamo and other Gulags - well, we do! But not everything has to be displayed publicly for it to be true. You only need look at the global reaction when Jyllands Posten published those cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Muslims are raging and are expressing it loudly - but this doesn't seem enough for Sr Yvonne. She seems to want the Ummah to make its rage public after every act that is done against it. This is not only unrealistic, but it is also dangerous.

She also seems to ignore the fact that we are not an Ummah at the moment - insha'allah, we will be again - but we're not now. We are not a superpower, and so we must learn to live as an oppressed people again. That doesn't mean to be submissive - just more clever.

So back to the concerts. How much money does she think we would have raised had we depressed our audience by playing Jihadi Nasheeds? How many people would we have been able to help if we had done what the sister is doing, and just complained about what the world is doing to us? We worked hard, we entertained, and alhamdulillah, we were pledged £347,000. IR will now, insha'allah, use that money to help muslim children around the world.

The sister does of course have every right to be concerned and I would never switch her off for expressing an opinion. But I would have to disagree with her, and say that in this case at least, much of her position is very wrong.

At a time when muslim brothers and sisters in Palestine are being choked to within an inch of their lives, we must do what we can to help them and others (within limits obviously). George Galloway once addressed Arab leaders and told them that two of their most beautiful daughters (Baghdad and Jerusalem) were being raped, whilst they did nothing. Sister Yvonne uses similar language in her final paragraph, except that she directs it at muslims on the street.

OK so we scream, we shout, we curse, we cry! What would we achieve? This way, we have people thinking about Islam, we foster community, we raise awareness of poverty around the world, and we raise money to help them. As long as we make resources available to aid higher Islamic knowledge, then there's no problem (in my humble opinion).

Sister Yvonne does not give muslims enough credit. We are acutely aware of what is being done to us around the world. But unlike her, most of us don't need to scream it from the rooftops. Yet we are angry. And we are still muslims!

also for those of you who are interested, Mecca2Medina penned some lyrics in reply to her claim of them being a boyband - i couldn't find the lyrics of the song ('Not a Boyband') but they should be available on the net soon enuf...

*DUST*people, here's a fair refutation of yvonne ridley's article from another forum. i thought i'd post it up here because i did not totally agree with what she said either, but i was also quite shocked by some of the comments people came out with on this thread - that wasn't refuting an argument, it was attacking a person, and the latter does not get us anywhere.

..

Agreed.

But sadly its only inevitable that people who insult or personally attack others are highly likely to be personally attacked in retaliation themselves.

To personally attack fellow Muslim Muslim brothers in sisters in public is a huge thing...I've listended to a few talks of hers in London and read a lot of her articles, she does insult other Muslims in public and at times she has been totally wrong in her accusations.

Pop Star Bashing Gets Blessings and Bombs
YVONNE RIDLEY
Friday, May 26, 2006

MY e-mail inbox has been overflowing these past few weeks on a subject that seems to have gripped the Muslim world since I gave it an airing in this newspaper.
Muslims Weekly is published in New York, but its readers are around the world. I've had to switch off my cell phone and no longer answer my landline because of the volume of calls. From Melbourne to Medina, from Baghdad to Birmingham, from Fallujah to Florida, and from every major town and city where Muslims reside, I've been inundated. There's even a rap song doing the rounds, and blogs are emerging throughout the Internet on the subject. Last week I was in Qatar, and I was asked about it; and then on the weekend I went to Copenhagen in Denmark for an international conference, and it was a topic of conversation with several circles. Even an imam I met from Norway's northern city Tromso (known as "the Land of the Midnight Sun" because it is north of the Arctic Circle) had read the column.

In my 30 years of journalism, I haven't had this volume of reaction to anything I have ever written before. What made this international response even more rewarding was the fact that 98 per cent of all writers, callers, and message-droppers were in support of, or largely approved of, what I had written. The subject that riled so many was about the pop culture that I believe is growing around some so-called Nasheed artists. Of course, I used the term ‘Nasheed artists' very lightly and opted for the terms "Islamic boy bands" and "Muslim popsters" instead. I called the group Mecca2Medina a "boy band," and --boy, oh boy!-- were they rattled! The boys --oops, sorry-- the guys have now produced a rap song rapping me and insisting that they "ain't no boy band." Point taken. For the record, they are an Islamic Hip Hop and Ragga Band; I checked out their website and am still being counseled from the experience.

The pop culture article sparked a debate across the globe about music and Islam and what is haram. I mentioned that many eminent scholars throughout history had declared that music is haram, and for that I was called a "burnt-out Salafi" by one enraged individual.

My editor expects me, as a columnist, to be provocative and produce thoughtful articles; otherwise, readers would simply switch off and read something else. The article stimulated a debate across the Ummah, and that can't be bad. The article was never meant to demonize singer Sami Yusuf, who does have a beautiful voice, mash'Allah. But he was asking for it when he urged his audience to cheer loudly if they were proud to be British. As I pointed out, Britain is the third most hated country in the world. The Union Jack is drenched in the blood of our brothers and sisters across Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine. Our history is steeped in the blood of colonialism, rooted in slavery, brutality, torture, and oppression. And we haven't had a decent game of soccer since we lifted the World Cup in 1966. (With a bit of luck, that last point might change as the World Cup in Germany is fast approaching).

I asked why Sami was so proud to be British -not an unreasonable question, I thought. Someone wrote and told me that he is actually an Azeri and not born in Britain. Yet he does describe himself on his website as a British singer, and his Wikpedia entry is rather vague. He does dwell in that great Middle Eastern democracy of Egypt where he'd end up singing like a boy soprano if he freely expressed any sort of opinion against the regime there.

The debate is still raging, and scholars are now becoming embroiled in this one. I feel that, it spite of fatwas, the issue will continue unresolved. I do hope that management companies across the West think twice before trying to turn Nasheed concerts into pop events or turn their singers into pop idols. I am not a scholar, and I doubt I ever will be one, and, as a Muslim, I'm barely three years old, but one of the first things I learned is that we idolize or worship none but Allah (swt).

I am truly grateful for the stimulating debate and the genuine interest shown in the pros and cons of the growing pop culture around nasheed artists; however, I would have been much happier if I had had a similar response when I first told the world, in this column, of the atrocities going on in Abu Ghraib, or the scandal of the Ghost Detainees, or the use of chemical weapons and war crimes being carried out in Fallujah. Perhaps it is a sad indictment or even a true reflection on the state of the Ummah that we get so steamed up about boy bands, hip hop ragga-whatevers, music in Islam, etc., when there's so much more to make us angry instead.
www.DailyMuslims.com
The Link of this article is: DailyMuslims

should i bother responding with my thoughts?

YashEnd of the day regardless of what she said she's still your sister in deen, such comments are kind of disgusting, and seem way out of proportion

YvonneI called the group Mecca2Medina a "boy band," and --boy, oh boy!-- were they rattled! The boys --oops, sorry-- the guys have now produced a rap song rapping me and insisting that they "ain't no boy band." Point taken. For the record, they are an Islamic Hip Hop and Ragga Band; I checked out their website and am still being counseled from the experience.

Stinks of double standards....'dont attack a bro/sis in islam' :roll:

My editor expects me, as a columnist, to be provocative and produce thoughtful articles; otherwise, readers would simply switch off and read something else. The article stimulated a debate across the Ummah, and that can't be bad.

I remember someone saying, Sami does the music to make money? Well, she writes just to sell now ryt? making up some jibberiish so her career doesnt dissapear?

The article was never meant to demonize singer Sami Yusuf

My foot :roll:

Open Letter
From Sami Yusuf to Yvonne Riddley

17/06/06

Dear Yvonne,

Peace and blessings of God be upon you.

Your recent article on ‘Pop Culture in the Name of Islam’ has been brought to my attention. I commend you for voicing your opinion and raising some very important issues – albeit in a very provocative manner. I thought it would be useful to share some of my thoughts with you on this matter.

As a Muslim artist, I regularly seek clarification and advice from world-renowned scholars on art, music, singing and culture. Be informed that the subject of music is one of the most controversial topics in Islamic Jurisprudence. I respect those who consider music to be haram. Yes eminent scholars of our past have opined such. However, I respect and follow the opinion of other eminent scholars – classical and contemporary, who permit singing and the use of musical instruments. The well-established jurisprudential rule states that ‘in matters where there is ikhtilaf (differences of opinion) there is to be no condemnation of either opinion.’ This is from the beauty of the religion of Islam. The diversity of our cultural, legal and social traditions is something we are in dire need of celebrating not condemning. So let’s agree to disagree on this one.

The obsessive fascination of fans towards any celebrity - be it in arts, music, politics, media, etc - to the point of hysteria and hero-worshipping is definitely unhealthy not to mention un-Islamic. Of course, as Muslims, we are required to abide by certain etiquettes in whatever situation we may find ourselves in. However, I definitely did not see girls dancing or behaving indecently in any of my concerts. To state otherwise is a gross exaggeration if not an outright fallacy. And if indeed that did take place then let’s deal with it in the true Prophetic tradition - a tradition that imparts love, mercy, tolerance and wisdom. Let me share with you the story of the Bedouin who came to the Prophet’s mosque and started urinating in the mosque itself. The Companions rushed to grab him and give him a ‘good beating.’ But the Prophet did not allow them to do so and told them to let him be. After the Bedouin had urinated, the Prophet asked his Companions to bring a bucket of water and wash the place. Afterwards he called the man and with gentleness and affection explained to him that this was a place of worship and that it should be kept clean. Though I have to say that had the Bedouin been around today he would be lucky to get away with just a ‘good beating’!

Indeed the state of contemporary mainstream music is one dominated by celebrity worship, materialism and the constant promotion of a consumerist culture that seeks only to derive instant emotional and physical gratification. The arts industry in general – and the music industry specifically – is being commercialised at the expense of art itself. We don’t value good art or good music anymore – it’s about what can sell most in the market. In the midst of all this, it is upon all conscious and responsible artists who look beyond the commercial to work in refining arts and music. Apart from entertaining audiences, music is a powerful medium to communicate values and social messages. In these times where heinous crimes against humanity are being committed, we as artists – Muslims or non-Muslims, British or non-British – have a duty to use this medium to bring some sanity to this world of unrest, fear, violence, terror and war. Human life and dignity are values that should be cherished and championed by all. Had you listened carefully to the songs in my latest album which is actually entitled ‘My Ummah’ before hastily passing judgements, you would have noticed my modest attempt at addressing issues facing the global Muslim community – such as regaining our lost legacy in all spheres of human life, oppression in different parts of the Muslim world, Aids, landmines, poverty and freedom to wear the hijab.

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

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

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

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

You are critical of my mention that the Metropolitan Police is inclusive of Muslims. By God, who are you depending on to protect and safeguard our streets? Yes, there is no doubt that the Metropolitan Police have committed a series of grave mistakes and blunders – the recent Forest Gate incident is one such example and the Police must be held fully accountable for their actions. But we as Britons and Muslims have a religious and civic obligation to help maintain a safe and secure Britain. This actually raises serious questions about the participation of British Muslims not just in the Metropolitan Police but in mainstream civil society. We have three options as a community: [1] To assimilate and lose our cultural, ethnic and even religious roots. [2] To ghettoise and divorce ourselves from society and face extermination. [3] To positively integrate and contribute to society whilst remaining loyal to both faith and country. I – like the vast majority Muslims – have chosen option three. We need to build trust and partnerships with civil institutions and engage with them. This path entails that we be active members in our communities and societies; that we participate at all levels of society from politics to sports, from academia to arts, from business to media; that we reserve and exercise the right of dissent and criticism; that we join our fellow citizens in building a safe, peaceful, tolerant and pluralistic society that embodies the values of freedom and justice. Thus I commend you for standing in the last European Elections, General Elections and the recent Council Elections as a candidate in order to get your views heard, to make an impact, and to represent British people – although I hope you have better luck next time. Positive engagement – not anarchist ranting -– is the path we must tread.

It is true that the state of the global Muslim community is saddening but are we meant to live in perpetual grieving and lamenting and dress in black? Despite all the oppression and persecution suffered by the Prophet, he would always find time to celebrate the different joyful moments in life such as marriages, births, Eids and other happy occasions. He, peace and blessings of God be upon him, also found time to enjoy poetry and even had appointed a personal poet – the notable companion Hassan ibn Thabit.

Maintaining balance and adopting the middle way is the key in these troubled times of ours. Extremism and extremists have no place in Islam and in our civil societies. “Perished are the extremists” is a famous Prophetic tradition. Extremism is not a problem unique to Islam. Every religion, every way of life, every ideology has its puritans and those willing to distort and misinterpret it to meet their own agenda. And these are no different to those that commit acts of terror, who preach extremism, and who sow seeds of hatred in the name if Islam. There is no denying that Muslims in places like Palestine, Iraq, Kashmir and Chechnya are facing oppression and tragedy every day, and both the Muslim world and the West need to come together to solve these problems in the greater interest of humanity. Western governments in particular must understand that to help the majority of Muslims defeat the minority of extremists, they must assist us in eradicating the daily humiliation faced by Muslims across many parts of the world. Ending this humiliation is the only way forward for us.

You have every right to criticise and disagree with me or anyone else for that matter, and I always welcome any advice and constructive criticism for I know my defects and shortcomings are many. I am guided by the ancient wisdom which states ‘May God have mercy on the one who shows me my defects – for that is the best gift he could give me.’ However, in the Islamic tradition there are adab (ethics) of criticism and disagreement. I know you wrote your article with sincerity and zeal, but on a more personal level, I was deeply pained and saddened by the hostile tone and the vulgar style of your language that was brimming with sarcasm and was clearly un-Islamic, indecent and a gross violation of the beautiful teachings of our beloved Prophet who said “I was not sent except to perfect your manners.” Using words such as “astagfirullah dude,” “lap-dancing,” ‘whooping and dancing,” and describing the volunteer stewards as “pipe cleaners” and “bulldozers” are inappropriate to say the very least. What shocked and even angered me was the way you shamelessly insulted our pure innocent sisters who were supporting a charity concert by describing them as “fluffers”! (Incidentally, these very sisters managed to raise over £100,000 for orphans all over the world.) I – like the vast majority of those who read your article – was blissfully ignorant about the very existence of this disgusting obscene word, and I would question the wisdom of introducing it to the vocabulary of your readers. As to my performances, I always consciously endeavour to be responsible, respectable, modest and dignified on stage.

It has been my approach that whenever personal criticism is levelled at me I ignore it and get on with my work, as my philosophy in life is to build and not destroy, and to unite not divide. However, on this occasion I felt duty-bound to respond because of the dangerous ideas and notions contained in your article. Yvonne, let us work together as fellow Muslims and Britons in building a better future for our community and all human beings and strive to make our world a safer, more peaceful, tolerant and prosperous place.

Yours faithfully,

Sami Yusuf

WOW!

mashallah, a perfect excellent response, and in the perfect way too.

So easy to say harsh stuff like i did, but that addresses everything in a manner which is in accordance to Sunnah, and i praise him for trying to work with yvonne positively

a true gentleman

The Sami Yusuf responce is continued here.

Don KarnageMy friend fedor sent me a nasheed by Sami Yusuf and Outlandish. Now there are two names I wouldn't have thought to put together... I think Yvonne was really talking more about people like Sami Yusuf who have become famous "rockstar-like" figures for their Nasheeds - but I'm surprised she didn't mention the infusion of actual Pop stars into the practice.

Seems to reinforce the idea they are nothing but a way around the injunctions on music.

Yusuf Islam, if that's who you're referring to, completely dropped the use of musical instruments when he became muslim. he took the safer route out of controversy, and is respected by all. but recently he performed father and son with ronan keating, and he's doing a new album with music. there was this interview i watched online, will post the link up later. i hope people don't start attacking him for this, have a lot of respect for him and if there's anyone who could convince me of the validity of the use of musical instruments in Islam, its him.

Well i respect Yusuf Islam too, not for his nasheeds but for his dedication on charitable causes, especially for kids. His decision to get back into music... i don't want to think about it, i'd rather remember him for his charity work and nothing else.

yashmakiWell i respect Yusuf Islam too, not for his nasheeds but for his dedication on charitable causes, especially for kids. His decision to get back into music... i don't want to think about it, i'd rather remember him for his charity work and nothing else.

same. but his song lyrics (even when he was a non-muslim) have always been deep and meaningful and not the usual trash.

*DUST*

Don KarnageMy friend fedor sent me a nasheed by Sami Yusuf and Outlandish. Now there are two names I wouldn't have thought to put together... I think Yvonne was really talking more about people like Sami Yusuf who have become famous "rockstar-like" figures for their Nasheeds - but I'm surprised she didn't mention the infusion of actual Pop stars into the practice.

Seems to reinforce the idea they are nothing but a way around the injunctions on music.

Yusuf Islam, if that's who you're referring to, completely dropped the use of musical instruments when he became muslim. he took the safer route out of controversy, and is respected by all. but recently he performed father and son with ronan keating, and he's doing a new album with music. there was this interview i watched online, will post the link up later. i hope people don't start attacking him for this, have a lot of respect for him and if there's anyone who could convince me of the validity of the use of musical instruments in Islam, its him.

No I meant Sami Yusuf - But that was a mixed reaction based in part on what Yvonne was saying about girls going crazy at his concerts. Clearly I was wrong. I was unaware that she was actually misrepresenting a group of women simply aiding in a collection to help orphans.

I'm sick of this woman and her idiotic opinions. I've read some of her comments glorifying suicide bombing as "Martyrdom Operations" and her defense of Zarqawi was classless and reckless. She's in love with herself and is a master self-promoter - the kind of person that rants and whines about the evil West but leeches off the freedoms and success of the west to support her incessant need for attention.

In an era where communication is 90% of the war, and so much damage can be caused by a few loose tongues it's time the West wakes up and starts cracking down on traitorous speech.

Assalamu alaikum,

She's a journalist aswell, as a muslim. Call me naive but don't you think she makes contraversial comments to provoke debate, analysis, media attention and sales. She's said as much herself.

yashmakiAssalamu alaikum,

She's a journalist aswell, as a muslim. Call me naive but don't you think she makes contraversial comments to provoke debate, analysis, media attention and sales. She's said as much herself.

That may be part of her job but as a Muslim she is required to bring up issues in a respectful manner by following the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (saw), all I saw was a rant.

any music that inspires love for the Holy Prophet ﷺ is beautiful.

those who take offence can say what they like

lailaany music that inspires love for the Holy Prophet ﷺ is beautiful.

those who take offence can say what they like

it's not about taking offence, i don't see how anyone could be offended by what you said seems 🙂 but its more a matter of backing one's point with islamic evidence.

if a person uses magic to inspire love for the Prophet (s.a.w) in someone's heart, does that mean magic is allowed?

My two cents (and a bit):

All this hoo-ha seems to revolve aroung young sisters idolising nasheed artists and screaming and loosing control at concerts.

The problem is not necessarily that people like Sami Yusuf express themselves and their piety through music but that girls shout and scream at people like Sami Yusuf.

It is the sisters who need to learn constraint and manners. They need to grow up and stop being so girly.

However, I doubt whether this is even a largescale problem. So what if some girls at one concert shouted 'Sami I love you, I want your babies'? Chances are that the more concerts they attend and the more they get into their faith they'll learn the acceptable standards of behaivour and realise their mistakes.

But lets face it, alot of the 'nasheeds' aren't totaly legit. The use of many instruments is debated. Whenever such nasheeds are permitted by scholars I reckon the scholars do it because these nasheeds offer an alternative to secular pop music. Being an alternative the artists will inevitably imitate certain characteristics of the genre they are trying to phase-out.

It can be assumed that Sami Yusuf, Aashiq al Rasul, etc are a temporary phenomenon in a young Muslims life designed to lure him or her away from Britney Spears, Robbie Williams and Westlife (btw are they still together?).

Once young Muslims develop their musical tastes and take up stuff more along the lines of Shaam at Abbey Road they will leave behind the nasheed bands who use controversial instruments. Up and coming Sami Yusufs can then work their magic on the next generation of Muslim layabouts.

So, in conclusion, nasheed artists are there to tempt Muslims away from harmful musical and cultural influences. In order to do what they do they may be controversial. But what they do is necessary given the ginormous size and power of the pop industry.

BeastIt is the sisters who need to learn constraint and manners. They need to grow up and stop being so girly.

And I thought girls were mature...

BeastSo what if some girls at one concert shouted 'Sami I love you, I want your babies'?

:shock: Do they...I've never been to a concert.

BeastIt can be assumed that Sami Yusuf, Aashiq al Rasul, etc are a temporary phenomenon in a young Muslims life designed to lure him or her away from Britney Spears, Robbie Williams and Westlife (btw are they still together?).

I only know that westlife are...only one guy (Brian) has left so that leaves with only 4 members...don't ask me how I know lol

lailaany music that inspires love for the Holy Prophet ﷺ is beautiful.

those who take offence can say what they like

Bang on

when there's love involved, true love.....well, as laila said....let fatwa's and whatnot be passed and said, love knows no boundaries