The Muslim Council of Britain, Hizb ut-Tahrir and other UK-based Islamist organizations state that women must wear the veil

The Muslim Council of Britain, Hizb ut-Tahrir and other UK-based Islamist organizations state that women must wear the veil

Original article: http://www.mcb.org.uk/uploads/Joint%20Statement.pdf

Web Archive: http://web.archive.org/web/20120629121929/http://www.mcb.org.uk/uploads/Joint%20Statement.pdf

Date: October 17, 2006

Original title: Joint statement about the veil from Muslim groups, scholars and leaders

All praise is due to Allah and may His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and all his Companions.

In light of the ongoing debate over the veil and the comments made by Jack Straw

and others, we the undersigned would like to present the following important advice

to the Muslim community here in the UK, irrespective of school of thought, sect or

organisation.

 

1. The Muslim community should remain united regardless of its differences and

opinions about the veil. This request is in response to the countless number of

Quranic and Prophetic traditions that command Muslims to be united. Among these

is the Quranic verse that says, ‘Hold fast, all together, to the rope of Allah and do not

be disunited.’ [translation of 3:103]

 

2. We strongly condemn any attempt by any individual or organisation to create

disunity in the Muslim community. We see such a move as an attempt to create

friction and disruption in the whole society through indirect discrimination. It is the

nature of modern pluralistic societies to be constituted from different communities

coexisting peacefully as a single political entity. It is completely irrational, when trying

to achieve community cohesion, to instigate disunity and racial tension.

 

3. The veil, irrespective of its specific juristic rulings, is an Islamic practice and not

a cultural or a customary one as is agreed by the consensus of Muslim scholars; it is

not open to debate. We advise all Muslims to exercise extreme caution in this issue,

since denying any part of Islam may lead to disbelief. Not practicing something

enjoined by Allah and His Messenger (Salla-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) - regardless its

legal status (i.e., whether obligatory, recommended or praiseworthy) - is a

shortcoming; denying it is much more serious. Allah says in the Qur’an: ‘It is not for a

believer, man or woman, that they should have any option in their decision when

Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter. And whoever disobeys Allah and

His Messenger has indeed strayed in a plain error.’ [translation of 33:36]

 

4. We recognise the fact that Muslims hold different views regarding the veil, but

we urge all members of the Muslim community to keep this debate within the realms

of scholarly discussion amongst the people of knowledge and authority in the Muslim

community. Allah says in the Qur’an, ‘When there comes to them news of some

matter touching (public) safety or fear, they spread it (among the people); if only they

had referred it to the Messenger or to those charged with authority among them, the

proper investigators would have understood it from them (directly).’ [translation of

4:83] In another Quranic verse, we read the following instruction, ‘So ask those who

know if you know not.’ [translation of 16:43 and 21:7]

 

5. Furthermore, we warn Muslim individuals and organisations to avoid seeking

to capitalise on this debate in order to further political or personal interests. Such

despicable tactics are judged by Islam as working against the interests of our faith

and the Muslim community, and are, accordingly, a matter condemned in the

strongest possible terms. Allah says in the Qur’an, ‘The believers, men and women,

are Awliya' (allies, helpers, friends, protectors) of one another.’ [translation of 9:71]

The Prophet (Salla-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, ‘A Muslim is the brother of a

Muslim; he does not oppress him, betray him, mislead or fail him.’

 

6. We would like to call upon all members of the Muslim community to show

solidarity against criticising the veil or any other Islamic practice as this might prove

to be a stepping-stone towards further restrictions. Today the veil, tomorrow it could

be the beard, jilbab and thereafter the headscarf! Such a strategy, unfortunately, has

been widely used by many European countries. Similarly, we feel that this campaign

may be employed to gauge the response of the Muslim community. Therefore, our

reply should be firm, sending a clear and powerful message to those who are trying

to promote the banning of the veil or any other common Islamic practice. We, the

Muslim community, will not tolerate such attitudes nor will we compromise on our

values and common customs. All Muslim women, especially those who wear the veil,

should play a major role in this response since their voice will be the most effective.

 

7. We understand the viewpoint of those who may find the veil a barrier to

communication. However, we believe that the level of discomfort caused is

insignificant, particularly when compared to the discomfort and problems that result

from other common and less widely condemned practices such as sexual

promiscuity, nudity and alcohol consumption by other segments of society. Moreover,

we feel that it is against the interests of the whole society to single out a significant

part of it, such as the Muslim community, or to put them under the spotlight and

abuse them for their practices, as is now an oft- recurring theme in the media.

 

8. The unexpected and ruthless reaction of the media over the past few weeks on

this issue gives an indication that there is a political agenda behind this campaign. It

is very disappointing that the media and many politicians dealt with this issue as if it

is the greatest national concern. This becomes more apparent when observing the

already tense climate facing Muslims, which is contributing towards creating hostility

in the wider society against the Muslim community. Therefore, Muslims should take

this matter seriously and defend the veil with all their ability. This could be a battle of

“to be or not to be” for Muslims in the UK. We urge all brothers and sisters to strive in

countering these attacks by utilising the various avenues open to them including

sending letters to the relevant authorities, their MPs, human rights activists, and so

on. The most important guideline to observe is to react in a wise, sensible and

responsible manner and avoid any action that might be used as an excuse for

furthering any unfavourable agenda.

 

9. We would like to advise the sisters who observe the veil/niqab in the work-place

or in educational premises to avoid making it a matter of dispute between them and

their employers or school authority. Such disputes will attract more unnecessary

media attention, and thus may cause various negative consequences including the

imposition of certain dress codes in work places, and in turn, used as justification to

legislate further restrictions on wearing it in other areas.

10. Finally, let it be noted that we appreciate the noticeable level of

understanding and tolerance shown by considerable parts of the wider society

towards many Islamic practices. However, we ask all society to deal with the Muslim

community without prejudice, and to exercise genuine openness and tolerance

towards Islamic practices, even those they may not like, as this is the real test of

tolerance to others. Furthermore, we urge people to be supportive for a woman’s

right to wear the veil as on one hand, this complies with the values upon which

western civilization was founded - the protection of human and religious rights; and

on the other hand, these practices aim to promote values of modesty, decency and

good-manners all of which should be the aspiration of any peaceful society.

We conclude by asking Almighty Allah to guide us to that which is better and to make

truth and justice prevail in British society as a whole.

25th Ramadan 1427, 17 October 2006

Signed (in alphabetical order):

1. Dr Daud Abdullah
Deputy Secretary General, Muslim Council of Britain (MCB)

2. Khurram Bashir Amin
Trustee and Editor, Monthly Dawn, Central Mosque, Birmingham

3. Munir Ashi
Chairman, Dar ul-Isra Islamic Centre, Cardiff

4. Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari
Secretary General, Muslim Council of Britain (MCB)

5. Shakeel Begg
Imam, Lewisham Mosque, London

6. Mufti Mohammed Zubair Butt
Sharia Adviser, Institute of Islamic Jurisprudence, Bradford

7. Moulana Ilyas Dalal
Head teacher, Ilaahi Masjid, Dewsbury

8. Dr. Khalid Fekry
Imam, al-Taqwa Organization, London

9. Sulaiman Gani
Lecturer in Islamic Studies, Tooting Islamic Centre, London

10. Moosa Gora
Islamic Scholar, Jame Mosque Batley, West Yorkshire

11. Shaykh Haitham Al-Haddad
Director of Muslim Research and Development Foundation (MRDF), London

12. Dr. Suhaib Hasan
Secretary, Islamic Sharia Council U.K. & Ireland; Chairman, Masjid and Madrasa Al-Tawhid Trust, London

13. Muhammad ibn Ismail
Imam, Al-Medinah Masjid, Brighton

14. Hafeezullah Khan
Editor-in-chief, Sirat-e-Mustaqeem, Monthly Magazine, Birmingham

15. Dr Khalid Khan
Imam, Lambeth Islamic Cultural Centre, London

16. Wakkas Khan
President, Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS)

17. Shaykh Amjad Mohammed
Head Teacher of Olive Secondary School, Bradford

18. Shaykh Ashraf Osmani
Imam, Markazi Masjid Northampton (MMN), Northampton

19. Ismail Patel
Chairman, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Leicester

20. S. M. Abdul Qayum
Head Imam and Khateeb, East London Mosque, London

21. Abdul Fattah Saad
Director of al-Muntada al-Islami Trust, London

22. Qari Zakaullah Saleem
Imam, Green Lane Mosque, Birmingham.

23. Massoud Shadjareh
Chair, Islamic Human Rights Commission

24. Mohammad Sawalha
President, British Muslim Initiative (BMI), London

25. Shaykh Haytham Tamim
Chairman of Utrujj Foundation, Educational, Training and Research Institute, London

26. Mawlana Abdul Hadi Umri
President - Islamic Judiciary Board, Birmingham

27. Dr Imran Waheed
Representative of Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain, London