A short visit to Birmingham - I

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh,

This is my fourth visit to Birmingham. Whenever I go for a visit out of Cambridge, it is not for sight-seeing but more to visit people or events. As I have said before that I have been to London a few times but have never visited any spectacular tourism sights in London, this is the same as Birmingham. I know that there is an Underwater World in Birmingham but have never been there. I took this opportunity to attend the Grand Mawlid to visit friends in Birmingham. Thanks to Arwa and her family for letting me stay 2 nights at her house. Such a lovely family. May ALLAH reward them and help them especially her mum who is a single mother with 5 children and at the same time works full-time while doing a graduate degree part-time. MashaALLAH a very strong and capable muslimah who also helps the muslim community in Birmingham. I don't think there is any Arab muslimahs in Birmingham who doesn't know her mum.

Anyway, this visit was a fruitful one because beside visiting friends, I have the opportunity to attend 2 islamic events there. After jumaah, at the Amanah centre, there was a sale to raise money for Pals International and in the evening was the Grand Mawlid and a chance to meet a Rihla sister! I have bought a book, CD and dress at the sale and in the evening Arwa's mum drove us to the Grand Mawlid. It was packed! My friend who visits this mosque very frequently said that the attendance is far more than the Laylatul-Qadr, which usually has the highest attendance every year. MashaALLAH! This event brought together the muslims from all continents. This is a south-asian dominated mosque (mostly Pakistanis & Indians) and usually the Arabs will have their event in another mosque. That evening, the mosque was packed with everyone in Birmingham and I am sure there must be some others like me who came from outside of Birmingham.

After maghrib prayer, we still did not see Shaykh Hamza Yusuf or Imam Zaid Shakir. The organiser started the event with Quran recitation and burdah. Later, we saw Imam Zaid Shakir's wife entered the ladies section and knew that Imam Zaid Shakir was here. He gave a very motivated speech, as usual. Muslims are urged to embody the examples of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) and how to face the ignorant and hard-hearted people who bash Islam. He quoted these verses to explain the characteristic of the Prophet (saw) in dealing with this type of people:

"And by the mercy of ALLAH, you dealt with them gently. And had you been severe and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about you; so pardon them, and ask forgiveness for them; and consult them in the affairs. Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in ALLAH, certainly, ALLAH loves those who put their trust (in HIM). If ALLAH helps you, none can overcome you; and if HE forsakes you, who is there after HIM that can help you And in ALLAH (Alone) let believers put their trust."

~ The Holy Qur'an, Surah Ali Imran (Chapter 3, The Imran Family) verse 159-160

Probably there is no need to be harsh to those who produced the Fitna movie. Maybe what we can do is pardon them, consult them, discuss with them, make a resolution together, be decisive with what both parties have agreed and finally trust in ALLAH that both parties will follow the resolution. ALLAHU'alam.

I will continue what Shaykh Hamza Yusuf said in the next post, inshaALLAH.

Wassalam.