I, Dr. Haitham Al-Haddad would like to clarify that any statement, lecture or sermon in Arabic that is attributed to be me is incorrectly attributed unless it is officially found on my website (www.haitham.co.uk). Furthermore, if statements, lectures or sermons are attributed to me that are not mine I will do all that is within my power to challenge the incorrect assertions and to take legal proceedings where necessary.
Thank You
Dr. Haitham Al-Haddad
Dr. Haitham al Haddad strongly refutes claims he is a preacher of hate that radicalises people. Earlier today he said:
“I’m an academic who has studied Islamic jurisprudence not a hate preacher. Much of the media have been accepting the official government narrative uncritically for far too long. We’re told many times that preachers of hate radicalise people and my name is often mentioned. This is nonsense. Let me remind you of some of the things I have said that are never reported by the media. I refuted IS from the beginning. I do not believe they represent Islam or an Islamic state. I have criticised them many times[1][2]. It is ridiculous to suggest that listening to my lectures would turn someone into an IS fighter or a terrorist. This is the conveyor belt theory pushed by the government. The idea that someone who holds socially conservative views radicalises people is a convenient myth. The media have been pushing this narrative uncritically.”
He further added:
“I was warning young Muslims about getting involved in the Syria conflict a long time ago[3]. My message has been clear. Help financially with the humanitarian crisis but do not go and fight there; you will make the situation worse. I also publically appealed for the release of Alan Henning.[4]”
In relation to the postponement of the event at the University of Westminster he said:
“I strongly believe the views I hold represent normative Islam and that I should have an equal right to free speech, like anyone else. A petition backing the event received more support than the opposing petition [5], yet this has not been reported.”
On the issue of the media reporting of Jihadi John he said:
“To mention my name in connection with the so called ‘Jihadi John’ is nothing short of disgraceful media reporting. What we have is a guilty government looking for someone to blame for its reckless foreign policy and the disgusting behaviour of its security services. If you want to know what radicalises people the media needs to focus there.”
[1] http://www.islam21c.com/politics/isis-burn-jordanian-pilot-sh-haitham-responds/
[2] http://www.islam21c.com/politics/awkward-questions-surrounding-the-war-on-isis/
[3] http://www.islam21c.com/politics/warning-to-sisters-going-for-jihad-in-syria/
[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S00TArRuZYE
Dr. Al Haddad responds to calls for him to be banned from speaking at the University of Westminster. Earlier today he said:
“This is a completely misplaced campaign. The event has nothing to do with Islam’s position on homosexuality yet this is the focus of their complaint. There is a clear attempt being made to almost criminalise certain aspects of being a Muslim. In the religion of Islam it is clear-cut that homosexual acts are a sin and are unlawful in the Shariah. Trying to censor lawful speech does not change this fact.”
He further added:
“I do not believe the views I hold are much different to those of orthodox Christian or Jewish religious leaders. I have only ever engaged in lawful speech and have never been prosecuted for hate speech or inciting hatred. I would remind those who initiated this campaign that this country is supposed to be based on freedom of religious belief and expression. I am a strong believer in dialogue, regrettably the LGBTI society wants to shut it down.”
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Press enquiries: press@haitham.co.uk
The recent Panorama documentary was a shameful attempt to divide Muslims in the UK into arbitrary labels and categories, which can then be abused by this Tory government and the right-wing. Its misrepresentation of my views was a negligible misdemeanour when compared to the more dastardly crime of carrying out traditional schemes of divide and conquer, by presenting a dichotomy between a government-sponsored Islām and the Islām practiced by the mainstream majority. I wish to address this fact first and foremost, and secondarily I will point out some aspects which show the inaccuracies in presenting my thoughts and beliefs.
John Ware concocted a biased programme that was in support of a right-wing agenda to assert that there are two types of Islām in Britain. British Islām, according to him, is what is consistent with (his) ‘British values’ and ‘extremist’ Islām – that which opposes British values, despite being non-violent.
The problem with ‘extremism’
Any serious attempt to investigate this matter would first consider what the government’s definition of extremism actually is. Having done so, it would be evident that what the government has decided to label as ‘extreme’ is totally arbitrary and open to abuse. It defines extremism as opposition to British values. Yet not once did the government or the Panorama programme define ‘British values’. So, immediately, it is clear to any objective person that the term ‘extremism’ is subjective and open to abuse—as we have seen. The programme purposefully overlooked this key point.
The most hard-fought value that came out of the British revolution was the freedom of religion and thought. Yet we now have a government and an agenda-driven BBC reporter trying to criminalise those that practice that very same British value. It has manufactured labels that divide a minority religious group, and sanctioned one version of Islām that sits well with the right-wing agenda of robbing us of our freedom of thought and religion, while trying to present genuine orthodox Islamic beliefs as criminal.
An excruciating result of demonising normative Islamic beliefs and acts can be seen in the countless cases of attacks on Muslims who display symbols of their faith. The example of Nahid Almanea comes to mind, who went for a walk in her local park in Colchester. She was not doing anything out of the ordinary for a woman in Britain, other than dress in the Muslim headscarf and long dress. Yet she was targeted for her identity as a Muslim, and stabbed no fewer than 16 times by an assailant, who then ran away leaving her to die in a pool of her own blood. Nahid did not practice any form of ‘extremist’ Islām, she merely practiced the orthodox understanding of Islām like the rest of the 99% of the Muslims. Yet her attacker saw her as an extremist because normal Islamic practice has been demonised in the media to the point of dehumanisation.
Through this labelling of normal practices and beliefs of Muslims as ‘extreme’, the Islām of the majority of Muslims is being attacked. Such as, for instance, gender segregation at Muslim gatherings or simply stating a clear-cut belief that homosexual acts are a sin in Islām. There is a clear attempt being made to almost criminalise certain aspects of being a Muslim. John Ware’s programme was seeking to help this process.
The programme’s whitewashing the debate reached intolerable levels. In order to avoid the elephant in the room, that it may be government policy and the War on Terror which seems to have increased terrorism around the world and is in fact to blame for the rise in actual violent extremism, it sought to blame Muslims for having a victim mentality. Being angered over illegal wars and gross miscarriages of justice conducted in the name of freedom and democracy is what John Ware would have us believe is a victim mentality.
Furthermore, the discrimination and Islamophobia against Muslims in the UK is not something we will be silenced over. John Ware demonstrated clearly his political allegiances by declaring that the Tories would crack down on non-violent extremists. The BBC effectively allowed him not only to promote the Tories and encourage voting for them in the upcoming election, but to do so using the most potent tool in the far right toolkit: irrational fear.
Misrepresentation
The programme claimed that I declined an interview. This is false. We were in conversations with Panorama but I suspect the programme makers wanted to cynically capitalise on the events in Paris and they released the programme sooner than scheduled before we could agree a suitable time and terms. The programme sought to demonise me by showing imagery of crimes committed by ISIS, such as beheadings and the events in Paris, in-between clips of myself.
The programme purposefully quoted me out of context. A clear example is shown with the clip suggesting I asserted that democracy is ‘filthy’. In whole video I was actually encouraging people to participate in the 2011 elections and I was responding to some Muslims who believe that we should not participate in Western democracy because it is ‘filthy’. I was illustrating the attitude of some who may disapprove of political participation—many of whom are of course not even Muslims. It is a matter of public record that I have already responded to this particular clip. I was in fact one of the first orthodox Islamic scholars to encourage voting in Britain. John Ware most likely sourced these from a well-known racist website and, quite frankly, this was fitting for the type of programme he made.
Another deliberate misrepresentation was in another video clip of me referring to ‘this equality’ as ‘evil’. Again, the programme did so in order to give the impression that what I meant by ‘equality’ is the common political and philosophical usage of the term, referring to equality ‘in status, rights, or opportunities’. However, as it is clear for anyone watching the video or referring to my numerous, clearly expressed views in the public domain, this cannot be further from the truth. I was in fact obviously referring to a growing childish, irrational and frankly misogynistic literal interpretation of ‘equality’ which demands women act exactly like men.
Genuine open, honest debate
It is important to stress that just like not everyone will agree completely on their interpretations of ‘British values’, likewise those Muslims subscribing to mainstream, orthodox Islamic values will also disagree with others on their interpretations of ‘British values’. Firstly, Muslims who are part and parcel of British society are just as much entitled as anyone else to contribute to what ‘British values’ actually are and how they are applied. Secondly, the inevitable differences of opinion among us must never be used as an excuse to silence Muslims or any other stakeholders from this debate, under the xenophobic pretext of fear, national security and ‘terrorism’.
It is important to stress that the differences between Muslim beliefs and some western values, need not be a reason for violence. I strongly believe in peaceful social cohesion. This requires mutual respect, decency and compassion for all. This means allowing a space for genuine, honest debate, not an intellectual dictatorship that criminalises a Muslim for simply having different opinions—essentially being Muslim. This is indeed the best solution to resolve conflict and the problem of terrorism.
Finally, to be clear, a peaceful society that accepts Muslims for who they are is what all Muslims desire. The sooner the right wing in this country accepts that Muslims and Islām are part of Britain and British society the better.
Dr. Haitham Al-Haddad
25th Rabi Al-Awwal 1436 A.H.
16th January 2015
London, UK.
Allāh and His angels send blessings on the Prophet: O you who believe! Send your blessings on him, and salute him with all respect.”[1]
Alḥāmdulillāh, today is the auspicious day of Jumuʿah (Friday), a day for which we know as reported by Aus b. Aus (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) that the Messenger of Allāh (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said:
“Among the best of your days is Friday; so supplicate Allāh more often for me in it, for your supplications will be displayed to me.” He was asked: “O Messenger of Allāh! How will our blessings be displayed to you when your decayed body will have mixed with the earth?” He (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) replied, “Allāh has prohibited the earth from consuming the bodies of the Prophets.”[2]
At a time where justice is denied, where ignorance prevails, where one group of people are made to feel that there is an organised effort to oppress, rob and degrade them, where neither they nor their property will be safe and neither their lofty, envied values nor those whom they revere in high esteem will be safe from ridicule, let us remember him and send salutations upon him. He (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) is the undisputed best of all human beings, and most successful even from a secular, material perspective. Those whose exhausted attempts at rational, intellectual critique who are forced to gratuitous insult and wanton mockery will never take away anything from the greatness of the one whose mention Allāh Himself has raised:
Did We not expand for you, [O Muḥammad], your breast? And We removed from you your burden; Which had weighed upon your back? And raised high for you your repute? For indeed, with hardship [there is] ease. Indeed, with hardship [there is] ease. So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship]. And to your Lord direct [your] longing.[3]
This is a man (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) who is being praised constantly throughout the globe. There is no minute in the day where there is not someone, somewhere, calling the Adhān, the Iqāma, or engaged in prayer, whilst declaring that “I bear witness that Muḥammad is the Messenger of Allāh!” No moment passes except someone, somewhere, is sending ṣalawāt upon him, or delivering a lesson about his life, or narrating one of his noble statements, or making duʿā’ to Allāh and sealing it with the ṣalāh upon His beloved Messenger (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam). All prophets including Mūsā and Īsā (ʿalayhima al-Salām) acknowledged his status and prayed behind him, and Allāh has made it such that there is no one who knows about him (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) and yet does not believe in him except he will be deprived from entering Jannah.
No amount of abuse, insult and mockery from the ignorant can come even close in comparison to this man’s lofty status and praise, for he has been named Ahmad (the one given and giving the highest quality of praise capable for a human) and Muḥammad (the one given the highest quantity of praise capable for a human) (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam). Let us therefore not become too distracted from the real purpose of this life, longing for Allāh and glorifying Him and that which He loves, especially on the day of Jumuʿah.
ʿAmr b. al-ʿĀs (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) used to say:
“I could not look him in the eye because of awe. If I were to be asked to describe him I would not be able to, because I could not look him in the eye.”[4]
“And verily, you [O Muḥammad (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam)] are on an exalted standard of character.”[5]
Many may expect us to rush to respond to the unfortunate shooting at the French magazine headquarters recently. Although we will soon respond if Allāh permits us, we wish to do so with some reasoned analysis once the dust has settled and facts have become clear, and not waste our time with speculation, allowing the agenda to be dictated for us.
“I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.”[6]
I therefore trust and pray my dear brothers and sisters that you will do as I do and not let the actions of the wicked distract you from making the most of this day of Jumuʿah. The Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said:
“Whoever sends ṣalāh upon me once, Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) will send ṣalāh upon him tenfold.”[7]
Ubay b. Kaʿb (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) narrated:
I said: “O Messenger of Allāh (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam), I frequently invoke Allāh to elevate your rank. How much of my supplications should I devote to you?” He said, “You may devote as much as you wish.” When I suggested a quarter, he said, “Do whatever you wish, but it will be better for you if you increase it.” I suggested half, and he said, “Do whatever you wish, but it will be better for you if you increase.” I suggested two- thirds, and he said, “Do whatever you wish but it will be better for you if you increase it.” I said, “Shall I devote all my supplications invoking Allāh to elevate your rank?” He said, “Then you will be freed from your worries and your sins will be forgiven.” [8]
Let us earn the pleasure of Allāh jalla waʿāla in saying the following as many times today as we can:
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
“O Allāh, let Your Blessings come upon Muḥammad and the family of Muḥammad, as you have blessed Ibrāhīm and the family of Ibrāhīm. Truly, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allāh, bless Muḥammad and the family of Muḥammad, as you have blessed Ibrāhīm and the family of Ibrāhīm. Truly, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious”.