Modern Muslims!

I was very professional in my reply to this "brother" even though I don't know who he is or what he is! He considers himself a "real" Muslim and yet his email bears a tune of arrogance and hostility, especially when he questioned my faith in Islam. He continued his arrogance by demanding an answer so he can, God bless him, judge our site. Furthermore, he asked me which school do I belong to or do I just jump my way in without knowledge in Islam. He thinks his judgement means a thing to us!!!!!

I won't be specific and won't give out names, but in general, this is my perspective of this gentleman who falls under the so-called "Modern Muslims."

Our site, Arabic Paper, has been on-line for more than 3 years. At first, we've kind of devoted our mission in responding to Christian claims/attacks on Islam. Then, we realized that there are plenty of Islamic websites dealing with Christians and also realized that more Muslims are doing damage to Islam than Christians. So we stopped! We're focusing our mission to convey our religion to the world by posting beneficial articles and links of good and worthy Islamic websites. We, on the other hand, can't be responsible for links in our site. We've stated that clearly in a declaration or statement found at the Islamic Link page. However, we do our best to screen, as much as possible, the selected sites. We don't know and have no clue who finances such sites. If the subject site has good articles about Islam and does convey the message, then it gets our seal of approval to get linked. But if one person thinks some site is financed by certain government, regime or group and there is no evidence to support such claim, then…….you get my drift!

What school do I belong to?

Don't need one! Al-hamdulillah, between the Quran and Sunnah I find all my answers. If something else arise, then the Muslim Ummah has plenty of educated and well-knowledgeable Imams who reached the level of "Ijtihad." Islam is a simple religion and people should keep it and convey it that way. If we're going to complicate our religion by creating various religious schools and everyone claims he is it, then we're destroying our faith.

Here is a short incident that goes back to the prophet's days. A Bedouin came to the Prophet and asked him for a clear path that leads to Heaven. The Prophet (pbuh) said," Fear Allah and be straight." Taking into consideration that man was already a Muslim. Fearing Allah includes obeying Allah's commandments and doing the "halal" and abstaining from the "haram." Be straight means live a modest life and be fair with all people. Islam is as simple as that. This is Islam, a very simple religion.

The various noble Mathahib like the Hanafy, Shafi'ey, Hanbaly, etc. were originated to further simplify Islam not to complicate it! They'll never ever take precedence over the Quran & Sunnah. According to sheik Yusuf Al-Qardawi, Muslims may use any "Mathhab" they wish without restrictions or membership required!

Now, about Sheik Baaz. Was he a Saudi collaborator? I really don't know and can't judge one without sufficient proof. Many people accused Sheik Al-Sha'rawi of being a collaborator with Egyptian government. All I can say that both sheiks have contributed great work to Islam and if they have done anything wrong, then Allah (swt) is the judge afterall. Sheik Yusuf Al-Qardawi has praised sheik Baaz for his contribution to Islam, and I will leave it at that.

Arabic Paper