False sense of rightfulness

I never start a bog entry knowing what to say... just rambling on till i get to my point..

Hot issue going on at the moment; the organization I was involved in is under attack by a Malaysian "Islamic" society in Manchester. I couldn't believe the level of the accusation they put on us.

Few weeks ago, words were going around amongst the "Islamic" society that our organization promoted alcohol during our last event. Shocking news considering that it's false news... but all was well when the head of the "Islamic" society (from here on referred to as Isociety) got in contact with our organization to clarify things.

so we thought....

Then out of the blue, we got news that the Isociety signed a petition amongst their members with intent to tarnish our name, and sent it straight to the Malaysian student department. They even went so far as to write to an Ustaz, asking him to take action on us. It felt like a stab to the back.

First key point here ; in Islam, the sin for false accusation is worse than murder. So it saddens me to know that people use the name of Islam [acting high and mighty] meddling around in peoples affair trying to tarnish peoples reputation. Its shocking how they use "Islam" to justify their wrong doings.

It was bad enough that we lacked this Isociety's support (as fellow Malaysians) for the event. I would assume that members of the Isociety was advised not to support us as we were deemed sinful. I wouldn't have mind the non-attendance as it was their right to live however they choose to... so be it they choose to live detached from the real world. Its when they try to control the life of others that bothers me.

But don't they know, that when they act with the name of Islam, they risk ruining the name of Islam itself? They act with a false sense of rightfulness. They attack us on the assumption that we are sinners. They seek to ban all things they perceive as sinful.

That is not how Islam works.

They dont even know what a gig is.

Islam is an educated religion. Education here refers to understanding. Understanding of the world, people, culture, other religion etc. Muslims are ordered to study everything there is to study - not to condemn everything they do not understand.

Islam is about self control. In a mixed religious society, it is an even greater triumph to be able to control ones self from consuming alcohol while still respecting religions that do.

- You don't ban a whole event just because your not suppose to drink. It isn't a drinking event anyway. [we did not promote or sell alcohol during the event, but the local British bands drank]

So.......... go on living under your rock if you want to, go on trying to force people to live as you do, go on trying to stop the world from spinning, go on accusing people as you wish..

but do not do it under the name of Islam.

There are far better ways to promote Islam than this.