The Islamic Group Website Now in English

By Najeh Ibrahim

Translated by: Fatima Suleiman

The Islamic Group has been deprived from addressing the majority of Muslims for a very long time. It was only speaking to its members. Once the Arabic website started working, we realized that the general address is different from the limited in the sense that it should be renewed to suit the Non-Violence Initiative and to present the true moderate essence of Islam. Our goal is to help benefit our Islam, our homeland and the Islamic movement.

We have always been trying to combine Sharia with practical life, to introduce Islam as a moderate and international religion and as a comprehensive and realistic one. We have been always trying to prove that Islam is not only suitable for every time and place but it also can change them to the better.

We have been always keen to accommodate the past with the present to help develop our Ummah (nation).

We have been always respecting and defending the figures of Islam, whether we agree with them or not.

 We accept disagreement on the secondary element of religion and understand that it is a kind of mercy for the Ummah not a reason for discord.

We have always been trying to apply the ethics of disagreement putting in mind that the messenger of Allah never insulted a Muslim or a disbeliever.

In our website, we have a section for social problems to present an Islamic social view and to prove that in our religion we can find everything we need. We have also sections for short stories, poetry, etc.

The section of "Fatawa" introduces a moderate attitude in issuing fatwas to make life easier for Muslims as Allah says, "He hath chosen you and hath not laid upon you in religion any hardship".

We have been also focusing the modern history along with the old history and the history of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). We have been mixing modernity with authenticity.

Our website covers many fields like politics, economy, history, science, culture and family affairs.

Our target is neither to demonstrate the Islamic Group opinions nor to show the new thoughts. It is to share in reforming the Ummah's awareness through enhancing the wise Islamic media address to be better in shape and content and we think, thanks to Allah, we have succeeded.

At the beginning, there were only nine writers, four in prison and five outside, working for the website. None of them knew how to use the computer or the internet. We were sending the articles to some computer center to get them written on C.Ds then we were handing the material to the technical department in Cairo to be published. However, this very first teamwork was honest and believing in what they are doing so they succeeded. They, although poor and old, did their best to develop this very young creature.

Here, I have to greet our brothers in Monofeya for their efforts.

Today, we are launching an English version of our dear website as a step in the way of development.

There is no doubt that the Islamic discourse addressing the West is shallow whereas we are in a bad need to a deep study of this society.

We conclude our vision of how to address the West, Muslims and non-Muslims, in several points:

First: the common way of addressing the West is characterized by a sense of pride. We, as Muslim Arabs, look only at the bad traits of the western societies e.g. immorality, pornography and false democracy then we keep remembering them that the Islamic civilization is the source of their scientific and technological development. This is a superficial view that lacks the minimum scientific standards. Today, we are going to change this attitude. We should acknowledge the scientific and technological progress the West achieved not forgetting the Islamic civilization role in that. We should also confess that we will not change our reality and convey our message to the West as long as we insist on rejecting all that is western. The world has changed. Civilizations have entangled and interests have come closer. We are living a different reality that needs a different vision, stances and address. Therefore, we should exchange benefits with the West. We take from their scientific, managerial, political and economic experience and give them what they need from our Sharia and religion.

Second: we should confess that we did not do our best to convey the true picture of Islam to the West, which was one of the reasons of the widespread Islamophobia. The French thinker Jack Berge says, "Islam is the last of the three heavenly religions, whose followers are more than billion people around the world and which is geographically and historically near to the West. And as for the values and the concepts it has been the unknown cousin, the rejected brother, the everlasting indicted and everlasting suspect". We believe that the cause of all that is not only the misleading western media but also the Arab and Islamic media that did not convey the truth to the public as well as the Muslims who do not represent the real picture of Islam. Therefore, we have decided to launch an English version of the website to introduce Islam as an international, comprehensive, realistic, tolerant and moderate religion to those who seek the reality in the West. We will use the good word as Allah says," Seest thou not how Allah coineth a similitude: A goodly saying, as a goodly tree, its root set firm, its branches reaching into heaven, Giving its fruit at every season by permission of its Lord? Allah coineth the similitudes for mankind in order that they may reflect." We will argue the people of the Scripture with wisdom and good advice as Allah says," It may be that Allah will ordain love between you and those of them with whom ye are at enmity. Allah is Mighty, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." And says, "And argue not with the People of the Scripture unless it be in (a way) that is better, save with such of them as do wrong; and say: We believe in that which hath been revealed unto us and revealed unto you; our God and your God is One, and unto Him we surrender.

Third: we differentiate between the Western colonial project and the Western citizen, whatever his religion, color or race is. We know that not all people of the West agree on their governments' attitude towards the world of Islam. Everyday we see demonstrations against globalization and wars on Muslim countries. The Quran when speaking about people of the Scripture does not generalize; it says, "They are not all alike". Our religion teaches us to be fair and objective and not to be extreme in our judgments.

Fourth: there is no doubt that the West in general needs the spirituality and Sharia of our religion. The famous French thinker Roger Garaudy said, "there is no nation honestly holds the word of God but the Islamic nation and there is no book represents the real word of God without twisting but the Quran." The French philosopher Rene Guenon, Abdelwahid Yahya after converting to Islam, also said, "the modern world crisis started when Europe left the path of God and immersed into materialism, atheism and immorality".

There is no doubt also that we need to communicate with the West to make use of their scientific and technological progress. Therefore, we both should interact as Allah says, "O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made `you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct." In addition, the messenger of Allah said, ""Oh! People, your God is one, your father is one. There is neither superiority of an Arab on a non-Arab, nor of a non-Arab on an Arab, nor of a white on a black, nor of a black on a white except by piety"

Fifth: launching a website in English proves we are willing to make dialogue with the West. We are going to assure several points; that Islam is international and comprehensive, a religion of mercy and tolerance, that Allah has dignified all messengers and prophets, Allah has honored women, Sharia is suitable for all times and places and that killing civilians and attacking people of other religions -unless they do- is prohibited.

Our address is quite and moderate that calls for good, love, tolerance, dialogue and cooperation. We will use various means to convey our message; articles, poetry, stories, etc.

Humble start:

Our start may be humble according to our simple finance. We may update the website every few days. We may have a few translators but we hope we will succeed by the efforts of our honest brothers and we welcome anyone wants to cooperate with us.

We will first address Muslims in the West then we may address non-Muslims as well.

May Allah accept our efforts

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