aammar
03-02-2013, 08:00 AM
It may be noted that there is a revivalist movement that aims at reviving the spirit of Islam among the Muslims who settled in Europein general as well as an increased sense of belonging to Islam. It is also noticeable that there is an increasing number of Muslim citizens in Europe; either because of the Europeans embracing Islam or because of the high birth rate among Muslims. The number of mosques in all European countries also doubled with the daily increase of the number of Islamic institutions and associations operating in European countries.
Based on all of the above, we can say:
In general, Muslims in Europe have many rights, such as the right to practice their acts of worship freely and peacefully. They also have the freedom to establish Islamic institutions and build mosques, despite facing some administrative difficulties in claiming their rights. This means that western and European laws and constitutions respect Islam as a religion and respect Muslims as well.
Most Muslims live in Europe in a peaceful and calm environment with respect to religious matters. We should not confuse between what we have previously highlighted and the deteriorating economic and political situations of Muslims in Europe and their problems, such as poverty and unemployment, and the increased pace of racism and prejudice against Muslims, especially after the events of September 11, in theUSA.
Sometimes one detects biased decisions in particular cases, reflecting intolerance and prejudice in understanding and applying the law. However, there is no European law that is explicitly hostile towards Muslims.
However, Muslims face difficulties in practicing their religion in an industrial secular society from which all manifestations of religious and spiritual values have disappeared. Many Europeans believe in God but their faith has no real impact on their lives. Their increased interest in technology distracts them from practicing their religious rites.
This applies to Muslims, Christians and Jews as well. If we look at the empty half of the cup, we would find that many Muslims are negligent of their faith although European law does not hinder them from practicing their religion. Although Muslims enjoy a large margin of freedom in the West, millions of them have been lost and have totally melted into European societies. Some Muslims have shed their identities, some have shed their religions, and others have shed both!
There is no doubt that the primary responsibility for handling this crisis of loss of identity lies with the Islamic associations and institutions in Europe, which, unfortunately, also suffer from many problems that hamper the performance of their missions.
One of the most serious problems and constraints that is faced by Muslims and Islamic institutions in Europe, a problem that has deep historical roots, is racial and religious discrimination. This problem is widespread among some segments of the European societies. It imperils the stability of the Muslim community and increases their fear of the future. Add to that, the Muslim community suffers from poor communication between the generations, ignorance and weak cultural and civilizational level of the parents’ generation, and the inability of many of them to pass the Islamic identity and values to the new generations. The Muslim communities, especially the new generations, are also negatively influenced by the material maladies of European society, such as family disintegration, sexual degradation, and the spread of drugs.
Poverty and limited financial resources also occupy a prominent place in the list of problems that are faced by Muslims and Islamic institutions. Large numbers of Muslims in the West came to Europe, in most cases, for the purpose of work and in pursuit of livelihood. Therefore, the economic factor constitutes a major concern and a great challenge for the migrants. They either pass the challenge and survive in this new society or go home. The largest proportion of these immigrants leads a life of poor subsistence on a minimal budget and suffers from various social and psychological pressures, in addition to political pressure at times.
We also can not neglect the negative impacts resulting from ethnic, sectarian and ideological differences among Muslims in Europe, which they imported from the Islamic Orient. These differences contributed, and continue to contribute, in hindering the comprehensive, integrated and leading role of the Da‘wah work of Islamic institutions in Europe. Add to that, there are groups and individuals who have immoderate attitudes and ideas, some of which may be described as extremist and offensive to Islam and Muslims in Europe.
Such people call for antagonizing the European society and even fighting it. What increases the negative impact of these extreme attitudes and ideas is the media’s focus on them, especially the media in the Arab and Islamic worlds, though these extremists represent only a small fraction of Muslims and Islamic institutions in Europe.
We conclude our account of the problems and constraints from which Muslims and Islamic institutions in Europe suffer with the major problem and the huge obstacle, namely the absence of an Islamic state. The Islamic state constitutes the role model that embodies the Islamic, humanitarian and cultural values and passes them to the whole world.
Based on all of the above, we can say:
In general, Muslims in Europe have many rights, such as the right to practice their acts of worship freely and peacefully. They also have the freedom to establish Islamic institutions and build mosques, despite facing some administrative difficulties in claiming their rights. This means that western and European laws and constitutions respect Islam as a religion and respect Muslims as well.
Most Muslims live in Europe in a peaceful and calm environment with respect to religious matters. We should not confuse between what we have previously highlighted and the deteriorating economic and political situations of Muslims in Europe and their problems, such as poverty and unemployment, and the increased pace of racism and prejudice against Muslims, especially after the events of September 11, in theUSA.
Sometimes one detects biased decisions in particular cases, reflecting intolerance and prejudice in understanding and applying the law. However, there is no European law that is explicitly hostile towards Muslims.
However, Muslims face difficulties in practicing their religion in an industrial secular society from which all manifestations of religious and spiritual values have disappeared. Many Europeans believe in God but their faith has no real impact on their lives. Their increased interest in technology distracts them from practicing their religious rites.
This applies to Muslims, Christians and Jews as well. If we look at the empty half of the cup, we would find that many Muslims are negligent of their faith although European law does not hinder them from practicing their religion. Although Muslims enjoy a large margin of freedom in the West, millions of them have been lost and have totally melted into European societies. Some Muslims have shed their identities, some have shed their religions, and others have shed both!
There is no doubt that the primary responsibility for handling this crisis of loss of identity lies with the Islamic associations and institutions in Europe, which, unfortunately, also suffer from many problems that hamper the performance of their missions.
One of the most serious problems and constraints that is faced by Muslims and Islamic institutions in Europe, a problem that has deep historical roots, is racial and religious discrimination. This problem is widespread among some segments of the European societies. It imperils the stability of the Muslim community and increases their fear of the future. Add to that, the Muslim community suffers from poor communication between the generations, ignorance and weak cultural and civilizational level of the parents’ generation, and the inability of many of them to pass the Islamic identity and values to the new generations. The Muslim communities, especially the new generations, are also negatively influenced by the material maladies of European society, such as family disintegration, sexual degradation, and the spread of drugs.
Poverty and limited financial resources also occupy a prominent place in the list of problems that are faced by Muslims and Islamic institutions. Large numbers of Muslims in the West came to Europe, in most cases, for the purpose of work and in pursuit of livelihood. Therefore, the economic factor constitutes a major concern and a great challenge for the migrants. They either pass the challenge and survive in this new society or go home. The largest proportion of these immigrants leads a life of poor subsistence on a minimal budget and suffers from various social and psychological pressures, in addition to political pressure at times.
We also can not neglect the negative impacts resulting from ethnic, sectarian and ideological differences among Muslims in Europe, which they imported from the Islamic Orient. These differences contributed, and continue to contribute, in hindering the comprehensive, integrated and leading role of the Da‘wah work of Islamic institutions in Europe. Add to that, there are groups and individuals who have immoderate attitudes and ideas, some of which may be described as extremist and offensive to Islam and Muslims in Europe.
Such people call for antagonizing the European society and even fighting it. What increases the negative impact of these extreme attitudes and ideas is the media’s focus on them, especially the media in the Arab and Islamic worlds, though these extremists represent only a small fraction of Muslims and Islamic institutions in Europe.
We conclude our account of the problems and constraints from which Muslims and Islamic institutions in Europe suffer with the major problem and the huge obstacle, namely the absence of an Islamic state. The Islamic state constitutes the role model that embodies the Islamic, humanitarian and cultural values and passes them to the whole world.