Reaction to Woolwich - Russell Brand

I know what you're thinking, "What's an article by Russell Brand doing on your blog?!" For a moment put aside your image of the eccentric, new-age, manic personality that you've seen on TV and remember the idiom "Never judge a book by it's cover"! 

The following post was published on Russell's website. Although  the English comedian, actor and author is known for his eccentric and sometimes controversial personality he has written an interesting article in relation the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich.  The article gives a balanced and articulate answer to those who seek to use the tragic and sad events to sow division within society.  Perhaps there is some truth in the saying that, "Artists are the gatekeepers of truth".

*~~~* 

Woolwich
May 25th, 2013

The news cycle moves so quickly now that often we learn of an event through other people’s reaction to it. So it was when I arrived in Los Angeles to find my twitter feed contorted with posts of fear and confusion.

I caught up with the sad malice in Woolwich and felt compelled to tweet in casual defense of the Muslim community who were being haphazardly condemned by a few people on my time line. Perhaps a bit glibly (but what isn’t glib in 140 characters) I put “That bloke is a nut. A nut who happens to be Muslim. Blaming Muslims for this is like blaming Hitler’s moustache for the Holocaust”.

Woolwich Attack - Comment

Woolwich attack: MI5 'offered job to suspect' says friend

The shocking murder of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich has been deeply troubling and Muslims wholeheartedly condemn these abhorrent acts.  There is no validity or justification  in  the teachings of Islam and the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) for indiscriminate and cold-blooded murder.  Kindness and compassion  without limitations is an  Attribute of Allah (swt), Allah is "ar-Rahman and ar-Rahim", He is merciful to both disbelievers and believers.  This mercy was manifested in its purest form by our beloved Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) and there are many narrations which exemplify this.  An oft quoted hadeeth states: "God is kind and likes kindness in all things" (Bukhari 6601).  

We live in testing and difficult times and these events have only given the opponents of Islam fuel with which to further inflame the climate of fear that has been created.

 

As Muslims we will witness our faith being demonised once again and portrayed as a violent, anti-western ideology.  There has been an alarming rise in anti-Muslim attacks both physical, verbal and through the social media and  Muslims in general but particularly reverts may feel antagonism from family and friends who are not Muslim.  

Undoubtedly the Muslim community has to seriously think about how it educates and supports not only those newly entered into the faith but also Muslims by birth; knowledge is the key, for a knowledgeable person does not make a fool of himself nor his faith.  We must be informed as to our Islamic rights and obligations  when living in a non-Muslim environment, so that we can rebut malicious untruths that are spread in the media and so that we reflect the true teachings of "mainstream" Islam in a logical and coherent manner.  The West's stereotypical image of a Muslim is one of angry, banner waiving men and women with contorted faces shouting "Death to the West".  We must counter these stereotypes through our acts and deeds in order to portray the true beauty of our faith, a faith that brings peace and tranquility to our daily lives.

We must also be mindful of the fact that we cannot trust the media as being impartial and non-partisan. The labeling of the incident in Woolwich as a "terrorist" act is totally unfounded and unjustified. These were the actions of misguided individuals and not that of an organised group.  Indeed recent reports of MI5's  knowledge and  efforts to recruit one of the individuals and his mistreatment whilst on a recent visit to Kenya brings into question whether we will ever know the entirety of this story.

Articles related to the Woolwich attack:

Hamza Yusuf:        Start Practicing or Stop Pretending

BBC :                    Woolwich attack: MI5 'offered job to suspect'

New Statesman:   Woolwich terror attack: Muslims shouldn't have to distance themselves

                            After Woolwich: how the media got it wrong and how the public can get it right

                            Woolwich deserves better than the attention of murderers and EDL racists

Wideshut:            Woolwich Attack: Hysteria, Exploitation and Blowback