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Hamza Yusuf Conference in London and Glasgow
Anonymous
04/02/01 at 22:23:46
What did people think of the Hamza Yusuf conference in London and Glasgow? What were the details of the talk?

Re: Hamza Yusuf Conference in London and Glasgow
Anwar
04/11/01 at 18:32:39
Aslamu alaikum I went to talk in London, and came back with various impressions of it. About George Monbiat: An Interesting talk given. He spoke at length about how ad organisations target small children at an early age, and enslave their minds to consume their commodities for life. About Imam Hamza Yusuf: Absorbing as always, below are a few memorable moments from his talk He spoke of a western woman who once said to him “ The main problem that we have in the world today are you Muslims, there are too many of you! “ To which he replied “ All of the 6 billion Bangladeshi’s don’t eat as much as you do!!” He told the account of a simple man living in the desert being asked by a modern Westerner how long it takes him to travel from one point in Africa to another (I can’t remember the exact points), to which he replied two weeks by his regular mode of transport, the camel, the westerner boasted the same journey takes me 2 hours by plane, the man then asked him what do you do with your spare time? At one point he started to imitate Robert De Niro and Clint Eastwood in reflecting the violent tendencies that have become so pervasive among human beings as a result of culture indoctrination. Having said all that I still did not agree with everything Imam Hamza Yusuf said, he mentioned that he personally disapproved of the Taleban’s act in destroying the idols. I felt he should have kept this opinion of his to himself at that particular juncture. Whilst preaching on the harms of the consumer culture and its adverse effects on the society, it is not fitting to then criticise a nation who in the face of adversity and world isolation courageously opposes this culture more so than any other nation.       Now this public disapproval of his is so tragically untimely, taking into consideration the support the Taleban require from their fellow Muslim brethren at this moment in time, especially from people of influence and standing such as him. My greatest fear is the many brothers and sisters who came to the talk going away with an anti-Taleban feeling and choosing not to help or support them in the future, this is how much a person who is revered and loved can influence his/her followers. This move’s me onto the next point that I was going to make about the event, which is the completely unacceptable behaviour of a hundred or so brothers after Hamza Yusuf’s talk who jumped on to the podium surrounding and smothering him, he had to eventually be shielded out quickly by security. I was told later by a friend of mine who went to ask him a question that some crazy guy grabbed Hamza Yusuf’s hands and started kissing them. Another friend of mine commented on observing these events that this is how the kuffar treat their superstars, aoo zu billah. Now this is exactly the kind of extreme behaviour that can lead people astray and be also cause of great fitnah for the speaker as well. Wa salam

Re: Hamza Yusuf Conference in London and Glasgow
BrKhalid
04/04/01 at 02:18:35
Asalaamu Alaikum ;-) With respect to the church point I understand what you’re saying Br Anwar. I would like to believe, however, that the organisers were well aware of this point when they decided to stage the event there. Maybe the need to maximise audience participation led them to hold it at an accessible venue with adequate facilities for the numbers involved? The point about the conference also being targeted to non muslims may have played an important factor as well. I don’t think there was ever going to be any chance of holding one congregation for prayer given the number of people who attended. As for your last point, I had left the hall and didn’t see what happened. But it reminded me of how sincere your intention has to be when you go to these conferences. We all know Hamza Yusuf is a big attraction nowadays but you attend to gain knowledge from him and not just to “see him” or to be “entertained”. Otherwise, how are these talks different from your modern day pop concerts? All in all though, I came back with new ideas and I hope that all those who attended acquired an increase in knowledge.

Re: Hamza Yusuf Conference in London and Glasgow
Anwar
04/11/01 at 18:34:48
Aslamu alaikum Jazakh Allah khair for your response br Khalid. About the church being accessible and having adequate facilities, well I believe that there are many mosques in London as well as other venues having the same if not better facilities. Also I don't want to sound like a broken record but I must again stress the importance of giving our money to the right places, as Muslims we must start supporting Mosques as well as developing our own "big venues" to hold all our "big talks". [quote]I don’t think there was ever going to be any chance of holding one congregation for prayer given the number of people who attended.[/quote] Well at the QM Dinner a very similer number of people turned up and from what I was told they managed to hold one congregation prayer, because the venue allowed them to do so. Also I heard that after the talks they held an auction to raise money for an Islamic school project which is set to open in London called Al-Noor, and check this, they managed to raise £10,000 for the school, MAA SHA'ALLAH. This is how we Muslims should take advantage of events like these to help the ummah. [quote]All in all though, I came back with new ideas and I hope that all those who attended acquired an increase in knowledge.[/quote] I hope so too insha'Allah wa salam

Re: Hamza Yusuf Conference in London and Glasgow
BrKhalid
04/04/01 at 11:39:47
Asalaamu Alaikum ;-) Yep some fair points Br Anwar. It would be nice to speak to the organisers so we could get their point of view. [quote]as Muslims we must start supporting Mosques as well as developing our own "big venues" to hold all our "big talks"[/quote] Couldn't agree more. At the end of the day, that's the only real solution to the problem. [quote]Also I heard that after the talks they held an auction to raise money for an Islamic school project which is set to open in London called Al-Noor, and check this, they managed to raise £10,000 for the school, MAA SHA'ALLAH. This is how we Muslims should take advantage of events like these to help the ummah[/quote] £10,000 in one night? That truly is amazing. Do you know where this Al-Noor school is btw?

Re: Hamza Yusuf Conference in London and Glasgow
muhannad
04/04/01 at 14:20:50
[quote]£10,000 in one night? That truly is amazing. Do you know where this Al-Noor school is btw? [/quote] Actually I think this has been slightly misconstrued. In total we raised about £10, 000 (of which a few grand was from the sale of 4 paintings/artwork).  If anyone can get hold of the video, it is hilarious.  Dr.Bilal was playing the brothers off against the sisters, who were shouting out crazing numbers from the balcony.   yep, I have to admit it , we (males) lost out that night Maghrib Salah was prayed in near enough 1 jama'ah. For the organisers it was a nightmare. May Allah reward them, amin Although I did see a second group of about 30 bros who came back late from Wudu.   p.s. the school will be in East London, (East Ham) if my memory serves me right, (akh KAshif can confirm this)

Re: Hamza Yusuf Conference in London and Glasgow
Kashif
04/04/01 at 17:59:38
assalaamu alaikum The school is near East Ham - in Ilford. I've been inside the property that they've bought and it is a wonderful building indeed. It is very deserving of our wealth, and i urge all UK brothers and sisters to dig deep into their pockets for money to support this school. Donate yourselves, and get your uncles and aunties and friends to donate too! If you can't do that please give them a non-interest loan, and Allah doesn't let any act of goodness go unrewarded. They've raised over ~£300,000 so far, and they need £124,000 in 2 weeks! http://www.al-noor.co.uk Kashif Wa Salaam

Re: Hamza Yusuf Conference in London and Glasgow
Anwar
04/11/01 at 19:04:57
Aslamu alaikum I have modified my two previous posts above, because I believe I made disparaging comments about the actual event and the organisers without justification. I did not have the right to make such comments, since I did not seek clarification from those who I criticised. So I withdraw the previous statements I made about their choice of venue and ticket pricing, since I do not have the full knowledge and ujderstanding of their predicament in organising such an event to pass a judgement on their decisions. I regret making such statements, as my intention was not to pass unfair judgment and criticise unjustly such as I did, but just to share my experiences of the conference. I will be much more careful next time. wa salam
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