Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| What do you think? |
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| Magableh |
| 04/19/01 at 19:17:53 |
| Dear Brothers and Sisters, Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu! Okay, so say I wanted to move to the UK, what would your advice be? Would you recommend it? Is it a good place to raise children? How is the Muslim community? How's the weather? What else can you tell me about it? :) I'm thinking of moving...and I want a big change. All of my life I had considered moving to the UK, or even Sweden (too cold). My best (girl) friend lives in Stockholm. Wa'assalam, Serena |
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| BrKhalid |
| 04/19/01 at 19:25:09 |
| Asalaamu Alaikum ;-) [quote]How's the weather? [/quote] Oh please don't get me started ;-) InshaAllah I'll respond more fully over the next few days In the meantime I can feel the effects of that late night beverage kicking in ;-) Wasalaam Br Khalid |
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| eleanor |
| 04/20/01 at 05:19:55 |
| I'd also like to know the job and housing situation, esp. in London. wasalaam eleanor |
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| muhannad |
| 04/20/01 at 15:37:03 |
| [quote] Okay, so say I wanted to move to the UK, what would your advice be? Would you recommend it? Is it a good place to raise children? How is the Muslim community? How's the weather? What else can you tell me about it? [/quote] Generally its okay, I can only speak about the main cities (london, birmingham, manchester), i don't know much about the countryside. As far as children are concerned then again its relative to your situation. I am always afraid that raising children here in the west can often produce people with split personalities (schizophrenics !). For example wherever one walks he will come across people undressed whether posters or real people. i think the muslims, esp the younger generation (of which I am a part of) are much more islamically aware than their predecessors. Like Kashif said, some areas are blatantly obvious to be muslim (e.g. tons of brothers walking around with beards etc, sisters in jilbab). The communities are growing but this will take time. From what I have heard its better than the USA because muslims are more scattered over there. For example last weekend there were four events in london over the weekend (each attracting good numbers each). Weather-wise, then its not really a problem. (remember we like rain, a good chance for du'a to be accepted !). You get cold winters and hot summers (hot means upto 32-33 c). If you think it suits you then it can be a good place to live islamically but I personally don't believe anything substantial can ever be achieved by muslims in the west, they are just not efficient or serious enough to effect real change. Allah knows best ps. I wouldn't touch any scandinavian country with a barge pole - Islam there is BAD !! |
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| BrKhalid |
| 04/22/01 at 10:24:04 |
| Asalaamu Alaikum ;-) The following is just my opinion. It would be interesting to see what the other Brits think (especially the sisters) in order to give a more rounded view. [quote] Would you recommend it? Is it a good place to raise children? How is the Muslim community? [/quote] Like Br muhannad said there are areas (esp in London) which contains large numbers of Muslims and there tends to be a good community spirit. Although I would say these communities are still very much along cultural lines. As for children, we still lack good Islamic Schools so you’d probably be reliant on the state sector. Education there can vary and as always you’ll have to be super vigilant to make sure you child is not being influenced by his peers and the environment around him. The advantage of living here, though, is that I still feel the British are very tolerant when it comes to Islam. There aren’t many things that you won’t be able to do when it comes to your religion. I sometimes wonder whether the Muslims living here realise how lucky they are when compared to the stories of oppression you hear from other parts of the world. [quote]I'd also like to know the job and housing situation, esp. in London.[/quote] Don’t really know enough about it Sr Eleanor. But I would say that it depends on a whole load of factors such as what type of work you were looking for and whether you would qualify for a house under local authority regulations. Being the capital, London’s house prices tend to be extortionate and I’ve heard many people from overseas say that the cost of living in London is really expensive. [quote] i think the muslims, esp the younger generation (of which I am a part of) are much more islamically aware than their predecessors [/quote] Yeah I’d agree with that. Just wish there was more of them!! As far as the weather goes, it ain’t Cali so no need to bring those shades. ;-) For the Americans, temperatures average about mid 70’s in the summer and mid 30’s in the winter (assuming you don't live in Scotland!!) |
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| shak |
| 04/23/01 at 13:50:43 |
| Asalaamu Alaikum Living in UK ain't that bad, it depends what city you live in. For example living in Glasgow I know there's quite a lot of muslims there now and islamic classes are starting to pop up. I found recently there was also Muslim Scouts for the younger kids now too. Although I would agree with BrKhalid that communities are still very much along cultural lines. Scotland does tend to be on the cold side but you get used to it! |
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| meraj |
| 04/24/01 at 19:25:37 |
| slm, welcome aboard shak... enjoy your stay inshallah.. and intro yourself in the bebzi stand! :) - the welcoming wagon ;-D |
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| Kashif |
| 04/25/01 at 03:29:11 |
| assalaamu alaikum Well done Meraj.. you must have some type of homing device to track down and welcome new Madinites! Serena, i've been meaning to put down my thoughts about living in the UK too, but i've been a bit busy recently. I'll try to do so a lil later insha'llah. Kashif Wa Salaam |
| NS |
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| Barr |
| 04/25/01 at 12:18:44 |
| Wa'alaikumussalam, ukhti :) Though I just lived in the UK for a short while, I hope this helps... of course, I think those who have lived there all their lives, would be able to give you a better picture, inshaALlah :) Please correct me, if I get any of these info wrong, inshaALlah. Islam came to the UK about 400 years ago. The indegenious Muslims, who converted to Islam via their journeys and brought Islam to the UK. All the while, they have been practising Islam secretly. Then in the 60's, there's a influx of immigrants which brought in new dynamism of Muslims in Britain. Most of them came from the Indo-Pak region. There were also political asylum seekers from the middle-east, Africa and many parts of the world. These Muslims are more "obvious" to the general British society, and they also brought in a very rich culture, though it may not be complementary or parallel to Islam. Most of them practice the Hanafi mazhab. Of course, among those immigrants includes those who practice da'wah and would like to improve the condition of the society. By the 80's/ early 90’s, there were a lot of Muslim organisations that were formed, with the aim to increase Islamic awareness and practice. University students were/are mobilised and alhamdulillah, people are more active now in the society than before. I would say that there has been an Islamic resurgence in Britain, and personally, I do feel that Britain is a place where Islam can thrive. (and I'm VERY optimistic abt this) Alhamdulillah, in the UK, since it is a pluralistic society, there have been steps to increase cohesiveness and co-operation amongst Muslims and non-Muslims (mostly those who believe in God) to help create a better society in Britain. This is possible, as there are common grounds eg. secularism which is a worry for those who believe in God (regardless of religion), as the results of secularism, are blatantly obvious, ie. Increase in social/ communal problems such as teenage pregnancies, drug abuse, dysfunctional families etc etc etc. Err.. sorry for my ramblings.. but I thought U might like to know a rough background, inshaALlah… Moving swiftly back to your questions… :) I think moving to anywhere in the world can be a good thing if we ourselves are clear on why we’d like to move there, and how that reason fit with Islam and what Allah wants. I think only U can answer this. In addition to that, living in any place in the world, I think we have to bear in mind the responsibility that binds us, ie. To not become a passive citizen of the country, but inshaALlah, an active one who would be able to give positive contributions to the society (subjected to our capabilities). We should always consider ourselves as Ambassadors of Islam. In the UK, people generally have a preconceived mis-conception of Islam itself, and it is the direct responsibility of Muslims in Britain, to correct that conception. Just living a passive life there, or anywhere in the world would not cut it. People have got to see the contributions that Islam can bring to the society, and this can only be done when Muslims are active. That they are not only concerned about fellow Muslims, but the fact that their belief can provide waves, if not ripples, of goodness to society. Hence, efforts to work hand-in-hand on issues (of course, to be placed in context and priorities), of the society in general should also be considered. Generally, I find that though some sections of the general British society can be quite cold and misunderstand Islam, I still feel that there is also a growing awareness amongst non-Muslims plus, I feel that they can be very open towards it, alhamdulillah. It is how we present it, and how “friendly” is our approach to help them understand, inshaAllah. Of course, UK practices very relaxed censorship and pornography policies, and hence it is very easy to find porno magazines in shops, TV.. and even the billboard advertisements can be very … ermm… shocking! (well, probably not if you’re from the US! :) ) As for Islamic schools, there are not many, though the number is growing, but ever so slowly, whereas demand always exceed the supply. This is mainly due to lack of funds, and the bulk of Muslims are generally not within middle/ upper class category, hence, raising funds are difficult as well, plus, Govt. subsidies are very difficult to get and has got a lot of strings attached too. Plus, sometimes, the local general society in that area may not welcome the existence of a full-time Islamic school. But inshaAllah, there are some good schools (non-Muslim ones), which maintain high standards of quality education, but parents must play an active role to instill Islamic values and the correct worldview of life. And this can be a very tough job, as what the general society believes in and how they practice their lives can be at the opposite end of what we want our children to become. Hence, children’s tarbiyah have got to start from very young, and parents have got to be extra vigilant about this. But of course, children should not see Islam as something to be trodden down their throats. As for mosques, I feel that there should be more co-ordinated efforts for mosques to work together… but of course, before, that.. mosques in the UK, should find common ground with each other rather than seeing a mosque as a “cultural” centre (this is one thing about the UK that upsets me) of a particular ethnicity.. meaning, the labelling of a Pakistani mosque, Somali mosque, Yemeni mosque.. and sometimes, these mosques would celebrate Eid on different days… pray at different times.. astarghfirullah… seriously, I think this is a serious problem. But of course, we can discuss about mosques and suggestions for improvements till the cow comes home… But my 2 cents (or 2 pennies) … UK is not a bad place to live at all…I myself would not mind living there. But it’s better to settle within a good Muslim community, that is active, inshaAllah (and I can only speak of Muslim communities in Liverpool & Manchester - but that would be another LONG story with their own dynamics!). And U would find wonderful and good people amongst them, both Muslims and non-Muslims… and one thing about the UK, that will stay in my heart is the love and friendship that I found with those hearts who love Allah. It is these hearts that I can never forget, and whom I think of everyday, though I’m halfway across the world…, and those hearts come with skins of various colours, and ethnic background, but Islam brought us together, mashaALlah. :) And it saddens me each time I think of them, knowing that it’ll either be a long long time, before we meet again… or perhaps, never at all… (maybe in Jannah [the real one!] :)) inshaAllah – Ok, I’m getting emotional, now. :( Ermmm… I do apologise… my message has been very long, and I don’t think I’ve done justice answering your questions, as there r some points that I highlighted and some which I did not, whereas there are so many things about the UK, that we can discuss, mashaAllah. InshaALlah, I can mail U more of what I think of the UK, inshaAllah… if I can have your e-mail? Please message me, if U’d like, ukhti :) Take care, and make du'a on the place whom ALlah would bless U to be, inshaAllah :-) |
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| BrKhalid |
| 04/25/01 at 17:50:25 |
| Asalaamu Alaikum ;-) Insightful stuff Sr Barr even for those of us already living here! [quote]But of course, we can discuss about mosques and suggestions for improvements till the cow comes home… [/quote] May be when the foot & mouth outbreak calms down we can discuss this at length. |
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| Safiya |
| 04/25/01 at 20:14:07 |
| [slm] the weather in the uk is briliant nice n rainy i would chose dhurul islam n e day over dhurul kufr but noadays there appears to be not much difference... i have i too have this great fear about raising my kids in this country.... u know think about your child if i remem correctly the prophet [saw] said the best thing a father can give his child is knowledge and (i think) good manners so pick the country in terms of good islamic ed for your child and yourself.... no i dont think i would advice you to come to the uk choose an islamic country.... please please i'd like to be corrected if im worng on what i have quoted the prophet [saw] said that he is free off those that live in the lands of kufr i know one is permitted to stay on conditions.... may Allah help u make the right decision |
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