Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Would you ... ? |
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| Arsalan |
| 09/20/01 at 19:09:06 |
| [slm] This is to my fellow brothers and sisters in the US: If your entire neighborhood put up an American flag outside their house in their front yard, would you put one up outside yours too? |
| Re: Would you ... ? |
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| se7en |
| 09/21/01 at 03:27:57 |
| wa alaykum as salaam wa rahmatAllah, No. I live in the "liberal" north though. You're situation may be different than mine; and the threat (to you and your family) may be much more serious. wasalaamu alaykum. |
| Re: Would you ... ? |
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| M.F. |
| 09/21/01 at 07:09:30 |
| Why not? What would be wrong with putting up a flag. And, if I'm going to stand out even more because I don't and therefore be a target, sure, I'll put one up. I'm not that brave. Besides, a flag to me is just a piece of cloth. It represents absolutely nothing. But it is important to other people and not putting one out when everyone else has agreed to may be seen as a kind of passive aggression. |
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| amatullah |
| 09/21/01 at 07:23:39 |
| Bismillah and salam, My answer would be a firm NO. But here is something I read yesterday from islam-online.net answered by shaikh Hanooti Question Could a muslim that is living in the USA extend his/her pledge and patriotism to the country by carrying a US flag or wearing a flag pin...etc? Answer A flag of a country is not a religious aspect especially when you talk of patriotism. It could be interpreted as your concern and attachment to your home, family and life. Nothing of that is a matter of ‘Ibadah, or deen (religion or faith). It is cultural. I don’t see anything wrong Islamically with having the American flag or any flag to be stationed or raised anywhere in your car, house, etc |
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| Kathy |
| 09/21/01 at 08:26:59 |
| I put it up, my husband took it down. Yet- when the city was lighting candles on their porches- he did not remove it when he came home. |
| Re: Would you ... ? |
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| Kashif |
| 09/21/01 at 09:28:33 |
| assalaamu alaikum On the way to Jumu'ah today i had a horrifying thought. What if worse came to worst and this fitnah escalated into a war of civilsations Islam V the West, and they banned all transport to the Muslim countries. What would i do? .... hmmm and if i died here, who would i be raised up with on the D/Judgment? Just a thought. Anyhow, back to the flag.. i guess it depends on your neighbourhood and what danger it would put you in if you didn't. Even if you put it on your lawn... the condition of the heart is what is most important. If you think its good to put it there, or you think its neither good nor bad, i'd say there is something wrong. How could you be happy or even impartial to displaying the flag of a country whose hands drip with the blood of innocents both Muslim and non-Muslim alike? Kashif Wa Salaam |
| Re: Would you ... ? |
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| shadow493 |
| 09/21/01 at 10:02:07 |
| [slm] i really wouldnt... b/c as a citizen i have the right to not agree with the policies :) |
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| Saleema |
| 09/21/01 at 11:32:01 |
| [slm] Not in a million years. But that's just my preferance, I don't see any harm in putting one up if there's danger I guess. [wlm] |
| Re: Would you ... ? |
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| se7en |
| 09/21/01 at 15:26:13 |
| [quote]Why not?[/quote][quote]It represents absolutely nothing.[/quote] Because patriotism is being used to beat the drums of war. Here's part of an article by Mark Driver: [i]Oh, man, Afghanistan. Just turn on the TV and see how doomed you are. They're cueing the reels of little kids saying the pledge of allegiance. A seven year old is holding up a picture of his missing fireman father. A WWII vet is sitting in a wheelchair with a flag in his hand. The camera is pulling in close on the President singing the Battle Hymn of the Republic. The Battle Hymn of the Republic! YOU ARE SO ******! [/i] In the car today, I saw two things pasted to the back window of the car in front of us. One was an American flag; the other was a picture of Osama bin Laden with the words, "Wanted: dead". That's the mentality the American flag symbolizes. It's not a sign of peace, liberty, or justice. It's not a sign of responsibly finding those who have perpetrated these attacks and dealing with them in the most appropriate way; it's not a sign of standing by America when it's right and holding it accountable when it's wrong. But it does represent something -- it represents allegiance at no matter what cost; it represents war; it represents uniting together against a common enemy, and "taking out these Arab bastards" even though there is no evidence that Arabs are responsible. Patriotism is being used as a tool, to make people so full of "God and country" they turn a blind eye to the injustices committed in their name, in the name of "infinite justice". I'm not saying it's haram; just that I would not have one on my property (or car or person.. all things I've seen.) They freak me out. Make me think of burning crosses, internment camps, bombing civilians. [quote]when the city was lighting candles on their porches- he did not remove it when he came home.[/quote] Candles don't signify war or vengeance to me. They symbolize remembrance of God, turning to Him in this time of turmoil and despair, coming together as communities of faith seeking peace and justice -- not revenge. I've been to a crazy amoung of vigils these past weeks. The atmosphere is always somber and serious, contemplative and respectful. No hate, no blood thirsty people. Again, these are just my thoughts, for what they're worth, and these are my personal reasons for not putting one up in front of my house. wAllahu a'lam. wasalaamu alaykum. |
| Re: Would you ... ? |
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| Kathy |
| 10/04/01 at 16:25:40 |
| slm It is so amazing that a piece of cloth can bring forth such strong emotions. Every country's flag is dripping with blood. Just depends on who you ask. I know the atrocities my country has committed. In my mind and others,the flag does not represent the errors- but the struggles. While so many of you are experiancing the worst of people, I am experiancing the best. The behavior of the citizens have been wonderful, here in my neck of the woods. I have received so many calls of concern and support. People look a little more than they used to- if they are angry or scared I don't see it. I also know after a murder or bank robbery if I see a man of the same race aproaching me- I tense up. Perhaps not the politically correct thing to say- but never the less- true. My brother is a red neck beer drinking truck driver who lives in a trailor park. He never got over the fact that I became Muslim. He has barely spoken to me in the last 15+ years. Last night he called offering his protection. Apparently while on the job the boys were "Muslim bashing." He actually layed them out and 'admitted' his sister was 'one of them' and told them about Islam. Allah who allum- I never expected dawah from him! I asked him if he thought I needed to be concerned- he said no. It is the same thing I heard from the cab driver.(These guys always know what is happening!) He explained to me that America was started because of relgious persecution. He may not agree wth me- but he knows I have the right to worship whom ever I wish. He is right. My husband freaks out when he hears my phone conversations. He can not talk freely in his country- he grew up that way- where there were limits. I didn't. Makes me think of the holocost, 6 million jews- did they hide, were they afraid to speak up? I am not going to let the handful of idiots lock me in the house. I am not going to let the media spin it's web and capture me. I am an American I have my rights and liberties. This is what the flag means to me. Although I wish to be living in an Islamic country- this does not exist. America is as close as we are going to get, in my life time, and I am so greatful to be living here. So when I see the flag sometimes I get real angry and see its blood. I also remember that it represents the people too- not just the goverment. |
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