Growing up in London, UK to Bangladeshi born immigrant parents, I wonder how life was difficult for them when they came to this country.
Back in the 1960 to 1990's when I parents had come and settled in UK, life here for non-whites was rough. Racism was rife. In 1978 a Bangladeshi by the name of Altab Ali (Rahimahullah) got murdered by whites.
My own parents were victims of racism as were many other people. Very few were educated and many didn't have jobs or held positions like we see today within individual Muslims. But they stood strong, they raised their voice against racism, as evident by protests held after Altab Ali's death.
Racism wasn't the only challenge. Speaking English or not even speaking English was a huge challenge. Financial issues, many having to send money back to their loved ones in their respective countries, was a great concern for many.
Despite these challenges, with a very small Muslim population that we see today, many of our elders had great concern of preserving the dheen. There was a time when people would want to pray Jumuah on a Sunday due to the fear that if they took time off on a Friday, they wouldn't get paid by their bosses.
Some such as Shaykh Yusuf Motala (Rahimahullah) started the first Darul Uloom in UK, whilst others set up maktabs and Masajid around the country in territories that were unwelcoming of Muslims. Others like him immigrated to UK from countries such as India, Bangladesh, Pakistan etc to promote and preserve the dheen.
Others preserved dheen in their hearts, or taught their children about Allah and His Messenger Sallallahu Alyhiwasallam. Some of our parents were not Alims or Huffaz themselves, but taught us our dheen through stories and their own actions. Today the children of those individuals have become 'Ulama.
We should never think that despite our education, jobs roles, positions etc that we are better than those who came before us. If they hadn't laid the seeds, we wouldn't enjoy the fruits. These elders have experienced life and we should learn from them.
It would be a great thing to at least keep them in our Du'as. We owe a great deal to them. Unfortunately, we see a great divide between the youth and elders, for various justifiable reasons.
One of the concerns people have is seeing many elders or older people hanging onto committee positions in a Masjid and not giving the younger people a chance. We have to appreciate how they were able to build Masajid despite the challenges they faced. If we want a spot on the committee, then we need to earn it. Get their trust and show them that we can carry on their legacy.
May Allah reward our elders and preserve them, forgive them and grant Jannatul Firdaus to those who have left us, Aameen.
Back in the 1960 to 1990's when I parents had come and settled in UK, life here for non-whites was rough. Racism was rife. In 1978 a Bangladeshi by the name of Altab Ali (Rahimahullah) got murdered by whites.
My own parents were victims of racism as were many other people. Very few were educated and many didn't have jobs or held positions like we see today within individual Muslims. But they stood strong, they raised their voice against racism, as evident by protests held after Altab Ali's death.
Racism wasn't the only challenge. Speaking English or not even speaking English was a huge challenge. Financial issues, many having to send money back to their loved ones in their respective countries, was a great concern for many.
Despite these challenges, with a very small Muslim population that we see today, many of our elders had great concern of preserving the dheen. There was a time when people would want to pray Jumuah on a Sunday due to the fear that if they took time off on a Friday, they wouldn't get paid by their bosses.
Some such as Shaykh Yusuf Motala (Rahimahullah) started the first Darul Uloom in UK, whilst others set up maktabs and Masajid around the country in territories that were unwelcoming of Muslims. Others like him immigrated to UK from countries such as India, Bangladesh, Pakistan etc to promote and preserve the dheen.
Others preserved dheen in their hearts, or taught their children about Allah and His Messenger Sallallahu Alyhiwasallam. Some of our parents were not Alims or Huffaz themselves, but taught us our dheen through stories and their own actions. Today the children of those individuals have become 'Ulama.
We should never think that despite our education, jobs roles, positions etc that we are better than those who came before us. If they hadn't laid the seeds, we wouldn't enjoy the fruits. These elders have experienced life and we should learn from them.
It would be a great thing to at least keep them in our Du'as. We owe a great deal to them. Unfortunately, we see a great divide between the youth and elders, for various justifiable reasons.
One of the concerns people have is seeing many elders or older people hanging onto committee positions in a Masjid and not giving the younger people a chance. We have to appreciate how they were able to build Masajid despite the challenges they faced. If we want a spot on the committee, then we need to earn it. Get their trust and show them that we can carry on their legacy.
May Allah reward our elders and preserve them, forgive them and grant Jannatul Firdaus to those who have left us, Aameen.
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