Sufi Muslim Council
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The Sufi Muslim Council (SMC) was launched on 19 July 2006.[1] The SMC is a non-profit, non-governmental religious organisation dedicated to working for the cause of Islam. UK govt database for non-profit religious org status.
The group claims to represent British Sufi Muslims.[2] Sufism, being Islamic mysticism.[3] An aspect or dimension of Islam. Sufi orders (Tariqas) can be found in Sunni, Shia and other Islamic groups. [1]Ibn Khaldun the 14th Century Arab historian described Sufism as:
… dedication to worship, total dedication to Allah most High, disregard for the finery and ornament of the world, abstinence from the pleasure, wealth, and prestige sought by most men, and retiring from others to worship alone'.[4]
The group claims that up to 80% of Britain's 2 million Muslims come from the Sufi tradition, which is a mystical and personal interpretation of Islam and largely apolitical.[2]. However, the figure of 80% has been challenged by the groups critics.
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[edit] Sufi Muslim Council: Mission Statement
The SMC was launched with the backing of the government and other faith groups. Politicians from the main parties welcomed the establishment of the group. The SMC states that it differs from the plethora of other British Islamic groups in that its approach to Islam is less political and hence less confrontational. It tends to view British Muslims as part of mainstream British society rather than separate from it.[5] The group is widely perceived to act as a counter to the Muslim Council of Britain.
[edit] The Sufi Muslim Council and Islamic Extremism
The SMC has taken a strong stand against radical Islamic extremism prevailent amongst some Muslim youth in the UK, as illustrated by the 7/7 terrorist attacks carried out by predominanly by young Muslims of British Pakistani descent. In its website the group states that...'While every religion rejects acts of tyranny, injustice and oppression, extremism is found in every religion.[3] As Muslims we are supporters of love, peace, justice, respect and tolerance. Thus, we see it as our duty to continue to shed light on current events while doing our best to see that the wave of militant radicalism sweeping Muslim nations does not strike again in UK, where we live'.
[edit] Rivalry between the Sufi Muslim Council and the Muslim Council of Britain
Given their different approaches to expressing the religion of Islam, both the SMC and the MCB have criticised each other regarding the extent to which unelected community organisations can fight Islamic extremism and alienation from the mainstream. The MCB has dismissed the SMC as 'unrepresentative and divisive'. Meanwhile the SMC has accused existing organisations for not doing enough to engage with and tackle radicalism within British Muslim communities. [4]
[edit] The Sufi Muslim Council and Craig Murray
Craig Murray, the former British Ambassador to Uzbekistan, has written an article claiming that the group is a Labour government project designed to replace the Muslim Council of Britain.[6]
[edit] SMC and Neoconservatism
The SMC website and published media contain articles such as 'The Muslim Brotherhood's Conquest of Europe' and 'Islamic Radicalism - Its Wahhabi Roots and current representation' which were written by neoconservative authors.[citation needed]
[edit] References
- http://www.sufimuslimcouncil.org/aboutus.html
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5193402.stm
- http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,,1824131,00.html
- http://www.craigmurray.co.uk/archives/2006/08/the_neoconserva.html
