Why I Love Being British - Part 1

It’s the new age question that is all over the media these days - are we British Muslims or Muslims living in Britain? For me the question is completely irrelevant.

Why should we separate the two? Isn't splitting the nation into Muslims and Non-Muslims more destructive to society? Who cares if I say I am a Muslim first and a Brit second? I wake up every day swearing that Allah is the one true God and Islam is my faith based on the final messenger Muhammad SAW and throughout my day I read about local and national issues, I support my local MP, I help lobby parliament on issues that are important to me. For example right now I'm writing to Prime Minister Gordon Brown to confirm his attendance as he is yet to do for the Copenhagen conference this December where world leaders will discuss the important issues of climate change and how it is affecting the world we live in. All of this in between my job, my prayers and whatever else I can fit in between.

You see part of being a Muslim is being an active citizen. Our beloved Messenger SAW taught us to care for our community, be good to our neighbours, contribute to the economy by halal means and to respect the law of the land. I question what could be more British than this?

Allah says in the Quran that “Ye are the best community that hath been raised up for mankind” 3:110. We as Muslims should strive to be the best community which means we educate ourselves to the highest standards, we are the most law abiding and the most caring and respectful to our parents, all are which are Great British principles. Muslims should strive to be the top of their classes, be the best at helping the old and the needy and be the best at looking after the environment which is a precious gift from Allah.

I for one have taken a importance stance that I make it my responsibility to recycle and help reduce climate change, I encourage you all to do the same and hope that Inshallah we as a Muslim community become the best and be the front runners in protecting the earth that Allah has created for us to live on.