Ask a Muslim anything

[Lesschubtolove]

Another thread on a Quran being kicked about has brought up some pretty ugly stereotypes on Muslims and a perception that we all want blasphemy laws and death threats are part of our religion and that a Quran only matters in Arabic. None are true but it dawned on me actually that there are a lot of mistruths and Misconceptions about what Muslims believe, think or do.

Well ask away… the questions you maybe wanted to know but thought you might get in trouble for or would be frowned upon

Can Muslims be monarchists? I understand King Charles invited a range of faith leaders to the coronation but isn't it a fact that someone who is non C of E may find it a challenge to accept a monarchy who is of a different religion? I guess this is complicated by the fact that the monarch is 'anointed' as an earthly leader under God.

I’m not sure actually. I know as a Muslim living in a non Muslim land you must obey the law of the land. Some schools of thought have a big emphasis on obeying the ruler of the country so long as they don’t steer the state or the Muslims Into acts of disbelief.

I imagine it’s how you conceive of the royal family, if it’s one family chosen by God to rule over this people then no, I don’t think as a Muslim you could believe that, as there is no Islamic basis for it. But if it’s just this is the King of England, I guess you can support him.

@Lesschubtolove

Thank you for the reply and I understand that it's not only Islam that this question could be addressed to. I think the challenge would be that historically monarchy in the UK has been underpinned by the Anglican faith and the monarch is Governor of the C of E.

in your opinion would a Muslim child acknowledge the King as head of state but decouple from his religious standing?

I suppose an aligned question is what do you feel about a state church and should any state be aligned intimately with a particular religion?

I think it’s fine to acknowledge him as the head of the Church of England, because that doesn’t mean you’re a Christian just that you live in Christian lands. I guess it could be a moral dilemma if you had to personally swear allegiance to him, that’s not really applicable because he’s not been chosen to rule over the Muslims…
there is the larger question of is the royal family just… and is it just having a royal family. Islam has (as most religions do) have a strong emphasis on promoting good and standing against ‘bad’ and corruption.

i think even states that claim to be secular seldom ever are, in many ways religion is culture and culture is religion

@Lesschubtolove

it's interesting you say 'Christian lands' as in reality the number of actively practising Christians is dropping very sharply. I feel personally that Christianity in modern Britain is possibly more a cultural prop rather than a faith many are devoted to. I wonder if the historical links between Christianity and the UK establishment are being used in the much vaunted culture wars?

It is a tricky question acknowledging the King as head of state and the parallel question of alleigance. All MPs have to swear loyalty to the King no matter their personal faith as part of our constitutional order and the national anthem obviously involve s a kind of statement of allegiance as well as mentioning a Christian God.

incidentally what do you feel about the national anthem? Is it something that binds us as a people and invokes a positive sense of patriotism or is it anachronistic verse that marginalises those of other faiths (and republicans)?

This purely my own ignorance but would be able to explain how muslim women are viewed in muslim communities.

There's a lot of media and new stories that suggest women are treated as second class citizens. Is this true or does the Quaran teach equality?

Some of this might actually be a bit above my pay grade haha as it might be some complex fatwas.

but the national anthem would islamically be a no go as it’s both a hymn (sort of) and an anthem