Far-Right on the Rise or Disenfranchised Desperation?

As concerns around far-right political narratives sweep across Europe, similar recent electoral success in the UK have sparked fears about the impact of these victories and potential future victories on the Muslim community and other minority communities here in the UK, where clear anti-immigration tone is foremost and seemingly being used as a dog-whistle by some for anti-Islam propaganda.

Are these far-right positions taking hold due to genuine concern for the masses, or are they simply riding a wave of desperation expressed by the disenfranchised parts of society guiled into pinning the blame for the ongoing UK societal dissatisfaction upon immigrants, and – according to some – Islam? There will always be those who have bigoted, racist, and xenophobic views within any society, but what we are seeing unfold today seems to be the frustration of a society that has not been looked after as they should have by successive governments in the UK who have been vying for their votes, decades past.

People are fed up with the constant lies and failures of political parties which seem forever to be haemorrhaging trust, perhaps because their priorities no longer align with those of the general population. Masses of once dependable, party-loyal voters were lost by parties due to back-breaking stances taken in support of the Zionist entity that is Israel, and it seems masses of votes will continue to be lost due to these parties serving the interests of the wealthy and upper echelons of society over the very people the parties were established to serve: the working classes.

The masses have seen that the current approach by the political parties with their statements and slogans regarding serving the British public before others were simply empty words used for the interests of acquiring office; after which, more of the same policies were dished out – severely impacting the very people they were supposedly concerned for. Now the resulting wave after wave of frustration, in the UK as in Europe, is being manipulated within pollical rhetoric to otherize and blame migrants whilst completely ignoring the real reason for the societal struggles of so many in the UK: a dysfunctional hierarchy which places the interests of the wealthy over the interests of everyone else.

A few points we as Muslims can consider in light of far-right political gains:

The First:

With the inevitable growth of Islam, there will be a growth in naysayers and those who are at odds with Islam, whether due to spiritual reasons or political. As Muslims, it is important to remember that this is the sunnah of Allah and one which our Prophet (pbuh) was reminded of frequently through revelation during his own struggles with his people. Allah The Exalted informs during the story of prophet Ibrahim: 

And if you reject me, then many nations have rejected their messengers before you. The messenger has no more obligation than to convey the message clearly. [Al-Ankabut, verse 18]

Through this verse we learn that the outcome is not our responsibility, but rather we have been charged with conveying the message. As for the outcome, Allah tells us:

Do you think that you will enter Paradise while you have not yet been visited by (difficult) circumstances like those that were faced by the people who passed away before you? They were afflicted by hardship and suffering, and were so shaken down that the prophet, and those who believed with him, started saying: “When (will come) the help of Allah?” (Then, they were comforted by the Prophet who said to them) ‘Behold, the help of Allah is near.’ [Al-Baqarah, verse 214]

This verse clearly informs us that the path to success in both this life and the next is one of difficulty, and it is a path that must be traversed by all who call to Allah. In reference to those who were sent before and were tested by their people, Allah has informed us that His aid is a promise:

and it was due on Us to help the believers. [Ar-Rum, verse 47]

and Allah does not break His promises:

It is a promise from Allah. Allah does not fail in His promise, but most of the people do not know. [Ar-Rum, verse 6]

Therefore, we must be patient with the difficulties that lie ahead as people return to Islam, and we must hope for the reward of any difficulty we face individually and collectively consequently from Islam’s growth.

The Second:

As the noise from the usual media scandalmongers, politicians, and other such mouthpieces for anti-Islam rhetoric increases, we must struggle and strive to increase in our application of Islam within our own lives individually and as a collective. The usual focus when we have such discussions tends to centre around worship and ritual acts; but what is perhaps just as important – if not more – is out character and public representation within the UK. The media mouthpieces and ill-wishers do not live amongst the masses, and so their influence only goes as far as we allow it to. If we are active as upright Muslims within our communities, the real face of Islam will be seen over the caricature presented by the ill-wishers. This means that we are active within our communities in addressing the issues and plights of the masses, not just the struggles of our own minority communities. The Qur’an instructs:

and give (them) preference over themselves, even though they are in need. [Al-Hashr, verse 9]

The generous face of Islam should be seen by the poor, the just face of Islam seen by the oppressed, the kind and concerned face of Islam seen by those who need help and support. If the masses see the character of Islam embodied within the Muslims, they will not be fooled by the false image of Islam presented to them by others.

The Third:

The importance of unity amongst us as Muslims during challenging times cannot be stressed enough, but if we would like to stand firmly together in difficult times, we must first lay the path to unity in times of ease and security. To be united does not mean uniformity of opinion and beliefs. There is scope within the framework of Ahl Sunnah for differences; but what it does require is intellectual, emotional, and spiritual maturity. It requires that we see the bigger picture, and do not allow ourselves to be divided on issues of internal difference whilst we face the potential difficulties of external animosity and enmity. What plays into this, is the importance of family and keeping our homes strong and protected. We cannot expect to keep our general community united if we are breaking up our own homes and families; stability comes from the home, and a stable home requires the presence and input of both parents.

The Fourth:

Accountability; we as a community need to address the behaviour and conduct which is being cited by some as contributing toward the disgruntlement being expressed regarding the Muslim community. We need to call out and address the ill behaviour and unislamic conduct being perpetrated by “Muslims”. Drug dealing, robberies, and street crimes are an example of some that have become commonplace. How many articles related to gang crime contain Muslim names? We also need to call out the disgusting exploitation of others that we have seen carried out by those who affiliate themselves however tenuously with Islam, along with issues such as lying and cheating, and various types of fraud. These and other such behaviours are all unacceptable, especially when coming from a community that has a clear God-given framework of morality. We should not make excuses for ourselves, and start to compare ourselves to others to show that we aren’t as bad as we are being portrayed to be, nor should we compare statistics to show we engage in such behaviour to a lesser rate or degree than other communities; whether or not this is the case, we must take responsibility for the various types of degeneracy and delinquency that has taken a foothold within parts of our Muslim community. This responsibility falls upon the shoulders of every Muslim and not just on Imams, students of knowledge, mashayikh, and Masaajid, although the latter may have more of a responsibility in channelling the masses toward fulfilling this responsibility.