I think lessons can be learnt from the recent social media Mawlid debate between Imam Hussain and Dawah Man, especially the way in which the dispute spiralled out of control. Both parties should have had better etiquettes and more tolerance.

I personally believe that both Imam Hussain and Ibn Mansur should have had a sense of responsibility because many of their followers look up to them and adhere to their teachings. Both the preachers resorted to publicly humiliating, slandering and exposing each other and it had become a vicious cycle.

The arguments had a negative effect on the reputation and dignity of both the preachers. Whilst the preachers were updating the social media with new videos and comments, the followers were also responding instantaneously. Some of the followers carried out similar tactics as the preachers. For example, they were uploading insulting comments, which comes under the banner of cyber bullying. This was unfortunate as it created more animosity between both parties. 

Surely, we should be tolerant and respectful to one another and if discussions like these take place, then they should be done in the correct way. Both preachers have a great number of followers on social media, they should utilise the social media in a positive way rather than in a negative manner, and invest their energy and resources into issues which are going to strengthen and bring the community together rather than divide the community.

 Now the time has come to say

  

                                                                                            and thanks for reading, until next time ....

 

guys I agree with Imam Webb, Yasir Qadhi and Mufti Menk. I would like to ask those who continue to argue over this debate to think what are they actually going to achieve from the argument?  So ....

 

As there are so many bigger problems Muslims are facing all over the world and Muslims should be focused and united in order to overcome these issues.

 

My next post will be my final blog and in this I shall attempt to summarise some key points mentioned in my previous posts.

 

Whilst researching on the Mawlid debate, I found Imam Webb's video interesting which was posted by chin@mca1395 on twitter #Mawliddebate. Imam Webb is an American Muslim scholar and pro-Mawlid. He explains very clearly that the topic of whether one should or shouldn't celebrate the Mawlid is an issue of ijtihad (analogical reasoning). The scholars of the past have disagreed on this matter and Muslims should agree to disagree and must not abuse and neither fight with each other over this issue, as the companions of the Prophet disagreed but "didn’t let differences ruin their brotherhood".

Video about the Mawlid debate by Imam Suhaib Webb



   

        

     

Yasir Qadhi

Yasir Qadhi is also an American Muslim scholar, who himself does not celebrate the Mawlid, had posted similar views to Imam Webb, specifically asking Muslims to be more tolerant of other people's opinions.

Yasir Qadhi explains there has been a difference of opinion amongst scholars since the “last seven centuries (about the Mawlid celebration) …. and if you choose to follow one set of scholars, at least recognise that another set of respected jurists have chosen the other opinion, and respect that difference, even if you follow the other opinion”. Muslims should not be focused on the diverse views rather they should “see what motivates BOTH parties, is their love for the Prophet”. He questions whether the Prophet would have agreed to Muslims mocking, slandering and “hating one another?”

       Mufti Menk speaks about unity and tolerance
in Islam in the video below.

 

I believe that if Muslims started thinking like Imam Webb, Yasir Qadhi and Mufti Menk, then they wouldn't debate about the Mawlid in the manner that they do.

In contrast, other followers questioned whether Muslims should be even focusing on the debate of celebrating the Prophet’s birthday, and argued that the focus should be on greater problems that Muslims around the world are facing. For example, Hasib listed the issues concerning Muslims such as "poverty, racism, Islamophobic attacks on women and elderly, children, and hunger". 

On the right is a powerful and shocking  picture uploaded by Shafraz Jeal on Dawah Man's Facebook page. Through which he is expressing the view that Muslims "have bigger issues to worry about!".

Still these pictures and comments had no effect on both the preachers as the argument between them took another twist for the worse. Whilst the meetings were being arranged, both parties were recording each other's phone conversations and these were uploaded later by both sides onto social media to expose the opposite party. Overall, the debate had a negative effect on the reputation and dignity of both the preachers. In the following video Dawah Man presents the voice recordings. 

 

                                                        Below is  a video by Imam Hussain.

The above videos were longer, I have shortened these to give an indication of the way both  Imam Hussain and Dawah Man used voice recordings (the full videos have been linked to the preacher's names). Above was the last video uploaded by Imam Hussain. After this Dawah Man uploaded a final video and then eventually the debate between the preachers came to an end.

 Well no, is the answer. 



THEY DID



The dispute between the two preachers intensified further whilst both parties tried to make arrangements to meet each other. The social media was being updated with regular video footage and posts by Dawah Man and Imam Hussain. Dawah Man proposed to meet in London and the meeting was cancelled by Imam Hussain due to weather conditions. 

The following day Dawah Man proposed to come to Bradford but Imam Hussain didn't mind meeting in London, but this meeting was also cancelled due to the reason that Imam Hussain needed more time to discuss about the debate within his own circle of scholars.
 

Dawah Man uploaded consecutive videos and posts which showed that alongside himself, other scholars were waiting in London for Imam Hussain until 12 o'clock (midnight). In the videos Dawah Man and the scholars state that Imam Hussain had taken the oath of Allah and said he would meet anywhere, anyplace 

and because he did not keep his word he was a fraudster, a hypocrite, dishonest, and needed to repent publicly.

After cancelling the meeting, Imam Hussain uploaded 

a video of making his way to Birmingham asking Dawah 

Man and his party to make their way there.

 

Also, after Imam Hussain reached Birmingham he 

uploaded a video with scholars waiting

 for Dawah Man and his party.

 

The public responded to both the preacher's posts on social media, the views varied, some could see the humorous side Usman posted on #mawliddebate (twitter) “this 12 o'clock deadline is more tense than trying to submit your essay in time on turnitin"



Anas uploaded the following video

commenting "on his way to the Mawlid debate in the UK. I wonder what side he's on".

 

Contrasting views were expressed by other followers and these will be presented in the next post.



Following on from the previous post, the disrespect between the two preachers continued further. Dawah Man added a picture on social media depicting a cartoon illustration of Imam Hussain in which he referred to him as the Mawlid Imam.

Above is the cartoon depiction of 
Imam Hussain by Dawah Man

After seeing the video footage of Dawah Man and the cartoon depiction I was like "IS THIS FOR REAL?" It certainly wasn't a scholarly debate about Mawlid anymore. IT WAS PERSONAL.

The preacher's posts were going viral very fast and were being shared by many followers. The cartoon depiction of Imam Hussain received significant mix reaction and attention from the general public, including Imam Hussain, who commented on Facebook “It's sad to see that brother Imran has resorted to depicting me in this cartoon. I must say the turban is on point and I look whiter than usual. Very sad to see him depicting the Na'l Mubarak (Prophet ﷺ Blessed Sandal)."

Some of the general public were shocked and saddened at the behaviour of Dawah Man. Itaqilliah stated “fear Allah All those that follow imran and think he's amazing and all the rest. Allow the Mawlid debate for one second. Answer me this, when has Islam ever allowed to mock people by drawing cartoon of them? Mawlid Imam?” Yas Abbasi questioned “making cartoons about the imam. How low can you go?” 

In contrast, there were other followers on social media who saw the funny side of the cartoon illustration, Faissal Bensefia commented “Dude, did you do this artwork yourself? It's really good”. Other supporters posted similar comments as Zahid Ahmed “Masha'allah bro Imraan may Allah bless you and reward you for the amazing work you do for the ummah, may Allah keep you steadfast in'sha Allah, keep up the good, may Allah guide them all”.

Ali Dawah a close friend of Dawah Man also contributed to this discussion by uploading the following video online, in which he gave advice to both Imam Hussain and Dawah Man and their followers.

 

Was there any notice taken of what Ali Dawah had said? The answer to this question will be in the next post.