On 18 August 2016, the Daily Telegraph published a column written by the Muslim Council of Britain’s newly-elected Secretary General, Harun Khan.
An edited extract is reproduced below.
Harun Rashid Khan, Deputy Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain
Young Muslims in Britain need to know they can belong and shine
Harun Khan –Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain
In the past few years a handful of young British people have fallen for the misguided lure of Daesh (Islamic State) in Syria, feeling it gives them a sense of purpose. Young Muslims live in the shadow of terrorism when they have much to offer. With the growth of Islamophobia they face a double penalty.
Since becoming secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain last month, it has become apparent to me that the focus for British Muslim civil society should be on our youth. They do, after all, constitute more than a third of the Muslims here in Britain and they are the key to building new bonds of trust between Muslims and fellow Britons.
Mosques and associations must infuse in young Muslims a vision and a dream that they have a stake in Britain, that they are an integral part of this society, and that they can be a proud Briton as well as a proud Muslim. That message certainly defies the one spread by Anjem Choudary, who appealed only to a minority of young people and was ready fodder for bigots. I want to inculcate in them a sense of belonging and convince them that whatever the racists and Islamophobes may say, they are an integral part of the British society, that they belong to Britain and Britain belongs to them.
We must reclaim the many traditions in our faith that value selfless service to others, regardless of faith or background. I want our British Muslim institutions to inspire young people to play their full part for the good of the society. That they have a role to play in building a better Britain. In every city – every town – every street, they should join hands with their neighbours in beneficial community activism. Projects such as protection and improvement of the local environment, fighting for pressing local issues, needs and demands, protecting the rights of the vulnerable sections of society and organising support for the elderly, youth and people without shelter.
They should play a part in all sorts of local activism – for local jobs, local economy, local planning. They should join hands with people of all faiths and none on important religious and moral issues. I would like to convince them that despite ignorant apathy and indifference shown by some of our political leaders to their community, they have a sure route to achieve higher goals by taking part in the democratic process. Nothing illustrates this more eloquently than the election of increasingly more Muslim and minority members of the parliament and the election of Sadiq Khan as Mayor of London.
I want to tell them that in British values we see the expression of Islamic values. Every Friday Muslims hear Imams conclude their sermon with an essential verse from the Qur’an: “ Indeed, God commands you to work for justice, welfare, providing support for the ones near to you and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion, He instructs you that you may receive admonition.” (16:90).
For many of us this provides a stepping stone to building a harmonious, pluralistic society: one that is based on justice and welfare, caring for the people nearer to us.
Of course, while we try to paint and work towards a positive vision of the future that our young people can believe in, there is something else we must all do above anything else: listen.
From many young people, regardless of faith or background, I hear the constant complaint that government and agencies only choose to listen to those who endorse their positions. Whereas effective government policy would benefit less from echo chambers and more from critical friends.
The need to listen to young people also exists in British Muslim communities too. There appears to be gaping generational gap between the leadership at British Muslim institutions and young people who feel locked out from taking on the mantle. That dialogue of the deaf is replicated across society.
My election as the youngest ever secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain is certainly a step in the right direction and demonstrates a willingness amongst our affiliates to embrace change. I hope it is replicated at mosque and association level with more young people and women elected to leadership positions. As I long for that generational change I will continue to make the point that our best years lie ahead of us.