Thread by @bilalhassam

Long Thread 🧵on @MuftiMenk, cancel culture and keyboard warriors.

So, Mufti got caught in a UAE-Israel iftar-honey trap? Or did he? Was it all fake news from dirty minds, as he alleges? Seeing a picture and jumping to the 'worst conclusions'..?

Let's break it down. Firstly...

It's genuinely heartbreaking to see so much bickering in Ramadan, but we can't blame shaytaan, so this is the real Ummah. Take a good look. It's been fascinating to see some defend Mufti Menk, but who have joined in when others have been in the crosshairs, or even called out...

other Muslim leaders for their affiliation to the UAE. Others have been consistently belligerent in tarring anyone who they perceive to comes too close a political red flag.

I don't know Mufti Menk nor do I do take from him or watch his videos. I have concerns with some...

of the things attributed to him and some of the opinions he takes, but I also recognise the immense beneficial impact he has on millions.

It's pretty clear he accepted an invitation from a wing of the UAE government to attend this and other events. The UAE's ties to Israel...

and other political policy disasters are very clear, but Mufti Menk says he just went to promote the deen and is above the politics. Is he maliciously selling out the Palestinians as some have implied? For money, as others have asserted? Is he just naïve? Maybe he left some...

good in an otherwise unpleasant space? Maybe he's doing more, but behind closed doors?

The irony is seeing big voices who are all about upholding and defending the deen, hide behind liberalist Western concepts, like freedom of speech, to defend sensationalist storytelling...

Pick a side folks. Do you know the burden of proof required in Islam before an allegation of any sort is shared in the public space? Do you know what Islamic leaders would do to those who spread rumours without establishing facts? Do you know the sin of sharing something...

knowing full well that others will misconstrue/exaggerate and slander and backbite?

Do we even know what the definition of backbiting in Islam? Cuz it's not the same as the one in the Oxford dictionary:

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Do you...

know what gheebah (backbiting) is?” They said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said, “Saying something about your brother that he dislikes.” It was said, “What if what I say about my brother is true?” He said, “If what you say is true then you have backbitten about...

him, and if it is not true, then you have slandered him.”

One thing for sure, all this slander and backbiting against Mufti Menk will only serve as a means of his forgiveness and elevation.

Finally, so what if he did go with the intention of promoting the deen? Regardless...

of who invites him. He knows the UAE is problematic politically. He knows they are close to the brutal Zionist apartheid agenda. But maybe he goes with the hope of making the situation better than it is. Sharing wisdom. Speaking truth. So, what? Do we cancel him because we...

disagree with his take.? Do we assume our political stance is the only right one? Are we allowed to cast shade on him just because we might think he is being used for malicious reasons? Those defending Mufti Menk, I'd also ask you to pause and consider if you're supporting him...

because you are affiliated with him/study or respect him. Or is it because you are taking a principled position? Consider then all the previous and future folks who might find themselves in someone's crosshairs.

In the end, it's always best to simply speak good or remain silent.