Drunk and semi-naked bodies outside the Mosque after taraweeh
Twenty first night of Ramadan. So much excitement, duas, and a wonderful reminder by Sheikh Rajab about seeking Laylatul Qadr (the night of power). He then led us in taraweeh salah.
As we spilled out of Finsbury Park Mosque after 11pm, I sensed something was different. There were crowds of people in the surrounding streets and it wasn’t just Muslims heading home after night prayers. What was going on?
The Dress Code
There were men without shirts on, and many men and women wearing shorts and other skimpy outfits. And there was alcohol. Some people were holding cups or bottles of booze and someone had left a half empty glass of beer on a traffic sign.
I realised there must have been a Music festival in Finsbury Park. This is a yearly occurrence but I expected it later in the year. Maybe sometime in June. It was in May, in Ramadan.
Alcohol and fun
There is a way people behave when drunk or tipsy. Some walked in a funny way, and some were sitting on the pavements so you had to step around them or walk in the road with the cars to avoid stepping over them. There is also a way some men and women hold each other - as alcohol has further lowered their inhibitions.
As I navigated the pavement trying to reach my bus stop, there was a lady lying on the pavement with her friends comforting her. Sadly, alcohol does terrible things to the mind and body. Hopefully, she got home safely and didn’t end up in hospital as many people do on such nights due to alcohol poisoning, injuries from falls or other related matters.
Vulnerable women
And I hope she wasn’t assaulted or taken advantage of. That is another sad occurrence on such nights when you have a cocktail of semi-naked men and women thrust together, alcohol, and the belief that you are ‘free’ to do what you want - provided you can get away with it.
Alcohol is such a part of the work and ’fun’ culture in the West. It is one of the main reasons why practising Muslims avoid some work and social events.
We live in a powerful secular environment that claims its vision of life is the best - despite the spiritual void, and many social and economic problems in the West. Many Muslims feel a pressure to fit in and it is easy to go with the crowd and indulge in all sorts of un-Islamic activities.
The differences between us
On one hand, these Music festival goers are no different to us who just spilled out of the Mosque. We are all human beings. On the other hand there is a massive difference in how we choose to act - because we have different beliefs and hence what we see as right or wrong.
رَبَّنَا لاَ تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّابُ
(They say): "Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from You. Truly, You are the Bestower." [Sura Ali-Imran 3:8]
Living in the West and witnessing such scenes should make us appreciate having guidance from Allah (swt), as we can see the consequences of not having guidance. We must not be complacent that we follow that guidance today.
Rather, especially in this month of Qur’an and renewal, we must study and understand the Qur’an and Sunnah better and re-dedicate ourselves to living by it. May Allah aid us.
A community of dawah
We must also remember our duty to convey the beauty of Islam to neighbours, colleagues and those around us.
ادْعُ إِلِى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَجَـدِلْهُم بِالَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ
Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and fair preaching, and argue with them with that which is best [Sura An Nahl 16:125]
As I sit at home writing this the next day, I can hear the thumping music from the stage at the Finsbury Park music festival a few miles away. Some will decide to pray taraweeh in a different area tonight.
Taji Mustafa