'Women & Islam'

I agree with you. Sadly Sunnis here in the UK often tend to be a little sceptical about admitting converts into their ranks in a meaningful way other than congratulating them etc. For example, because most Sunni mosques still have most functions and Friday khutbas mostly in Urdu/Punjabi the convert automatically feels left out and so when he or she learns of an English speaking non-Sunni mosque up the road it is natural to go there.

The single most important thing to keep Sunniyat alive in the UK in future generations (and to help make converts feel included) is to rapidly go towards English-only Sunni events and mosques asap. The oldest generation who don't know any English are dying out and the younger gens [those under 60] know enough to understand any speech fully (which they are likely to hear in a mosque). Those under 40 have English as their first language or are at least bilingual whereas those under 30 can barely understand Urdu or Punjabi and those in their teens now see Urdu as an alien language just like any white English boy would. If we don't address this issue we will be even further behind the non-Sunnis.

And as far as having facilities in place for female converts I don't think our leaders are even aware of this issue yet!

BTW I think one huge problem which is perpetuating this is the constant stream of immigrants from Indo-Pak into the UK (usually as husbands/fiances). They and the over 50s ensure that the local imam has enough of an urdu/punjabi only understanding audience to get away with speaking in Urdu only. It is of course a vicious circle...

and the imams from abroad tend to resist the appointment of any English speaking only imam as they see it as a threat to their livelihoods.
 
naqshbandijamaati said:
because most Sunni mosques still have most functions and Friday khutbas mostly in Urdu/Punjabi the convert automatically feels left out and so when he or she learns of an English speaking non-Sunni mosque up the road it is natural to go there.

The single most important thing to keep Sunniyat alive in the UK in future generations (and to help make converts feel included) is to rapidly go towards English-only Sunni events and mosques asap. The oldest generation who don't know any English are dying out and the younger gens [those under 60] know enough to understand any speech fully (which they are likely to hear in a mosque). Those under 40 have English as their first language or are at least bilingual whereas those under 30 can barely understand Urdu or Punjabi and those in their teens now see Urdu as an alien language just like any white English boy would. If we don't address this issue we will be even further behind the non-Sunnis.
Click to expand...

Excellent comments. This is a must but unfortunately still a big problem in most/ all places in our local mosques
 
Salaam...as a convert I agree with most of what you have said. When I converted, over 22 years ago, I was faced with a wall or Urdu whereas other converts were "flourishing" with the wahabis..all their books, speeches etc were in English....BUT...obviously they were graduating in wahabism and not authentic, orthodox Sunni Islam...so I was much better off.

I for one wouldn't like to see the decline of Urdu/Punjabi....the scholarly language of Urdu is deep and beautiful and the fire of Punjabi adds flavour and passion. I enjoy watching the older generation having their hearts touched by a line of poetry in their native tongue. To bypass and forget Urdu, I believe, would do a massive disservice to Islam in the UK. Parents should teach their children the mother tongue of their forefathers ...imagine an English only masjid...I believe it would be a rather sterile environment.

More in English needs to be done to dispel the accusations of the islamophobes and to teach the youth and converts....but not at the expense of the amazing scholarly tool of Urdu.
 
I think a balance is possible. Punjabi and Urdu are both extremely rich languages. But our mosques should do khutbahs in English only.

Best solution for everyone would be to learn their native languages at home, and use English+Arabic at mosques.
 
We have been and still are using 90% or more urdu/ punjabi this alienates all muslims who are not familiar with the language. The younger Muslims are hounded by people of other sects on the internet at school college university and we only gove 20 mins to English speaking scholars at our events. The odd 20 min talk in English is nowhere near what is needed, an Alim can just about lay the foundation for a talk in that much time. On occasion have spoken to Ulama who have spent a lot of time to prepare a 60/90 min talk but they have only been given 20/30 mins to speak.

We cant do away with urdu/ punjabi altogether but the balance needs to be shifted in favour of English
 
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