There have existed men throughout the ages who have been exceptionally close to Allah (swt), in their belief and trust in Him. First and foremost there have been prophets, next down were the righteous who assisted the prophets in their arduous task of imparting God’s message to mankind in the face of stubborn and subsequent tyrannical, but ultimately futile, resistance. But a few have been righteous men across the centuries,

In recent times not a day goes by without a new trial emerging and a new part of the Muslim Ummah facing tests. When we read the news of Muslims being oppressed in Palestine, Syria, Burma, Uzbekistan, China, Russia, Yemen, Europe, CAR and so on, the situation can seem bleak with no respite in sight.

Last week, David Cameron announced a £20 million fund to help Muslim women learn English as a means to help counter extremism.

What is the relationship between the many millions of Muslims that live in the Western world and the state that they live in? Are they to be treated as equal citizens, is their understanding of Islam to be corrupted with a Western approved Islam, or are they to be left alone to carry Islam in a pure and pristine manner?