Guest Post by Abu Talha
So you meet a brother who feeds you the story that he has no money, he wants to learn about Islam and needs help because all his life he has associated with the ‘wrong crowd’. He tells you he has no family. He tells you about his past; stories about alcohol and drug abuse melts your heart. He wants to associate with you, and learn from you. What is a Muslim to do? Quite naturally you take this brother under your wings, and to the best of your ability, you help him. You don’t question him, nor do you judge him. You comfort him, and tell him that Allah is the giver of mercy and that it is your duty to help a fellow Muslim in difficulty. You are motivated by the Hadith you hear all the time. This is when you can actually put the words of the Messenger of Allah into action:
“Whosoever removes a worldly grief from a believer, Allah will remove from him one of the grief’s of the Day of Judgment. Whosoever alleviates [the lot of] a needy person, Allah will alleviate [his lot] in this world and the next. Whosoever shields a Muslim, Allah will shield him in this world and the next. Allah will aid a slave [of His] so long as the slave aids his brother.”
When it turns out that this “brother” was in fact an undercover reporter posing as a Muslim in need you are immediately filled with an immense sense of betrayal. Whilst you were trying to support him in what you thought was a difficult and lonely time for him, spending your time with him instead of your family, buying food and drink for him, looking out for him, he was recording your every move undercover, taking advantage of you. His only aim was to “catch you out”, to manufacture an image of you which is far removed from reality. For someone to deceive and betray you to such a degree would shock any human to the very core of their soul. Such behaviour is indicative of a real and fatal spiritual illness.
I can only imagine the spiritual condition of this “brother”, his heart must be full of rust and black spots, engulfing his heart, making guidance and the ability to perform good deeds near impossible. In another Hadith the Prophet said “Truly in the body there is a morsel of flesh which, if it be whole, all the body is whole and which, if it be diseased, all of it is diseased. Truly it is the heart”. Can you imagine the deep spiritual sickness a person’s heart must be in, for them to be able to partake in this malicious, wicked and dishonourable behaviour?
Allah says: “O ye who believe! Avoid suspicion as much (as possible): for suspicion in some cases is a sin: And spy not on each other behind their backs. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay, ye would abhor it…But fear Allah. For Allah is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.”
On one occasion we sat down to eat – and of course we paid for him – this “brother” asked us “so what kind of books should I be reading to help me?” in hindsight I can imagine the answer he was hoping for! It would have been a scoop for the Dispatches footage for one of us to have said “Milestones, by Sayyid Qutb”. But no, instead we adviced him on a book that was right for him and as it turns out the perfect prescription, the book we recommended was “Purification of the Heart: Signs, Symptoms and Cures of the Spiritual Diseases of the Heart, edited by Imam Hamza Yusuf”. Alas our “brother” did not get the “hard-line” recommendation he and his masters were hoping for.
Having said all this I do have empathy for the individual in question because for him to stoop so low and stab his fellow Muslims in the back must mean he has experienced some severe trauma in his life. It’s a clear sign of how he truly has no understanding of the Deen. How Muslims truly do live for the Akhirah and not for temporal gains (perhaps money) in this Dunya. If the “brother” bothered to take heed of the many words uttered by us during the months he spent with us, he would know that a Muslim’s ultimate goal in life is to seek the pleasure of Allah and that a Muslim must serve society and want good for people. He would know that committing sins alienates you from Allah’s Mercy.
What we must avoid as God conscious people is this culture of suspicion and doubt. One outcome Dispatches sought to achieve was to create enmity and divisions amongst Muslims. So that the cry of Judas would be our dominant behaviour and we would succumb to an internal witch-hunt. Our faith inspires us to care for humanity and we should always look upon people with a positive outlook, until we have evidence to suggest otherwise. We should always rush towards those who cry out for help and assistance and not stop to judge them first and help them later. The nature of Islam is that it builds people who help first and ask questions later.
Our “brother” would have saved time and energy if he simply made his intentions clear from the go. We are not a sinister and murky group of people hell bent on taking over the world. ‘Atif’ (That’s the name he went by), were you not involved in organising an event with us aimed at young people to promote the ideas of chastity, marriage and good treatment of women?
My experience with ‘Atif’ has taught me many things. Not least that we should make sure that we carry out Dawah by using Hikmah and be aware of the climate of Islamophobia. We need to be conscious of the fact that we live in a world where our own people will backstab and betray us. Look at the various people that Andrew Gilligan used in his documentary, they are of our own community (albeit representing a small minority) who are willing to sell themselves for a temporal goal.
My experience in this whole affair has taught me much. This however has not fazed me, rather it has made me more determined to fight Islamophobia and promote Islam. May Allah forgive us and guide those who have broken our trust. ‘Atif’, I find it difficult to forgive you. I hope in time I will be able to forgive you, and the matter between us I will leave for Allah to decide upon.
The men and women of the hypocrites are as bad as one another. They command what is wrong and forbid what is right and keep their fists tightly closed. They have forgotten Allah, so He has forgotten them. The hypocrites are deviators. (Surat at-Tawba, 67)
They Speak What Is Not In Their Hearts
Another attribute of the hypocrites is their mendacity. Having no fear of Allah, they resort to lies whenever they are in trouble, thinking they can deceive believers. They also resort to false excuses to avoid their responsibilities. In the Qur’an, Allah draws our attention to the fact that the hypocrites of the time of our Prophet (saas), who were called to defend the Muslims against the enemy, tried to escape through lies:
What assailed you on the day the two armies met was by Allah’s permission, so that He would know the believers, and so that He would know the hypocrites. They were told, “Come and fight in the Way of Allah or at least help defend us.” They said, “If we knew how to fight, we would certainly follow you.” They were closer to disbelief that day than to faith, saying with their mouths what was not in their hearts. And Allah knows best what they are hiding. (Surah Al ‘Imran, 166-167)
I know that it’s difficult to find a job due to the recession. However if this brother ‘Atif’ was looking for some ways of earning money then I am sure the brothers could have helped him out in some way or another.
Instead of looking for a halal source of income ‘Atif’ decided to sell his deen and adopt the way of Abdullah ibn Ubayy!!!
To Brother Atif (the undercover brother),
it has been a pleasure trying to assist you like br Talha, for the Sake of Allah. I remember asking my uncle if he knew of any butcher jobs, just for you Br Atif, so you can get a job with good people and good company, in doing so assist you to come closer to Allah (swt)… shame there were no jobs going!
Ironic that you were looking for a Butcher job, Coming in to slice and dice us open!!
Not sure what you have found! but i hope there is one thing you take from our us!
It’s that we care for humanity and of our fellow brothers, regardless of colour, creed or ethnicity and we do not judge people (like your self) of their past, but we treat them with respect and honesty.. just like a True Muslim.
your brother (who dropped you (fake) home twice)
Mamun
May Allah Help us all
Excellent article! you did what any good “Human Being” would do…how does this guy sleep at night!
It seems to me they knew exactly the sincere and humanitarian nature of IFE and its members for them to take such an approach to get close to the people in the organisation. They knew taking the ‘brother in need’ approach will work because that’s what IFE does – helps and serves the community; tends to the brothers and sisters in need. And then of course, they distorted the reality.
That man’s actions were dishonourable as a Muslim [if indeed he was one - he may have merely been posing as one] and as a journalist. It’s just staggering how low people can sink.
Nice one Abu Talha.
‘Atif’– Boy, u best hope he forgives you in this life, otherwise you’re looking at this case being taken to Qantara in the hereafter; the place where the wronged, who chose not to forgive in this world, will recieve their justice.
Good luck mate!
atif please get out from your box and show yourslef like a man….do not be a girl please…come and apologise to our dear br Abu Talha and all the Muslims out there and seek 4givesness from Allah…this is nothing but cowardice….at the momemnt you are seen as a coward and not a man…if ur reading this comment…i hate this kind of act…..and you too should hate it…regret 4eva…and make tawbah ia.
Well written br Abu Talha
I hope cowboy Journalist Andrew will come to know what a fool he has been and what a greater fool Atif was. To Atif: don’t sell your religion for a small gain. Repent to Allah and ask forgiveness from Br Abu Talha and he might forgive you otherwise you will be held accountable for spying on the day of Judgement. The same message goes to any other muslim who spy for others for small gain.
Peace be unto those who follow true guidance!
Mr 008…lol
You done a great job. My Allah make you stronger person in days to come.
It’s silly your minor -ve comment (if you want to call it that) out of many 1000s of good comment or work you did, made it to nationl TV.
Shame on people that made that call to take this as proof of some baseless titke .
Justice always prevails.
You did what any decent person would, seek every way possible to help another and Alhamdulilah u will be rewarded for all that he heard in sha Allah, for the food he ate and for greeting him with open and non judgemental arms.
There are so many repercussions to this programme but its ok because we will never give up.
Nor should you bro. From this I am sure you will grow stronger in ur deen and relationship with Allah SWT
Utterly spineless!
Doesn’t Atif come across like Gollum? Once a nice guy, probably called Smeagol, but somehow poisoned his way?? I wonder how Gilly, Gollum, and Smeagol would’ve have had their conversation at Khan’s PFC on Whitechapel Rd??
Gollum: We wants it, we needs it. Give it! Must have the precious!
Smeagol: No, you had enough ketchup. Must keep chips for Master!
Gollum: Yes, chips! Will cheat you, hurt you, LIARS!
Smeagol: Abu Talha friend. Brother!
Gollum: You don’t have any friends; nobody likes you!
Smeagol: I’m not hearing… Not hearing…
Gollum: You’re an undercover thief!
Smeagol: Go away! More doner and Master!
Gollum: Where would you be without me? I saved us! It was me! We survived
because of me!
Smeagol: Go away! Go away! Leave now, and never come back!
Gollum: What?! Never!
Smeagol: BE GONE! NOW! AND NEVER COME BACK!
Gollum: What did you say?
Smeagol: Talha looks after us. We don’t need you anymore.
Gollum: NO!!
Smeagol: [Gullum silent] He gone away! Precious! Gone, gone, gone!
Smeagol is free!
Gilly: [festering voice from above] Precious is IFE! Find the precious!!
LOL!!
I reckon ‘Atif’ must feel really silly after that program… He spent so long with you and did so much only to have a few of your words used in the program which actually failed to prove anything…
An excellent response Abu Talha, It’s so good to know that there are people out there like yourself. I hope this ‘ATIF’ gets what he deserves in the hereafter. May Allah be with you all the way.
Just commenting to show my support.
Islamophobes out there will do whatever it takes to get their scoop, even if it is to lie and make up stories. That’s their nature, and we should not be detered to stand up for justice and humanity.
I think we can all move on now being cautious about strangers claiming to be someone needing help yet at the same time help knowing even if they are spys we will get our reward for the good deeds we performed.
@Jaba
I think the amusing-though-saddening Smeagol and Gollum clash of identities depicts it very accurately. It’s the traits of hypocrisy:
“(They are) swaying between this and that, belonging neither to these nor to those, and he whom Allâh sends astray, you will not find for him a way (to the truth).” – (4:143)
Was this Atif just a young chap who was fooled into believing he was doing service to his community by ‘combating’ extremists? If so, his contact with these very ‘extremists’ would have proven to him otherwise…
Or was he in it for the kicks? The rush factor of thinking he was the new Asian Bond who conducts his spy interviews in PFC’s instead of posh French restaurants?
Or was he in it for the money and career prospects? In this line of work, I’m sure they pay very well…but it’s nothing short of prostitution of another kind, selling your beliefs and values for a cheap gain:
“These are they who have purchased error for guidance, so their commerce was profitless. And they were not guided” (2:16)
Well done.. IA don’t change bro!
Asalaamualaikum, I didn’t intentionally judge you but thought your brief appearance came across as immature on the Dispatches program. After reading your guest blog, I can see that nothing could be further from the truth. I think of the snippets of my day and the individual comments I make which if taken just as a snippet of me would give a totally false impression of me. I wish you every success in the future inshAllah. May Allah give you success and wealth, health and happiness in this world and the next. My only advice would be to consider your comments accuracy when making them about a particular thing. I know for example that in transactions we are not allowed to exaggerate the specifications of the item. In your passion for IFE perhaps you exaggerated their position which was taken out of context. Not really a crime though brother when we feel passionate about something we can get carried away and you didn’t do anything wrong. Your first step is to forgive the brother then you can move on and realise your supported by your brothers and sisters in tower hamlets and the surrounding areas. Take care inshAllah wa salaam
Oh and before I forget to all those commentators who mentioned something about a punishment for Atif in the hereafter. I was very sad to read that, we should make dua for the misguided not call upon Allah to punish them in the hereafter. I make it my intention to forgive people in my life. I’m pretty sure you don’t want the time you trod on the foot of a brother in Salah to be held against you on the day of judgement, so when someone commits a worse action we shouldn’t pile in and condemn them. May Allah forgive us all for any discomfort we have caused to any individual none Muslim or Muslim. I sincerely hope that Allah forgives Atif and he benefits from the time he spent with the sincere brothers of IFE. May Allah cause a change in his heart and make him an example of a true brother on the straight path. Ameen
Excellent blog!!!!!!
I dont think any one was calling upon Allah to punsih the bro. Simply stating the punishments. Never the less we should make continous dua that people like the spy are granted hidayaah.
salaam Abu Talha,
standing with you shoulder to shoulder….not just in pray
@Ghorabhai
I think you’re right. There is an element of truth but perhaps, mildy exaggerated which I thought was funny and good enough to bring out the girlish giggles. I want too want to take-over Britain and paint the streets purple! (Oh dear! This is IFE colour ain’t it?) C’mon Gilly! Start making me news on your 1855 paper!
On a more serious side, it seems that the readers are unsure of what IFE really represent beyond this blog. Are you an agent of social change, or are you what the other side says you are? I feel it’s a question of brand which is unclear to both muslims and non-muslims albeit, there are corners where IFE does show support but its not universal.
Lot more can be added but for now, consider the title of this blog, “The spy who betrayed me”. It’s not anywhere near cool sounding as Quantum of Solace, rather a comical reminder of the actual title, “The Spy who S*****d me” which by renaming, I feel has betrayed the substance of your piece.
Perhaps a blog on how to brand IFE…
I’v been following these websites and blogs post dispatches program, i would really like to know what does IFE stand for, what are your goals and your objectives. Is this shared by by all your members. If you are about changing people and producing likes of Abu Talha, good i commend that and would love to join you one day….so lets see…
Very disappointing. “Atif”…
And purchase not a small gain at the cost of Allāh’s Covenant. Verily! What is with Allāh is better for you if you did but know. Whatever is with you, will be exhausted, and whatever with Allāh (of good deeds) will remain. And those who are patient, We will certainly pay them a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do. (An-Nahl 16:95-96)
You’ll find that your reprehensible actions will not be worth it. In fact, I’m sure you’re already feeling that. You’re heart probably feels so sick, like it can’t believe it belongs to a soul like yours. And I hope that sadness drives you to repent to Allaah and apologize to all the people whose rights you have transgressed. If not, then I’m sure you’ll receive a just punishment both in this life and in the next. oh and p.s, the only one you’ve exposed is yourself.
subhanAllaah what an amazing blog!! jazaakAllaah brother Talha, may Allaah reward you in abundance and make it heavy on your scales of good deeds, aameen!
it seems to have become a tool which those in whose hearts is a disease of betrayal resort to – when they know treats and inticements won’t work with certain people who have been guided by the truth – they examine their nature and ask them for help -knowing that that’s the only way of getting them to succumb, BUT WE MUST BE AWARE THAT ALLAH IS ABOVE THEIR DECEITFUL PLOTS, and will make the light of truth shine all the more brighter (by it HE causeth many to stray, and by it HE guideth many)- anyone with brains will sit down to think….and hopefully realise what dajjal means! what is really deceit and what is really the path trodden by those who seek the pleasure of Allah. it has caused me to sit down and ponder and now i am copying and handng out ife leaflets which rebut these false statements, it only made me stronger. ALLAH IS GREAT.
by it HE causes many to stray, and by it HE guides many and none are caused to go astray except those who transgress.(2:26)
For more info on IFE:
http://www.islamicforumeurope.com
This is brief into IFE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsgZrHoEqHk&feature=player_embedded#
…ops…you got caught again. Too easy.
oh oh, dirty little secret has been caught on :) time to shift your patterns now IFE, time to infiltrate elsewhere. Tell you what, why not try coming into Belfast, we are always welcoming here to you :)
fantastic piece!
Lets hope the time Atif did spend with you br talha, he thinks back on and takes in all the good that you showed him and inshaallah changes. For truly is this deen ever so beautiful!
Salaam Brother Talha. InshahAllah your reward awaits with ALLAH.
Allah will reward you brother Talha for ur patience Inshaa Allah!
Salaams br’s and sisters
It’s unfortunate that a young and sincere brother like Abu Talha was a victim of this witch hunt. No doubt Allah is the MASTER planner and he knows what we do not know. Be patient Abu Talha, Allah is testing you and us all, make dua for the SPY, only Allah gives guidance we can only give dawah.
No doubt after months of research the brother did not come up with much, which says it all or maybe the brother (spy) saw the truth and held back and only gave out little to contain damage! Never know, only Allah knows, either way IFE has come out stronger and it has pulled the community together from all religious and political backgrounds.
“…either way IFE has come out stronger and it has pulled the community together from all religious and political backgrounds.”
Man, if this is not self-delusion…
abu talha-you have disgraced the muslim community with your big mouth-learn to control it-do your own worship and teach islam in your own family and IA that will be sufficient.
@Diabolik
I’m afraid it has come out stronger and with much much more support, Andrew Gilligan has done a very big favour to our community by giving a lot of attention to IFE. I have friends who have lived in Tower Hamlets their entire life but never heard of IFE but now they know who they are and the good grass roots work they do…….. Thank You Andrew please give IFE more free advertising….people will make their own minds up by doing their own investigation/research into IFE.
Mahfuz, you forget Abu Talha was working within his ‘own community’ and he did not say anything haram or so wrong as to warrant an ill-mannered response as yours. Yes, one can argue whether it was a mistake to say this and that in this manner or not, but at the worst, a mistake is a mistake, so please observe the limits. Do not belittle your brother when he is being attacked by your opponents and contribute to their attacks, as Harun (as) said to Musa (as) when he grabbed his beard in reprimand: “make not the enemies rejoice over me”.
Please observe the manners of muhasaba and nasiha, and give credit and constructive criticism where it is due, in proportion, and in the correct manner.
@ Mahfuz
May Allah SWT forgive me for “disgracing the community” that was never my intention. Thank you for blasting your advice all over this blog:
“To admonish your brother in private is to advise him and improve him. But to admonish him publicly is to disgrace and shame him.”
Imam Shafi
I’ll let you decide who is doing the disgracing.
@Abu Muhammad
See, precisely what I meant. “I’m afraid it has come out stronger and with much much more support…” Delusion. It’s delusion of a grandeur that always undo you.
Have you ever sat down and frankly admitted to yourself that millions of Muslims are silently walking away from Islam? Did you see the recent news of Morocco (trying to) expel dozen of people for converting Moroccans? Now, beyond your disagreement with converting away, think calmly, why do you think the Moroccan authorities had to take such step? If there was no danger, there would need to be no reaction…
@Diabolik
I’m afraid I haven’t read the recent news about Morocco, but I was actually talking about… for the time being london and in particular Tower Hamlets, there has been an awakening and the youth are becoming more practising muslims (unlike our first generation), I take your point people will leave Islam and people will come into Islam that’s a fact but I’m afraid more people in the west are going towards Islam, I mean look at the statistics after 9/11 in America who came to Islam and majority of them Women.
Also maybe you should visit East London Mosque you might catch someone actually taking their shahada and becoming muslim it’s a beautiful site… at least two or three people a week…
@Abu Talha
If you do not like being criticised on a public blog, then censor it. But hang on, isn’t the purpose of this blog to hear all sides including those who were jolted by your subversive bravado in present politics; or do you just like praises? May be your response is symptomatic of a wider problem where IFE-ites only seek praises. Lets not get ahead of our selves to become the Emperor without clothes.
Secondly, what do you mean by “let you decide who is doing the disgracing”. Are you trying to gain the moral highground on the back of Mr Shafi? I thought
Mahfuz was trying to make a point, well, he was getting there about behaving responsibly, though not said subtly but again, your response to him does not help.
The truth is that you did not come across as a saviour as you had desired. On the
contrary, the outcome backfired fantastically to create responses like Mahfuz’s. You could have said something better, acknowledging your fault but chose not to. Was, is, and will be I suppose.
Btw. If your character was completely blotted on Dispatches, who would you choose from these three to replace the blot: Barack Obama, Mother Theresa, or…hold on…, Homer Simpson?
(Please refrain from Quranic verses or Prophetic traditions to make your point. Just be yourself, human.)
@ Jabba
I have no issues with people criticising me… truly I am deserving of it. Like a Brother mentioned above, perhaps constructive criticism and also private feedback would of been better. If the brother who made that comment had sincere intention then most surely he would kept with the Islamic etiquette and not try to expose me and advise me in private.
In no way am I trying to seek praise! SubhanAllah and you think this is a symptom with IFE brothers who are out there to seek praise? How wrong you are. You know I have no intention in becoming some sort of saviour, I did not want this to happen to me. Do you think I knew that I was being secretly filmed? No! My only intention was to write about my experience, so that I can share some words of advise on what I learnt…that is all! Anything anybody else says I have no interest for!
You know when referring to Imam Shafi (RA)…..you say “Mr Shafi”, in all honesty bro that really does not sound nice. I mean we are talking about one of the greatest Imams in Islamic History and the way you use “Mr Shafi” is really belittling this great Imam. I will not refrain from using Quranic verses, sayings from Prophet SWAS and sayings from the Pious predecessors! They had a way with words and best explained things! When I quotes this sources I am being my self! Muslim!
@Abu Mohammad
Abu, you are right; there are people who are looking at Islam for an array of different reasons. Since the West has been under left-wing and secularist attack it has lost some of its spirituality and the one thing you can never totally erase, no matter the effort (see Communist Russia as an example) is man’s thirst for religion, spirituality and a belief of after-life and divine. This denial of a basic man’s instinct has worked on many but not all and this is where you can meet some of the people who are looking at Islam. However, if I was a Muslim, I would stay clear of this category; they are looking at something distant from their native culture and exotic and they will never be genuine simply because of that. If they were genuine in their search, they could just pick up a Bible and not look at Islam, Bhudda (a lot more westerners go to Bhudda than Islam) or even Hindu or Jedi religion! Let them get to know their own religion first then if they are not happy, let them join whatever creed they want…this is why I say they are not genuine, they do not look close to their culture first, they immediately look far from it hence, they are just “rebels2 which will, in turn rebel again once they are bored.
Another category are the society rejects. The ones (and those are deadly dangerous to your creed) that will convert not because of a deep and convinced new belief, they are converting to be noticed, to upset people, to feel special and different.
What do you mean by “hikmah” Abu Talha? Let me tell you what you mean by that: being obfuscative, underhanded, beating around the bush, not being straight, like a politician who fails to answer the direct questions related to the fundamentals of something. Your stance is the promotion of books similar to Sayyid Qutb’s Milestones. That’s the bottom line. What you mean by “hikmah” is: don’t let them know of your true agenda until they’ve been properly indoctrinated to your party line. That’s what you mean brother. Yes, start off with Hamza Yusuf, and then progress on until you reach Milestones. This whole article even reads like a politician. You sound like a politician. Hence, your hikmah isn’t really to do with the religion, but rather being a spin-doctor like the many Muslim politicians out there.
Hikmah indeed!
@ Abu Talha
Brother you are an absolute star and a great young role model. I wouldn’t bother to debate with certain commentators here – obvioiusly they know much better than everyone and that’s why they spend their days and nights finding faults in Muslims rather than looking at themselves.
The thing you must never forget is that you did absolutely nothing wrong – those who accuse you of wrong doing will not fair as well as you did if they had their private converstations filmed for a year…so keep it up.