As a youth in Lørenskog was Fahad Qureshi in an environment where partying, drinking and hashish use and factors outside marriage was accepted.
– They were Muslims, but not practicing. I was probably among the more abstinent in the environment, says Qureshi.
So, after high school, he began his engineering education at Oslo University College. That was when he received his religious awakening.
– I finished high school, changed environment and met other Muslims who were more practicing. The environment there made me realize that life can be more meaningful than the way I lived, there is more to life than that, says Qureshi.
Shortly after he started Islam Net. Described as a revival movement, inspired by the charismatic, Islamic scholars who are embracing the web, social media, its own television channel and major conferences. Islam Net has hosted peace conferences for six years with several hundred participants, and obtains increasingly foreign profiles for different events.
– We think the same as mosques
Islam Net has become the largest Muslim youth organization, with more than 2,000 members. Qureshi has become the symbol of the emergence of a conservative, more literal Islam than it has been common in Norwegian mosques.
But he does not agree themselves.
– We have the same values as the established mosque communities. Every mosque may have some disagreements, but it’s mostly things that are not relevant for Norwegian society, says Qureshi.
He believes a difference is that mosques feel more bound by the state than an independent organization that Islam Net.
– It allows us to say things that they can say, because they are funded by the state. If they say something wrong, it will have financial consequences for them.
– What are you thinking?
– That they feel bound, and is terrified of bad media coverage, says Qureshi.
– God’s guidance is superior
Qureshi believes the only reason that Islam Net is considered a controversial organization, is that the media has highlighted on them.
– All practicing Muslims emphasize to live as the first three generations after Muhammad, peace be upon him. Then there is the discussion about what is the Prophet’s teachings, what it means to live that way. But this is nothing new, says Qureshi.
For Qureshi and his peers means to dress in traditional clothing, grow a beard (if you are male) and cover you (if you are female), not mingle with or shake people of the opposite sex, pray regularly, and inform about Islam – work called dawah. Islam Net missionaries on the street, they use the internet, and they have plans to build a dawah center.
– Our goal is not to convert Norwegians to Islam. The aim is a society with tolerance and respect and understanding for each other’s values. But if our work brings a person to Islam, I see it as very positive for the person concerned and is happy for him, says Qureshi.
He will preferably have to talk about the parts of his faith cuts across fundamental principles. Faced with gender segregation, hudud-penalties in sharia and views on democracy versus God’s laws, he urges journalists to just leave it alone.
– I respect that you believe that the best form of government is what a large group of people agree. I believe God’s guidance is superior to the human guidance, for people to agree on one thing today and another tomorrow. A Muslim will always say that God teaches us is the best, whatever it may be, says Qureshi.
– Islam Net is weaker
Alzagheri believes Islam Net in reality ethene has a weaker status now than four or five years ago.
– It is clear that Islam Net filled a great need for modern lectures about Islam. At that time Islam Net came, mosque communities dominated by their parents’ generation. Islam Net excelled as professional, good at mobilizing and market themselves and use popular tools, says Linda Alzagheri.
Today, Islam Net much mocked in Muslim communities, according to her.
– It is because they go too far, and go straight to the topics that seem very daunting for many young people. There is a great diversity among young Norwegian Muslims, who partly have come as a reaction to Islam Net, but also the Prophet’s Ummah. For example, the initiative for Peace Call or blog collective minaret are examples of people who scientist to give a different image of Islam in Norway than what is prevailing, says Alzaghari.
– Islamophobic preparation
Qureshi is unhappy about Aftenposten article on Salafi movement emergence in Norway.
– It is precisely this kind of Islamophobic representations that creates hatred in society, says Qureshi.
He thinks it’s impossible for Muslims to distance themselves from such hudud-punishments, which prescribes the death penalty for apostasy of Islam, Highway Robbery and adultery, amputation for theft and flogging for a variety of crimes, from alcohol to sex before marriage.
– Why do you ask this again and again? I am Muslim, I believe in God’s guidance. The Qur’an mentions it explicitly dozens of times, and I can not say anything else, says Qureshi.
– You claim that tens of thousands of Muslims in Norway believes this and it is very central value questions?
– There are several in Norway which supports the death penalty than it is Muslims. Maybe not for these particular actions, but that’s just about what you grew up with. In Norway it is legal to be unfaithful, and it accepted to destroy marriage. Imagine that! It is socially acceptable, and it’s cool to have as many partners as possible, as many one-night stands as possible, says Qureshi.
– Controversial vote by choice
He stressed that no advocates to implement these punishments in Norway or West. Although the penalties are for the good of mankind, they are a theoretical scenario in a perfect Islamic state that does not exist, he said. When asked what he thinks about such penalties in other countries, he replied:
– In an Islamic state, where the community is composed of Muslims and they want it, why should we or any other Western country mix into their legislation?
About Muslims can vote in democratic elections, he is unsure.
– Eh … I voted in the last election . But it’s very, very controversial in Islam. Many classical scholars would say that it is not allowed, because you then votes on human laws above the law of God. I see that argument. But I vote, because it comes most benefit out of it, and one can not be heard if you do not vote.
– You are now building up Islam Net as an organization. Would you like to create an Islamic party?
– I have no idea about. But I do not think it would have been an Islamic party in that case. It would have been a more Muslim-friendly political party. We live in Norway, and it must be a party that works for everyone, says Qureshi.
– Being declared hypocrite if one disagrees
Alzaghari in Minotenk says that part of appeal of Islam Net is that they go straight into controversial topics.
– It has made it among young enough is a greater tendency to discuss these things than before. There has been no culture to speak explicitly about such death sentences, and you can hardly find an imam in Norway talking about stoning, says Alzaghari.
According to her, it is far more common to take a clear distance of Islam Net now than when the organization struck up a few years ago. She believes some of it dangerous with Islam Net is that they themselves are advocating a form of Islam that has little room for discussion and disagreement.
– Once you disagree in their interpretations, one is declared hypocrite or enemy. There has been absolutely new in Norway, for although there is much conservative opinions in the mosques, it at least some headroom for discussion, says Alzagheri.
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