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14 answers in 8 recordings, 2015 to 2021. 8 with a checked position in his own words.
Indexed so far: 259 of 1,859 recordings (1,904 answers, 2014 to 2025). Anything below may change as the rest are indexed. Limits of the data
Oldest first. A checked position shows what he holds, then the sentence he says, word for word from the transcript, with its moment. Years without one list the answers that have not been checked yet. Recordings not yet indexed may hold more.
· Should Muslims engage with the Prevent programme?
Mufti Abu Layth says Prevent began with good objectives but has become toxic and lost its purpose, so he would no longer advise Muslims to engage with it, while tackling radicalisation remains a duty of Muslims and especially of the learned.
“based on that I wouldn't at this stage having now known what I do know advise engagement with it because I see it as counterproductive”
7:08TranscriptCite 2015-04-06-S03corrected
· What did Mufti Abu Layth actually do as a Prevent mentor?
Mufti Abu Layth says Prevent mentoring as he practised it was voluntary and consensual with no covert element, and that spying on Muslims or landing people in trouble for money or favour would be absolutely haram.
“there was no such thing as spying I mean I would consider that absolutely Haram”
14:49TranscriptCite 2015-04-06-S04corrected
· Is working with the government or Prevent a form of serving false gods?
Mufti Abu Layth says the view of politically active groups that any association with the government is serving a false god is not a correct scholarly interpretation, since assisting non-Muslim authorities does not make them gods besides Allah, while accepting that elements within these programmes have worked against Muslims, himself included, and that Prevent needs review.
“I completely disagree categorically that these are Nots these are not false gods but I do accept that there are negative elements that are within these strategies”
19:59TranscriptCite 2015-04-06-S05corrected
· Are there Sharia courts in the UK?
Mufti Abu Layth says there are no Sharia courts in the UK, only Sharia councils dealing with religious marriages and divorces.
“there are no Sharia Courts in the UK there are Sharia councils which deal with religious divorces and things like that”
1:47:19TranscriptCite 2020-07-14-S29corrected
· Can we call coronavirus the UK virus?
Mufti Abu Layth says he believes the coronavirus came from the Wuhan lab and was manipulated there, though not released on purpose.
“I do believe still that it was um it was the kind of result of laboratory kind of work. I think that the corona virus came from the Wuhan lab.”
22:27TranscriptCite 2021-01-05-S07corrected
· What is Birmingham really like for Muslims?
Mufti Abu Layth says he thinks several drugs should be legalised, especially things like cannabis.
“drugs should be legalized i i do feel that you know especially things like cannabis and stuff like because it would just cut out this entire market and then it could be regulated”
1:33:35TranscriptCite 2021-02-09-S18corrected
· Why does Birmingham have so many different Muslim sects?
Mufti Abu Layth says that in Birmingham every sect has a strong presence, and that he thinks that is a good thing.
“you've got everybody here you know and and i think that's a good thing because there's certain towns like leicester is close to birmingham which is heavily diopandi”
1:36:08TranscriptCite 2021-02-09-S19corrected
· Do protests help Palestine, and was blocking the roads in Birmingham justified?
Mufti Abu Layth says blocking the roads into Birmingham at rush hour was an utter disservice to the Palestinian cause, since frustration gives nobody the right to break the law, it distressed uninvolved civilians and it increased sentiment against Palestine.
“this is an utter disservice to the palestinian cause you have to understand that people trying to justify this by stating that oh but we are frustrated and angry one it does not give anybody the right”
12:54TranscriptCite 2021-05-15-S03corrected
How many of these answers cite each (guest speech left out). Cited means named as evidence or discussed, not necessarily accepted: open the answers to see which.
Cite a statement by its id: Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment id, with the date and the address of its page. Citation formats
