Mediterranean Union: Struggle between EU & America
On 13/7/2008 France , which holds the current EU presidency, officially declared the launch of the Union for Mediterranean . At the Summit, leaders from 43 countries came together and agreed on a joint declaration. It stated that the main aim was to transform the Mediterranean region into an area of peace, democracy and cooperation and prosperity. The European initiative led by France is aimed at competing with the US over long-term control of Eastern European and Muslim countries. However, the most disappointing aspect is that the rulers of the Muslim world have again placed the ummah at the centre of a bitter struggle between Europe and America . The messenger (saw) of Allah said, “The Muslim should be sharp so that he is not stung from the same hole twice.” The rulers rather than heeding from this hadith, rush at every opportunity to act as agents for the kafir colonialist powers. For instance Turkey initially opposed to Mediterranean Union reversed its decision and decided to attend the summit. The time has come for the ummah to rid the present leaders and the colonial systems they protect by re-establishing the Khilafah. Only under the Khilafah will the ummah be intellectually, politically and economically independent from the West.
US-Ukraine military increases tensions in the black sea
On 14/7/2008 US-Ukrainian military exercises began on the Black Sea and involved 15 other countries, including Nato members. The exercises will involve warships, planes, helicopters, armoured vehicles and various kinds of troops. Ukrainian leaders who favour joining Nato also hope the drills will help bring their country closer to Nato and Western military standards. “We are moving toward the European Union, we are moving toward Western standards,” said navy chief Vice Adm Ihor Tenyukh. Pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko asked Nato in January to grant the nation a roadmap to joining the alliance. Nato declined to grant the request due to Russian concerns, which vehemently opposes Ukrainian membership of NATO. Nonetheless, the recent overtures by Russia to threaten Czech Republic and Poland over America ’s missile shield programme, and Russia ’s overt support for separatists in Georgia has increased pressure on the US to demonstrate its primacy in the region. Even this appears to be a risky strategy, as Ukriane is country that is divided into two camps— a pro-American camp and a pro-Russian camp. This is confirmed by a recent poll conducted by the Razumkov Centre, which found that 60 per cent of Ukrainians are opposed joining Nato, up from 53 per cent in February 2008. The exercises have already met huge protests and it is likely that Russia will again fire salvos aimed at thwarting American hegemony in the black sea.
Iran and US: War or reconciliation?
This week the US announced that it will be involved in negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programme. The White House has already approved a package of incentives to Iran that included a pledge to refrain from the use of force, supported a European gambit to begin preliminary talks with Iran and sent clear signals to Israel not to consider acting against Iran on its own. The about turn has angered neoconservatives. ”This is a complete capitulation on the whole idea of suspending enrichment. Just when the administration has no more U-turns to pull, it does another”, said former U.N. ambassador John R. Bolton. These developments confirm that the Bush administration is gradually implementing the recommendations set out by the Baker-Hamilton report which calls for dialogue with Iran. In this context Obama’s remarks about engaging Iran are quite revealing, and suggest that whether the next administration is democrat or republican reconciliation with Iran will be on the agenda.
Taliban’s strength an ominous sign for the crusaders
For too long now, the West has dismissed the Taliban as a rag tag army. But the daring raid on a NATO base on 15/7/2008 which left 10 US soldiers dead and many coalition troops wounded has irked the US and her allies. Immediately after, the US withdrew from the village and is in the process of bolstering its troops.The damage could have been much greater had it not been for the blatant assistance of Iran and Pakistan in American efforts to curb the Pushtun resistance. Both countries have approximately 1 million soldiers under arms, and, if used against under a sincere Islamic leadership the crusader forces would be vanquished from the region for good.
West berates Pakistan over its Tribal areas
On 15/7/2008 a Pentagon news agency — the American Armed Forces Press Service — quoted US and Nato officials as describing the situation in Pakistan as “dysfunctional”. A day earlier, spokesman Sean McCormack said at a briefing in Washington: “There is a deep concern about cross-border infiltration from Pakistan into Afghanistan and then back over the border.” Added to this both Obama and McCain—the current US presidential candidates—have indicated that Pakistan will feature heavily in US foreign policy matters in 2009. The root of the apparent problem between US and Pakistan appears to be two factors. First, the there is an intense debate in the Pakistani army about the conducting operations against their own citizens. Previously, such operation has resulted in high causalities, mutiny in the ranks and poor results. Second, fissures have opened up between the new government and US over holding talks with militants. The US still believes that through Musharraf and Kiyani’s leadership it can resolve the first issue—this can be measured through the various military aid packages the US has approved for the Pakistani army. However, doubts have grown about the ability of Zardari and Gillani to implement US instructions, despite heavy American pressure. The coming months will be crucial for Pakistan, as US contemplates a combination of military strikes and ground operations, as well as the establishment of a new coalition government to act under its auspices.
17 July 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
In Remembrance of the Destruction of the Islamic Khilafah
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
From the time Islam was revealed, the kuffar have waged an unrelenting struggle against Islam and the Muslims.
Despite this struggle, Muslims reined victorious for thirteen centuries with the exception of a few battles during the Crusade and Tatar invasions. The ideological might of the Khilafah and unyielding spirit of Iman, coupled with the sacrifice of the Muslims continuously proved overwhelming for the kuffar. However on the 28th of Rajab 1342 AH, corresponding to the 3rd of March 1924, the Western world lead by England at the time - finally achieved what they had long desired and for which they had exerted enormous effort: the abolition of the Islamic Khilafah and the separation of Deen from state, and Islam from politics. Consequently, the West spread their control over the Muslims and their lands. This calamity was made successful through the ardent support of Western agents from both the Arabs and Turks where the traitor Mustafa Kamal was at their head.
Despite the absence of the Khilafah for more than 80 years, the West have been forced to acknowledge that their victory over the Muslims would be short lived yet again, as the call for the return of the Khilafah resonates around the world loud and clear. The hearts of the Muslims yearn for it, their tongues speak of it day and night, and they anxiously await the birth of a new dawn.
As the struggle between Islam and Kufr reaches its final stages, the disbelieving West and its allies seek to lead the Muslims astray from the reality of the Islamic Khilafah, from the disasters the Muslims face due to its absence, and from what good fortune its return will bring to the Muslims in this world and the hereafter.
For the purpose of understanding the reality of the struggle today, we put forth the following questions:
• Why did the disbelieving West destroy the Khilafah?
• Why does the disbelieving West work to prevent the return of the Khilafah?
• Why is it obligatory for the Muslims to re-establish the Khilafah?
The answers to these vital questions can be comprehensively understood by defining the true essence and reality of the Khilafah;
• The Khilafah is the general leadership of all the Muslims in the world, which implements the Islamic Shari’ah and carries the Islamic Da’wah to the world.
• The Khilafah represents the unification of the Muslims under one Imam (Leader) and under the flag of tawheed.
• The Khilafah will ensure that Muslims are bound by a single brotherhood and their lands are one.
• The Khilafah means that the absolute sovereignty is for the Shari’ah of Allah which ensures the implementation of Islam comprehensively in our lives, whereby all the rulings of kufr and taghout (evil) are abolished.
• The Khilafah entails that the authority of the Muslims rest solely within their hands, thus enabling the Muslims to control their political destiny and liberate themselves from the shackles of Western colonialism which chains and enslaves the will of the Ummah.
• The Khilafah means that the Muslim Ummah takes her rightful role in the world, rescuing the Muslims her the evil of global capitalism and shading them under the light and justice of Islam thereby leading and guiding humanity with it.
• The Khilafah represents the liberation and expulsion of all disbelieving forces from every inch of occupied Muslim land, and the prevention of any colonialist presence, be it military, political, cultural, economical or otherwise.
• The Khilafah means that the natural resources will be entrusted to its rightful owners (Muslim citizens) and will expel the Western capitalist companies who pillage those resources leaving the Muslims dying of hunger and begging the West for their daily survival.
• The Khilafah represents the return of the Ummah to its rightful place in areas of knowledge, science and research, inventions, discovery and investment in advanced infrastructure development with free will to serve the interest of the Muslims.
• The Khilafah means that the Ummah will plough her own land, fulfil her needs, secure her food resources, such that no individual is left impoverished and threatened by starvation as the Ummah will no longer be subjected to the will of her enemy.
• The Khilafah means the removal of tribalism and nationalism in which Islam has prohibited, and the return of the Islamic bond of brotherhood between all Muslims – “The Muslim is the brother of a Muslim”.
• The Khilafah represents the return of peace to chaotic societies, thus the hearts will be tranquil in the dhikr of Allah, and the people will be tranquil about their deen, honour and wealth.
• The Khilafah means the protection of the Aqeedah, of worship, morals, values, and all the rules set by Allah.
• The Khilafah means that the Ummah will possess its own manufacturing and military industries free to direct its own policies in these areas.
• The Khilafah stands for the pleasure of Allah through the implementation of His Shari’ah; stands for the honour of the believers who testify to the Oneness of Allah; stands as the real shield of the Ummah and the armour of the believing women; stands as the true place of worship for the worshippers and mujahideen; and stands as the protection of the rights of Allah and the rights of the people.
Given that these are just some of the realities of what the Khilafah embodies, it is little wonder why the West exerted considerable effort in bringing about its demise, and it is no surprise that the West works even harder to prevent its return. So it is a great wonder and surprise to witness the complacency of a Muslim who is not engaged in the noble work of its return despite the sincerity displayed to Allah, his Deen and his Ummah. Even more surprising than this is that some Muslims, including some who wear the garbs of the Ulema, support the treacherous rulers in the Muslim world who are agents to the disbelieving West - rulers who have openly and unashamedly betrayed Allah, His Messenger and the believers.
O Muslims,
The devils from amongst the jinn and mankind, of the disbelievers, their allies and agents, whisper to you that the return of the Khilafah is impossible, and that the West with its great material power will challenge it if it is established, and that the Muslims have no chance against the West and its power, and that the state of ‘Israel’ and the ‘statelets’ breaking up the Muslim World will fight it from the inside, and that an economic boycott will be placed on it, and, and, and...
If these are the whisperings of some of the devils amongst the jinn and man, then Allah the Exalted, King of kings, and His Messenger (sws), our role model and example, promised us something else. Allah (swt) says,
]وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَىٰ لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا ۚ يَعْبُدُونَنِي لَا يُشْرِكُونَ بِي شَيْئًا ۚ وَمَنْ كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ[
“Allah has promised those among you who believe, and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them in the land succession (to power) on earth, as He granted it to those before them; and that He will establish in authority their religion - that which He has chosen for them (Islam). And that He will change (their state), after the fear in which they (lived), to one of security and peace: They will worship Me and will not associate anything in worship with Me. But whoever disbelieved after this, they are the transgressors.” [al-Nur: 55]; and the Messenger said,
(إن الله زوى لي الأرض فرأيت مشرقها ومغربها وإن أمتي سيبلغ ملكها ما زوى لي منها) رواه مسلم وأبو داود وابن ماجة والترمذي
“Allah showed me the earth and I looked at its East and its West. Indeed, the dominion of my Ummah will reach everywhere I was shown.” (Muslim, Abu Dawud); and he also said,
“The Prophethood will last among you for as long as Allah wills, then Allah would take it away. Then it will be (followed by) a rightly-guided Khilafah upon the way of the Prophethood. It will remain for as long as Allah wills, then Allah would take it away. Then there will be a biting rule which will remain for as long as Allah wills, then He will lift it if He wishes. Afterwards, there will be oppressive rule, and it will last for as long as Allah wishes, then He will lift it if He wishes. Then there will be a rightly-guided Khilafah upon the ways of the Prophethood, then he kept silent” (Musnad Ahmad)
Therefore, O Muslims, seek the Help of Allah the Exalted, work sincerely for Him, and know that your Ummah is strong and powerful by Allah, and that your enemies are weaker than the web of a spider. As for all those who sincerely ask, “When will the support of Allah come?” we say to them what our Lord said,
]أَلآ إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ[
“Yes! Certainly, the support of Allah is near!” (al-Baqarah: 214)
] وَاللَّهُ غَالِبٌ عَلَىٰ أَمْرِهِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ [
"And Allah has full power and control over His Affairs, but most of men know not." (al-Nur: 63)
Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia
08 Rajab 1429 AH
11 July 2008 CE
Source
From the time Islam was revealed, the kuffar have waged an unrelenting struggle against Islam and the Muslims.
Despite this struggle, Muslims reined victorious for thirteen centuries with the exception of a few battles during the Crusade and Tatar invasions. The ideological might of the Khilafah and unyielding spirit of Iman, coupled with the sacrifice of the Muslims continuously proved overwhelming for the kuffar. However on the 28th of Rajab 1342 AH, corresponding to the 3rd of March 1924, the Western world lead by England at the time - finally achieved what they had long desired and for which they had exerted enormous effort: the abolition of the Islamic Khilafah and the separation of Deen from state, and Islam from politics. Consequently, the West spread their control over the Muslims and their lands. This calamity was made successful through the ardent support of Western agents from both the Arabs and Turks where the traitor Mustafa Kamal was at their head.
Despite the absence of the Khilafah for more than 80 years, the West have been forced to acknowledge that their victory over the Muslims would be short lived yet again, as the call for the return of the Khilafah resonates around the world loud and clear. The hearts of the Muslims yearn for it, their tongues speak of it day and night, and they anxiously await the birth of a new dawn.
As the struggle between Islam and Kufr reaches its final stages, the disbelieving West and its allies seek to lead the Muslims astray from the reality of the Islamic Khilafah, from the disasters the Muslims face due to its absence, and from what good fortune its return will bring to the Muslims in this world and the hereafter.
For the purpose of understanding the reality of the struggle today, we put forth the following questions:
• Why did the disbelieving West destroy the Khilafah?
• Why does the disbelieving West work to prevent the return of the Khilafah?
• Why is it obligatory for the Muslims to re-establish the Khilafah?
The answers to these vital questions can be comprehensively understood by defining the true essence and reality of the Khilafah;
• The Khilafah is the general leadership of all the Muslims in the world, which implements the Islamic Shari’ah and carries the Islamic Da’wah to the world.
• The Khilafah represents the unification of the Muslims under one Imam (Leader) and under the flag of tawheed.
• The Khilafah will ensure that Muslims are bound by a single brotherhood and their lands are one.
• The Khilafah means that the absolute sovereignty is for the Shari’ah of Allah which ensures the implementation of Islam comprehensively in our lives, whereby all the rulings of kufr and taghout (evil) are abolished.
• The Khilafah entails that the authority of the Muslims rest solely within their hands, thus enabling the Muslims to control their political destiny and liberate themselves from the shackles of Western colonialism which chains and enslaves the will of the Ummah.
• The Khilafah means that the Muslim Ummah takes her rightful role in the world, rescuing the Muslims her the evil of global capitalism and shading them under the light and justice of Islam thereby leading and guiding humanity with it.
• The Khilafah represents the liberation and expulsion of all disbelieving forces from every inch of occupied Muslim land, and the prevention of any colonialist presence, be it military, political, cultural, economical or otherwise.
• The Khilafah means that the natural resources will be entrusted to its rightful owners (Muslim citizens) and will expel the Western capitalist companies who pillage those resources leaving the Muslims dying of hunger and begging the West for their daily survival.
• The Khilafah represents the return of the Ummah to its rightful place in areas of knowledge, science and research, inventions, discovery and investment in advanced infrastructure development with free will to serve the interest of the Muslims.
• The Khilafah means that the Ummah will plough her own land, fulfil her needs, secure her food resources, such that no individual is left impoverished and threatened by starvation as the Ummah will no longer be subjected to the will of her enemy.
• The Khilafah means the removal of tribalism and nationalism in which Islam has prohibited, and the return of the Islamic bond of brotherhood between all Muslims – “The Muslim is the brother of a Muslim”.
• The Khilafah represents the return of peace to chaotic societies, thus the hearts will be tranquil in the dhikr of Allah, and the people will be tranquil about their deen, honour and wealth.
• The Khilafah means the protection of the Aqeedah, of worship, morals, values, and all the rules set by Allah.
• The Khilafah means that the Ummah will possess its own manufacturing and military industries free to direct its own policies in these areas.
• The Khilafah stands for the pleasure of Allah through the implementation of His Shari’ah; stands for the honour of the believers who testify to the Oneness of Allah; stands as the real shield of the Ummah and the armour of the believing women; stands as the true place of worship for the worshippers and mujahideen; and stands as the protection of the rights of Allah and the rights of the people.
Given that these are just some of the realities of what the Khilafah embodies, it is little wonder why the West exerted considerable effort in bringing about its demise, and it is no surprise that the West works even harder to prevent its return. So it is a great wonder and surprise to witness the complacency of a Muslim who is not engaged in the noble work of its return despite the sincerity displayed to Allah, his Deen and his Ummah. Even more surprising than this is that some Muslims, including some who wear the garbs of the Ulema, support the treacherous rulers in the Muslim world who are agents to the disbelieving West - rulers who have openly and unashamedly betrayed Allah, His Messenger and the believers.
O Muslims,
The devils from amongst the jinn and mankind, of the disbelievers, their allies and agents, whisper to you that the return of the Khilafah is impossible, and that the West with its great material power will challenge it if it is established, and that the Muslims have no chance against the West and its power, and that the state of ‘Israel’ and the ‘statelets’ breaking up the Muslim World will fight it from the inside, and that an economic boycott will be placed on it, and, and, and...
If these are the whisperings of some of the devils amongst the jinn and man, then Allah the Exalted, King of kings, and His Messenger (sws), our role model and example, promised us something else. Allah (swt) says,
]وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَىٰ لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا ۚ يَعْبُدُونَنِي لَا يُشْرِكُونَ بِي شَيْئًا ۚ وَمَنْ كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ[
“Allah has promised those among you who believe, and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them in the land succession (to power) on earth, as He granted it to those before them; and that He will establish in authority their religion - that which He has chosen for them (Islam). And that He will change (their state), after the fear in which they (lived), to one of security and peace: They will worship Me and will not associate anything in worship with Me. But whoever disbelieved after this, they are the transgressors.” [al-Nur: 55]; and the Messenger said,
(إن الله زوى لي الأرض فرأيت مشرقها ومغربها وإن أمتي سيبلغ ملكها ما زوى لي منها) رواه مسلم وأبو داود وابن ماجة والترمذي
“Allah showed me the earth and I looked at its East and its West. Indeed, the dominion of my Ummah will reach everywhere I was shown.” (Muslim, Abu Dawud); and he also said,
“The Prophethood will last among you for as long as Allah wills, then Allah would take it away. Then it will be (followed by) a rightly-guided Khilafah upon the way of the Prophethood. It will remain for as long as Allah wills, then Allah would take it away. Then there will be a biting rule which will remain for as long as Allah wills, then He will lift it if He wishes. Afterwards, there will be oppressive rule, and it will last for as long as Allah wishes, then He will lift it if He wishes. Then there will be a rightly-guided Khilafah upon the ways of the Prophethood, then he kept silent” (Musnad Ahmad)
Therefore, O Muslims, seek the Help of Allah the Exalted, work sincerely for Him, and know that your Ummah is strong and powerful by Allah, and that your enemies are weaker than the web of a spider. As for all those who sincerely ask, “When will the support of Allah come?” we say to them what our Lord said,
]أَلآ إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ[
“Yes! Certainly, the support of Allah is near!” (al-Baqarah: 214)
] وَاللَّهُ غَالِبٌ عَلَىٰ أَمْرِهِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ [
"And Allah has full power and control over His Affairs, but most of men know not." (al-Nur: 63)
Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia
08 Rajab 1429 AH
11 July 2008 CE
Source
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Urdu documentary: Khilafah - A Global Call
Urdu Documentary by Hizb ut-Tahrir, Wilayah Pakistan:
Source: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2859576907071887328&hl=en
Source: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2859576907071887328&hl=en
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Adam Smith's praise of the Caliphate
Adam Smith, the 18th Century founder of modern economics whose picture is printed on the current UK £20 note, was exceedingly inspired by the Islamic method of governing. He proclaimed that:
"...the empire of the Caliphs seems to have been the first state under which the world enjoyed that degree of tranquility which the cultivation of the sciences requires. It was under the protection of those generous and magnificent princes, that the ancient philosophy and astronomy of the Greeks were restored and established in the East; that tranquility, which their mild, just and religious government diffused over their vast empire, revived the curiosity of mankind, to inquire into the connecting principles of nature." *
* Adam Smith, ‘History of Astronomy’, The Essays of Adam Smith (London, 1869), p. 353
Source
"...the empire of the Caliphs seems to have been the first state under which the world enjoyed that degree of tranquility which the cultivation of the sciences requires. It was under the protection of those generous and magnificent princes, that the ancient philosophy and astronomy of the Greeks were restored and established in the East; that tranquility, which their mild, just and religious government diffused over their vast empire, revived the curiosity of mankind, to inquire into the connecting principles of nature." *
* Adam Smith, ‘History of Astronomy’, The Essays of Adam Smith (London, 1869), p. 353
Source
Views on the news - 9/7/08
Anglican Church declares women Bishops acceptable
On 8/7/2008 The Church of England's legislative body voted in support of ordaining women bishops. Women have been ordained priests since 1994 in the Church of England. Today, one in six of England's parish priests are women, but they have been restricted from serving as bishops. There are also voices from within the Church to accept homosexual priests. Clearly, this demonstrates that the gravest danger facing any religion under secularism is that secular fundamentalists will not rest until religious dogma is revised and agrees with their viewpoint on life. Muslims living in the West should seize this opportunity and explain to disgruntled Christians about the virtues of Khilafah and how Christian beliefs and teaching were protected by Islam in Spain, Sicily and Palestine.
Russia threatens military force against US plans for Czech Republic
The United States and Czech Republic on 08/07/2008 signed an accord, which US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice described as a significant step toward global security. The agreement is part of US attempts to neutralize Russia’s huge nuclear arsenal. Unsurprisingly, Russia reacted strongly towards the accord. “If the agreement with the United States liable for ratification by the Czech parliament eventually becomes a law, and the deployment of US missile defense elements really starts in direct proximity to our borders, we will have to use military-technical rather than diplomatic methods,” the Russian ministry statement said. All along the US has used the pretext of threats from Iran and North Korea to justify the placement of military equipment in Eastern Europe, as part of its missile shield programme. On 09/07/2008, the US got a boost to its arguments as the Iranians test fired. But the Russians do not believe in such assertions and insist that Washington wants to use Eastern Europe and former soviet states to offset Russia’s nuclear arsenal and compromise its border security.
American and British agents convene D-8 summit
On 8/7/2008 agents of eight Muslim nations agreed to embark on joint ventures to boost food production and endorsed a 10-year blueprint to expand trade cooperation. The countries met as part of D-8 which was formed in 1997—the group brings together Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh , Pakistan , Iran , Turkey , Egypt and Nigeria , a market of nearly one billion people. However, since its inception it has remained an ineffective instrument to change the plight of the ummah. This is because all of its leaders are competing with each other to safeguard the interests of their colonial masters and pay scant regard to the issues of the ummah. The 10 year blue print pledged by the participant will bring nothing more than more misery and humiliation for the ummah. The time has come for the Muslims in these countries to stand shoulder to shoulder and work for the resumption of the Khilafah Rashida. Only then will they be free from the tyranny and the oppression of the agents of colonialism
US attacks on Pakistan’s tribal belt maybe imminent
On 9/7/2008 the US announced that it was sending air power to Afghanistan amid reports that American commandos are poised to stage hot pursuit raids into Fata. US military officials told reporters in Washington that the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln and its escort vessels were moved out of the Gulf to the Arabian Sea, shortening the time that the carrier’s strike planes must take to support operations in Afghanistan. The declaration comes soon after Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher’s visit to Pakistan. During his visit Boucher openly spoke about America’s desire to have more of a free hand in slaughtering Muslims of the tribal region. Furthermore, he was pleased at Gilani’s government’s U turn in sending Pakistani forces to kill fellow Pakistanis.
However, the most disappointing aspect of this situation is the reluctance of military and civic leaders to oppose the US. If countries like Venezuela and North Korea, can stand up to the US, then what is preventing Pakistan. Pakistan with its huge professional army and nuclear weapons is in a much better position to withstand US threats.
9th July 2008
On 8/7/2008 The Church of England's legislative body voted in support of ordaining women bishops. Women have been ordained priests since 1994 in the Church of England. Today, one in six of England's parish priests are women, but they have been restricted from serving as bishops. There are also voices from within the Church to accept homosexual priests. Clearly, this demonstrates that the gravest danger facing any religion under secularism is that secular fundamentalists will not rest until religious dogma is revised and agrees with their viewpoint on life. Muslims living in the West should seize this opportunity and explain to disgruntled Christians about the virtues of Khilafah and how Christian beliefs and teaching were protected by Islam in Spain, Sicily and Palestine.
Russia threatens military force against US plans for Czech Republic
The United States and Czech Republic on 08/07/2008 signed an accord, which US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice described as a significant step toward global security. The agreement is part of US attempts to neutralize Russia’s huge nuclear arsenal. Unsurprisingly, Russia reacted strongly towards the accord. “If the agreement with the United States liable for ratification by the Czech parliament eventually becomes a law, and the deployment of US missile defense elements really starts in direct proximity to our borders, we will have to use military-technical rather than diplomatic methods,” the Russian ministry statement said. All along the US has used the pretext of threats from Iran and North Korea to justify the placement of military equipment in Eastern Europe, as part of its missile shield programme. On 09/07/2008, the US got a boost to its arguments as the Iranians test fired. But the Russians do not believe in such assertions and insist that Washington wants to use Eastern Europe and former soviet states to offset Russia’s nuclear arsenal and compromise its border security.
American and British agents convene D-8 summit
On 8/7/2008 agents of eight Muslim nations agreed to embark on joint ventures to boost food production and endorsed a 10-year blueprint to expand trade cooperation. The countries met as part of D-8 which was formed in 1997—the group brings together Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh , Pakistan , Iran , Turkey , Egypt and Nigeria , a market of nearly one billion people. However, since its inception it has remained an ineffective instrument to change the plight of the ummah. This is because all of its leaders are competing with each other to safeguard the interests of their colonial masters and pay scant regard to the issues of the ummah. The 10 year blue print pledged by the participant will bring nothing more than more misery and humiliation for the ummah. The time has come for the Muslims in these countries to stand shoulder to shoulder and work for the resumption of the Khilafah Rashida. Only then will they be free from the tyranny and the oppression of the agents of colonialism
US attacks on Pakistan’s tribal belt maybe imminent
On 9/7/2008 the US announced that it was sending air power to Afghanistan amid reports that American commandos are poised to stage hot pursuit raids into Fata. US military officials told reporters in Washington that the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln and its escort vessels were moved out of the Gulf to the Arabian Sea, shortening the time that the carrier’s strike planes must take to support operations in Afghanistan. The declaration comes soon after Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher’s visit to Pakistan. During his visit Boucher openly spoke about America’s desire to have more of a free hand in slaughtering Muslims of the tribal region. Furthermore, he was pleased at Gilani’s government’s U turn in sending Pakistani forces to kill fellow Pakistanis.
However, the most disappointing aspect of this situation is the reluctance of military and civic leaders to oppose the US. If countries like Venezuela and North Korea, can stand up to the US, then what is preventing Pakistan. Pakistan with its huge professional army and nuclear weapons is in a much better position to withstand US threats.
9th July 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
Views on the news - 3/7/08
France punishes Muslims for no crimes committed
On 1/7/2008 Human Rights Watch (HRW) published a report that criticized France for violating human rights in the way it handles terrorism-related cases. HRW says France uses a catch-all offence to charge suspects even when they have only a vague link to an alleged terrorist organization. Suspects can face long periods of detention before trial, and some have suffered physical violence during interrogation. They cannot see a lawyer for three days, and then for only 30 minutes. It is clear that these draconian measures are aimed at instilling fear in France’s Muslim community. Any alleged association with terror is enough for authorities to incarcerate Muslims for having committed no crime at all. France like other European countries has adopted laws that by their very nature are designed to persecute Muslims and curb their right to practice Islam. Muslims living in the Europe must take it upon themselves to expose the fallacy of freedom and human rights to their fellow citizens, and present Islam as the only alternative ideology to western liberalism.
Turkey plunges into a constitutional crisis
Turkey took a lurch towards turmoil on 1/7/2008 as the chief prosecutor outlined his case for banning the governing party— AKP. “The secular Republic is facing an unprecedented danger because the counter-revolutionary forces are no longer in the margins, but in government,” said Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya, the chief prosecutor. A 162-page petition submitted to the court claimed the “risk” to the secular republic was “increasing every day” and said: “The danger is clear and concrete. There is no other way to protect society than to close the party down.” Ever since Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Prime Minister, and his government were elected six years ago, Turkey ’s pro-British army has been uneasy. Over the past couple of years, the army has repeatedly intervened under the pre-text of protecting secularism to thwart AKP’s pro-American policies. Previous attempts by the army to bring down AKP, like forays into Iraq , tensions with the US and public demonstration against the government failed to displace AKP from power. However, the constitutional challenge to AKP inspired by the army presents a real threat to Erdogan and his US masters. Whilst Anglo-American agents embroil themselves over the reigns of power, Turkey’s Muslims have once again been let down by their leaders for their lack of support for Islam. The time has come for the Muslims of Turkey to remove the agents of the kafir powers and re-establish the Khilafah on the ruins of the Turkish republic. Only then will the Muslims of Turkey be able to enjoy Islam in their lives.
Israel’s water supply policy to Gaza is inhumane
On 1/7/2008 Israeli human rights group B'Tselem reported that West Bank faced grave water shortages because of Israel 's discriminatory policies. West Bank per capita water use is about 66 litres a day - just two-thirds of the recommended international minimum. On the other hand per capita water consumption by Israeli settlers in the West Bank is 3.5 times that of Palestinians. Furthermore, the B'Tselem added that the accumulated effects of a series of dry years would make matters worse in the months to come. A similar situation—if not worse— exists in Gaza . This news should not come as a surprise, as Zionist state has turned Palestine into a huge concentration camp, where crimes against humanity are perpetrated on a daily basis. Reducing water supplies in their eyes is no big deal. Instead, the biggest disappointment lies with the Arab rulers who do not lift a finger to lessen the plight of the Palestinians. For them, the reduction in water supplies, the erection of a wall, military operations, the torture and the slaughter of Palestinians no longer matters—as if Palestinian lives have no value. The messenger (saw) of Allah said, the blood of a Muslim is worth more than the Kaba and all of its surroundings.
Abu Dhabi plans to feed its population by starving Sudan
It was recently announced that Abu Dhabi is to develop nearly 30,000 hectares of farmland in Sudan in the first step towards ensuring food security in the emirate. Watered by the Nile, Sudan has great agricultural potential, and it is reported to have offered Abu Dhabi free use of the land, hoping to benefit from the business links and technical know-how. Egypt and Saudi Arabia have also expressed interest in developing projects in Sudan . Up to 80% of arable farmland is not used The move follows similar projects by Middle Eastern countries locking up land from Brazil to Pakistan and Thailand to guarantee supplies of cereals, meat and vegetables at a reasonable cost.. Pakistan 's government is reported to have offered the Saudis hundreds of thousands of hectares in return for £3bn in oil and financial aid. Once again such projects are going to deprive the vast majority of the ummah in Sudan and Pakistan to feed a small minority in the Gulf. The best way to eschew such a scenario is to develop a project where all of the ummah’s energy, food, medical, security, and educational needs are met fairly. This can only happen through the re-establishment of the Khilafah, which will control the resources of the Muslim world and ensure that its citizens are treated equitably in terms of benefiting from its resources.
Kashmir Muslims left to fight the Indians on their own
On 2/7/2008 the Indian government finally relented to the demands of the Kashmiri Muslims not to give land to pilgrim Hindus. The decision brought an abrupt end to 10 days of violence between Kashmiri Muslims and the Indian police authority. The trouble started when the Indian government decided to give 39.88 hectares of forest land to the Amarnath shrine board. The Muslims of Kashmir feared that the Hindu government was taking advantage of a lull in relations between Pakistan and India to cede more land to Hindus, and as a result launched violent protests. However, the truth of the matter is that Pakistan has officially abandoned the Kashmiri people in favour of normalizing relations with India . This explains why the Pakistan government is next to silent on the every day oppression of the Kashmiri people. The rulers of Pakistan have abdicated their responsibility towards the Kashmiris and only indulge in those activities that bolster the enemies of Islam. The Muslims of Pakistan are obliged to help their brethren in Kashmir in the face of this oppression. The quickest and the most practical way to accomplish this feat, is to establish the Khilafah. The Khilafah will unite the 40 million or so soldiers of the Muslim world under the banner of la ilaha illahu mohamedur rasoollah and liberate their brothers in Kashmir .
Mullen says he has full authority to strike Pakistan.
Despite vigorous denials by Pakistani officials the stark reality of America’s scope of operations has finally emerged. On 2/7/2008 America’s top military official, Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff said, “I’m comfortable, as the military leader, that I have all the authorities I need,” said, when asked if he had the authority to target key terrorist leaders hiding in Fata. Pakistan under Musharraf’s leadership has surrendered its political, economic and military sovereignty to the Americans—who at will can slaughter both Pakistani civilians and soldiers. The current leadership of Zardari, Gallani and Sharif is no different. They have not only offered friendship to the US but are supporting the killing of Muslims in FATA under US auspices. Allah Says, “O ye who believe! Choose not My enemy and your enemy for friends . Do ye give them friendship when they disbelieve in that truth which hath come unto you…” (60:1).
3rd July 2008
On 1/7/2008 Human Rights Watch (HRW) published a report that criticized France for violating human rights in the way it handles terrorism-related cases. HRW says France uses a catch-all offence to charge suspects even when they have only a vague link to an alleged terrorist organization. Suspects can face long periods of detention before trial, and some have suffered physical violence during interrogation. They cannot see a lawyer for three days, and then for only 30 minutes. It is clear that these draconian measures are aimed at instilling fear in France’s Muslim community. Any alleged association with terror is enough for authorities to incarcerate Muslims for having committed no crime at all. France like other European countries has adopted laws that by their very nature are designed to persecute Muslims and curb their right to practice Islam. Muslims living in the Europe must take it upon themselves to expose the fallacy of freedom and human rights to their fellow citizens, and present Islam as the only alternative ideology to western liberalism.
Turkey plunges into a constitutional crisis
Turkey took a lurch towards turmoil on 1/7/2008 as the chief prosecutor outlined his case for banning the governing party— AKP. “The secular Republic is facing an unprecedented danger because the counter-revolutionary forces are no longer in the margins, but in government,” said Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya, the chief prosecutor. A 162-page petition submitted to the court claimed the “risk” to the secular republic was “increasing every day” and said: “The danger is clear and concrete. There is no other way to protect society than to close the party down.” Ever since Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Prime Minister, and his government were elected six years ago, Turkey ’s pro-British army has been uneasy. Over the past couple of years, the army has repeatedly intervened under the pre-text of protecting secularism to thwart AKP’s pro-American policies. Previous attempts by the army to bring down AKP, like forays into Iraq , tensions with the US and public demonstration against the government failed to displace AKP from power. However, the constitutional challenge to AKP inspired by the army presents a real threat to Erdogan and his US masters. Whilst Anglo-American agents embroil themselves over the reigns of power, Turkey’s Muslims have once again been let down by their leaders for their lack of support for Islam. The time has come for the Muslims of Turkey to remove the agents of the kafir powers and re-establish the Khilafah on the ruins of the Turkish republic. Only then will the Muslims of Turkey be able to enjoy Islam in their lives.
Israel’s water supply policy to Gaza is inhumane
On 1/7/2008 Israeli human rights group B'Tselem reported that West Bank faced grave water shortages because of Israel 's discriminatory policies. West Bank per capita water use is about 66 litres a day - just two-thirds of the recommended international minimum. On the other hand per capita water consumption by Israeli settlers in the West Bank is 3.5 times that of Palestinians. Furthermore, the B'Tselem added that the accumulated effects of a series of dry years would make matters worse in the months to come. A similar situation—if not worse— exists in Gaza . This news should not come as a surprise, as Zionist state has turned Palestine into a huge concentration camp, where crimes against humanity are perpetrated on a daily basis. Reducing water supplies in their eyes is no big deal. Instead, the biggest disappointment lies with the Arab rulers who do not lift a finger to lessen the plight of the Palestinians. For them, the reduction in water supplies, the erection of a wall, military operations, the torture and the slaughter of Palestinians no longer matters—as if Palestinian lives have no value. The messenger (saw) of Allah said, the blood of a Muslim is worth more than the Kaba and all of its surroundings.
Abu Dhabi plans to feed its population by starving Sudan
It was recently announced that Abu Dhabi is to develop nearly 30,000 hectares of farmland in Sudan in the first step towards ensuring food security in the emirate. Watered by the Nile, Sudan has great agricultural potential, and it is reported to have offered Abu Dhabi free use of the land, hoping to benefit from the business links and technical know-how. Egypt and Saudi Arabia have also expressed interest in developing projects in Sudan . Up to 80% of arable farmland is not used The move follows similar projects by Middle Eastern countries locking up land from Brazil to Pakistan and Thailand to guarantee supplies of cereals, meat and vegetables at a reasonable cost.. Pakistan 's government is reported to have offered the Saudis hundreds of thousands of hectares in return for £3bn in oil and financial aid. Once again such projects are going to deprive the vast majority of the ummah in Sudan and Pakistan to feed a small minority in the Gulf. The best way to eschew such a scenario is to develop a project where all of the ummah’s energy, food, medical, security, and educational needs are met fairly. This can only happen through the re-establishment of the Khilafah, which will control the resources of the Muslim world and ensure that its citizens are treated equitably in terms of benefiting from its resources.
Kashmir Muslims left to fight the Indians on their own
On 2/7/2008 the Indian government finally relented to the demands of the Kashmiri Muslims not to give land to pilgrim Hindus. The decision brought an abrupt end to 10 days of violence between Kashmiri Muslims and the Indian police authority. The trouble started when the Indian government decided to give 39.88 hectares of forest land to the Amarnath shrine board. The Muslims of Kashmir feared that the Hindu government was taking advantage of a lull in relations between Pakistan and India to cede more land to Hindus, and as a result launched violent protests. However, the truth of the matter is that Pakistan has officially abandoned the Kashmiri people in favour of normalizing relations with India . This explains why the Pakistan government is next to silent on the every day oppression of the Kashmiri people. The rulers of Pakistan have abdicated their responsibility towards the Kashmiris and only indulge in those activities that bolster the enemies of Islam. The Muslims of Pakistan are obliged to help their brethren in Kashmir in the face of this oppression. The quickest and the most practical way to accomplish this feat, is to establish the Khilafah. The Khilafah will unite the 40 million or so soldiers of the Muslim world under the banner of la ilaha illahu mohamedur rasoollah and liberate their brothers in Kashmir .
Mullen says he has full authority to strike Pakistan.
Despite vigorous denials by Pakistani officials the stark reality of America’s scope of operations has finally emerged. On 2/7/2008 America’s top military official, Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff said, “I’m comfortable, as the military leader, that I have all the authorities I need,” said, when asked if he had the authority to target key terrorist leaders hiding in Fata. Pakistan under Musharraf’s leadership has surrendered its political, economic and military sovereignty to the Americans—who at will can slaughter both Pakistani civilians and soldiers. The current leadership of Zardari, Gallani and Sharif is no different. They have not only offered friendship to the US but are supporting the killing of Muslims in FATA under US auspices. Allah Says, “O ye who believe! Choose not My enemy and your enemy for friends . Do ye give them friendship when they disbelieve in that truth which hath come unto you…” (60:1).
3rd July 2008
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Islamic Civilisation and Science
For the last two centuries, the world has witnessed unprecedented leaps in Science and technology, the development of railways, Aeroplanes, Nuclear technology, the Internet, IVF, Genetically modified food, the Penicillin, Cloning and the development of Nanotechnology. Such developments have taken place in parallel to the development of the West, reaching levels unheralded in history. The West today has monopolised technological and scientific inventions and consider the adoption of liberal values a pre-requisite for development.
Most thinkers, scientists and philosophers claim Islam has no place in the world today, a view which itself is built upon the premise that none of the Muslim countries have produced anything in terms of scientific research or technological invention. The West claims that progress in science and technology occurred when the West rid itself of the authority of the Church and separated religion from life. For them the church stifled the development of science and reason as religion is inherently built upon faith and superstition, only with its removal from the public sphere did the West manage to launch an industrial revolution and then flourish in Science. Today for liberals it is they who invented Science as we know it; they claim they laid its foundations and have created its numerous branches.
Such a narrative omits a number of historical developments that are not Western and shows how the West continued to view its history as the history of the world. Such a narrative also conveniently omits what the West took from previous civilisations and especially the Islamic civilisation. Historically all civilisations have been characterised with some form of technological and scientific development, the West has documented the contributions the Romans made to the discipline whilst the Islamic world in the 8th – 10th century translated the works of the Greeks in the area.
Science in essence is the study, research, and experimentation into the observable parts of the universe. The development of automobiles was due primarily to the development of the combustion engine; this is where the burning of fuel in an engine acts on the pistons causing the movement of the solid parts, eventually moving the automobile. This was possible due to the British Empire who originally used steam and then coal to drive pistons and then eventually to generate rotary (motion) to move machines. Such developments where based upon Al-Jazari’s work in the 12th century where he invented the crankshaft, and created rotary motion through the use of rods and cylinders. He was the first to incorporate it into a machine.
The above example and a number of other examples show that no civilisation can lay claim to science belonging inherently to them but rather they made a contribution to this universal area. The fact atoms and molecules are subjected to the rules of the universe which can be manipulated will not change if one is a Muslim, Christen or a liberal; this is something that is universal and not affected by ones belief. The real debate is therefore which civilisation made significant contributions to science and what exactly drove them to excel in the field.
The Islamic golden age is considered the period from the 8th century to the 13th century, during this period, engineers, scholars and traders in the Islamic world contributed to the arts, agriculture, economics, industry, law, literature, navigation, philosophy, sciences, and technology, both by preserving and building upon earlier traditions and by adding to them. Howard Turner expert on medieval history mentioned in his book ‘Science in Medieval Islam,’ “Muslim artists and scientists, princes and laborers together created a unique culture that has directly and indirectly influenced societies on every continent.” There were a number of specific elements within Islam that were the driving engine which motivated Muslims to excel in this field.
The worship of Allah (swt) was one such factor that lead to a number of inventions, the times of the five daily prayers, the direction for qiblah (the direction Muslim face when praying) and the beginning and ending of Ramadan required accurate readings of the positions of the stars and the moon. It was due to this Muslims begun to invent observational and navigational instruments, this is why most navigational stars today have Arabic names such as Acamar, Aldebaran, Altair, Baham, Baten Kaitos, Caph, Dabih, Edasich, Furud, Gienah, Hadar, Izar, Jabbah, Keid, Lesath, Mirak, Nashira, Okda, Phad, Rigel, Sadr, Tarf, and Vega. Muslims made a number of contributions to Astronomy and eventually to the development of the astronomical clock. A Mechanical lunisolar calendar with gear train and gear-wheels was invented by Abū Rayhān al-Bīrūnī in the 10th century. Based on such designs Taqi al-din invented the mechanical clock in the 15th century. The need to ascertain the Qibla lead to the development of the compass, which itself as was based upon the findings Muslims astronomers had collated. Muslims developed the compass rose which displayed the orientation of the cardinal directions, north, south, east and west on a map and nautical chart. Allah (swt) said in the Quran ‘and it is He who ordained the stars for you that you may be guided thereby in the darkness of the land and the sea," (6:97) this motivated Muslim to begin to find better observational and navigational instruments, thus most navigational stars today have Arabic names. Such instruments were used to explore the world, which many Muslim geographers collated into manuals, they were driven by the ayah in the Qur’an where Allah (swt) said ‘and we have placed in the earth firm hills lest it quake with them and we have placed therein ravines as roads that happily they may find their way.’ (21:31)
Early Muslims understood that Islam views all the material matters which include the sciences, technology and industry, as merely the study of the reality and a study of how matter can be manipulated to improve the condition and living standards of humanity. As many lands came under the fold of the Islamic civilisation, urbanisation led a number of developments. The Arabian Desert had scant water springs making most of the region inhabitable; this was overcome by Muslim engineers developing canals from the Euphrates and Tigris, the swamps around Baghdad were drained, freeing the city of Malaria. Muslim engineers perfected the waterwheel and constructed elaborate underground water channels called qanats. This led to the development of advanced domestic water systems with sewers, public baths, drinking fountains, piped drinking water supplies and widespread private and public toilet and bathing facilities.
Muslims thinker, scientists, engineers and experts made significant contributions to science as well as many other disciplines. Many of these contributions were later used by the West who made further contributions to the field. The nature of Science as a universal subject means no single civilisation can lay claim to inventing it but rather most civilisations have documented their contributions throughout history which acted as previous information when experimentation was carried out by latter civilisations. Prior to the emergence of Islam in the Middle East the host population made no contribution to Science, when the very same people accepted Islam they made contributions which latter generations utilised to invent new items which today still remain with us. Islam rather then being an obstacle to science, it was the trajectory that drove Muslim contribution to science.
Jared Diamond, a physiologist who won the Pulitzer Prize for his book: “Guns, Germs, and Steel,” said: "Medieval Islam was technologically advanced and open to innovation. It achieved far higher literacy rates than in contemporary Europe; it assimilated the legacy of classical Greek civilization to such a degree that many classical books are now known to us only through Arabic copies. It invented windmills, trigonometry, lateen sails and made major advances in metallurgy, mechanical and chemical engineering and irrigation methods. In the middle-ages the flow of technology was overwhelmingly from Islam to Europe rather from Europe to Islam. Only after the 1500's did the net direction of flow begin to reverse."
Source
Most thinkers, scientists and philosophers claim Islam has no place in the world today, a view which itself is built upon the premise that none of the Muslim countries have produced anything in terms of scientific research or technological invention. The West claims that progress in science and technology occurred when the West rid itself of the authority of the Church and separated religion from life. For them the church stifled the development of science and reason as religion is inherently built upon faith and superstition, only with its removal from the public sphere did the West manage to launch an industrial revolution and then flourish in Science. Today for liberals it is they who invented Science as we know it; they claim they laid its foundations and have created its numerous branches.
Such a narrative omits a number of historical developments that are not Western and shows how the West continued to view its history as the history of the world. Such a narrative also conveniently omits what the West took from previous civilisations and especially the Islamic civilisation. Historically all civilisations have been characterised with some form of technological and scientific development, the West has documented the contributions the Romans made to the discipline whilst the Islamic world in the 8th – 10th century translated the works of the Greeks in the area.
Science in essence is the study, research, and experimentation into the observable parts of the universe. The development of automobiles was due primarily to the development of the combustion engine; this is where the burning of fuel in an engine acts on the pistons causing the movement of the solid parts, eventually moving the automobile. This was possible due to the British Empire who originally used steam and then coal to drive pistons and then eventually to generate rotary (motion) to move machines. Such developments where based upon Al-Jazari’s work in the 12th century where he invented the crankshaft, and created rotary motion through the use of rods and cylinders. He was the first to incorporate it into a machine.
The above example and a number of other examples show that no civilisation can lay claim to science belonging inherently to them but rather they made a contribution to this universal area. The fact atoms and molecules are subjected to the rules of the universe which can be manipulated will not change if one is a Muslim, Christen or a liberal; this is something that is universal and not affected by ones belief. The real debate is therefore which civilisation made significant contributions to science and what exactly drove them to excel in the field.
The Islamic golden age is considered the period from the 8th century to the 13th century, during this period, engineers, scholars and traders in the Islamic world contributed to the arts, agriculture, economics, industry, law, literature, navigation, philosophy, sciences, and technology, both by preserving and building upon earlier traditions and by adding to them. Howard Turner expert on medieval history mentioned in his book ‘Science in Medieval Islam,’ “Muslim artists and scientists, princes and laborers together created a unique culture that has directly and indirectly influenced societies on every continent.” There were a number of specific elements within Islam that were the driving engine which motivated Muslims to excel in this field.
The worship of Allah (swt) was one such factor that lead to a number of inventions, the times of the five daily prayers, the direction for qiblah (the direction Muslim face when praying) and the beginning and ending of Ramadan required accurate readings of the positions of the stars and the moon. It was due to this Muslims begun to invent observational and navigational instruments, this is why most navigational stars today have Arabic names such as Acamar, Aldebaran, Altair, Baham, Baten Kaitos, Caph, Dabih, Edasich, Furud, Gienah, Hadar, Izar, Jabbah, Keid, Lesath, Mirak, Nashira, Okda, Phad, Rigel, Sadr, Tarf, and Vega. Muslims made a number of contributions to Astronomy and eventually to the development of the astronomical clock. A Mechanical lunisolar calendar with gear train and gear-wheels was invented by Abū Rayhān al-Bīrūnī in the 10th century. Based on such designs Taqi al-din invented the mechanical clock in the 15th century. The need to ascertain the Qibla lead to the development of the compass, which itself as was based upon the findings Muslims astronomers had collated. Muslims developed the compass rose which displayed the orientation of the cardinal directions, north, south, east and west on a map and nautical chart. Allah (swt) said in the Quran ‘and it is He who ordained the stars for you that you may be guided thereby in the darkness of the land and the sea," (6:97) this motivated Muslim to begin to find better observational and navigational instruments, thus most navigational stars today have Arabic names. Such instruments were used to explore the world, which many Muslim geographers collated into manuals, they were driven by the ayah in the Qur’an where Allah (swt) said ‘and we have placed in the earth firm hills lest it quake with them and we have placed therein ravines as roads that happily they may find their way.’ (21:31)
Early Muslims understood that Islam views all the material matters which include the sciences, technology and industry, as merely the study of the reality and a study of how matter can be manipulated to improve the condition and living standards of humanity. As many lands came under the fold of the Islamic civilisation, urbanisation led a number of developments. The Arabian Desert had scant water springs making most of the region inhabitable; this was overcome by Muslim engineers developing canals from the Euphrates and Tigris, the swamps around Baghdad were drained, freeing the city of Malaria. Muslim engineers perfected the waterwheel and constructed elaborate underground water channels called qanats. This led to the development of advanced domestic water systems with sewers, public baths, drinking fountains, piped drinking water supplies and widespread private and public toilet and bathing facilities.
Muslims thinker, scientists, engineers and experts made significant contributions to science as well as many other disciplines. Many of these contributions were later used by the West who made further contributions to the field. The nature of Science as a universal subject means no single civilisation can lay claim to inventing it but rather most civilisations have documented their contributions throughout history which acted as previous information when experimentation was carried out by latter civilisations. Prior to the emergence of Islam in the Middle East the host population made no contribution to Science, when the very same people accepted Islam they made contributions which latter generations utilised to invent new items which today still remain with us. Islam rather then being an obstacle to science, it was the trajectory that drove Muslim contribution to science.
Jared Diamond, a physiologist who won the Pulitzer Prize for his book: “Guns, Germs, and Steel,” said: "Medieval Islam was technologically advanced and open to innovation. It achieved far higher literacy rates than in contemporary Europe; it assimilated the legacy of classical Greek civilization to such a degree that many classical books are now known to us only through Arabic copies. It invented windmills, trigonometry, lateen sails and made major advances in metallurgy, mechanical and chemical engineering and irrigation methods. In the middle-ages the flow of technology was overwhelmingly from Islam to Europe rather from Europe to Islam. Only after the 1500's did the net direction of flow begin to reverse."
Source
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Chief Justice of India praises Islamic penal code as deterrent against crime
From Mohammed Siddique, TwoCircles.net
Hyderabad: The Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan has hailed the Islamic penal code saying they were effective in deterrence against the criminal offenders. Addressing a workshop on "Growing Crimes – deterrent punishment : search for appropriate theory of punishment", organized by the organization of Retired Judges and NALSAR University at the Andhra Pradesh High Court Balakrishnan gave the example of Gulf countries. "People say the laws in those countries were harsh but it is a fact that because of the harsh punishments, the crime rate in those countries is very low". Women can move around even at midnight with out any fear, he said. Even traffic rules were so strict that there were very few traffic accidents in those countries.
He recalled that till 1857, Islamic penal system was in force in India and the law and order situation in the country was very good. "The introduction of Indian Penal Code was a good move but the law and order situation in the country did not remain the same", Chief Justice said.
Pointing out that in contrast to the Gulf countries, India was a democratic country. "But in our country neither the women can move around with out fear nor there is any respect for the traffic rules", he said.
Pointing out that there were 8000 judges in the country to deal with the criminal offences, the Chief Justice expressed his concern over the huge disparity in sentences awarded by different judges for the similar crimes. The disparity is so huge that they range from six months to life imprisonment for the crimes of the similar nature, he said.
He was also unhappy that the system of granting bails was not working properly and some bail petitions were pending in the courts for fifteen years. "As a results jail in the country were full of under trial prisoners".
Justice AR Lakshmanan, chairman, Law Commission of India said that 56 lakh criminal cases were pending in the courts in the country.
Source
Hyderabad: The Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan has hailed the Islamic penal code saying they were effective in deterrence against the criminal offenders. Addressing a workshop on "Growing Crimes – deterrent punishment : search for appropriate theory of punishment", organized by the organization of Retired Judges and NALSAR University at the Andhra Pradesh High Court Balakrishnan gave the example of Gulf countries. "People say the laws in those countries were harsh but it is a fact that because of the harsh punishments, the crime rate in those countries is very low". Women can move around even at midnight with out any fear, he said. Even traffic rules were so strict that there were very few traffic accidents in those countries.
He recalled that till 1857, Islamic penal system was in force in India and the law and order situation in the country was very good. "The introduction of Indian Penal Code was a good move but the law and order situation in the country did not remain the same", Chief Justice said.
Pointing out that in contrast to the Gulf countries, India was a democratic country. "But in our country neither the women can move around with out fear nor there is any respect for the traffic rules", he said.
Pointing out that there were 8000 judges in the country to deal with the criminal offences, the Chief Justice expressed his concern over the huge disparity in sentences awarded by different judges for the similar crimes. The disparity is so huge that they range from six months to life imprisonment for the crimes of the similar nature, he said.
He was also unhappy that the system of granting bails was not working properly and some bail petitions were pending in the courts for fifteen years. "As a results jail in the country were full of under trial prisoners".
Justice AR Lakshmanan, chairman, Law Commission of India said that 56 lakh criminal cases were pending in the courts in the country.
Source
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Beyond the Confines of Patriotism & Nationalism
In the Name of Allah, The most Beneficent, The most Merciful
Stereotypes that don’t fit the Islamic Vision of Unity and World Order.
Patriot – n. One who defends or is zealous for his country’s freedom or rights.
Nationalism – Patriotic feeling, policy of national independence.
Country – n. Region; territory of a nation; land of a person’s birth.
[Concise Oxford Dictionary]
Muslims view themselves as a single and indivisible nation and term it as Ummah. This concept of nation is based on ideological affinity and not on territorial integrity. He (the Muslim) is therefore primarily zealous in guarding that ideology. In the process, he does (as part of the State) guard the territory, but that is incidental to the protection of the ideology. This concept is widely different from the dictionary meanings of Patriotism or Nationalism and their application in the world today.
Unfortunately but truly, patriotism and nationalism is the root of discord, disunity and strife on this planet. Britain, a nation that calls itself ‘civilized’ said through the mouth of Lord Palmerston – ‘There are no permanent friends or foes, only permanent interests.’ Let us analyze this statement in the perspective of all 195 countries of the world.
Every nation, large and small, rich and poor, has its interests; and logically the interests of one would collide with the interests of the other. Rarely would one see parity in interests of two nations. Colonialism, apartheid, malice, economic benefits and greed skews it further. So, enemies are many while friends very few, and that too till such time that there is compatibility of interests. The moment their interests fall apart, they are foes. Principles, morals, and ethics are nowhere on the horizon while deciding foreign policies.
In contrast, the Islamic State (Caliphate) that existed prior to 3rd March 1924 would reach out to help another drought stricken country with shiploads of food and gold currencies out of sheer concern for human life and for seeking Allah’s pleasure. In 1836 the Ottoman Caliph Abdul Mejid sent three ships full of grains and 1000 gold Dinars to Damascus. Compare this to America dumping several million tones of wheat into the saline sea water so that the world price is maintained, while Ethiopia then, and the whole world now is reeling under the food crises.
Nations were created and nationalism was whipped up so that they would fight amongst themselves while the war industry in the hands of the capitalists thrives. Prior to 15th August, 1947 it would be patriotic for an Indian to say something like, ‘If Lahore is bombed by America, New Delhi will strike back’. Just a day later it would be patriotic to say the converse of it. If the same sentence is uttered today, it would be construed as ‘waging war against the Indian nation’. Kashmir, where not a blade of grass grows, is left as a bone of contention so that scores of F-16s and Mirages are purchased for billions of dollars till eternity, by both.
Compare this to the Caliphate, which would also be a military state, but with a very different philosophy. With no intention or sanction to kill innocent civilians even under the guise and subterfuge of ‘collateral damage’, the Islamic state would use limited force to remove the corrupt top leaders of a county with the sole aim of establishing justice. No wonder that just about 100 persons (infidels) were killed in 27 battles fought in a period of 10 years after the forming of the first Islamic state in 622 C.E. at Medina by Muhammad, the last Prophet for humankind. After 3rd March 1924, the world has seen more blood spill than the total since Adam was born.
If Muslims dislike present day national boundaries, it isn’t that they don’t accept the reality. Nor is it an affront to the present structure. It is akin to a prison. The prisoner does acknowledge the prison walls, the bars and the humility of the prison. The dislike of the prisoner is natural. The prisoner does aspire to be released and makes all available efforts to come out. Similarly, the Muslim Ummah aspires to come out of the suffocating capitalist driven national boundaries into a world that they believe is one of justice.
Muslims will never be patriotic and nationalistic the way the world wants it today. This is more so because for Muslims, the concept of nation is of faith – worship, rather than the physical one carved out for extraneous reasons. Muslims see South Africans driving out people of Venezuela or Raj Thackeray targeting North Indians from Maharashtra (Western India), as a problem of boundaries. Regionalism is a smaller version of Nationalism. Are these acts not patriotism in today’s sense? Regionalism and intra-state water disputes are a manifestation of ‘There are no permanent friends or foes, only permanent interests.’ Even dogs of one area bark to shoo away an alien dog. How is regionalism, nationalism or patriotism different? Please be dispassionate in answering this crucial question.
Present non-Muslim nations would be better off if the Muslims living in that country leave it to become citizens of an Islamic State. The aspiration of Muslims to convert present Muslim countries (ruled by tyrannical rulers) into an Islamic State under a Caliph is legitimate. State terror would vanish from the world but do the mischief mongers want this. If peace prevails, the looser is the mischief maker because in chaos is his benefit. So the better alternative is that they (Muslims) be allowed to govern the Muslim lands by what they believe is the Divine law.
Abu Farhaan
Stereotypes that don’t fit the Islamic Vision of Unity and World Order.
Patriot – n. One who defends or is zealous for his country’s freedom or rights.
Nationalism – Patriotic feeling, policy of national independence.
Country – n. Region; territory of a nation; land of a person’s birth.
[Concise Oxford Dictionary]
Muslims view themselves as a single and indivisible nation and term it as Ummah. This concept of nation is based on ideological affinity and not on territorial integrity. He (the Muslim) is therefore primarily zealous in guarding that ideology. In the process, he does (as part of the State) guard the territory, but that is incidental to the protection of the ideology. This concept is widely different from the dictionary meanings of Patriotism or Nationalism and their application in the world today.
Unfortunately but truly, patriotism and nationalism is the root of discord, disunity and strife on this planet. Britain, a nation that calls itself ‘civilized’ said through the mouth of Lord Palmerston – ‘There are no permanent friends or foes, only permanent interests.’ Let us analyze this statement in the perspective of all 195 countries of the world.
Every nation, large and small, rich and poor, has its interests; and logically the interests of one would collide with the interests of the other. Rarely would one see parity in interests of two nations. Colonialism, apartheid, malice, economic benefits and greed skews it further. So, enemies are many while friends very few, and that too till such time that there is compatibility of interests. The moment their interests fall apart, they are foes. Principles, morals, and ethics are nowhere on the horizon while deciding foreign policies.
In contrast, the Islamic State (Caliphate) that existed prior to 3rd March 1924 would reach out to help another drought stricken country with shiploads of food and gold currencies out of sheer concern for human life and for seeking Allah’s pleasure. In 1836 the Ottoman Caliph Abdul Mejid sent three ships full of grains and 1000 gold Dinars to Damascus. Compare this to America dumping several million tones of wheat into the saline sea water so that the world price is maintained, while Ethiopia then, and the whole world now is reeling under the food crises.
Nations were created and nationalism was whipped up so that they would fight amongst themselves while the war industry in the hands of the capitalists thrives. Prior to 15th August, 1947 it would be patriotic for an Indian to say something like, ‘If Lahore is bombed by America, New Delhi will strike back’. Just a day later it would be patriotic to say the converse of it. If the same sentence is uttered today, it would be construed as ‘waging war against the Indian nation’. Kashmir, where not a blade of grass grows, is left as a bone of contention so that scores of F-16s and Mirages are purchased for billions of dollars till eternity, by both.
Compare this to the Caliphate, which would also be a military state, but with a very different philosophy. With no intention or sanction to kill innocent civilians even under the guise and subterfuge of ‘collateral damage’, the Islamic state would use limited force to remove the corrupt top leaders of a county with the sole aim of establishing justice. No wonder that just about 100 persons (infidels) were killed in 27 battles fought in a period of 10 years after the forming of the first Islamic state in 622 C.E. at Medina by Muhammad, the last Prophet for humankind. After 3rd March 1924, the world has seen more blood spill than the total since Adam was born.
If Muslims dislike present day national boundaries, it isn’t that they don’t accept the reality. Nor is it an affront to the present structure. It is akin to a prison. The prisoner does acknowledge the prison walls, the bars and the humility of the prison. The dislike of the prisoner is natural. The prisoner does aspire to be released and makes all available efforts to come out. Similarly, the Muslim Ummah aspires to come out of the suffocating capitalist driven national boundaries into a world that they believe is one of justice.
Muslims will never be patriotic and nationalistic the way the world wants it today. This is more so because for Muslims, the concept of nation is of faith – worship, rather than the physical one carved out for extraneous reasons. Muslims see South Africans driving out people of Venezuela or Raj Thackeray targeting North Indians from Maharashtra (Western India), as a problem of boundaries. Regionalism is a smaller version of Nationalism. Are these acts not patriotism in today’s sense? Regionalism and intra-state water disputes are a manifestation of ‘There are no permanent friends or foes, only permanent interests.’ Even dogs of one area bark to shoo away an alien dog. How is regionalism, nationalism or patriotism different? Please be dispassionate in answering this crucial question.
Present non-Muslim nations would be better off if the Muslims living in that country leave it to become citizens of an Islamic State. The aspiration of Muslims to convert present Muslim countries (ruled by tyrannical rulers) into an Islamic State under a Caliph is legitimate. State terror would vanish from the world but do the mischief mongers want this. If peace prevails, the looser is the mischief maker because in chaos is his benefit. So the better alternative is that they (Muslims) be allowed to govern the Muslim lands by what they believe is the Divine law.
Abu Farhaan
Friday, June 27, 2008
Views on the news - 26/06/08
Europe: Christian values can only be protected by Islam
On 23/6/2008 conservative Anglican leaders opened talks in Jerusalem on the future of the Church of England. At the heart of the dispute between conservative and liberal church leaders is how to make the bible more appealing to secular audiences. This includes recognizing homosexuality and other practices condemned by the bible. “The Communion is in a state of brokenness,” said Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola. Ever since the birth of secularism in the 17th century, Christian values have been repeatedly revised by secular fundamentalist to make them more palatable with their version of the world. Gay bishops, women priests, illegitimate children, and the commercialization of Christmas are now commonly accepted by many Christian denominations. However, if conservative Christians still want to retain their values then they should look towards Islam.
In the past, when Islam was implemented practically -for instance in Islamic Spain- Jews, Christians and Muslims living in the Spanish cities of Toledo , Cordoba and Granada , enjoyed unrivalled tolerance and prosperity. Their respective values were never debased. Today the Islamic world is experiencing a radical transformation. Muslims across the Islamic world are rebelling against the secular orders to re-establish the Khilafah. With the establishment of the Khilafah, millions of Christians who were previously denied their rights under the secular regimes will have their rights restated in full. And like in the Khilafah of the past, Christian beliefs and teaching will be protected. So it is about time Christians stopped their opposition towards political Islam and join hands with Muslims who are working to re-establish the Khilafah.
Middle East: US-Tehran relations improving
Despite the imposition of new sanctions and the threat of an Israeli attack, the US is contemplating on how best to improve its relations with Iran . On 23/6/2008, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said, “The United States has been for some time trying to reach out to the Iranian people in various ways. We want more Iranians visiting the U.S. We are determined to find ways to reach out to the Iranian people.” In a parallel development The Washington Post, reported that senior officials at the State Department were considering a proposal to open an interest section in Tehran, similar to the one the United States has operated in Havana since 1977. These reports come hot on the heels of a number of meetings between US and Iranian officials in recent months. It appears that the Bush administration has finally come round to implementing the recommendations set out in the Baker-Hamilton report in 2006. This is not unexpected, as America has used Iran to secure its interests from Afghanistan to Lebanon. America, is now exploring ways of normalizing relations with Iran and securing her gains in Iraq.
Africa: France signs a new colonial deal with Algeria
On 21/6/2008 France and Algeria signed an agreement on civil nuclear co-operation during a visit to Algiers by the French Prime Minister, Francois Fillon. Mr Fillon described the agreement as a sign of “transformation” in the countries’ ties. However, behind the charade of nuclear cooperation it was increasingly clear that France had signed a new military pact and banking agreements with Algeria . Clearly the transformation Fillion has in mind is the complete subjugation of Algeria ’s military and economy. This is nothing short of France longing to make Algeria its colony again. It was also reported that Fillon is trying to persuade Algerian President, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, to sign up to a union of Mediterranean countries, being launched at a summit in Paris next month. How could the rulers of Algeria agree to such oppressive pacts? Have they not heard the words of Allah (SWT):” Allah only forbids you, with regard to those who fight you for (your) Faith, and drive you out of your homes, and support (others) in driving you out, from turning to them (for friendship and protection). And whoever will befriend them, then such are the wrong doers.” (60:8-9)
South Asia: Pakistan declared dysfunctional
According to the Failed State Index report, Pakistan is placed at number 9. All along President Musharraf maintained that by supporting America’s war against terror he was putting Pakistan ’s interests first, but in reality he has made Pakistan a dysfunctional state. Likewise, other Muslim states that have blindly followed Western governments have ended up at the top of the list of failed states—for instance Somalia, Afghanistan, Sudan, Chad and Iraq .
Far East: North Korean declaration may prove to be a non-starter
On 26/6/2008 the BBC reported that North Korea may finally declare full details of its nuclear programme and facilities. The announcement is 6 months overdue and was part of a deal, North Korea agreed in February 2007 in return for aid and political incentives.
It has since closed its Yongbyon reactor, but reaching agreement on the next stage of the deal - the declaration - has proved a tough task. America insists that North Korea should provide information on its secret programme to enrich uranium for weapons purposes, and whether it has transferred nuclear technology overseas. However, there are no guarantees that a declaration now will bring the matter to a close. Throughout the 6 party talks, the US has employed a variety of tactics to keep China and its surrogate North Korea embroiled in on-going negotiations. It is unlikely that this declaration will be the end of the matter.
26 June 2008
On 23/6/2008 conservative Anglican leaders opened talks in Jerusalem on the future of the Church of England. At the heart of the dispute between conservative and liberal church leaders is how to make the bible more appealing to secular audiences. This includes recognizing homosexuality and other practices condemned by the bible. “The Communion is in a state of brokenness,” said Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola. Ever since the birth of secularism in the 17th century, Christian values have been repeatedly revised by secular fundamentalist to make them more palatable with their version of the world. Gay bishops, women priests, illegitimate children, and the commercialization of Christmas are now commonly accepted by many Christian denominations. However, if conservative Christians still want to retain their values then they should look towards Islam.
In the past, when Islam was implemented practically -for instance in Islamic Spain- Jews, Christians and Muslims living in the Spanish cities of Toledo , Cordoba and Granada , enjoyed unrivalled tolerance and prosperity. Their respective values were never debased. Today the Islamic world is experiencing a radical transformation. Muslims across the Islamic world are rebelling against the secular orders to re-establish the Khilafah. With the establishment of the Khilafah, millions of Christians who were previously denied their rights under the secular regimes will have their rights restated in full. And like in the Khilafah of the past, Christian beliefs and teaching will be protected. So it is about time Christians stopped their opposition towards political Islam and join hands with Muslims who are working to re-establish the Khilafah.
Middle East: US-Tehran relations improving
Despite the imposition of new sanctions and the threat of an Israeli attack, the US is contemplating on how best to improve its relations with Iran . On 23/6/2008, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said, “The United States has been for some time trying to reach out to the Iranian people in various ways. We want more Iranians visiting the U.S. We are determined to find ways to reach out to the Iranian people.” In a parallel development The Washington Post, reported that senior officials at the State Department were considering a proposal to open an interest section in Tehran, similar to the one the United States has operated in Havana since 1977. These reports come hot on the heels of a number of meetings between US and Iranian officials in recent months. It appears that the Bush administration has finally come round to implementing the recommendations set out in the Baker-Hamilton report in 2006. This is not unexpected, as America has used Iran to secure its interests from Afghanistan to Lebanon. America, is now exploring ways of normalizing relations with Iran and securing her gains in Iraq.
Africa: France signs a new colonial deal with Algeria
On 21/6/2008 France and Algeria signed an agreement on civil nuclear co-operation during a visit to Algiers by the French Prime Minister, Francois Fillon. Mr Fillon described the agreement as a sign of “transformation” in the countries’ ties. However, behind the charade of nuclear cooperation it was increasingly clear that France had signed a new military pact and banking agreements with Algeria . Clearly the transformation Fillion has in mind is the complete subjugation of Algeria ’s military and economy. This is nothing short of France longing to make Algeria its colony again. It was also reported that Fillon is trying to persuade Algerian President, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, to sign up to a union of Mediterranean countries, being launched at a summit in Paris next month. How could the rulers of Algeria agree to such oppressive pacts? Have they not heard the words of Allah (SWT):” Allah only forbids you, with regard to those who fight you for (your) Faith, and drive you out of your homes, and support (others) in driving you out, from turning to them (for friendship and protection). And whoever will befriend them, then such are the wrong doers.” (60:8-9)
South Asia: Pakistan declared dysfunctional
According to the Failed State Index report, Pakistan is placed at number 9. All along President Musharraf maintained that by supporting America’s war against terror he was putting Pakistan ’s interests first, but in reality he has made Pakistan a dysfunctional state. Likewise, other Muslim states that have blindly followed Western governments have ended up at the top of the list of failed states—for instance Somalia, Afghanistan, Sudan, Chad and Iraq .
Far East: North Korean declaration may prove to be a non-starter
On 26/6/2008 the BBC reported that North Korea may finally declare full details of its nuclear programme and facilities. The announcement is 6 months overdue and was part of a deal, North Korea agreed in February 2007 in return for aid and political incentives.
It has since closed its Yongbyon reactor, but reaching agreement on the next stage of the deal - the declaration - has proved a tough task. America insists that North Korea should provide information on its secret programme to enrich uranium for weapons purposes, and whether it has transferred nuclear technology overseas. However, there are no guarantees that a declaration now will bring the matter to a close. Throughout the 6 party talks, the US has employed a variety of tactics to keep China and its surrogate North Korea embroiled in on-going negotiations. It is unlikely that this declaration will be the end of the matter.
26 June 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Views on the news - 19/06/08
Americas: Saudi’s capitulate to American pressure and raise production
On 13/6/2008 the BBC reported that Saudi Arabia could increase its output by more than half a million barrels of oil per day to a record 10 million barrels per day. Saudi Arabia is coming under increasing pressure from G8 and the Bush administration to raise production and curb escalating oil prices. However, the popular perception is that speculators are the chief culprits behind the soaring price of crude oil. Italian Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti said "enormous" speculation is behind the rising energy prices.
It is now widely documented that whenever the dollar falls powerful hedge funds intervene and cause huge spikes in the price of crude oil. Such initiatives cause a temporary rebound in the value of the dollar. If the rulers of Saudi Arabia had a modicum of common sense they could take advantage of the current situation to rid the Saudi Arabia of American and western domination. All that is required is to de-peg the Saudi Riyal from the dollar and withdraw money from western banks.
Europe: Italy- Europe’s new police state
On 15/06/2008 the Italian government announced that 2,500 soldiers are to be deployed for a maximum period of one year. The deployment is the government’s attempt to curb Italy’s soaring crime. Up to 300 soldiers are expected to carry out patrols and security checks there to help combat muggers and pickpockets. This is the first time the Italian army has been used since World War 2. The fundamental cause of crime in capitalist societies like Italy is the capitalist goal in life, which each member of society strives to achieve. This goal in life only recognizes the pursuit of sensual pleasure for human beings as the sole way to attain happiness. The capitalist goal in life has no room for spiritual, moral or humanitarian pursuits. Naturally such a self-centered outlook towards life leads people to be irresponsible, callous and rebellious towards law and authority. Even the severity of the law does not deter people from committing crime. Thus for many years, Western governments have struggled to reduce the growing number of paedophiles, rapists, drug addicts, joy riders, burglars, fraudsters and the like - no matter how many laws they enact or how much time and money they spend on policing.
In Islam the individual through his Taqwa, the public through their concern about the preservation of society and the state all act in unison to ensure that the Islamic laws are implemented and that crime is minimized. The Islamic history bears testimony to this fact. For example, when Imam Malik was appointed the judge of Madinah, he had to wait almost a year before he presided over his first case.
Middle East: Egypt’s misplaced Fatwa
On 15/6/2008 it was reported that Al-Azhar University in Cairo issued a fatwa demanding that the government donate 20 percent of its profits from oil, gas and minerals to the poor as alms. Does not Al-Azhar recognize that this fatwa will never solve the economic problems of the poverty stricken masses? This is because the crux of the Egypt’s numerous economic problems is caused by capitalist solutions imported from the West. These solutions permeate all spheres of Egyptian life—not just economics. The fatwa that Al-Azhar should have issued is a stipulation for the removal of capitalist solutions along with the Mubarak regime that implements them. Allah says in the Quran: “And those who do not judge by what Allah has revealed are disbelievers” [TMQ]. A fatwa calling for the removal of Mubarak’s evil regime, and the re-establishment of the Khilafah on its ashes is long overdue from the ulema of Al-Azhar. The messenger (saw) of Allah described the ulema as the inheritors of the prophets. But today, Al-Azhar is a staunch supporter of Mubarak’s kufr regime that oppresses Muslims at the behest of colonialist powers.
Africa: Are Chad and Sudan on the brink of war?
This week Chad accused Sudanese soldiers of helping rebels attack one of its frontier military camps. The attack came as rebels opposed to Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno claimed further advances on the capital N'djamena. ”After dispatching columns of mercenaries to Chad and failing to secure strategic areas, the Sudanese army took matters in its own hands today and attacked Ade, backed up by helicopters,” a Chadian government statement said. Diplomatic relations broke off in mid-May after an attack near Sudan’s capital, Khartoum , by a Darfur rebel group, the Justice and Equality Movement. The real architects of this perpetual conflict are Europe and America. Chad through French and British aid and Sudan through American support are engaged in a bitter proxy war—which threatens to explode into a full blown conflict. The conflict is sold to world as humanitarian crisis in Darfur —nothing could be further from the truth.
At the heart of the dispute are Sudan’s strategic oil reserves. The struggle between the major powers also explains why hitherto the UN is ineffective and EUFOR (European Force) is stationed in Chad.
South Asia: Taliban’s assault demonstrates more than luck
The recent escape of hundreds of prisoners from Kandahar, the seizure of small towns in nearby vicinities, and the capture of helicopter engines bound for US crusaders speaks volumes about Taliban’s growing confidence. America and Europe frightened by an imminent Taliban comeback have ushered in huge deployments to fight the bold pushtun resistance. The rag-tag band of men, once dismissed as ineffective by crusader forces are now posing a grave threat—one of strategic proportions. The question on most people’s minds is what would happen if the Muslim armies from Iran, Central Asia and Pakistan joined the Taliban. Whilst the agent rulers in these countries reject such assertions, their people are hoping for such an outcome. Indeed, only the Khilafah can provide such a result. The messenger (saw) of Allah said, “The Imam is a shield behind whom the people are protected and behind whom they fight”.
19 June 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
The misuse of the principle of Dhuroora (necessity)
Unfortunately today some people misuse Islamic principles in order to justify clearly prohibited actions. One of the most commonly misapplied principles is that of Dhuroora (necessity). People often use it to justify taking interest based loans, working in jobs that involve haram, engaging in bribery, supporting kufr political parties and a variety of other prohibited actions.
They attempt to justify this from Islamic texts by saying that when your dying of hunger it becomes permitted to eat pork and other haram foods. From this they generalise and say therefore we can break the Shariah rules under any type of difficulty.
It is true that Allah said:
إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةَ وَالدَّمَ وَلَحْمَ الْخِنْزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ بِهِ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَلَا إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ
"He has forbidden you Al-Maytah (meat of a dead animal), blood, flesh of swine, and any animal which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for other than Allah. But if one is forced by necessity without willful disobedience and not transgressing, then there is no sin on him." [TMQ 2:173]
So, the person who is in dire need can eat of what he finds from these prohibited food which is enough to keep him alive.
It must be understood that these rules are specific rules with specific evidences, from them we cannot generalize and say that we are allowed to bend the shariah rules on the basis of any hardship, to do this would be haram.
We must be careful here when we talk about the principle of “necessity “. Let us refer to what the classical ulema have said about this matter.
Imam al Razi Al Jassas al Hanafi says in his Ahkam al Quran (vol 1/159): “Here the meaning of necessity purports the fear for life and limb when someone avoids foods (that are in essence forbidden) …..”
Ibn Qudamah al Maqdasi al Hanabli in his Al Mughni says (9/331): “If it has become established, then the necessity that is expedient is the type that leads to starvation if the food is left”.
He continues to say: “...The reason for the allowance of is the need to preserve the self from destruction because this Maslaha is more beneficial than the benefit of avoiding the impure….”
Imam Abu Hamid Al Ghazali Al Shafi says in his Wasit (7/168): “As for necessity we imply the state that probably will lead to the person’s destruction, If, for example he does not eat and similarly if he fears that an illness would lead to death…..”
Imam Ibn Juzi al Maliki says: “…As for necessity it is the fear of death and it is not conditional that someone is patient to such an extent that he witnesses his own death”. (Al Quanin al Fiqhia p116)
Clearly then we are talking about an acute scenario that is particular. Even this has certain constraints according to many of the Ulema.
(1) That there is no other means to remove this overbearing situation.
(2) That this does not affect the rights of others. In other words we try to look for an exit that does not affect others. At least in principle to such an extent that a number of Ulema forbid Muslims to eat dead human flesh in matters of starvation because this affects the rights of others i.e. those of the dead. Another very common example is the sinking ship scenario. What if we are going to sink because of the excessive weight of the passengers, do we throw a few overboard to their doom to save the majority? The vast majority refuse this scenario of utilitarianism in Dhuroora. Another example is the Muslim prisoner shield that is put up in defence of a non Muslim army. This example is typically allowed for as a Dhuroora on a state level but more importantly because there are textual indications that allow collateral damage if it cannot be avoided. Some scholars understand this point as a Duroorah Kulia i.e. an all encompassing Duroorah (It applies to the Muslims as a whole rather than some at the expense of others)
(3) Uttering Kufr by force is a Rukhsa (legal permission) and it is better according when forced on pains of torture and death to avoid it.
Imam Suyuti in Ashbah wal Nadhair page 63 says : “Eating the flesh of the dead in times of necessity takes precedence over taking someone else’s money (to purchase food).”
The scholars also differed on whether you can take drink alcohol when you are dying from thirst. Imam Shafi thought that alcohol makes the thirst even worse. Others also differed on whether one can take medication that has forbidden elements in it. Finally even some scholars did not consider it a sin if someone refused to take anything forbidden at all. (See Majmu’at al Bu’uth al Fiqhea by Dr Abdul Karim Zaydan pages 141-214)
Anyway all four schools of thought and in fact the consensus agree that Dhuroora in the fiqhi sense makes some things that are forbidden allowed in an acute scenario. Remember this is not a norm but for very particular severe situations. It cannot be made a law. Certainly it cannot lead to a normal rule for an entire population.
So one cannot claim that they have to take an interest based mortgage to buy a house on the pretext of necessity as they can rent or stay with relatives. Similarly someone can’t claim that he has to pay bribery to achieve his interests as he can achieve them in a legitimate way even if it is more difficult. Someone working in a job that involves haram such as in a restaurant where they would have to serve alcohol or as a cashier in a bank where they would have to receive and give riba (usury) can get another job that is halal even if it is lesser in pay.
The countless ayat and ahadith ordering us to undertake our actions according to the commands and prohibitions of Allah (swt) can’t just be washed away based upon some difficulty or hardship.
الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُمْ مُصِيبَةٌ قَالُوا إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
أُوْلَئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ وَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمْ الْمُهْتَدُونَ
“And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sâbirin (the patient ones.).” [TMQ al-Baqarah:155-157]
We should listen to the warning of the Messenger of Allah (saw) when he said:
«بادروا بالأعمال فتناً كقطع الليل المظلم يصبح الرجل مؤمناً ويمسي كافراً، ويمسي مؤمناً ويصبح كافراً يبيع دينه بعرض من الدنيا»
“Be prompt in doing good deeds (before you are overtaken) by turbulence which would be like a part of the dark night. During (that stormy period) a man would be a Muslim in the morning and an unbeliever in the evening or he would be a believer in the evening and an unbeliever in the morning, and would sell his Deen for worldly goods” [Sahih Muslim: Kitab ul-Iman, 213]
Allah (swt) says:
وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلاَ مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْرًا أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُمْ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ وَمَنْ يَعْصِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلاَلاً مُبِينًا.
“It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allâh and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allâh and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error.” [TMQ al-Ahzaab:36]
They attempt to justify this from Islamic texts by saying that when your dying of hunger it becomes permitted to eat pork and other haram foods. From this they generalise and say therefore we can break the Shariah rules under any type of difficulty.
It is true that Allah said:
إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةَ وَالدَّمَ وَلَحْمَ الْخِنْزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ بِهِ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَلَا إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ
"He has forbidden you Al-Maytah (meat of a dead animal), blood, flesh of swine, and any animal which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for other than Allah. But if one is forced by necessity without willful disobedience and not transgressing, then there is no sin on him." [TMQ 2:173]
So, the person who is in dire need can eat of what he finds from these prohibited food which is enough to keep him alive.
It must be understood that these rules are specific rules with specific evidences, from them we cannot generalize and say that we are allowed to bend the shariah rules on the basis of any hardship, to do this would be haram.
We must be careful here when we talk about the principle of “necessity “. Let us refer to what the classical ulema have said about this matter.
Imam al Razi Al Jassas al Hanafi says in his Ahkam al Quran (vol 1/159): “Here the meaning of necessity purports the fear for life and limb when someone avoids foods (that are in essence forbidden) …..”
Ibn Qudamah al Maqdasi al Hanabli in his Al Mughni says (9/331): “If it has become established, then the necessity that is expedient is the type that leads to starvation if the food is left”.
He continues to say: “...The reason for the allowance of is the need to preserve the self from destruction because this Maslaha is more beneficial than the benefit of avoiding the impure….”
Imam Abu Hamid Al Ghazali Al Shafi says in his Wasit (7/168): “As for necessity we imply the state that probably will lead to the person’s destruction, If, for example he does not eat and similarly if he fears that an illness would lead to death…..”
Imam Ibn Juzi al Maliki says: “…As for necessity it is the fear of death and it is not conditional that someone is patient to such an extent that he witnesses his own death”. (Al Quanin al Fiqhia p116)
Clearly then we are talking about an acute scenario that is particular. Even this has certain constraints according to many of the Ulema.
(1) That there is no other means to remove this overbearing situation.
(2) That this does not affect the rights of others. In other words we try to look for an exit that does not affect others. At least in principle to such an extent that a number of Ulema forbid Muslims to eat dead human flesh in matters of starvation because this affects the rights of others i.e. those of the dead. Another very common example is the sinking ship scenario. What if we are going to sink because of the excessive weight of the passengers, do we throw a few overboard to their doom to save the majority? The vast majority refuse this scenario of utilitarianism in Dhuroora. Another example is the Muslim prisoner shield that is put up in defence of a non Muslim army. This example is typically allowed for as a Dhuroora on a state level but more importantly because there are textual indications that allow collateral damage if it cannot be avoided. Some scholars understand this point as a Duroorah Kulia i.e. an all encompassing Duroorah (It applies to the Muslims as a whole rather than some at the expense of others)
(3) Uttering Kufr by force is a Rukhsa (legal permission) and it is better according when forced on pains of torture and death to avoid it.
Imam Suyuti in Ashbah wal Nadhair page 63 says : “Eating the flesh of the dead in times of necessity takes precedence over taking someone else’s money (to purchase food).”
The scholars also differed on whether you can take drink alcohol when you are dying from thirst. Imam Shafi thought that alcohol makes the thirst even worse. Others also differed on whether one can take medication that has forbidden elements in it. Finally even some scholars did not consider it a sin if someone refused to take anything forbidden at all. (See Majmu’at al Bu’uth al Fiqhea by Dr Abdul Karim Zaydan pages 141-214)
Anyway all four schools of thought and in fact the consensus agree that Dhuroora in the fiqhi sense makes some things that are forbidden allowed in an acute scenario. Remember this is not a norm but for very particular severe situations. It cannot be made a law. Certainly it cannot lead to a normal rule for an entire population.
So one cannot claim that they have to take an interest based mortgage to buy a house on the pretext of necessity as they can rent or stay with relatives. Similarly someone can’t claim that he has to pay bribery to achieve his interests as he can achieve them in a legitimate way even if it is more difficult. Someone working in a job that involves haram such as in a restaurant where they would have to serve alcohol or as a cashier in a bank where they would have to receive and give riba (usury) can get another job that is halal even if it is lesser in pay.
The countless ayat and ahadith ordering us to undertake our actions according to the commands and prohibitions of Allah (swt) can’t just be washed away based upon some difficulty or hardship.
الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُمْ مُصِيبَةٌ قَالُوا إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
أُوْلَئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ وَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمْ الْمُهْتَدُونَ
“And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sâbirin (the patient ones.).” [TMQ al-Baqarah:155-157]
We should listen to the warning of the Messenger of Allah (saw) when he said:
«بادروا بالأعمال فتناً كقطع الليل المظلم يصبح الرجل مؤمناً ويمسي كافراً، ويمسي مؤمناً ويصبح كافراً يبيع دينه بعرض من الدنيا»
“Be prompt in doing good deeds (before you are overtaken) by turbulence which would be like a part of the dark night. During (that stormy period) a man would be a Muslim in the morning and an unbeliever in the evening or he would be a believer in the evening and an unbeliever in the morning, and would sell his Deen for worldly goods” [Sahih Muslim: Kitab ul-Iman, 213]
Allah (swt) says:
وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلاَ مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْرًا أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُمْ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ وَمَنْ يَعْصِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلاَلاً مُبِينًا.
“It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allâh and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allâh and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error.” [TMQ al-Ahzaab:36]
Friday, June 13, 2008
Views on the news - 12/6/08
Europe: France and Germany sweat over Irish response to EU treaty
On 11/6/2008 the Irish will vote on the Lisbon Treaty. The treaty is designed to streamline the EU's structures and give the bloc a bigger say on the global stage by establishing a full-time president of the European Council, the institution where heads of government meet, and a new, more powerful foreign policy chief. However, there is a good chance that the Irish may reject the treaty. Ireland has less than 1 percent of the EU's population, an Irish no vote would stop the Lisbon treaty in its tracks because all 27 member states need to ratify it for it to come into force. Such an outcome will spell disaster for Franco-German efforts to give the EU a greater presence in international affairs. ”The eventuality of an Irish rejection would be a problem not only for the French presidency but for Europe ,” Sarkozy said. “It's for the Irish to decide on this, but what Madame Merkel and I have decided is that, whatever happens, the reaction will be a Franco-German one.” Apart from re-negotiating the EU treaty again— the same happened in 2001 and 2005— there is very little the France and Germany can do to.
The whole saga of political integration of European countries reveals that the people of Europe are deeply nationalistic and oppose any sort political union. Their leaders have to repeatedly re-invent treaties in the hope of persuading their people that political integration of Europe is in their best interest. In contrast, the Muslim ummah yearns for political unity under the umbrella of the Khilafah, but the rulers oppose her with all their wealth and might.
Middle East: US- EU fire another salvo at Iran
On 10/6/2008 the EU and the US threatened Iran with further sanctions unless it verifiably suspended nuclear enrichment. The measures were announced after US President George W Bush held talks in Slovenia . Mr Bush said, “They can either face isolation or they can have a better relationship with all of us if they verifiably suspend their nuclear enrichment programme.” Later a joint EU-US read:” We expect Iran to comply with its international obligations concerning its nuclear activities, including the full and verifiable suspension of enrichment and full cooperation with the IAEA. … Iran must provide to the IAEA full disclosure of any weapons-related work and allow the IAEA to verify that any such work has ceased.” The statement after Israeli transport Minister Mofaz said last week that an attack on Iran looked unavoidable. The snappish remarks coupled with talk of war with Iran appear premature to say the least. Ever since, the second term of Bush administration and the election of Ahmadinejad, both the US and Iran have employed belligerent language, to help Tehran consolidate American gains in Iraq and the wider Middle East. Till now both have succeeded in misleading the world, not to mentions the Israelis.
Central Asia : Karimov and Medvedev expressed satisfaction over ties
On 6/6/2008 President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, arrived in St. Petersburg to attend the informal CIS summit. He also met President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev. During the meeting the two leaders noted that cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia had developed in line with the Treaty on Allied Relations signed in 2005. Furthermore, the two leaders exchanged views on humanitarian issues. Just what they discussed on this subject can be gleaned from Russian assistance to Uzbek forces during the massacre of Andijan in May 2005. Since then, both countries have bolstered their efforts to fight the Islamic revival in Uzbekistan , Farghan Valley and other central Asian states. In the Human Rights Watch (HRW) country report on Uzbekistan published on 1/1/2008, HRW stated: ’Uzbek authorities continue their unrelenting, multi-year campaign of unlawful arrest, torture, and imprisonment of Muslims who practice their faith outside state controls or who belong to unregistered religious organizations. Peaceful religious believers are often branded as religious extremists. Dozens were arrested or convicted in 2007 on charges related to religious extremism.’
South Asia : Afghan and NATO forces attack Pakistani Border Post
On 10/6/2008 Afghan forces acting under NATO command mounted an attack on Pakistan’s Mohamand Agency. The attack was supported by missile strikes from an unmanned US drone. An unidentified government official said,”There was an attack by a spy plane close to the Afghan border.” Eye witness reports suggest that 13 people have been killed. This appears to be the first time that Afghan forces, NATO troops and US predatory drones have jointly attacked Pakistan. Yet despite this aggression the Pakistani government in collusion with the army, are playing down the incident. Has not the time arrived for the Pakistani army to stand like men and fight the crusaders? How many Pakistani citizens have to be butchered by the crusader forces before the 100,000 Pakistani soldiers stationed at the border issue a stern response? Surely the very least Pakistan can to do is to withdraw all forms of assistance to America’s war on Islam. This includes the cessation of military cooperation, abandonment of fuel and food supplies to NATO troops and the extension of full support to the Pushtun resistance.
Asia Pacific: Thaw in Chinese-Taiwanese relations but no change in policy
On 11/6/2008 negotiators from Taiwan arrived in China to discuss the resumption of formal talks after a gap of almost 10 years. Cross-straits dialogue was suspended in 1999 as Taiwan 's leaders began to lean towards formal independence, angering China 's government. But the recent election in Taiwan of Ma Ying-jeou earlier this year has led to a rapid improvement in bilateral ties. When he took office in May, Mr Ma said maintaining regional stability was his priority. He called on China and Taiwan to create “a new chapter of peace”. However, this new chapter of peace should not be interpreted as a change in policy on part of the Tiawanese. Tiawan under the tutelage of the US will only enjoy peaceful relations with China when it serves America‘s best interests. Ma’s ascent to the Presidency was orchestrated by the US , after the Bush administration grew tired of Chen Shui-bian (Ma’s predecessor) attempts to declare unilateral independence for Tiawan. America ’s policy on Tiawan is to resist Tiawanese independence and simultaneously support a one China stance. The ambiguity is intentional. It is employed by American officials to keep China ’s leadership preoccupied with Taiwan ’s unification with mainland China , thereby preventing China from exercising its influence in the wider Asian Pacific region.
South Asia: US strike kills 11 Pakistani soldiers
On 10/6/2008 Afghan forces acting under US command mounted an attack on Pakistan’s Mohamand Agency. The attack was supported by missile strikes from an unmanned US drone. An unidentified government official said, ”There was an attack by a spy plane close to the Afghan border.” Eye witness reports suggest that 11 Pakistani soldiers were killed. Yet despite this aggression the Pakistani government in collusion with the army, issued a watered down response. Has not the time arrived for the Pakistani army to stand like men and fight the crusaders? How many Pakistani soldiers and civilians have to be butchered by the crusader forces before the 100,000 Pakistani soldiers stationed at the border issue a stern response? Surely the very least Pakistan can to do is to withdraw all forms of assistance to America’s war on Islam. This includes the cessation of military cooperation, abandonment of fuel and food supplies to NATO and US troops, and the extension of full support to the Pushtun resistance
12 June 2008
On 11/6/2008 the Irish will vote on the Lisbon Treaty. The treaty is designed to streamline the EU's structures and give the bloc a bigger say on the global stage by establishing a full-time president of the European Council, the institution where heads of government meet, and a new, more powerful foreign policy chief. However, there is a good chance that the Irish may reject the treaty. Ireland has less than 1 percent of the EU's population, an Irish no vote would stop the Lisbon treaty in its tracks because all 27 member states need to ratify it for it to come into force. Such an outcome will spell disaster for Franco-German efforts to give the EU a greater presence in international affairs. ”The eventuality of an Irish rejection would be a problem not only for the French presidency but for Europe ,” Sarkozy said. “It's for the Irish to decide on this, but what Madame Merkel and I have decided is that, whatever happens, the reaction will be a Franco-German one.” Apart from re-negotiating the EU treaty again— the same happened in 2001 and 2005— there is very little the France and Germany can do to.
The whole saga of political integration of European countries reveals that the people of Europe are deeply nationalistic and oppose any sort political union. Their leaders have to repeatedly re-invent treaties in the hope of persuading their people that political integration of Europe is in their best interest. In contrast, the Muslim ummah yearns for political unity under the umbrella of the Khilafah, but the rulers oppose her with all their wealth and might.
Middle East: US- EU fire another salvo at Iran
On 10/6/2008 the EU and the US threatened Iran with further sanctions unless it verifiably suspended nuclear enrichment. The measures were announced after US President George W Bush held talks in Slovenia . Mr Bush said, “They can either face isolation or they can have a better relationship with all of us if they verifiably suspend their nuclear enrichment programme.” Later a joint EU-US read:” We expect Iran to comply with its international obligations concerning its nuclear activities, including the full and verifiable suspension of enrichment and full cooperation with the IAEA. … Iran must provide to the IAEA full disclosure of any weapons-related work and allow the IAEA to verify that any such work has ceased.” The statement after Israeli transport Minister Mofaz said last week that an attack on Iran looked unavoidable. The snappish remarks coupled with talk of war with Iran appear premature to say the least. Ever since, the second term of Bush administration and the election of Ahmadinejad, both the US and Iran have employed belligerent language, to help Tehran consolidate American gains in Iraq and the wider Middle East. Till now both have succeeded in misleading the world, not to mentions the Israelis.
Central Asia : Karimov and Medvedev expressed satisfaction over ties
On 6/6/2008 President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, arrived in St. Petersburg to attend the informal CIS summit. He also met President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev. During the meeting the two leaders noted that cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia had developed in line with the Treaty on Allied Relations signed in 2005. Furthermore, the two leaders exchanged views on humanitarian issues. Just what they discussed on this subject can be gleaned from Russian assistance to Uzbek forces during the massacre of Andijan in May 2005. Since then, both countries have bolstered their efforts to fight the Islamic revival in Uzbekistan , Farghan Valley and other central Asian states. In the Human Rights Watch (HRW) country report on Uzbekistan published on 1/1/2008, HRW stated: ’Uzbek authorities continue their unrelenting, multi-year campaign of unlawful arrest, torture, and imprisonment of Muslims who practice their faith outside state controls or who belong to unregistered religious organizations. Peaceful religious believers are often branded as religious extremists. Dozens were arrested or convicted in 2007 on charges related to religious extremism.’
South Asia : Afghan and NATO forces attack Pakistani Border Post
On 10/6/2008 Afghan forces acting under NATO command mounted an attack on Pakistan’s Mohamand Agency. The attack was supported by missile strikes from an unmanned US drone. An unidentified government official said,”There was an attack by a spy plane close to the Afghan border.” Eye witness reports suggest that 13 people have been killed. This appears to be the first time that Afghan forces, NATO troops and US predatory drones have jointly attacked Pakistan. Yet despite this aggression the Pakistani government in collusion with the army, are playing down the incident. Has not the time arrived for the Pakistani army to stand like men and fight the crusaders? How many Pakistani citizens have to be butchered by the crusader forces before the 100,000 Pakistani soldiers stationed at the border issue a stern response? Surely the very least Pakistan can to do is to withdraw all forms of assistance to America’s war on Islam. This includes the cessation of military cooperation, abandonment of fuel and food supplies to NATO troops and the extension of full support to the Pushtun resistance.
Asia Pacific: Thaw in Chinese-Taiwanese relations but no change in policy
On 11/6/2008 negotiators from Taiwan arrived in China to discuss the resumption of formal talks after a gap of almost 10 years. Cross-straits dialogue was suspended in 1999 as Taiwan 's leaders began to lean towards formal independence, angering China 's government. But the recent election in Taiwan of Ma Ying-jeou earlier this year has led to a rapid improvement in bilateral ties. When he took office in May, Mr Ma said maintaining regional stability was his priority. He called on China and Taiwan to create “a new chapter of peace”. However, this new chapter of peace should not be interpreted as a change in policy on part of the Tiawanese. Tiawan under the tutelage of the US will only enjoy peaceful relations with China when it serves America‘s best interests. Ma’s ascent to the Presidency was orchestrated by the US , after the Bush administration grew tired of Chen Shui-bian (Ma’s predecessor) attempts to declare unilateral independence for Tiawan. America ’s policy on Tiawan is to resist Tiawanese independence and simultaneously support a one China stance. The ambiguity is intentional. It is employed by American officials to keep China ’s leadership preoccupied with Taiwan ’s unification with mainland China , thereby preventing China from exercising its influence in the wider Asian Pacific region.
South Asia: US strike kills 11 Pakistani soldiers
On 10/6/2008 Afghan forces acting under US command mounted an attack on Pakistan’s Mohamand Agency. The attack was supported by missile strikes from an unmanned US drone. An unidentified government official said, ”There was an attack by a spy plane close to the Afghan border.” Eye witness reports suggest that 11 Pakistani soldiers were killed. Yet despite this aggression the Pakistani government in collusion with the army, issued a watered down response. Has not the time arrived for the Pakistani army to stand like men and fight the crusaders? How many Pakistani soldiers and civilians have to be butchered by the crusader forces before the 100,000 Pakistani soldiers stationed at the border issue a stern response? Surely the very least Pakistan can to do is to withdraw all forms of assistance to America’s war on Islam. This includes the cessation of military cooperation, abandonment of fuel and food supplies to NATO and US troops, and the extension of full support to the Pushtun resistance
12 June 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
New Book from Revival Publications
Organisations of the Khilafah State (Ajhizat Dawlat al-Khilafah) - Price: 6.00 GBPAt a time when the world is in chaos and turmoil and when the change in the world order is imminent by the re-establishment of the Khilafah, there is a need for people to understand how this system, the Khilafah will be different from all the other systems.
With the glad tidings that the Muslim ummah already has that the khilafah will return on the footsteps of the prophethood, Hizb ut Tahrir , a pioneer and a leader in the work for the re-establishment of the Khilafah presented this book to the Muslims in the Arabic language. The original was published by Dar al Ummah, Lebanon. This is an English rendering of the aforementioned book.
The book presents an elaborate understanding as to what is the ruling and administrational organization of the Khilafah in a carefully deduced manner that brings satisfaction to the heart.
Various details such as the method of appointment of the Khaleefah, or the removal of the Khaleefah and his term in office and his different types of assistants and their powers has been discussed in the book. The flag and the anthem for the Khilafah state have also been presented.
How to Purchase through Paypal
Please reply to this mail or send an email to sales@revivalpublications.com with your name, full address, book title, quantity required and a contact number. Revival Publications will then send you a payment request form from Paypal which you need to complete. Upon receiving payment, your book/s will be dispatched. Paypal accepts payments through any major Card.
Source
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Views on the news - 5/6/08
Europe: Muslims sent to Pakistan to showcase ‘British values’
On 30/5/2008 six-member British Muslim team arrived in Pakistan to promote ‘British Islam’. Over the past two years, the British Foreign Office has organized more than 20 visits to countries with a Muslim-majority population in a programme to ‘showcase the integral role Muslims play in British society’ and increase mutual understanding. One thing is for sure that the delegation will not highlight the oppression and tyranny suffered by British Muslims under British values. The routine stop and search of ordinary young Muslims, confinement of Muslims without trial, unbridled police surveillance of mosques, espionage of Islamic organizations and community leaders, the proliferation of anti-terror legislation to target Muslims and the forced removal of hijjab are some of the draconian measures that have become not only Britain’s benchmark for integrating Muslims but Europe too.
Americas: Another proof CIA intelligence is cooked for political means
Last week in an interview with the Washington Post, CIA director Hayden said about Al-Qaeda: “Near strategic defeat of Al-Qaeda in Iraq. Near strategic defeat for Al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia. Significant setbacks for Al-Qaeda globally …” Senator Rockefeller challenged Hayden’s upbeat assessment and cited a litany of public statements by top intelligence officials over the past year that emphasized Al-Qaeda's regeneration in the Pakistan Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).Hayden’s remarks have again rekindled the debate about the CIA not learning from its past mistakes. CIA’s failure to apprehend 9-11 hijackers, the absence of Iraq’s WMD and claims that Iran does not possess nuclear weapons have all come under intense criticism. But despite this, the US political establishment is not prepared to acknowledge the enormous amount of evidence that CIA’s intelligence has been purposefully fabricated by successive US administrations— from President Trueman to President Bush junior— to mobilize American opinion for imperial ventures and justify wars against innocent nations.
Americas: Obama’s is the democratic nominee but his outlook on the Muslim world remains unchanged
On 3/6/2008 Senator Obama achieved the required number of delegates to become the Democratic Party’s official nominee. He will now take on of the Republican Party for upcoming US general elections scheduled for later this year. Despite Obama’s rhetoric about making changes to US foreign policy—very little is about to change. His comments on Pakistan, Iran , Palestine and Iraq in strategic terms are similar to those espoused by the Republican Party and Senator McCain. The changes mooted by Obama are only tactical, such as the ‘withdrawal’ of US troops from Iraq and America’s right to attack Pakistan unilaterally. It is very unlikely that the Presidential contest will be won on foreign policy. Obama’s winning speech in St Pauls Minnesota was peppered with references to economic issues, and most likely it is on this that the election will be won or lost.
Middle East: King Abdullah convenes conference to embrace Jews and Christians
On 4/6/2008 Saudi Arabia 's king Abdullah urged a gathering of 500 Muslim scholars to open religious dialogue with Christians and Jews. Has not the King heard the all too often derogatory remarks made by the Pope and other western leaders about Islam? Is he not aware of the words of Allah regarding Jews and Christians? Allah says: “the Jews and the Christians will never be pleased with you until you follow their own Deen” [TMQ 2:120]
South Asia: Pathetic efforts aimed at easing Pakistan ’s energy crisis
On 1/6/2008 Pakistan 's government put the nation's clocks forward by an hour and ordered stores to close early to ease electricity shortages that are hurting economic growth and fuelling unrest across the country. This initiative by the government is too little too late. Conservative estimates suggest that Pakistan faces 5000 mw power shortage due to the widening gap between supply and demand. During the past 10 years successive governments failed to build power plants to meet the increase in demand. Furthermore, the privatization of electricity production and distribution in the 1990s has aggravated the energy crisis. Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in some cases refuse to produce and distribute electricity to Pakistani cities, unless the government compensates them for the high price of oil, which is used to generate electricity. The IPPs want the government to raise the electricity tariff by 30%, so that they can maintain their profits. All of this means that during this summer, people will have to pay extra for electricity that will be in short supply. The solution to Pakistan’s energy crisis is to abandon privatization and exploit Pakistan’s coal mines, which are the 2nd largest in the world. But to accomplish this feat, the people of Pakistan must re-establish the Khilafah. The Khilafah will invest heavily in producing liquid coal fuel to generate power, and will also prevent the IPPs from exploiting the people.
South Asia: Is the US right to criticize Myanmar’s military government for blocking relief efforts?
On 1/6/08 Defense Secretary Robert Gates of the United States said that Myanmar was guilty of "criminal neglect" for blocking large-scale international aid to cyclone victims and that more Burmese civilians would perish unless the military regime reversed its policy. Earlier in May 2008, the military junta lifted restrictions on international aid. Ostensibly this was not enough for the US and her allies. US concerns about Myanmar civilians dying is a smoke-screen to mobilize aid agencies to make contact with the pro-western resistance against the Burmese military and its supporters like China .
When it comes to humanitarian aid, the US is the worst performer amongst the industrialized world. America has failed to live up to aid commitments in Afghanistan and Iraq, turned a blind eye towards the plight of Palestinians due to Israeli blockades, and remained a spectator in the aftermath of Israeli bombing of Lebanon in 2006. In all of these cases, the US was the chief criminal. Regarding natural disasters, such as the Pakistani earthquake in 2005 and the Indonesian Tsunami in 2004, America humanitarian assistance was found floundering. But it was America’s ghastly response to Hurricane Katrina that really exposed America’s lack of respect for human life. If this is America’s attitude towards her own citizens, then what can the rest of the world expect when America makes tall claims about ‘humanitarian aid’—in many quarters this is euphemism for humanitarian intervention.
South Asia: Indian fatwa makes no mention of state terrorism by the enemies of Islam
On 1/6/2008 India’s NDTV channel reported that Ulema had gathered from all over India to issue a fatwa against terrorism. “Terrorism is a scourge which must be wiped off from this planet. That is why Darul Uloom and Deoband have issued a fatwa against terrorism,” said Maulana Mahmoud Madani, President, Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind. However, the Ulema did not issue any fatwas condemning Israeli terrorism against Palestinians, Indian atrocities against Kashmiris, Russia’s genocide in Chechnya, and US occupation and slaughter of Muslims in Afghanistan and Iraq. In the past, the ulema of India were the vanguard of protecting Muslims from crusaders like the British. But today their silence on state terrorism speaks volumes about how far they have fallen from their perch and remain oblivious to India’s close relations with those countries that take great pride in spilling Muslim blood.
5/6/2008
On 30/5/2008 six-member British Muslim team arrived in Pakistan to promote ‘British Islam’. Over the past two years, the British Foreign Office has organized more than 20 visits to countries with a Muslim-majority population in a programme to ‘showcase the integral role Muslims play in British society’ and increase mutual understanding. One thing is for sure that the delegation will not highlight the oppression and tyranny suffered by British Muslims under British values. The routine stop and search of ordinary young Muslims, confinement of Muslims without trial, unbridled police surveillance of mosques, espionage of Islamic organizations and community leaders, the proliferation of anti-terror legislation to target Muslims and the forced removal of hijjab are some of the draconian measures that have become not only Britain’s benchmark for integrating Muslims but Europe too.
Americas: Another proof CIA intelligence is cooked for political means
Last week in an interview with the Washington Post, CIA director Hayden said about Al-Qaeda: “Near strategic defeat of Al-Qaeda in Iraq. Near strategic defeat for Al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia. Significant setbacks for Al-Qaeda globally …” Senator Rockefeller challenged Hayden’s upbeat assessment and cited a litany of public statements by top intelligence officials over the past year that emphasized Al-Qaeda's regeneration in the Pakistan Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).Hayden’s remarks have again rekindled the debate about the CIA not learning from its past mistakes. CIA’s failure to apprehend 9-11 hijackers, the absence of Iraq’s WMD and claims that Iran does not possess nuclear weapons have all come under intense criticism. But despite this, the US political establishment is not prepared to acknowledge the enormous amount of evidence that CIA’s intelligence has been purposefully fabricated by successive US administrations— from President Trueman to President Bush junior— to mobilize American opinion for imperial ventures and justify wars against innocent nations.
Americas: Obama’s is the democratic nominee but his outlook on the Muslim world remains unchanged
On 3/6/2008 Senator Obama achieved the required number of delegates to become the Democratic Party’s official nominee. He will now take on of the Republican Party for upcoming US general elections scheduled for later this year. Despite Obama’s rhetoric about making changes to US foreign policy—very little is about to change. His comments on Pakistan, Iran , Palestine and Iraq in strategic terms are similar to those espoused by the Republican Party and Senator McCain. The changes mooted by Obama are only tactical, such as the ‘withdrawal’ of US troops from Iraq and America’s right to attack Pakistan unilaterally. It is very unlikely that the Presidential contest will be won on foreign policy. Obama’s winning speech in St Pauls Minnesota was peppered with references to economic issues, and most likely it is on this that the election will be won or lost.
Middle East: King Abdullah convenes conference to embrace Jews and Christians
On 4/6/2008 Saudi Arabia 's king Abdullah urged a gathering of 500 Muslim scholars to open religious dialogue with Christians and Jews. Has not the King heard the all too often derogatory remarks made by the Pope and other western leaders about Islam? Is he not aware of the words of Allah regarding Jews and Christians? Allah says: “the Jews and the Christians will never be pleased with you until you follow their own Deen” [TMQ 2:120]
South Asia: Pathetic efforts aimed at easing Pakistan ’s energy crisis
On 1/6/2008 Pakistan 's government put the nation's clocks forward by an hour and ordered stores to close early to ease electricity shortages that are hurting economic growth and fuelling unrest across the country. This initiative by the government is too little too late. Conservative estimates suggest that Pakistan faces 5000 mw power shortage due to the widening gap between supply and demand. During the past 10 years successive governments failed to build power plants to meet the increase in demand. Furthermore, the privatization of electricity production and distribution in the 1990s has aggravated the energy crisis. Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in some cases refuse to produce and distribute electricity to Pakistani cities, unless the government compensates them for the high price of oil, which is used to generate electricity. The IPPs want the government to raise the electricity tariff by 30%, so that they can maintain their profits. All of this means that during this summer, people will have to pay extra for electricity that will be in short supply. The solution to Pakistan’s energy crisis is to abandon privatization and exploit Pakistan’s coal mines, which are the 2nd largest in the world. But to accomplish this feat, the people of Pakistan must re-establish the Khilafah. The Khilafah will invest heavily in producing liquid coal fuel to generate power, and will also prevent the IPPs from exploiting the people.
South Asia: Is the US right to criticize Myanmar’s military government for blocking relief efforts?
On 1/6/08 Defense Secretary Robert Gates of the United States said that Myanmar was guilty of "criminal neglect" for blocking large-scale international aid to cyclone victims and that more Burmese civilians would perish unless the military regime reversed its policy. Earlier in May 2008, the military junta lifted restrictions on international aid. Ostensibly this was not enough for the US and her allies. US concerns about Myanmar civilians dying is a smoke-screen to mobilize aid agencies to make contact with the pro-western resistance against the Burmese military and its supporters like China .
When it comes to humanitarian aid, the US is the worst performer amongst the industrialized world. America has failed to live up to aid commitments in Afghanistan and Iraq, turned a blind eye towards the plight of Palestinians due to Israeli blockades, and remained a spectator in the aftermath of Israeli bombing of Lebanon in 2006. In all of these cases, the US was the chief criminal. Regarding natural disasters, such as the Pakistani earthquake in 2005 and the Indonesian Tsunami in 2004, America humanitarian assistance was found floundering. But it was America’s ghastly response to Hurricane Katrina that really exposed America’s lack of respect for human life. If this is America’s attitude towards her own citizens, then what can the rest of the world expect when America makes tall claims about ‘humanitarian aid’—in many quarters this is euphemism for humanitarian intervention.
South Asia: Indian fatwa makes no mention of state terrorism by the enemies of Islam
On 1/6/2008 India’s NDTV channel reported that Ulema had gathered from all over India to issue a fatwa against terrorism. “Terrorism is a scourge which must be wiped off from this planet. That is why Darul Uloom and Deoband have issued a fatwa against terrorism,” said Maulana Mahmoud Madani, President, Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind. However, the Ulema did not issue any fatwas condemning Israeli terrorism against Palestinians, Indian atrocities against Kashmiris, Russia’s genocide in Chechnya, and US occupation and slaughter of Muslims in Afghanistan and Iraq. In the past, the ulema of India were the vanguard of protecting Muslims from crusaders like the British. But today their silence on state terrorism speaks volumes about how far they have fallen from their perch and remain oblivious to India’s close relations with those countries that take great pride in spilling Muslim blood.
5/6/2008
Love for the Ottoman Khilafah lives on in India
The following is an article from the Website of Zaman newspaper in Turkey, it highlights the love for the Muslims in India for the Khilafah.
Love for the Ottomans and Turkey lives on in Kolkata, India
India has long held a special place in the hearts of Anatolia's people. For this reason, we've decided to visit this country, and in particular, Kolkata's "Caliphate Committee," an organization of particular importance to Turks during the Turkish War of Independence.
The Caliphate Committee was originally established with the intent of helping the Ottomans and the people of Anatolia. Photographs taken in 1920 and 1922 hang on the walls of the Caliphate Committee's office. During those years, members of this committee got together to send financial and spiritual assistance to the Ottomans during the Turkish War of Independence. The goal of this committee was to display the prominence and importance of their ties to the caliphate as well as to help inform and support the extensive Muslim population in India. Women and young girls were also involved to join the campaigns run by the Caliphate Committee, gladly handing over their golden bracelets, earrings and other valuables in support. For Indian Muslims, the existence of the Ottoman state was a matter of pride and honor.
During our visit to this Kolkata center, the members of the Caliphate Committee were convened for a meeting. We asked committee head Javit Ahmet Han why Muslim Indians supported the people of Anatolia during the Turkish War of Independence. He said: "We were answering the efforts of the Ottoman caliphate to remain independent with what assistance we could provide. It was a campaign aimed at supporting all of the Turkish people at the time. There were very strong ties between our people and we were all fighting the same enemy during that period; we were all at war against British hegemony. So we had overlapping interests and, in the name of this struggle, we wished to combine our strength and put together a fortified resistance. During that period, in our nation of India, there was an administration run by the British colonizers and it was around this time that steps and moves against this administration began to rise up in our country, eventually leading to our own struggle for independence. A great wave of emotion swept over our people, with people giving whatever they had -- food, clothing and money -- to help Turks and contribute to their War of Independence. As it was, we already had the strong ties of religion between our peoples. Because of this, we already felt our siblinghood and we already had warm feelings for each other's nationalities. When we were told that our siblings in Turkey needed our help, we immediately did everything we could to start up a campaign of assistance."
Another member of the Caliphate Committee, 84-year-old Hajji Muhammed Faruk, adores the Ottomans and wishes they were back in power. He is just one of thousands of Indian Muslims who love Turkey and who want to see Turkey as a leader in the world. Along with his five sons and two daughters, Faruk loves Turkey and everything about it.
Support of the Caliphate
He spoke about his memories of the past and the Caliphate Committee's activities at the time: "At that time, I was 13 or 14 years old. During the reign of the Ottoman Empire, we used to hear a lot about the Turks from our elders. We gathered together money; but of course, since we were just children, we didn't really understand where exactly our money was going. Nonetheless, we worked as much as we could and did everything we could to support Turkey.
"Our people believed then in the strength of the Turkish people. India, as it was, saw the Turks as one of the greatest sources of support for its own people. Turks were heroes for our people. We respected them very much. During that period, we knew the Turks well. Of course, as I said, I was a child then and didn't understand very much. Whenever any news came from the Turks or whenever a caravan would come carrying information, we would work as much as possible and gather together money for them. We met in mosques and all prayed that they remain strong."
Continuing to follow traces of the Ottomans in India, we headed for Hyderabad next. After two flights, we arrive in Hyderabad from Kolkata. This city's symbol is the famous 16th century Charminar mosque. Hyderabad is the capital of India's Andhra Pradesh state and is often referred to as India's new face. Compared to many other large Indian cities, Hyderabad is more orderly, cleaner and better planned.
With a population of around 8 million, nearly half of Hyderabad is estimated to be Muslim. The last Muslim leader of Hyderabad, Nizam Osman Ali Khan, visited İstanbul during the reign of Abdülhamit II. Osman Ali Khan, who was highly influenced by what he saw in İstanbul, decided to name his palaces in Hyderabad "Çırağan" and "Çamlıca" upon his return. For around 400 years, the "Nizam" administration of India ran large parts of the southern regions of this nation. In order to foster even better relations with the Ottomans, Osman Ali Khan had his son, Moazzam Jah, marry Nilüfer Hanım, the daughter of Ottoman Sultan Abdülmecit II. The Nizam leaders spoke Farsi.
We meet with one of the leaders of Hyderabad's Muslims, Muhammed Ikbal Khan. "During that period, in fact even after its collapse, the Ottoman Empire remained very popular in Muslim countries in particular. For example, I still wear an Ottoman fez. Simply in order to display the influence of the Ottomans, the fez was worn as a sign of the Ottomans in Egypt, Morocco, Syria, Hyderabad and throughout various regions of India and in other Muslim countries. We now have hopes for Turkey to be both an Asian country with great honor as well as a developed European country, God willing."
The Mecca Mosque in Hyderabad is the city's largest and most famous mosque. It stands very close to Charminar. As noon approaches on Friday, great crowds head to this mosque for prayer. The mosque has a wide and open-air courtyard in which up to 10,000 people can pray together at a time. The mosque is named after Mecca because stones that decorate its walls were brought over from Mecca.
Next we took a one-and-a-half-hour flight to western India's city of Mumbai. We found ourselves thinking fondly of the Muslims we met in Kolkata and Hyderabad and about how much love and respect they had for the people of Anatolia -- and can't help but wonder when exactly Turkey will return the favor it owes Ikbal Khan's nation. I wonder, have we forgotten India, which, apart from Indonesia, has the world's largest Muslim population? What if these 150 million or so Muslims are waiting for a voice, for some assistance from Turkey?
05 June 2008, Thursday
SAIM ORHAN
Source
Love for the Ottomans and Turkey lives on in Kolkata, India
India has long held a special place in the hearts of Anatolia's people. For this reason, we've decided to visit this country, and in particular, Kolkata's "Caliphate Committee," an organization of particular importance to Turks during the Turkish War of Independence.
The Caliphate Committee was originally established with the intent of helping the Ottomans and the people of Anatolia. Photographs taken in 1920 and 1922 hang on the walls of the Caliphate Committee's office. During those years, members of this committee got together to send financial and spiritual assistance to the Ottomans during the Turkish War of Independence. The goal of this committee was to display the prominence and importance of their ties to the caliphate as well as to help inform and support the extensive Muslim population in India. Women and young girls were also involved to join the campaigns run by the Caliphate Committee, gladly handing over their golden bracelets, earrings and other valuables in support. For Indian Muslims, the existence of the Ottoman state was a matter of pride and honor.
During our visit to this Kolkata center, the members of the Caliphate Committee were convened for a meeting. We asked committee head Javit Ahmet Han why Muslim Indians supported the people of Anatolia during the Turkish War of Independence. He said: "We were answering the efforts of the Ottoman caliphate to remain independent with what assistance we could provide. It was a campaign aimed at supporting all of the Turkish people at the time. There were very strong ties between our people and we were all fighting the same enemy during that period; we were all at war against British hegemony. So we had overlapping interests and, in the name of this struggle, we wished to combine our strength and put together a fortified resistance. During that period, in our nation of India, there was an administration run by the British colonizers and it was around this time that steps and moves against this administration began to rise up in our country, eventually leading to our own struggle for independence. A great wave of emotion swept over our people, with people giving whatever they had -- food, clothing and money -- to help Turks and contribute to their War of Independence. As it was, we already had the strong ties of religion between our peoples. Because of this, we already felt our siblinghood and we already had warm feelings for each other's nationalities. When we were told that our siblings in Turkey needed our help, we immediately did everything we could to start up a campaign of assistance."
Another member of the Caliphate Committee, 84-year-old Hajji Muhammed Faruk, adores the Ottomans and wishes they were back in power. He is just one of thousands of Indian Muslims who love Turkey and who want to see Turkey as a leader in the world. Along with his five sons and two daughters, Faruk loves Turkey and everything about it.
Support of the Caliphate
He spoke about his memories of the past and the Caliphate Committee's activities at the time: "At that time, I was 13 or 14 years old. During the reign of the Ottoman Empire, we used to hear a lot about the Turks from our elders. We gathered together money; but of course, since we were just children, we didn't really understand where exactly our money was going. Nonetheless, we worked as much as we could and did everything we could to support Turkey.
"Our people believed then in the strength of the Turkish people. India, as it was, saw the Turks as one of the greatest sources of support for its own people. Turks were heroes for our people. We respected them very much. During that period, we knew the Turks well. Of course, as I said, I was a child then and didn't understand very much. Whenever any news came from the Turks or whenever a caravan would come carrying information, we would work as much as possible and gather together money for them. We met in mosques and all prayed that they remain strong."
Continuing to follow traces of the Ottomans in India, we headed for Hyderabad next. After two flights, we arrive in Hyderabad from Kolkata. This city's symbol is the famous 16th century Charminar mosque. Hyderabad is the capital of India's Andhra Pradesh state and is often referred to as India's new face. Compared to many other large Indian cities, Hyderabad is more orderly, cleaner and better planned.
With a population of around 8 million, nearly half of Hyderabad is estimated to be Muslim. The last Muslim leader of Hyderabad, Nizam Osman Ali Khan, visited İstanbul during the reign of Abdülhamit II. Osman Ali Khan, who was highly influenced by what he saw in İstanbul, decided to name his palaces in Hyderabad "Çırağan" and "Çamlıca" upon his return. For around 400 years, the "Nizam" administration of India ran large parts of the southern regions of this nation. In order to foster even better relations with the Ottomans, Osman Ali Khan had his son, Moazzam Jah, marry Nilüfer Hanım, the daughter of Ottoman Sultan Abdülmecit II. The Nizam leaders spoke Farsi.
We meet with one of the leaders of Hyderabad's Muslims, Muhammed Ikbal Khan. "During that period, in fact even after its collapse, the Ottoman Empire remained very popular in Muslim countries in particular. For example, I still wear an Ottoman fez. Simply in order to display the influence of the Ottomans, the fez was worn as a sign of the Ottomans in Egypt, Morocco, Syria, Hyderabad and throughout various regions of India and in other Muslim countries. We now have hopes for Turkey to be both an Asian country with great honor as well as a developed European country, God willing."
The Mecca Mosque in Hyderabad is the city's largest and most famous mosque. It stands very close to Charminar. As noon approaches on Friday, great crowds head to this mosque for prayer. The mosque has a wide and open-air courtyard in which up to 10,000 people can pray together at a time. The mosque is named after Mecca because stones that decorate its walls were brought over from Mecca.
Next we took a one-and-a-half-hour flight to western India's city of Mumbai. We found ourselves thinking fondly of the Muslims we met in Kolkata and Hyderabad and about how much love and respect they had for the people of Anatolia -- and can't help but wonder when exactly Turkey will return the favor it owes Ikbal Khan's nation. I wonder, have we forgotten India, which, apart from Indonesia, has the world's largest Muslim population? What if these 150 million or so Muslims are waiting for a voice, for some assistance from Turkey?
05 June 2008, Thursday
SAIM ORHAN
Source
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Q&A: How to dispose of shares?
Question: I recently found out that owning shares in PLC companies is haram according to the Shariah, if I have already purchased shares in such companies based upon the fatawa of some mufti's who don' t understand the reality of these companies then how can I dispose of them? Is it allowed to sell them?
Answer:
This matter has been explained by Sheikh Taqiuddin an-Nabhani in the book'The Economic System of Islam' page 162-163, in the english translation. The following is the text:
"The above discussion raises questions about the Muslims who buy shares of these companies, associate in establishing them, or hold shares due to their subscription in such companies. Was their action haram, even though they were ignorant of the divine law (hukm shar'i) at the time of their subscription into these companies? Or if some scholars, who did not understand the reality of the share stock company, and gave them a fatwa (of permission) with regard to them, are these stocks and shares which are owned by them halal properties, even though they were earned by a void transaction in Shar'a? Or are they haram, and accordingly not legally owned by them? And are they allowed to sell these shares to (other) people or not? The answer to these questions is that ignorance of the divine law (hukm shar'i) is not an excuse, because it is compulsory upon every Muslim to learn about that which he needs in his life of the divine laws (Ahkam Shari'ah) so that he can carry out all his actions according to the divine law. If that law is one of those laws which are usually unknown for such persons, then he is not blamed for that action and it would be a valid action for him, even though it is invalid in Shar'a. This is because "The Messenger (SAW) heard Mu'awiya ibn Al-Hakam praying for someone who sneezed while he was in prayer. After they finished the prayer, the Messenger of Allah (SAW) taught him that speaking during the prayer would nullify it, and praying for the one who sneezes nullifies the prayer, but he (Messenger of Allah (SAW) did not order him to perform the prayer again." This is the meaning of what was narrated by Muslim and An-Nisai' from Ata'a ibn Yasar. This is because the rule (not talking during the prayer) is usually unknown to a person and so the Messenger of Allah (SAW) excused him and considered his prayer valid. The prohibition of the share stock companies in view of the Shar'a is one of the rules whose like is unknown to many Muslims and so their ignorance can be excused. The action of those who took partnership in them is considered valid, though the companies are invalid, like the prayer of Mu'awiya ibn al-Hakam which is considered valid though he did something in it that invalidates it, as he did not know that talking during prayer invalidates it. The fatwa given by the scholars also takes the rule of ignorance with respect to the one who seeks the opinion. However, the scholar who gives the opinion is not excused because he did not exhaust his effort to understand the reality of the share stock companies before he gave an opinion about them.
With regard to the ownership of the shares by the shareholders, it is a valid ownership and these shares are halal properties so long as Shar'a judged that their action was valid. It is not invalid as they are excused for being ignorant of its invalidity. Selling these shares to Muslims, however, is not allowed, because in Shar'a they are invalid currency notes and the allowance of their ownership is incidental, based upon ignorance (of the hukm) that was excused. When the divine law about it becomes known, then it becomes a haram property that is not allowed to be sold or bought, nor can one delegate other (Muslims) to sell it for him.
The way to dispose of these shares which were owned due to the ignorance of the divine law is to dissolve the company or transform it into an Islamic company. Alternately one can find a non-Muslim who considers the shares of the share stock company allowed and delegate him to sell the shares on his behalf and then receive the subsequent proceeds.
It was reported from Suwaid ibn Ghafalat "that Bilal said to 'Umar bin Al-Khattab: “Your administrators ('ummal) take wine and pigs as kharaj.” He said, “Don't take (these things) from them, but delegate them to sell them and take their price” narrated by Abu 'Ubayd in Al-Amwal. No one denied this action from 'Umar, though it would have been denied if it disagreed with Shar'a, so it became Ijma. Wine and pigs are of the properties of the dhimmis and cannot be properties for Muslims. When they wanted to give them to Muslims in exchange for jizya, 'Umar ordered Muslims not to accept it, but to delegate them to sell them and take the proceedings. Since shares are of the Capitalists properties are haram and cannot be of the properties of Muslims, when passed to Muslims hands, it is not valid for Muslims to take them. Instead they have to delegate to them their sale. Just like the right of Muslims in jizya and kharaj has been confirmed in wine and pigs, and 'Umar allowed them to let the dhimmis sell them on their behalf, it is also the right of Muslims in these shares that they are allowed to delegate the dhimmis to sell (the shares) for them."
Answer:
This matter has been explained by Sheikh Taqiuddin an-Nabhani in the book'The Economic System of Islam' page 162-163, in the english translation. The following is the text:
"The above discussion raises questions about the Muslims who buy shares of these companies, associate in establishing them, or hold shares due to their subscription in such companies. Was their action haram, even though they were ignorant of the divine law (hukm shar'i) at the time of their subscription into these companies? Or if some scholars, who did not understand the reality of the share stock company, and gave them a fatwa (of permission) with regard to them, are these stocks and shares which are owned by them halal properties, even though they were earned by a void transaction in Shar'a? Or are they haram, and accordingly not legally owned by them? And are they allowed to sell these shares to (other) people or not? The answer to these questions is that ignorance of the divine law (hukm shar'i) is not an excuse, because it is compulsory upon every Muslim to learn about that which he needs in his life of the divine laws (Ahkam Shari'ah) so that he can carry out all his actions according to the divine law. If that law is one of those laws which are usually unknown for such persons, then he is not blamed for that action and it would be a valid action for him, even though it is invalid in Shar'a. This is because "The Messenger (SAW) heard Mu'awiya ibn Al-Hakam praying for someone who sneezed while he was in prayer. After they finished the prayer, the Messenger of Allah (SAW) taught him that speaking during the prayer would nullify it, and praying for the one who sneezes nullifies the prayer, but he (Messenger of Allah (SAW) did not order him to perform the prayer again." This is the meaning of what was narrated by Muslim and An-Nisai' from Ata'a ibn Yasar. This is because the rule (not talking during the prayer) is usually unknown to a person and so the Messenger of Allah (SAW) excused him and considered his prayer valid. The prohibition of the share stock companies in view of the Shar'a is one of the rules whose like is unknown to many Muslims and so their ignorance can be excused. The action of those who took partnership in them is considered valid, though the companies are invalid, like the prayer of Mu'awiya ibn al-Hakam which is considered valid though he did something in it that invalidates it, as he did not know that talking during prayer invalidates it. The fatwa given by the scholars also takes the rule of ignorance with respect to the one who seeks the opinion. However, the scholar who gives the opinion is not excused because he did not exhaust his effort to understand the reality of the share stock companies before he gave an opinion about them.
With regard to the ownership of the shares by the shareholders, it is a valid ownership and these shares are halal properties so long as Shar'a judged that their action was valid. It is not invalid as they are excused for being ignorant of its invalidity. Selling these shares to Muslims, however, is not allowed, because in Shar'a they are invalid currency notes and the allowance of their ownership is incidental, based upon ignorance (of the hukm) that was excused. When the divine law about it becomes known, then it becomes a haram property that is not allowed to be sold or bought, nor can one delegate other (Muslims) to sell it for him.
The way to dispose of these shares which were owned due to the ignorance of the divine law is to dissolve the company or transform it into an Islamic company. Alternately one can find a non-Muslim who considers the shares of the share stock company allowed and delegate him to sell the shares on his behalf and then receive the subsequent proceeds.
It was reported from Suwaid ibn Ghafalat "that Bilal said to 'Umar bin Al-Khattab: “Your administrators ('ummal) take wine and pigs as kharaj.” He said, “Don't take (these things) from them, but delegate them to sell them and take their price” narrated by Abu 'Ubayd in Al-Amwal. No one denied this action from 'Umar, though it would have been denied if it disagreed with Shar'a, so it became Ijma. Wine and pigs are of the properties of the dhimmis and cannot be properties for Muslims. When they wanted to give them to Muslims in exchange for jizya, 'Umar ordered Muslims not to accept it, but to delegate them to sell them and take the proceedings. Since shares are of the Capitalists properties are haram and cannot be of the properties of Muslims, when passed to Muslims hands, it is not valid for Muslims to take them. Instead they have to delegate to them their sale. Just like the right of Muslims in jizya and kharaj has been confirmed in wine and pigs, and 'Umar allowed them to let the dhimmis sell them on their behalf, it is also the right of Muslims in these shares that they are allowed to delegate the dhimmis to sell (the shares) for them."
Russia and China attack US plans for missile shield
On 23/5/2008, President Dmitri A. Medvedev of Russia and President Hu Jintao of China condemned American proposals for a missile shield in Europe. Both countries called the plan a setback to international trust that was likely to upset the balance of power. During the visit Medvedev following Putin’s footsteps said, ”I will say frankly that not everyone likes the strategic cooperation between our two nations but we understand that it's in the interests of our people and we'll strengthen it whether others like it or not...”' As a signal of the warming ties between China and Russia, the two countries signed a $1 billion agreement for Russia to build a nuclear fuel enrichment plant in China and supply uranium. Furthermore trade between the countries rose to $48.17 billion last year from $10.67 billion in 2000. These developments clearly indicate that the world is truly becoming a multi-polar, where different power centres such as Russia and China feel confident enough to openly challenge America’s global hegemony.
28-May-2008
28-May-2008
Union of South American Nations unlikely to challenge US hegemony
At a summit in Brasilia , Brazil , on Friday 23rd of May, 12 South American countries formally constituted the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), a regional integration initiative which began informally in 2004. The countries that make up UNASUR are Venezuela , Colombia , Argentina , Bolivia , Brasil , Chile , Ecuador , Guyana , Paraguay , Peru , Surinam , and Uruguay , encompassing a total population of 380 million inhabitants Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez described UNASUR as the culmination of the region’s search for unity. "Only in unity will we later have, progressively, complete political, economic, cultural, scientific, technological, and military independence," Chávez commented. However, Chavez’s upbeat assessment of the new union is misplaced. Whilst Chavez leads a small bloc of countries that are avidly anti-American, most other countries that are part of the union toe the American line. This polarization will ensure that policy makers in Washington retain overall supremacy in economic and foreign policy matters in Latin America.
Nevertheless, this is a portent sign for the Muslim world. All over the world nations are clamoring together to forge political unions to fend off Western imperialism. However, the Muslim world appears to be immune from such new initiatives, despite the over whelming yearning of the ummah for political unity. The existing unions such as the Arab League, GCC and the OIC are either defunct or clearly serve the agenda of the colonialist powers. Furthermore, these attempts at unity are based on the nation state model which is an antithesis to the concept of ummah. Only the Khilafah is correct model for forging political unity amongst the Muslim ummah. This is where all the existing Muslim countries will be unified into a single state headed by a Khalifah. The Prophet (saw) also said: "Whoever comes to you while your affairs has been united under one man, intending to break your strength or dissolve your unity, kill him." (Narrated in Sahih Muslim by 'Arfajah)
28-May-2008
Nevertheless, this is a portent sign for the Muslim world. All over the world nations are clamoring together to forge political unions to fend off Western imperialism. However, the Muslim world appears to be immune from such new initiatives, despite the over whelming yearning of the ummah for political unity. The existing unions such as the Arab League, GCC and the OIC are either defunct or clearly serve the agenda of the colonialist powers. Furthermore, these attempts at unity are based on the nation state model which is an antithesis to the concept of ummah. Only the Khilafah is correct model for forging political unity amongst the Muslim ummah. This is where all the existing Muslim countries will be unified into a single state headed by a Khalifah. The Prophet (saw) also said: "Whoever comes to you while your affairs has been united under one man, intending to break your strength or dissolve your unity, kill him." (Narrated in Sahih Muslim by 'Arfajah)
28-May-2008
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